The hallway echoed with quiet footsteps as Nicolas, Elira, and Lior arrived at a heavily guarded chamber deep within the facility. This was the secluded laboratory of Dr. Nicolas—where forbidden science met dark ambition. Elira, still restrained by mana-suppressing cuffs, looked around warily.
"Please, have a seat," Nicolas said with a rehearsed smile.
Elira hesitated, but she sat, eyes darting to Lior, who avoided her gaze. Nicolas turned toward a control panel, typing a few keys. A monitor lit up, revealing a dark silhouette seated in a shadow-drenched throne. His face was obscured, but his voice, deep and cold, filled the room like a chilling wind.
"Nicolas," the shadowed figure spoke, "I told you not to contact me until the experiment was complete."
Even the air seemed to freeze. Elira shivered, goosebumps racing up her arms.
Nicolas lowered his head. "Forgive the interruption, my lord, but something important has happened."
There was a pause. Then the voice replied, slow and deliberate: "Then it must be… important. Speak."
Nicolas took a breath. "There's been a mistake. Our soldiers, under my orders, captured several unawakened children for experimentation. But among them… they mistakenly abducted the Princess of Blackspire."
Silence.
Elira glared at him but said nothing, her mind racing.
"And what do you propose?" the voice asked with icy calm.
Nicolas smiled. "I wish to use her for my research. With your permission, I could resume my study of Elven magic—she carries it in her blood. Her presence might be a problem politically, but with your decision, we can proceed without fear."
Another pause. Then: "Very well. I'll send reinforcements and provide a new location. Proceed."
The call ended. The screen went dark.
Nicolas turned to Elira, his smile widening. She was trembling, both with fear and rage.
"You… You won't get away with this! My father will hunt you down!" she shouted.
Nicolas shrugged, casual and dismissive. "Your father? A D-Rank in a decaying noble house? Even if he came with the Empire's heroes or the S-Ranks, it wouldn't matter. The Lord himself gave the command. He does not fear your father—or the Empire. And now…" He leaned in. "Why not begin with a small test?"
Elira struggled as a second doctor approached with a syringe. She thrashed, but her strength was drained. Blood was drawn, and the order was given.
"Send her to the cell."
As she was dragged away, Lior remained, silent.
When the door closed, Nicolas leaned back. "So, Lior. Why the curiosity?"
"Sir," Lior began, "why are we starting new research when the last experiment isn't complete?"
Nicolas gave him a wry smile. "Because my part of it is nearly done."
"But… the fourth stage isn't triggered. The chips haven't been implanted. How can it be complete?"
Nicolas tapped the table, eyes gleaming. "That's your part. My work? It's almost perfect."
"You mean... Subject Thirty?" Lior asked carefully.
Nicolas nodded. "He's formed an aura core—something like a mana core, but different. It's dormant now, but when he awakens, I'll install the chip and present him to the Lord as my masterpiece."
Lior blinked, masking his anxiety. "I see… Congratulations, sir. I thought you had failed, but I was wrong. I'm happy for you."
Nicolas gave a dry laugh. Then, with a subtle motion, he pressed a button under the table.
Armed guards entered.
Nicolas looked at Lior, face turning cold. "Thank you, Lior. But you see… I never told you about Subject Thirty for a reason."
Lior's expression hardened.
"I know you're a spy," Nicolas said. "You've been leaking information for six months. I hoped to observe you longer—but we're relocating, and I won't allow any rats to come with us. Take him to a cell."
"Sir, please—" Lior started, but he was cut off.
"Spare me the performance. Take him."
Just then, a thunderous boom echoed from outside. An alert flashed across the monitors. A man—flying—was breaking through the mana barrier surrounding the base.
Nicolas froze.
On the screen, the man's silhouette was unmistakable: Varron Blackspire, former Duke of Blackspire and current Headmaster of Horizon Hero Academy. An SS-Rank hero. Elira's grandfather.
"Damn it!" Nicolas swore. "Kill all the prisoners. Teleport the children to Hall Zero. Summon all scientists and open the portal! We're out of time!"
He turned to flee. "Why didn't I think of him? Of course, she's his granddaughter…"
Outside, Varron hovered in the sky, mana spiraling around him like a storm.
"What kind of technology is this… even I'm having trouble breaking it," he muttered. "But I'll break it nonetheless."
With him came a task force: the Guild led by the Blackspire family, and a unit from the World Guardians (WG). It wasn't a full assault force—just one SS-Rank, five A-Ranks, and a handful of B, C, and D ranks. Still, it was enough.
Inside the WG unit, a woman fiddled with her comm. "He's not answering."
"Captured," the leader guessed. "He never ignores a direct call."
"Don't worry," he continued, "we have Varron. Thanks to Zane's intel, we could inform the Blackspires without tipping our hand."
"You were the one who convinced the mighty Varron to leave his chair," the woman replied with a grin.
The leader nodded. "Everyone to your positions. Do your duty. Don't get caught. After this, we gather—just as promised."
"Yes, leader!" came the united reply.
Deep inside the base, Elira and Lior were being escorted to the lowest floor—the prisoner cells. Four guards waited at the end, joined by the two who escorted them.
Lior quickly assessed the situation. Most guards were D-Rank. The head guard, maybe C-Rank. The strongest enemy in the base was an A-Rank. No demons—only Hellkin officers had demonic contracts, and none were here. Backup would take at least ten minutes due to the portal delay.
He leaned toward Elira. "Can you handle the one near that corner?"
She frowned. "Why should I help you? You were with them!"
"I'm a WG spy," he whispered urgently. "They're about to execute me. As for your mana…"
He slipped a small object into her hand—a master key, copied from Nicolas.
"What are you doing?" a guard asked suspiciously.
Lior didn't answer. Instead, he drove a fist into the guard's face, sending him flying.
The second escort spun—only to be knocked out by another brutal punch.
A distant guard raised a weapon, but a glowing mana arrow struck him from behind.
Three more guards turned, panicked. One began to call for help, but Lior flung a stolen knife straight into his throat.
Elira, despite her limited power, held off one of the attackers. They were D-Rank, but she was still outmatched—until Lior joined her. He moved swiftly, dispatching the rest.
Panting, he turned to her. "We need to move. Now."
"I heard explosions—what's happening?" she asked.
"That," Lior said grimly, "was your grandfather. He's here with WG forces. We need to save the children and escape before they blow this place sky-high."
"Blow it up?" she gasped.
"To destroy the evidence," he replied.
They ran to the cells, freeing the imprisoned children. The base was in chaos—alarms blared, and guards panicked. It was the perfect time.
Together, they freed the remaining nine children. Chaos had overtaken the base. Guards were panicked. Doors were left unguarded.
It was their chance to escape.