Sun made a hasty retreat as he ran through the alleys of the restricted zone. His mind tried to wrap around what the hell just happened. Who was that shooter? Who the hell was that girl moving so quickly?
He had originally thought that the girl was simply there for intimidation, trying to look tough with that mask and sword. He never thought she was actually that fast, let alone that strong. He couldn't even keep track of her as she rushed the shooter. Hopefully those two took care of each other.
Still, the main focus for him right now was to get out of here. Without the useless luggage of those F-ranks, he could use that shortcut of his without issue. As he deliberated, he heard a large explosion and briefly turning to look back, he saw the top story of a skyscraper burning.
Good riddance. He thought as he continued to run. If he were right, he would be outside of the restricted area and back to safety in ten minutes. Though with that explosion monsters will be curious, and he might have an unpleasant encounter.
Whatever, not like anything here could beat me. He thought as he neared the exit he encountered his first monster. A two-legged creature with a large white three-dimensional pentagon where its head was placed. It was a lower-level creature, not much of an issue for Sun.
With a beleaguered shrug he pulled out his weapon, a one-armed massive claw that he was going to use to cut that creature in half. As he took a step closer, however, the monster froze in place and, to Sun's confusion, proceeded to run the other way.
"What the hell?" Sun said as he turned around to try and see what scared the monster.
And there he saw it. Some massive looming creature shrouded in darkness. It looked hunched over with a large bulbous back, its front limbs long and dangling down. It was staring directly down at Sun.
Dread chilled his blood, and Sun quickly raised his arm up defensively. Momentarily the large claw blocked his vision and when he shifted slightly to look at the monster again, it was gone.
"Huh?" Sun uttered out before the monster got him from behind.
The monster, or more specifically Archer, only needed a quick shot to the back of the head to incapacitate Sun. As Sun collapsed to the floor, Archer shifted the weight on his back. He needed space to fit Sun now that he'll be carrying two on his back.
At the same time Archer had to pull the long sleeves back up to make use of his hands. Reaching downwards he pulled out Sun's phone and quickly using Sun's fingerprints, unlocked it and checked through it.
Thank goodness he isn't paranoid. Archer thought as he quickly flicked through everything and saw that there was plenty of proof of Sun's involvement with gangs and illegal activities.
Archer was pretty sure that the swordswoman would be gone at this point, the question was whether or not she took the leader as well. Quickly getting a higher vantage point Archer saw a car driving deeper into the restricted area.
Archer did remember how they were planning to bring the students deeper into the restricted area. Glancing around some more, he couldn't immediately spot any of the students, he wouldn't be surprised if they scattered when they ran.
Fine. You get to leave. Archer thought as he chased after the students. I'll find you later. Archer thought as he then thought of the swordswoman. You especially. He was getting a bit tired of running into crazy swordsmen now.
***
Thankfully Archer's assumption of the group splitting apart and running in different directions was wrong. Thanks to Rosaline, the other two were herded together and the three ran back the way they came. Rosaline was able to memorize the path that they took back and was able to guide them.
The path they took was hidden from monsters for the most part. Though there were a few areas where they had to sprint through large open sections. Though there was the problem.
After Rosaline guided her compatriots through the hardest part of the path back, they remembered the rest of the way back. Which meant that they no longer needed to be led back. So they could run at full speed. While Rosaline, with the injuries she accrued recently, was unable to keep up.
Mainly due to panic from the whole situation, the other two forgot about Rosaline and she quickly found herself slowly limping forward. Praying nothing sees her, she staggered forward. Pain came from drawing every single breath as she moved closer and closer. Her hood bouncing across her back.
Then she heard it. The noise that she dreaded to hear. The sound of a monster. A big one at that. Closing her eyes, Rosaline gave a quick prayer to the gods as she slowly turned around, she could feel the ground quake with the beast's steps.
Before her was a three-story-tall praying mantis-like monster that loomed down on her. Though the head was far more elongated and had a splattering of eyes more akin to that of a lizard than an insect.
The creature homed in on Rosaline and she could feel the strength of her legs give out. She wasn't going to outrun this thing. She wasn't going to go home. She wasn't going to see her brother. She closed her eyes and simply wished that what happened next would be painless.
In a sense, it was, as what she expected to happen did not occur. Hearing an unexpected noise, she looked up to see the massive mantis monster being slain by some figure who landed atop it. They looked to be human, but the arms seemed elongated and the body itself looked misproportioned. Even before the monster dropped to the ground the person atop the beast vanished.
