Chapter 164

thirty two

“What are you talking about, all of a sudden?”

Dane realized it after he spoke. The gunshots and shouts had disappeared, and the surroundings had become quiet. Joshua, watching Dane’s expression change in an instant, opened his mouth.

“A few guys slipped out of here earlier.”

At the questioning look, Joshua spoke again.

“They ran away, in a car.”

He sounded anxious even though he was still quiet, and he roughly swept back his hair.

“It seems like they only took the key figures. The ones left here were as good as abandoned…”

“Why?”

Dane asked before he could finish. Joshua frowned and twisted his lips.

“Why do you think?”

As if it was what he wanted to say, he repeated Dane’s words, and then an enormous explosion shook the ground violently.

“Ugh!”

“Get down!”

Grayson shouted reflexively, and Dane immediately pushed his head down. Joshua, who had almost fallen, barely regained his balance and steadied himself when Dane suddenly pulled out his gun.

“What…”

The bullet grazed Joshua as he hesitated. Joshua immediately turned around and saw a man behind him screaming and falling backward.

“Now we’re even.”

Dane said casually, put his gun back in his waistband, and quickly moved forward. Joshua, speechless, sighed and turned around to follow.

“What was that just now? Was it an earthquake?”

Dane didn’t answer Joshua’s question. In fact, they were both thinking of the same thing, but neither wanted to utter the ominous word. Instead, Dane gave a different answer.

“Let’s hope that bastard has some useful information.”

The man who had been shot in the stomach was lying on the floor, gasping for breath. Dane knelt down on one knee in front of the man and leaned in.

“Where did the others go? You’re not the only one left, are you?”

Instead of answering, the man only glanced at Dane, panting. Seeing the faint smile on his lips even though he knew he was dying, Joshua felt a strange mix of unpleasantness and eeriness.

“Speak.”

“Agh, aaaaaagh!”

Dane abruptly pressed his hand on the gunshot wound, and the man let out a desperate scream. His eyes completely rolled back from the pain, and he drooled as he muttered.

“This is a crusade… a crusade…”

“What?”

At Dane’s question, his brow furrowed, he repeated the same words as if he were hypnotized.

“Purge the cursed ones, bury them in the ground… Only God will…”

“Snap out of it.”

Joshua slapped the man’s cheek. The man blinked as if he had regained some sense and looked back and forth between the two men in front of him.

“What do you mean, a crusade? And what was that explosion just now? Surely you guys aren’t planning to die here, are you?”

He grinned at Dane’s repeated question.

“Why not? You fools.”

The man chuckled in a strange way and muttered again.

“God is coming, bow your heads. God is punishing us, offer sacrifices to those who desire eternal life. God is coming…”

“Everyone ran away, you moron.”

Joshua spat out a curse without hesitation.

“All that’s left here are bullet shields. Stupid bastards like you, got it?”

He coldly awakened him to reality, but the man was still smiling.

“You’re the moron.”

He continued, gasping for breath.

“We are the warriors guarding the final line of defense. The guides who will lead you bastards to hell. Go to hell with those demons, you protectors of demons.”

With those words, Dane and Joshua knew what they were plotting.

“They were trying to hold us back.”

Dane nodded at Joshua’s words.

“To keep us from escaping.”

Then that explosion earlier…

They both thought of the same thing at the same time. The one word they had been trying to avoid.

Bomb.

“They’re planning to bury us alive, those bastards.”

Joshua muttered, grinding his teeth.

“How many of those damn ‘warriors’ are there?”

He wiggled his index and middle fingers on both hands as he said the word “warriors,” but the man didn’t react.

“He wouldn’t tell us. There probably aren’t many.”

Joshua muttered at Dane’s nonchalant words.

“So they’re relying on the bombs…”

That means what just happened was only the beginning. They don’t know when the next bomb will go off or how big it will be.

“I know that now, too.”

Dane said coldly. Then he looked at Joshua and gave a strange smile.

“And the fact that you walked in here on your own two feet.”

“Huh.”

He meant that he wasn’t responsible for whatever happened from now on. Joshua was dumbfounded and let out a short exclamation.

“I know it’s my own fault, so you don’t need to remind me.”

It was a sarcastic tone, but Dane chuckled as if he liked what he heard. Then he looked down and muttered.

“This bastard’s dead.”

Joshua, who had been staring silently at the man who was no longer breathing, said.

“Do you think he went to heaven as he wished?”

“Who knows.”

Dane replied indifferently.

“What’s certain is that if we linger here, we’ll end up going somewhere, whether it’s heaven or hell.”

Just then, Joshua’s watch beeped. Joshua immediately checked it and muttered.

“They’re here.”

