Natasha Greene stood outside the gates of Steelhaven, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the imposing, rusted metal walls and the haphazard defenses set up around the base. Steelhaven, one of the seven bases that had stubbornly refused to join under Aiden's banner, had a reputation for defiance. Its leader, a man known for his shady dealings with the remnants of the government, was the main obstacle. With her team assembled behind her, Natasha was ready to execute Aiden's orders to neutralize any threats that loomed within these walls.
Beside her stood Sofia, who had been stationed in Steelhaven for the past few days with Mia. They had infiltrated the base quietly, posing as survivors looking for shelter, while in reality, they were gathering intelligence. They'd identified key defensive positions, mapped out the terrain, and most importantly, gauged the loyalties of its inhabitants. Now, with Natasha's arrival, the plan was set to unfold.
"Are we all set?" Natasha asked Sofia, her tone sharp but calm as she continued to scan their surroundings.
Sofia nodded, her expression serious. "Mostly. The leader here has been in contact with the government, and they plan to arrive in five days. But not everyone here agrees with him. Some are just scared, coerced, or misled."
Natasha's eyes softened a bit, considering this new information. "So, we don't need to wipe them all out—just take out those in charge and those who are actively siding with them."
"Exactly," Sofia affirmed. "We need to be precise. We want to make it clear that we're not here to destroy, but to remove threats."
The two women began discussing tactics—how they would breach the perimeter, secure key positions, and take down the leaders without causing unnecessary bloodshed. Their goal was to strike hard and fast, ensuring minimal casualties among the base's inhabitants. As they planned, Sofia's eyes flicked to Natasha, a smirk slowly forming on her lips.
"You know, once this is done, you might finally get that date with Aiden," Sofia teased, her voice light with mischief.
Natasha, always composed, felt her face flush instantly. "D-d-d-d-date?!"
Sofia laughed at Natasha's reaction. "I knew it! You're interested in him, aren't you?"
Natasha tried to regain her composure, her cheeks burning. "I—it's not like that," she muttered, turning her gaze away. But Sofia wasn't letting this go so easily.
"Aiden's been doing a lot on his own, carrying the weight of all of Valora. A good wife would be a great support for him," Sofia continued with a grin.
"W-wife?!" Natasha's voice was almost a squeak. She cleared her throat, trying desperately to hide her embarrassment. "I... I'm not thinking about that! He's... just doing his job."
Sofia chuckled, clearly enjoying this rare sight of Natasha flustered. "Relax, Natasha. I'm just saying, a guy like him could use someone strong by his side. Maybe someone like you."
Natasha fell silent for a moment, her thoughts swirling. Aiden had been a strong leader, one who bore the weight of Valora's future. She respected him greatly—maybe more than she cared to admit, even to herself. Perhaps Sofia wasn't entirely wrong.
After a beat, Natasha straightened up, pushing those thoughts aside for now. "Let's focus on the mission," she said firmly, trying to hide her embarrassment. "We need to make sure Steelhaven falls under Aiden's control, one way or another."
Sofia nodded, still smirking. "Alright, alright. But you owe me the details of your first date," she teased, earning a glare from Natasha.
With a final nod, Natasha and Sofia moved into action, rallying their teams and setting their plan in motion. The first step was to secure the perimeter and neutralize any sentries that could alert the base leaders.
The Assault on Steelhaven
Natasha's team moved with precision. Eve, the sharpshooter, took a high vantage point, her scope trained on the guards at the front gate. A single, silent shot rang out, and the first sentry fell without a sound. Elena, the infiltrator, moved like a shadow along the base's outer walls, disabling alarms and clearing the way for the rest of the team.
Inside the base, panic began to spread as they realized an attack was underway. Gunfire erupted from the walls as defenders scrambled to react. Dante, the brawler, charged in from the front, drawing the enemy's attention with his sheer presence. Bullets bounced off his reinforced armor as he tore through the defenders, giving the others room to maneuver.
"Gate's holding up strong," Natasha muttered, noticing their slow progress. The steel-reinforced gate was not going to give way easily.
"We need a breakthrough," Sofia said, looking over at Mia. "Mia, think you can do it?"
Mia, with a determined nod, stepped forward. She focused her mana, gathering it into her palms. Flames burst forth, swirling and growing hotter until they formed a massive fireball. She hurled it directly at the gate, and with a deafening explosion, the gate buckled and burst open.
"Move in!" Natasha shouted, and her team surged forward, rushing through the breached gate and into the chaos of the base.
Inside, confusion reigned. The defenders, disorganized and poorly led, faltered under the sudden onslaught. Natasha and her team moved with lethal efficiency, taking out key targets and securing control points. Amidst the fray, the base's cowardly leader made a break for it, trying to slip away in the chaos. But Natasha was quicker.
"You're not going anywhere," Natasha growled, cornering him near a storage building. She wasted no time and finished him off with a swift, clean strike.
As the dust settled, Natasha regrouped with her team. "Report to Aiden. It's done," she instructed.
Sofia, still grinning from earlier, added playfully over the comms, "Aiden, your 'wife' wants to talk."
"What?" Aiden's voice came over the comms, bewildered. Natasha's face turned a deep shade of red as she grabbed the device from Sofia's hand.
"Ignore her. Stupid," Natasha muttered into the comms, her tone irritated and embarrassed. Aiden remained confused on the other end, clearly caught off-guard by the unexpected comment.
Confrontation with the Government
With Steelhaven secured, Aiden wasted no time in contacting the government. "Your base that was conspiring against Valora has been neutralized," Aiden said coldly. "If you send any more troops, they'll meet the same fate."
The government's response was swift and furious. "You think you can dictate terms to us? Our troops are already en route to Valora!"
Aiden's eyes narrowed. He was prepared for this. "You mean those troops approaching by sea?" Aiden asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Liam, you have a go."
From Aiden's command center, Liam launched a barrage of specialized missiles. These weren't ordinary explosives; they were enhanced with mana, designed to deal with both zombies and highly ranked Awakeners. As the missiles streaked across the sky, they found their targets with deadly accuracy. Moments later, a series of fiery explosions lit up the horizon.
Aiden waited for the government's response. "What troops?" he finally said, sending them images of the destroyed ships, now sinking into the sea.
The silence on the other end was palpable, and when a voice returned, it was thick with rage. "You… you will regret this!"
"You should know," Aiden replied, his tone icy, "those missiles were a warning. If you try to send troops again, I'll target your headquarters next."
Suddenly, another voice came through—one of the Saints. "Aiden, do you really want to do this? The gods have asked us to unite and awaken the people."
Aiden's eyes burned with defiance. "Keep your gods away from Valora. If your gods are a threat, I'll slay even them to protect my people."
The Saint's tone was incredulous. "You claim you can awaken people too? How?"
Aiden smirked, knowing he'd hit a nerve. "I know the secret. You're not the only ones who can do it."
Realizing the conversation was treading dangerous ground, a Saintess interrupted, "Enough. Cut the line."
The Clan Awakening
Back in Valora, Aiden gathered the clan leaders. Some had not yet awakened, and now was the time. "I promised you all power, and I will keep that promise. Step forward, one by one, and place your hands on the Dungeon Core."
One by one, the leaders stepped forward, and as they did, they felt a rush of energy course through them. The core responded, awakening them and granting them the system interface that would allow them to harness their newfound powers.
Aiden watched as each leader transformed, his resolve strengthening with every awakening. Valora would stand strong, and under his rule, they would carve their own destiny, free from the chains of gods and governments alike.