"All right, then this a*shole and I will be entering the building and securing us a path to our freedom!" Jack announced. At the same time getting back at Master for calling him stupid.
"Take this," Sadie said and handed Jack a shortsword that was hanging by her waist. That was a weapon from someone she had defeated. It's her melee weapon for supporting her slingshot. "Freddie said you are a very good swordsman. I supposed using this shortsword is better than that wrench."
"Thank you!" Jack told her. Even though his sword's heart allowed him to utilize almost anything as a sword, he was still more comfortable using two shortswords rather than using a wrench and a shortsword.
Jack accepted the shortsword. He now had two shortswords sheathed on the two sides of his waist. He offered his wrench to Master.
"If you need a melee weapon," Jack said. He remembered Master chose a slingshot as his weapon.
"I don't need a melee weapon," Master didn't take the wrench.
Since Master rejected his offer, Jack threw the wrench to Spring Crown. Spring Crown also used a slingshot as a weapon.
"Yo. Thanks, bro," Spring Crown said.
"Are you ready?" Jack asked Master.
Master took out an equipment-free stone and was about to use it but Jack said to him, "Wait! Don't use it for your armor or weapon. The armor lasted only one hour. It's better if we save them for when we truly can't avoid a conflict. You said there are corridors where we might be able to sneak to the stairs, right? We will try going through the corridors."
"I know. Do you think I'm stupid like you? I am using it for my monocle," Master said and activated the stone. A God-eye monocle appeared in one of his eyes. "My monocle is a superior version, so we will use mine. You follow me closely. When it's time to use your equipment-free stones, use them only for your armor. Save at least one stone for our weapon once the main node is in sight. Weapons last only five minutes."
"If I see the main node, I will use the limiter-off stone to go all out, stupid," Jack returned the insult. "Why would I only use one weapon when I can use all my equipment?"
"Now, now. Play nice. You two are on the same team for now," Spring Crown mediated. "Once this is over and we are back out there, you two can go back to happily murdering one another."
"Hmph," Master looked away.
"Hmph!" Jack also did the same thing in a much more exaggerated manner.
"Well, even if I ask you two to play nice, I can't say that I'm not enjoying this," Spring Crown grinned.
Grace tapped Jack's shoulder and said, "Be careful. I wish I can go inside with you."
"No. I need you to be safe out here. Don't worry, I will get this main node, then we can go and find the exit," Jack said. He then looked at the high-rise building and started counting.
"There are twenty floors," Grace had already counted when Jack and Master were talking.
Jack nodded. "I suppose the main node will be on the top floor."
"There are no stairs to the basement and a no-fly-zone enchantment is in place. So, the top floor is a safe assumption," Master agreed.
"Let's go in," Jack said and walked toward the building's entrance.
Master grabbed Jack and pulled him back.
"Hey!" Jack protested.
"I have the monocle. You stay behind me," Master uttered and walked to the entrance.
"I'm afraid they will fight each other more than they fight the night hunters inside," Spring Crown chuckled.
"This is not funny. Our freedom depends on them," Saddie said. She was not amused by Spring Crown's chuckle.
"I beg to differ, my lady. I do find it funny," Spring Crown said, maintaining his grin.
"What do we do now?" Tom asked Grace.
"… We wait," Grace replied.
*
Inside the building, Jack and Master came into an empty lobby. Master gave a signal for Jack to be silent. He then pointed at the door to the left of the lobby to let Jack know they would be using that door.
There was a large opening on the right, Jack peeked out that opening and saw a huge hall. At the far end were the stairs to the upper floor. It would be an easy reach if not for the other things inside this hall.
Around the hall were several huge mounds. At a glance, the mounds might be mistaken as heaps of refuse. But upon closer inspection, these mounds were wriggling. Jack then realized the mounds were the night hunters laying on top of each other. They just stayed there and rested.
Jack felt goosebumps from the sight. The number of night hunters inside each of those mounds was worrying. He now knew his idea of slowly taking out the night hunters was an absurd one. Unless he used AOE abilities, it would take a hell of a long time to eliminate all those night hunters.
Jack felt his shirt getting pulled. He looked back and saw Master signaling him with discontent. Master was frustrated because Jack didn't follow his instruction.
'Okay, okay,' Jack gave a signal saying he was coming now.
The two crept to the door on the left. Master opened the door silently before going in. Jack followed closely behind.
Beyond the door was a long corridor, Jack saw several intersections along the front path. The corridor had several recessed sections with benches and cabinets. Master suddenly moved swiftly to one of these recessed sections. He signaled for Jack to do the same.
Jack hid inside the one opposite Master. Master again signaled for Jack to be quiet.
Jack then heard the sounds of something crawling. Several of them. The sounds seemed to come close to them. Jack was worried that they would be found out so soon after they just entered.
Without his mana sense and radar, he could only rely on Master, and he didn't feel comfortable about it. Master gave him a sign to not move.
Not long after, the sounds moved away.
Master came out of hiding and signaled for Jack to follow.
Jack very much liked to use his equipment-free stone and activated his own monocle, but he restrained himself. He continued following Master closely.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