We were too late.

"Damn it," I cursed again—at this point, I'd lost count of how many times I'd said it today.

"Boss, we need to be careful," Amanda warned, scanning the dark skyline as the world distorted around us. "In a Tower Echo, the floors form at random! If we spawn ten levels up, then we have to climb down to get out of here."

"Is that the only option?" I inquired.

"No, we can wait here," Amanda said firmly. "Once the Seekers from outside start climbing, they'll eventually reach this floor. We just need to survive until then."

I didn't like the idea of sitting around and leaving my fate in someone else's hands, but for now, I would watch and wait before deciding what to do next.

"Let's calm down first," I said, forcing myself to sound rational. "There are still buildings standing, which means we can scavenge for food and supplies. After that, we'll try forming a group to see if we can handle this on our own."

Amanda nodded—probably thinking the same thing. Since the Tower had appeared in the outer district, there were bound to be other Seekers who'd been pulled in with us.

"Sir…" the girl I'd saved raised her hand hesitantly.

She had short black hair that brushed her shoulders, and eyes dark as a void, wide and doll-like, almost too perfect for a human. Her small nose and soft lips completed a face so delicate it looked like it belonged on a porcelain figure.

Honestly, there was something about her that made it hard to look away. Probably because in my past life I always visit those site which blur the intimate part and needed subtitle for full immersion.

"Don't worry." I took her trembling hands and clasped them together, gently. "I'll make sure nothing happens to you no matter what."

Her cheeks flushed a faint pink, and she quickly turned her gaze away.

"T-Thank you," she murmured, barely above a whisper.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Amanda rolling her eyes— thinking I'd lost my damn mind for flirting in the middle of a Tower.

To her, I silently said, 'Is it wrong to pick up girls in the Tower?'

Besides, I wasn't exactly trying to woo her. Think of it as… an investment. A year or two down the line, I would finally get my ROI.

"By the way… what's your name?" I asked, keeping my voice friendly.

"It's... Hai-Min"

I raised an eyebrow. Her name rang a bell.

Amanda's eyes lit up as she practically bounced in place.

"Wait… are you Hai-Yen's sister? The Checkered Sword Maiden!"

Like a flash, the image of the woman from the hologram poster replayed in my mind, and I immediately saw the similarities. Their faces were almost identical—except Hai-Min looked more innocent, younger, with a softer expression.

"Yes… she is my sister," she admitted, her eyes showing hint of insecurities.

I recognized the look. It was the same one I used to wear when a girl approached me in my past life, asking if I was the friend of my good-looking childhood buddy.

"This is great news!" Amanda exclaimed, completely missing the mood. "It means she'll personally come here to save us!"

My gaze drifted to Hai-Min, and relief was nowhere to be seen.

I couldn't blame her; living in the shadow of a sister like that would put anyone under pressure.

The only reason I could relate to her was because I used to be painfully below average, just another background character in someone else's story.

I cleared my throat to get her attention. "Let's not get our hopes up too much. The best thing we can do right now is to find a safe place before—"

BOOOM!

More explosions ripped through the area, one after another, drowned out by the screams of people fleeing for their lives.

"Before something like that hit us!"

With no time to waste, I scooped Hai-Min up like a princess and bolted in the opposite direction.

I was strong, sure, but I had no idea what kind of enemies were lurking around.

SWOOOSH!

I tightened my grip on her as we ran, aware of how fragile she felt in my arms.

'I need to focus.'

The sounds of explosion—the screeching monsters, the screams of panicked civilians, and the occasional crash of collapsing buildings flooded the air, but I didn't let it distract me.

Closing my eyes for just a moment, I let my enhanced hearing take over. The world transformed into a map of sound.

I ignored the occasional cries that pierced my hearing, forcing them out, muting them like a dial.

Not mine. Not mine. It was a hard rule, but a necessary one.

'I can't afford another pretty girl turning into my responsibility,'

The next few blocks a faint light flickered up ahead. A store. Its neon sign buzzed weakly.

Four employees were frantically trying to close the shop, pulling down the roller shutter while shouting at each other.

"Let us in!"

They ignored us and yanked the roller up faster.

'Fuck these heartless people.'

A long, flexible pole of darkness shot from beneath my feet, wrapping around the roller shutter and jamming it mid-way.

The metal screeched in protest, and one of the employees froze, staring at the impossible, then stammered,

"What…?"

"Relax," I said, vaulting forward and sliding effortlessly into the gap.

Amanda followed, crouching behind me.

The air conditioning hummed steadily, a strange comfort considering we were cut off from the real world. Even the lights stayed on, flickering faintly but holding strong.

"This place is way better than I thought." I said it casually, but my words made the survivors afraid.

The owner of the store, a middle-aged man with sweat streaking his dirt-smudged face, stepped forward cautiously. "Who… who are you?"

I held up my right hand in a non-threatening gesture, letting Hai-Min cling to me slightly behind my side.

"We're Seekers. Are there any other Seekers here aside from us?"

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Author's note:

Due to an ongoing bug that affected almost everyone, my uploaded chapters wasn't showing even though I already posted them. That's why there was a delay.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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