In the management room,
"The attacks have stopped," one of the men announced as the alerts ceased.
"Don't grow complacent now. What's the status of our Hunter Team?" a man in a suit inquired.
"They reached the third level before we locked down the fourth level," the man replied.
Upon hearing that the security system had been compromised, Louis Rothschild's initial response was to dispatch his team of A Rank Hunters from the Rothschild family to the upper levels.
"Try to establish communication with them. Can we contact the outside world?" he asked.
"Not until we regain control of the first level," the man responded, shaking his head.
Although Kamden appreciated that James Rothschild had sent Louis Rothschild himself, he was not prepared to cede them too much authority in his territory. This was why only the fourth level was under their control.
To contact anyone, they had to go through the main security system, which was currently under Tom's control.
Control would remain with Tom until Dane could prevent anyone from entering the Security Room on the first level. For this reason, over ten A-rank Hunters were advancing towards the first level.
"So, you're saying that I need to eliminate ten A Rank Hunters, right?" Dane asked, stretching his hands.
<No, just delay them enough so I can devise a way to assist them,> Tom replied hastily.
He knew that asking Dane to combat ten A Rank Hunters was not a feasible choice; this time, the enemy was prepared and even drugged, increasing their chances of overcoming Dane.
"It won't work. Louis Rothschild is not someone they can defeat," Dane stated, rising from his seat.
Working in Spyder had provided Dane with extensive information about individuals like Louis, and he was certain that Kai wouldn't be able to handle him.
"I'll try to get there myself," Dane proposed.
<But we can't let them control the Security Room.>
"Just inform me of their locations," Dane requested.
After a silent five seconds, Tom finally confirmed.
<Okay, proceed.>
Dane smirked, gripping his sword. He was growing bored sitting idle while watching Asher and Kai eliminate every guard.
On the fifth level,
"What should we do?" Kai questioned.
"We move forward," Asher decided.
"But-" Kai began, but then he glanced behind them.
With the Vault at their rear, they had no option to retreat. If an S+ Rank Hunter engaged in combat here, they would quickly be defeated.
Asher led the way, taking the stairs to the Pseudo Level and surveying the surroundings.
"Locate the Mana Source," he commanded.
Realizing that this was the Pseudo floor, he knew that Tom would soon be able to seize control, even if he couldn't manage it for the fourth level. However, a Jamming Device was currently hindering him.
They dashed towards the right side, where Asher could sense the Mana Field originating. If the source of the Jamming Device was there, its source would not be far away either.
It didn't take him long to arrive at the special room filled with mana stones that were being used to generate the entire pseudo level.
This was a pseudo level, so the power source could be reached, unlike other levels where it was sealed. The purpose of this level was simply to bridge a gap between the fourth and fifth level.
"Which one is the correct one?" Kai muttered as he examined various connections.
Kai was in a hurry because they could encounter Louis Rothschild at any moment, and he was certain that Louis Rothschild would be able to detect their presence.
"Move," Asher said, and Kai stepped back.
Asher observed the complex connections in front of him. They could destroy the whole thing, but doing so would eliminate all the power of this level.
However, one of the mana stones glowed, and they could sense that the Jamming Field had become slightly weaker.
<.....>
Still, they could neither hear Tom nor use their artifacts. The effects of the previous jamming field would linger for some time.
"Is it this one," Kai asked.
"Yeah," Asher said as he lifted his sword.
He coated his sword with aura and struck against one single point in the Power Source.
Sparks were generated as his sword hit a single mana crystal.
Destroying the mana crystal would result in an explosion due to the property of the mana crystal, so Asher only made a small crack in it, just enough to lower the mana level of the crystal.
"Let's move," Asher said as he prepared to leave the room.
But at this moment, they heard a robotic voice.
<Fourth Level Entrance Opened>Louis Rothschild was here, and Kai prepared himself, taking a deep breath.
Although the Pseudo Floor was still large enough that it would take some time for Louis to find them.
"Which path should we take?" Kai asked.
Asher recalled the blueprint of the entire underground facility. He formed a plan, but it was risky. Still, it was their only chance of getting out alive.
The plan relied heavily on Tom and his abilities. He was certain that Tom still had access to the upper levels and that Dane would be descending soon.
Dane and Kai were strong, but not enough to stand against Louis Rothschild. It didn't matter whether Dane could reach here or not.
Asher opened the holographic map on his device, showing Kai their next destination.
"We will move here," Asher said.
"But we will get blocked here," Kai replied.
And it was true; he was not wrong in his assumptions.
"Just follow me," Asher said.
Trusting Asher's judgment so far, Kai decided to blindly follow him.
They left the room and headed towards the destination Asher had indicated.
It took them 30 seconds to reach their current position.
<...!!..>
Kai heard a noise in his ear.
<Boss!!>
<I have gained Access over this place>
Asher looked at the entrance on the opposite side of where they were standing.
"You remember what I mentioned about this level, right?" Asher asked.
<Yes, I can activate it now>
<But->"I know what I am doing," Asher interrupted Tom.
Getting confirmation from Tom was enough; he didn't have time to explain his intentions.
"Ready your strongest attack," Asher said, looking at Kai.
"And make sure it doesn't miss," Asher turned his head as he sensed the presence of the S+ Rank Hunter growing stronger.
Kai calmed his nerves as he began to chant.
"Great Fire, Born of Earth...." Kai closed his eyes, needing a bit of time to prepare.
After 10 seconds, Asher looked at the entrance opposite them.
*Step* *Step* *Step*
He could hear the footsteps of a man; his senses were at their peak. Asher watched a man in a white suit emerge from the entrance in front of him.
"Not here, huh," Louis Rothschild said as he looked around.
The drug hadn't completely affected him, but his senses were a bit duller, so he couldn't detect Kai and Asher's presence 100 meters ahead of him.
The large empty space between them started to shrink as Louis Rothschild moved towards Kai, who was completing the final chant of his spell.
Louis Rothschild was moving when he stopped and raised his hand, intercepting a dagger that came from his right side.
"What a pest," He immediately destroyed the dagger.
He flared his mana, extending his senses to his right, but the man who had attacked had moved.
"Interesting ability, but," Louis smiled as he coated his fist with mana.
"You can't run from me," He slammed his fist to the ground, sending out a wave of mana.
Asher was soon caught up in the mana wave, and Louis looked to his right side, spotting his hidden prey.
But just then, as Louis focused on Asher, a giant vortex of fire emerged underneath him.
"Firestorm Fehrin," Kai said.
