Danial, observing the lackeys scattered on the floor, knew that they wouldn't be getting up anytime soon. Their bodies lay limp, a testament to the efficiency of his martial prowess. The once chaotic corridor, filled with the echoes of gunfire and struggle, now resonated with the haunting silence.
His attention shifted towards the groaning team leader, who, in a desperate attempt to escape the approaching masked man, was dragging his battered body across the cold floor. Fear etched the leader's face as he tried to put distance between himself and the relentless figure in the white mask.
With each calculated step, Danial closed the gap, his movements deliberate and menacing. The team leader, panting heavily, mustered the little strength he had left to plead for mercy.
"Please spare me! I don't know anything. Please, spare me!" the team leader begged, his voice filled with desperation and fear."
Danial was stunned.
He was expecting some resistance from the leader but a few moves and he conceded. To be honest, Danial was expecting the leader to resist but he gave in instead.
After all the bullets that you have fired, you expect me to spare you?" Danial's voice, though muffled by the mask, carried a stern and unforgiving tone.
The leader, terror etched on his face, stammered in desperation, "I will apologize! I will apologize. I am sorry!" He began knocking his head against the cold floor, a frantic gesture of submission.
Danial, taken aback by the sudden turn of events, quickly interjected, "Don't do whatever you're doing. I am not going to judge you, but the police will. If you want to survive, tell me everything you know – who the scarred man in your group is, why he's targeting this hotel, and what your mission was."
The team leader, realizing the gravity of the situation, ceased his desperate actions and looked up at the masked man. Fear and uncertainty reflected in his eyes as he weighed the consequences of his next words.
"I'll tell you everything," he stammered, his voice a mixture of fear and resignation. "The scarred man, his name is Victor. He's been orchestrating these attacks on high-profile places for reasons I don't fully understand. Our mission here was to create chaos and confusion, but I don't know the specifics. He keeps things compartmentalized, only revealing what we need to know for the mission."
"As for the specifics, I don't know. The only other thing I know is that Victor was assigned this task by his Master. Also from what I have heard they intend to blackmail the government and the owner of this hotel to pay a large ransom and flee."
As the team leader spilt the details about Victor and their mysterious missions, Danial's mind raced with questions. "Go to high-profile places and create chaos and confusion – what is the motive of this? And also to blackmail those high-profile places for ransom? The most important question is who is this Master behind Victor and what is his goal?"
Lost in his contemplation, Danial momentarily dropped his guard. Seizing the opportunity, the team leader, whose desperation had turned into cunning determination, swiftly retrieved a knife from behind his back. With a sudden lunge, he aimed for Danial's back, intending to end the confrontation in a single strike.
However, fate intervened in the form of a shout. "Look out!" cried the girl whom Danial had rescued earlier. Her warning pierced through Danial's deep thought, snapping him back to the immediate danger.
In a split second, Danial reacted, raising his forearms to shield himself. The knife plunged into his flesh, causing searing pain, but the makeshift defence prevented a more critical injury. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Danial, fueled by anger, swung his free hand in retaliation.
His fist connected with the team leader's face, the impact sending him hurtling backwards into the wall with a resounding crash. The knife clattered to the floor as the leader crumpled, momentarily stunned by the force of the blow.
Danial, wincing from the pain, quickly assessed the injury. To his relief, he realized that the knife hadn't penetrated deeply; it was more of a surface-level cut. He flexed his forearm experimentally, confirming that the damage, though painful, was manageable.
The girl who had shouted the warning rushed to Danial's side, genuine concern etched across her face. "Are you okay? Do you need any help?" she asked, her voice filled with worry. Without waiting for an answer, she retrieved a handkerchief from her pocket and began tying it around the masked man's injury with a delicate touch.
Danial looked at the girl beside him and asked " What is your name Miss?"
The girl was stunned. She lowered her head and answered while blushing " L-Lily"
Danial asked the girl " What were you doing here? Were you not informed that the hotel was being evacuated?"