He was talking about ‘the team’. Dane replied indifferently to Joshua, whose voice had become somewhat lighter as if he was relieved.

“They’re slow as hell. I thought I was in the DMV line.”

“Looks like they used to work there.”

Joshua also grumbled as if he didn’t like their speed. Of course, they weren’t former DMV employees, so they immediately moved.

“Grayson, wake up. Grayson!”

When he shouted at the man who was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, he soon opened his eyes. Grayson’s mouth naturally opened when he saw Dane’s face.

“Vinner…”

“Stop, be quiet. This isn’t the time.”

Dane calmly stopped Grayson and immediately put his arm around his shoulder to help him up.

“Can you walk on your own?”

“No.”

At Grayson’s brazen words and his clinging to Dane, Dane immediately turned to Joshua.

“Josh, it’s your turn.”

Joshua and Grayson frowned at the same time. But Dane had already slipped out from under Grayson’s arm, lifted one of his arms, and pointed to the empty space with his remaining hand, as if telling Joshua to get in.

“You can keep doing it.”

“Yeah, Josh is right.”

Grayson immediately chimed in with Joshua’s words. It was the first time the two of them had agreed, but Dane thought differently.

“I’m a firefighter, I have to watch the rear.”

Is he serious?

Joshua frowned, but at that moment, another explosion rang out. Dane quickly grabbed Grayson, who was about to fall, and pushed him toward Joshua. In the nick of time, Grayson cleverly changed the direction of his body and leaned against the wall. Dane clicked his tongue briefly. Grayson and Joshua turned to him at the sound.

He did it on purpose.

Dane said as if nothing had happened to the two of them, who were glaring at him fiercely.

“Move, what are you doing?”

“Dane, let’s go together…”

Grayson said, but Dane immediately denied his words.

“Get out first.”

The floor shook again. Unlike before, Dane shouted in a louder voice.

“Firefighters are always the last ones out, get out now!”

At the rough shout, Grayson and Joshua had no choice but to move first. Grayson glanced back to make sure Dane was following, and then he heard Joshua muttering.

“He’s not even on duty right now, what firefighter…”

But Joshua and Grayson knew that Dane was that kind of person. The man who always stood at the very end. And who was always ready to throw away his life…

When Grayson felt a sudden chill, a gunshot suddenly rang out from behind.

“Go, don’t look back!”

Dane shouted, but of course, Grayson wasn’t going to listen. Dane ran towards him at a terrifying speed, pointing his gun at him.

“If you look back again, I’ll kill you and have sex with Josh right here!”

“I didn’t look back!”

Joshua shouted urgently, but Grayson, terrified, ran past him, leaving him dumbfounded.

“Damn it, I don’t want to either…!”

Joshua shouted in anger, but Grayson didn’t slow down and instead ran away from them even faster.

165 – 165

* * *

Kugung, the floor rumbled again. This time, the vibration felt closer. Dane keenly analyzed the explosion points, which shifted with each blast. Half in doubt, hoping his prediction was wrong, he waited for the next moment, but this time, explosions occurred in rapid succession.

“Damn it!”

Dane cursed under his breath. “These crazy sons of bitches, claiming to believe in God while doing this?”

His insides churned, but getting those guys out was the priority.

“Shit,” Dane spat, firing his gun at a man who appeared far away. Grayson rushed past him without hesitation as he instantly collapsed. Like a racehorse with its path set, unwavering. ‘Good,’ Dane thought, watching the back of the honey-blond man running ahead.

Did Joshua realize the situation too?

When they both had the same thought earlier, Joshua might have predicted the situation up to this point, just like Dane. But the reason he didn’t say it out loud was probably because he dismissed it as excessive worry. Dane had done the same.

Damn it, who knew they were this crazy?

If the explosions continued, even a sturdy mountain would crack. Maybe the cracks had already started. If three more explosions like this happened, then…

“Josh!”

He shouted, and the man running ahead glanced back. It was just a brief movement of his eyes, but Dane didn’t care and kept yelling.

“What’s going on? What about those ex-DMV guys? Where are they?”

Joshua tried to check the watch on his wrist as he ran. At that moment, just as the ground seemed to shake again, Grayson’s body faltered as he ran in the very front.

“Grayson!”

Dane shouted urgently, seeing the man disappear from his sight in an instant. Racing neck and neck with Joshua, he reached the spot where Grayson was collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath.

“The bleeding is too severe.”

“He has too many wounds.”

Dane responded briefly to Joshua’s words. While Joshua manipulated his watch to connect with ‘Team,’ Dane bent down and helped Grayson sit up. Heaving rough breaths, his shoulders shaking, Grayson looked at Dane and smiled faintly.

“I tripped.”

“I know.”

Dane said nonchalantly, as usual.

