Chapter 18: The Undercity

The pink-haired man let out a soft sigh and smirked, his demeanor calm yet unsettling, "Let's not do this, alright? You seem like a reasonable young woman," he said.

Ivy ignored him, her humming low and steady as her fingers inched toward the bag of poison-tipped knives at her waist.

"I tried to warn you," the man muttered, his voice laced with warning.

His pink hair and eyes began to glow ominously.

In an instant, he unleashed a fiery explosion of pink flames, sending Ivy flying backward.

Caught off guard, Ivy winced in pain but quickly disappeared from sight, her form vanishing into thin air.

The man scanned his surroundings, his eyes darting from shadow to shadow, "If this drags on, Axel will find us. I'll end this now," he said.

From the darkness, Ivy launched two knives, both embedding themselves in his chest.

Staggered by the sudden attack, the man didn't notice Ivy's silent approach until it was too late.

She slashed at his stomach with her claws, leaving a deep, bloody gash.

"Enough!" he roared, encasing himself in a blazing sphere of flames, "Try dodging this!" He unleashed a massive explosion, the shockwave sending Ivy hurtling backward. She landed hard, her body limp and unmoving.

The pink-haired man approached Ivy, her unconscious form sprawled on the ground, "Hmph, and here I thought you'd be more of a challenge," he sneered.

He slung her over his shoulder, his crimson wings unfurling as he took to the skies.

His destination was a hidden grove north of Neverport, once a haven for druids.

Though lush and vibrant, the area was rife with danger, home to man-eating plants that served as natural defenses.

After a brief flight, the man landed before a wooden door embedded in a cave.

Sliding a ring of intricate gearwork onto his finger, he traced a symbol onto the door.

It creaked open, revealing the Lost Brotherhood's hidden city.

The Undercity was a marvel of stone and gearwork, an underground metropolis nestled within a massive crater.

The streets were lined with old-modern buildings, transport powered by a network of mineshafts, and patrols conducted by gear-powered machines.

The population was a mix of outcasts:

Humans from the Lost Brotherhood—mercenaries, criminals, and refugees.

Gearwork humanoids, an advanced race of beings with metallic bodies who pioneered artificial life.

Widowmakers, humanoid spiders who acted as the city's guardians, their steel webs covering the crater's rim to trap intruders.

As the man walked through the bustling city, a silver-skinned Gearwork woman approached him, "Jay, who's the girl?" she asked.

"Put her in a cell and make sure she's chained," Jay replied, tossing Ivy at the woman's feet, "I need to speak with Pi."

The woman hesitated, her gaze shifting between Jay's bloodied stomach and the unconscious Ivy, "What's going on? Is she one of King Kurtis' spies?"

Jay grimaced, gripping his wound. Without answering, he spread his wings and flew toward a grand stone structure—a façade concealing the Lost Brotherhood's operations.

Inside, mercenaries and outlaws milled about, each focused on their own tasks.

Jay descended to the basement, where Pi, the leader of this faction, was meticulously brewing an enhancer.

Pi was a towering man covered in tattoos on both arms, each marking a life he had taken. He glanced at Jay without looking away from his work, "You've got something to report?"

Jay slumped into a chair, pressing a makeshift bandage to his wound, "I was in Neverport. King Kurtis struck a deal with them. And Axel… He's not just anyone. He killed four angels like it was nothing. When he returned, Kurtis was terrified. Axel's introduced magic to the village, and he's bringing more."

Pi froze, the vial in his hand slipping through his fingers and shattering on the floor, "He's alive," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Jay raised an eyebrow. "I captured one of their villages—a woman. We can use her as leverage. There's no need to panic."

Pi ignored him, moving to a large mirror. He stared at his scarred reflection, his golden metallic cane tapping against the glass.

"I remember the day I joined this damned organization," Pi murmured, "Running, bleeding, lost… And now, the prophet child returns."

Jay frowned, "You believe in that nonsense? A human born with magic? A half-breed savior? Please. Even if someone like that exists, they're just another lucky bastard with power."

Pi turned, his gaze cold, "You've never seen what happens when a child destined to save millions is cast into darkness. We're going to Neverport."

Jay groaned, standing with effort. "If it keeps Kurtis off our backs, fine. But you're delusional."

---

Meanwhile, the Gearwork woman, Silver, paced outside Ivy's cell, "It's never, 'How's your day, Silver?' or 'You look amazing, Silver.' Ugh, Jay's such a jerk," she muttered.

Inside the cell, Ivy lay motionless, her eyes closed.

Silver scoffed, glancing at the tattoos that marked Ivy's skin, "Who thought those were a good idea? You're hideous. Maybe if you dressed better, you wouldn't look so hopeless."

Not realizing to Silver, Ivy was fully conscious, her body tense with anger.

As Silver stepped away, Ivy shifted. Moments later, the sound of chains hitting the floor caught Silver's attention.

She rushed back, only to find an empty cell, "Miss… Are you in there?" she asked, her voice uncertain.

A sharp blade pressed against Silver's side. She turned to find Ivy standing behind her, her expression cold.

Before Silver could react, Ivy struck, leaving her unconscious on the ground.

With calculated precision, Ivy shackled Silver in her place, locking the cell before slipping away into the shadows.