The girl answered with confusion " Evacuated? No, I wasn't informed."
Danial asked further "Didn't you hear the door being knocked on while you were in your room?"
The girl thought for a moment and said " Well now that you mentioned it I did hear the door being knocked on while I was in the shower."
Danial thought for a moment and said " Wait hold on how much time did you take for a shower?"
Lily hesitated for a moment, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment before she answered Danial's question "Um, well... I think I took about an hour and a half," she admitted sheepishly, her gaze shifting nervously.
Danial's eyebrows shot up in surprise at Lily's response. An hour and a half? That much time for just a shower. Danial thought.
Lily noticed Danial's stunned expression and asked "Is everything alright?" she asked, her voice laced with worry, clearly picking up on Danial's reaction.
Danial quickly composed himself, realizing that Lily was likely feeling frightened and vulnerable after the recent ordeal. He offered her a reassuring smile and spoke in a serious tone. "Okay, now that we're safe, the main priority is to get you to safety," he said firmly, gesturing for Lily to follow him.
Lily nodded, her fear still palpable as she recalled the harrowing ordeal they had just endured. Trembling slightly, she followed Danial's lead as he stood up and gestured for her to follow him.
As they moved through the corridor, Danial reached for his phone and dialled Agent Thompson's number. The call was quickly answered, and Agent Thompson's voice came through, filled with concern. "Hello, Danial, what is the situation over there?" he inquired, his tone serious yet tinged with relief.
Danial quickly recounted the recent events to Agent Thompson, detailing the encounter with the rogue group, the revelation about their leader named Victor, and their nefarious intentions to create chaos and blackmail high-profile targets.
"I have interrogated a member of the rogue cultivators, and he said that his leader is called Victor," Danial explained, his voice steady.
Agent Thompson's frown deepened upon hearing the name. "Victor? I didn't think he would come here," he muttered, his tone grave.
Danial's brow furrowed in concern at Agent Thompson's reaction. "What do you mean, sir? Do you know Victor?" he pressed.
Agent Thompson's response was solemn. "Danial, Victor is a ruthless person. Don't let your guard down," he warned his words carrying a weight of caution. "I and the Special Ops team will be arriving in a helicopter. There's a rooftop pad on the hotel – meet us there and bring the civilian with you."
"Roger that," Danial acknowledged. Danial found it a little unbelievable that he said that. It felt like he was in a movie or a video game. Danial found it a little amusing and chuckled.
As Danial found himself chuckling at the surreal situation, he couldn't help but reflect on how his life had taken an unexpected turn since receiving the System. It felt like he had been thrust into a scenario straight out of a movie or video game, yet here he was, facing real danger and making critical decisions that could impact lives.
"It's just... I never thought I'd be saying 'Roger that' in a situation like this," Danial remarked to himself, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The gravity of the situation didn't escape him, but there was a hint of amusement in the absurdity of it all.
Lily, who had been listening to the ongoing call with Agent Thompson, was puzzled by Danial's sudden laughter. "Sir, who are you, and why are you laughing?" she inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity and a touch of concern.
Danial glanced at Lily, his expression momentarily mysterious as he decided to play along with the enigmatic persona he had inadvertently adopted. "Nothing," he replied cryptically, his tone light yet tinged with underlying seriousness.
Lily was taken aback by his response but didn't press further. Instead, she shifted her focus to a more pressing question. "What is your name?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Danial couldn't resist a smirk at Lily's inquiry. "You can call me Shadow," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of intrigue. It was a name that seemed fitting for the masked figure she had encountered amidst the chaos of the hotel.
Outside the hotel, a crowd had gathered, drawn by the commotion and the sight of numerous police officers swarming the area. Among them were Danial's classmates, some of whom were eager to leave the scene, while others lingered, hoping to catch a glimpse of the unfolding events.