“Rest for a bit, Ashley Miller’s guys will be here soon.”

Unexpectedly, Grayson didn’t spout nonsense but just smiled weakly. It would have been better if he had just talked nonsense. Dane felt himself getting anxious and stood up abruptly.

“The situation isn’t good.”

Joshua spoke as soon as Dane stood in front of him.

“Want to hear the good news first? Or the bad news?”

“Just tell me anything, quickly.”

At the hasty urging, Joshua took a short breath and spoke as quickly as Dane.

“First, the good news. The guys who were running away apparently ran into the team coming up. They took care of them all, and most are dead, but they kept two alive.”

“What’s the bad news?”

“The landslide blocked the road, so the team can’t come up. We have to take that guy down.”

“Shit!”

Dane spat out a curse without hesitation and kicked the ground. Joshua silently watched him run a hand through his nervously disheveled hair.

“What about the bombs?”

Dane asked abruptly, one hand on his forehead.

“What happened to the bombs? Did those guys know?”

“They know.”

As expected, Joshua answered without any surprise.

“They must have pressed the captured guys and found out. They called the dismantling team and they’re heading there. That’s why the team can’t come this way, they have to clear the path so the bomb disposal team can get to that point.”

They’re leaving it to us to take Grayson down. It can’t be helped, the injuries are severe, but he should be able to hold on until we get down the mountain.

“The ambulance is waiting below, right?”

“Of course.”

Dane nodded at Joshua’s ready answer and muttered to himself.

“The bomb disposal team needs to get there in time…”

Dane paused as he spoke. Something was wrong.

“They told you the location of the last bomb? Willingly?”

Too fast. He anxiously recalled his thoughts. Considering the determination of the guys who tried to stop Dane’s group at the risk of their lives, it was hard to believe that they would give up and spill everything just because they were caught trying to escape.

“Where’s the bomb located? Ask, quickly!”

At Dane’s urgent shout, Joshua panicked and hurriedly contacted the team again. Dane, who had drawn the coordinates they said in his head, immediately lost all color in his face.

“…No.”

He spat out in a rough voice.

“That’s not it, you idiots! It’s the opposite!”

He shouted at the top of his lungs, but soon a crackling sound followed. The watch was broken or there was interference. Joshua, realizing that communication was no longer possible, looked at him, equally pale.

“It’s not? So those bastards deliberately screwed us over?”

“Yeah, it’s completely wrong. Damn it, goddamn it!”

Dane clutched his head and poured out curses. This was bad. What should he do? There wasn’t much time left. Joshua repeated blankly, as if in a daze.

“A landslide will happen.”

“I know, I know.”

Dane muttered, and Joshua added urgently.

“The entire village below will be buried. We have to stop it.”

“I said I know.”

Dane said again. Joshua was right. If that last bomb went off, the ground wouldn’t hold any longer. Remembering the village that would be buried under the pouring rocks and dirt, there was no time to hesitate.

“You go down with that guy.”

“What? What about you?”

Joshua asked in surprise. Dane answered without hesitation.

“I’m staying here.”

When a surprised Joshua tried to say something, Dane spoke first.

“I have to defuse the remaining bomb. You take care of Grayson, I’ll take care of the bomb.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, how can you do it alone…”

Joshua immediately objected, but Dane didn’t change his mind.

“I can do it. You know it too, my skills.”

There was no denying that. Joshua had seen Dane’s performance several times while they were in the military together. Nevertheless, Dane coldly rebuked him when he hesitated.

“Think about what you would have done if this was the military, Joshua Bailey.”

Joshua paused and froze. Then the answer was already decided. But, still.

“Is that the only way?”

At Joshua’s squeezed question, Dane asked back.

“Then should I let them die, those people?”

Joshua rubbed his eyes with one hand as if he had a headache. Dane softened his tone and added to Joshua.

“There’s a chance I’m wrong. If those bastards accidentally became nice and told the truth, they’ll remove the bomb over there, and there’ll be nothing where I think it is. The odds are 50/50.”

Dane tapped Joshua’s arm. But there was still a problem.

“What about that guy? He won’t listen to me.”

When Joshua pointed behind him with his thumb, Dane answered immediately.

“I’ll take care of it.”

As soon as the words were spoken, Grayson walked over and stood in front of them.

“What’s wrong? What are you guys talking about?”

“It’s nothing.”

Dane brushed off his words indifferently and scanned him.

“You look fine.”

“I’ll be fine if I rest a bit.”

Grayson smiled brightly as if nothing had happened. His whole body was soaked in blood, Dane clicked his tongue inwardly, but silently turned to Joshua.

“Okay, let’s go.”

At the light gesture, Grayson blinked, bewildered.

“Uh… what? Why?”

