"Oh my," Nikki exclaimed, her voice filled with unease as she gestured towards a group of individuals on the upper floors.

"Well, given that we didn't hear them coming down the stairs, it might be a good idea to devise a plan," Malachi calmly suggested, his mind already buzzing with strategies. Nikki couldn't help but laugh. "Planning doesn't exactly seem like your strong suit."

"Then maybe, little one," Malachi replied with confidence, "you should step up, or even better, let Connor handle it on your behalf. You certainly excel in high-pressure situations."

I realized I was nowhere near worthy of such a designation, but I saw no harm in allowing them to uphold the facade.

I glanced to the side and noticed a door that led to the 50th floor. It could function as a concealed spot or, if necessary, a strategic position for an unexpected assault.

"Follow me," I proposed, taking the lead.

We quickly closed the door and sought refuge behind a corner, our hearts racing with excitement. The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, steadily making their way down the staircase. The trespassers exchanged words in hushed tones, their conversation obscured by our lingering doubts.

Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, one of them stopped, causing the others to do the same.

"Hey, Billy, take a look at these doors," one of them commented in a somewhat impolite manner, which caused me to respond with amusement. Given the circumstances, I found it rather amusing how unimaginative the names were.

"He's heading in our direction," Nikki whispered urgently, her gaze locked on the intruder as he neared the door. Malachi seemed to become more and more on edge, as if something big was about to happen. I had a feeling he was on the verge of making a rash decision.

With lightning speed, he emerged from his hidden spot and struck the intruder's head with great power. Their comrades seemed momentarily taken aback, their faces displaying a clear sense of surprise. Yet, their brief moment of uncertainty quickly faded, and they charged ahead towards Malachi, compelling us to join the battle.

It wasn't a situation I particularly enjoyed, but circumstances forced my hand.

Two of my opponents targeted me, and I let out a cry as one of them made a sudden move, brandishing a wand. I instinctively dodged and tumbled down the stairs, leaving them momentarily disoriented by my unexpected maneuver.

They hurriedly pursued, swiftly descending the stairs. I swiftly retrieved my wand, trying to defend myself, but their agility proved to be quite formidable.

I managed to narrowly avoid a potentially fatal attack and responded with a desperate swing.

I felt completely out of sync, lacking the grace and skill that my assailants effortlessly demonstrated. I felt completely overwhelmed, like a beginner who was clearly overpowered.

But then, as I swung—and missed—the opponent behind me accidentally hit his teammate, and a wave of unexpected relief washed over me. Without hesitation, Nikki swiftly descended from above, pouncing on her astonished opponent.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

She grabbed him by the hair and relentlessly punched him until one of the steps started to break.

Both individuals fell to the ground below, leaving me with a strong urge to quickly make my way down the metal stairs.

I gripped my wand and hurried down the stairs, fully committed to completing the battle. Just as I was about to take action, my opponent suddenly collapsed, defeated by Malachi's swift and decisive move.

"Took you quite some time," Nikki grumbled, and Malachi couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, it's not often that one spends years to bring someone down," he joked.

I found his remark quite bothersome. Nikki and I were able to handle things on our own, and there was a brief period where she had to take a break because of an injury. So, there I stood, bravely confronting the remaining adversary, despite my lack of expertise in such situations.

"Let's go, there might be something valuable up here," Malachi proposed, taking charge. He casually leaned against the wall, and much to our astonishment, it effortlessly slid open, revealing a concealed passageway that resembled a vent. The usefulness of this finding, however, remained uncertain.

"Well, that's quite convenient," Malachi commented with a sly smile, while Nikki released a frustrated sigh.

We stepped into the corridor, where a metallic scent filled the air, deviating from the usual qualities of a standard vent. Exploring cramped passageways was not exactly my area of expertise.

Nikki shut the sliding door behind us, and we continued down the corridor. As we approached the conclusion, we came across a door that was securely sealed.

