"Now, I did think of every possibility but, just how big is this base? Or is it actually that small?! Ugh..."

It got to a point where he couldn’t even tell if he was still standing in the same place he had carefully mapped out in his head.

Knowing Myles, there was no doubt he’d set up some kind of insane mechanism.

There wasn’t even a trace of a man-made trail... nothing. Which meant this place probably hadn’t been visited by bikers, campers, or anyone, really.

Bending down slightly, he let out a long, tired sigh.

"Seriously... ouch..."

Up until now, he’d convinced himself he could ignore it, but the thorn had done its job on Blake’s ankle.

Dried blood crusted around the wound, and on top of that, a creeping worry settled in... worms, insects, anything that could’ve found its way in.

Well, it’s not like he’d ever lived in the countryside in his past life, so his irrational fear was somewhat justified.

Zing...

Ziiinggg...

Ziiiiiiinggg...

It was a faint noise, barely hearable, in fact.

But with the kind of spying he’d done, there was no way his ears would miss something like that.

He moved toward the sound.

At first glance, it was just a tree, completely ordinary, blending in with the others.

Not too tall, not too short. Not too thick, not too thin.

’Then why the noise...?’

His eyes scanned left, then right.

Slowly and carefully, trying to make himself as unnoticeable as possible (even if that was practically impossible), he reached out and touched it.

[ Mission complete ]

[ Reward: 70 coins ]

Blake raised an eyebrow.

At this point, he wasn’t even questioning how something like this could happen. There weren’t many things in this world that followed the rules of his previous one anyway.

’So... this is the entrance to the base?’

Without wasting another second, he turned and walked back.

Still, he couldn’t quite wrap his head around it. A tree leading to a hidden base? He had imagined something more... dramatic. A staircase opening up, stone grinding against stone, classic fantasy style.

"Where did you lose it, you stupid bastard..."

Blake froze.

Mid-step. Mid-breath. Mid-thought.

He stood behind a tree, bark pressing faintly into his shoulder, rough against his skin. By some miracle, no, not even a miracle, just sheer, dumb luck, he had shifted just enough moments before to avoid being seen.

Or at least... he hoped so.

His muscles screamed at him to move, to peek, to do something, but they didn’t listen.

They couldn’t.

His chest tightened, breath caught somewhere between his lungs and throat, refusing to go either way.

’Was that... directed at me?’

The voice, it had been close.

Too close.

’Who’s there? Do they know I’m here? Then, is this a threat?’

His fingers twitched, barely, nails grazing against the tree’s surface. Even that felt too loud.

His ears strained, every nerve stretching outward.

Those were footsteps.

Cold sweat trickled down his back. His vision narrowed, squeezing everything into a tunnel.

He couldn’t even bring himself to lean.

Couldn’t look.

Couldn’t breathe.

Then, a second voice that sounded lighter, almost amused.

"Relax, it was just a slip-up."

A short laugh followed.

Blake didn’t move, but something inside him shifted.

There were two of them.

Not one.

That realization made his paralysis a little bit easier to handle.

’Those are definitely Myles’ people.’

Slowly, Blake turned his head.

Just enough to see.

Still shielded by the tree, still hidden in shadow, he let his eyes do what his body refused to.

And there they were.

Not far.

Closer than he would’ve liked.

The suits came first.

Bright, unnatural colors that didn’t belong in a forest.

One yellow.

One red.

The tech was similar to the one Myles had on his own costume.

They all looked sleek and layered, with lines tracing along their limbs, glowing softly. And the masks were also featureless, yet expressive in their own way.

He recognized them immediately.

When he received his first mission to spy on Myles.

They had been there, standing near him, not even paying attention to the fact Myles was being ruthless towards that man.

’So it’s them...’

Blake’s throat tightened again.

’What are they doing out here...?’

His fingers curled slightly.

This wasn’t good, not even close.

They were above him in every possible way.

Experience. Strength. Equipment.

And that tech, he didn’t even want to imagine what it could do.

Fighting wasn’t an option, not even remotely.

He could try running, at least.

If he was careful.

If he was lucky.

If...

He stopped the thought.

Too many ifs.

Too many ways to die.

Slowly, inch by inch, Blake shifted his weight.

A foot slid back, then another.

He didn’t look at them again. He didn’t dare for now.

His body felt distant, his legs moved, but he barely felt the ground beneath them.

Still, he kept going.

Further.