When Grayson looked back and forth between the two, Dane said.

“Go down with Josh first.”

“What about you?”

At the immediate question, Dane answered nonchalantly.

“The firefighter is last, right? Listen, quickly.”

“What are you thinking?”

A sharp voice immediately returned. He was dead tired from the bleeding and injuries, but his senses were more sensitive than usual.

Dane was hiding something.

He could tell instinctively. He shouldn’t trust Dane right now.

“You go first, then Josh, then me last.”

Grayson was serious. At his unwavering stance, Dane frowned and narrowed his eyes. This puppy…

He took a short breath and opened his mouth as if annoyed.

“If you don’t go now…”

At that moment, Joshua interjected.

“I’m telling you in advance, even if this guy dies, I’m not having sex with you, absolutely not.”

This bastard.

Dane glared fiercely, but Joshua didn’t bat an eye. When he felt a headache coming on in front of the two idiots who wouldn’t listen to him, Grayson opened his mouth.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’m not going alone, absolutely not.”

Then he added strongly.

“I told you, if you die, I die too.”

At those words, Dane paused. For a moment, only the fierce night wind settled between them.

Don’t be stubborn.

He was clearly trying to say that. Did he know how serious the situation was, how many lives might be lost because of him, what did he know and why was he doing this, and so on.

Numerous words came and went in his head, but none of them came out of his mouth. Dane just moved his lips and eventually looked at Grayson silently. In a very short moment, a lot of memories seemed to flash before his eyes.

…So many memories.

“Ha…”

Dane, who had let out a short sigh, gave a bitter smile.

“I know,

you idiot

.”

Suddenly, his eyes seemed to be moist. Grayson looked at him with a surprised face. Dane reached out. The hand that wrapped around the back of Grayson’s head pulled him closer. Grayson obediently tilted his head as if possessed. As Dane’s lips touched his, he naturally closed his eyes. He felt pleasant goosebumps at the soft and cool sensation.

Ah, this scent. He vaguely recalled as he felt his heart flutter.

Dane’s Pheromone…

Right then, his mind suddenly went blank. His vision blurred in an instant and his consciousness became hazy. He had the same experience once before. This was the third time. Dane had released Pheromone all at once and knocked him out.

166 – 166

“……Uh.”

Grayson tried to say something, but it was impossible. Dane embraced his collapsing body with both arms. After holding him for a moment, Dane looked up and immediately met Joshua’s eyes.

“You…….”

Joshua, who was standing blankly with surprised eyes, could only mutter a single word. There was only one Trait that could release Pheromone in an instant and steal the consciousness of a Dominant Alpha. Dane, handing Grayson, who had collapsed in his arms, to Joshua, who seemed stunned by the astonishing fact that was as surprising as their kiss just now, with his eyes wide open, said,

“Take him.”

As Joshua dazedly accepted Grayson, Dane added with a bitter smile.

“You’re right, I didn’t hide it on purpose.”

As if it was all settled, he tapped Joshua’s arm twice.

“Go, quickly.”

“Dane.”

Joshua called his name again. He still hesitated as if his feet wouldn’t move, but Dane was firm.

“Did you forget why we came here? Go, quickly.”

Of course, he remembered. The moment his gaze turned to the face of the man lying unconscious in his arms, Dane shouted roughly.

“Hurry!”

Eventually, Joshua turned his back on Dane and began to descend the mountain. Dane, watching his back as he moved quickly even with a man much bigger than himself on his back, soon turned around and ran. The destination was set. Quickly, as quickly as possible. Before the last bomb exploded, until the final explosion…

20 minutes.

Joshua checked the watch on his wrist and looked back. Confirming that Dane’s figure, who had been running at full speed, had already disappeared from sight, he gritted his teeth and turned around.

“Ugh……”

A faint groan escaped from Grayson’s lips. Joshua pretended not to hear and continued down the mountain. As Dane had instructed, to fulfill his mission.

Desire Me if you can

……Uh.

When he opened his eyes, he saw a hazy sky. The sun was already rising. Grayson blinked blankly as he lay on the ground.

“……Ah!”

He inadvertently tried to get up, but ended up letting out a short scream. As he gasped for breath with his face contorted, a shadow suddenly loomed over him. Grayson, who inadvertently raised his head, stopped moving. Dane, looking down at him with a frown, opened his mouth.

“You idiot, why don’t you listen to me?”

Grayson blinked, dumbfounded by the words that were spat out irritably as usual. Even as he slowly got up, he still couldn’t believe it. Dane, who was just watching him, swept back his hair and continued to talk.

“If you had come down quickly as I told you to, everyone would have suffered less. Do you know how much Josh had to suffer to drag you down here?”

