Chapter 36

Ezra shouted as he put on his oxygen mask. We'll show you, our loyalty. Firefighters never abandon their colleagues. We all go in together and come out together. Even if it means dying!

"How long has Dane been in there?"

To someone's question, Wilkins answered.

"It's been about 10 minutes since we lost contact, we need to hurry."

Firefighters with tense faces hurriedly gathered their equipment from all around. Hands were busy strapping on oxygen tanks and checking protective gear. Their appearance, silently preparing for their mission amid the burning smell and smoke, was filled with a kind of determination.

Watching them, Greyson thought it was just pathetic. He would come out on his own soon anyway. How long could he endure in those flames? Why were they making such a fuss when they could just wait for him to come out on his own?

The reason was obvious. They just wanted to condemn Greyson or boast about their great bond.

He crossed his arms indifferently. The hurried footsteps, the short and rough instructions pouring from the radios, and even the heat from the burning house. All of it just seemed excessive to him.

"Alright, let's go in!"

When Ezra, who had finished preparing, shouted, everyone nodded solemnly. They would definitely bring Dane back. Just as they were about to rush inside with their grave determination.

'Boom.' As if something had exploded inside, with a thunderous sound, the fire-engulfed house twisted and finally lost its center, half of it collapsing. In an instant, massive debris poured down, and flames rose again over it.

The firefighters who were about to enter froze with wide eyes in surprise. For a moment, everyone held their breath. But even that brief silence didn't last long.

"No!"

At someone's cry, everyone finally realized the reality. Flames rose fiercely over the collapsed debris, and tremendous heat surged like a wave.

"Damn it, Dane, Dane!"

With that, the firefighters screamed and wailed.

* * *

Meanwhile, Dane, left alone, moved lightly to find the attic. Fortunately, the device the man had mentioned was easy to find. The reason for the button being on the floor was probably to make it easy for the dog to press.

Contrary to concerns that the device might not work properly due to the fire, fortunately, when he pressed the button, ladder-like stairs unfolded as if they had been waiting. When he went up to check, there was also a button above. The owner probably taught the dog to press the button after going up. That would be the only way to ensure the dog's safety.

But in this case, the thinking was wrong. In case of fire, it would be better to be on the lower floor. Because in a fire, the probability of dying from smoke inhalation is higher than dying from burning.

The ventilation fan installed on one side of the wall was quite large, showing considerable thought in the design, but it had stopped working. When electricity was flowing, the fan would have been spinning diligently, but it was useless once cut off by the fire. As a result, the attic was already covered in thick smoke.

Dane first stepped on the button to retract the stairs and then looked inside. The dog would surely be hiding in some corner. Coincidentally, there was quite a lot of junk there. Even for a large dog, if it hid, it would take time to find it. While clearing those things away, Dane was thankful that the flames hadn't reached here yet. After all, they were all flammable materials that could become kindling.

"Charlie! Charlie, are you here?"

Dane called out for the dog again.

"Charlie, I've come to save you! Come out now! Charlie!"

Outside, the sound of the building collapsing continued. It wouldn't hold much longer. What if the dog wasn't here either? Then he might have to give up.

...Maybe he could check the kitchen area once more.

Just as he was quickly recalling the interior of the house he had seen on the way and thinking about what to do next in case of any situation.

"Charlie!"

Dane, who finally discovered the large dog lying behind a large trunk, immediately ran over. He hurriedly picked up Charlie, but the dog lay limp without even moving.

When he quickly checked the pulse, fortunately, the heart was still beating, though faintly. Dane didn't hesitate to take off his own mask and put it on the dog. Of course, there was no way it would fit, but providing even a little fresh oxygen would help.

"Cough, cough."

Dane, who immediately inhaled smoke, broke into a harsh cough. He repeatedly coughed while holding the dog, his whole body shaking.

He needed to get out of here quickly. The stairs would completely collapse soon. This time, as he was pressing the button while thinking about how to escape from here.

Boom!

The house shook greatly with a tremendous roar. For a moment, Dane almost dropped the dog he was holding. Instead, he rolled on the floor once while holding the dog, then quickly got up and looked around. Though it wasn't clear what had happened, one thing was certain. Soon this house would completely collapse.

The stairs might have already completely collapsed. This was absolutely not the time to gamble on mere possibilities. Dane quickly looked around. The remaining method was.

When he saw the stopped ventilation fan, he moved immediately. There was no time to hesitate or calculate. After carefully placing the dog nearby, Dane took out the axe he had been carrying on his back and held it with both hands. Then without hesitation, he began striking the fan.

* * *

Tremendous black smoke rose between the collapsing mansion. The firefighters who were about to rush inside stood frozen in horror before belatedly beginning to wail.

"Dane, Daaane!"

"It can't be. Dane won't be in there!"

"Charlie! Charliiie!"

"Wh-where's the attic? Which side is it?"

"Which side is the attic, tell us quickly!"

"No, Charlie! Huuuuu... Charliiiiie!"

"You bastard, tell us quickly!"

"Let's go in first, it's still okay! We can do it!"

"No, if there's another explosion, it's all over."

"Dane... Dane!"

Right in the midst of the chaos, as screams of despair and pain continued.

"Wait, look over there!"

Someone suddenly shouted and pointed to one side. Everyone's gaze turned to one place at once, and simultaneously, exclamations of surprise erupted.

The large fan protruding from the roof began to break bit by bit, and soon the blades flew off. The axe that had briefly appeared disappeared, and this time a crowbar removed part of the remaining ventilation fan.

Everyone watched tensely. Could it be, please, as they looked on with desperate wishes, the last piece flew away, and finally, someone extended their body through the now wide-open ventilation duct.

The moment the tall man with red-blonde hair appeared, cheers erupted among those watching. It was Dane Striker.

"It's Dane, Dane is there!"

Following the emotional cry, cheers poured from everywhere.

"Dane, Dane Striker!"

"Dane, it's Dane after all! I knew that bastard would be safe!"

"Hey, someone get a ladder! Bring a ladder! Hurry!"

"Quickly connect it to the roof! Quickly!"

"Hurry, hurry up! What are you doing? I'll do it, move!"

Amid the firefighters moving noisily, Greyson stood silently watching Dane. He still wasn't doing anything, but no one paid attention to him.

Even in the midst of this, Dane was attempting to escape through the broken ventilation duct. Whatever happened to his mask, his face was blackened with ash and dust. His appearance, coming out onto the roof with firm determination despite occasionally coughing from inhaling smoke, was even somewhat moving.

Greyson soon understood what had happened to the mask he had been wearing. A mask that didn't fit was hanging on the muzzle of the large dog Dane was holding.

Greyson slightly furrowed his brow.

He goes that far? Why?

Despite his violent coughing, Dane steadfastly gave up his mask to the dog and waited for his colleagues to bring a ladder. Greyson continued to watch him.