The city streets were unusually quiet.
Sky walked ahead with his hands in his pockets while Bat and Nick followed behind him.
Streetlights reflected off the wet pavement as passing cars rushed down the road.
Sky glanced back at them.
Sky: "Stay here for a second. I'm gonna call someone to pick us up."
Bat narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing.
Nick shrugged.
Nick: "Fine by me."
Sky pulled out his phone—
BOOM.
A violent explosion echoed through the city.
The ground trembled.
A pillar of black smoke rose into the night sky.
Sky instantly looked up.
His expression changed.
Then he looked back at Bat and Nick.
Sky: "Don't move."
Without another word, he sprinted toward the smoke.
A few minutes later—
Sky reached the hotel.
People were screaming outside.
Glass covered the street.
Smoke poured from the lower floors.
Sky pushed through the crowd and ran inside.
The lobby was destroyed.
Broken concrete.
Burn marks.
Collapsed furniture.
And there—
lying motionless on the ground—
was Void.
Sky froze.
Sky: "…No way."
He quickly walked over and crouched beside him.
Sky: "Hey."
No response.
Sky shook him slightly.
Still nothing.
Sky: "How the hell are you knocked out?"
Void remained unconscious.
Sky exhaled sharply before lifting him onto his shoulder.
Sky: "Tch… just hold on. I'm getting you out of here."
As Sky carried him outside—
something moved above him.
Sky looked up.
A figure jumped from the hotel rooftop—
and landed on another building far away.
The distance was insane.
Sky stopped walking for a second, staring.
Sky: "…What the hell?"
Then—
police sirens echoed through the streets.
Sky snapped out of it and immediately ran.
As he carried Void through the city, one thought crossed his mind.
Please tell me those two idiots are still there.
Finally—
he reached the spot.
And to his surprise—
Bat and Nick were still waiting.
Sky blinked.
Sky: "…You guys actually stayed."
Nick crossed his arms.
Nick: "Well, yeah."
Then he noticed Void hanging over Sky's shoulder.
His eyes widened.
Nick: "Whoa—did you kidnap someone?"
Bat stared at Void carefully.
Bat: "Or kill someone."
Sky sighed.
Sky: "He's… a colleague of mine."
Nick tilted his head.
Nick: "So he's your friend?"
Before Sky could answer—
Bat: "So are you gonna take us to some government facility now or something?"
Sky slowly looked at Bat.
Sky: "…How the hell did you figure that out?"
Bat shrugged.
Bat: "It's obvious. Why else would you chase two random dudes around the city if it wasn't for some government business?"
Sky stared at him silently.
How the hell did he know that?
Meanwhile—
Void slowly opened his eyes.
His vision was blurry.
He looked around the room.
Then he saw Bat and Nick.
Void: "…Who the hell are you guys?"
But just then—
Sky stepped forward.
Sky: "You're awake."
Void blinked a few times.
Then rubbed his head.
Void: "Sky?"
Sky crossed his arms.
Sky: "You were passed out at the Grand Vale Hotel."
Void's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then he remembered.
Void: "…Right."
He exhaled.
Void: "Some girl caught me off guard."
Sky chuckled quietly.
Sky: "Let me guess. You rushed in at full speed without checking your surroundings and got blown up, right?"
Void looked annoyed.
Void: "Not everyone can move around like a slippery rat like you."
Sky: "Whatever."
Bat watched both of them carefully.
Bat: "…Are you two friends or something?"
Immediately—
Sky: "No."
Void: "No."
Silence.
Nick blinked.
Nick: "…That was fast."
Suddenly—
Sky's phone rang.
Sky looked at the caller ID.
Director Halden Krowe.
He answered immediately.
Sky: "Yeah?"
Director Krowe: "Sky. Have you located the targets yet?"
Sky glanced at Bat and Nick.
Sky: "Yeah. I found them."
Director Krowe: "Good. Bring them in immediately. Also, there's been an explosion at the hotel. I need you to assist Void."
Sky looked at Void.
Sky: "Already did. He's here."
A brief pause.
Director Krowe: "I see. Hand him the phone."
Sky tossed the phone toward Void.
Void caught it easily.
Void: "Director."
Director Krowe: "Are you alright?"
Void: "I'm fine."
Director Krowe: "Good. I'll send coordinates shortly. You and Sky meet me there immediately."
Another pause.
Director Krowe: "And bring the two guests with you."
The call ended.
Void tossed the phone back to Sky.
Sky caught it.
Then Void stood up slowly.
His expression was calm again.
Cold.
Focused.
Void: "Come on, let's go."
End of Chapter 19