Plan in the morning, nap in the afternoon, fail at night!

The man in the blue devil mask turned his head slightly, his cold gaze briefly flicking to the Countess before saying "Start with those two. They're Shaun's servants. If anyone here knows something valuable, it's them." His voice dropped into a menacing drawl. "Take them alive, for now."

He turned to Glide, his voice cold but decisive. "Meanwhile, you take care of our little Countess and her people. Don't kill them yet. We'll deal with them after."

As the assassins moved toward Harold and Smith, the Countess, struggling against her restraints, suddenly lifted her head. Her lips moved as she whispered a spell, her voice low and laced with fury.

"Roar of Wind."

The air in the room exploded into chaos as a powerful gust tore through, forcing the assassins to stumble backward. The masked man held his ground, shielding his face from the storm as his cape whipped violently behind him.

"Well, well," he said, his voice calm but intrigued. "Even in this state, you've still got some fight in you. Quite the mage. A wind spell at this level, despite being that injured? Impressive."

But as the winds began to die down, it became clear the spell wasn't an attack. The Countess had used it as a distraction. When the dust settled, she and her companions were gone.

Glide slammed her dagger into the wall in frustration. "You idiot! You should've been more careful! Now we've lost them!"

The beastman stretched his claws, his grin revealing sharp teeth. "Relax, Glide. They're stuck here. They can't leave the mansion. The solitude spell is still active. Where could they possibly go?"

The masked man's shoulders began to shake, and then he threw his head back and let out a sharp, mocking laugh that echoed through the hall. "Oh, this is perfect. Perfect!" His laughter abruptly stopped, and he straightened, his voice booming with excitement.

"Everyone, get ready for a game of hide and seek!"

The assassins moved swiftly, their eyes gleaming with predatory focus as they began spreading out to hunt their prey. The masked man chuckled to himself, his cold gaze scanning the room.

Sally and Mindy helped the Countess limp toward the entrance to the fourth floor, her body completely drained of energy and mana. Smith carried Rosie in his arms, her small figure trembling but alive, while Ikos bore the weight of Harold, who clung weakly to his back, blood trailing from his wounds.

Sally looked worriedly at the Countess, who seemed barely able to stay conscious. "The Countess is in a bad state. We need to find a place where she can rest, even for a moment," she said, her voice strained.

Ikos, glancing over his shoulder, kept his pace steady. "We need to find somewhere safe, and fast. They'll be after us any second." He turned his head slightly toward Harold. "Old man, do you know of any place we can hide? Or better yet, is there a passage that can lead us outside?"

Harold groaned weakly, his voice rasping but resolute. "Head to the fourth floor entrance. Don't waste time. Trust me—it's the safest place in the mansion right now."

The urgency in his tone spurred them forward. With all the strength they could muster, they dashed up the stairs, the heavy breaths of effort mingling with the haunting silence of the mansion. When they reached the massive gate of the fourth floor, the sight of the large, sealed entrance brought a moment of both relief and dread.

Ikos set Harold down gently, his hands trembling slightly from exertion. Smith stepped forward and spoke with a calm authority. "Please, Mindy, carry the young lady. I'll open it."

Mindy quickly took Rosie in her arms as Smith approached the gate. Producing a key that glinted faintly in the dim light, he inserted it into the lock. A series of complex clicks echoed as the heavy gate creaked open.

"Quickly," Smith said sharply. "Get inside now!"

The group didn't waste a second. Ikos and Sally immediately helped Harold and the Countess through the threshold. Just as they began closing the gate, a group of assassins rounded the corner.

"They're here!" Sally shouted.

Without hesitation, Sally and Ikos sprang into action. Sally darted forward with her twin daggers, her movements swift and lethal. Ikos followed, his sword slashing cleanly through the attackers. The assassins barely had time to react before they fell to the floor, lifeless.

Smith slammed the gate shut behind them and activated the seal with a sharp twist of the key, locking them inside. A faint shimmer of enchantment enveloped the door, indicating it was now protected by magic.

Sally exhaled sharply, her daggers still clenched in her hands. "Sure, having a big gate and some enchantment provides resistance, but we can't stay here forever. Is there really no other way out?"

Ikos was silent, his jaw clenched as he glanced at the Countess, guilt flickering across his face. He felt helpless, unable to do more to ease her suffering. "She needs help… and I can't do a damn thing," he muttered under his breath.