Pavan, Danial, and Kuro stood together, their expressions tense as they watched the activity around the hotel. Despite their desire to assist, they remained on the sidelines, aware of the need to defer to the authority of the police in such situations.
As they observed the commanding officer coordinating the response, a sense of frustration gnawed at them. It was clear that the situation was escalating, yet there seemed to be little they could do to help.
Kuro, ever perceptive, sensed their growing impatience and made a suggestion. "Let's move further away and give the police some space to work," he proposed, his voice calm yet determined. Pavan and Maria exchanged a glance, silently agreeing with Kuro's assessment.
With a nod of agreement, they began to distance themselves from the immediate vicinity of the hotel, choosing instead to wait at a safer distance. As they moved away, the sound of gunfire erupted from the building, causing a ripple of panic among the onlookers.
Bright flashes of light illuminated the night sky as glass shattered on the 7th floor, sending shards cascading down onto the street below. People scattered in all directions, seeking refuge from the chaos unfolding before them.
Chaos ensued as people, both onlookers and hotel guests, scrambled for safety. The police, now on high alert, swiftly shifted their focus towards the hotel. Officers aimed their weapons at the building, ready to respond to any imminent threat at the command of the head officer.
The commanding officer, realizing the severity of the situation, barked orders into his radio, coordinating with his team to assess and contain the threat within the hotel. Emergency services were called in, and a perimeter was established to keep the curious crowd at a safe distance.
Maria and Pavan stood frozen in shock as the chaos unfolded before them. The sudden eruption of gunfire and the sight of glass shattering from the hotel's upper floors sent a chill down their spines. They exchanged wide-eyed glances, their minds struggling to comprehend the gravity of the situation.
Kuro, though outwardly calm, furrowed his brow in deep concern. His instincts had warned him of impending danger, but even he hadn't anticipated the magnitude of the unfolding events.
As they watched, unsure of what to do next, Maria's mind raced with possibilities. She knew that they needed help, someone with the expertise to navigate such dangerous situations. Without hesitation, she reached for her phone, intent on calling one of her grandfather's trusted servants who had experience in dealing with emergencies.
However, before she could dial the number, a sudden wheezing sound filled the air, drawing their attention skyward. Their eyes widened in astonishment as they beheld a tactical and cargo helicopter approaching the hotel with purposeful precision.
The helicopter, adorned with police markings, bore the insignia of the Special Ops team. Maria and Pavan were stunned. They didn't know what the markings meant but they recognized the helicopter knowing that it was a military helicopter.
Kuro's mind raced as he gazed at the helicopter hovering above the hotel rooftop. There was something about the insignia that tugged at his memory, a sense of familiarity that he couldn't quite place. He racked his brain, trying to recall where he had seen it before, but the memory remained frustratingly elusive.
As the helicopter descended towards the rooftop pad with precision, Kuro's curiosity piqued further. He watched intently, his keen eyes scanning the aircraft for any additional details that might trigger a recollection. Yet, despite his efforts, the significance of the insignia remained shrouded in mystery.
Meanwhile, inside the hotel, Danial hurried with Lily towards the rooftop, guided by the noise of the approaching helicopter. As they reached the rooftop pad and caught sight of the aircraft hovering above them, Danial's reaction was one of sheer astonishment.
He had expected a typical, utilitarian helicopter, but what greeted his eyes was beyond anything he had imagined. The sleek, imposing aircraft exuded an aura of power and sophistication, its design evoking images of military prowess and cutting-edge technology.
"Holy shit, this helicopter looks amazing," Danial exclaimed, his voice filled with awe and excitement. Despite the gravity of the situation, the inner teenager within him couldn't help but marvel at the sight before him. "This is so cool," he added, unable to contain his enthusiasm.
Beside him, Lily was momentarily stunned by the sight of the helicopter. Though she couldn't hear Danial's words over the roar of the aircraft's engines, his expression of wonder was evident. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration for the masked stranger who had come to her rescue amidst the chaos of the hotel.