The moment Diane and Shane attacked the head researcher, the others also busted out of the ventilation shaft and swiftly decended on the rest of the researchers.
While they were attacking, three figures broke out of the group and headed towards the other twenty researchers who had defected.
Naturally this was Nala and two other Paragons, they were called Fay and Stark. Fay specialized in Radiant techniques, and her skills were almost similar to Shanes' as she used something similar to light Flames.
While Stark cultivated Spark techniques and was good at ignition skills.
While the others were busy fighting the other researchers, these three dashed forward and sneaked past the enemy lines, as headed straight towards the other far left corner of the research center.
It didn't take long before they were standing right on from of the, long wooded oval shaped table, in which twenty researchers in Grey robes say around.
Since they had already communicated, there was no need for useless talks, Nala immediately started securing the files on the table into her spacial ring, while the two others Fay and Stark immediately led the twenty researchers away.
They headed towards the two doors that interconnected the two other rooms, these rooms were the detention cell where the kids who hadn't been experimented on were kept, and the containment room.
Where those who had succeeded in the experiments were kept, anyone who didn't pass the experiments were all killed long ago.
Since they only had a limited time of ten minutes, before the guards notice anything wrong, they had to rescue all the children being held hostage here immediately, and within that time frame.
If they delayed even for a single second, they their mission would be sabotaged and be considered failed.
Before the final showdown battle, they didn't want to endanger any of the Innocents so they had to get them to safety.
They researchers aided them in rescuing the kids and as soon as they did that they led them, and headed back to the long wooded oval shaped table, where the researchers used to sit.
The didn't know why, but this was what the researchers had said they should do. They had assured the both of them that they had a good escape measure.
As all this was going on the rest of the Exodus Order were in a huge battle against the rest of the researchers.
Both the Paragons and Shadows, faced off against the thirty researchers who had been corrupted by the Tenebrous Taskforce. The researchers, fueled by dark energy and twisted by their own ambition, wielded twisted experiments and sinister techniques.
The battle toke place in the large, dimly lit center filled with rows of workstations, strange equipments, and eerie, pulsing orbs. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and burning circuits.
The researchers, divided into three groups, attacking simultaneously:
The first group of Ten researchers wielded dark energy-infused scalpels and syringes, targeting the Paragons with swift, deadly precision.
The second group of Ten researchers operated twisted mechanical constructs, such as razor-sharp limbs and whirring blades, to pin down the Shadows.
While the third group of Ten researchers unleashed waves of corrupted, zombie-like test subjects, overwhelming them with sheer numbers.
The two squads had no choice but to strategize and adapt to overcome the researchers' coordinated assault. They utilized their unique skills and abilities to take down the researchers, disable their experiments, and shatter the dark energy fueling their powers.
As the battle raged on, the entire laboratory descended into chaos, with equipments shattering, orbs exploding, and the very fabric of reality beginning to unravel.
In the end after much efforts, the two squads emerged victorious, but not without scars and, and the researchers were defeated, their dark ambitions foiled.
Meanwhile after sneaking past the enemy lines, Diane and Shane had appeared right in the head researcher's laboratory, it was a small wooded cubicle where they found him surrounded by a halo of dark energy.
He was experimenting on the body parts of a five year old child, obviously just for the fun of it, since kids at that age wasn't necessary for their goals.
Diane and Shane launched a surprise attack, aiming to catch him off guard. However, the head researcher, seemed to anticipate their move, and unleashed a devastating blast of dark energy, sending them flying across the room.
Shane, using his agility and quick reflexes, dodged the worst of the blast and charged forward, his sword flashing in the blazing sun light.
Diane, meanwhile, used her Shadow technique to create illusions, making it seem like she was attacking from multiple angles.
The head researcher, unfazed, summoned twisted, humanoid experiments to aid him. Shane took on the experiments, his sword slicing through their dark energy-infused bodies. Diane, meanwhile, focused on the head researcher, trying to find an opening in his defenses.
As the battle raged on, the small laboratory cubicle descended into chaos. Equipment shattered, dark energy orbs exploded, and even the air was thick with the scents of ozone and burning circuits.
After a while Diane managed to land a critical hit, striking the head researcher's core. However, he revealed his final trick: a dark energy-powered regeneration ability. He began to heal at an alarming rate, making him nearly unstoppable.
Shane and Diane realized they must end the battle quickly. Shane used his sword to channel a powerful blast of energy with his sun Flames, while Diane unleashed a devastating Shadow skill attack.
"Sunblade ~ Solar flare"
"Umbral Blast"
Two concentrated blasts of solar light energy and shadow energy shot straight towards a single target.
The combined assault overwhelmed the head researcher, shattering his defenses and banishing the dark energy from his body.
Victorious, but scarred, Diane and Shane stood tall, knowing they've dealt a significant blow to the Tenebrous Taskforce. However, they also knew that the true enemy remained at large, waiting for its next move.
So without wasting much time, they dashed out the cubicle laboratory, to meet up with the rest of the Exodus Order.
When they came out into the large research center they realize that the battle was also over here, but at the same time they had wasted a lot of time in their battle, they immediately located the rest of the Exodus Order and dashed towards them.
"We've wasted so much time, we need to leave now" Diane said immediately they got there, "We only have about two minutes left, how do we pass through vents in that little time?" Shane asked.
"Yeah, that true, I've exhausted some much energy, I can't use shadow travel to get us out"
"Slow down you both, I think the researchers can help us escape out of here" Nala interjected.
The twenty defected researchers did indeed have an escape route located within the research center, which was a hidden underground tunnel system.
This tunnel system, code-named "Erebus," was secretly built by the researchers themselves, using their knowledge of the facility's infrastructure and layout.
Erebus consisted of a narrow, dimly lit tunnel that crisscrossd beneath the research center, providing a hidden path to freedom. The tunnel was equipped with ventilation shafts, allowing the researchers to breathe easily, and were reinforced with steel and concrete to prevent detection.
To escape, the researchers made their way to the entrance of Erebus, located right beneath the long wooded oval shaped table. They used a hidden latch to unlock the door, revealing a narrow stairway leading down into the tunnels.
Before they decended, since they already a sure escape plan, Diane one of her simple shadow skills 'Shadow Bind'.
Immediately dark tendrils of shadow drilled out of her body and shot towards the center of the research center, grabbing all the useful equipments and Orbs which hadn't been destroyed during the battle.
She also grabbed anything she thought was useful, and after that the left.
The group moved swiftly, their footsteps echoing off the cold walls. They navigated through narrow crawlspaces and hidden chambers, finally reaching the exit: a hidden door leading to the outside world.
With the Exodus Order members providing cover, the researchers emerged from the tunnel, gasping in the fresh air. They were quickly whisked away to a secure location, far from the base.
As soon as they were out of the base, Diane immediately infused her energy into the emblem of the Exodus Order, she was contacting a certain person, and it didn't take long before an image was projected out of the emblem and taking form right in front of them.
This image was surprisingly the image of Vin, and the moment it appeared, they all genuflected in reverence as they called out.
"Lord Zero"
Vin looked around at them, taking in the view of their entire group, before nodding in approval.
"You have all done well, what's your status Diane?" he asked as he looked at the Diane.
"Lord Zero, as you instructed, we've successfully rescued all the abducted hostages and we've all secured the important files of the Tenebrous Taskforce's experiments, I also picked up quite a few things I think would be useful to us.
"In addition to that we've also been able to secure a few of the researchers, who'd had thoughts on rebelling against the Tenebrous Taskforce, we were able to escape from the research center thanks to a hidden tunnel that was provided by them." Diane reported.
***********