Chapter 70: Taking the Stronghold
The night was heavy with tension as Raizen and his forces stood outside one of House Valen's main strongholds. The towering fortress was well-fortified, its steel walls lined with automated turrets and patrolling guards. Unlike their previous skirmishes, this was a direct assault against one of Valen's primary bases of operation. Success meant a significant foothold in the city's underworld, but failure would bring immediate consequences.
The system pulsed.
[New Mission: Seize Valen's Stronghold]
[Objective: Breach the defenses, eliminate key targets, and secure control]
[Bonus: Capture intel on Valen's operations]
Raizen turned to his assembled fighters. Liana was busy on her tablet, scrambling the stronghold's security systems while Kain double-checked his gear. Joran stood with his men, a grin on his face as he cracked his knuckles.
"This isn't going to be a simple raid," Liana muttered. "They have at least fifty men stationed here, with more reinforcements inbound if we take too long."
Raizen smirked. "Then we don't take too long."
Kain exhaled. "What's the plan?"
Raizen studied the map projected on Liana's tablet. "We hit them from two sides. Joran, you take your men and draw their attention at the main gate. Liana, you'll disable their comms and override security to open an entry point. Kain, you and I will slip in through the side and target their command center."
Joran grinned. "I like this plan."
Liana tapped a few keys, then nodded. "I can get you ten minutes inside before their systems reboot."
Raizen cracked his neck. "That's all we'll need."
The attack began with a deafening explosion. Joran's squad unleashed hell at the front entrance, drawing the guards away from their posts. As alarms blared through the fortress, Raizen and Kain slipped through the breach Liana had created, moving like shadows between the panicked guards.
Raizen's Draconic Step allowed him to move undetected, closing in on targets before they even knew he was there. He struck fast and efficiently, disabling enforcers with precise blows, while Kain covered his flank with silent knife work.
The system pulsed.
[Objective Progress: 60% - Command Center Nearing]
They reached the core of the fortress, where a heavily reinforced door stood between them and the control room. Kain exhaled. "This'll take time to crack."
Raizen didn't have time. His golden eyes flashed as he stepped forward, coiling his strength. With a single devastating punch, he tore the steel doors apart, sending the guards inside scrambling in fear.
Valen's officers barely had time to react before Raizen was upon them. His attacks were relentless, his Draconic blood pulsing with raw energy. Within moments, the room was secured, and the fortress was under his control.
The system pulsed.
[Mission Complete: Valen Stronghold Seized]
[Reward: City Influence Increased]
[New Quest: Prepare for Valen's Retaliation]
Raizen exhaled, standing in the command center as the weight of victory settled over him. He had taken a piece of House Valen's empire. Now, he needed to hold it.