The underground corridors were narrow and cold, their dim lights flickering above like the pulse of a dying heart.
First Route.
Izumi led the way with Tasuya and Amelia close behind. Their footsteps echoed through the empty tunnel. Soon, they reached a room at the end. Izumi slowly pushed open the rusty metal door.
"Clear," he said, scanning the dust-filled room.
"Nothing but old crates," Tasuya added, kicking one gently.
Amelia checked her phone. "First route—negative."
Second Route.
In the adjacent passage, Hiroshi, Arisu, and Mio moved cautiously, weapons drawn. They found another door, this one hanging off its hinges.
"Same here," Hiroshi said.
"Looks abandoned for years," Arisu added.
"No clues, no traps, no people," Mio muttered. "Second route—dead end."
Third Route.
Shin, Sol, and Saki advanced quickly. Shin's eyes scanned every detail, Sol behind him muttering in frustration.
"Still nothing," Sol growled.
"Are we being played?" Saki asked.
"They're stalling us," Shin replied, calm but sharp. "This whole place is a maze. A game."
Suddenly, Shin's phone buzzed in his coat pocket.
"It's Jasmine," he said, pulling it out.
"Shin! Come to the fourth route—now!" Jasmine's voice was tense.
Without hesitation, Shin turned.
"Everyone, regroup—fourth route."
No arguments. They all turned around, running through the dim corridors. Dust kicked up with every step, the silence replaced by the sound of rushing boots and rapid heartbeats.
They didn't find anything… until now.
The sound of rushing footsteps echoed as the teams converged at the fourth route. Dust swirled in the air, and tension lingered like a shadow.
Izumi arrived first, eyes scanning the space.
"What happened here?" he asked, his voice steady but alert.
Jasmine turned to him, pointing ahead.
"Look at the wall."
Everyone's eyes followed her hand.
The metal wall that once blocked the way had been shattered—pieces of reinforced steel lay twisted and broken on the ground. A long corridor stretched out beyond, dimly lit, almost unnatural in its stillness.
"Tch," Sol muttered, stepping forward. "So this is it. The final step."
King cracked his knuckles. "Then let's finish this."
No one argued. Each member of the team moved in formation—Jasmine and King leading, followed closely by Shin, Sol, Izumi, Tasuya, Amelia, Hiroshi, Arisu, Mio, and Saki. Their faces were serious, hearts pounding, every sense on high alert.
As they walked deeper into the corridor, the walls around them seemed to whisper.
The silence wasn't just silence.
It was the calm before the storm.
Ryker stood before a large, rust-covered door, its surface engraved with faded symbols and claw marks—as if many had tried, and failed, to open it before.
He exhaled slowly.
"So this is the last door."
With a tense hand, he gripped the handle and pushed it open, metal groaning under the pressure. A soft light spilled out from within.
Inside, he saw them—Aisa, Yumi, Akira, Saori, Hizuru, and the others girls—all chained yet alive, weary but breathing.
His chest loosened with relief.
"…I found you," he whispered, stepping forward, eyes softening for the first time in days.
Aisa's eyes widened.
"Ryker…"
The others gasped, their fear momentarily replaced by hope.
But then—
"RYKER! BEHIND YOU!" Aisa screamed.
Ryker's instinct kicked in. In a split second, he twisted his body to the side—a sharp blade grazed his cheek, missing his neck by inches.
Manager Taro stood behind him, eyes sharp, weapon in hand.
"So you made it this far," Taro said, calm yet menacing. "But this is where your journey ends."
Ryker wiped the blood from his face, expression shifting from relief to cold fury.
"You should've stayed in the shadows, old man."
The room fell silent again—just Ryker, the chained girls, and the ghost of war standing before him.
Jasmine's team moved quickly, boots echoing through the dim corridors of the underground labyrinth. The walls felt closer here, almost as if the place was alive, watching them.
They reached the first room—a broken security chamber. Monitors lined the walls, most of them shattered or flickering.
