The shackles snapped off just as easily. Chu Xueyue swallowed hard. He’d been so brazen toward Albert moments ago—never imagining the man could actually pull this off.

Chu Xueyue touched his own neck. His throat certainly wouldn’t be tougher than those steel cuffs Albert had just broken.

*Creak... creak...*

Albert simply wrenched the iron bars of his cell apart with his bare hands.

This was straight out of an action movie—and now it was happening right before Chu Xueyue’s eyes. Fear coiled in his gut.

Albert had stepped out of his cell. His gaze locked onto Chu Xueyue.

A cold sweat broke across Chu Xueyue’s forehead. His heart hammered.

Albert didn’t speak. He just stood there—then suddenly grinned.

That smile shattered Chu Xueyue’s nerves. *I’m not made of steel. I’m fragile. This is it. I’m dead.*

Albert reached out. Steel twisted like paper in his grip as he stepped into Chu Xueyue’s cell.

Chu Xueyue scrambled backward until his spine hit the wall. Trapped.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it—please spare me!” Chu Xueyue babbled before Albert even opened his mouth. Tears streamed down his face as he shielded his head with his arms.

Albert paused. *Ah. He’s terrified of my strength. First time seeing power like this... plus waking up in this hellhole.* He crouched, patting Chu Xueyue’s shoulder. “You told me to come over here, remember? Well—I’m here. What now?”

“S-sorry, boss! P-please forgive me!” Chu Xueyue stammered, trembling.

*Enough joking around. If I stall longer, they’ll notice these broken chains.* Albert’s voice softened. “Relax. I’m the Hero, not the Dark Lord. I won’t hurt you. Let’s get out before the Dark Lord catches us.”

Hearing “Hero” and “Dark Lord” steadied Chu Xueyue slightly. *Cut me some slack—I’m just a high schooler who woke up in a dungeon cell. Facing the Dark Lord first thing? I’m holding up better than most.*

“Sorry you had to see... that,” Chu Xueyue forced a faint smile. As he tried to stand, his legs buckled. Albert caught him instantly.

“You okay?”

“Just... pins and needles. Sat too long.”

“Good. Let’s move.”

Chu Xueyue frowned. *There’s no exit here. Only cells. The demons teleported in. And Albert said he’s a pure physical-type Hero... Is he planning to smash through the walls?*

*If he goes solo, maybe he escapes. But with me? One stray hit and I’m done for.*

“Uh—how exactly are we getting out?”

“Duh. Straight out,” Albert said matter-of-factly.

*Yep. Pure physical-type. Charges headfirst. No wonder he got captured.*

“Look.” Albert pulled a scroll from his armor and thrust it at Chu Xueyue.

*What the— Where did that come from?!*

“You pulled that from *where*?!”

Albert tapped his chestplate. “Right here. They took my Spatial Ring, but skipped a full search. This teleportation scroll stayed hidden.”

Chu Xueyue stared blankly at the scroll. *Useless. I wouldn’t know how to activate this.*

“Is this... a spatial teleportation scroll?”

“Exactly! Our ticket out.” Albert beamed with pride.

“Then why are you *holding* it? Showing off? You said the Dark Lord would notice! Use it *now*. I won’t spend another second in this dump.”

“Right. I’m tired of this place too.” Albert agreed—he’d been imprisoned far longer than Chu Xueyue. With a sharp *rip*, he tore the scroll open.

A glowing white Magic Circle flared beneath their feet, enveloping them in light.

Albert suddenly grinned sheepishly. “Forgot to mention—this scroll teleports randomly. No idea where we’ll land. Brace yourself.”

“NANI?! You—” Chu Xueyue yelped.

The white light flashed. They vanished.

---

A demon rattled a tray outside the cells. “Dish collection time! Finished eating, Heroes?”

Silence.

He peered inside. Both cells stood broken open. Empty.

“ALERT! THE HEROES HAVE ESCAPED!” His shrill cry echoed down the corridor.

---

The Dark Lord examined the shattered cells. “They escaped together... I underestimated this new Otherworldly Hero.”

A demon attendant wrung his claws. “What now, my lord? Without Heroes to slay, we’ll restart the cycle—the endless loop of being slain by them!”

“Prepare the next Hero summoning.” The Dark Lord turned to a female demon. “Evelyn. If it’s a male Hero... he’s yours. You know what to do.”

“Heh. I’ve never tasted a Hero’s flesh.” Evelyn’s smile was razor-sharp. “Leave him to me. I’ll make him... behave.”

“I trust you.”

The Dark Lord turned away.