Chapter 19: Breaking the Chains
The team's escape route led them into the Bastion's underbelly, a sprawling network of industrial tunnels and maintenance shafts. The air was heavy with heat and the acrid stench of oil, and the walls pulsed faintly with the power drawn from the Shard deep below.
Each step took them closer to their rendezvous point with Kael, but also deeper into danger. The Iron Order's soldiers were relentless, their pursuit a constant reminder that this mission was far from over.
Pushing Forward
Thorn took the lead, his usual swagger muted but not entirely gone. His sharp eyes scanned the tunnels ahead, searching for traps or ambushes. Behind him, Lira moved silently, her bow drawn, while Mira and Garrick covered their rear.
"How much farther?" Garrick asked, his voice low.
"Two more junctions," Lira replied, glancing at the map displayed on her wrist device. "Kael's waiting at the extraction point near the central power core."
"Great," Thorn said, his tone dry. "Right in the middle of the most heavily guarded part of the Bastion."
"Do you ever stop complaining?" Mira shot back.
"It's not complaining," Thorn replied with a smirk. "It's commentary."
Lira shook her head, her voice sharp. "Focus. They're closing in."
As if on cue, the sound of boots echoed down the tunnel. Lira held up a hand, signaling the team to stop.
"They're splitting up," she whispered, listening intently. "One squad coming from the left, another from the right."
Mira frowned. "They're trying to box us in."
Thorn grinned, drawing his twin blades. "Good. That means they're close enough to hit."
Garrick rolled his eyes but raised his rifle. "We don't have time for a full fight. Keep it quick and clean."
The Ambush
The team moved into position, taking cover behind the pipes and machinery lining the tunnel. Lira notched an arrow, her breathing steady as she waited for the Order's soldiers to appear.
The first squad came into view, their crimson armor gleaming in the dim light. Lira loosed an arrow, and the lead soldier dropped without a sound. Before the others could react, Thorn leaped from cover, his blades flashing.
The fight was brutal and fast. Thorn's movements were fluid, each strike precise and devastating. Lira provided cover, her arrows finding their marks with deadly accuracy.
On the other side of the tunnel, Mira and Garrick faced the second squad. Mira moved with calculated precision, her daggers flashing as she darted between the soldiers, striking where their armor was weakest. Garrick's rifle barked, each shot landing with unerring accuracy.
Within moments, the tunnel was silent again. The team regrouped, their breaths coming heavy but their resolve unshaken.
A Dire Revelation
As they approached the central power core, the tunnel opened into a massive chamber filled with machinery and glowing conduits. The air thrummed with energy, and the faint hum of the Shard's power was almost tangible.
Kael was waiting for them near a cluster of consoles, his massive frame a reassuring presence. He turned as they entered, his expression grim.
"Good work," he said. "But we've got a problem."
"What kind of problem?" Mira asked, wiping blood from her daggers.
Kael gestured to the central console, where a holographic display showed a detailed map of the Bastion. A glowing red marker pulsed near the Shard's chamber.
"The Order's reinforcing the lower levels," Kael said. "They know we're here, and they're protecting the Shard at all costs."
"That's not surprising," Garrick said. "But it's nothing we can't handle."
Kael shook his head. "It's worse than that. The Shard's power is growing unstable. If we don't destroy it soon, it could tear this entire fortress apart—and everything around it."
Lira's eyes widened. "How unstable are we talking?"
"Minutes," Kael replied. "Maybe less."
Thorn whistled. "Well, that's one way to speed things up."
Kael's gaze swept over the team, his voice steady but urgent. "We need to move now. Thorn, Lira—head to the east junction and disable the power relays. Mira, Garrick—you're with me. We'll create a path to the Shard chamber. Once the relays are down, we'll hit the Shard with everything we've got."
"What about the charges we planted?" Mira asked.
"They'll go off as planned," Kael said. "But if we don't destroy the Shard first, it won't matter."
Splitting the Team
As the team split into their respective groups, the weight of the mission settled over them. Each of them knew the risks—and the cost of failure.
For Thorn and Lira, the task ahead was a test of speed and precision. The power relays were heavily guarded, and any delay could spell disaster for the others.
For Kael, Mira, and Garrick, the path to the Shard chamber was a gauntlet of defenses and elite soldiers. The closer they got, the more dangerous the mission became.
But they pressed on, driven by a shared determination to stop the Iron Order and destroy the Shard before its power could consume them all.