Inside the mountain, Rune’s instincts sharpened further with every step.

It was too smooth. Too clean.

Trap after trap fell apart under their coordinated efforts. Layers of illusion dissolved. Detection arrays were looped, and killing formations collapsed before they could activate.

Everything was going too easy for it to be normal.

Not only that but they had already made it this deep within the establishment and yet there were no guards in sight, no patrol units, no systems detecting them, and not even a single alarm.

Rune’s pace slowed. His eyes narrowed slightly as he realized something was indeed wrong.

Behind him, his team maintained formation, every member alert. They had gone deeper than expected, far deeper than any outer defensive layer should allow without confrontation.

"Hold," Rune said quietly.

The word spread instantly through the unit and everyone froze. Even the warriors behind them halted, sensing the shift.

The High Lord stepped forward, his presence calm but attentive. "What is it?"

Rune didn’t answer immediately. He crouched slightly, his senses stretching outward, brushing against the environment - not the traps this time, but the space itself - listening, feeling.

"...We shouldn’t be this far in," he said finally.

A faint tension settled in the corridor.

One of the warriors frowned. "We have cleared every trap. What’s the issue?"

"That’s exactly the issue," Rune replied.

Everyone fell silent.

Then, it clicked - not just for Rune but for the High Lord as well. Their gazes met briefly as understanding passed between them without a word.

"They let us in," the High Lord said.

At the same time, Rune added, "They are luring us."

- - -

Outside-

Grace’s eyes sharpened as she watched the projection.

"...160 inside," she murmured.

Davian folded his arms, his expression darkening. "And only 40 left out here."

Kian’s jaw tightened as he confirmed what they all had noticed by now. "That’s not a coincidence."

"No," Grace said quietly. "It’s not." Her gaze flickered slightly. "They want everyone inside."

- - -

Back inside the base, the air shifted subtly but unmistakably.

The High Lord’s expression hardened. And for the first time since the mission began, there was clear displeasure in his eyes.

"They planned this," he said. It wasn’t a question, but a statement. "They long sensed our presence and intentions."

One of the warriors scoffed lightly. "Then they have made a mistake."

The High Lord didn’t respond, but his hand lifted slightly to silence the man. And then, he moved.

Power surged outward from him - not violently, but with overwhelming authority. It spread through the corridors like an unseen wave, shattering and disarming every trap, every hidden mechanism, and every embedded glyph across kilometers of the underground base.

The entire structure seemed to tremble under the weight of his power.

A warrior behind Rune let out a low whistle. "They really thought something like that would work?"

Another smirked. "With the High Lord here, they have already lost this war."

The confidence was immediate and absolute, but it didn’t last long.

"Enough."

The High Lord’s voice cut through them, sharp and controlled.

The warriors who had spoken stiffened instantly.

Rune glanced back at them briefly. "Don’t underestimate them." His tone wasn’t harsh, but it carried weight. "This mission isn’t over until it’s over."

There was silence for a moment before they all heard a sound... a door opening at the far end of the corridor.

And a group of masked people stepped out from behind it, around fifty of them. Each one was armed, and each one radiated controlled power.

Rune’s grip tightened on his weapon as he muttered, "So this is where you were hiding."

The moment stretched, and then shattered as the enemy charged.

The clash was immediate, steel met steel, magic collided with force, and the confined corridor erupted into chaos.

Rune moved first - cutting through the nearest opponent with precision. His team followed instantly, engaging the enemy in perfect coordination.

Behind them, the larger force surged forward.

The High Lord stood at the center... watching, calculating.

Then more doors opened, and one after another, more masked warriors poured out. And these warriors not only looked heavily trained but they were also strong, matching the strength of Magik warriors without breaking a sweat.

"They are reinforcing," someone shouted.

The battlefield expanded, increasing the pressure on Magik warriors. And then, traps suddenly activated.

These were not the same ones already deactivated previously, these were different, stronger, and dangerous. They didn’t emerge from walls or floors, they manifested.

Mid-air glyphs ignited, energy constructs formed without anchors, and explosive arrays appeared between movements, forcing warriors to retreat or counter instantly.

"What-?!" one of the warriors staggered back as a pulse detonated beside him.

"This wasn’t here before!"

"They are creating them!"

Rune’s eyes sharpened. "Stay focused!"

But even he felt the shift. This wasn’t just a fight anymore. It was controlled chaos. And it was escalating.

- - -

Outside-

Grace straightened slightly. "They are changing tactics... or more accurately, they are finally showing what they had planned."

Davian’s gaze darkened as he and Kian witnessed everything in silence.

Before any of them had spoken again, 2025’s voice cut through Grace’s thoughts.

[Alert!!]

Her focus snapped inward instantly. "What is it?"

[Energy signature detected within the underground based.]

Grace’s heart stilled, and her gaze narrowed. "Who is it?"

[Energy signature’s identity confirmed.]

[Carter Thown.]

- - -

Inside the base, the High Lord stepped forward.

Enough was enough.

His presence expanded once more, pressing outward with immense force, and the newly formed traps began to distort under the pressure.

"Fall back," he commanded.

The warriors obeyed instantly, creating space.

The High Lord raised his hand, and brought it down. Power surged as his magic moved outward in a wave meant to erase everything in its path - traps, constructs, energy formations... all of it.

But... something pushed back and the wave stopped midway as if it had struck an invisible wall.

The entire corridor trembled.

The High Lord’s eyes narrowed as a second force emerged - equal, opposing, and holding his power in place.

For the first time, his attack failed to advance.

A ripple of shock passed through the warriors.

Rune’s expression hardened.

- - -

Outside-

Grace’s gaze locked onto the projection, while Davian and Kian went still beside her.

On the screen, the energy clash intensified as the two forces collided... neither yielding.

And then, from the farthest end of the corridor, a cloaked figure stepped forward in slow, unhurried steps.

Power radiated from him like a storm contained within flesh, and the masked warriors parted for him without question.

The cloaked man stopped at the center, facing the High Lord.

And then, he removed the hood of the cloak, revealing his face.

"...Carter Thown."