Chapter 82: The Final Stand

Serena's heart raced as she locked eyes with Kieran. The tension in the hallway was suffocating, the air thick with anticipation. Kieran's cold smirk sent a chill down her spine, but Serena pushed the fear aside, her mind racing with options. They had made it this far, and she wasn't about to let it end here. Not with Alexander barely on his feet, not with the *Sangreal* and *Crux Ignis* still in their possession.

Behind Kieran, a handful of Covenant guards stood at the ready, their weapons trained on Serena, Rebecca, and Alexander. Serena's grip on Alexander tightened, steadying him as his weight leaned heavily against her. She could feel the exhaustion radiating from him, but his defiance hadn't faltered.

Kieran stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with a cruel amusement. "You've come a long way, Serena," he said, his voice smooth and taunting. "But this is where your little rebellion ends. Did you really think you could just walk into our compound, steal our most prized artifacts, and leave without consequence?"

Serena's jaw clenched, her gaze never leaving Kieran's. "I'm not leaving without Alex."

Kieran's smile widened, his gaze flicking to the two bags Serena carried. "I'm sure you understand that the Covenant isn't about to let you walk away with the *Sangreal* and the *Crux Ignis*. Hand them over now, and maybe—just maybe—I'll let you and your friends live."

Serena's blood boiled at the arrogance in Kieran's tone, but she forced herself to stay calm. They were outnumbered, cornered, and injured. But that didn't mean they were powerless.

Rebecca shifted beside her, her hand resting on the small detonator tucked into her belt. The explosives they had planted in the storage facility had only been the beginning. They had one last charge—one last desperate gamble to turn the tide.

Serena exchanged a quick glance with Rebecca, and in that silent moment, they both knew what needed to be done. It was their only chance.

"You want the artifacts?" Serena said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Come and get them."

Kieran's smirk faltered slightly as Serena dropped one of the bags to the ground with a deliberate thud. He didn't trust her. Good.

Kieran's hand twitched, signaling the guards to advance. As they stepped forward, Serena's pulse quickened. This was it—the moment they had been building toward. Her grip tightened around the remaining bag, her fingers brushing against the wrapped *Sangreal* inside. It pulsed faintly, its energy almost tangible, as if it could sense the impending conflict.

Just as the guards closed in, Serena shouted, "Now!"

Rebecca didn't hesitate. She hit the detonator.

A deafening explosion ripped through the compound, the shockwave sending everyone staggering as the walls trembled. The floor shook beneath them, and the lights flickered as the blast echoed through the corridors. Smoke billowed from the direction of the storage facility, and the sound of collapsing debris filled the air.

Chaos erupted. Kieran's guards scrambled, their formation broken as they struggled to regain control. Serena seized the moment, pulling out her silenced pistol and firing at the nearest guard. The man crumpled to the floor, and before the others could react, Rebecca fired off two more shots, taking down another pair of guards.

"Move!" Serena yelled, shoving Alex forward as they darted for the exit.

Kieran's furious shout rang out behind them, but Serena didn't look back. She could hear the sound of more guards approaching, their boots pounding against the floor as they rushed to contain the chaos.

They sprinted down the hallway, the smoke from the explosion thickening the air. Alexander stumbled, his strength faltering, but Serena and Rebecca grabbed him by the arms, half-carrying him as they pushed through the corridors.

"This way!" Rebecca called, pointing toward the side exit they had used to enter the compound. The doorway was just ahead, but Serena's gut told her the Covenant wouldn't make it that easy for them.

Just as they reached the exit, the door burst open, and three more guards stepped through, their weapons raised. Serena skidded to a halt, her mind racing as she calculated their odds. They were cornered again, with no way out but through.

Rebecca's eyes darted to Serena, waiting for the next move.

Serena didn't hesitate. She pulled the *Sangreal* from the bag, holding it up for the guards to see. "You want this?" she said, her voice hard. "Take one more step, and I'll activate it. I'll blow us all to hell before I let the Covenant have it."

The guards froze, their eyes widening in fear as they recognized the artifact. Even they knew the power the *Sangreal* held—and the danger it posed.

For a tense moment, no one moved. Serena's heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her gaze locked on the guards, daring them to call her bluff.

Behind them, Kieran's voice cut through the smoke and confusion. "Don't be fools!" he barked at the guards. "She won't use it—she'll die along with the rest of us!"

But Serena saw the hesitation in the guards' eyes, the flicker of uncertainty that passed between them. Kieran might have believed Serena wouldn't use the *Sangreal*, but the guards weren't so sure. They had seen what artifacts like this could do, and none of them wanted to be the one to find out.

Serena took a slow step forward, her grip on the *Sangreal* tightening. "Test me, and you'll find out just how far I'm willing to go."

The guards wavered, their weapons lowering slightly as they exchanged uncertain glances. The tension in the air was palpable, a thin thread stretched taut between them, ready to snap at any moment.

Kieran snarled in frustration. "Stand down!" he shouted, his voice filled with barely restrained fury.

The guards hesitated for a moment longer, then slowly stepped aside, clearing the path to the exit.

Serena's heart pounded as she met Kieran's furious gaze. "You made a mistake, Kieran," she said coldly. "You underestimated us."

With that, Serena, Rebecca, and Alexander pushed through the doorway, bursting into the open air. The sun had begun to set, casting long shadows over the compound as they ran for the treeline. Behind them, alarms blared, and the sound of shouting echoed through the compound.

But they didn't stop. They couldn't.

"We need to get to the car," Serena panted as they reached the edge of the forest, the cool air stinging her lungs. "We have to get as far from here as possible before they regroup."

Rebecca nodded, her face pale but determined. "They'll send everything after us."

"We'll be ready," Serena said, her voice hard.

As they neared the car, Serena's mind raced with what came next. They had gotten Alex out, but the war wasn't over. The Covenant would come for them. Adrian was still out there, and those mysterious "other forces" he had warned them about loomed like a shadow on the horizon.

They had survived the impossible, but the battle had only just begun.

Serena glanced back at the compound, now far in the distance, the smoke from the explosion still curling into the darkening sky.

This was just the beginning.