The night was eerily quiet, the only sound being the whistling of the wind as a gentle breeze blew through the outskirts of Redux City.
As all of this was occurring, Ayame and Elektra slowly approached the facility, a chain-linked fence surrounding the compound as its sharp barbed wire glinted under the moonlight.
The facility was looming ahead, a sprawling complex of warehouses and laboratories, with shadowy figures patrolling the perimeter, wielding advanced Elven weaponry.
as Ayame and Elektra approached the facility on the outskirts of Redux City. A chain-link fence surrounded the compound, its sharp barbed wire glinting faintly under the weak moonlight. The facility loomed ahead, a sprawling complex of warehouses and laboratories with shadowy figures patrolling the perimeter.
Elektra crouched behind a stack of crates, her gauntlets sparking faintly as she assessed the guards, "This place is crawling with hired muscle," she muttered, her voice low but sharp.
Ayame, her foxfire cloak dimmed to avoid detection, nodded, "They're not just muscle," she whispered, her sharp green eyes scanning the area, "I recognize some of those faces. Tier 3 and Tier 4 villains, mercenaries, probably. Whatever's inside, it's worth protecting."
Elektra smirked, cracking her knuckles, "Good. I've been itching for a decent fight."
Without further delay, the two sprang into action. Elektra surged forward, her gauntlets discharging bursts of electricity that crackled through the air.
The Guards immediately reacted, sounding the alarm as they moved in organized groups to try and stop her. Elektra herself darted forward like a lightning bolt, her magi-tech gauntlets crackling with raw energy.
The first group of guards closed in, their advanced Elven rifles aimed at her.
"Open fire!" one shouted, but Elektra was faster. With a sharp movement, she slammed her fists into the ground, releasing an electric shockwave that rippled outward. The surge overloaded their weapons, sending sparks flying as the guards staggered, momentarily stunned.
She capitalized on the opening, weaving through their disoriented ranks. Her left gauntlet flared, discharging a concentrated arc of lightning that struck three guards in quick succession, their bodies convulsing before collapsing to the ground.
The remaining two tried to engage her in close combat, but Elektra sidestepped their strikes with practiced ease, delivering a swift uppercut to one and a spinning backfist to the other. Both fell, unconscious.
The second group advanced cautiously, their leader barking orders. One activated a barrier spell, a shimmering dome of golden light shielding them as they prepared to retaliate.
Elektra smirked, her fingers flexing. "Cute trick," she muttered.
She raised her gauntlets, and the air around her charged with electricity. With a sudden burst, she unleashed a concentrated lightning spear that pierced the barrier, shattering it in an explosion of sparks. The guards barely had time to react before Elektra closed the gap, her movements fluid and relentless.
She ducked under a clumsy swing, driving her electrified fist into the attacker's chest. The magic-enhanced strike sent him flying backward into two of his comrades.
The last guard lunged at her with a blade crackling with mana. Elektra caught the blade between her gauntlets, her smirk widening as she overpowered him, twisting the weapon free before delivering a final, bone-rattling punch that sent him sprawling.
Simultaneously, Ayame was dancing through the shadows, her twin energy fans were slicing through the air like whispers of light. Each strike of hers was surgical, disarming weapons and incapacitating foes.
She moved like a phantom, her foxfire trailing faintly behind her, burning the enemies on her tail and sending them into nightmarish illusions to keep them busy while she darted from one target to the next.
Inside the facility, alarms blared, and the corridors were alive with chaos. More villains poured in to stop them, some wielding dangerous abilities that made even seasoned heroes cautious.
A hulking brute with metallic skin charged at Elektra, his fists slamming into the walls with earth-shaking force. She dodged narrowly, then countered with a concentrated blast of electricity that sent him sprawling, smoke rising from his body.
Meanwhile, Ayame faced a woman who controlled shadows, her tendrils of darkness lashing out like whips.
Ayame countered with her fans, cutting through the inky blackness with arcs of shimmering foxfire. She leapt into the air, twisting gracefully as she delivered a final, stunning blow that sent the villain crashing to the floor.
As they pushed deeper into the facility, they discovered rooms filled with stolen artifacts, ancient weapons, mystical relics, and cursed objects that had been reported missing for months.
Elektra whistled low as she examined a gleaming, rune-inscribed sword mounted on a pedestal, "Someone's been busy."
Ayame frowned, her expression grim. "These aren't just trophies. They're tools for something much bigger. Look at the arrangement, ritualistic." She gestured to the artifacts, each meticulously placed around the room.