At those words, he turned his head and saw Joshua sitting on the ground over there, gulping down water. Grayson looked at him for a moment before turning his eyes back to Dane.

“It’s because you tried to force me to go first.”

“You little punk.”

Dane raised his fist. Grayson closed his eyes tightly, expecting to be slapped on the cheek as always. He waited, prepared, but the surroundings were silent. As he slyly opened his eyes at the fact that the punch he was waiting for was not coming, Dane’s face suddenly filled his eyes.

“Heok!”

Surprised, he reflexively gasped and slumped back, and Dane suddenly burst into laughter at his pathetic state.

“Hahaha, what are you doing? You.”

Grayson stared at Dane, completely stunned. Dane laughing so loudly, what was going on?

“What’s wrong?”

Dane asked Grayson, who was just staring blankly at him. Seeing him still smiling at him, Grayson was still dumbfounded but also overwhelmed.

“No, you…… looking at me, and smiling like that.”

Dane laughed again at Grayson, who was stammering. Another surprising thing happened. His cheeks were faintly flushed.

“My puppy.”

Dane said that and reached out his hand. Instead of punching him on the cheek, he stroked Grayson’s hair and said with a full smile.

“You endured well, very.”

A warm feeling gradually spread through his heart at the praise directed at him. Grayson, who had opened his mouth, moved his lips several times before barely making a sound.

“……I waited until you came.”

Dane nodded at the hoarse voice.

“Yes, you did very well. I should give a reward to a good puppy.”

“Tell me you love me.”

Grayson demanded without missing the opportunity. The hand stroking his head stopped abruptly. Grayson stubbornly spat out the words, unable to bear to look at Dane’s expression as he closed his eyes tightly.

“I don’t care if it’s a lie, just say it once, that you love me.”

I want to hear it.

He thought inwardly with a desperate heart. Only 1 or 2 seconds had passed, but after a time that felt so long, Dane opened his mouth.

“I love you.”

Grayson was instantly surprised and opened his eyes wide. Raising his head was next. Slowly, with a trembling heart, he raised his gaze and immediately met Dane’s eyes. And he witnessed an unbelievable fact.

He’s smiling.

Dane asked Grayson, who was staring blankly. Still with a smile on his face.

“Is that enough? Pretty boy.”

Grayson couldn’t answer. He was just gaping and looking at him with a heart-bursting emotion, and Dane, with a bright smile on his face, tilted his head. He slowly closes his eyes. His breath touches him. A sigh of anticipation escaped. His lips touched next. At that moment, Grayson thought as he smelled Dane’s Pheromone scent filling his lungs.

I wouldn’t mind dying like this.

Dane’s Pheromone scent.

Pheromone.

……Dane’s Pheromone.

Desire Me if you can

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. An unfamiliar landscape unfolded before his wide-open eyes.

……Huh?

Grayson left his swaying vision as it was for a moment. It took him a little longer to realize that everything that had happened until just now was a dream.

“What, hey…… this is!”

With a rough shout, he shook his body. Joshua, who had not anticipated the sudden situation, staggered greatly and almost fell forward.

“What are you doing right now! Do you want to die?”

He barely avoided the crisis of almost rolling down the slope and immediately shouted at Grayson. But taking advantage of the gap, Grayson, who had fallen off Joshua’s back, quickly looked around with a pale face and asked.

“Where’s Dane? Where is Dane? He was here until just now.”

What happened? What is this situation? He couldn’t figure it out at all. Seeing him unable to distinguish between dream and reality, Joshua tried to regain his composure and opened his mouth.

“You fainted because of Dane’s Pheromone. And I was carrying you down the mountain.”

After a brief explanation, he gestured to Grayson as if telling him to come over.

“There’s no time to hesitate, let’s go down quickly. You’re seriously injured.”

“No.”

Grayson started to be stubborn again.

“Dane is doing something dangerous right now, isn’t he? What is it? Tell me, why did you send only me first? Why did you stay alone? Why?”

He didn’t know the situation at all, but he had such a good sense of things that he wouldn’t listen to Joshua’s words. At the repeated questions, Joshua eventually sighed and had no choice but to reveal the truth.

“A bomb is going off.”

“……A bomb?”

Joshua nodded at Grayson, who was repeating what Joshua had said, and added.

“Dane went to defuse the bomb. Meanwhile, we’re going down the mountain.”

Grayson didn’t understand his words for a very brief moment. He stared blankly at Joshua, and after a few seconds of silence, he barely opened his mouth.

“……What?”

167 – 167

“Kuh……!”

Dane contorted his face, tearing off the plank in front of him with his bare hands. Haa, haa. His breath, ragged with tension and fatigue, wouldn’t calm down easily. It wasn’t difficult to find a place where a bomb might be. After reaching the area he expected and frantically scanning around, he noticed that only one building remained intact in its place. To be precise, a part of the wall was standing upright, and that sight felt foreign to Dane.