"There's a code, and nobody bothered to let us know?" Nikki complained under her breath. "Not even Master Tiphe," he said.

"Well, I guess it's connected to her, the school, or something else," I reasoned, although the futility of it all weighed heavily on my mind.

"Hold on, let's give this a shot," Malachi proposed, his eyes locked on the code as if intense focus could unveil the solution. He reached behind the codebox, and with a sudden click, the door swung open. "How did you manage to accomplish that?" Nikki inquired, clearly impressed.

"Simply sever the wire located behind it," he explained nonchalantly. As we stepped inside, we were greeted by a massive room with a towering rocket that made us feel incredibly small. The rocket's immense size was like three school buses stacked on top of each other.

"I wonder if they actually said this was a bomb," I pondered. "I am completely clueless about the nature of this explosive device, but it appears to possess immense destructive potential."

"Well, I wasn't aware of that, smarty pants," Malachi quipped. "We should expedite the process of neutralizing this explosive device." We began to scour the room, searching for any sign of the bomb amidst a sea of scientific equipment—screens, computers, analyzers, and even a vending machine.

"Do you observe anything?" I inquired with Nikki, but she shook her head, equally puzzled. I strolled through the labyrinth of contraptions and gizmos, feeling a bit daunted by the sheer intricacy of it all. Nevertheless, a surprising twist made me feel a sense of unease.

The opponents were entering the room.

"Oh no—Malachi!" I let out a cry, but Nikki swiftly silenced me. "Should we simply surrender?"

"We don't possess the same level of firepower as he does!" I debated in a quiet voice. I accidentally came across a collection of buttons and, in a state of panic, started pressing them without any thought. I could feel perspiration forming on my forehead, while my hands quivered, revealing my apprehension. I was in a state of chaos, with my actions and thoughts all over the place.

However, I couldn't help but notice a lever that appeared to be tilted forward, as if my previous actions had caused it to move. I tried to retract it, but it refused, firmly fixed in position.

Then, I noticed a button and decided to press it. I was completely taken aback by the sheer power of my own actions, which resulted in me being forcefully propelled off my feet.

The rocket sprang to life, hanging in mid-air, supported by a complex network of cables and pulleys. An overwhelming sense of dread washed over me as I comprehended the consequences of my actions.

What had I done?

What had I set free?

"Hey, what's up?" Malachi exclaimed with excitement as the rocket started its journey into the sky. "Please switch it off!"

Then, it suddenly dawned on me, a delayed realization that had escaped everyone's notice. The rocket was extremely powerful, and I had accidentally set it off.

Nikki and I exchanged concerned looks, desperately searching for a way to stop the rocket from going any higher. However, there were no apparent clues or definitive leads. I examined the illuminated buttons and anxiously pressed a series of them, my expression twisted with apprehension. I couldn't keep my hands steady, and perspiration started to form on my forehead.

Then, I noticed a switch that seemed to be leaning forward, as if inviting me to do something. I pulled at it, attempting to move it, but it stubbornly refused to budge, as if it were permanently stuck.

Then, I came across a button and decided to give it a press. I was knocked off my feet by the sheer power of my endeavor, landing hard on the ground.

The rocket came to a sudden stop, held in place by a complex network of cables and pulleys. I felt a wave of relief as I realized I had successfully put an end to it.

I let out a sigh of relief, my body finally finding a moment of respite after enduring a lot. The room was eerily quiet, with only the soft hum of machinery and the faint echo of our labored breaths breaking the silence.

Then, out of nowhere, the world around us started to crumble into darkness, the ground beneath us disappearing into thin air. I had no clue about my destination or how I would find my way back, but a single word dominated my thoughts:

Victory.

I let out a small, relieved cry as the virtual headset was taken off, and I found myself back in reality. The sudden change caught me off guard for a moment, but the immense sense of accomplishment drowned out any remaining apprehension or doubt.

I accomplished it. We had accomplished our goal.