Chapter Twenty-Four: The Trap

Without any warning, they found themselves on the fifth floor—a situation none of them had experienced before. Naturally, Eluca and her two sisters heightened their vigilance, gripping their weapons tightly as they scanned their surroundings. In contrast, Ferren and Delin remained remarkably calm; the former was still humming a tune, as if he noticed nothing amiss, while the latter trailed behind with an untroubled smile, casually holding a spiked club.

To be honest, their composure in such a strange environment only made the situation more unsettling.

We’ve indeed been brought to the fifth floor, but there’s nothing odd we can sense, Master.

“That’s what makes it interesting, isn’t it? We go out every day seeking this kind of thrill, don’t we?” Ferren replied, glancing around. Through the window, he could confirm they were indeed on the fifth floor, but how they had arrived there was a complete mystery. Yet this didn’t surprise him much. The “Emperor” had sent in two search teams, one after the other. Even if the first team had made a careless mistake, the second would surely be more cautious. Even if they were accused of cowardice, posting a sentry at the entrance was hardly a challenge. Yet no one had returned to report—clearly, something was wrong. In this case, the bizarre circumstances Ferren and his group now faced perfectly explained why no one had returned or sent word.

But what had happened to those who had come before?

“Commander, I think there’s something here…”

At that moment, Corona’s timid voice sounded again.

“What is it?” Ferren asked.

“Um…”

Corona nodded, nervously wringing her fingers as if searching for the right words. After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke.

“I—I just felt something move… but I don’t know what it was… It wasn’t a living thing, more like something fell or drifted down… and then the sensation was gone. Whatever it was, it’s very, very strong…”

“On this floor?”

This time, Corona only nodded. Clearly, the little one wasn’t slow to catch on; she knew that with her abilities, tracking high-level monsters was difficult. Still, their movements would leave traces—disturbed objects, footsteps in the dust—as long as something moved, Corona’s “Mental Sense” could pick up the disturbance. This method only worked in relatively enclosed spaces—outdoors it was useless.

“How many?” Eluca asked tensely, scanning their surroundings. She gripped her laser rifle tightly, eyes trained on the corridor ahead. The only thing that reassured her was the gloomy sky visible through the window and the faint chill of a breeze—wait, a breeze? Where had that come from?

No—something was wrong!

The moment Eluca felt it, Ferren, standing a short distance away, suddenly moved like a specter—leaning back, he lifted his scalpel and stabbed upward at the ceiling.

A piercing shriek split the air as a creature, its body a mottled brown-black like some unholy fusion of giant bat and jackal, dodged Ferren’s attack. Howling, it swung its powerful arms like a gibbon, leaping down from the ceiling, twisting in mid-air before landing with a thud. It narrowed its eyes and fixed its bloody maw on its prey.

“Energy Leech!”

At the sight, Eluca hastily raised her laser rifle and took aim, while Corona screamed and collapsed in terror. Even the usually silent Chris paled, shotgun raised to shield Corona. The Energy Leech, missing its first attack, roared and lunged for them again.

“Stand aside.”

Just as Eluca was about to activate “Fierce Firepower,” a calm voice whispered in her ear. A dark blur flashed before her eyes—Ferren appeared silently at her side. She saw him raise his right hand, a glint of steel flashing, and the charging Energy Leech suddenly twisted, wrenching itself out of its attack path. It roared, thrusting its right hand forward, the five fingers lengthening and twisting, transforming into dagger-like blades driving straight for Ferren.

Compared to the Energy Leeches Ferren had encountered outside, this one was clearly more cunning. It had seized the brief opening as Ferren struck, launching a counterattack before he could withdraw, completely shifting the tide of battle.

“It’s intelligent, and it knows how to control the flow of combat…” Ferren murmured with a slight smile, eyes narrowed. Yet, in the next instant, he flicked his retreating right hand to the side. With a harsh howl, the Energy Leech’s outstretched right arm was severed, cleaved into chunks like a ham.

“Unfortunately, its hunter’s wit can’t overcome its bloodlust. Seeing prey so close, it can’t help itself… Impulsive men are never popular with the ladies.”

With a furious roar, the one-armed Energy Leech, realizing its prey was no easy target, leapt backward to escape. But Ferren was just as swift. As the creature jumped, he raised his right hand, as if drawing an invisible thread between them. The Energy Leech suddenly collapsed with a dull thud, shrieking hoarsely and struggling briefly before falling still.

Only then did Eluca notice a scalpel buried in the monster’s forehead.

Such speed!

Eluca stared at Ferren in astonishment—this was her first time witnessing his combat up close. She hadn’t expected him to move with such ghostly swiftness; she hadn’t even seen what he’d done. By the time she recovered, the terrifying Energy Leech lay dead at their feet.

Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the silence. Eluca spun around in alarm.

“Corona!”

Three more Energy Leeches dropped from the ventilation shaft in the ceiling, lunging for the center of the group where Corona stood. Neither Eluca nor Chris had time to react. Fortunately, Ferren and Delin weren’t rattled by the sudden attack. Ferren whipped his right hand forward, sending several silver flashes whistling through the air toward the monsters. On the other side, the cat-eared maid swung her spiked club with all her might.

This time, the three Energy Leeches made no attempt to defend themselves; determined to drag their prey down with them, they charged through the onslaught.

“Fall back!”

Ferren’s command rang in Corona’s ears. The little girl’s wild instincts kicked in—she fired her pistol in a panicked volley, then rolled behind Chris in the nick of time, like a hamster diving for cover. The Energy Leeches, unprepared for resistance from their weakest prey, hesitated. Corona’s aim was poor, but the sudden gunfire startled them into stillness.

That hesitation was the difference between life and death.

Delin’s spiked club crashed into one, sending its hulking body flying like a rag doll. Ferren’s scalpels struck another, three blades piercing its skull and dropping it instantly, lifeless. The last surviving Energy Leech, realizing the tables had turned, bolted down the corridor.

“Trying to escape?” Eluca snapped, her brows knitting. She dashed to the corner, laser rifle raised, and spun around to aim—only to find the hallway empty.

Gone?

She stared, bewildered, but before she could speak, a hand fell on her shoulder from behind.

Startled, she spun and found Ferren standing quietly behind her, eyes narrowed as he watched the far end of the corridor. Only then did she breathe again and turn, intending to check on Corona and the others.

But the moment she turned, she froze.

They were gone.

Delin, Chris, and Corona—who had been standing there just moments before—had vanished without a trace.