Most of the surrounding buildings had collapsed. Among these flimsy temporary structures, the exterior wall, which seemed to have been given special attention, was an eyesore. Dane immediately ran to it and rummaged around the base of the wall with his hands.

After pushing aside the fragments of the collapsed partition, the rubble, and the dust caused by the explosion, a large door hidden beneath was revealed. Descending the stairs in a hurry, he found a fairly sturdy wooden box in the basement. The considerably large box was close to the wall, and he couldn’t help but think that something was inside.

Dane immediately clung to the box and tried to tear it open with his hands. If there wasn’t the possibility of a bomb inside, he would have shot it to pieces, but that was impossible now.

“Damn it!”

Cursing, he stepped back and looked around again. Luckily, he saw some tools scattered on the floor. He picked up a shovel among them and used the shovel head as a lever, inserting it into a corner of the box and pressing down on the handle with his foot to push it up with all his might. After several attempts, he felt the nails coming loose. Seeing that a gap had widened to some extent, he immediately threw the shovel away and lifted the plank with his bare hands.

“Ugh……!”

Clenching his teeth and exerting his last bit of strength, the plank came off with a snap. Immediately throwing away the now useless piece of wood, Dane immediately looked inside.

As expected. He thought. As expected, there was a bomb inside with a timer set. For some reason, the bomb, tied to the timer, couldn’t be lifted. Dane realized that it was connected to something through a hole in the bottom of the box. And Dane soon realized why the box was attached to the wall.

It’s beyond the wall.

Dane slowly raised his head and looked up at the large rock wall. A huge pile of bombs installed beyond the wall seemed to enter his eyes.

Desire Me if you can

“What do you mean Dane went to defuse a bomb?”

Grayson’s voice rose. Joshua tried to remain as calm as possible and spoke.

“Just what you heard. Those bastards planted a bomb in the mountain. Dane went to defuse it.”

“Why? What for?”

Grayson asked again, pressing him. Joshua, looking strangely at his anxious expression, replied.

“The team that came to save you went in a different direction. Don’t get excited, Dane might be wrong.”

“Why would he go if there’s a possibility he’s wrong?”

“Because there’s a possibility he’s right.”

Joshua felt extremely tired at the fact that he had to put such an obvious answer into words. Raising a hand as if to calm him down, Joshua continued.

“I’m in charge of you, and Dane is in charge of the bomb. We’ve just divided our tasks. So there’s no need for you to be this agitated.”

Let’s go down now, Joshua was about to say. But Grayson turned around and started climbing the mountain before he could even say that. Of course, Joshua couldn’t just leave him alone.

“Stop, what are you doing?”

He immediately chased after him and grabbed his arm, but Grayson violently shook it off.

“Let go, and stop playing games.”

Despite the harsh tone, Joshua didn’t back down at all and instead blocked his path.

“No, Dane entrusted you to me. So you have to listen to me.”

“Get out of my way!”

“Cut it out!”

Joshua shouted, unable to bear it any longer.

“Is this the time to be stubborn? What can you do? Do you even know where Dane is? If you go, you’ll just wander around the mountain and collapse. He knew you’d be like this, so he knocked you out and entrusted you to me. Do you think he’d be happy if you went to find him? Get a grip, what Dane wants is for you to go down the mountain with me and get treatment! Right now!”

Grayson faltered at the harsh shout. Joshua’s words were completely correct. Grayson, who repeatedly opened and closed his mouth, protested with a terribly distorted face.

“Are you saying we should just leave Dane in danger and go down peacefully?”

“Dane knows a lot about bomb disposal.”

Joshua spat out in a cracked voice.

“He entrusted it to him because he believes he can do it. Are you saying you don’t trust Dane?”

It’s not a matter of trusting or not. It’s just that he can’t go down comfortably. He remembered Dane’s figure as he jumped into the building where the explosion occurred that day. He didn’t look back even once, and he ran without hesitation.

It must have been the same this time as well.

Grayson could imagine it so easily. His disappearing back in an instant.

“Why.”

The words flowed out of his mouth on their own.

“Why did you go? If there’s a bomb, you should run away, why did you bother going back?”

Grayson’s voice gradually became mixed with resentment. Just as he was about to explode with frustration at his stuffy heart and Dane’s incomprehensible thoughts, Joshua opened his mouth.

“Because there will be a landslide.”

Grayson paused for a moment.

“……What?”

To the question asked after a pause, Joshua replied expressionlessly.

“If the last bomb explodes, there will be a landslide. Then this village below will be buried as it is, and everyone will die.”

