Hero Hack: Reversing Heroes and Raising Harem
Chapter 275: Caught in the Snare

Chapter 275: Caught in the Snare

Izzor crouched in the shadows of a half-broken vent tunnel, breathing hard.

His eyes glowed faint red under the flickering lights.

"Tch. They already found out..."

He gritted his teeth.

"But it’s still fine. Only five passed."

He looked down at a small black box in his hand.

It was cracked but still pulsing with weak ether sparks.

"This test was expensive," he muttered.

"They won’t run another one anytime soon. Not in this district."

He shoved the device into his belt pouch and stood up.

Then he smirked.

"They’ll have to use what they got. Five little stars, and now they’ll burn."

He sprinted down the tunnel, his boots splashing in shallow water.

Behind him, sparks danced from broken wires above.

He turned sharply and kicked open a service door. It slammed into the wall with a loud clang.

"Let’s see how far they follow."

He pulled up his hood and jumped into a deeper section of the underground path.

A broken transport tunnel. Dark and wide.

As he landed, his feet slid slightly on the dusty floor.

He checked a wrist device. Still blinking. Still tracking movement.

"They’ll come," he muttered.

He tapped the screen, and part of the tunnel behind him collapsed with a soft explosion.

Dust filled the air.

Good. Delay them.

He pulled out a flare stick and threw it ahead.

The red light rolled down the tunnel, showing old crates, fallen signs, and twisted rails.

"Flame God Cult didn’t send me just to fail a test."

He walked forward slowly, arms relaxed, but eyes sharp.

"I just needed to break the system. And now I did."

He took a deep breath and cracked his neck.

"And if they chase me... I’ll make them regret passing."

His hand lit up with faint fire sparks.

[Heat Pulse – Ember Veil]

A wave of hot mist spread from his body, hiding his presence.

[Spark Echo Trap]

Three small fire seeds floated behind him, invisible to most.

"Come on, heroes."

His voice was low and steady.

"I’m just getting started."

He vanished into the dark, footsteps soft.

---

Ashblade and Whisperlash walked down the narrow metal path under Sector 3.

The lights were dim. The floor shook now and then from systems rebooting above.

Their footsteps echoed quietly.

Ashblade kept walking slowly.

Whisperlash walked ahead, then turned around, hands on her hips.

"You’re walking like we’re on vacation."

Ashblade kept his pace.

"I am."

She tilted her head.

"You’re serious?"

He nodded once.

"We don’t rush. Let the others find Izzor first."

Whisperlash raised an eyebrow.

"You’re letting them handle it?"

"For now," Ashblade said.

He looked ahead into the dark, where faint heat signatures still flickered across the wall map he had scanned earlier.

"Until we know who we’re really facing... there’s no reason to move fast."

Whisperlash crossed her arms and leaned on a pipe.

"You think Izzor has more planned?"

Ashblade didn’t answer right away.

He stepped to the side, pulled out a small scanner, and tapped the screen.

Red symbols popped up. One was blinking.

"Izzor’s just the name we were given."

"But that man fights like someone trained. Not a simple disruptor."

Whisperlash’s playful tone dropped.

"So someone from Flame God Cult for sure."

Ashblade nodded.

"Or worse. Someone they trained for years to break systems like this."

He looked around again, tapping the steel wall once.

"Three traps already disarmed. That means he’s not rushing either. He wants to play."

Whisperlash uncoiled her whip and spun it once, the threads shimmering faint blue in the dim light.

"I don’t like games I didn’t start."

Ashblade smirked.

"Then let them go ahead. Ember Striker, Sightpiercer, and Volt Stride—they’re strong enough to fight him head-on."

He stopped in front of a crosspath.

"We stay behind. Watch how Izzor reacts when he meets pressure."

Whisperlash walked beside him again.

"And if they fall?"

"Then we clean up."

She gave a small laugh.

"Cold."

Ashblade’s voice was calm.

"Smart."

He looked back once toward the direction the others went.

"We’ll follow when we hear the sounds of real battle."

Whisperlash leaned closer with a grin.

"You always talk like you’ve done this before."

Ashblade’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"I have."

Then he turned and walked down the left tunnel.

Whisperlash followed.

Somewhere far ahead, the sound of a small explosion echoed.

Ashblade didn’t flinch.

"Trap sprung."

Whisperlash whispered under her breath.

"Showtime."

They kept moving, just a bit faster now, but still not rushing.

The hunt had only just begun.

---

Izzo gritted his teeth as he pulled his leg free.

His boot was stuck in a glowing snare trap that had wrapped tightly around his ankle.

Sparks flew out of the wall near him.

"How did I miss this one..." he muttered. "I checked everything—twice."

He limped a few steps forward, trying to force the snare to release. It didn’t.

Then a voice echoed through the tunnel.

"So you’re the one."

Izzo froze.

Volt Stride stepped out from the shadows behind a support beam.

Her arms were crossed. Lightning sparks danced at her fingertips.

Izzo narrowed his eyes.

"You again..."

Volt Stride walked slowly toward him. Her steps were calm and confident.

"You thought you knew all the traps, didn’t you?" she said.

Izzo didn’t answer.

Volt Stride smirked.

"The moment you were identified, a second layer of hidden traps activated."

"Even if you knew the original ones, you could never know the hidden ones."

Izzo growled.

"This wasn’t supposed to happen."

"You messed with the wrong system," she said.

"And you messed with the wrong heroes."

Izzo suddenly reached for his belt, trying to pull something out.

But Volt Stride moved first.

A crack of light surged down her arm as she raised her hand.

[Flash Bolt Drive]

A streak of blue light slammed into the ground near Izzo’s feet, throwing him off balance.

He hit the wall hard, coughing.

Volt Stride pointed at him.

"Try anything funny again, and I’ll paralyze both legs next."

Izzo coughed again and leaned against the wall.

"You really think that you can stop a plan that took years to prepare?"

Volt Stride’s eyes narrowed.

"We’ve already stopped it. You just don’t know it yet."

Izzo clenched his fists.

But his foot was still trapped.

He wasn’t getting away.