Elias leaned forward, his eyes flickering in the candlelight as he began to explain. "The Shadow Enclave is more than just a fortress. It's a maze of traps and hidden passages, designed to keep intruders out and to make any rescue attempt nearly impossible. The outer walls are lined with sentries, and there are tripwire traps all along the perimeter. If you make a wrong step, you'll alert everyone in the place. There are also hidden pitfalls and pressure plates that trigger deadly arrows. It won't be easy to navigate without precise knowledge of the layout."
Roy listened carefully, taking in every detail. Lila stood beside him, her eyes focused on Elias as he described the fortress. "The area is surrounded by thick woods, and the only open approach is from the front, which is heavily guarded," Elias continued. "But there's a back entrance—one that they don't know I know about. It leads through an underground passage, but it's filled with traps as well. Poison darts, collapsing tunnels, all designed to stop anyone who tries to sneak in. It'll be dangerous, but it's the only way in without drawing attention."
Roy nodded, his mind already forming a plan. He knew that they would need every advantage they could get. "What about the people there? How strong are they?" he asked, his tone serious.
Elias paused, his expression darkening. "Most of the people at Iron Fang are in the muscle forging realm. Kang, the boss of Iron Fang, is almost at the Qi Cultivation level, but he won't be the biggest problem" Elias' voice was laced with concern.
Roy's expression remained calm, his eyes steady as he processed the information. "Kang won't be a problem for me or Kevin," he said confidently. He knew that they had the power to handle someone at that level. Kang was formidable, but Roy and Kevin were beyond just muscle forging—they were battle-hardened and determined.
Elias hesitated before continuing, his voice dropping. "But the people at the Shadow Enclave are stronger. There's a sect involved—a powerful one. They're paying Iron Fang for the children, but they're also using them for their own purposes. I don't know much about them, but I know they're powerful enough to kill Kang in a single hit. Their leader is ruthless and has power that surpasses anything I've seen from Iron Fang."
Roy's eyes narrowed as he pondered the implications. He glanced at Lila, who looked equally concerned. "If there's a Qi Cultivation expert involved, Kevin and I might be able to handle one, but if there are two or more, it could be a problem," Roy said, voicing his thoughts. The potential danger was growing, and Roy knew that they would need to be at their best to succeed.
Elias nodded in agreement. "Most of the people at the Shadow Enclave are in the muscle forging realm, but they're far stronger than Kang. Their fighting techniques and cultivation techniques are of much better quality. They may not be at the Qi Cultivation level, but their skills make them dangerous. You need to be prepared for that. Their techniques are not something you can underestimate—many of them have mastered lethal arts and strategic combat methods that can turn the tide of a battle."
Roy nodded, his face hardening with determination. He knew how much of a difference high-quality techniques could make in a fight. It wasn't just about raw power—it was about skill, precision, and experience. He remembered his own journey and the difference that proper training had made in his abilities. "We'll be ready," he said. "Kevin and I will come up with a plan, and we'll bring those children back."
Elias looked at him, his expression a mixture of hope and fear. "I hope you're right," he said quietly. "Because if you fail, those children... they'll be lost forever. The Shadow Enclave won't show mercy to any of them."
Roy's eyes blazed with determination. "We won't fail," he said, his voice steady. "We'll do whatever it takes."
Lila placed a hand on Roy's shoulder, her gaze steady. "You're not alone in this," she said. "We'll help in any way we can. Whatever you need, we'll be there."
Roy looked at her, his expression softening for a moment before he nodded. "Thank you," he said. He turned back to Elias. "Show me everything you know about the Shadow Enclave. Every detail, every trap, every guard post. We need to know it all. The more we know, the better our chances."
Elias nodded, reaching for a worn map on the table. He spread it out, the paper crinkling as he pointed to different areas. "This is the main entrance, and this is the back entrance I mentioned," he said, his finger tracing the path. "The underground passage leads here, to the lower levels of the fortress. It's dangerous, but if you can get through, you'll be right beneath their main chambers. There are also hidden guard patrols that change routes randomly. You'll need to be careful."
Roy leaned in, studying the map. He could see the layout of the fortress, the winding passages, the guard posts. It was a formidable challenge, but not impossible. He looked at Lila and Elias, his resolve unwavering. "We'll make it work," he said. "For Maya, and for all the children they've taken. We can't let them get away with this."
Elias gave a weary smile. "Then let's get started. Every second counts, and the longer we wait, the more dangerous it becomes for those children."
Roy nodded firmly. "First, we need Kevin. We'll regroup and destroy the Iron Fang base. I didn't want to leave them alive back then, but the children's safety had to come first." He clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination. "Now, we finish what we started. If we let them go, they might inform the people who took Maya. We can't risk that."
Roy and Lila left Elias's hideout, moving swiftly through the darkened streets towards Kevin. When they reached Kevin, Roy asked Lila to wait with the children while he approached Kevin.
