The members of the Church stood stunned for a few moments, frozen before the unexpected event. Seizing the opportunity, Aria slipped away discreetly with Logan. They made for their inn, Aria supporting Logan, who had fallen unconscious along the way. Carefully, she laid him on the bed and made him drink two healing potions to try to restore him. Then, gently, with an affectionate touch, she wiped his bloodstained face with a handkerchief that quickly turned red.
After a few hours in a coma, Logan slowly regained consciousness around midnight. He took his time to sit up carefully on the bed then, suddenly, clutched his head. A piercing headache raked through his skull, and his eyes burned faintly.
"So this is what happens when I grossly exceed my calculation capacity. My health and physical integrity end up gravely threatened and if I push too far, it could cause irreversible damage. The main area affected would be my brain, which could leave me paralyzed or a vegetable. It's like a computer: overload it beyond its limits and the motherboard burns out. Here, it would be my brain, permanently fried."
His gaze drifted to the side of the bed, where he saw Aria, her head resting on the edge and the rest of her body sprawled on the floor. There was no doubt she had been watching over him. Tenderly, he stroked her hair, filled with gratitude and affection. Then, carefully, he lifted her and laid her gently on the bed, making sure she was comfortable without waking her.
After that small act of care, he went downstairs for a quick meal, then took time to relax in a refreshing bath. Returning to his usual chair, he let sleep lull him, leaving the day's torments behind.
By the next day, Aria and Logan were immersed in an atmosphere of intense focus. They were preparing, mentally and physically, to face every possible scenario, aware that the mission's success depended on their resolve and their ability to adapt to shifting circumstances. Each passing minute brought them closer to a task with a crucial stake: to save everyone in danger in a single night.
They understood the magnitude of what lay ahead and the considerable risks they faced. No one knew what the night might bring. Everything could succeed or turn into a nightmare for the risks were enormous, and the slightest misstep could have disastrous consequences.
Aria and Logan knew that the outcome of this night would determine not only their own fate, but that of many others. They were ready to face every obstacle and overcome every difficulty to accomplish their mission.
Their minds fixed solely on that goal, the day slipped by. Night fell like the curtain at the end of a play one in which they were the principal actors. When the appointed hour struck, they left the inn and headed for the rendezvous point.
There, in a dark, empty alley, someone waited in the shadows: Marie. She met their eyes and immediately felt their resolve to see the mission through. They each donned a black robe, similar to those of the men. They also equipped themselves with masks and Collars of Secrets, so that no one could read their status.
"Where are we going first?" Logan asked.
"We'll go to the mine first, then the Alchemists' Guild, and finally the Bestial Palace," Marie replied.
"How are we getting there? Those places are far apart. We should've started this morning."
"Why do you think I'm here, my little Aria?" Marie chuckled, making a few gestures with her hands.
In the next instant, a blue hole formed at Marie's feet, perfectly sized for a human to pass through.
"A Spatial skill," Logan said, intrigued by the strange tear in space.
"Exactly. It's called Relay Point. It lets me link places I've marked beforehand."
"Which means you've already been there."
"What do you think I did for the rest of yesterday and today?" she said confidently, with a bright smile.
Thus, in a state of intense concentration, they prepared to plunge into this decisive night. Marie jumped first into the rift, followed by Aria, and finally Logan.
They landed at the edge of a forest, overlooking a great ravine. Far below, they could make out the mining facilities where slaves were forced to work in deplorable conditions.
"What's the plan?" Aria asked, focused at last on saving her family.
"The outer mining camp is guarded by about a hundred men; inside the mine, there are roughly thirty guards, with a single entrance and a single exit. The slaves work day and night with almost no rest. At night they're all inside, working; by day they bring out what they've extracted. We'll slip to the entrance and quietly neutralize the four guards posted there. Then we infiltrate the cave. Be quick there aren't many places to hide. If you're spotted, put your opponent down immediately so they can't raise the alarm. Once we've gathered all of Aria's family, I'll link my portals for our escape."
With the plan set, it was time to act. They descended the cliff swiftly and silently. Reaching the outskirts of the mining camp, they saw the guards making their rounds, not particularly alert.
The reason was simple: they had never suffered an outside attack besides, who would dare attack them? Their only work was to crush the rare, feeble rebellions. Most slaves had accepted their grim fate and sought only to survive a little longer, knowing that any uprising could cost them their lives or serve as a cruel example to the others.
In such oppressive conditions, the slaves lived in resignation and despair. Endless hours of labor, malnutrition, and inhumane treatment reduced them to interchangeable objects, worn-out toys to be easily replaced once broken. Stripped of value and rights, they were condemned to a miserable existence, painfully awaiting their last breath.
Taking advantage of the guards' lack of vigilance and preparation, the small group slipped through with skill, carefully avoiding lines of sight and attention. They reached the entrance, where four sentries stood watch. Hiding behind large crates of ore, they observed them for a few moments.
The mine guards seemed slightly more alert than those they had encountered before though a few yawned crudely and carelessly. Marie, Logan, and Aria's muscles tensed as their senses sharpened; their coordination would have to be perfect to neutralize the men swiftly. Each had already chosen a target, ready to strike at the right moment.
Marie gave a slight nod the signal to fall upon their foes. In a fluid, coordinated motion, they burst from cover without a sound, at blinding speed. Logan, having accelerated his own movements, reached them first in a deathly silence, broken only by the men's surprise as they noticed him at the very last second.
"Huh !"
Logan struck two men with heavy, precise blows to the nape, dropping them unconscious. The other two, wholly focused on him, failed to notice the two shadows slipping up behind. Caught off guard, they were swiftly subdued by Marie and Aria, who moved with perfect coordination. The situation was now under control at least for the moment.
