We arrived at the old business district where Valhall was located, waiting in the car until the right time came.

7:50 p.m.

Lumina and I were the first to step out.

“I’ll signal when we’re ready. I’m counting on you.”

I adjusted my mask as I spoke.

“Mm. We’ll move soon too.”

“Your role is the most dangerous, so be careful,” Rachel said, waving lightly. Sally, her face rigid, gave a stern warning.

As we moved away from the car, Lumina slipped into Invisibility. She would be infiltrating alongside me.

Even though the street looked deserted, faint lights glimmered in certain spots—every one of them a CCTV marker.

Descending the stairs at the prefab building that served as Valhall’s entrance, we found the eyepatch man, Bao, waiting.

“Welcome.”

“You knew I was coming?”

“I had a feeling.”

Feeling, my foot. He must have seen me on the CCTV.

He opened the door. I lingered a moment before stepping inside, giving Lumina the chance to slip through unseen.

“Before the matches begin, I’d like to ask for something,” I said as we neared the bar.

“If you wish to meet the champion, I’m afraid that’s impossible. Last time was coincidence. Too many eyes are watching tonight. But if it’s a message, I can deliver it.”

“Ah, perfect. I wrote a letter.”

I pulled an envelope from my coat.

Bao’s expression twisted for an instant—he must have noticed the heart-shaped sticker.

“I couldn’t calm myself without doing this. Please.”

“…Very well.”

He accepted it.

“And please, bring back a reply right away.”

“…Yes.”

He hesitated longer this time before answering.

I watched him head toward the staff entrance, disappearing through the door.

‘It’s all on you now, Lumina.’

I couldn’t see her, but I imagined her pale with nerves. Yet even trembling, Lumina never failed to carry out her tasks. All I could do now was trust her.

“Damn it. Had to get stuck with some lunatic.”

Bao scowled at the envelope in his hand.

Descending the stairs, he tore it open without hesitation.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

The letter inside overflowed with love confessions to the masked fighter. Bao couldn’t stomach reading further and tore his eyes away.

Swiping his card, he unlocked the entrance to the “Sanctuary”—Valhall’s euphemistic name for the prison holding the children.

Click!

“!?”

The moment the door opened, Bao froze, his hand gripping the handle.

He turned sharply toward the sound.

“…What the hell?”

A tiny pebble lay on the floor.

Looking up, he saw nothing wrong with the ceiling and frowned.

‘Did that fall from the doorway when I opened it? Damn it, startled me for nothing.’

Grumbling, he stepped inside and closed the door.

‘Phew…’

Already inside, Lumina exhaled silently.

That pebble was one she had kept in her pocket. She’d thrown it to distract Bao long enough to slip in.

Her Invisibility only broke if she attacked or spoke. Diversions like this still worked.

She scanned the Sanctuary. Corridors lined with barred cells stretched on both sides.

Through the bars, children sat in silence, their faces dark and lifeless.

Even with so many packed inside, not a single voice echoed down the corridor.

With sadness flickering across her face, Lumina followed after Bao.

Another man approached from the far end—a plump, bespectacled fellow.

“Mr. Bao, why the sour look?” he asked with a chuckle.

“None of your business. Just go eat. I’m taking over.”

“Yes, sir! Good work!”

Still grinning, the man waddled off through the nearest door.

When he was gone, Bao continued deeper inside.

The layout changed. Bars gave way to steel doors with tiny windows, and the number of children decreased.

These were the “Winners’ Rooms.” Those who fought well earned better quarters and more space.

And at the farthest end lay the best room of all—the Champion’s Room.

Bao held his keycard to the lock. With a click, the door swung open.

Inside were a desk, a bed, a small TV—and Seo Yui, seated on the bed.

She was masked and armored, ready for another match. Bao thought nothing of it.

“What is it?” Seo Yui asked, raising her head.

“Read this and write a reply in one minute.”

He tossed the letter onto the floor.

“…?”

Seo Yui picked it up.

“That lunatic from last time sent it. Skim it, then write back. Say you can’t leave because of debts—make it about a billion won.”

“…Understood.”

She nodded obediently and sat at her desk, tearing a sheet from her notebook.

Moments later, she handed him the reply.

