The silhouette of the massive laboratory factory loomed like a metal monster in the dark. Harsh industrial lights glared from several points, revealing constant activity and tight security.
From behind the cracks of a large boulder, Leon and Luis raised their binoculars, carefully observing. Rian narrowed one eye.
Even at this distance, the Six Eyes captured every detail with absolute clarity—the number of guards, their exact positions, even the blind spots near the steaming pipes.
What lay before them wasn't just a factory—it was a fortress.
Dozens of Ganado soldiers patrolled in synchronized steps. But unlike the regular troops they had encountered before, these were Krauser's unit: more disciplined, more highly trained, and far deadlier.
Some carried electric spears that crackled with a low but threatening hum, while others wielded iron rods wrapped in barbed wire, glinting under the floodlights.
Most concerning, however, were the armed groups carrying assault rifles and machine guns.
And above them all, in the watchtowers, two guards manned heavy Gatling Guns—ready to unleash a storm of bullets the moment the alarm was raised.
It didn't stop there—several auto-turrets were positioned at strategic points. Their optical cameras swept slowly across the area, waiting for the smallest mistake to unleash a storm of automatic gunfire.
Luis muttered under his breath, barely audible. "This isn't a base… it's a killing field."
"We infiltrate. Find another way," Leon replied, shifting his binoculars toward the right side of the complex. "Two o'clock. Looks lighter over there—at least for now."
Rian let out a long sigh, as if carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"To be honest, this handsome man doesn't exactly enjoy crawling through damp, filthy corridors," he said with his usual dramatic flair.
"But I'd rather deal with that than Ganados carrying weapons like those. So… Leon's plan is approved."
Luis chuckled, lowering his binoculars. "I don't recall Leon asking for your approval, amigo."
Rian simply gave a faint smile and shrugged, like a prince long accustomed to the remarks of his subjects.
Leon shook his head slightly, then whispered, "Move. Before they tighten security."
The three of them slipped into the night, advancing toward the darker side of the complex with quiet, measured steps.
***
For a while, Rian followed the narrow corridors and service passages, thick with dust and dampness—enough to make him think he'd need seven baths with seven kinds of flowers afterward.
Before long, the three of them stumbled into a storage warehouse, a place clearly used to supply ammunition and weapons for the Ganado forces.
Rows of metal racks stood tightly packed, stacked with wooden crates and military supply boxes. Flickering industrial lights cast brief flashes across bullets and gun barrels neatly lined in order.
Weapons of every kind were there: sniper rifles, assault rifles, SMGs, even handguns.
Leon immediately began checking the stockpile. He grabbed ammo for his pistol, then pulled an assault rifle from the rack. After confirming it worked, he pocketed several spare magazines, sliding them into the pouches of his tactical vest.
Luis, moving quickly yet with careful precision, reloaded his shotgun and gathered extra rounds for his handgun. "At least now we can speak a little louder," he muttered with a faint smile.
Meanwhile, Rian walked slowly between the racks. Unlike the others, he was interested in only one thing.
Rian opened his side bag and slipped in several boxes of .50 caliber Magnum rounds—ammunition rarely used by ordinary troops.
His expression looked far more satisfied now.
Once properly armed and equipped, the three exchanged glances and gave a firm nod.
Without a word, they moved again, slipping beneath the shadows of massive pipes and old concrete walls, following hidden routes deeper into the facility.
They pressed on, advancing silently into the heart of the compound, weaving through the dark between concrete walls and dangling cables.
Outside, the auto-turrets still swept the area, their mechanical movements slow but deadly.
Meanwhile, several of Krauser's soldiers—now fully transformed into Ganados—marched heavily on patrol.
Every step had to be calculated. When there was no other choice, they took down the patrols in silence.
Leon struck swiftly with his knife, Luis fired suppressed shots, and Rian… with a single swing, he severed heads—efficient, swift, and merciless.
Through narrow corridors, empty laboratories, and low-security electronic doors, time slipped by.
At last, they reached a chamber marked by a large frosted glass window and a half-closed iron door.
