The group stood hidden atop a hill just outside the walls of Mist City, the towering structures casting long shadows in the waning daylight. Emmett crouched behind a large boulder, his eyes narrowed as he observed the city gates below. The familiar buzz of conversation was absent, replaced by an unsettling tension in the air. Guards patrolled the walls in greater numbers than usual, and the heavy presence of armored soldiers told a story without words.
Mist City was on high alert.
"Too many guards," Mirabelle muttered, her tone low and thoughtful as she crouched beside him. "They're ready for something."
Emmett gave a small nod, his gaze scanning the walls. "No doubt because of what happened with Cecilia. The Hill family controls this place, and her assassination wasn't going to go unnoticed." He cast a glance at Valerie, who was peering through a spyglass just a few paces away.
"Yeah," Valerie chimed in, lowering the glass. "They're definitely looking for someone. The question is, are they looking for us, or are they just afraid of more attacks?"
Mirabelle sighed, her brow furrowed as she considered the implications. The Thorn group's assassination of Cecilia had thrown a major city into chaos. The Hill family, being the governing force behind Mist City, had surely dispatched all resources to tighten security and find the culprits. Infiltrating the city now would be more dangerous than they had anticipated.
"Great," Emmett said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "So, we've got the entire city on edge, extra guards, and we're the most wanted group in town. What's our next genius move, Captain?"
Mirabelle ignored the jab, too deep in thought to bother responding. She cast a glance toward the others—Larissa, Reina, Kyle, and the remaining mercenaries, all hidden among the trees behind them. The group had dwindled over the past few days, and now fewer than forty remained. Tired, battered, and with morale steadily dropping, they needed to make their next move carefully.
"Entering the city won't be easy," Mirabelle said after a long pause, her voice calm but tinged with concern. "We're low on resources, and the men are exhausted. We need to get inside quietly, find out more about what's happening, and plan a way to get the rest of the group through undetected."
Emmett nodded but couldn't help but cast a glance back toward the forest they had just emerged from. The past two days had been grueling—filled with endless combat, difficult terrain, and the ever-present threat of monsters lurking just out of sight. He had reached Level 8 in Body Forging, a significant increase in power, but it came at a steep price.
Two more mercenaries had fallen during the journey, their souls returning to the beginner city where they would respawn weaker and far from the group. Now under forty members, and everyone left standing was feeling the strain. They hadn't had proper rest since entering the forest, and the mood was heavy with fatigue and frustration.
Emmett leaned back against the rock, his gaze softening for a moment as he thought about their fallen comrades. It wasn't like the deaths in the real world—he knew they'd respawn eventually, but the loss of levels and progress was enough to make anyone hesitate. Dying here wasn't permanent, but it could cripple you in more ways than one.
"We've been through a lot these last few days," Emmett said, his voice quieter than usual as he glanced at Valerie. "Two more of us gone… less than forty left. I can't help but wonder if we're biting off more than we can chew."
Valerie gave him a sideways glance, her lips curling into a wry smile. "You're not getting cold feet now, are you? After all we've been through?" She nudged him with her elbow, trying to lighten the mood. "Come on, Em. You've made it this far without dying. Maybe you'll get lucky and survive the whole damn thing."
"Lucky?" Emmett snorted, shaking his head. "If you call dodging monster attacks weirder than the other and slashing at monster-filled donkey bosses 'luck,' then sure. I'm the luckiest guy around."
Valerie chuckled, her laughter a welcome break from the grim reality they faced. "Well, you are lucky in one sense. You've still got both your arms attached." She wiggled her fingers for emphasis. "And hey, you even managed to kill those damn monsters in the forest yesterday."
"True," Emmett conceded with a grin. "But I think I'd trade my luck for a hot bath and a real bed right now."
"I second that," Reina's voice cut in from behind them, her tone weary. She, too, had been through her share of close calls in the forest, and the exhaustion showed clearly on her face. "A few days in that cursed forest and I swear, I'll never complain about city life again."