The next thing that she knew was that the thing that killed the monster was behind her. Before she could even think of doing anything, she felt herself being picked up by the waist, and like a luggage bag, this sudden kidnapper began to lug her around.
"Huh?" She cried out as she felt herself flying through the air as her kidnapper leapt atop a building. As they landed, she saw another two people whom she recognized. The one who carried the suitcase that unleashed the eyeless monster lay there unconscious and missing his jacket. The other one was Sun, the second-year B-rank student that led them here, also unconscious.
Curious Rosaline attempted to look upwards, trying to catch a glimpse of the person carrying her face. Only to have a gloved hand pull her hood over her face.
"Aw." Rosaline said voicing her disappointment as she simply looked at the ground seeing that whoever this person is, they were not going to reveal themselves to her. Still she had the feeling that whoever this person was didn't mean her ill will. They were being careful with her and did take out a thing that was going to kill her.
She could see from a limited view of the stranger, then picked up both people with ease and carried them across his shoulders. Before Rosaline could ask anything, the man carrying the two of them leapt into the air again.
It wasn't long before she was brought out of the restricted area of the city and placed down at a sidewalk. She wasn't given the chance to turn around and even offer a word to the stranger before they vanished again.
If Rosaline wasn't in complete pain and exhausted, she likely might have believed that everything that happened to her was a fever dream. She still wasn't quite sure what exactly even happened.
She along with a few other students, was tricked into going into a restricted zone by another student. Apparently they were about to be kidnapped by some criminals that Sun was working with before someone intervened. Rosaline also assumed the person who intervened was also the one who brought her out of the restricted area.
Sun and the thug were missing, she imagined they were still with the stranger. Though she wasn't sure where the other two students who were also tricked were at. Despite them leaving her behind, she understood that she probably would've done the same. It wasn't like they left her as bait, they just ran.
Rosaline hoped that she could see them tomorrow at school. Maybe she could admonish them. No, it was her decision to come in the first place. She should've realized that something like this was too good to be true. Besides, she still needed money and she wasn't going to be able to earn anything today.
With a small sigh she began to trudge her way back home. Though she couldn't help but think of the stranger that helped her. Who were they? Where did they take those two? What's happening with them now?
***
Inside police station fifteen, everything was proceeding as normal. The sun had long since set and the night shift was beginning to clock in. The smell of cheap coffee and the sound of keyboards clicking along with the occasional phone ring filled the air.
Detective Helio, ready to clock out just had a couple of files to quickly go through, and he would be free. He couldn't wait to get home, there was a deep-dish pizza and cold beer waiting for him. Glancing up from his desk he noticed his boss walk by him.
"Helio, did you get the last of those papers finished?" Inspector Xiao said as he checked his phone as he was already ready to leave.
"Yes sir, almost done." Detective Helio said nodding his head.
"Good, before you head out take out the recycling."
"Aw, what? Don't we pay people for that?"
"The night shift is coming and it's full. Take it out." Inspector Xiao ordered.
"Yes sir." Helio replied deflating a bit.
"See you tomorrow." Inspector Xiao said before leaving.
"Great." Helio muttered, and before long he signed off on his final document and submitted it to a secretary. With a tired sigh, he then grabbed the recycling and took it outside.
Walking outside in the crisp night air, he moved over to the recycling bin and threw the bag in. He then paused and took a double-take as he saw that at a nearby light post were two people unconscious and tied to it.
Before he could take a step closer towards them, he heard something slide over to him. Looking down at his feet he saw that now next to his feet was a phone already opened. Looking up to see who slid it, he saw nobody.
"I was just about to leave too." Helio said as he quickly flicked through the phone. His eyes widened as he realized the evidence he was just gifted. He then looked at the two unconscious suspects and gave a small sigh, "I'd better get overtime for this." He muttered as he went to retrieve them.
Archer from the distance watched as Detective Helio apprehended the two criminals. Good that's dealt with, now I just need to make sure that Rosaline actually made it home. Archer thought satisfied as he left the scene. Then I worry about this crime gang.
As he made his way to his next destination however he recalled that Ran and the others were out training. They should be finished around now, he thought. He quickly pulled out his phone and sent a text message to Luna.
