As they walked along the dirt road, the morning sun rising higher in the sky, Stella glanced at Hugo with a skeptical look.
"So, do you actually have a plan? Or are we just walking into this blindly?" she asked, crossing her arms.
Hugo let out a small chuckle. "Yeah. We sneak in, take out the leader, then burn down the base."
Cosmos suddenly spoke, its voice dripping with sarcasm."Or, you could just charge in recklessly like an idiot. That worked so well last time, right?"
Hugo rolled his eyes. "Tempting. But no."
Stella smirked. "Good to know you have some restraint."
Hugo didn't respond, but a small, amused smile flickered across his face. The weight of what they were about to do was heavy, yet somehow, the banter made it feel a little lighter.
Ahead, the trees began to thin, and in the distance, a towering fortress of black steel stood against the horizon—the Neo Arcane Dominion's outpost.
Their mission was about to begin.
As they approached the outskirts of the Neo Arcane Dominion's outpost, Hugo and Stella crouched behind a small ridge, peering down at the fortress below.
The base was a massive black steel stronghold, surrounded by towering walls lined with sentries. Arcana energy pulsed through its structures, giving it an ominous glow. The entrance was heavily guarded, with Neo Arcane soldiers patrolling the perimeter.
Stella narrowed her eyes. "There's no way we're getting in through the front."
Hugo scanned the area carefully. Then, his gaze landed on something—a drain tunnel, partially concealed beneath the fortress walls. The metal bars that once covered it were rusted and bent, likely forgotten over time.
He pointed at it. "There. That's our way in."
Stella followed his gaze, then smirked. "A sewer tunnel? Seriously?"
"It's either that or fighting through an army," Hugo replied.
Cosmos chimed in, its voice dripping with amusement."I vote for the army. Sounds more fun."
Hugo ignored the sword's remark and turned to Stella. "Let's move before patrols circle back."
With a nod, the two of them moved swiftly toward the tunnel, staying low to avoid detection. The scent of damp earth and rust filled the air as they approached the entrance.
Hugo placed a hand on the corroded bars, testing their strength. With a firm pull, the metal groaned before snapping loose. He stepped aside, gesturing for Stella to enter first.
She hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "I can't believe I'm crawling through a sewer for this."
Cosmos chuckled."Look on the bright side—at least you won't have to fight through a horde of Dominion soldiers… yet."
Stella rolled her eyes before slipping into the tunnel. Hugo followed close behind, sealing their entrance as they disappeared into the darkness, the echoes of dripping water guiding them deeper into enemy territory.
As they continued through the tunnel, the dim light of torches flickered ahead. They soon came across a ladder leading up to a metal hatch.
Hugo pressed his ear against it, listening for any signs of movement. When he heard nothing, he carefully pushed it open, peeking inside. The room was dimly lit, filled with rows of racks lined with weapons pulsing with Arcana energy.
They had emerged in the base's arsenal.
Hugo let out a low whistle."Well, would you look at that," he muttered, taking in the rows of neatly arranged weapons. Arc-blades, arc-hammers, and arc-lances pulsed faintly with Arcana energy, casting an eerie glow across the room.
Cosmos hummed in amusement. "You know, if we weren't trying to be sneaky, this would be the perfect place for a spectacular explosion."
Hugo rolled his eyes. "Yeah, let's not alert the entire base just yet."
Stella, however, wasn't listening. Her gaze was fixed on the weapons, scanning the arc-blades, arc-hammers, and arc-lances, each one humming with Arcana energy.
Then, her eyes locked onto something—an arc-blade, white with a faint hint of yellow.
Something about it called to her.
"This one..." she murmured, stepping closer and reaching out for the hilt.
As Stella reached for the arc-blade, Hugo smirked and crossed his arms.
"Oh? See something you like?" he teased. "Didn't take you for the 'fancy sword' type."
Stella shot him a glare. "It's not fancy, it just... stands out." She ran her fingers along the hilt, feeling a strange warmth emanating from it.
Cosmos chuckled. "Careful, kid. Swords have a way of choosing their wielders."
Hugo raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, and next thing you know, you'll start talking to your sword. Trust me, it's a slippery slope."
Stella rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up." She gripped the sword tightly, feeling a faint pulse of Arcana energy surge through her fingers. "...I think I'm taking it."
Hugo shrugged. "Fine, just don't start naming it or anything."
Cosmos let out a dramatic sigh. "Ah, young warriors and their weapons... it's adorable, really."
As the blaring alarm echoed through the base, Hugo and Stella sprinted out of the arsenal, their footsteps barely audible over the deafening sirens.