Chapter 49: Welcome

As the clock's hands inched closer to midnight, Reese's anticipation mingled with a silent prayer that Dwight would refrain from calling until his task at SM Seaside was complete. 

With each passing moment, his focus intensified, and his senses were attuned to the slightest sound or vibration from his phone.

As he mentally prepared himself for the mission ahead, Reese's thoughts raced with plans and strategies to navigate the treacherous depths of SM Seaside. He knew that every second counted, and any interruption could derail his carefully laid plans.

With a deep breath, Reese reaffirmed his resolve, steeling himself for the challenges that awaited him. He couldn't afford to be distracted. But as the minutes ticked by and midnight drew nearer, Reese's prayers seemed to be answered. The phone remained silent. 

Exhaling a sigh of relief, 

Reese felt the tension drain from his shoulders. It seemed that, for now at least, fate was on his side.

With a determined glint in his eye, Reese knew that he had to seize this moment and make the most of it. With his mind clear and his resolve unwavering, he set out into the night.

With his new speed coursing through his veins, Reese felt a surge of euphoria as he darted through the streets of the city like a phantom. Gone were the days of waiting for cabs or relying on public transportation—he was now a blur of motion, racing through the urban landscape with effortless grace.

With each stride, Reese marveled at the freedom afforded to him by his abilities. His excitement soared with each daring leap from one building to another. With a whoop of exhilaration, he soared through the air, feeling like a superhero in his own right.

"Yahoo! This is amazing!" Reese shouted with unbridled glee as he bounded effortlessly from rooftop to rooftop, his movements fluid and graceful.

But as he landed on one particularly small building, Reese suddenly realized that he had inadvertently crashed a rooftop party. Startled screams erupted from the group of unsuspecting revelers as Reese landed with a thud, sending drinks flying and chairs toppling over.

"Oops! Sorry about that, folks!" Reese called out sheepishly, flashing an apologetic grin before bounding away.

As Reese bounded away from the rooftop party, the startled guests stared after him in disbelief, their expressions a mix of confusion and amusement.

"Holy sh*t, did you see that?" one exclaimed, eyes wide with shock.

"Yeah, I think we just got crashed by a superhero or something!" another replied, laughter bubbling up from deep within.

"I can't believe he just jumped away like that! That was some crazy shit," a third chimed in, still clutching their spilled drink in one hand.

"Damn, I've never seen anything like that before," the other one cursed, rubbing their eyes as if trying to erase the image.

As the group exchanged incredulous glances, one brave soul raised their glass in a mock toast. "To unexpected rooftop visitors and the craziest party crasher we've ever seen!"

The group stood in stunned silence for a moment before muttering curses and shaking their heads in bewilderment, unable to comprehend the spectacle they had just witnessed. 

As Reese vanished into the night, leaving behind only a trail of dust and confusion, some pedestrians that were still out at this hour could only stare after him, wondering what otherworldly force had just streaked through their midst.

But for Reese, there was no time to dwell on the reactions of others. With each passing moment, he drew closer to his destination at SM Seaside, his mind focused on the task at hand.

With his newfound speed and agility, he knew that he was more than capable of confronting whatever danger lay in wait. And so, with the wind at his back and the city at his feet, Reese raced onward, a silent guardian moving unseen through the night. Reese finally arrived at SM Seaside just 10 minutes after leaving his rented home.

Without a moment's delay, his sense of urgency intensified. With a determined focus, he extended his spiritual sense outward, scanning the area meticulously for any signs of guards near and within the tower.

To his surprise and dismay, Reese discovered a considerable presence of guards surrounding the tower. Near the base alone, he sensed the presence of 50 guards, their vigilant watch casting a formidable barrier around the structure. Additionally, there were 30 guards stationed outside, further fortifying the perimeter.

Perplexed by the sight, Reese's curiosity was piqued. Why were there so many guards tonight, and why were they concentrated near the tower? It was a question that gnawed at his mind as he approached the imposing structure. Then Reese used his Shadow Dash to move forward without anyone noticing.

As Reese neared the entrance of the tower, he couldn't resist the urge to eavesdrop on the conversations of the guards, hoping to glean some insight into the situation. He discreetly lingered nearby, his ears tuned to their hushed murmurs.

"It's strange, isn't it? Why would they suddenly increase security like this?" one guard remarked to his companion, his voice tinged with confusion.

"I received orders from higher up to be extra vigilant tonight," the other guard replied, his tone equally perplexed.

Reese's interest was piqued by their exchange. Something was clearly amiss, and he was determined to uncover the truth. But as he pondered his next move, his attention was drawn to another group of guards nearby, engaged in a heated discussion.

"I don't like it. This feels like more than just a routine security measure," one guard muttered, his brow furrowed in concern.

"I heard rumors that some big-shot boss is up there on the top floor," another guard interjected, his voice low and conspiratorial.

With a gleam in his eyes, Reese wasted no time in seizing the opportunity presented by the guards' conversation. If there truly was a high-ranking figure atop the tower, this was his chance to capture them and uncover the truth about the League of Shadows.

With lightning speed, Reese dashed forward. As Reese reached the top floor, a sense of frustration washed over him. Despite his best efforts, his spiritual sense once again failed to penetrate the door, just like he was in Robinsons Galleria, leaving him blind to whatever awaited him beyond.

Grimacing with disappointment, "Damn it," Reese cursed softly under his breath.

Then he checked the door to see if it was locked, and to his dismay, it was locked. Without a choice, Reese hid in the shadows, waiting for someone to come or someone to leave so that he could get in and see whatever was behind the door.

Reese waited in the shadows, his patience wearing thin with each passing moment. He couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment as no guards came to open the door. It seemed that luck was not on his side this time, and with time ticking away, he knew he couldn't afford to wait any longer.

With a resigned sigh, Reese knew he had no choice but to take matters into his own hands.

Drawing upon his considerable strength, he prepared to forcibly breach the door, knowing full well that it would draw the attention of the guards once he confronted the creature inside.

With a determined grimace, Reese reared back his fist and delivered a powerful punch to the door.

Boom

The sound of splintering wood echoed through the corridor as the door shattered under the force of his blow.

Then Reese burst through the door, his heart pounding with adrenaline as he prepared to face whatever lay beyond. The darkness of the room enveloped him like a shroud, and as his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he braced himself for the confrontation that awaited him.

Then a sinister voice boomed in the dark hall.

"Welcome."