Chapter 76 The Abduction

The group stood panting with their HP bars low."Good job, everyone," Aria's voice sounded a bit hoarse. "That was way harder than it should've been."

"Harder?" Drask muttered while leaning on his axe. "That thing almost made me lose a level!"

August smirked while still catching his breath. "And this is just the first floor."

Drask gave him a begrudging nod. "Yeah, I can't imagine how much tougher things will get. Thanks for the save though."

"Anytime," August responded while downing a bottle of high-tier health potion.

As the boss's remains disappeared, a pile of loot materialized where it had fallen. Glittering weapons, gold coins, and rare materials littered the floor.

"Start collecting," Aria said. "We deserve every bit of this."

August picked up a glowing dagger with intricate runes etched along its blade. A system notification appeared.

[ System Notification: Obtained Devil's Fang (Uncommon). Effect: +20% critical strike damage + poison.]

Torin uncovered a quiver of enchanted arrows, while Gareth found a shield that absorbed 10% of incoming damage.

The group divided the rest of the loot evenly, with August additionally receiving a pair of enchanted boots that increased his movement speed.

At the far end of the room, the massive door to the second floor creaked open, revealing a staircase descending into the depths.

"That's our way down," Aria said, pointing. "But we'd better be ready. If this was the first floor, I can't imagine what's waiting for us next."

...

...

A nightclub outside of town pulsed with energy.

Vibrant neon lights bathed the room, shifting hues to match the heavy bassline of the music.

The crowd was a mix of lively partiers, gamers engrossed in virtual pods, and others casually sipping on cocktails.

Holographic advertisements for various virtual reality games rotated across the walls, including a massive one for Enders Light featuring a gleaming Phoenix Celestial crest.

Victor leaned against a high table near the gaming section, surrounded by his friends. A nearby holographic display showcased an Enders Light leaderboard, flashing the name "Ice Queen" among the top ranks, a constant topic of conversation among players.

"I swear," one of Victor's friends, Jake, said as he sipped his beer, "if I ever manage to hit level 35, I'm applying for Phoenix Celestial. The perks they get are insane."

Victor chuckled while swirling his drink. "Good luck with that. Their recruitment process is brutal. They don't just look at in-game performance; they vet your real-life background too."

Jake groaned. "Don't remind me. My application got denied three times already. Said I didn't meet their 'teamwork criteria.' Like, come on. I just prefer solo grinding."

"That's why I don't bother," Victor replied with a smirk. "Guild life's too restrictive for me. I like the freedom to play how I want. Good thing I can afford any gear I want." Continue your adventure with empire

Ava, another of Victor's friends, arched an eyebrow. "You? Freedom? Mr. Dungeon Grinder? You're practically a guild of one with how you obsess over quests."

The nightclub catered to more than just drinks and dancing. In one corner, players lounged in virtual reality pods. The faint glow of their interfaces was visible through the tinted covers.

Nearby, others donned virtual helmets for shorter gaming sessions. A group erupted in cheers as a high-level player on a public display executed a flawless combo in Enders Light.

Victor turned to Jake. "You should hop on one of those pods and try your luck again."

Jake laughed. "Yeah, maybe after a few more drinks. I need that liquid courage."

Victor suddenly straightened. "Damn, I just remembered—I left something in my car. Be right back."

"Don't take too long," Ava called after him. "You'll miss all the fun."

Victor waved her off and made his way through the crowded club, weaving between patrons.

He stepped outside, greeted by the cool night air. The club's parking lot was dimly lit, with a mixture of high-end cars and more modest vehicles scattered around.

The distant sound of city traffic filled the air as Victor walked toward his car.

Just as he reached for the door handle, two figures materialized out of the shadows. One was tall and broad-shouldered, wearing an ornate Asian demon mask. The other was slender and clad in a flowing kimono with a fox mask obscuring her face. seaʀᴄh thё Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Victor blinked, then laughed. "What is this? A costume party? Did I miss an invite?"

The fox-masked figure tilted her head with a cold voice. "Victor Whitford?"

Victor hesitated. "Uh, yeah. That's me. Who's asking?"

The demon-masked figure's deep voice rumbled. "We're not here to joke. Tell us where Aleman is."

Victor froze as his casual demeanor faltered. "Aleman? I have no idea."

"Don't play dumb," the fox-masked woman said sharply. "We know you've dealt with him. Where does he live?"

Victor's forced a laugh. "Look, I don't know where he lives. I only have his contact info. Unless you're planning to buy something from him, good luck finding him."

The two figures exchanged a glance. The demon-masked man stepped forward, casting a shadow over Victor with his massive frame.

"You're lying," he growled. "We don't like liars."

Victor raised his hands defensively. "I swear, I don't know anything more! I've only bought from him once. That's it."

Without warning, the demon-masked figure lunged. His hand clamped around Victor's throat tightly lifting him off the ground effortlessly.

Victor struggled while clawing at the man's arm, but it was like trying to bend steel. His skin didn't even feel like it belonged to that of a human.

"Let me go!" Victor rasped with a barely audible voice.

The fox-masked woman remained calm, watching as Victor's struggles grew weaker. "You will lead us to Aleman," she said coldly.

The shadows around them began to ripple and expand, forming a dark, circular pool beneath their feet.

Victor's vision blurred as the grip around his throat tightened. His last thought before losing consciousness was, 'What the hell is going on?'

After Victor passed out, the massive masculine figure, slung him over a shoulder while all three of them sunk into the shadows.

From a distance, a drunken clubgoer stumbled out of the building with an unfocused gaze.

He squinted at the shadowy scene by the parking lot as his muddled brain struggled to process what he was seeing.

"What the…?" he muttered before rubbing his eyes.

The two masked figures and Victor vanished into the swirling darkness on the ground, leaving no trace behind.

The man blinked and shook his head. "I've had way too much to drink," he turned back toward the club while mumbling. "No more tequila for me."