Bao skimmed it. Exactly what he’d asked for.

“Don’t get any funny ideas. You and that idiot aren’t going anywhere. Be glad you still get to walk into an academy by day.”

He glared.

“Yes. I know.”

“Damn it. Can’t believe I’m stuck with this crap. Nothing in it for me.”

Grumbling, he slammed the door shut. It locked with a beep.

As his footsteps faded, Seo Yui swallowed hard, staring at the door.

“!!”

Her eyes widened.

From the empty air, a figure shimmered into view—a masked girl.

“Lumina, right?”

“Y-Yes.”

“And Yein?”

“He’s upstairs.”

They spoke in whispers, careful not to let a sound leak out.

“The items?”

“I brought them.”

Lumina unfastened the small pouch at her waist—an Inventory. She reached inside.

Smoke gathered in her hands, solidifying into weapons.

“…!”

Seo Yui’s heart pounded as two crimson-glowing items appeared: a golden spear and shield.

She grasped them firmly, one in each hand, then looked at Lumina.

“What time is it?”

“8:18.”

“Status upstairs?”

“They signaled readiness just now.”

“Your cooldown?”

“One minute left.”

Seo Yui closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, then exhaling slowly. Her muscles loosened, the tension melting away.

After a long moment, she opened her eyes.

“What time now?”

“8:19.”

“Let’s begin. Send the signal.”

“Y-Yes!”

Lumina pressed the switch on her earpiece.

“U-Underground team, beginning now.”

[Underground team, beginning now.]

“Okay. We’ll move topside in sync.”

Rachel turned to look at Sally, Iris, and Meiling—all masked.

Minutes later—

“Alright, let’s move. Everyone, drink the potion.”

Rachel gave the order.

“…Fine.”

“Ugh.”

Iris and Meiling made sour faces.

Rachel meant the Invisibility Potions Yein had crafted.

They concealed appearance, but not sound or footsteps. Monsters above level 10 could still detect them, and Hunters weren’t fooled at all.

With short duration, they were rarely used.

But to bypass CCTV? They were perfect.

The group was now in a blind spot near Valhall’s prefab entrance, having slipped past the cameras by repeatedly drinking the potions.

“Even if it’s a small dose…”

Iris muttered as she stared at the glass bottle in her hand.

It was already the fourth potion she had drunk.

“…”

Meiling felt a tightening sensation in her stomach.

It was as if, instead of heading into a crucial battle, they were stepping forward carrying a different kind of danger.

But refusing wasn’t an option. So once again, they all raised the bottles to their lips.

In the next moment, the four of them vanished.

Just like on the way here, they kept distance between each other, careful not to collide and break their invisibility, moving in the order they had agreed on.

As they descended the stairs, voices reached their ears.

“Did you hear something up top?”

“Cameras aren’t showing anything.”

“But it sounded like footsteps…”

The next instant—

The two ordinary doormen suddenly crumpled, unconscious. At the same time, Rachel and Sally’s invisibility dropped. They had struck the guards in the stomach, knocking them out cold.

“Tch.”

Rachel kicked open Valhall’s front door.

The thick iron door blasted down the corridor with a resounding crash.

Within seconds, Hunters came rushing out.

Each of them wielded weapons glowing with blue light.

“The guards here were supposed to be high-forty levels, right?”

“No. Early fifties.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Rachel and Sally conversed casually at the front.

“Who are you?” one of the Hunters demanded, frowning at the masked women.

“Who sent you?”

“We’re agents from the Star of Masked Galaxy,” Rachel replied with a grin in her voice.

The Hunters scowled.

“Doesn’t matter. We’ll drag it out of you after we’ve caught you.”

They charged.

Meiling immediately fired off a Mana Bomb.

“A Mana Bomb? You’ve got to be kidding.”

One Hunter sneered, thrusting out his hand. A scarlet spike of energy shot from his palm, piercing the orb of mana.

The hole tore it apart instantly.

“Damn it.”

Behind her mask, Meiling’s face twisted. She had just confirmed she was no match for a level-50 Hunter.

“Oh? Then try erasing this one too.”

Rachel spun, lashing out with a powerful kick.

Two Hunters at the front of the charge were lifted off their feet and hurled backward.

