"By the way, Lily, how did you manage to escape?" Ethan asked as they moved forward.
Lily's gaze flickered nervously, betraying her unease. "I… well, most of the Vipers went to deal with you. Only one person was left to guard me. I pretended I needed the restroom and slipped away to warn you."
"You've been through a lot," Ethan said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze as they pressed deeper into the fifth level.
Before long, a massive wall adorned with intricate dark gold patterns loomed into view.
Flanking the wall were two rows of men in sleek black suits, armed to the teeth. Around their necks, each bore the tattoo of a coiled black viper, their faces obscured by menacing black gas masks.
Ethan instinctively moved Lily behind him, his body tense as he fixed a murderous glare on the armed guards.
Suddenly, the two rows shifted in unison. With a perfectly synchronized step, they retreated, parting down the middle to create a clear path. Their heads dipped slightly, and a fanatical fervour lit up their eyes as they stared beyond the golden wall, as though awaiting the arrival of a revered figure.
Ethan narrowed his eyes, his focus sharpening. He knew the puppet master behind it all was finally making their appearance.
The man in the wheelchair was impeccably dressed, his tailored suit accentuating his lean frame. He held a snakewood cane in one hand, and even the tea-tinted glasses couldn't fully obscure the striking handsomeness of his pale, almost sickly face.
"Chief!"
The black-clad guards shouted in unison, their voices tinged with fervour. They bowed deeply, their synchronized motion exuding reverence for the man.
"Sam!" Ethan Reed's face grew colder, his expression hardening. "So it really was you!"
Seated in his wheelchair, Sam offered a faint smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you here, Ethan Reed… classmate."
"Hmph! You won't be pleased for long." Ethan's scoff was sharp, his glare brimming with unbridled killing intent.
"Oh?" Sam tilted his head, an almost playful expression on his face. "But didn't you just say you were grateful to me for orchestrating your reunion with Lily?"
Ethan's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Enough with the nonsense! First, you threatened Lily. Then, you dared to send your lackeys after me. Speak—how do you want to die?"
Sam showed no fear in the face of Ethan's threat. Instead, he casually twirled the snakewood cane in his hand, as if unconcerned. The faint golden pattern at the top of the cane caught Ethan's eye, his gaze briefly flickering to it.
"Before you act," Sam began, his voice calm but edged with subtle menace, "why not hear my proposal? Your strength is indeed impressive, Ethan, but have you thought about the person behind you?"
Sam's smile grew colder as he continued, "Bullets don't discriminate. If one were to accidentally mar that beautiful body of hers, well… wouldn't that be a tragedy?"
Ethan's expression darkened instantly. "You're threatening me?!"
Lily's face went pale, her breath hitching as she realised the true reason Sam had allowed her to escape.
Lily's mind raced. Sam must have known from the start that the poison gas on the fourth level wouldn't work. That's why he sent her in—to become Ethan's weakness, forcing him to hold back.
But the thought didn't sit right. If Sam wanted to shackle Ethan, why not just take her hostage directly?
Sam, as if reading her thoughts, chuckled softly and shook his head. "Don't make it sound so unpleasant. It's merely a kind reminder. After all, you wouldn't want anything unfortunate to happen to Miss Lily, would you?"
Lily trembled at his words, instinctively retreating further behind Ethan, seeking refuge in his shadow.
Ethan felt her fear keenly, and for a brief moment, even he hesitated. He clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface as he restrained himself.
Sam, observing this, took his cue to continue. "Now, it seems I can finally state my terms. You see, Ethan, we have no real animosity between us. The reason I invited you here was simply to ask a few questions."
"What kind of questions?" Ethan's voice was as cold as steel.
Sam's smile widened ever so slightly, his tone unhurried and casual. "For example, how does one acquire transcendent power?"
Ethan sneered, his eyes narrowing with disdain. "You? Dreaming of transcending? You're not even worthy of asking the question."
Sam didn't flinch. The faint smile never left his lips as he responded, his tone calm and confident. "Don't dismiss the possibility so quickly. If someone like you can achieve it, why can't I?"
Ethan's expression darkened, a flash of anger breaking through his composure. "Forget it. Whatever you're scheming, it's not happening."