Beyond it lay what looked like a makeshift emergency ward, illuminated by the pale glow of sterile white lights.
From behind the bars separating them from the room inside, Leon's eyes instantly locked onto the figure on the bed.
"Ashley…" he muttered softly.
The girl lay unconscious on the patient bed, her body frail, her breathing heavy. Pained whimpers escaped her lips as the Plaga parasite inside her continued its torment.
"Bastards," Leon growled through clenched teeth. "What have they done to her…?"
Luis cursed as well, slamming his boot against the nearby metal wall. "Damn it… if it's already this bad, I just hope we're not too late."
Leon drew in a steadying breath, then turned to Rian and Luis in turn. "We've found her. Now we find a way in. There has to be an access point nearby."
But Rian scoffed, tilting his head with a lazy expression. "Another detour? No, no, no! This handsome man prefers the shortcut!"
Leon and Luis exchanged a puzzled glance.
Without another word, Rian set his butcher's knife on the floor and walked toward the heavy iron bars blocking access to the next room.
Gripping the bars with both hands, he began forcing them apart.
Muscles in his arms strained, metal groaned under the pressure, and slowly the bars bent aside, creating a gap wide enough to slip through.
Leon stared flatly. "Sometimes I wonder… what are you? A super-soldier?"
Luis let out a small chuckle. "Good to know I'm not the only one curious."
"Alright," Rian said, now standing on the other side of the bars. "I'll go first. Come on—take my hand. This handsome man will help you down."
The moment they stepped inside the room, their eyes went straight to Ashley—lying weakly, her condition far from stable.
Purple veins spread beneath her pale skin, her breathing ragged and uneven, clear signs that the Plaga parasite inside her had grown increasingly aggressive.
Leon and Luis hurried to Ashley's side, with Rian trailing behind. But Rian's focus shifted toward the iron door of the room.
Luis clasped Ashley's wrist, checking her pulse. His expression tightened. "This is bad… If the Plaga isn't destroyed within a day, it'll take over her body completely."
A memory flashed in Luis's mind. He turned toward Leon. No words were needed—Leon understood immediately.
Without hesitation, Leon pulled a syringe from his pocket, filled with a suppressant drug.
He quickly injected it into the side of Ashley's neck. At the very least, it would slow the parasite's growth.
The suppressant took effect almost instantly. The purple veins receded, Ashley's pale complexion regained some color, and her breathing eased.
But just as their attention was fixed on Ashley, Leon suddenly clenched his teeth. His body trembled. The same purple veins began to creep from beneath his collar, spreading rapidly across his neck and face.
"Leon…?" Luis's voice cracked with worry, his eyes scanning Leon's body from head to toe. "The suppressant… it's wearing off, isn't it?"
Leon glanced at his right arm, now streaked with the spreading veins, then spoke quietly. "Tell me, Luis… how much time do you think I have left?"
Luis exhaled, studying Leon's condition more closely. "Same as Ashley… at most a day. We'd better—"
CLANG!
His words were cut off by the crash of metal being kicked open. They turned sharply.
Rian stood at the now-wide-open barred door, his foot still raised. His voice echoed down the corridor. "In that case—let's go. Time to destroy that damned parasite."
Luis chuckled, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He slid one between his lips, struck a match, and took a long drag.
Smoke curled into the air as he spoke. "Heh... that's exactly what I was about to say."
Turning back to them, he added, "We need to head to my lab. Up in the mountains."
Rian strode quickly to Ashley's bedside, where she lay weak and barely conscious. His eyes flicked between Leon, pale and trembling, and Luis, still not fully recovered.
"Leon's in no shape to push himself, and Luis isn't exactly at his best either," Rian said, his tone casual but firm. "So… this handsome man will carry the princess."
Without waiting for an answer, he bent down and lifted Ashley into a princess carry, as though plucking a heroine straight out of a romance tale. Turning to Leon and Luis, he gave a faint smile.
"You two… watch my back. Let's make sure this rescue story doesn't end in tragedy."