***
As Ran and the group finally made their way out of the dungeon and were able to take a much-needed break after multiple hours of running and fighting, Luna felt her phone vibrate. Checking it, she saw that Archer sent her a message asking how they were getting along.
She messaged back that they just finished and then asked about Rosaline. Thankfully Archer said that the issue was taken care of and he was wrapping up on his end. Smiling Luna messaged a congrats as she put her phone away.
"Is everyone accounted for?" Ran said after taking a quick drink of water.
"Yeah, we're all good. No injuries." Alex said as he lay on the ground trying to catch his breath.
"Okay, we'll take a few more minutes to rest then we'll turn in our stones to the trader, then we can head home." Ran said nodding his head. He when compared to the others was far more energetic.
"How do you do it?" Joyace said looking at him in wonder.
"What do you mean?" Ran asked.
"You still have so much energy. How?"
"I don't know." Ran said with a shrug, "I guess I just got used to everything."
"Used to everything?" Emmra said with a laugh, "You led the group in, you did like half the work! You're insane."
"Because he's going to beat Igor." Selena stated flatly, "Ran is the best."
"That's a bit much." Ran said scratching his head sheepishly.
"But she's right, you're amazing. Sometimes I feel like we're just weighing you down." Joyce said. While no one was paying attention there was a slight twinge of a frown from Alex when she said that. But he quickly recovered and simply gave a friendly laugh.
"Don't say that." Ran said looking upset, "We're doing this together and we'll succeed together. That's why I'm fighting Igor, not just for myself to feel better but to show that anyone can do it."
"Still, some people can only go so far." Alex muttered.
"We can always break our limits. Quick or slow." Ran said assuring him.
"You won't stay ahead for long." Selena said with a smile, "I'll be catching up to you very soon."
"I believe that." Ran said nodding his head.
"Well it's getting late and we've only had a few ration cubes and water to eat, so what should we get to eat?" Emmra offered.
"I know a good ramen place nearby that opens late." Joyce offered.
"Have you been there before?" Luna asked.
"Yeah, it's great."
"That sounds great." Emmra said before pausing as they saw someone run into their room.
"Petyr? Are you okay?" Ran asked the out-of-breath Petyrl Powl, "What happened?"
"I… I… was looking for Rosaline…" Petyr panted, "She's not where I thought she was…"
"What happened to Rosaline?" Ran asked alarmed.
"I don't know, she went somewhere and I lost her."
"Where was she?" He asked concerned.
"I think she's fine." Luna said.
"What?" Both Petyr and Ran said turning to her confused.
"Why would you say that?" Selena asked.
"I asked my friend Julia to help keep an eye on her, they live near to each other and she knows her." Luna lied, though it was a convincing one, they did know that Julia was friendly with Luna.
"The A-rank?" Selena asked looking almost disgusted hearing the name Julia.
"Yeah. She said Rosaline made it back alright." Luna said assuring them.
"That's not possible." Petyr muttered.
"Are you sure?" Ran asked.
"Yes definitely." Luna said, "Besides, in our state we can't do much right now, right?"
Ran gave a small sigh and nodded, "Yeah I guess. Are you sure she's fine?"
"Yes. Julia can attest." Luna said nodding her head.
"Then let's get something to eat." Emmra said trying to lighten up the mood.
"Okay." Ran said nodding his head and smiling to Emmra, "Lead the way."
***
Archer brooded above the building that led to Rosaline's home. It had been a good couple of years since he had stood on a rooftop and watched a girl. When he was fourteen, he didn't think much about it. Now that he was sixteen, admittedly not that much older, but he was still a bit more self-conscious about this.
It would've been fine if it was another dude, but he was watching over a cute girl. Archer blinked and shook his head. Snap out of it. He told himself. As he focused back on Rosaline heading her way back to her home.
It was a normal enough-looking apartment, from what he knew this used to be her parents' home, now owned by both her and her brother. He watched as she entered the building and waited a while to see if he could spot her entering her apartment.
A couple minutes later he saw through a window with open blinds that Rosaline entered the building. Archer nodded his head and turned to leave before he saw something. Rosaline looked agitated and something was thrown her way.
Archer paused and watched as Rosaline shrank and slunk away into another room. Then a very angry and beleaguered-looking Dominic stomped the opposite way and disappeared from Archer's view.
Alright fine. I'll add another one to the list. Archer thought to himself as he left the area. He couldn't help but feel frustrated as he did so.