"What is wrong with you?!!!" The slim man yelled in rage, his voice cracking from the strain.

​"It’s... it’s a thing between warriors," the muscular man, known as Ares, started, his eyes locked onto the dark figure. Surrounded by nothing but the snow and darkness, only the two glowing golden eyes and the vague silhouette confirmed it was humanoid.

​"I think I know why I couldn’t sense his aura before," he breathed out, the realization turning his blood to ice.

​"Why?!!"

​The three lackeys yelled in unison, panic setting in.

​"A warrior won’t be able to sense another warrior’s life force when the warrior is twenty levels lower," Ares said, his voice dropping to a terrified whisper.

​"What?!! You’re saying he is Lv30 or below!" The second man screamed in absolute horror, stumbling back to the warehouse door.

​"Maybe... I didn’t think of this at first, because what would a Lv30 Warrior do here in the slums? They should be in the Inner City, enjoying the rich life. Anyone Lv30 and below is beyond powerful. They are monsters," the muscular man added, sweat freezing on his brow.

​"What are you saying, Ares!!"

​An angry, commanding female voice suddenly boomed from the phone speaker, stunning the four thugs.

​"Boss!" Ares yelled, snatching the phone from the third man with a trembling hand.

​"Boss!! It’s true! There is someone here whose life force I can’t sense. That’s the only explanation!!" he yelled into the phone, seeking reassurance from their leader.

​"Who is he? What is he after?" the Boss demanded, her voice cutting through the static.

​"You heard the Boss!! Who are you?!! What are you after?!!" The slim man yelled, his hands shaking as he pointed his silenced gun at the figure. The entity only tilted his head, staring down at them with unsettling calm.

​"He isn’t answering," Ares reported, his grip tightening on the phone.

​"Fine then! I will come personally to see this arrogant brat!! Thinking because he’s a Lv30, there isn’t anyone stronger! Give me ten minutes!"

​With that sharp command, the call disconnected.

​"You heard the Boss! If you have guts, wait for ten minutes!!" The second man yelled, a nervous, bravado-fueled smirk forming on his face.

​"Ten minutes." The figure closed his golden eyes, the glow fading for a moment, and then opened them again, the golden light cutting through the snowfall.

​"In less than ten minutes, I can destroy all your members from all hideouts. Anyway, I will wait." He stared down at Ares, his eyes completely emotionless, a predator watching trapped prey.

​"I just hope she puts on a better show than you."

___

​[Inside the Warehouse]

​While the group outside was locked in a tense standoff, Regina stood just inside the massive iron doors, her small body shivering in the freezing, cavernous space. The air was thick with the smell of mold and unwashed bodies.

​Boxes and shipping crates were arranged in endless rows, creating a maze that opened up into a wide, concrete square in the center.

​"Huh?"

​She stared at the sight before her. Ten ragged kids were sitting on the cold ground, huddled around a single, flickering candle for warmth. Each of their hands and legs was bound with heavy, rusted iron chains. Regina blinked, her eyes adjusting to the gloom, and raised her head to the ceiling, seeing it was reinforced rock—this wasn’t just a warehouse; it was a bunker.

​"Who are you guys? Are you the kids he said are sick?" she asked, her voice small as she slowly walked towards them.

​"Another one?" A young woman shook her head. She seemed to be the oldest of the group, her face hardened by years in the dark.

​"What do you mean by another?" Regina asked, clutching her half-eaten bread.

​The woman stared at the hollow, defeated faces of the nine children sitting in a circle before her, then back at Regina’s dirt-streaked face.

​"Well, no matter what I say, you won’t believe me... I am guessing they gave you two gold coins and brought you here. Right?" she said, her tone flat and cynical.

​Regina blinked, stunned that the woman knew exactly how she had been tricked.

​"I see. Anyway. I am Aurora... Come and sit with us," she sighed, gesturing to an empty space near the meager warmth of the candle.

​"No."

​"Huh?"

​Aurora was visibly confused. The nine kids all slowly turned their heads to stare at Regina, their eyes wide with fear and surprise.

​"I am not here to sit down. I am here to set you all free," Regina said, and managed a soft, hopeful smile despite the freezing cold.

​"Set us free?" Aurora asked, her confusion deepening into disbelief.

​"Yes." Regina held up the large loaf of bread in her hand, which she hadn’t even eaten half of. Before their stunned faces, she carefully tore into the bottom crust.

​"....?!!"

​Everyone watched in shock as a single, heavy iron key fell from the bread and landed squarely onto Regina’s small, trembling palm.

​"He said this can unlock all the locks... I am here to help," she continued, looking up at them with a fierce, innocent determination.

​"Really... Finally, we can escape." Aurora stood up quickly, the heavy chains rattling, but the younger kids didn’t dare move an inch, paralyzed by their trauma.

​Regina nodded, staring at Aurora, who was eagerly walking towards her. The iron chains dragged and hit the concrete floor, making loud, terrifying sounds that echoed off the high ceiling.

​"Please, set my hands free first. I am the oldest here, and can help more." Aurora stopped in front of Regina, stretching her bound arms forward, then looked over her shoulder at the shivering children.

​"Those four men have traumatized them... They all need a savior and a better place. With that man and your help; I know we will survive," she added, her voice thick with emotion.

​Regina nodded quickly, wanting nothing more than to help. She dropped her precious bread onto the dirty ground, took the key, and started placing it into the rusted keyhole of Aurora’s cuffs.

​CLICK!!

​The kids violently trembled hearing the heavy lock disengage. They instinctively shrank back from the candle, pressing themselves against the cold crates. Regina stared at them, confused and alarmed by their reaction.

​"How can we help them?" she asked in genuine concern.

​"Oh, you already did," the young woman said with a sudden, wicked smirk. Her tone changed entirely, causing Regina to turn her head towards her in confusion.

​SLAP!!!

​A brutal, clean slap smashed into Regina’s face with the force of a grown adult. The impact threw her frail body violently to the ground. The iron key spun from her grasp and fell directly below Aurora’s bare feet.

​"Those fools!! At least they should know the kids before bringing them here." Aurora sneered. She bent down gracefully, picked up the key, and swiftly unlocked the heavy chains binding her own legs, stepping free of her restraints.

​"I am always the one who has to slap some sense into these street rats. Anyway, where should we start, dear?" she asked with a cruel, mocking smile, staring down at the completely shocked and betrayed Regina bleeding on the floor.