The night wind was chilly, and the moonlight, sharp as a blade, cast no warmth upon the charred wasteland. The orc stronghold lay crouched in the valley like a slumbering beast. For three days, Kain, Roddy, Tario, and two new members had been observing from behind the rocky cliffs. They had taken turns recording the orcs' patrol routes and guard shifts, gradually piecing together the defensive rhythm of the facility.
"Based on our observations, the energy supply comes from the two power towers on the east side of the main structure," Tario pointed to the red lines on the map. "If we blow up the connecting conduits, the entire extraction device will cease functioning."
"The prison is on the south side, holding a lot of captives. I'll head there to free them," Kain said, his eyes fixed on the other side of the map. "Roddy, your task is to create chaos and draw the patrol teams to the north, giving us a chance to break into the experimental facility quickly."
As Kain was about to nod in agreement, he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. In the distance, two figures were being dragged out of a low building, bound, and sent into another steel fortress—the very place they had suspected housed the elemental extraction device. Silver-blue energy sparks flickered through the door cracks, and the air seemed to tremble faintly, as if something was being twisted.
"It's Lorne and Milena!" Roddy whispered urgently, his voice trembling with recognition. "They're still alive!"
"We can't wait until nightfall," Kain said in a low, firm voice, his gaze resolute. "The operation starts now."
The plan was immediately adjusted. They split into two groups: Tario would circle around to sabotage the energy supply lines and machinery, while Kain would infiltrate the prison from another side to free the human and elven captives, creating chaos. Roddy would use his connection to the earth to slow down the orc patrols.
Kain maneuvered to the prison's exterior, slipping into a dried-up waterway to approach unseen. Orc sentries stood chatting in the corner, oblivious to his presence.
The prison reeked of blood and decay. Rows of cells held prisoners who were frail and battered. The sound of locks clicking open echoed sharply in the dim space. One by one, the weakened humans and elves were freed, their eyes filled with disbelief and tentative hope. Kain urged them in a low voice, "Go, quickly! We're here to save you!"
As the chaos grew, Kain noticed a particular cell at the far end. Inside sat a man, broad and muscular, his body covered in scars. Though he sat in silence, his hawk-like eyes gleamed with a cold, predatory sharpness, accustomed to killing.
"...I feel like I've seen him before," Kain muttered, narrowing his eyes as a memory surfaced—a wanted poster. "He's... the Empire's most wanted criminal, former legion commander Ray Sahar. We can't let him out. He might be more dangerous than the orcs!"
Kain hesitated. He glanced at the growing chaos and the distant screams and crackling energy—time was running out. If they had another powerful ally, their chances of saving Lorne and Milena might increase.
"...I'll gamble on his humanity," Kain decided, gritting his teeth as he unlocked the cell.
The prisoner raised his head, but instead of speaking, he lunged. A thunderous punch struck Kain, sending him crashing into the wall. Blood trickled from the corner of Kain's mouth.
"Are you insane?" Kain barely managed to raise his sword in defense, but the sheer force of the man's blows left his arms numb. Rolling away to dodge, Kain watched as Ray pounced like a beast, his hands cutting through the air like axes, smashing the walls with ease.
But the man didn't continue his assault. He paused, staring at Kain with a flicker of hesitation in his eyes—a mix of memory and astonishment.
"...Your eyes..." he murmured, his expression shifting dramatically.
The next moment, Ray let out a furious roar, as though shaking off some internal chaos. He stormed out of the cell, kicking down the iron door with a single blow, and charged into the battlefield like an unleashed beast.
Kain struggled to his feet, watching in shock as the man tore through the orcs like a whirlwind. The surrounding noise drowned out his pain, and relief mingled with confusion over the man's reaction. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Kain refocused—saving Lorne and Milena was the priority.
The plan proceeded smoothly. They successfully cut off the orcs' energy supply and freed the human and elven captives, creating enough chaos to storm the experimental facility. As they pushed open the doors, a wave of residual elemental energy hit them, thick and suffocating.
What lay before them was a scene of utter cruelty.
Lorne lay collapsed on the floor, trembling faintly, as though her soul had been drained. Milena was strapped to a machine emitting a cold, eerie light, on the verge of activation.
"Stop them!" Kain roared.
Several orcs turned in shock, not expecting the outer defenses to have fallen.
The orc scientist bellowed, "You're too late! There's no stopping it now!"
The three of them charged forward. Tario hurled a fire talisman at the control panel, the explosion knocking the operators off their feet. Roddy rushed to unbind Milena, while Kain shielded Lorne, deflecting incoming attacks with his blade. With a single slash, Kain severed the energy core's conduit, causing the machine to erupt in sparks. Black smoke and debris filled the room.
"Retreat!" Kain shouted as they carried the weakened Lorne and Milena out of the lab. Flames and smoke erupted behind them.
Tario supported Milena, Roddy carried Lorne on his back, and the three fought their way out through the chaos.
As they neared their escape route, a roar echoed from afar—Ray was still fighting, single-handedly holding off multiple orcs, his attacks ferocious and relentless.
He didn't even glance their way as he disappeared into the fire and smoke.
The night deepened, and the distant glow of the orc stronghold flickered like the red eyes of a vengeful beast. Hiding in the crevice of a rocky cliff, Kain and his team tended to their injuries. Lorne lay weakly on the ground, her breathing shallow, while Milena leaned against the rock wall, her forehead drenched in sweat.
Roddy knelt beside her, his hands hovering over Lorne's back, guiding life energy to stabilize her internal flow and prevent further elemental loss. Meanwhile, Kain and Tario took turns keeping watch and dressing their wounds.
"Will they make it?" Kain asked softly.
"I don't know!" Roddy replied anxiously, unsure if he could heal others like Aina.
Just then, a familiar presence emerged from the shadows. Lua's voice, ethereal yet tinged with excitement, broke the tension. "You actually succeeded!" But upon seeing Lorne's condition, her tone darkened. "Your friends, however, weren't so lucky..."
"What's wrong with them?" Tario asked.
Lua observed carefully before replying, "Lorne's ice element has been almost entirely extracted, leaving her in a state of extreme depletion. She won't recover anytime soon. Milena, on the other hand, is just severely exhausted from the ordeal."
Kain lowered his head, his heart heavy with guilt and rage. As their leader, his decision had led to his comrades suffering such harm.
"Damn those orcs!" Kain growled, slamming his fist against the ground. "Where did they get this kind of technology?"
The events of the rescue filled Kain with questions. He recalled the complex expression in Ray's eyes when he spared him—it wasn't pure hostility but something... strangely familiar.
"We need to report all of this to the military as soon as possible," Tario said, his tone unusually grave.
"No!" Lua suddenly interjected, her gaze sharp. "The orcs have mastered the technology to extract elemental energy, and they're expanding its use. This time, they targeted elemental users, but next time, it could be entire tribes or cities."
Roddy clenched his fists, his voice low and determined. "If this technology spreads, it'll destroy the elemental balance of all Elamia."
After a moment of silence, Kain spoke. "We'll split up. Lua, Tario, and I will infiltrate the stronghold again to destroy the remaining equipment and gather more evidence. Roddy, you'll take Lorne and Milena to the nearest outpost to request reinforcements and report everything to the military."
Roddy hesitated but eventually nodded. "Just promise me you'll come back alive."
Kain extended his hand, and the two clasped it firmly.
Under the moonlight, their shadows stretched long across the rocky terrain. This battle was far from over—it had only just begun.
In the distance, the released prisoner, Ray, stood beneath a half-destroyed orc tower, surrounded by corpses. His eyes followed the departing figures, and he murmured softly:
"You... you really are his child..."