Ning jumped in front of Frostveil, positioning himself between them. The snake stopped and reared back mid-attack, then changed into a bat that shot upward, flying toward the ceiling.

"Calvin, listen to me!" the bat screeched. "Lord Tritus saved you! He gave you purpose. Are you going to betray his trust?"

"Calvin, you’re a good man," Godhood said, keeping the man with him from returning to his evil ways.

Ning stared at the bat, his mind working. The creature could obviously turn into beasts, but it was happening way too fast for it to be deliberate. Even if the transformation itself was instantaneous, a regular human mind could not nearly be as reflexive as this man was being.

It was almost like he wasn’t even in control of his own power.

’Is it automatic? Does his body just shift to whatever form would best survive each threat?’ Ning wondered.

That was the only answer he could find in this situation.

The temperature in the room began dropping. Frostveil moved to the walls, spreading frost across every surface. Ice crept over the doors, sealing them shut. Within seconds, the walls were covered in a thick layer of frozen crystals that continued to grow, freezing over the desks and the chair, overtaking the vials and machines that were in the room.

The bat had long since turned into a white owl that could overcome the coldness that had suddenly permeated the room. Ning watched Calvin carefully. If the man tried to melt into the walls now, he’d be stuck in ice instead of stone. So at least they wouldn’t have to worry about him.

Godhood turned to Number 3, his voice steady and righteous. "You can choose a better path. It is never too late to return to the light."

The bird ignored him completely, circling the room while dodging the ice beams that Frostveil shot at it.

Ning gave up on trying to corner the creature since there was just no point anymore. If it could dodge any attack by changing into something else, then it was unlikely he could do anything to wound it.

It was practically impossible to grab him.

There was perhaps only one way to deal with this thing.

"Time to leave," Ning shouted. "Everyone, get out of this room. Frostveil, fill the room with ice."

Frostveil nodded and slowly backed out of the single opening that was behind her while flooding the room with her ice beam. She was beginning to tire from the constant use, but she pushed herself, keeping it up.

Ning grabbed Sharron and Godhood, pulling them away from the room, along with Calvin, whom Godhood dragged.

"Wait, my research—" Sharron started.

Ning paused. "What do you need?"

She pointed at the new vials near the book.

Ning grabbed them all and pushed them into Sharron’s hands before walking out the door.

Once everyone was out, Frostveil didn’t have to be cautious anymore. She let her attack loose, pouring the beam into every corner with wanton disregard for anything that was inside. Ice began forming on every surface, spreading across the floor, climbing the walls, covering the equipment.

Number 3 had long since hidden himself somewhere, most likely having changed itself to something else that it could use to protect itself. With the ice all around, Alex doubted it could do anything.

The ice continued spreading. The space inside grew smaller and smaller as layers of frost built up. Soon, everything was frozen over.

Frostveil focused on the doorway, sealing it shut.

Then the ice closed completely, shutting Number 3 inside the frozen room.

"Is that... it?" Godhood asked.

"Most likely," Alex said. He watched the ice for any movement, but he couldn’t see any.

"It should be dead, right? There’s no way it can survive here," Frostveil said.

Ning shook his head. "I wouldn’t be so sure. There are plenty of beasts that can survive being temporarily frozen."

"But he can’t escape here, so he will suffocate and die."

Ning didn’t want to take the chances. "Find out from him what happened to the records. I need to find some ropes."

Ning left, leaving the three with Calvin.

Godhood turned toward the elf, a little surprised upon understanding that it was most likely this elf that had stolen the things from before. "Calvin, did you steal the top secret technologies from here yesterday?"

"I did," the elf said in a somber voice. "I was told to."

"Where are they?" Sharron asked. She wanted her years of work to not go to waste if she could help it.

"In my hotel room," Calvin said. "I was supposed to deliver it today."

"Your hotel room?" Godhood asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Ah!" Frostveil’s eyes widened. "I knew I recognized you."

Godhood and Sharron turned to look at her. Frostveil turned toward Godhood and said, "He’s one of the managers. I remember seeing him in the lobby when I arrived yesterday."

"You work in a hero agency?" Godhood asked the elf.

The elf nodded. "I do. I am the manager of Swampman."

"The Swamp Hero?" Frostveil asked with some surprise. "Is he involved in this too then?"

"Yes," the elf answered.

Frostveil was surprised on one part at the information she was getting, and on the other part, she was surprised at how easily he was giving away that information. It wasn’t that the elf was charmed or hypnotized into giving away the answers, but rather he had a change of heart and knew speaking the truth here was the right thing to do.

"We need to alert the president. Let her know who the mole was," she said in the end.

Godhood nodded. "But what about him?" he asked, pointing toward the frozen man.

Frostveil hesitated. She too didn’t know what they were supposed to do here. "Take him with you, and keep her safe," she said, gesturing to Sharron. "I’ll keep an eye on this one."

Godhood took a moment and nodded. "Good luck."

He immediately left with Calvin and Sharron. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Frostveil stayed behind, watching the frozen room, all the while wondering where Ning had gone to.