Unforgettable Act

After finishing their shopping and wandering around for a while, they finally reached the food corner for some snacks. Just as everyone was sitting down on the chair, Lily suddenly remembered something important. She stood up quickly.

“Guys, you go ahead and enjoy the snacks. I need to send a letter to my mom. I’ll be back in a while.”Lily says

Mei looked at her. “Can’t you send it later? We’ll probably leave soon anyway.”

Lily shook her head, worry flashing in her eyes. “If I don’t post it now, the letter will reach next week. Mom might get anxious…and her condition becomes worse because she’s admitted to the hospital and my mom has an illness.”

Hearing this, everyone immediately understood. Hina nodded softly. “Alright. Go post the letter. We’ll wait for you right here.”

Relieved, Lily smiled. “Thank you. I’ll come back quickly.”

She got up from the food corner, walked toward the mall exit. As Lily walked toward the mall exit, she suddenly bumped into a person wearing a hoodie. The impact made her stumble back slightly.

“I’m really sorry! Are you hurt?” she asked quickly.

But the hoodie person didn’t respond. Without saying a single word, he simply walked past her and disappeared into the crowd.

Lily looked confused and said.

“That was strange… he left without saying anything,” she says to herself, before continuing toward the post office.

Then, Lily exited the mall and fastly went at her own pace, heading toward the bus stand to take the bus and post the letter as soon as possible.

Back inside the mall, the hooded person she had bumped into lily a few minutes later. He walked through a restricted corridor and met a group of men dressed in black. One of them — clearly their leader — gave a silent hand signal.

Without hesitation, the hooded man pulled out a small device and switched it on.

Instantly, across the entire mall area, mobile signals vanished.

On the other side, Ren was scrolling through his phone when the network signal suddenly dropped to zero.

“Huh?” He looked confused and raised his phone. “Guys, my signal just disappeared. Is this 

happening to your phones too?”

Hina checked her phone. “Mine too. No signal at all.”

Yuki unlocked her phone and checked her phone. “Same here. Nothing’s working.”

Mei looked at her phone and said ,“Yeah… mine too. No signal coming.”

All across the mall, mobile signals vanished. People stared at their phones in confusion, tapping screens again and again.

“Why did my signal suddenly drop?”

“What’s happening?”

“ What happened to my phone”

“ Why did the phone signal become zero?” 

Panic and confusion spread through the crowd.

Hidden inside a sealed corridor, the leader of the terrorist group spoke coldly,

“Step two. Start.”

Another terrorist pressed a button.

BOOM!

A powerful explosion exploded through part of the mall. The ground shook violently. Lights flickered. Smoke filled the air. Panic erupted instantly as people screamed and ran toward the mall exits.

A massive crowd rushed toward the mall  exits, people screaming and pushing, desperate to escape.

High above, inside the control corridor, the terrorist group’s leader raised his hand.

“Let's use my power,” he said. Then, he released the entities. “Take them as hostages.”

Dark energy rippled through the air.

Suddenly, three gigantic entities appeared near the exit of the mall. Their towering figures blocked the main exit completely.

People running toward the doors froze in shock. For a brief moment, hope sparked in their eyes.

“Are those… hero-summoned entities?”

“Did the authorities send help already?”

“ We are safe”

Relief spread through the crowd. But the moment a few people tried to cross the exit—

Slash! - Slash! — 

One of the entities attacked mercilessly. Blood splattered. Screams filled the hall. Bodies fell to the ground.

The crowd backed away in terror.

“They’re not here to save us!”

“They’re killing people!”

Panic exploded again. No one dared to move toward the exits now. Trapped between fear and chaos, the people huddled together.

The three monstrous entities advanced slowly, surrounding the crowd. One by one, the terrified civilians were forced back, cornered…

Then they had become hostages.

The crowd of hostages panicked in fear and totally froze.

Then, the terrorist group’s leader stepped forward. Behind him stood several armed men wearing black masks, guns raised and ready.

The leader’s voice came coldly through the hall.

“Sit down quietly and stay obedient. I have business with the police. I only want my comrades freed from prison. And you…” — he pointed at the terrified crowd — “you are my bargaining keys.”

Panic spread among the hostages. Some of them possessed powers — and desperation sparked dangerous thoughts.

Suddenly, one hostage came forward, flames bursting from his hands as he launched a fire attack toward the terrorist leader.

But instantly, one of the towering entities stepped in front, absorbing the blast without a scratch. From another side, a second hostage attacked — spikes shooting out from his own body, aimed straight at the terrorist leader.

But another entity moved faster than sight, blocking the assault again. Before anyone could react… Both entities advanced.

Slash. Crunch.