Sam tilted his head slightly, unfazed. "At least hear me out. One million—paid upfront—for the secret to transcendent power."
In District 13, the sum Sam was offering was nothing short of astronomical, given that most wealth was concentrated in the Upper City.
"Not enough," Ethan replied coldly.
Sam, unfazed, raised the stakes without missing a beat. "Ten million."
Ethan let out a derisive laugh. "Sam, I thought you were a smart man. Turns out you're a fool. If I kill you, the money's mine anyway."
Sam shrugged nonchalantly. "If we can't negotiate, then there's nothing to discuss."
Click, click, click...
The sound of guns being cocked filled the air. The Viper guards flanking Sam raised their weapons in unison, their barrels all trained on Ethan and Lily.
Ethan's expression hardened as a murderous aura radiated from his body, sharp and suffocating. The tension in the room was electric, the two sides poised for a violent clash.
"Lily," Ethan said in a low voice, glancing back at her. "Don't worry. Just stay behind me. I'll block every bullet for you. They'll run out of ammo eventually, and when they do, it'll be Sam's turn to die." His tone was calm, resolute, as though he had already foreseen the outcome.
Sam, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but smirk in amusement. Without a word, he gestured with a flick of his hand.
In an instant, the sound of gunfire erupted.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The deafening roar of bullets echoed through the dimly lit hall as the Vipers unleashed a relentless barrage. The muzzle flashes created a web of crisscrossing firepower, painting streaks of light in the darkness.
Amid the chaos, sparks erupted across Ethan's body, tiny bursts of light flaring as bullets struck him and ricocheted away, their momentum stopped cold by his steel-like frame. The impacts left faint scorch marks but failed to penetrate his transcendent defenses.
Ethan's sturdy frame was repeatedly pushed back in small increments as the relentless hail of bullets struck him. Though his body could withstand the projectiles, the force of impact was impossible to ignore.
The gunfire continued for a full thirty seconds. Finally, the sharp clicks of empty chambers echoed through the room. Ethan, who had been shielding Lily with his head lowered, raised his gaze at last.
Panting heavily, he scanned the now-ammo-depleted guards and let out a cold, menacing laugh. "Now it's my turn!"
Just as he was about to charge forward, he froze. Sam, still seated in his wheelchair, calmly reached into his jacket. Ethan's expression tightened immediately, and he halted his advance.
He had almost forgotten—Sam hadn't fired a single shot.
What happened next, however, left Ethan momentarily stunned. Instead of producing a gun, Sam pulled out a vintage pocket watch, its intricate design etched in dark gold filigree.
Click!
The watch snapped open with a crisp sound. Ethan's sharp eyes caught the delicate details of the engraving: a mass of dark gold patterns, intricately interwoven, forming the image of an ouroboros—a serpent devouring its own tail.
"Right on time," Sam murmured, his tone detached.
Then, to Ethan's surprise, Sam slowly rose from the wheelchair. Using his snakewood cane for support, he began to walk toward Ethan, one deliberate step at a time.
The sheer strangeness of the moment sent a wave of unease through Ethan. He instinctively took a defensive stance.
"What are you doing? Walking to your death?" he demanded warily.
Sam's lips curled into a faint smile. "Ethan Reed, have you still not realised?"
"Realised what?" Ethan Reed demanded, his voice tinged with suspicion.
"Have you started feeling a little… dizzy?" Sam's question was calm, almost conversational.
Dizzy?
Ethan's expression shifted. Now that Sam mentioned it, he did feel a faint dizziness since arriving on the fifth level. He had dismissed it earlier, attributing it to his previous injuries. But now—
"Do your limbs feel heavy? Your vision, a bit blurred?" Sam continued, his voice carrying an almost mocking edge.
Ethan's heart sank. He did feel fatigue creeping into his body, and his vision seemed less sharp. Instinctively, he shook his head violently, trying to dispel the sensation.
"Ethan!" Lily's voice was panicked as she clutched at his arm. "Are you okay?"
"What's happening!?" Ethan growled, frustration and unease lacing his voice.
Sam, embodying the quintessential elegant villain, continued his slow, deliberate steps forward. His calm demeanor was accompanied by an air of absolute control as he began his victory monologue.