Kyle, who had been unusually quiet, piped up from the side. "Yeah, but first we have to get into the city without getting skewered by a guard's spear."
They all looked toward the city again. The extra guards were patrolling every inch of the wall, and the usual traffic of merchants and travelers entering through the gates was noticeably absent. The Hill family had likely locked the city down, and any unusual movement was being scrutinized.
Mirabelle stood up, her decision made. "We can't wait any longer. The longer we stay out here, the more likely it is that someone will spot us."
She turned to the group. "Here's the plan. Valerie, Emmett, Reina, Kyle, and I will enter the city first. We'll scout out the situation, see if we can find an opening for the rest of the group to sneak in. Once we've got a safe entry point, we'll send word."
Kyle raised an eyebrow. "And what if we can't find one?"
"Then we improvise," Mirabelle said simply. "But we don't have many options left."
Reina shrugged, adjusting the straps of her armor. "Better than sitting out here waiting for the guards to find us."
"Exactly," Valerie added, standing up and stretching her arms over her head. "I've had enough of hiding in forests and hills. Let's get this over with."
Emmett sighed, rising to his feet as well. "I'm in. But if we're caught, I'm blaming you, Val."
Valerie winked at him. "You always do."
With the decision made, the five of them prepared to make their way down the hill toward the city gate. The others would remain hidden in the trees until further notice. Reina gave a nod to the remaining mercenaries, a silent assurance that they would return with a way into the city.
As they descended the hill, the weight of what they were about to do pressed down on them. Infiltrating a city under lockdown wasn't exactly easy, and with the Hill family actively searching for the people responsible for Cecilia's assassination, the odds were stacked against them.
The road toward the gate was quiet. Emmett felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up as they approached the towering walls of Mist City. Normally, this area would be bustling with traders, travelers, and guards checking goods and approving entry. But now, the gates stood closed, guarded heavily by rows of soldiers in pristine armor, each one scanning the surroundings with sharp, suspicious eyes.
"Look at that," Kyle whispered as they reached the base of the hill, crouching behind a cluster of rocks. "They've tightened security even more than I thought. They're on full lockdown."
Mirabelle scanned the area, her eyes narrowing. "They're expecting something. Maybe word of the quest has reached them faster than we thought. It wouldn't surprise me as this is a high-level quest after all. But we can't turn back now."
"Bold move, Mir," Valerie muttered, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her rapier. "Let's just hope we don't get skewered before we make it through the gates."
Emmett crouched beside her, eyeing the guards. "If it comes to that, at least we'll die looking fabulous."
Valerie stifled a laugh. "That's the spirit, Em."
The five of them moved closer to the gates, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. Mirabelle motioned for them to stay low as they approached a line of travelers waiting to enter the city. The line was short, with only a handful of people allowed entry under the watchful eyes of the Hill family guards.
Mirabelle straightened her posture, adopting the confident, composed demeanor she always wore when stepping into danger. The others followed suit, adjusting their cloaks and concealing their weapons as best they could. They needed to look like ordinary travelers—nothing suspicious.
As they reached the back of the line, the tension among them was palpable. Emmett kept his head down, avoiding eye contact with the guards as they slowly moved forward. The city gates loomed large before them, the cold stone walls casting long shadows over the entrance. Each step felt heavier than the last, and Emmett's pulse quickened.
"Just act natural," Valerie whispered, though her tone held the faintest edge of excitement. She lived for moments like these.
"Easier said than done," Reina muttered, her gaze flicking nervously between the guards.
Kyle stayed silent, his jaw clenched as they neared the front of the line.
When they finally reached the gate, one of the guards stepped forward, his eyes hard as he looked them over. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, and the tension in the air thickened.
"State your business," the guard demanded, his gaze lingering on each of them suspiciously.
Emmett felt a bead of sweat trickle down his back as he glanced at Mirabelle. The next few seconds would determine everything.