Further.

Further.

Branches brushed against his arms, leaves flew against his clothes. Each sound felt deafening to him, even if the forest swallowed it whole.

Then, he stopped.

Not because he wanted to, because something else did.

His eyes locked onto... something in the woods.

Watching him.

It didn’t move or blink, just stared.

"Ah..."

It was small, shorter than him.

But those eyes were wide, just too wide.

Reflecting what little light filtered through the trees.

It looked unnatural, but there was something deeply wrong.

’That’s not human.’

The thought came without hesitation, without doubt.

The creature stepped forward, out of the shadows.

And that feeling intensified.

It wasn’t just not human, but something else entirely.

Blake’s body tensed, instinct screaming to move, run, just do something.

But before he could...

"Found you."

The voice snapped through the air, right next to him.

Blake’s head jerked.

It was the yellow one from earlier.

He was right there without making any sound, without any warning he just appeared there.

’How...’

His thoughts shattered. He hadn’t seen them move. Hadn’t heard them follow.

’Were they following this thing? Just how fast are they?’

Or, was that even speed?

The yellow one crouched slightly, grabbing the creature with ease, as if it weighed nothing.

The creature didn’t resist or scream. But just stared, unblinking.

"Tch, don’t be like that," the yellow one said, almost playfully. "We still need you a bit longer. It’ll be quick."

Blake didn’t wait.

He turned to run, or tried to.

Because, the moment he moved, something appeared in front of him.

Wearing red.

The second one was standing directly in his path.

Blake skidded to a halt, breath catching violently.

"Well," the red one tilted their head slightly, voice too calm. "You’re pretty skilled."

A pause.

"We wouldn’t have noticed you at all... if it weren’t for our little friend."

Blake’s jaw tightened.

"What’s your purpose?" the red one asked.

Silence.

"Who sent you?"

Blake kept his mouth shut.

The red one stared for a moment.

Then, he laughed.

But there was something underneath it, annoyance.

"You know," they continued, voice dropping slightly, "every base has people watching the outside. You couldn’t have avoided us forever."

Blake’s mind raced.

’They think I’m spy.’

From somewhere else, against UD.

Not wrong, just, not entirely right either.

His fingers twitched.

Slowly and deliberately, he raised a hand, covering his mouth.

Not to hide fear.

Not to speak.

But to form something silently.

"Spoon."

His lips moved.

No sound.

No whisper.

Just the shape of the word.

He waited... for nothing, since there was no response or system prompt.

Blake’s eyes widened, just slightly.

’Now? Now you’re quiet?’

A flicker of panic surged.

’Where the hell are you—’

He didn’t finish the thought, because he didn’t need to.

Because his body had already decided.

Run.

And this time, he fully did, without hesitation or restraint.

The world seemed to blur, not visually, but in presence.

Like he was... less.

Less noticeable.

Less there.

His skill was truly doing its job.

Blake darted between trees, movements erratic but purposeful, weaving through the forest with desperate precision.

Behind him, the red one didn’t move at first.

They just... watched.

Standing in the same spot, eyes locked onto Blake’s retreating figure.

A faint frown formed beneath the mask.

"I can still see him..."

A pause.

"...so why is he getting blurry?"

Then, they moved fast, closing distance in an instant.

But, he was gone.

Blake was gone, there was no presence or trace, just absolutely nothing.

The red one stopped abruptly, scanning the forest.

Left.

Right.

Forward.

There was nothing.

"...What?"

How was it possible for someone so slow to outran him?

Meanwhile, Blake ran.

And ran.

And ran.

Branches snapped behind him, lungs burning, heart pounding violently against his ribs.

He didn’t stop, he couldn’t.

Not until he saw light, open space.

The forest ended abruptly, trees giving way to a street, dull and quiet.

Blake stumbled out, nearly tripping over himself.

His chest heaved, breaths ragged and uneven.

There were people, buildings.

Without thinking, he darted toward the nearest apartment complex and went inside, going up the stairs.

One flight.

Then another.

Then he stopped.

Pressed against the wall, hidden in the corner of the stairwell.

His hands trembled.

His entire body shook.

His breathing was too loud and fast.

"I..."

He swallowed hard.

"Spoon... take the mask off... store it..."

[ Yes, Dear Host ]

Blake slumped slightly against the wall, eyes unfocused, chest still rising and falling as if he had outrun something far worse than just two people.

And maybe, he had.