The two brave hostages were killed down mercilessly. Their bodies fell lifeless to the floor.

Silence swallowed the hall. Terror froze every heartbeat.

The leader smiled and said, 

“Try anything again… and you’ll die the same way.”

No one dared move now. Fear ruled the room.

Ren, Hina, and the others had seen everything from a distance. Hidden behind a collapsed pillar, they watched as they were brutally killed by terrorists.

Ren clenched his fists. “These people are completely insane… They don’t even think twice before killing someone.”

Hina’s voice in fear said, “We have to call for help somehow… and escape from here as fast as possible.”

Yuki looked around nervously and said, “We need to find a safe place to hide.”

Mei nodded in agreement. “Yuki’s right. Let’s move to a safe place.

Meanwhile, outside the mall…

Lily was walking back after posting her letter. But the moment she turned the corner, she stopped in shock. Smoke was coming from the mall. Police barricades surrounded the entire area. Sirens sounded endlessly.

She rushed toward a nearby officer and asked.

“Officer! What happened here?!”

The officer quickly stepped in front of her.

“There has been a terrorist attack. Please move away from this area immediately!”

Police officers gently pushed her back, guiding her away from the barricade.

Lily stood frozen in shock and said, “A… terrorist attack…?”

Panicking, she grabbed her phone and dialed her homeroom teacher. The call connected.

“This is Ms. Sei speaking.”

“Teacher! It’s me  Lily!” Lily cried and explained the scenario “After our task, we came to the mall. I left to post a letter… and when I returned, the mall was under terrorist attack! Ren and the others are still inside!”

For a moment, silence. Then Sei spoke, “going to a safe area. I’m coming immediately. Don’t panic, Lily. Go to a safe area and stay there. I will meet you soon.”

“Yes… Teacher…” Lily said and went to the safe area. 

Inside the mall, Ren watched everything from their hiding spot. His teeth clenched.

“We can’t just sit here,” he said. “We are going to help them.”

Yuki shook her head quickly. “We can’t fight them. They have guns… and those strange entities. They kill without hesitation.”

Hina’s voice was tight with fear. “Still… we have to find a way. We can’t stay here forever.”

Mei nodded. “ Hina's right. First, we find a safe place. Then we think about how to exit here.”

In the hostage hall, the terrorist leader comes forward again. His voice sounded cold.

“You. Stand up,” he ordered.

pointing at a mother holding two small children.Trembling, the mother rose, grabbing her kids tightly. Slowly, they walked toward him under the watch of masked gunmen.

The leader raised his voice and talked to the police outside, he said calmly. “Free all my imprisoned comrades. If you didn't release my comrades… these children and their mother would die.”

Outside, the head police officer grabbed the radio.

“Please! Don’t harm the hostages. We are working on your demands!”

The leader smiled. “Nice. Very nice. I’ll give you fifteen minutes. If my comrades are not freed by then… I’ll begin killing.”

Outside the mall, Teacher Sei arrived near the barricades and they met Lily.

“Are you alright?” Sei asked quickly.

Lily says, “Yes, teacher…”

The teacher said, “Good. Go back to the academy immediately. This place is too dangerous.”

Lily hesitated. “But… My friends are inside! Please let me stay!”

Sei says, This is an order, Lily. Go.”

 Lily had no choice. She turned and went toward the academy, her heart heavy with fear for her friends.

Sei walked straight to the head police officer.

“Sir. I am Sei from JPW Academy. I am also a licensed professional hero. Allow me to enter. I can defeat the terrorists and rescue the hostages — including my students.”

The officer shook his head. “We cannot allow it. There are too many hostages. One mistake… and many will die.”

“I can handle it,” Sei request 

“I’m sorry, ma’am. We didn't gamble for life.” the police officer said.

Sei stepped back, frustrated and worried, tightening her chest.

Fifteen minutes passed.

The terrorist leader lifted the microphone again, “Time’s up. Tell me — are my comrades free?”

The police officer replied through the speaker, “We cannot free them all. But we are willing to release some—”

The leader’s smile vanished, “So that’s your answer,” he said coldly. “Fine. You’ll have your hostages… after I reduce their number.”

“Wait! Don’t!” the police officer shouted.

But the leader didn’t listen. He raised his hand toward one of the entities. The massive creature stepped forward, going over the mother and her children.

The mother fell to her knees and said, “Please! Don’t hurt my children! Please!”

The leader only laughed. In a swift motion, the entity attacked. When the dust settled… the children were dead after being attacked.

The mother screamed, her mind breaking. She rushed at the entity in madness — only to be thrown aside with overwhelming force. Her body fell still and she also died on impact.

Silence filled the hall.

The terrorist leader said, “So weak. So helpless.”