Surviving as the Second Main Lead: Second Lead's POV

[WARNING EVERYONE: A NEW DUNGEON HAS BEEN DETECTED INFORMATION. EVERYONE, KINDLY BE ON STANDBY FOR THE TIME BEING.]

The warning came out all of a sudden. No one in the parking expected such news and a stunned silence followed. Even the man who had created this dungeon looked shocked as soon as it happened.

He tried to flee with Emma but Howard noticed it.

"Hey, where are you going? Give Emma back to me right now."

Howard yelled as he followed after the fleeing man. He did not even take notice of the dungeon as his feet carried him behind the kidnapper. How dare he try and kidnap Emma in broad daylight.

Horas watched it all happen with an impassive face. He knew that his priorities had changed as soon as the dungeon appeared.

And it did not take long for his communicator to buzz to life and a call to come in from Principal Marbel.

[Horas, I heard the news. But forget about the dungeon for the time being and save Emma Dew. Prioritize the safety of our students first and foremost.]

Principal Marble's orders did not surprise Horas. This was the policy of the Esper's academy and also the reason Horas was here in the first place. So Horas observed the newly formed dungeon map.

It looked exactly like the school but with a lot of bonuses. Thankfully, the dungeon was small so Kevin would not have been able to run that far he had to have been in this dungeon somewhere.

"Well, time to get this dungeon bursting. I should call Tora over here now."

Tora's sense of smell was amazing. Catching Kevin would be child's play for Tora and Horas would also need to clear this dungeon to make it disappear.

But as soon as Horas stood up and started walking, he felt eyes watching his every move. He did not know why, but he felt uncomfortable in the dungeon. He could not shake off this feeling of being observed.

He tried looking around for cameras or other hidden objects but there was nothing in his sight. It was as if the dungeon itself was observing him.

'No, it's likely nothing and I am too nervous to react to this place. Do not let yourself get too nervous Horas. It will not be worth it in the end.'

Horas calmed himself down for the time being. There was no point in worrying about useless things. Especially when it looked like a trail had started somewhere in this dungeon.

It was time for Horas to ensure no one died in the aftermath of such a situation.

……………………….

Howard hurried to look for Emma's kidnapper. His long legs aided him in the running around faster but he still did not know where Emma was. He only knew which way the kidnapper had run away with Emma.

'Darn, this is not good. Where will this dungeon lead me to?'

Howard did not know which way to go but he had a gut feeling to head toward the back side of the building and into the forest.

And since his instincts had yet to steer him wrong, Howard quickly decided to head toward the back forest. It was a desolate and unkempt space. It also had a weird smell originating from the forest.

So Howard quickly put on his smelling mask, now reassured that he was on the right track. He would soon come across senior Kevin and Emma.

Howard had only walked somewhat deeper into the forest when he felt something sharp brush past his cheek. He was able to dodge it in time but his cheek had a small cut as a result.

"Is this your plan of winning against me? To attack me from the shadows? I did not know that senior was such a coward."

Howard taunted as he observed his surroundings. The place where his previous attack had come from was empty. The senior had moved away in a flash. But that also indicated that he had put down Emma.

If that was the case then Howard did not need holding back. He could attack his senior with everything he had in hopes of defeating him.

He observed the next attack and threw his knife back toward the direction he was being attacked from. His knife collided with something metallic but Howard had a feeling the senior would have moved away again.

It was such a disadvantage for him to be stuck here while the senior could hide.

'But how is the senior hiding? My senses cannot detect any ability being used and my special skill is not alerting me about anything foul. So what the hell is going on? And why is the smell getting more and more alarming?'

As soon as Howard asked this question, he had the answer as well. It was the scent that was messing with Howard and not allowing him to see the senior as well as Howard wanted to.

'So there is one solution for me - to not smell anything for the time being.'

As a precaution, Howard always carried a protection mask with him. He quickly took it out of his storage and put it in his mouth. The surroundings cleared a bit and the forest began to look hazy.

It was likely that Howard was not even in a forest, to begin with.

'Shit, I inhaled too much gas. It will take time for my senses to return to normal.'

Howard had noticed this so he took deep breaths of clean air to clear out the effects of Kevin's gas. But Kevin had noticed what Howard was doing as well and the senior bit his lips.

He could not allow Howard to become free of his influence. He will not be able to win against the first-year-old.

'I need a strategy. I need this dungeon to help me out. I do not want to die yet.'

Kevin was desperate for someone to come and save him. All his options and his power had been exhausted thus far and now he had no idea what he should do anymore.

'If you want help, then shall I help you out? All you would need to do is to surrender to me. Once you do, I will come and save you.'

The voice whispered in Kevin's ears and he agreed without a second thought.