Harold, leaning heavily on the wall for support, began to explain. "The fourth floor of Shaun's mansion serves two purposes. The first is as a training ground. This entire floor was designed to train him—Master Shaun—and refine his skills. It's… functional, not beautiful, but it gets the job done."

Sally raised an eyebrow, confused. "Training ground? For what?"

Harold continued, ignoring her interruption. "The second purpose is as a siege shelter. This floor is enchanted. Anything—person, weapon, magic—without the key or Master Shaun's direct permission can't get in. And nothing can get out. Even if someone tries brute force, it's practically unbreakable. Normally, if Master Shaun were here, the enchantments would be bolstered by his abilities, making it completely unbreachable."

Mindy crossed her arms, frowning. "Normally? So what now? Since he's not here, we're relying solely on the enchantments?"

Harold nodded solemnly. "Yes. And while the enchantments are powerful, there's always the risk that someone skilled enough—a wizard specializing in breaking enchantments—could eventually break through."

Sally scowled. "A ten-year-old boy has all this? Training grounds and siege-level protection? Just who is your master supposed to be?"

Smith sighed, his voice calm but weary. "Lady, you don't know the half of it. Our master, Shaun, is constantly under attack. Thugs, criminals, con men—there's no end to the people who want what he has. Even though it's not much compared to others, they come after him like he's a treasure chest. This mansion, these defenses… they're his reality. Please understand that this isn't just paranoia. It's survival."

Ikos furrowed his brow. "What could a boy like him possibly have that warrants this much danger?"

Smith's expression darkened. "Things better left unsaid. But trust me—this place exists for a reason."

As the conversation lulled, Smith led the group through the dimly lit hallways of the fourth floor. The sterile, utilitarian space felt suffocating compared to the rest of the mansion's grandeur. Eventually, they found a non-training room tucked away in a corner.

"Rest here for now," Smith said. "It's not much, but it'll do until we figure out our next move."

The group settled into the room, placing the Countess on the bed . Harold leaned against the wall, wincing from his injuries, while Sally and Mindy kept watch near the door. Ikos sat on the floor, his head buried in his hands.

The silence was heavy, each of them keenly aware that the battle wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Glide leaned casually against the wall, spinning one of her daggers idly between her fingers. "Should we let the boys check all the rooms on the second and third floors? "

The beastman scoffed, baring his fangs in a grin. "No need. They're on the fourth floor. I can smell them from a mile away. And from the scent of blood, looks like they killed more of our men."

The giant, seated on the remains of a shattered table, stretched his massive arms with a low grunt. "You two go ahead. I'll stay here. Call me if something happens."

Glide smirked, her eyes narrowing. "You sure? Not interested in the hunt?"

The giant chuckled, his voice a low rumble. "I am. But not in hide-and-seek. I'll wait for the fun part."

With a shrug, Glide and the beastman began making their way to the fourth floor. By the time they reached the massive gate, the masked man was already there, standing before the bodies of slain assassins scattered around the corridor.

The masked man tilted his head slightly as they approached, his tone calm but edged with curiosity. "An entire enchanted floor? Clever. That might be troublesome."

Glide raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "You're already here? I thought you'd run off."

The beastman growled, his fur bristling as he snapped at Glide. "Woman, how many times do I have to tell you to show respect when you talk to our boss?"

The masked man waved a dismissive hand, stepping closer to the towering gate. "It's fine. Let her run her mouth if it amuses her. We've got bigger problems." He inspected the faint shimmer of magic that danced across the gate, tracing his fingers along its surface. "A well-crafted enchantment. Strong, but not invincible."

Taking a step back, the masked man shifted his stance, pulling mana around his fist. His energy surged, crackling like static in the air as he took a devastating punching stance. With a sharp exhale, he launched a powerful jab into the gate.

The floor shook from the force, cracks splintering outward in the walls around the gate, but the enchanted barrier itself remained unbroken.

Glide whistled softly, a flicker of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Looks like brute strength isn't enough, huh? What's the plan now, genius?"

The masked man rubbed his knuckles absently, his expression unfazed. "Physical force won't work on this. Breaking enchantments isn't exactly my specialty, and we don't have the luxury of calling in a magic researcher. But there's always another way. Overwhelm it."

The beastman tilted his head, his ears twitching. "Overwhelm it?"

