Lightfix was being pulled toward the black hole with increasing force.

  “No way… That old woman really has power like this? So someone can actually control a black hole… As long as she’s here, I can’t do anything. Hm… then there’s only one last move left.”

  He took a stance and tensed his legs to their absolute limit. That allowed him to slow the pull, reducing the speed at which he was being dragged in. Then he shifted his gaze to Namkhai. The monk was still standing there, his clenched fist ready to strike.

  “Come on, big guy! Show me what you’ve got!” Lightfix shouted.

  Namkhai finished charging and grinned.

  “Heh, idiot. You really think you’ll survive my punch? Then take this!” he yelled and slammed his fist into Lightfix’s stomach.

  Lightfix met the attack with a smile.

  “Idiot! Don’t you dare!” Phobos screamed.

  The blow was so powerful that Lightfix was blasted out of the black hole’s pull. He flew aside and crashed to the floor. With great effort, he pushed himself up.

  “That punch really was lethal… the pain is unbearable…”

  Everyone was stunned - Namkhai most of all.

  “How the hell did you even stand up after that?”

  Clutching his stomach, Lightfix replied,

  “Thanks to sheer willpower, I’m not dead yet!”

  “What are you talking about?! That’s not an answer at all!”

  “I don’t care if you don’t get it! But I admit it you’ve cornered me. And now I’ll show you my final and greatest technique!”

  “You still have tricks left?!”

  “Yes. This ancient technique was mastered thanks to my book, and it is—”

  “…”

  Lightfix suddenly turned around and bolted away from his hideout.

  “THIS IS A SECRET TECHNIQUE! THE ULTIMATE MOVE - TACTICAL RETREAT!!” he shouted, disappearing from all four of their sights.

  “What?!” Namkhai froze. “Where the hell did he run off to?”

  The old woman deactivated her ability, and Phobos instantly took off.

  “After him! Now! Find him!”

  All four rushed after Lightfix, but they failed to catch him. Using his power, he managed to escape and become invisible to their eyes, and the old woman’s ability could no longer reach him.

  “Damn it!” Phobos shouted. “Where is that bastard?!”

  Andok’s voice came through to all of them:

  “Soldiers have surrounded the entire building, but because of his ability, finding him is impossible. Consider the mission a failure.”

  Phobos raised his weapon and pointed the blade at the monk, clearly blaming him. A heated argument immediately broke out between them.

  “This is all your fault! Why did you have to hit him?! We already had him cornered!”

  “How was I supposed to know he’d even get back up after that hit?! He didn’t look tough at all!”

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  At that moment, 1991 started snapping at everyone.

  “I say the real mistake is that you’re all even here. You’re all useless. Especially her,” he added, pointing at Delilah.

  Delilah snapped back at him.

  “You literally almost killed us, you deranged psycho,” Namkhai cut in.

  A fight broke out between all four of them. Phobos, Delilah, Namkhai, and 1991 started attacking each other. Soldiers immediately surrounded them and forcefully pulled them apart. Each of them was dragged separately to a truck and locked inside transparent containment cells. All four remained tense as they were transported to the base.

  Upon arrival, by Andok’s order, they were separated and taken to individual cells. However, the moment Namkhai stepped inside his, he realized this place was nothing like an ordinary prison.

  “What the…” he muttered, looking around.

  Inside the room was a clean, neatly made bed—not the gray, lifeless kind found in prison cells, but a normal one. There was a table and a chair, food, an electric kettle, packs of tea and coffee, and even a refrigerator. Namkhai walked over and opened it inside was a full supply of food. He lifted his gaze and noticed a television mounted on the wall.

  “Are all prisons like this now?” he murmured.

  “WOOOHOOO!” a shout came from the neighboring cell.

  Namkhai approached the door and peeked into the next room - 1991 was there, celebrating everything around him like a little kid.

  “So, apparently not…” Namkhai thought.

  Meanwhile, Andok was speaking privately with Phobos in a separate room. They sat across from each other. Phobos was not in handcuffs, and that alone made him wary.

  “Would you like something to drink?” Andok asked.

  Phobos eyed him suspiciously.

  “Tea, coffee, water, soda… we can even arrange beer if you want.”

  “Just water.”

  While a glass was brought to Phobos, Andok pulled out a folder of documents and skimmed through them before speaking.

  “We analyzed all of your battles from start to finish. Despite the mission failure, your performance was extremely impressive.”

  “It would’ve been a lot better if those three idiots had listened to me,” Phobos replied, taking a sip of water.

  “Yes… on that, we are in agreement.”

  “Hm?” Phobos looked genuinely surprised.

  “Based on statistics and your actions, you are a textbook elite-class killer. Vast combat experience, excellent preparation for missions of this nature. The other three also possess strong abilities they are powerful, but lack discipline, experience, patience… and fear.”

  Phobos studied Andok more carefully now.

  “You want me to train them? I’m not a teacher. And I have no intention of showing those three anything. If they die, they die.”

  “No,” Andok replied calmly. “I am offering you the position of squad leader.”

  “What?”

  “You will command them, so future missions do not fail.”

  Phobos let out a short chuckle.

  After that, Namkhai was summoned for questioning. Inside the room with him were a man and a woman dressed in strict formal suits.

  “Namkhai, do you like your new cell?” they asked.

  “Yes. Very much. It’s far better than a normal prison.”

  “That is thanks to how you performed during the recent mission.”

  “But we failed it, didn’t we?”

  “Even so, you proved yourself to be a capable fighter. You have potential.”

  “Well, obviously,” Namkhai replied with noticeable pride.

  “Then please answer a few questions so we can clarify certain points.”

  “As long as it doesn’t take too long.”

  Some time passed. Namkhai answered all the questions calmly, but when the topic of relatives came up, he spoke about his grandfather, Dorje.

  The staff burst out laughing, saying he was either insane or simply stupid.

  However, they then informed him that they would send a request to the monastery to verify whether he was truly a monk. Until a response was received, they intended to use him for work.

  “So I don’t really have a choice either way?” Namkhai asked.

  “That’s correct. If you want an early release, you will have to work for us. However, if missions are completed properly and you perform well, you will receive bonuses such as your current cell, located next to your team. We are counting on long-term cooperation.”

  At the end, Namkhai asked one more question.

  “I wanted to ask something.”

  “We’re listening.”

  “In the prison where I was held, I spent time in solitary confinement. There was another inmate in the neighboring cell.”

  “An inmate in solitary confinement at that facility? To be honest, we don’t have such information. Give us a moment—I’ll send a request, the team will check the records.”

  “He was in very bad condition. Your colleagues tortured him.”

  “Oh, how awful. Practices like that are not used by us.”

  “Don’t pretend. That’s not what I’m getting at. I want you to influence his early release. If necessary, I’m willing to work extra for him.”

  “We understand your request. We’ll discuss it… Ah, the information is here,” the woman said, pulling out a tablet and reading the file. “Are you referring to Eugene Turino?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know his name.”

  “He’s from the world of Turuna. Distinctive feature horns on his forehead.”

  “Yes! Yes, that’s him!” Namkhai perked up.

  “Release the poor guy, and I promise I’ll work at one hundred percent.”

  “Unfortunately, that’s impossible. We’re sorry.”

  “What do you mean impossible?! He won’t tell anyone anything just let him go!”

  “That’s not the issue. Your friend is dead.”

  “What?”

  He killed himself during the prison attack you were also involved in. It seems that was the last time you saw him alive. He was found dead in his cell - he used a guard's weapon.