Stumbling to rise, they froze, bewildered by the invisible attack.

Rachel only grinned wider, lashing out with kick after kick. Each one sent shockwaves invisible to the eye crashing through the corridor, hammering into Valhall’s Hunters.

Her ability—Shockwave Kick.

“Don’t get cocky!”

The same Hunter who had erased Meiling’s Mana Bomb conjured a storm of scarlet spikes and hurled them at Rachel.

“Haah!”

Rachel snapped her leg upward, raising her foot high above her head.

The spikes veered off-course, slamming into the ceiling.

“That’s all you’ve got?”

Rachel shrugged, mocking him.

“Interesting.”

Another Hunter, wielding a heavy mace, grinned as he charged.

Rachel snapped out another kick, her shockwave slamming toward him.

But just before impact, the Hunter’s body gleamed white—and he pressed forward, unaffected.

That was when Sally stepped up, drawing her weapon—a long crimson-glinting staff.

She swung. Violet particles streamed from the staff and sank into the mace-wielding Hunter.

“Ugh?”

He staggered like a drunk, struggling to stay upright before planting a hand against the floor.

Grinding his teeth, he tried to raise his head.

But Rachel was already above him, bringing her raised heel crashing down.

“Goodnight.”

Her heel slammed into the back of his skull.

BOOM!

The Hunter’s head buried into the crater her strike left in the corridor floor.

“Damn… a status effect ability?”

“This is troublesome.”

The other Hunters muttered grimly.

“Alright, let’s keep pushing.”

Rachel’s voice brimmed with excitement.

“If you get sloppy and die, we’re leaving you behind,” Sally warned sharply, eyes never leaving the Hunters.

“…”

Bao was speechless.

After delivering the reply to that lunatic and returning to monitor the Sanctuary, what greeted him was Seo Yui—standing out in the corridor.

In truth, it wasn’t impossible for the children to break out of their rooms.

The doors were only ordinary steel. Any awakened with sufficient level could smash them apart.

The real locks were the Hunters Valhall employed.

“What’s the meaning of this, Seo Yui? Of all people, you pulling something like this?”

She was armed—and not with the standard gear Valhall issued, but rare items.

Bao had no idea where she had gotten them.

“Don’t tell me… you actually think that brat who’s infatuated with you will protect you?”

“…”

Seo Yui said nothing, her eyes fixed on him.

Children pressed against the barred doors of their cells, watching wide-eyed.

“Sigh. Seo Yui. Last chance. Put down the weapons and go back to your room. You’ve got a match today, don’t you?”

“Listen, all of you!”Seo Yui’s voice rang out.

“From this moment, I’m leaving Valhall. If you want freedom, break your doors and come with me. If you’d rather stay here and die as slaves in the arena, then stay. But if anyone tries to block us, I’ll kill you.”

“Heh.”

Bao chuckled dryly, drawing his weapon from his inventory.

A long, thin blade glowed with blue light.

“Looks like we’ve spoiled you too much.”

Mana surged into the blade, shrouding it with an azure aura beyond its normal glow.

Seo Yui’s level was 31. His was 53.

The difference was absolute.

She couldn’t beat him, no matter what she tried.

“Consider this punishment. I’ll cut off your arms and legs one by one. That should bring you back to your senses.”

He stepped forward—

Stab!

“Wha—?!”

Bao cried out in genuine shock.

A masked girl had suddenly appeared beside him, driving a dagger into his side.

“Kh…!”

His breath grew ragged. Pain like his blood boiling tore through his body.

He shoved the girl away, staggering backward.

“Argh!”

Even with so weak a push, she was flung against the wall.

But his eyes caught the dagger she held—its blade glimmered a deep, venomous green.

‘Poison!!’

He realized the source of the burning agony consuming him.

Tap tap tap!

Footsteps rang out. Bao turned.

Seo Yui was charging, half her face hidden by a crimson mask.

Her spear lunged for his torso.

“Pathetic insects!!”

Snarling, Bao twisted just enough to avoid the thrust by a hair.

And with that momentum, he drove his blade straight toward her—

CLANG!!

The strike slammed into a golden shield.

Bao’s face tightened in disbelief.

Now, a blue mask covered the other half of Seo Yui’s face.

(End of Chapter)

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