Grayson blinked blankly. It took a little more time to understand Joshua’s words.

“……Huh.”

A dumbfounded sigh flowed from his mouth.

Just because of that.

Desire Me if you can

Click, the clock turned off. The remaining time was 58 seconds. Haa, Dane let out a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm.

“It’s over……!”

He muttered like a sigh and sat down on the floor. He was so nervous that his head was about to ache. Now he could rest assured. No matter how much of the bomb was behind him, it was useless. Heh heh, a laugh leaked out on its own. Aah, he stretched both hands back, supported himself on the floor, and leaned back, muttering.

“I really refuse to do volunteer work.”

Grayson might be awake by now. Josh must be having a hard time alone. Anyway, that guy, Dane shook his head, but there was a smile on his face.

Shall we go down now?

He was about to get up, thinking that he should scold the disobedient puppy. That’s when the clock that had suddenly turned off lit up again. In the moment of surprise, the seconds began to move again in Dane’s vision. 57 seconds. 56 seconds. 55 seconds.

“What is this…….”

Turning pale, Dane hurriedly sat down again and frantically examined every part of the bomb. Where is it? What went wrong? The clock had definitely turned off. Where on earth…….

At that very moment, an irritating mechanical sound rang out from above his head. Distorting his face and raising his head, the sound stopped and then a man’s voice came out.

You think you’ve won?

Dane paused at the unexpected voice. As Dane hurriedly looked around to find the source of the sound, the man chuckled above his head.

No way. You lost.

After saying this, he changed his voice and began to pour out words solemnly.

God says. The kingdom of heaven is near. God says. Punish the demons and their followers. God, see my faith. I offer you a sacrifice, open the gates of heaven to me and cut off the breath of those wicked people and send all the sins of the world to hell…….

“You son of a…….”

Dane cursed, turning pale. But he just kept reciting ridiculous prayers. He looked around, but it was no use. He must have recorded it from the beginning. To prepare for this situation, to laugh at the relieved opponent after exerting all his strength.

Just like now.

Offer your last prayer, follower of evil. Your body is the last atonement offered to God.

At the man’s words, Dane reflexively turned around. The numbers on the timer were decreasing one by one.

9 seconds. 8 seconds. 7 seconds.

Hell, hell! Fall into hell! Burn forever in the fires of hell……!

Time continued to tick down.

6 seconds. 5 seconds. 4 seconds.

The man began to laugh wildly as if he was out of breath.

Haa, hahahahahaha, haaahahahahaha…….

168 – 168

“Stop, I said stop!”

Joshua shouted repeatedly, trying to stop Grayson. But that only seemed to provoke him more, having no effect at all.

“Get out of my way, don’t interfere.”

Grayson violently pushed Joshua aside and immediately started climbing the mountain. Joshua, frustrated by Grayson’s persistence despite his considerable injuries and staggering gait, finally snapped.

“Goddamn it, I said stop!”

He finally swore. He grabbed Grayson’s arm and yanked him back, causing the large man to teeter and stumble backward. Not missing the opportunity, Joshua grabbed him and threw him to the ground, straddling him and grabbing his collar.

“How many times do I have to tell you that you’re useless? Your job is to wait safely behind and pray for our safety!”

“Don’t talk shit!”

Grayson pushed Joshua away again and tried to get up. Joshua grabbed him as he tried to climb the mountain again.

“Get a grip, you crazy bastard! You can’t go, you mustn’t go!”

“Why!”

Grayson turned to him and yelled.

“Why didn’t you stop him? Why did you just let Dane go!”

At the harsh accusation, Joshua paused for the first time. The guilt he had tried so hard to ignore reared its head and gnawed at his heart. Joshua, who had been biting his lip and looking down, finally confessed.

“I couldn’t stop him.”

His face contorted, he shouted and lashed out.

“If a landslide happens, everyone dies. Dane had to go stop it. You know that bastard, he’s always the first to throw himself into danger, he doesn’t listen to anyone! What could I do? I couldn’t just let all those people under the mountain die!”

“Who cares!”

Grayson roared.

“What does it matter, I don’t care if everyone in the world dies!”

Only Dane. The only thing that mattered to Grayson was that man. Other people? Who? Why should Dane risk his life for them? Why.

Don’t talk shit.

Joshua’s face turned pale. Grayson, breathing heavily, and Joshua, frozen in place, stared at each other for a moment. A chilling silence fell between them, and not long after…

Suddenly, a faint tremor was felt beneath their feet. Joshua instinctively looked down at the ground. Grayson seemed to sway, then lost his balance and collapsed.

Uh.

