The spaceship carrying Yash and the others was already midway through its journey.
Pratik was still busy eating sweet potatoes.
[Pratik]: Won't they detect us?
Pratik asked.
[Yash]: No, they won't. Have you forgotten that we're using spacecraft made by those stealthy bugs? These spacecraft can even detect the fields they travel through and make sure their own existence doesn't disturb those fields while moving. You get it?
Yash explained calmly.
[Pratik]: No... but that sounds reassuring.
Pratik replied while taking another bite of his sweet potato.
Soon, they landed on the planet.
[Yash]: Make sure we accomplish the mission as quickly as possible. We should finish everything within twenty minutes. That's the ideal time.
[Pratik]: Yes, understood.
As soon as the doors opened, everyone dashed out under their stealth barriers.
A vast desert stretched endlessly before them.
Not a single sign of life could be seen.
[Pratik]: Is this really the place?
Pratik asked.
[Yash]: Yep. Didn't I tell you? This prison has far greater security than any ordinary prison. Besides, he's the only prisoner here.
Yash replied with an innocent face.
[Mala]: How are we supposed to get in?
[Mala]: Where exactly are we supposed to enter? There's literally nothing here.
She asked with a confused expression.
[Pratik]: Woah, you're actually thinking instead of going full brawler fo—
Before he could finish...
Pratik was punched nearly a mile away.
[Surya]: That guy has zero survival instincts.
[Yash]: You're the one saying that?
The two stared at each other in complete silence, wearing equally awkward expressions.
[Yash]: Let's just attack the ground randomly. The chaos should make things much eas—
Mala had already begun wreaking havoc.
She slammed both hands into the ground.
The earth erupted violently.
Lightning burst across the desert as a menacing laugh escaped her.
[Surya]: For some reason... she looks like the monster here.
Yash could only nod with a slightly surprised face.
The alarm suddenly began blaring.
Surya unsheathed his sword.
Pratik coated his body with Dark Energy Reserves.
Mala did the same.
Yash simply stood there with both hands in his pockets.
The ground split open.
Gigantic robots armed with enormous blades emerged one after another.
Their mission?
To eradicate whoever had caused the disturbance.
One of them locked its gaze onto Yash and advanced toward him.
The rest targeted Pratik, Mala, and Surya.
[Yash]: Two seconds.
Everyone locked onto their targets.
[Yash]: Iron Kick.
[Pratik]: Dark Punch!
[Surya]: One Slash.
The next instant...
Every robot was obliterated.
Without wasting even a second, all four jumped into the openings from which the robots had emerged.
Yash's kick shattered every vital component inside the robot.
While moving, he casually grabbed a few mechanical parts before entering the underground facility.
Pratik's punch relied less on physical force and more on burning power.
Most of the robot's metal had simply melted away.
Mala's punch crushed her target beyond recognition.
Surya's single slash cleanly bisected the machine into two perfect halves.
They entered the base successfully.
Level 0 was cleared effortlessly.
*
Control Room,
"Seems like we have some guests."
said a giant.
"There's a kid among them. He seems quite powerful. Also, the one without a sword appears to use Sorcery from Earth. The girl seems to use it as well."
declared the small observer.
The giant let out a curious laugh.
A badge was attached to his chest.
It read:
Kalmish.
Several medals were pinned beneath it.
The Warden.
[Kalmish]: I see. What business do Sorcerers from Earth have here? Their uniforms... they resemble those of a certain Sorcery Society, if I remember correctly.
Kalmish paused for a moment.
[Kalmish]: Let's give them a little warning about what's waiting for them.
*
Level (-1)
The speakers crackled to life.
Yash and the others didn't stop running.
They couldn't afford to.
[Speaker]: Foolish sorcerers, if you proceed any further into this prison, you shall be executed. Surrender yourselves, and you may be granted mercy... if I feel like it.
[Mala]: Shut up, pooper.
Mala replied while continuing to sprint with the others.
She said...
What?
Soon, they arrived at the Bridge of No Return.
Beneath it stretched an enormous valley.
So deep that its bottom couldn't even be seen.
The path behind them sealed shut.
At the opposite end of the bridge stood numerous soldiers.
Standing before them was a woman.
A badge on her chest identified her as a Vice Warden.
She was beautiful.
Bewitching.
And somehow...
Dangerous.
"My name is Kiara. Please surrender yourselves."
She spoke in a seductive voice before blowing a flying kiss toward Yash.
Yash hurriedly dodged it.
The others wore strange expressions.
She looked modest.
Yet somehow...
Everything about her felt strangely lewd.
Her clothes covered her from neck to toe.
Only her behavior betrayed that image.
[Mala]: This woman is getting on my nerves for some reason.
Mala muttered with an irritated face.
[Surya]: Maybe the speaker sent this woman as a reply to your taunt.
Surya replied indifferently.
The moment Kiara stepped onto the bridge...
[Yash]: Iron Kick.
Yash kicked the bridge apart.
The entire structure collapsed beneath the force.
Kiara could only leap backward, surprise written across her face.
A rare feeling of defeat washed over her.
[Kiara]: That was unexpected, kiyaa~
Her headphones beeped.
[Speaker]: What the hell were you doing?!
the Warden shouted through the communicator.
Kiara made an embarrassed face.
[Kiara]: It's nothing to worry about, sir. We can still catch them. Have you forgotten my power? The power to bewitch.
Her confident smirk slowly returned.
[Kiara]: Can you really blame me?
She asked while making an innocent face.
[Speaker]: N-No, you're right. My mistake. Hahaha... take everything at your own pace. I don't mind.
The call ended.
Kiara sighed softly.
[Kiara]: That was easy.
She looked toward the endless valley.
[Kiara]: They're still on this planet. Better yet, they're still inside the prison. Finding them won't be much of a challenge. I should focus on the bigger boy... the one who uses Sorcery.
A small smile appeared on her face.
[Kiara]: As for the little boy...
She smiled even more brightly.
[Kiara]: He's cute...
Her expression softened.
[Kiara]: But he's still too young.
She turned around and began walking back.
The soldiers, however, looked conflicted.
Some of them jumped down into the valley.
The others quietly retreated.
No one truly knew what lay beneath this valley.
Wait...
Kiara suddenly widened her eyes.
She rushed back to the broken edge of the bridge and looked down.
The soldiers did the same.
Every single one of them froze.
The valley...
Had changed.
To be continued...
---
EXTRAS:-
HUNTER MARSHAL ON QUEST 4
The giant slowly unsheathed his sword.
The atmosphere turned grim.
Griho remained perfectly still.
The giant dashed toward him.
A single slash.
That was all it took.
The blade reached Griho...
And shattered.
It exploded into countless fragments before it could even touch him.
[Griho]: I am ending it here.
Saying that, Griho drew back his fist and punched the giant square in the forehead.
The impact launched the giant far into the distance.
With that single punch...
The smugglers' reign came to an end.