Chapter 157: Ambush
Scene: The dim corridors of the Aquarian Empire stretch endlessly, the oppressive atmosphere thickening with every step Commander Elara's group takes. The heroes move forward at full speed, their expressions tense and focused, their silence speaking volumes about the weight of their mission.
Narrator: The stillness of their march is broken as Kaitaro's voice echoes telepathically in their minds, tinged with unease.
Kaitaro: (telepathically) Commander Elara, something is wrong. The Empire... it's shifting.
Commander Elara: (frowning) Shifting? What do you mean?
Kaitaro: (strained) The landscape—it doesn't stay the same. It's like the Empire is alive, moving its corridors to confuse us.
Narrator: Commander Elara halts, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. Her heart sinks as she realizes they've passed the same jagged rock formation twice.
Commander Elara: (gritting her teeth) Damn it. He's right. We're running in circles.
Eren: (stopping abruptly) Wait. Asher's group—they're affected too.
Narrator: Far from them, Asher's group slows to a halt. Kaida glances around, her brows furrowed in confusion as her gaze lands on the bodies of the Aquarians they had defeated earlier.
Kaida: (nervously) These are the same ones… we're back where we started.
Aria: (clenching her fists) How is this possible?
Asher: (narrowing his eyes) It's not natural.
Kaitaro: (telepathically, strained) Everyone, regroup. Something's targeting us—
Narrator: Kaitaro's voice cuts off abruptly, replaced by a bloodcurdling scream.
Shadow Troupe Member: (screaming) Help—
Silence follows. A second later, Kaitaro's strained voice returns.
Kaitaro: (shaken) We've been ambushed! One of us… is gone.
Commander Elara: (urgently) Kaitaro, report! What happened?
Kaitaro: (panting) Something fast. Unbelievably fast.
Narrator: Before anyone can process the news, Eren freezes, his senses heightened as a massive wave of mana surges toward them.
Eren: (alarmed) Something's coming. Something powerful.
Narrator: The air grows heavy as the five elite Aquarians deployed by Kuzan emerge from the shadows, their auras radiating malice and raw power. They are unlike any the heroes have faced before—taller, bulkier, and their dark purple eyes burning with an unrelenting hatred.
First Elite Aquarian: (coldly) Intruders.
Second Elite Aquarian: (smirking) They look stronger than the others we killed.
Third Elite Aquarian: (grinning) Good. I was getting bored.
Narrator: Kaitaro, weakened and bleeding from a wound on his side, stumbles to his feet.
Kaitaro: (telepathically, strained) These aren't ordinary Aquarians. Be careful.
Commander Elara: (steeling herself) Everyone, stay together. Watch each other's backs.
Narrator: Before the group can form a proper defense, the first Aquarian moves in a blur, launching a powerful mana projectile directly at Zarek.
Zarek: (grunting as he blocks it) Damn!
Eren: (yelling) Zarek! Are you okay?
Zarek: (brushing himself off) Just a scratch.
Narrator: Without hesitation, Commander Elara taps into her Beast Mana, her form blurring as she charges at one of the Aquarians, slashing at him with her flaming claws.
Commander Elara: (growling) Let's see how tough you really are.
Narrator: The Aquarian counters, summoning a barrier of dark mana that absorbs the attack. The clash between them is ferocious, each strike shaking the ground beneath them.
Eren and Rylan: (simultaneously) We've got these two.
Narrator: Eren and Rylan engage two other Aquarians, their Lightning Mana crackling with intensity. Eren teleports behind his opponent with Spatial Drift, delivering a devastating kick, while Rylan unleashes a barrage of Black Arrows.
Second Elite Aquarian: (grinning) Is that all you've got, little spark?
Eren: (smirking) Not even close.
Narrator: Meanwhile, Zarek faces the remaining two Aquarians. They circle him like predators, their auras pulsating with malice.
First Elite Aquarian: (mockingly) You're surrounded. Give up.
Zarek: (gritting his teeth) Over my dead body.
Narrator: Zarek taps into his Divine Mana, his aura shining brilliantly as he fires a barrage of Holy Bombs, forcing his opponents back. One of them stumbles, giving Zarek the opportunity to charge forward.
Zarek: (yelling) Heavenly Pierce!
Narrator: Zarek's attack materializes as a sharp beam of light, severing the arm of one Aquarian. Blood mixes with the water as the Aquarian howls in pain.
Eren: (shouting) Zarek! Stop!
Zarek: (coldly, not turning) They're not human anymore.
Eren: (furious) We do not kill!
Second Elite Aquarian: (sneering) You'll regret holding back.
Narrator: The second Aquarian lunges at Zarek, but he counters with a spinning kick, slamming his opponent into the ground.
Narrator: Elsewhere, Commander Elara lands a devastating strike with her mana claws, but her opponent retaliates with a dark purple explosion that sends her skidding backward.
Commander Elara: (breathing heavily) They're stronger than anything we've faced.
First Elite Aquarian: (grinning) And we're just getting started.
Narrator: The battle rages on, the corridor filled with flashes of mana and the sound of clashing attacks. The heroes hold their ground, but the intensity of the battle leaves them questioning how much longer they can endure.
The chapter ends with the five Aquarians pressing their assault, and the heroes fighting for survival in the depths of the Aquarian Empire.