Roy quickly explained everything to Kevin—what Elias had told him about the Shadow Enclave, the traps, and the people involved. He told Kevin about the sect backing Iron Fang, the dangers they faced, and the plan to destroy the Iron Fang base to prevent them from informing the Shadow Enclave. "It's time," Roy said simply, his voice filled with determination. Kevin nodded, his eyes hardening as he understood what they had to do.
Roy and Kevin then moved towards the Iron Fang headquarters, determined to put an end to the threat. As they approached the main doors, they heard shouting. Roy signaled for them to pause, listening closely.
A man was yelling, his voice filled with frustration. Roy peeked around the corner and saw Kang, the boss of Iron Fang, standing with ten of his subordinates. Kang was a large, imposing figure with a broad chest and muscular build. His face was twisted with rage as he shouted at them, his eyes blazing with anger. His dark hair was tied back tightly, and a scar ran across his left cheek, adding to his intimidating presence. His fists were clenched tightly, veins bulging as he barked orders, clearly struggling to maintain control over his men.
"I went to deliver the batch of children to the Shadow Enclave, but when I returned, all I found was a bloodbath!" Kang's voice echoed through the courtyard, filled with frustration and fury. "We lost too many! We can't let this go unpunished!" He turned to one of his underlings, his expression dark. "Go! Inform the people at the Shadow Enclave—tell them everything. Let them know we need reinforcements."
Roy's eyes narrowed. "We can't let that message get through," he whispered, his voice deadly calm.
Kevin nodded silently, his muscles tensing. He leaped from the street onto a nearby rooftop, moving swiftly to intercept the man before he could alert the Shadow Enclave.
As soon as Kevin left, Roy stepped out of the shadows, and an overwhelming killing intent enveloped him like a dark aura. His eyes blazed with fury, his face a mask of cold determination. Without hesitation, he moved towards the group of Iron Fang members, his daggers glinting under the dim moonlight.
"Who the hell is that?!" one of the men shouted, his voice trembling with fear. Another man, his eyes wide, yelled, "Stop him! Don't let him get close!"
But it was too late. The first two men barely had time to react before Roy's daggers found their mark, cutting through flesh and bone with ruthless efficiency. There was no mercy in his movements—each strike was precise, aimed to kill. The men fell silently, their bodies crumpling to the ground without a sound. The others turned, alarm flashing in their eyes, but it was too late. Roy was upon them, his movements swift and deadly.
""He's a monster!" one of them cried out, backing away in terror. "We need to run!"
He had seen Roy and Kevin earlier, their fierce battle and the cold efficiency with which they moved. At that moment, he had hidden himself, thinking that staying out of sight would be enough to spare his life. He had watched from the shadows, convinced that he was safe as Roy and Kevin fought their way through. But now, seeing Roy emerge with that same killing intent in his eyes, he realized his mistake. There was no escaping this time.
A third man swung his weapon at Roy, but Roy dodged effortlessly, his body a blur of motion. He twisted around, his dagger slashing across the man's throat, blood spraying into the night air. Another lunged at him, but Roy parried the attack with a swift movement, his eyes cold and unfeeling. He drove his dagger into the man's stomach, twisting the blade before pulling it free, leaving the man to collapse to the ground in agony.
The remaining Iron Fang members hesitated, fear evident in their eyes as they watched Roy dispatch their comrades with ruthless precision. One of them tried to flee, but Roy moved like a shadow, catching up to the man in an instant. He grabbed the fleeing man's shoulder, spinning him around before plunging his dagger into his chest. The man let out a strangled gasp before falling lifeless at Roy's feet.
"No... please!" another man begged, dropping his weapon and raising his hands in surrender. But Roy's expression remained unchanged—his rage demanded retribution. He moved forward, his dagger flashing as he ended the man's life without hesitation.
Kang, seeing his men being slaughtered, roared in fury. "You think you can take us all on?!" he shouted, his massive frame barreling forward with brute force. Roy stood his ground, his eyes locked on Kang. The two clashed, Kang's strength against Roy's speed. Kang swung his fists, each blow powerful enough to crush bone, but Roy was too quick. He ducked and weaved, his movements fluid as he avoided each strike.
Roy found an opening and slashed at Kang's side, the blade cutting through flesh. Kang grunted in pain, his rage only growing. He swung again, but Roy sidestepped, driving his dagger into Kang's ribs. Kang let out a pained roar, his knees buckling as he struggled to stay upright. Roy showed no mercy—he pulled his dagger free and, with a final, powerful strike, drove it into Kang's heart.
Kang's eyes widened in shock, his body going rigid before he fell to his knees. Blood dripped from his mouth as he looked up at Roy, his strength fading. "Damn... you..." he gasped, his voice barely a whisper. Roy stared down at him, his expression emotionless as he watched the life drain from Kang's eyes. With a final gasp, Kang collapsed to the ground, dead.
Roy stood there for a moment, his breath heavy, his killing intent slowly fading. He had done what he needed to do—there was no one left to inform the Shadow Enclave. The courtyard was eerily silent, the only sound the soft rustle of leaves in the night breeze. Without a word, he turned away, his expression hard as he moved to find Kevin. There was still more to be done, and he wasn't going to stop until every child was safe.