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Autumndusk, Stoneglen Square, Time: 12:00 AM
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It was a tranquil night in Stoneglen, with the townspeople settling to rest and abide by the curfew.
A gentle breeze rustled through the streets, enveloping the town in a soothing hush.
A large tent stood on the rooftop of a building, its fabric cover stretched out under the starlit sky.
Within this makeshift headquarters, Sugar's Enterprise was deep in the midst of their carefully laid plans, preparing for their next move.
As the moonlight cast an ethereal glow, November was engrossed in her research, poring over various documents spread across the table.
Beside her, Toodies fidgeted with impatience, his childlike nature surfacing. "Novemberrrr, how much longer until Rosco and Dy'va return?" he asked, his excitement and restlessness evident.
"They're currently engrossed in designing the castle's layout. Give them about 5 minutes and 17 seconds to complete the task," November responded, her tone calm and collected as she continued her work.
Unperturbed, Toodies bounded across the room to join November at the table. "And what about you? What's your project?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
November held up a peculiar black cuboid cartridge with a purple button positioned in the center-left.
On its surface was a depiction of a massive centipede-like creature with fungal growths sprouting from its body.
The image bore the label "Σαρανταποδαρούσα," indicating its name.
"I've been tasked by the professor to work on this project," November explained, her gaze focused on the mysterious cartridge.
The air held an air of anticipation, as the enigmatic object seemed to hold untold secrets waiting to be unraveled.
"Oh! Is that the 'Metamorphosis Commence' thing the teachers have been talking about?" Toodies exclaimed with a spark of recognition, his eyes lighting up as he recalled Sugar's discussions before they arrived in Stoneglen.
He playfully reached for the cartridge, only for November to swat his hand away with a gentle reprimand.
"Exactly. But sorry, Toodies, this one's off-limits for teenagers," November replied with an amused smile, aware of his mischievous intent. Her words left Toodies pouting in playful protest, his disappointment evident.
"And besides," November continued, her tone confident, "I'm prepared to handle any potential side effects when testing it on 'The Wardens.'" With a sense of purpose, she placed a mechanism on the table.
The device bore a striking design of dark and crimson hues, its aesthetic exuding an air of mystery.
A horizontal slot with transparent glasses on the left side of the device seemed tailor-made for the cartridge, and a lever adorned the right side, indicating adjustability.
Below the lever sat a sizable wheel with transparent glasses, seemingly crafted to accommodate intricate Runes.
Toodies, still pouting in jest, retorted, "You're so mean!" He turned his head away, feigning disappointment in good fun.
November let out a sigh, a playful glint in her eyes as she responded, "Well, sometimes rules are rules, Toodies." The camaraderie between them was palpable, reflecting the unique dynamics of Sugar's Enterprise.
"Oi, you two! We're finished with the layouts," Dy'va announced as he entered the tent, followed by Rosco. November stretched briefly before rising from her chair, a determined glint in her eyes.
"We've divided the castle into four sections: The Wizard's Sanctum, The Soldier's Dormitory, The Ranger's Watchtower, and The Training Ground," Rosco explained, placing the detailed map layout of the castle before them.
He continued, "Sir has already strategized to target the entire castle, and he's assigned each of us to one of the four quarters."
November wasted no time in declaring her choice, "I'll be taking down The Wizard's Sanctum." Her decision was met with agreement, her expertise in such matters was well-known among the group.
"I'll take on The Training Ground," Rosco stated, addressing Dy'va and Toodies with a discerning gaze.
The tension between Dy'va and Toodies was palpable, and both of them simultaneously blurted out their preference, "The Ranger's Watchtower!"
Their synchrony was followed by a shared groan, quickly followed by an impromptu game of rock-paper-scissors to settle the matter.
"Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot!" Dy'va's rock trumped Toodies' scissors.
Dy'va celebrated his victory, while Toodies, with a comical sense of defeat, slammed his head onto the table.
Rosco intervened, confirming the final assignments, "Alright, that settles it. Dy'va, you're taking on The Ranger's Watchtower, and Toodies, The Soldier's Dormitory is yours."
Rosco collected the layouts and led the way, his eye patch concealing his enigmatic right eye. "Let's not keep sir waiting," he urged, guiding everyone toward Sugar's designated location.
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Fliodan, Cambolton Palace, Time : 12:25 AM
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As the moon hung low in the night sky, an eerie glow cast over the landscape. Sugar walked towards Cambolton Palace accompanied by Dy'va, a normal wagon trailing along.
He had already assigned the others their roles – Rosco would navigate the underground passages, November had her plan, and Toodies, in the form of a lost kitten, had stealthily infiltrated the castle.
Sugar was uncertain about November's strategy, but he trusted her instincts.
Walking alongside Dy'va, Sugar engaged in a conversation. "You realize that we're about to change history, and our names will be known to all?" Dy'va mused, glancing at Sugar.
"Indeed, that's the expected outcome. Our actions will undoubtedly draw The COU's attention, but it's all part of the plan," Sugar replied, having meticulously devised their approach.
"So, we're trading our criminal status for an even bigger one, huh?" Dy'va chuckled, looking ahead.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure to keep you all safe," Sugar reassured, a faint smile forming.
Dy'va scoffed, "Save your breath for yourself, old man," Dy'va retorted, amused by his quip, while Sugar chuckled softly.
The duo's journey brought them to their destination. Cambolton Palace loomed before them, a majestic fortress at the kingdom's heart.
Its intricate stone walls bore historical patterns, and towering spires adorned with kingdom crests reached for the sky.
Grand doors, flanked by armored guards, exuded authority at the entrance.
Two guards noticed their presence and approached them. "Hey, you two. The grounds are currently closed," one of the guards with a British accent informed them, their gaze fixed on Dy'va and Sugar.
"Aw, mannn, that totally sucks!" Dy'va quipped playfully, while Sugar patiently stood by. "And we've come all the way here with these foreign exchange students on a field trip to Filodan," Dy'va continued, gesturing towards the wagon. The guards were intrigued and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, really? Where are they from?" one of the guards inquired, as there wasn't any prior notice of a field trip to the castle.
"Zaralid," Dy'va responded with a smirk, then snapped his fingers. A flurry of gun cocks echoed in the air before the guards met their swift demise. The wagon's cover revealed hidden guns, revealing the deadly arsenal concealed within.
The air was thick with smoke as the two guards fell swiftly under the onslaught of the hidden weaponry within the wagon. "Guess we'll need some extra prayers at school," Dy'va remarked with a casual shrug.
"If you're quite finished, get the skeleton mafia ready," Sugar ordered, his gaze fixed on the castle gate. "I'm going to locate Morgans. You take over the watchtower."
"ALL RIGHT, LINE UP DOWN HERE, GENTLEMEN!" Dy'va's voice boomed as a contingent of skeletons, dressed in tuxedos and fedoras, emerged from the wagon.
"OUT OF THE WAGON, FORM UP IN ORDERS!" Dy'va commanded, and approximately 500 skeletons formed a disciplined line.
"I've got a task for each of you!" Dy'va announced, preparing to lead his undead army into battle.
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