Marco stood near the broken counter, speaking quietly to Logan and Nicole. Beside him, I spotted Jasper arms crossed, eyes sharp and cold the second he saw me. He looked cleaner than the others, gear more intact, but that didn't matter. His posture screamed tension. The kind that didn't come from exhaustion, but from recognition of an enemy.
Of the initial fifteen survivors that Marco had with him, only seven maybeeight remained. One woman clutched a makeshift weapon fashioned from a crutch. Another limped slightly, her thigh wrapped in fresh bandages. They looked worn down,but still intact and trying to put up a fight.
Marco glanced up the moment we walked in with relief flickering briefly across his face.
Jasper didn't move. He just stared at me like I was the problem that never went away.
I didn't flinch. I met his gaze head-on.
Let him look. Let him stew. We'd settle whatever needed settling after I made sure my people were safe.
Marco's eyes locked on me first then drifted behind me to Karen. He stepped forward, cautious but clearly relieved. "You're back."
I nodded once, then glanced at Nicole. "What happened?"
"They came up not long after your team went down," Nicole said. "Said the hallway cleared out. Figured it was because of you."
Marco stepped closer, pulling something from his pocket. A picture—worn, creased, and faded. A girl with light brown hair and a shy smile.
"My daughter," he said, stepping toward me. "Her name's Liana. Have you found any sign of her?"
I shook my head. "I don't know anything about your daughter. I've only met Karen and the Chosen group that was in the electronics wing. You're free to look through any of the deceased we found." Gesturing to Karen who was standing with Sol listening to our conversation intently.
Nicole stepped in gently. "I already showed him the bodies from the raid. She wasn't among them."
Marco let out a breath, equal parts relief and dread. "So there's still a chance."
I didn't say anything to that. Maybe there was. Maybe not. But I knew that if Liana was still alive, she wasn't far away and she was probably with Samatha, on the first floor or on the other floors. Speaking of other floors.
"Did you ever check the other floors? Third through fifth?"
Marco gave a tired shake of his head. "Not fully. We only managed to secure the third floor, but Liana wasn't there. She was on the first floor when the system announcement happened."
I nodded, processing. "So you think she might've tried to reach you?"
"She knew where I was. I think she tried to make it up to the third floor, but…" He didn't finish the sentence.
Nicole folded her arms, frowning slightly. "If she didn't make it up, she could be anywhere in the mall. The layout's too wide, too many wings, too many monsters."
Marco exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping. "I know."
"We should sweep the building," Nicole added. "Top to bottom. Clear every store, every corridor. Make sure we're not missing survivors or threats. I don't want anything sneaking up on us from behind while we are trying to clear the first floor."
"I agree," I said. "The first floor is confirmed for having a heavy goblin presence. They are using traps down there and we encountered a hobgoblin who was the mini-boss of the dungeon. The hobgoblin was the leader of the group that we fought so I can only assume that they are getting organized."
That got Marco's attention. But it was Jasper who perked up when I added, "And we're not the only ones leveling fast. Two names hit the leaderboard already, Marcus and Nadia. Rank one and two."
"Nadia?" Jasper's head snapped up. "Where is she? What leaderboard?"
Nicole answered before I could. "The Beginner's Store has a leaderboard tracking level progression. It's at the back of the electronics wing. We secured it when we took out the Chosen."
Jasper didn't wait for more. He turned and jogged deeper into the store, muttering something about needing to see it for himself.
Marco didn't move. He looked toward Nicole. "Thank you… for telling us."
She gave a quiet nod. "We'll find her."
Nicole let out a slow breath, her gaze flicking toward where Marco disappeared from looking tired and weary. Then she turned back to me, all business.
"What did Alpha Team find on the first floor?"
I didn't sugarcoat it. "Ran into a few goblins, mostly. Some of them are smarter than they should be because of the traps. Found evidence of Karen's sister Samatha being down there, so now Karen is more determined than ever to find her. We fought the hobgoblin like I said and got some loot."
She nodded. "Loot?"
"My team's getting it. They're the ones who fought and bled. I don't believe in hoarding what we earn."
Another nod. She didn't argue with me about sharing it with the whole group because she understood the point I was trying to make. That's why I trusted her, Nicole knew when to push and when not to.
"So how do you want to handle the sweep?" she asked. "We all move as one group through floors three to five, or focus on the first floor first?"
"First floor," I said without hesitation. "That's the thickest cluster of enemies and the most dangerous. If anyone feels like they've got the confidence to go scout floors three through five, either solo or in pairs. I'm fine with that, but I'm not sending people up if their leadership is not confident in them. They have to be fast, quiet, and smart about it."
Nicole studied me for a moment, her jaw tightening slightly. "And you?"
"I'm going out tonight. Gonna sweep the fourth floor, see if any survivors are holed up, and maybe take out a few more goblins. If I'm lucky, I'll get answers or at least better terrain knowledge."
She frowned. "You just got back, Jaz. You haven't even sat down, let alone taken a damn breath."
I shrugged. "We don't have time for breath. Not me. Not any of us. We need to level up fast, or we're going to get overwhelmed. We talked about this before and now it's time to put it into action."
"I also know how bodies break down," she snapped, just a little too sharp to be casual. "And yours isn't invincible, no matter how good you are at hiding the cracks."
I met her eyes. "I know my body. I know my limits. If I stop moving, I start thinking too much and that's worse. So I will keep going, I need to be strong enough for them." I whispered towards the end.
She shook her head, muttering something under her breath that sounded a lot like "stubborn woman." But she didn't stop me. She knew better. We were too alike in the ways that mattered.
"I'll be careful and I won't leave until Sol goes to sleep so I can rest for an hour or two," I said quietly.
"You better be," she replied, voice low. "Because if you go down, all of this falls apart."
I didn't answer that. Just gave her a look. We both knew the truth, even if I did fall, this wouldn't stop. Time stops for no one and someone will just take my place, but I appreciate the sentiment.