Chapter Thirty-Three: The Siege of Manchester

The Guardians of Avalon gathered in the shadow of their ruined hideout, their powers shimmering faintly in the dim light of the city. Firebrand stood at the centre, flames flickering at his shoulders as he outlined their strategy.

"We hit them hard," he said, his voice carrying over the group. "They'll expect us to skirmish, but we'll go straight for their command centre. Take out their leaders, and the rest will crumble."

Stormseer frowned, her arms crossed. "Going straight at them? Isn't that exactly what they'd expect?"

"It's what they expect from a desperate enemy," Firebrand replied. "Not from one who's ready to win."

Yuri, standing with his arms folded, spoke up. "And if we're wrong? If they're waiting for us?"

"Then we burn them anyway," Firebrand snapped.

The group exchanged uneasy glances. Lumina stepped forward, her glow faint but steady. "We don't have to destroy them, Callum. They're people, just like us. We can show them there's another way."

"There is no other way," Firebrand said, his eyes blazing. "This is war. They made their choice the moment they decided to rule."

The Guardians moved under the cover of darkness, their powers blending with the city's shadows. The Vanguard's base was a fortified skyscraper on the edge of the city, its lower floors reinforced with steel and concrete.

Firebrand led the charge, his flames tearing through the first layer of defences like paper. Stormseer followed, her lightning bolts disabling cameras and automated turrets. Shadowbane slipped through the cracks, dispatching guards silently in the chaos.

But as they pushed deeper into the base, cracks in their unity began to show.

In the heat of battle, Yuri froze as they encountered a group of Vanguard operatives—unpowered civilians tasked with maintaining the base. They raised their hands in surrender, fear etched on their faces.

"We can't hurt them," Yuri said, his voice firm.

"They work for Vanguard," Firebrand shot back. "They chose their side."

"They're unarmed," Yuri countered, stepping between Firebrand and the operatives. "They're not the enemy."

Firebrand's flames surged, casting an ominous glow on his face. "Step aside, Glacier. Or I'll go through you."

The tension was palpable, the other Guardians pausing mid-fight to watch the standoff. Lumina stepped forward, her light brightening as she placed a hand on Firebrand's arm.

"Callum, stop," she said softly. "This isn't who we are."

For a moment, Firebrand hesitated, his flames flickering uncertainly. Then he turned away with a snarl. "Fine. But don't get in my way again."

The Guardians pressed on, but their hesitation had cost them. The Vanguard was waiting.

Swift Angel descended from the upper levels with the force of a hurricane, his wings slicing through the air. Dark Ant and Shadowleaf flanked him, while World-Shaman manipulated reality itself to block the Guardians' advance.

"Firebrand!" Angel bellowed, his voice amplified by the power in his lungs. "This ends now!"

Firebrand answered with a surge of fire, the flames roaring toward Angel. The golden-winged leader countered, his wings absorbing the flames and redirecting them into a controlled burst that forced the Guardians back.

As the battle raged, the divide within The Guardians became more pronounced.

Yuri fought defensively, shielding the team with walls of ice but refusing to strike lethal blows. Lumina moved among them, healing injuries and pleading for restraint.

Meanwhile, Stormseer and Shadowbane followed Firebrand's lead, their attacks relentless and uncompromising.

"You're going too far, Callum!" Lumina shouted over the chaos.

"We're doing what's necessary!" Firebrand shot back, flames consuming everything in his path.

The Guardians managed to break through The Vanguard's defences, forcing them to retreat deeper into the base. But the cost was clear—civilians injured, property destroyed, and a city on edge.

As they regrouped in the wreckage of the lower levels, Lumina confronted Firebrand.

"This isn't a victory," she said, her voice trembling with anger. "It's a massacre. We're supposed to be protecting these people, not destroying everything in our path."

"They'll thank us when The Vanguard is gone," Firebrand replied coldly.

"No," Yuri said, stepping forward. "They'll fear us. Just like they fear them."

Firebrand's flames flared, his golden eyes narrowing. "Then maybe they should."

The Guardians left the base battered but alive, their unity hanging by a thread.

As they disappeared into the night, Lumina turned to Yuri, her voice low. "How much longer can we follow him?"

Yuri's expression was grim. "I don't know. But if he keeps this up, he'll destroy us before The Vanguard ever gets the chance."