Amid the sudden gunfire, the military acted quickly; forces of soldiers hopped out to combat their enemy while using their vehicles and other obstacles as cover. The cause of the gunfire became clear as from nearby buildings, individuals fired from.

"Tch, just a bunch of minions," Kreuger mocked as he exited the armored vehicle he occupied, along with Altius.

"It seems these bastards were waiting for us," Altius deduced. They both were oddly calm despite the gunfire. Well, anyone would be composed if they were superhumans with blessings. "There's quite a lot of them."

The heavy hitters (Queen Deathbringer and Enlightenment Program trainers) disembarked their vehicles, looking just as composed; everyone except for Amber. She was visibly shaken and gazing at the car which was destroyed by the rocket-propelled grenade, likely resulting in several casualties. The vehicle was also turned on its head.

W-We have to get those soldiers out! Amber thought as she watched fire spreading around the vehicle.

"There's no way you bastards are targeting us when there's Jack out and about!" A mafia associate yelled amid the gunfire. "Because of your stupid decisions, this country will end up just like the States!"

"Tch, shut your mouth!" A soldier yelled in response. "You guys go on ahead! We'll handle this!" He said to Altius and the rest.

"Alright," Altius agreed. "Where's that Amber...?"

"Amber, Amber..." Aiden called from outside her vehicle as Amber was deep in panic. "Amber!"

"A-Aiden?"

"C'mon, get your head in the game! We're going to the mansion with sir." Aiden stated.

"Those soldiers...we must help them before it's too late!" Amber declared.

"It's...already too late. We can't save them under these conditions," Aiden said somberly.

"So they die...just like that?" Amber asked.

She's always so caring. Aiden thought. "It's unfortunate, but soldiers always pursue missions thinking they may never return. We have to keep moving for them. So let's avenge them by kicking those mafia bastards' asses!"

"Okay..." Amber muttered with a downtrodden expression. I hope you guys rest peacefully...

* * *

Meanwhile, Harvey and Amelia were strolling through a white-walled passageway. From the looks of it, they seemed to be underground. Although they knew the threat above them, they walked rather casually.

"I can't believe we're being forced out of the comfort of our own home!" Amelia stated with furrowed eyebrows and an annoyed tone.

"Yeah, but it's a good thing we went around saving people from criminals," Harvey responded with a smirk. "The military probably thought we did nothing, but with the Jack situation, many people have turned to us for protection. It wasn't hard to convince them the military has been lazy and the country would end up the same as the US."

"Heh, those idiots make for good distractions while we escape," Amelia added. "They'll never find us."

"If by the minuscule chance they do, their forces would be reduced quite a bit. Plus, Theodore and Luna are using the other exit of this secret passageway we built," Harvey stated. "The military would just suffer massive losses against us."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I hope I get to meet that Amber girl, though," Amelia expressed. "I'd love to kill her for causing all this!"

* * *

Amber and the rest hastily approached and barged into the headquarters of the mafia, where they immediately got exposed to gunfire. There were even more enemies inside.

They were waiting inside too!? Amber thought.

Before the bullets and shells could reach the team, they were all deflected by Kreuger, who held two daggers.

"What the...we're good?" Aiden thought as he had flinched from the gunfire.

"So fast!" Amber uttered with surprise.

More small fries, huh? Kreuger thought. It would be easy to kill them instantly.

The enemies never relented their gunfire, and Kreuger continued to deflect them. Simultaneously, Altius hid behind furniture along with Amber and Aiden.

If these enemies are here, then the bosses are expectant. Altius thought. There's a chance they may be using this as a distraction. We can't waste too much time with this.

Suddenly, several enemies charged at the group amid the gunfire. One had lengthy blue hair that protruded at Amber's team like long blades, and another had shards of glass covering their fists. Judging by these bizarre attributes, some of these men had blessings. This knowledge made Ryzen strangely elated.

The one with the bladed-like hair sliced at Kreuger several times while being supported by their teammate; the man with the glass-covered fists striking at Kreuger. Kreuger, on the other hand, effortlessly blocked them all with his daggers, despite their superhuman speeds.

Much to his shock, slash wounds appeared upon his opponents, even though he only parried their blades, not slicing them directly.

What? How did they get injured? Kreuger wondered.

"Don't worry, guys. I'll handle it from here!" Ryzen stated. "We can't waste any time, so go on ahead."

"These guys are weak though. We wouldn't be wasting much time," Kreuger stated. Kreuger casually parried all their strikes and the gunfire as he conversed with Ryzen. As the bullets approached Ryzen, the projectiles behaved uncannily, as they all missed him despite the enemies' efforts.

"It's still a ton of them, and quite a few of them have blessings," Ryzen countered. "Even if they're weak, it'll still take some effort."

"So you can be serious, huh?" Kreuger sarcastically said, causing Ryzen to snicker. What the hell even is this guy's blessing?

"Mr. Ryzen, are you going to be okay?" Amber questioned.

"Of course, I'm a pretty strong and experienced guy," Ryzen assured.

"Enough talking, let's go!" Altius ordered. Upon hearing Ryzen's assurance, Amber felt convinced.

"Yeah!" Amber agreed, and they quickly made their way through the hoard of enemies.

"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING!" Albeit wounded by cuts, the one with the bladed hair shouted. She attempted to stop their escape by elongating her hair to attack them, which Kreuger once again parried with his blades.

Much to her chagrin, more wounds appeared upon her body even though Kreuger never struck her.

"Guh...Ouch!" She yelled.

"Come on, guys, you should be focused on me," Ryzen said. I want to see what you guys can do with your blessings...

* * *

Although they left the first room up to Ryzen, they encountered more enemies as they journeyed through the infrastructure.

"Tsk! I didn't train all my life to fight a bunch of weaklings!" Kreuger angrily stated before suddenly disappearing. In a sudden rush, he took down the enemies in his way while leaving Amber and her team behind.

"I can't keep up with that guy..." Altius admitted.

"It's hard, but I think I could," The Queen Deathbringer stated.

Although Kreuger was nowhere to be seen, his effort was noticed as Amber and her group ran past numerous unconscious foes.

Instantaneously, Kreuger appeared before them. That caused Amber to jump slightly.

"Eep! Geez!" Amber uttered in shock.

"The bosses are nowhere in this house," Kreuger reported.

"What? You checked the entire building?" Altius asked.

"Yeah, all while getting rid of the nuisances."

"...Isn't your physical prowess far too abnormal?" Altius questioned with raised eyebrows. "But if they aren't here, are we too late?"

"Well, I also found a secret bunker in a storage room," Kreuger revealed.

"Really?" Amber said.

"How did you even think of looking for something like that?" Aiden asked.

"I'm a trained assassin, so of course, infiltration is something I'm good at," Kreuger answered.

"You were a what!?" Amber asked with a shocked expression.

This bastard might be more useful than I thought... Altius pondered. Immensely useful...