Shin stepped forward, wiping the dust off one screen.
"These are surveillance monitors," he muttered. "They were watching everything… Ryker was here."
Tasuya stared at the screens, some frozen on frames of Ryker opening the final door.
"They were tracking him… and us."
Sol clenched his fist.
"That bastard Taro. He's been ahead of us the whole time."
"Guys," Amelia called from the hallway. "There's another room ahead."
They rushed forward and reached the second room. Inside, metal chains hung from the walls—cold, stained, and recently used.
Mio stepped back, disturbed.
"They kept people here… maybe the girls."
Arisu knelt, brushing a broken chain on the ground.
"They tried to escape. But they couldn't…"
Jasmine stepped in, eyes scanning everything, jaw tight with rage.
"If Taro laid a hand on them…"
Suddenly, Sol's phone buzzed—a faint signal in the underground.
It was a recording… Ryker's voice, transmitted from a hacked frequency:
"I found you…"
Everyone froze.
"He found them," Shin said. "He's already reached the final room."
Jasmine looked ahead toward the corridor.
"Then let's move. This ends now."
Together, they ran—toward the final confrontation.
In Girls Room
From the shadows behind the girls, a figure emerged—calm, precise.
Manager Taro.
"So," he said smoothly, "you found them."
Ryker's eyes narrowed. "Move."
Taro didn't.
Without a second thought, Ryker dashed forward, fist cocked.
WHAM!
Before the punch could connect, Taro twisted—a perfect Aikido redirection—and Ryker slammed to the ground.
"Ah—!" Ryker grunted, stunned.
"What the hell?" he gasped, rolling to his feet.
"You're fast," Taro said. "But not sharp."
Ryker launched again, this time feinting high and aiming a blow to the ribs.
FLIP!
Again—effortless—Taro redirected him, sending him sprawling.
The girls watched in shock.
"H-He's... toying with him," Celica whispered.
"Who is this guy?" Yumi muttered.
Ryker stood, wiping dust from his cheek. His jaw clenched.
"Fine. Let's see how you like this."
He spun, launching a blazing roundhouse kick.
Taro didn't move.
In a flash, he pivoted—Taekwondo-style side-kick—and landed a crushing blow to Ryker's ribs.
CRACK.
Ryker flew backward, crashing into the wall. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
"Khh… You know martial arts?" Ryker said, panting.
Taro stepped forward, calm as ever.
"I mastered thirty-seven styles before I was your age."
He cracked his neck.
"You're strong, Ryker. But strength alone isn't enough."
Boom.
The sound of impact echoed through the underground corridors. Dust trembled from the ceiling.
"That was Ryker!" Shin shouted, his eyes wide.
Jasmine didn't hesitate. "Move!"
The entire team—Shin, Sol, Jasmine, King, Izumi, Amelia, Hiroshi, Arisu, Mio, Saki, and Tasuya—charged through the broken corridor of the fourth route. The walls shook with the echoes of their footsteps.
"What the hell's happening?" Izumi said.
"He's fighting someone," Sol growled. "And losing."
They reached the final hallway, breathless.
Another thud.
Another crack.
Ryker was down again.
"RYKER!" Jasmine screamed.
Inside the room, the girls turned—eyes lighting up with hope. Aisa's hand clutched her chest as she saw them.
But Manager Taro stood calm, unmoved, between them and Ryker. His presence radiated intimidation like a seasoned warrior.
"You're too late," he said.
Blood dripped from Ryker's lip as he pushed off the ground, swaying.
"I'm not done yet," he growled.
Shin stepped forward, fists clenched. "Who the hell are you?"
Manager Taro glanced over his shoulder.
"I'm the one teaching him a lesson. That power alone—means nothing without control."
Sol narrowed his eyes. "Then let's see if you can teach all of us."
Ryker coughed, smiling through the pain.
"You guys took your time..."
King stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "We fight together now."