2 Minutes Ago,
Taking the path Tom had given him, Dane traveled through the Second Level, holding nothing back.
Unlike Kai and Asher, who didn't expose their mana while descending, Dane let his mana flow freely.
"Let's start this," Dane muttered, gripping his sword.
He sensed the presence of multiple A-Rank Hunters ahead. Although he yearned to bypass them and directly reach Kai and Asher, he couldn't ignore the probability of these hunters reaching the First Level and regaining control over the Security System.
If there was something they needed to avoid in their already doomed situation, it was losing control over the security system.
The potential reinforcements were limitless in Desmar. Almost all Elite families were essentially invincible within their respective continents.
"Damn it, my mana control is a mess," a mage among the team of hunters complained.
"Shut up, we're all suffering," another replied tersely.
None of them anticipated encountering any enemy here. Their senses were also affected by inhaling the drug present in the air — a shock for them since A-Rank Hunters possessed a robust immunity system.
"Remember, Sir Louis, will not appreciate further delays," the lead hunter said.
Hearing Louis's name, they all fell silent, and the arguments ceased.
They recalled Louis's instructions and his clear directive to complete this job as quickly as possible.
"We've reached the Second Level," the lead Hunter announced as they entered the Second Level.
"Let's maintain the pace and be caref—" His voice halted as a sword pierced his chest.
"Woah, you need to stop right here," Dane said, withdrawing his sword as the remaining nine Hunters halted.
"NOO!!" One of them bellowed as they witnessed the hunter's death.
He rushed toward Dane, dagger in hand. However, it was easy for Dane, who was unaffected by the drug, to evade the attack.
Instead of dodging, Dane ducked, positioning his sword upward.
Instantly, he leaped toward the hunter, killing him as his sword slashed through his neck.
"Eight more," Dane smirked beneath his mask, his sword dripping with blood.
Dane flared his mana and appeared behind the closest mage.
"Save Jack," a spear-wielding Hunter shouted, but it was too late.
Dane kicked the mage, separating him from the rest of the hunters. In a fight with multiple opponents, mages were the most formidable enemies.
Not knowing their specialized spells could pose a problem for Dane. But, as a professional contract killer for Spyder, he knew how to manage situations like these.
The mage used a mana barrier to mitigate the damage, but it was futile as Dane relentlessly drove his sword into his heart, killing him instantly.
"Come on, I'm running late. Let me pass," Dane said, smirking under his mask.
But as he spoke, multiple vines erupted from the ground.
Dane swiftly backstepped as the vines smashed the area where he'd been standing.
"Come on, they were your friends!" Dane taunted the mage.
He was skilled at manipulating others' emotions during fights, and his personality played a significant part. Unless Dane felt a threat from someone, he wouldn't even consider losing to them. And right now, none of the hunters before him induced such a sense of danger.
"SHUT UP, YOU MURDERER!!" The mage yelled, casting another spell.
It was an earth-based spell, with spikes emerging from the floor.
Dane dodged the spikes while simultaneously spotting a spear flying his way. Dane dipped his upper body and used the hilt of his sword to strike the wrist of the hunter,
The force nearly broke the hunter's wrist.
Physically, Dane was stronger than all of them; he was at the peak of A Rank, and none of them matched his strength.
Their only advantage lay in their numbers, but the drug had not only weakened them but also thrown off their timing.
Dane knew that fighting this way would be time-consuming, a luxury he couldn't afford.
He slashed the spearman's body.
He coated his sword with aura, using the walls around him as springboards to launch various attacks from all directions.
His attacks were swift and precise, and even if they raised their guard, it was impossible for them to completely counter Dane's onslaught.
His current speed was too much for the A Rank Hunters, who couldn't anticipate where the next attack would come from.
One of them pulled out an artifact. Dane's eyes locked onto it, and he immediately changed his stance to propel himself towards the man.
Slash
"That's not fair," Dane said, pulling his sword from the hunter's body.
