Bang!
The heavy hatch slammed shut overhead. Past Self and Chiba, both drenched in cold sweat, looked up at the tightly sealed hatch door, which let through not even a sliver of light, and let out long breaths.
They had made it.
At that moment, a trace of relief flashed through Past Self's heart.
Just now...
At the same time, a flicker of doubt passed through Chiba's heart, mixed with a faint sigh.
After catching his breath and forcibly suppressing the fear in his heart, Past Self swallowed slightly and looked toward the light ahead, where seven men and women stood beneath the basement lights. His expression gradually darkened.
In that instant, the relief, lingering fear, and wariness slowly faded from his face, replaced by an expression of uncertainty.
At the same time, an intensely conflicted struggle flooded Chiba's senses. For a moment, his mind fell into a state of extreme turmoil.
Thud! Thud!
Just then, the sound of feet stepping on the hatch door suddenly rang out overhead.
It was followed by a dense burst of footsteps, as though many people were running across it.
In an instant, everyone's gaze shot toward the steps where Past Self sat. Six terrified pairs of eyes landed on him, their raised gazes fixed tightly on the hatch door above his head.
Past Self could practically feel their terror that the hatch door might suddenly collapse, without even needing to look.
He could even imagine the six of them trembling, faces pale, limbs stiff.
Because although he showed no fear, when he heard those running footsteps, he was not much better off inside.
After all, no matter how tough his nerves might have been, he was just an ordinary person like them. Before this, he had never faced any real threat to his