The masked man's grin widened beneath his blue devil mask. "Everything has a limit, even magic. If we bombard the enchantment with enough physical and magical strikes, it'll start to fray. Once it weakens, we break through. Simple."

Without waiting for a reply, he raised his hand, pulling fire mana into his palm. A ball of searing flame roared to life, illuminating the hallway in a flickering orange glow. He hurled it at the gate, the fireball exploding on impact. The walls around the gate blackened, the air filling with smoke and ash. Yet, the enchanted gate still stood, unyielding.

Glide sighed, tapping her dagger against her leg impatiently. "So, we just keep pounding it until it breaks? Sounds like a lot of work."

The masked man chuckled, turning to her with a glint of amusement in his eyes. "A lot of work? Maybe. But you're not doing anything else, are you? Start Making yourself useful."

The beastman grinned savagely, flexing his claws. "This is more my speed. Let's see how long this fancy gate can hold up."

As the masked man prepared another spell, the group began their relentless assault on the gate. Fire, claws, and magic collided with the barrier in a thunderous display of power, the air filled with the sound of explosions and the harsh clang of metal against stone.

masked man stand behind looking at the gate

Inside the fourth floor, the vibrations from the relentless attacks echoed ominously, a grim reminder that time was running out for the Countess and her group.

The group sat in the dimly lit room, the heavy silence broken only by the muffled sounds of explosions and strikes echoing from the enchanted gate. The Countess sat on bed, her face pale, her breaths slow and steady as she tried to conserve her energy. Her voice, though weakened, carried a sharp edge of authority.

she began, her eyes scanning the group. "We don't have the luxury of resting for long. We need to plan out exactly how and what we're going to do. Running away isn't an option. We have to fight. I'll recover myself as best as I can and prepare the strongest spells I can muster." She turned to Harold. "You mentioned this floor is also a training ground. Does that mean there are weapons here?"

Harold, still slumped against the wall but regaining some of his composure, nodded grimly. "Aye, there are weapons stored in the armory a few rooms down. Nothing too fancy, but they're practical—blades, bows, shields, and a few enchanted items. They're designed for training but should hold up in a real fight."

Ikos stepped forward, his voice heavy with concern. "Lady Countess, I must insist... you should escape somehow. Even if it means sacrificing the rest of us. You are vital to the future of this house and its legacy."

Sally and Mindy nodded in silent agreement, their expressions somber but resolute.

Smith, who had been silently observing, suddenly scoffed. "Escape? And how exactly do you plan on doing that, Sir Ikos?" His tone was sharp, though not disrespectful. "Those four outside are monsters. We saw what just one of them did. Do you really think all of us together can even hold off one properly? Let alone four?"

Sally crossed her arms, her voice tense. "What do you suggest then, Smith? Sit here and wait to die?"

Smith shook his head firmly. "No. I'll fight to the end, but not like a fool. We need an actual strategy, not just big words about honor and sacrifice. If we want any chance of survival, we need a plan that gives the Countess and young Rosie a real shot at getting out. But we're at a disadvantage—Countess is the only one who can use magic here, and even she's running on empty."

Harold cleared his throat, his voice gravelly but steady. "Smith's right. Charging in blind won't work. First, we need to assess our resources and the terrain. Second, we need to buy time. Lady Countess, based on the strength of those strikes, how long do you estimate before they break through?"

The Countess closed her eyes, focusing on the distant vibrations. "Judging by the intensity and the rhythm of their attacks... morning. Ten, maybe fifteen hours if we're lucky."

Harold nodded thoughtfully. "Let's assume we've got less. Let's say seven. That gives us two hours to rest and recover, three hours to plan, and two hours to prepare."

The group exchanged glances, the weight of Harold's words settling over them like a heavy shroud.

Mindy broke the silence, her voice soft but determined. "If we're going to make a stand, we'll need those weapons. And we'll need to be smart about how we use them. We can't afford mistakes."

Ikos sighed, his gaze falling to the Countess. "I still believe you should escape, my lady. But if you refuse, then we'll fight with everything we've got. Just tell us what you need us to do."

The Countess stood slowly, her legs trembling slightly but her resolve unshaken. "If we're going to survive this, everyone has to give everything they have. Smith, Mindy, Sally, Harold... all of you. I'll do my part, but this is going to take all of us working together."