But as he prepared to move, another hunter charged at him, sword in hand.
Meanwhile, Asher and Kai were advancing in the Fourth Level.
The team in the Management Room was oblivious to their presence. Using the Jamming Device rendered the cameras around the Entrance of the Fifth Level useless.
Knowing that Louis Rothschild himself had gone to deal with the invaders, they were all focused on regaining control over the security system.
"I will take the lead," Kai said as he moved ahead of Asher.
He couldn't use his ability now, so protecting Asher became his priority.
Asher remained silent as Kai moved slightly ahead. Their priority was the Management Room and regaining control over it before Louis Rothschild broke out.
They navigated through multiple hallways and various inactive security devices, currently disabled due to the still-active Jamming Device.
But they halted upon encountering a man in front of them.
"How did you guys get past Sir Louis?" The Team leader asked, confused as he saw them.
Knowing that Louis himself had proceeded to apprehend the intruders, their presence here didn't make sense.
"H-How did you escape?" The Team Leader became slightly nervous around them.
In his mind, the only way they could have bypassed Louis was by killing him. This assumption amplified his fear.
"Handle him," Asher instructed Kai, veering off his course.
"Okay," Kai instantly agreed, aware that eliminating this man with his already low mana would be time-consuming.
The Team Leader wanted to flee, but he understood that if he did, he would fall at the hands of the Whiteheart family. As the person in charge of the Underground Facility, until the S Rank Hunters returned, he knew the consequences of not confronting Kai right now.
Girding himself, he activated his unstable mana. Then, he drew out a hammer and hoisted it over his shoulders.
Kai observed the man before him as he channeled a spell into his hands.
'This will be tough,' He acknowledged that defeating the man before him would be challenging due to the strain on his mana meridians.
And the artifacts he had been using to enhance the flow and control over his mana remained ineffective due to the high-grade jamming device.
On the other hand, Asher was heading toward the Management Room. Although there was a possibility of another A Rank Hunter being present besides the one they had encountered, knowing Louis's character, he was confident they would have already been dispatched to the first level.
He knew Louis Rothschild was impatient, and his aggressive temperament made him a poor leader.
With this knowledge, he was confident that no A Rank hunter would be in the management room apart from the staff.
And he was right: at his destination, the Management Room, only D Rank individuals, and a single C Rank person were present.
Getting past multiple rooms and hallways, it took Asher 30 seconds to arrive in front of what seemed like the management room.
Taking his sword out once again, Asher spread his mana sense and he could see 7 people inside the room.
********
Meanwhile, at the Whitheart Family Mansion,
Kamden Whitheart was seated opposite a certain individual as they discussed something.
"So, are the dates for the Gala finalized?" Kamden inquired as he took a sip from the cup in his hand.
"Almost, but we will be moving out the Vaults this week," The elderly man opposite Kamden replied.
"But I am here for another purpose," The old man declared,
"We were considering granting you the privilege to inaugurate the Gala this time among the seven heads," The old man disclosed.
His words prompted Kamden to raise his eyebrows, as it was a significant honour to open the Gala.
Kamden was somewhat thrilled by this news but he concealed it.
"Well, that would be an honour," He replied, maintaining his composure.
"But why would you not choose the Hargrave family over us?" Kamden queried,
"Well, it's due to Lady Casie of the Hargrave Family," The old man responded.
Kamden recognized whom the old man opposite him was referring to.
The younger sister of the Family head of the Hargrave family who had turned 30 this year, but he didn't understand what the issue was.
"But what's the reason?" He probed,
"That I can't disclose," The old man replied with a smile and shook his head.
He couldn't inform Kamden that the reason they were not choosing the Hargrave family was because the family head of the Hargrave family himself had requested it.
He himself was unaware of the motive behind this sudden alteration, but he had a few speculations.
The old man soon rose, and Kamden followed suit.
"This is the Seal for the Vault, we will initiate the process for teleportation at the end of this week," The old man stated.
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