Chapter 13: Infiltration
Meanwhile, hidden within the shadows of a thick bush near the outer perimeter, a lone figure watched the towering walls of the Holy Capital. Their breathing was slow, controlled—eyes fixed, calculating every guard rotation. Whoever they were, they were clearly preparing to infiltrate.
The scene then shifts back to Kael and his group, who had finally reached the outskirts of the capital.
Standing beneath the looming walls, the air around them felt heavier—charged with risk and urgency.
Kazuki knelt down, drawing a quick map of the capital's layout in the dirt.
"This is where we split," he said, voice low. "The moment we cross this wall, the sensory unit will detect unfamiliar innergy. We won't have time to stick together."
Kael clenched his fists. "So we scatter?"
Ryo nodded. "Divide and scatter. If we stay in a group, we'll get swarmed. But if we split, we pull their forces thin—we make it harder for them to track Sistine or coordinate."
Kazuki's eyes narrowed. "We each head to different sectors. Don't engage unless necessary. Our goal is Sistine."
Kael looked toward the wall, his heart pounding. There was no turning back now.
Kazuki tightened his cloak and looked them both in the eye, his tone sharpened with gravity.
"One last thing," he said. "There are Sentinels inside the capital that we can't fight. If you encounter one of them, don't even think about engaging. Just run."
Kael furrowed his brows. "What kind of Sentinels?"
"Blades," Kazuki answered. "They're the highest tier—there are only fifteen of them. Below them are the Daggers and Knives—fifteen each. But thanks to that large-scale mission, ten from each rank have already been dispatched elsewhere."
Ryo's eyes widened slightly. "That's more than half gone…"
Kazuki nodded. "Exactly. That gives us a shot—less chance of encountering a Blade or Dagger. But don't get cocky. Even a Knife can kill you if you're careless."
The plan was now solidified. Each of them knew their route, their role, and the risks.
Kazuki raised a hand.
"On three."
Kael took a deep breath. Ryo cracked his knuckles.
"One…"
"Two…"
"Three—go!"
With a burst of innergy, the three launched forward, scaling the outer wall with swift, practiced motion.
And just as Kazuki predicted—the moment they passed the boundary—
WEEEOOO!
The capital's alarm blared through the air, sharp and jarring.
A voice echoed from the towers:
"Intruder alert! Two unidentified innergy signatures detected—south wall! All nearby units, engage immediately!"
The trap had been sprung. There was no room for hesitation now.
They scattered, just as planned—three shadows vanishing into the heart of the capital, ready to defy fate itself.
The blaring alarms echoed across the capital walls as Kael, Kazuki, and Ryo shot off in three directions, vanishing into the shadowed corners of the enemy stronghold.
The three of them heard the broadcast loud and clear.
"Intruder alert! Two unidentified innergy signatures detected—south wall!"
Kael's heart skipped.
Two? he thought, Why only two?
He pushed the thought aside—he had bigger problems. He didn't know where the prison was. The city was massive, and with the sensory unit now on full alert, retracing steps or asking questions was out of the question.
He glanced back, just briefly—tempted. But the memory of Kazuki's warning rang in his head.
If you meet a Blade—run.
There was no turning back now.
Kael clenched his fists and continued forward, hoping Kazuki would somehow find Sistine.
Meanwhile, Ryo dashed across a rooftop, eyes scanning for a safe route down. But the same thought gnawed at him.
"Two unidentified innergy…" he muttered under his breath. "There's three of us. Why only two?"
His mind raced. Had the sensory unit missed one? No… that was impossible. Their detection net was flawless. So why…?
He clicked his tongue in frustration. "Tch—damn it. Think later. Move now."
Across the capital, squads of Dagger and Knife-level Sentinels mobilized, funneling toward the southern sector, unaware that one of the three intruders had gone completely undetected.
And that, more than anything, was dangerous.
Hidden in the shadows of the overgrown thickets beyond the capital walls, the man in the bush narrowed his eyes as the alarm rang out across the capital.
Perfect, he thought.
With the commotion unfolding at the southern wall, most of the guards were funneling away from the other sectors. Without wasting another second, he darted forward, swift and silent.
As soon as his foot crossed the threshold into the perimeter—
"Alert! Alert! Another unidentified innergy signature detected—west wall!"
"Intruder alert! Unknown presence detected at the west wall!"
Kael suddenly halted, heart thumping in his chest. He turned slightly, hearing the echo of the new broadcast bouncing through the stone streets.
Another one? he thought. But who…?
Then something clicked. His eyes widened in sudden realization.
Wait… a moment ago, they only said two unidentified innergy signatures…
He gritted his teeth. That means Kazuki… he's so good at suppressing innergy it took them a two full minute just to notice him…
Kael's instincts screamed.
In a blink, he twisted his body—clang!
A sharp blade collided with his sword, sparks dancing through the air. The sheer force sent a jolt down his arm, but he held firm.
Another strike!
This time, Kael didn't just block. He spun with the motion, pivoted on his foot, and slashed back. His blade grazed something—just enough to force the attacker to leap back into the shadows.
From the dim alley, a voice echoed.
"Well now… that was impressive," the man said, his tone laced with amusement. "I've taken down five intruders with that same move. You're the first to not only block it… but counter too."
Kael kept his blade steady, eyes locked onto the silhouette stepping into the light. "Thanks for the compliment," he said coldly. "But I didn't come here for praise."
The man chuckled, stepping forward, finally revealing his face. His armor was lighter than the usual Sentinels—made for speed. On his shoulder, the insignia of the fifth legion gleamed faintly.
"My name is Galleon," he said, raising his blade with a flourish. "Knife of the Fifth Legion. You should feel honored—I don't usually give names to the soon-to-be dead."
Kael tightened his grip, lowering into a stance.
"Then let's see if you can earn mine."