Meanwhile, Oliver's footsteps echo through the dark corridors of the crumbling mansion. His stride slows as darkness envelops everything around him, turning the surroundings into an inky void. Deprived of sight, Oliver snaps his fingers, conjuring a radiant orb that materializes from his fingertips.

     The luminous sphere hovers mid-air, casting a faint glow upon the walls. Sizzling softly, it floats ahead, dispelling the darkness and revealing a glimmer of illumination. Guided by its radiant path, Oliver cautiously traverses the silent corridor.

     Oliver's heartbeat reverberates, filling the silence as his breaths escape loudly through his parted lips. With careful steps, his eyes scan the dim environment, seeking any signs of danger or intrigue. And then, he comes to a halt, his senses on high alert.

     The summoned glowing orb comes to a steady halt, its luminous light shedding a gentle glow upon a door that blocks Oliver's path. Oliver draws closer and grips the doorknob tightly, his fingers feeling the resistance of rust. He then attempts to twist the stubborn knob, but it only responds with a haunting creak.

     Exhaling slowly, Oliver closes his eyes, seeking a solution. An idea immediately sparks in his mind, causing his eyelids to widen. Swiftly, he unbuttons two buttons on his tailcoat's collar, revealing a glimpse of his bare throat. Digging his hand beneath his collar, he retrieves his golden cross necklace with a firm grasp.

     Lowering to one knee, Oliver clutches the golden cross necklace in his palms. The bright orb hovers close, shining towards the door's keyhole. Despite the illumination, the darkness persists, straining Oliver's eyes as shadow conceals every surface.

     With his eyebrows furrowed, Oliver peeks through the keyhole, his eyes narrowing with concentration. Carefully, he slides his golden cross necklace into the lockset, the metal gliding smoothly. As he twists the cross, a resounding click resonates from the doorknob, and the glowing orb dissipates into thin air.

     Seizing the door handle, Oliver pushes the doorway open, revealing a rectangular room beyond. A smile of triumph graces his face as he steps inside, finally unlocking the door's mystery. Pausing to take in his surroundings, Oliver's glance lands upon a staircase in the room's corner that leads to an interior balcony.

     Slowly, Oliver approaches the staircase. Ascending the stairs swiftly, he cuts to the left upon reaching the top, his eyes falling upon another door. Oliver reaches out, grasping the doorknob and turning it. However, as Oliver pushes on the doorway, he encounters resistance, feeling the door's tenacious refusal to open.

     Turning away from the door on the left, Oliver redirects his attention to the door directly ahead. Placing his hand on the doorknob, he applies pressure, attempting to push it open, but the hinges hold firm. Oliver's gaze shifts to the keyhole, and he tightly pinches his golden cross necklace between his fingers.

     Bending slightly at the waist, Oliver inserts the cross necklace into the keyhole, beginning to rotate it. But, his efforts to unlock the door prove arduous. The lockset resists with protests and groans despite his persistent and straining attempts.

Outside, Gregory's voice also rose in protest. "...I must help my spouse," he stated, striding towards the gaping entrance of the abandoned mansion.

Reacting swiftly, Sophia hastened forward and reached out, firmly grasping Gregory's arm. "Greg! No..." Sophia shook her head lightly. "Don't interfere..."

Gregory looked at Sophia. "...Remember what the newspaper said?" he questioned.

"Huh...?" Sophia wondered, her brows furrowing in confusion.

"Cal broke out of prison with other inmates, remember?" Gregory stated, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. "Those two men you fought earlier might be two of those escaped prisoners. But... there are more than just them... remember...?"

Sophia's eyes locked on Gregory's, realization and fear fluttering within her pupils. She slowly placed a trembling palm before her lips, her breath quivering as the gravity of the situation settled upon her mind.

     While Oliver diligently twists his cross necklace on the lockset, an unexpected breeze sweeps in from the side, brushing against his hair and skin. The gentle gust causes his body to tense, freezing him like a block of ice. His hands and jaws shiver as his eyes slowly shift to the right.

     At that moment, Oliver's grip on the necklace slips, his heart punching against his chest. His palms turn as frigid as ice, mirroring the shock that dashes through his nerves. Whatever he has glimpsed elicits a cold wave of shock and horror, anchoring his body in a firm and steady stance—as if his feet have become rooted to the floor.

     Standing in a widely opened doorway is a looming figure. The cloak it wears seamlessly melds with the surrounding darkness. Its penetrating stare fixates on the Remaining Podeshire, emanating from a white mask with hollow, sunken eyes.

     Oliver's eyes widen as he peers at the enigmatic figure. Shock flows over his nerves, rendering him immobile as he remains locked in a silent gaze. His attention is drawn to the surreal details adorning the mask; it has the face of a fox, the mane of a lion, and the antlers of an elk.

     Slowly and steadily, the figure turns around. It passes through the doorway, disappearing into the abyss of the surrounding darkness. The worn wooden door groans as it swings shut, sealing off its eerie presence.

