After my eyes fully adjusted to the sunlight and I was able to see properly, it was obvious to me that we are stranded in the middle of nowhere with trees in every direction.

I turned around to look at the cave-like entrance.

This is where I have been staying for the past 10 years? Inside a cave that had its interior made into a prison?

“Where… is this…?” I asked the others.

"Waaa..."

"Sniff... Sniff..."

But they were all crying at the clear sky and did not hear my question.

“...”

Just as I closed my eyes to let them cry, the Birdman said, “Allow me to look at our surroundings.”

He spread his wings and began levitating off the ground.

He was flying.

It is my first time witnessing someone with the ability to fly; it must be his species’ unique skill.

The Birdman didn’t stay in the air for long and came back down shortly after.

“E-333, we seem to be in the middle of a forest. There were only trees as far as I could see into the horizon. However, we are definitely still within the Southern Region. This type of trees only grows in the Southern Region, after all.”

I don’t recall ever mentioning my experiment number, how did he know I was E-333?

Noticing my stares, the Birdman slightly smiled, “You’re quite famous amongst us, so we already knew of your name prior to meeting you…”

I’m famous? I wonder why…

“Experiment number 333. Whenever I hear of your number from the guards, there would always be the word ‘undying’ or ‘immortal’ somewhere in the same sentence.”

“Finally being able to witness your abilities, I now know why they called you the ‘Immortal number’.”

Immortal number, huh.

After a moment of silence, he asked me, “Do you have any idea of what you want to do now that we have escaped hell?”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Do… whatever you want… you are now… free…” I said to him.

“...”

The Birdman became silent, and the others stopped crying.

I looked at the blue sky and continued, “I do not know… what I want to do… but I will find something… As for you guys… go live your life…”

“Is that so…”

The Birdman suddenly walked in front of me and kneeled.

“What are you… doing…?”

“You have saved my life —”

“No, you have saved our lives, and I cannot thank you enough for that, not even if I devoted my entire life to serving you. If you need anything from me or my tribe after today, please, visit the Thousand Wings Forest in the Eastern Region and look for me.”

“I am Wright of the Birdman Tribe, what is your name?”

My name, huh…

“My name… I do not remember…” I lied to him, “Just continue… to call me… E-333…”

“I understand, E-333.” Wright said after a moment, “Then, E-333, I will be the first to leave. I have been kept here for far too long, my tribesman is definitely anxius and waiting for my return, so I must go…”

I gave Wright a glance before turning away.

What he will be doing after this point is not of my concerns.

I have not even thought to have him stay with me, nor any one of the prisoners that I have saved today.

If they wish to leave right now, I will not utter a single word.

“Go…” I said to him only because he didn’t seem like he would move unless I gave him the permission.

“Once again, I thank you for freeing me from that hell, E-333. One day, I will return the favor, I swear on my name.”

Wright bowed before taking flight and soaring into the distance.

I watched him fly away in the sky for a moment before turning to look at the others.

“What… about you guys…?”

The place was dead silent.

They all looked at me with troubled expressions — they didn’t know what they wanted to do.

“I cannot fly like that Birdman, and I do not know where we are. If it is not too much to ask, can I follow you for now?” said the demi-human with the dog ears.

“Me too! Can I follow you, please? I will do anything you ask!”

“Please… don’t leave me here…”

They said one by one after the first one spoke.

The younger ones cried, and the older ones begged to follow me.

After thinking for a moment, I said, “Follow me... if you want… but I will not babysit any of you…”

“I understand!”

“Thank you! Thank you very much!”

They thanked me as I counted the number of people here.

There were 33 of them in the group.

Seems like some of the prisoners from the first floor decided to stay.

That is their choice, so I will not even bother concerning myself with their reasons.

After some time, I picked a direction randomly and began walking towards it, and the group followed me like a pack of wolves following their leader.

Where this direction will lead us, I will leave that to fate.