They both looked at each other at the same time, then turned their eyes in another direction. Behind Grayson, further up the mountain they had come down from. And the next moment…

Kwaaaang, the earth shook with a deafening roar. The vibrating air made their heads spin, and their whole bodies trembled.

“Ugh!”

Joshua screamed and fell to the ground. A fierce wind seemed to sweep over them. The immense gale, so powerful it was painful, made them dizzy. Then they saw white smoke rising from somewhere on the mountain. And slowly forming, a huge crack.

“Dane…”

Grayson murmured blankly. Another explosion sounded from inside. Red flames shot out in all directions. Soon after, he seemed to regain his senses and shouted hoarsely.

“Dane! Daaaane!”

“Stop!”

Joshua grabbed him again as he desperately tried to run up the mountain. This time, it was really impossible. If he got caught in the explosion, or even hit by a falling rock, it would be the end.

Dane entrusted this to me.

Joshua had to do it, even if it cost him his life. He grabbed Grayson around the waist with all his strength and clung to him. At the same time, he connected to the team with the watch on his wrist and shouted frantically.

“Here, I’m with Grayson Miller. Send anything! A helicopter, people, anything…!”

“Let go, let go of me! Dane, Daaaane!”

Grayson continued to scream. The mountain roared and slowly collapsed. Flames flickered beyond the rising black and white smoke.

My puppy.

Dane’s voice from the dream echoed in his ear.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaack…!”

Grayson finally screamed in despair. He barely remembered what happened after that. In his fragmented memories, he remembered frantically lifting the collapsed piles of dirt and rocks. He didn’t know if he had shaken off Joshua or if he had gone there with Joshua, but he vaguely remembered him and the team coming and going. And he kept digging up rocks, shoveling dirt, on and on, on and on.

And finally, when they found Dane, covered in blood and unconscious, in the pile of rocks they had been frantically digging through, Grayson completely lost his mind.

“Dane, Dane…”

He called his name repeatedly, but he didn’t answer. He couldn’t even feel his breath. Had he ever seen him so quiet? Why doesn’t he look at me? Why doesn’t he call me with a smirk? Pretty, you have to say that. Why don’t you say anything, why.

Joshua, who suddenly appeared in front of Grayson, who was holding Dane’s limp body and was out of his mind, shouted.

“Get a grip, Dane isn’t dead yet!”

Grayson blinked and looked down at him at the thunderous shout. Joshua quickly continued.

“The helicopter is here now. We’re going to take Dane to the hospital as he is. So don’t think nonsense, okay?”

“But.”

Grayson stammered.

“There’s so much blood… and he’s unconscious…”

Then he looked down at Dane’s face.

“He should be cursing at me and throwing punches by now, but he’s just still…”

Grayson’s voice trembled. With a pale face, he murmured.

“What should I do? What if Dane really… dies? What should I do?”

Joshua looked at him in surprise. Was this man the Grayson Miller he knew? It was unbelievable, but it was true. There couldn’t be another face and physique like this. But that Grayson Miller was saying these things now? Really? This looks like…

Just as he thought that, Grayson whispered.

Should I die?

Joshua completely froze. But this man was serious. He could say with certainty. Grayson was really going to die. If Dane wasn’t there, he had no reason to live.

He’s going to follow him to the grave.

Just as he thought that, Team leader came over and said.

“We need to transport him right now, let’s load him up quickly.”

“Grayson.”

Joshua called his name again. Seeing Grayson still out of his mind, Joshua raised his voice and continued.

“It’ll be okay, Dane is still alive, don’t think strange things and let’s get him treated quickly. We can think about what to do later. Let’s get Dane to the hospital quickly first.”

“……”

“Hurry.”

At the repeated urging, Grayson finally moved. As if he had belatedly come to his senses, this time he ran to the waiting paramedics in an instant. Soon after, the helicopter carrying Dane left, and Grayson stood there watching it disappear.

“It’ll be okay.”

Joshua patted him on the arm, offering words of comfort. It was when he felt a sense of futility and wondered why he was bothering to say such things to this guy. Suddenly, he felt as if the large body standing next to him was collapsing.

“Grayson!”

Joshua hurriedly called his name in panic. But Grayson had lost consciousness and collapsed, not responding at all.

Desire Me if you can

On the transport bed that had rushed into the emergency room lay a man covered in blood and in a terrible state. The medical staff immediately laid him on the bed and busily connected machines, each talking to each other.

“He was caught in an explosion, it’s an emergency. Prepare for surgery right now!”

“What are his vitals? Let’s start with the urgent tests first.”

“His blood pressure keeps dropping, get blood ready!”

“His injuries are severe, we need to take action quickly!”

“What’s this patient’s name? Do we have his identity?”

“Dane Striker!”

One of them shouted in the midst of the hurried conversation.

“He’s a firefighter!”