Although Ayame majored in combat magic, learning loads from her companion Spirit Fox, she still had decent knowledge about Rune and Ritual Magic, as they were both important knowledge points for her work as a Superhero.
Their path led them to a grand chamber at the heart of the facility. The air was heavy with the scent of burning incense and the hum of dark energy. In the center of the room stood Morgana, chained to a stone pedestal.
Her small frame was pale and trembling, her golden hair matted with sweat. Runes glowed faintly on the floor around her, pulsing in time with her ragged breaths.
Ayame froze the moment her eyes fell on Morgana. The golden hair, the wolf ears twitching weakly atop her head, it all clicked. Her breath caught as she took a step closer, her voice a mix of shock and recognition.
"That's... Sylvia Carrington's sister," Ayame whispered, her sharp green eyes narrowing as she scanned the glowing runes encircling the child.
Ayame stepped forward cautiously, her eyes darting over the glowing symbols. "These runes…" she murmured, her voice tinged with alarm. "They're designed to draw out her latent power, and corrupt it. They're using the artifacts as catalysts to forcefully transform her into… something monstrous."
Elektra's gaze hardened as she scanned the room, "Why? What's the endgame?"
Ayame's voice trembled slightly, anger boiling beneath her calm exterior as she understood what was going on, "To turn her into a weapon. A wolf-like entity they can control, one strong enough to hunt others like her. And worse… her natural talent, her gifts, they're trying to extract and distribute them."
Before Elektra could respond, a slow clap echoed through the chamber, its sound cutting through the tension like a knife.
Both women turned sharply to see Lucius stepping out of the shadows, his elegant frame draped in a finely tailored coat that seemed to shimmer with an ethereal sheen. His icy blue eyes sparkled with amusement as he surveyed the scene.
"Impressive," he said smoothly, his voice a deep, velvety baritone. "Your analytical skills are truly remarkable, FoxLight. It's almost a shame to waste such talent."
Ayame's fans snapped open, their edges glowing with foxfire as she glared at him, recognizing him immediately. It was hard not too, as he was one of the most famous Elves in the entire world, "Lucius," she hissed. "You're behind all of this."
Lucius chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "Behind it? My dear, I am the architect. And you… well, you've been delightful additions to my little play. But now, I'm afraid your roles have come to an end."
Elektra took a step forward, her fists crackling with electricity, "We'll see about that."
Lucius raised a hand, stopping her in her tracks. "Patience, Commissioner. Before you make any rash decisions, allow me to offer a proposal." His gaze flicked to Ayame, a predatory smile curving his lips. "Surrender now, and I might just let you warm my bed. I could use someone of your intellect."
Ayame's grip tightened on her fans, her voice cutting through the air like a blade, "I'd rather burn this place to the ground."
Lucius sighed theatrically. "A pity. Truly. But I expected nothing less from a stubborn half-breed sympathizer." His eyes darkened, and his voice dropped to a menacing growl, "Disgusting half-breeds like Morgana should not possess such gifts. Her bloodline is an abomination."
Elektra's eyes narrowed,"And I suppose you're the arbiter of who deserves power?"
"I'm already old, this power is useless to me," Lucius said coldly. "But my son, my true born son on the other hand. He's still young, and this disgusting abomination's talent would be a good addition to solidify his influence."
The runes around Morgana began to glow brighter, and her screams tore through the chamber as the ritual finally began. Her body arched against the chains, her golden hair fanning out as energy crackled around her.
"Stop this!" Ayame shouted, rushing forward. But Lucius raised a hand, and an invisible force slammed into her, sending her flying across the room. She crashed into the wall with a pained gasp, her foxfire dimming as she struggled to rise.
Elektra lunged at him, unleashing a barrage of electricity. Lucius waved his hand dismissively, and the energy dispersed harmlessly around him.
"Pathetic," he sneered, his icy gaze locking onto hers, "You cannot hope to match me. I've been alive long enough your great grandmother feared my name, my knowledge of magic is so expansive I can destroy you in my sleep."
With a flick of his wrist, he sent Elektra hurtling backward, her body crackling as she hit the ground. He turned back to Ayame, who was pulling herself to her feet, her fans glowing faintly.
"You should have stayed in your place," Lucius said, his tone almost regretful. "But now… you'll watch as everything you fight for crumbles."
The chamber filled with blinding light as the ritual reached its peak, and Morgana's screams grew louder, reverberating through the walls like the howl of a dying wolf.