The Delta squad passed above the forest, unaware that the young boy they were looking for was right under them.
The helicopter sound kept getting lower as the helicopter left further. Soon, the noise completely disappeared.
Lucifer resumed eating to satiate his hunger.
After finishing, he again continued on his way without resting as he left the forest.
It was around 9 am when a thunderstorm started and broke the silence of the peaceful nature.
The pleasant sound of rain was like a melody for the ones that were inside the houses, but the rain drenched the ones that weren’t taking shelter. One of those people happened to be a young boy who seemed like he was 10-11-years old.
The young boy had beautiful blue eyes and a cute face; however, the expressions on that beautiful face of the boy wasn’t something a young boy should have. There was no shred of happiness on his face.
Droplets of rain fell on his hair, which dripped down through his face as he moved through the rain without taking shelter.
Even if he wished to take shelter, he couldn’t as he was in a barren place. No tree could be seen as far as the eyes could see, which could shelter him.
His bare chest was completely wet as he ran in heavy rain while using the wind to fasten his speed.
....
A helicopter landed within the city of Ikrego that was infested by Monsters committing slaughter everywhere. The rain lashed the ground, decreasing the visibility even more.
The helicopter’s doors opened as a group of Seven Variants stepped out of the helicopter, led by Xander.
"There are a few long-range monsters, and the decreased visibility can be our enemy. Stay alert. Use the surroundings to our advantage! We need to wipe every monster as soon as we can," Xander conveyed to everyone, ignoring the rain that had drenched his clothes in a few seconds.
"Let’s spread out in a group of two since the Dungeon Dwellers are spread out. We can cover more areas. I’ll go alone. There will be four teams," he declared.
"Ah, I’m not convinced with this plan of spreading out. It can be dangerous for you. We definitely can’t let you go alone," Oliver said, who happened to be a Delta squad member, working under Xander.
"That’s right. We can’t let you go alone," another member, Felis, chimed in.
"You think I can’t handle a Dungeon Dweller alone?" Xander scoffed.
He was the strongest member in the team and one of the Warlocks of the APF who had an S-Rank elemental power of Flames, which were said to be the strongest flames that could burn anything.
Xander couldn’t believe that his own squad members doubted him.
"It’s not that we doubt you, but the conditions don’t favor you in this situation. You are a Flame user. Look in our surroundings. Do you think your flames can be as effective in this intense rainstorm? You are facing your natural enemy! It’s not about your abilities."
"If it wasn’t raining, you could have burnt the whole town, but now that it is heavily raining, I can’t entirely agree with you taking a risk. We can’t lose you," the third member, Meldon, explained to Xander, the reasoning being their disagreement with Xander’s suggestion.
"That’s right. We should have three teams. The team with three members can include you," Oliver replied, agreeing with Meldon.
"This rain?" Xander laughed as he looked towards the cloud-filled sky, letting the rain fall on his face.
He raised his right hand. A little flame started burning in his hands, not harming him in the slightest.
"Do you think this little rain can extinguish my flames?" he inquired.
The others looked at the flames in his hand. Rain fell on his hand, but the droplets that came near his hand kept getting vaporized before they could even touch his flames. His flame burnt even more brightly.
"Now stop thinking about such nonsense. My flames can’t be this weak to be extinguished like this. If it was a B-Rank or lower flame, it could have happened, but not this one."
"I didn’t get the position of your leader for nothing. My plan is final so stop wasting time. Each second you waste here can result in an innocent life being lost," Xander asserted sternly.
"Felis, you will go with Line towards the south. Cormac and Dain, you guys will take the north. Meldon and Oliver, you guys take the East. I’ll take the west. There are not many monsters left. Only seven or eight should be here, according to the information."
"They should be spread out as well. If they aren’t and you guys see them together, don’t engage. Inform us and wait there," he declared before he turned to the side and left.
Everyone agreed and formed teams as described by Xander and left in their assigned direction.
....
The rain was still falling. It had also started thundering. Despite being morning, the ground was covered in darkness as if it was night. The light of the sun was hidden by dark lights, making it barely visible.
Lucifer stopped running and slowed down as he saw a city in the distance.
"That should be the Erygas. Just a little more time, and I’ll be in the facility. I shall finish every relation with the past; My family is already dead. I died too."
"Why should the ones that tortured me live? Their death shall extinguish the flames within my heart before I start a new life, far away from all the monsters..." he muttered as he clenched his fist.
Placing his feet on the wet ground, he started walking towards the city. He didn’t seem in a hurry this time. He walked at normal speed, without using any abilities.
Reaching the city entrance, Lucifer entered, unaware that many eyes were watching him as soon as he placed his foot inside the city.
Many hidden cameras were placed within the city that transferred the scene live to Flourance, who was sitting in the surveillance room.
"Young boy... silver hair...." Flourance muttered as he glanced at the first monitor that was showing the footage from the entrance. It showed a bare-chested young boy entering the city.