     Oliver's mind whirls with questions, pondering the identity and nature of the mysterious entity. His heart pounds fiercely within his chest. Despite the chilling sensation in the air, Oliver's insatiable curiosity tugs at him, beckoning him closer to the door and compelling him to seek answers.

"Hello...?"

     Starting with slow paces, Oliver follows the figure and heads towards the doorway. As he draws closer to the door, his steps quicken. Oliver's outstretched hand swiftly reaches for the doorknob, his fingers closing around it with a firm grasp.

"...Wait!"

     Just as Oliver is about to grab the doorknob, the doorway erupts open with a sudden burst of force. The panel hurtles towards him, colliding with his face in a jarring impact. A grunt escapes Oliver's lips as the door flings him into the air.

     Helplessly, Oliver plummets backwards, crashing onto the cold ground with a forceful landing. Agonizing pain reverberates through his body, his skull feeling as if it is splintering apart. He groans and shuts his eyes, pinching his nose to steady himself.

     As Oliver cautiously opens his eyes, his gaze immediately falls on the cloaked figure with the horrendous mask; it is none other than Joel. Emerging from beyond the yawning doorway, Joel approaches his fallen victim with a pistol between his fingers. He then aims his weapon directly at the Remaining Podeshire.

     Gasping, Oliver swiftly throws himself to the left, evading the impending danger just as Joel's finger squeezes the trigger. The resounding explosion rings through the mansion as the bullet shatters into the wooden floorboard. Without missing a beat, Joel aims again, and the blaring gunshot pierces the air. Oliver wriggles to the right, dodging the projectile unscathed.

     Remaining on the floor, Oliver's fighting spirit surges forth as he swiftly kicks Joel's shin. The impact causes Joel to crumble, collapsing and releasing his grip on the gun. Quickly, Oliver spots the discarded weapon and seizes the opportunity, snatching it into his grasp.

     Joel hurryingly seizes the gun from Oliver's hands, desperately attempting to regain control. A fierce tug-of-war ensues between the two, their struggle playing out on the floor as they furiously wrestle for the firearm. They both remain acutely aware of the danger, ensuring the barrel remains pointed away from either of them as they engage in their intense contest of strength.

     Snatching the pistol, Oliver swiftly rises to his feet. Without hesitation, he hurls the firearm from the indoor balcony, launching it into the open air. Harnessing his innate elemental power, Oliver focuses his energy on the gun's particles and manipulates them. The solid form of the pistol begins to morph, transforming into a swirling liquid state. Then, the weapon erupts into a dazzling explosion akin to a vibrant firework, showering the ground floor with a cascade of shimmering water.

     Oliver yelps as he clings tightly to the railings, gripping them for support. Suddenly, Joel's arms swiftly encircle Oliver's neck, his weight pressing upon him as he hops onto Oliver's back. Oliver groans, feeling the strain of the added burden.

     Joel's forearms tighten around Oliver's neck, his grip growing more relentless as he thrusts his weight against Oliver's throat. Refusing to succumb to Joel's grip, Oliver retaliates. He clutches Joel's shoulder, locking his grip. Swiftly, Oliver propels himself backwards.

     As Oliver charges backwards, he collides forcefully with the solid wall, sandwiching Joel in between. The impact shatters Joel's grasp, causing him to release his hold on Oliver and crumble to the floor. Seizing the opportunity, Oliver wastes no time and hurriedly makes his way towards the agape doorway. Meanwhile, Joel gathers his strength, preparing to resume the pursuit.

     Oliver shrieks as he hurryingly passes through the doorway. As Joel bolts towards his target and inches closer, Oliver quickly grabs the doorknob and slams the door shut, and the impact reverberates through the surrounding space. Oliver clings to the handle, refusing to release his grip, as Joel forcefully barges and smashes into the unyielding barrier.

     Trembling with shock, Oliver's eyes dart around the room, his hand still clutching the doorknob tightly. His teeth clench together, and his brows knit together. A sudden idea flickers in his mind, and he quickly takes a deep breath. With focused intent, Oliver channels his power, summoning a boulder of ice that encases the door handle, freezing it solid.

     Oliver lets go and steps back. The rapid, forceful knocking on the door momentarily halts, granting a brief respite. Gasping for air, Oliver's breathing becomes ragged and unsteady, his chest tightening with each breath. He places a trembling palm against his chest, trying to calm the racing heartbeat as he pants for much-needed composure.

     Looking down, Oliver feels his nostrils becoming slippery and moist. Alarmed, he swiftly places a finger under his nose, feeling the warmth of a liquid dribbling out. When he examines his fingertips, a vivid sight greets him—his skin stained with the crimson hue of blood. Panic sets in, and Oliver's hyperventilation escalates.

     Acting quickly to stem the flow, Oliver pinches his nose firmly, applying pressure to halt the gushing nosebleed. He takes a deliberate and prolonged breath through his mouth, attempting to steady himself. As he exhales in a sigh, his pinch gradually releases, allowing him to draw in vigorous breaths that puff through his lips. Despite the discomfort and distress, Oliver musters the courage to continue his journey, venturing along the dimly lit passage.