Payback

As I breathe in the fresh air of this world, I open my eyes to look at Misa and Mia's stroll from above. The small circular space the tower provided is certainly suffocating, especially for 2 people, but it was sufficient.

I don't get it... how did all of them trust this old dude? I mean I understand the gamers' minds, but how about normal people? It definitely looks suspicious. I won't doubt the dead though... I don't wanna be cursed.

"How'd so many people fall for this?" Shin pushed his back against the wall.

If this dude gets cursed, it has nothing to do with me.

"There's probably a way somehow. I'm sure it looked convincing," I replied, staring out to the clear blue sky.

Not gonna lie, I feel a little bad that Misa and Mia have to be the bait, but we didn't have any other solid option. Although Amber said she wouldn't let her friend die, I don't think she's in the best mindset to plan anything as solid as she used to.

I'll put my faith in her anyways though. She'll figure something out, she always does.

"Look!" Shin pointed at Misa.

"He's here," I muttered underneath my breath.

Shin's fist slowly burns with anger, I can't fault him for that, but we have to stay calm. Below us are Amber, Damon, Kyle and Fay prepared to strike the moment anything bad happens to Misa. We're only here to be their backup.

The old man seemed younger than I thought. I walked with his back straight and everything with a cloak on, but he clearly had silver hair beneath the hood, some of the strands managed to be long enough to escape the cloak's shadow.

Misa looked reluctant at first but started following him while Mia just hid behind her sister.

Out of everyone here, Misa's acting skills beat all of us by a landslide so she actually looks like she's suspicious, but trying to be a good hero and help others. If she followed him without question, that would've been more suspicious than anything. Good for Misa... I wouldn't have thought of that.

"Why are they taking so long?" Shin started tapping his fingers.

"Patience, mister protagonist. Unless Kyle uses his ability to explode something to the sky, we won't have to do anything."

The man led the sisters into a carriage and rode off north, swiftly followed by the team below us.

"Are we really sitting this one out?" Shin asked.

"They have a lot more to avenge than the 2 that got stuck in a cave before any of this happened," I started playing with the pebbles on the ground, reminding myself of the first day we got here.

Throwing the stone at the noble douche. Meeting the red knight. That was fun...

Just the thought puts a smile on my fac-

Suddenly, at the corner of my eye, I see a piece of stone blown into the atmosphere by Kyle's explosion.

Damn it! Something went wrong!

"Let's go!" I shouted, jumping off the windows of the tower and running on the roofs. It's not too far away, but I don't know how much time we've got. "Hellfire!", a transmutation circle appeared on my hands as I face it behind me and boosted my body into the air the moment the explosion and fire came out.

If Amber had 6 months to grind, I'm sure she's fine. She'll be fine. She might need help, but I'm sure it's just her being too cautious. Yeah... she's just too cautious.

"How bad do you think they're losing by?" Shin asked, following as closely as he could with his abilities.

"They're fine... I'm sure they're fine," My breathing started to accelerate as my heart became faster with it. I'm telling myself everything is fine, but let's be honest here... I just hope no ones hurt yet.

The moment our feet hits the ground from the roof, we dashed into the town close by the city to find the air filled with blood and silence across the town. Not a single person in sight...

Not even Damon... not even Fay... not even Kyle...

Not even Amber...

"HEY! WHERE ARE YOU GUYS?!" I shouted out of desperation, although it tells them our location, I just need a confirmation. Something, anything, anywhere. Please...

Please tell me you're alive!