"You could have taken down all four at that speed," Marie said, surprised herself by how fast Logan had become.
After all, she had only seen him fight once, and he hadn't shown the full extent of his abilities then. In the meantime, he had grown far stronger. This mission was also her chance to finally observe him properly and report the details to the Guild Master.
"I could have but by catching their intent, I gave you both the opening to neutralize them faster," Logan replied, already beginning to hide the bodies.
After quickly concealing the guards' bodies, they entered the cave. The path was lit by glowing crystals, and they advanced with caution. Logan took the lead, using his radar and sharpened perception to anticipate any surprises that might await them.
Warned by Logan, Marie was alerted to the presence of a man just around one of the cave's bends. Moving with lightning speed, she struck him down with a precise motion and delivered a blow to his head that sent him crashing violently to the ground unconscious in an instant. Logan's ability to pinpoint the exact position of their enemies gave the team a decisive advantage, allowing them to act with deadly efficiency.
"What an incredible and terrifying ability!" Marie thought as she glanced at him. Even other detection skills aren't this precise.
As they continued deeper into the mine, Logan revealed the position of each guard with astonishing accuracy, as if he possessed some form of omniscience. His uncanny ability to sense movement and detect life signatures proved invaluable, enabling them to navigate the mine's labyrinthine passages with confidence. Thanks to him, they avoided unnecessary encounters and could plan their actions strategically maximizing their chances of success in this mission of liberation.
"At the next junction two hundred meters ahead. Then, one hundred meters to the right. Three men on the left, spaced ten meters apart," Logan said in a calm, precise tone.
The most astonishing part came when Logan began keeping Marie informed of what was happening outside the mine. His radar, enhanced by his improved stats, had grown powerful enough to cover the entire camp's perimeter and monitor activity beyond it. He could warn Marie of any suspicious movement suggesting they had been discovered. In real time, Logan shared crucial information with her, allowing her to make the best possible tactical decisions. He had already located all the slaves and knew exactly how many guards were watching them.
"Absolutely terrifying… how is such a thing even possible?" Marie wondered, stunned.
According to what the Guild Master had told her, Logan was only level 100 already impressive in itself. Yet his perception and abilities rivaled those of someone around level 400. The discrepancy was both fascinating and frightening, a testament to Logan's exceptional growth and extraordinary potential. Marie couldn't help but wonder what other surprises he still had in store.
The more Marie discovered about Logan's remarkable powers, the stronger her desire grew to understand him to uncover the full extent of his abilities. At level 200, she wasn't without her own accomplishments, but she couldn't shake the persistent feeling that Logan surpassed her, despite her experience and power.
Eventually, they reached the end of the cave, where a group of slaves could be seen Beastmen of various races. At first glance, their tragic condition was evident. Their bodies were thin, almost skeletal, bearing the marks of cruel and inhumane treatment. Their skin or fur was pale as snow, revealing the toll of deprivation and suffering.
Yet despite their pitiful state, they continued to work. Their frail bodies trembled with each swing of their pickaxes, but they pressed on in their mining labor. Their inner strength and endurance were admirable, even as they were constantly tested by the brutal conditions of their existence.
One of the slaves, an elderly man with white fur, succumbed to exhaustion and collapsed to the ground in violent tremors. Instead of showing any compassion, one of the guards approached him. With merciless cruelty, he raised his whip and brought it down on the old man's back, each lash striking with brutal force. The other slaves watched in terror, powerless before the violence inflicted upon them.
"What are you staring at? Keep working!" barked another guard.
While the old man continued to be beaten mercilessly, the pain and injustice saturating the scene became unbearable.
"Get up, old man!"
The sadistic guard kept lashing without pause, the whip cracking through the air again and again. The other slaves, fearful and resigned, averted their eyes or forced themselves to keep working, trapped in an atmosphere heavy with oppression and despair. Despite the torment, the man on the ground was far too weak to stand his strength long since drained.
Then the torturer, seeking to satisfy his cruelty, decided to go further. He gestured to one of the other guards, who soon dragged a young boy of the same tribe before them. Terror shone in the boy's eyes.
"Get up, or he'll take the beating for you!" the executioner sneered.
The old man's eyes wavered, filled with anguish and the agony of failure knowing full well what was about to happen because of his weakness. Their captors relished the sight, drinking in the suffering they inflicted. Their expressions twisted with perverse delight, savoring the domination and despair of their victims.
"You have five seconds, or we'll whip him until he bleeds!"
The man began to count, his tone dripping with sadism, while the old slave struggled desperately to rise. He fell again and again, trembling from pain and exhaustion, trying to push himself up one more time. Despite his valiant, heartbreaking efforts, he couldn't stand in time.
"Well then!" the guard announced, ready to deliver the sentence upon the helpless boy.
The old man closed his eyes, unable to bear witness. The young boy did the same, bracing himself for the lashes that would tear through his skin. A heavy silence fell over the mine, thick with tension. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the crack of the whip to shatter the quiet with its cruelty.
But after several unbearable seconds, the sound never came. The slaves slowly opened their eyes, startled to see that the dreaded blow had not fallen. The guard who was about to strike now stood frozen, sweat streaming down his face as panic overtook him. His arm was locked in place stopped by an unseen force.
And in front of him now stood a man in a black robe and mask. The most terrifying thing about him were his glowing red eyes, staring through the mask and piercing straight into his soul.
The entire scene froze. Every slave turned their gaze toward the robed figure with the eerie mask. A menacing aura radiated from him, filling the cavern with the oppressive weight of danger and power. His very presence commanded silence and dread an overwhelming force that seemed almost inhuman.
It was, of course, Logan, who had finally stepped in.
"I've got an idea," Logan said in a cold, spine-chilling voice. "What if it's you who gets whipped today?"