Dusk shrouded the lands of Arkhadia in a dark, ominous cloak as Aldric and Lyra, exhausted but determined, stood before the remains of the last enemy they had faced. The ground was littered with metallic debris, remnants of the shattered power armor that had tried to stop them. Aldric leaned down to examine a piece of armor that was still intact, his fingers brushing a symbol etched deep into the metal: an ancient crest, sinister and familiar.
"The Fallen," Aldric murmured as he stood. "I never thought I'd see them again so close to our territory."
Lyra, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings, nodded. "It's no accident they're here. They never move without a reason." »
The Fallen were a once-powerful faction, known for their ruthless mastery of power armor and their thirst for power. They had been banished and supposedly wiped out, but their resurgence meant something serious was brewing in the shadows.
"We need to investigate," Lyra said, looking around the surrounding woods. "If they're here, that means there's a base somewhere nearby."
Aldric nodded, his eyes fixed on the direction the Fallen had come from. "And if that base is active, we need to know what they're up to."
The pair set off, their steps quick but silent on the forest floor. The shadows grew longer as night fell, transforming the forest into a maze of darkness and danger. Aldric and Lyra advanced cautiously, their experience in infiltration missions allowing them to spot and avoid the Fallen patrols that prowled the area.
After an hour of silent walking, they reached an elevated vantage point, hidden by dense vegetation. Below, nestled among the craggy rocks, was the Fallen base, camouflaged under a network of reinforced tents and rudimentary fortifications. The whole thing was bathed in an eerie reddish light, emitted by strategically placed energy crystals.
"They moved quickly," Lyra murmured, impressed despite herself by the efficiency of the setup.
"Too quickly," Aldric replied. "They've been planning this for a long time. They knew they'd come back one day."
Lyra pulled out a small observation device, aligning it to better view the activity in the camp. "They are not many, but enough to cause serious problems if left alone."
Aldric observed him silently before making a decision. "We must infiltrate and find out what they are looking for. Their presence here is a direct threat to all of us."
Without wasting any time, Aldric and Lyra set off, their movements precise and calculated as they approached the camp. They slipped under the cover of a thick fog that had lifted, using the low visibility to their advantage to bypass the sentries and penetrate deeper into the base.
Once inside, they slipped through tents and shelters, avoiding patrols with disconcerting ease. The heart of the base was a makeshift bunker, guarded by two heavily armed Fallen. Aldric gave Lyra a discreet signal, and in perfect synchronicity, they took out the guards with a mixture of agility and lethal precision.
They then entered the bunker. Inside, plans and documents were scattered on a central table, lit by an energy crystal of eerie intensity. Aldric quickly grabbed the most important documents, scanning them with an expert eye.
"This is worse than I thought," he said, showing Lyra the plans.
The schematics detailed the City of the Ancients, with precise notations on strategic points and hidden accesses. It was clear that the Fallen had a specific goal in mind, and it involved the technology and secrets the city held.
Lyra scanned the plans with a serious expression. "They are looking for something much bigger than we imagined."
Aldric folded the plans carefully and put them in his satchel. "Alaric and Caelum must be informed immediately. If the Fallen get their hands on what they seek, they could start a war the likes of which has never been seen."
With the information in hand, they prepared to leave the base. But no sooner had they stepped through the bunker door than footsteps sounded behind them. The pair froze as a group of Fallen, alerted by the absence of the guards, approached quickly.
"Looks like it's time to leave," Lyra murmured, her tone a mixture of irony and urgency.
Aldric nodded. "And this time, we're going to have to make some noise."
They turned , ready to face the horde of Fallen that was rushing towards them. The fight would be intense, but the urgency of their mission left no room for hesitation. Their priority now was to escape with the crucial information they had discovered and to join Alaric and Caelum before it was too late.