Kyle reached the gate of Level B10, having killed every living soul he encountered in the previous levels. A breath escaped his lips, turning into mist in the sudden chill.
(Note: Level A = Above-ground floors / Level B = Underground floors)
Kyle (grumbling):
"Since when did it get this cold? And where did all this ice come from? Did it start spreading back on Level B5?"
He growled quietly to himself:
"Doesn't matter... probably an ice wielder on this floor."
He paused, thinking... Should he kill everyone here too, or leave some alive?
Faces from the past flickered in his mind—those who burned in the rituals of the black flower, their screams, their tears... He shook his head violently, as if to cast them away.
Kyle (gritting his teeth):
"No one deserves that fate... I'll just kill them."
With a single punch, he shattered the gate and stepped into a massive lab-like chamber. Vats filled with monstrous specimens lined the walls, surrounded by strange chemical equipment. At the center, Brian sat on a chair, with twelve restrained smugglers beside him and three corpses lying on the floor.
Brian (coldly):"What are you doing here? Damn it, I knew you wouldn't stick to the plan."
Kyle (in disbelief):
"How did you get here first? I thought you were powerless."
Brian (ignoring the question):
"How many did you capture?"
Kyle (ignoring back):
"Are you the one causing this ice?"
Brian (laughing hysterically):
"I don't need to plant a black demon flower in my body to be useful like you freaks."
Kyle:
"Just say you were too much of a coward to take the risk."
Brian (furious):"Say that again."
Kyle (coldly):
"Everyone talks about how you begged Moathan on your knees just to avoid taking the black flower."
Brian's expression darkened. He drew an Etheride blade—an advanced sword developed by Lia. It absorbs Aether from awakened beings and releases it as sharp energy waves. The more it's charged, the sharper it becomes—usable by anyone.
Brian launched waves of energy toward Kyle, but he dodged them effortlessly.
Kyle (laughing):"Trying to kill me with my sister's sword?"
Suddenly, another blade shot toward Kyle's face. He dodged again, followed by a barrage of bullets—poorly aimed at first… or so it seemed.
Kyle (thinking):"Wait… were those aimed at my eardrums?"
He covered his ears quickly.
Kyle (shouting):
"I still don't get your trick, but I'm not stupid enough to fall for it!"
He dashed toward Brian at lightning speed, but sparks burst from Brian's boots, launching him out of harm's way. He threw down several air grenades and bolted toward the exit gate.
Kyle chased after him, but the moment his foot touched the icy floor, a strange energy pulse surged—and he vanished, reappearing suddenly on Level B3.
Brian (screaming behind him):
"I wanted to finish the fight! I wanted to know… if my gear and experience were enough to bring down this monster!"
On Level B3, Kyle stood before the corpses of Riko, Simon, and Nye.
He turned and saw Zack collapsed on the ground, barely breathing. Rage and fear flooded Kyle's eyes as he ran to him.
Kyle (yelling):
"Where is Lia?!"
A faint laugh echoed from behind him.
He spun around. 09 stood there. Kyle lunged and grabbed him by the collar.
Kyle:
"Where is my sister?!"
09 (mocking):
"About to cry? Where's that manly pride?"
Kyle (slamming him to the ground):
"Don't test me. Where is she?!"
09 (chuckling darkly):
"Shouldn't I be asking you that? Wasn't it your job to protect her?"
Kyle (clenching his teeth):
"You're not talking, huh?"
Tension filled the air. 09 was still smirking, but the veins on his neck were throbbing. Kyle could only see flashes of his sister's face.
He threw a punch. 09 blocked it with a frost shield but fell back. Kyle chased him, but 09 narrowly escaped, and Kyle's punch shattered the floor instead.
Kyle (breathing hard, eyes glowing red):
"Still running? How long will you keep dodging?"
Suddenly, a thought struck him—how did he get to Level B3 in the first place? He looked around. No sign of Lia or the other two soldiers' bodies.
Kyle (calming):
"Did you move them somewhere else?"
09 (laughing hysterically):
"Finally, some respect in your voice. She's in Level B6… continuing her mission."
Kyle bolted to Level B6 like a madman, where he found Lia and the two soldiers collecting strange glowing fluids into containers.
Kyle (shouting, rushing to hug her):
"Are you okay?! Did anything happen to you?"
He quickly stepped back, embarrassed as he noticed the other soldiers watching.
Lia (calmly):
"I'm fine. No need to overreact."
A snicker came from behind her.
09:
"Shouldn't you be thanking me for saving her?"
Kyle bowed slightly, addressing 09.
Kyle:
"Thank you… for saving my sister."
09 (laughing):
"Did you hit your head or something? Weren't you trying to kill me a minute ago?"
Kyle (coldly):
"I owe you this time. That's it. We're not friends—don't talk to me again."
09 (to Lia):
"You're not going to thank me?"
Lia:
"For what? Doing your job? Doesn't seem worthy of thanks."
09 (pouting mockingly):
"You thanked me plenty before… has that changed because your brother's here? I saved his neck too—if you'd died, he would've faced execution for mission failure."
Kyle (angrily):
"Change the subject. Why did you teleport me?"
09:
"To lighten your sentence. Injuring a superior officer, disobeying orders... would've meant certain death."
Through a cracked wall, a figure emerged—a tall soldier with bright yellow hair and a pendant identical to Lia's.
He approached Kyle and clapped him on the shoulder.
Vael:
"Hey, Number 2. How's it going?"
Kyle (shoving him):
"Who are you calling Number 2?"
Vael (laughing):
"I heard the stronger twin is usually born first. So you must be the little one."
09:
"I had my suspicions… you two look way too alike."
Kyle (snapping):
"I only have one sibling. Call me Number 2 again, and you'll regret it."
Lia (chuckling softly):
"Did you find your pendant, brother?"
Vael (apologetic):
"Sorry. I wrongly accused you, sister."
Kyle stormed out of the room in silence. Vael tried to follow, but Lia stopped him.
Lia:
"Let him go. He's just... shy. He doesn't like these kinds of moments."
Kyle paused by the exit, then called back:
Kyle (challenging):
"Follow me… if you want to see who's really Number 2."
Vael (laughing):
"Alright, take Number 1. If 2 bothers you that much."
As Kyle approached the final gate, two massive soldiers blocked his path, standing like statues, their eyes fixed on him.
Kyle (with his trademark smirk):
"Really? Is there a problem, gentlemen?"
One soldier (voice like grinding steel):
"Orders from Commander Brian. You're under arrest… and you're coming with us. Now."