The team huddled around the dim glow of Sora's tablet in the dusty corner of the warehouse. Outside, the rain beat down like a drumroll, setting the mood for the chaos that was to come.
Sora tapped the screen, bringing up a 3D map of the mountain facility. "This is Kurogami's primary base. The main weapon is here, in the central core."
Kenji leaned over the screen, squinting. "Is it just me, or does that layout look like a video game dungeon?"
Ryo grinned. "Perfect. I've been practicing for this my whole life."
Akira sighed. "This isn't a game, Ryo. They'll have elite guards, automated defenses, and who knows what else."
"Relax," Ryo said, stretching dramatically. "I'll just use my secret move."
"What secret move?" Akira asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's called 'improvise,'" Ryo said with a wink.
Kenji snorted. "You mean 'wing it and hope for the best.'"
---
The Plan (Sort Of)
Kael pointed to the map. "There are three main entry points. The front gate is suicide. The ventilation system is a tight fit, but it leads straight to the core. And there's a service tunnel here—lightly guarded but rigged with traps."
Kenji clapped his hands. "Ventilation system it is! I've always wanted to play spy."
"Except you'll get stuck halfway through and we'll have to pry you out," Akira muttered.
Ryo chuckled. "Come on, where's your sense of adventure? It's just a few traps, a handful of guards, and a weapon of mass destruction. Easy peasy."
Kael gave him a deadpan look. "Your optimism is concerning."
"Thank you," Ryo said, taking it as a compliment.
---
Breaking In
The rain had stopped by the time they reached the mountain facility, replaced by a thick, ominous fog. The team crouched behind a cluster of rocks, surveying the base from a distance.
Kenji adjusted his goggles, squinting at the guards patrolling the perimeter. "These guys don't look too bright. I bet I could distract them with a rubber duck and some fireworks."
Ryo grinned. "Do you have those on you?"
Kenji patted his bag. "You'd be surprised."
Akira groaned. "Can we focus, please?"
Kael rolled his eyes. "Let's stick to the plan. Ryo, you and Kenji take the service tunnel. Akira and I will cover the perimeter. Sora, guide us from here."
"Got it," Sora said, already tapping away on their tablet. "Just don't trigger any alarms. I'm not a miracle worker."
---
The Tunnel Trouble
The service tunnel was dark, damp, and smelled faintly of burnt rubber. Kenji wrinkled his nose. "What is that smell? Is this what evil smells like?"
"Focus, Kenji," Ryo said, stepping over a tripwire. "One wrong move and we're toast."
Kenji nodded, carefully following Ryo's lead. "You know, this reminds me of that time we got locked in the school basement. Except this time, there are fewer rats."
"Fewer rats, more explosives," Ryo replied.
As they made their way deeper into the tunnel, a faint clicking noise caught their attention.
Kenji froze. "Uh, is that...?"
"Yep," Ryo said, spotting a small robotic drone crawling toward them. "Trap activated. Time to improvise."
---
Dodge and Destroy
The drone suddenly sped toward them, its tiny lasers firing wildly.
"Why do they always have lasers?" Kenji shouted, diving behind a crate.
"Because lasers are cool," Ryo replied, slicing through the first drone with a single strike.
Another drone appeared, this one launching small rockets. Kenji yelped and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the explosion.
"Ryo!" he yelled. "A little help here!"
Ryo grinned, running up the wall and flipping over the drone. "Relax, I've got this."
With a quick series of slashes, he dismantled the drone in midair, landing gracefully as the pieces clattered to the ground.
Kenji peeked out from behind the crate. "Showoff."
"You're welcome," Ryo said, smirking.
---
The Inner Chamber
The tunnel opened into a massive underground chamber, filled with blinking lights and humming machinery. At the center stood the weapon—a towering device pulsing with energy.
Kenji whistled. "Okay, that's... a lot bigger than I expected."
"Focus," Ryo said, stepping forward cautiously.
Suddenly, the room was flooded with light, and a voice boomed from above.
"Welcome, intruders. Did you really think you could sneak in so easily?"
Ryo shielded his eyes from the light. "No, but it was worth a shot."
The voice laughed. "Prepare to meet your doom."
Kenji groaned. "Why do villains always say that? Can't they be a little more original?"
"Let's focus on not meeting our doom, shall we?" Ryo said, drawing his katana.
---
The Fight of Wits and Blades
A wave of guards stormed into the chamber, armed to the teeth. Ryo and Kenji sprang into action, working in tandem.
Ryo deflected a barrage of bullets with his katana, moving with a grace that seemed almost effortless. "Kenji, left flank!"
"On it!" Kenji shouted, vaulting over a console and taking out two guards with his twin blades. "You know, this would be easier if they took a coffee break!"
Ryo chuckled, dodging a punch and countering with a spinning kick. "You could always ask them nicely."
Kenji grinned. "Good idea. Hey, guys! Could you—" He ducked as a grenade flew past his head. "Never mind!"
The battle raged on, the team's banter keeping their spirits high even as the odds stacked against them.