Chapter 10

The tunnel was eerily silent after the battle. The thick stench of blood and burnt flesh lingered in the damp air, mixing with the natural rot of the underground. Bodies of villains lay in twisted heaps, lifeless eyes staring into the abyss. Some had been crushed under the weight of fallen stone, others reduced to charred husks by Ryn's flames.

Elena wiped a streak of grime off her forehead, her breath steady despite the chaos that had just unfolded. She wasn't about to let the carnage shake her—not now. They had won this battle, but the real fight was still ahead.

She turned to Kellan and Lira, the former traitors now kneeling before them, their expressions a mix of exhaustion, pain, and grim acceptance. Their defiance was gone, burned away by the raw power they had witnessed from Ryn and Mira.

"Well?" Elena demanded, her tone sharp, eyes burning with expectation. "What do you know?"

Kellan let out a slow exhale, shifting his bruised arms. "Catapony already knows about you," he admitted. "When Lira and I first defected, we snitched to prove our loyalty. He knew you were alive, knew you had allies. That's why he sent us with those two dozen goons."

Lira groaned, rubbing her temple. "We figured you wouldn't last," she muttered. "Didn't expect you to kill all of them." She shot a glare at Mira, who sat perched on a piece of rubble, silent, watching them with an unreadable expression.

Elena's fingers twitched in irritation. So they had been compromised before they had even started.

"Where is he?" she asked, her voice firm.

"Not at the factory," Kellan answered immediately. "That was a lie—one we were supposed to feed you to lure you into an ambush."

"Of course," Ryn muttered, rolling his eyes. "Predictable."

"He built a new place," Kellan continued. "Not just any hideout, but a damn fortress. Reinforced walls, heavy security, and a bunch of 'surprises.'"

Elena narrowed her eyes. "What kind of surprises?"

Kellan hesitated for half a second before answering. "…Ponies."

Silence stretched between them.

Soren lifted an eyebrow. "I'm sorry—ponies?"

Kellan gave a tired nod. "Exploding ponies."

Lira groaned. "They look real—furry, innocent, kinda cute, even. Until they get close and—boom."

Elena exhaled through her nose. "What the hell kind of gimmick is that?"

Kellan shook his head. "You think I understand? The guy's a lunatic. He loves the theatrics. Calls himself Catapony."

Mira, who had been quiet until now, let out a single dry laugh.

Ryn raised an eyebrow at her. "What?"

Mira just smirked. "Nothing. I just find it hilarious that a guy who fights with exploding ponies somehow managed to build a fortress."

Kellan grunted. "Don't underestimate him. Catapony might be weird, but he's dangerous. He's got money, tech, and an entire squadron of villains under his command. We were only a small fraction of his forces."

That sent a ripple of unease through the group.

Elena crossed her arms. "Then we have no time to waste," she decided. "We attack the fortress immediately."

Soren frowned. "Immediately?"

"We just wiped out two dozen of his men," Ryn pointed out. "If they don't report back soon, Catapony will get suspicious. We need to strike before he locks down."

Elena nodded. "We'll go in openly."

That made Lira laugh. "Openly? You mean a suicide run?"

"No," Elena countered, her voice sharp. "You and Kellan will take us in as prisoners. Make it look like you succeeded in capturing us. That way, we walk right into the building without raising alarms."

The room fell into silence as the group absorbed the idea.

Then Kellan grinned. "You know what? That might actually work."

Lira nodded slowly. "Yeah… yeah, we could sell that. Especially with how beat up we look. Catapony wouldn't doubt us for a second."

"Exactly," Elena said. "Once inside, you'll lock the entrance behind us, pretending to 'secure the building.' Mira and Soren will block off any other exits. No one in or out."

Soren nodded. "I'll handle the front gates. No one gets through me."

Mira leaned back against the tunnel wall, twirling a strand of dark hair between her fingers. "And I'll take care of the windows and glass doors. My shadows can cover them all, soundproofing the building while we work."

Elena's confidence grew. "With the ground floor sealed, we'll clear out anyone stationed there—silently. Then we move to the basement, free the captured heroes, and add them to our ranks."

Dax, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "I'll scan the prisoners' minds as we release them. If any of them plan on betraying us, I'll know before they even get the chance."

A sharp nod from Elena. "Good. Once we have enough numbers, we take each floor one by one, moving up toward the top where Catapony is hiding. We make sure no one can alert him before we're ready."

Another silence settled over them, this time filled with something different. Not doubt, but calculation.

"This… might actually work," Soren admitted, her blade twirling between her fingers.

Dax gave a short nod. "Risky. But solid."

Lira glanced at Kellan. "Looks like we're back to being heroes."

Kellan snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Don't rub it in."

Ryn, who had been leaning against a broken pillar, gave Elena a long look before smirking. "You've grown, Elena," he said.

She blinked. "What?"

"The old you wouldn't have thought of a plan like this," he said casually. "You used to charge headfirst into fights, punching first and thinking later. Now? You're planning ahead, strategizing." He grinned. "Guess you're not just a brute anymore."

Elena felt an unexpected warmth rise in her cheeks. She opened her mouth to respond, but then—

A sharp glare.

Mira.

Her dark, piercing gaze was locked onto Elena with an intensity that made her spine stiffen.

There was no mistaking the silent message in those eyes. That's my Ryn.

Elena quickly looked away, suddenly feeling like she had stepped on unstable ground.

Ryn, blissfully unaware of the silent exchange, stretched. "Alright. No time to waste."

Everyone agreed. There was no rest to be had—not yet.

One by one, they stepped out of the tunnel, leaving behind the massacre of bodies in their wake. The stench of blood was thick, and more than one of them had to breathe through their mouths to avoid gagging.

Lira muttered, "Still not used to this…"

Kellan led the way, his broad shoulders hunched, his footsteps heavy as he guided them toward the villain's fortress.

And at the back of the group, Mira silently shrank into her four-foot form, her black gown swirling around her tiny frame. Without a word, she clung onto Ryn's back, her arms wrapping around his shoulders as he carried her effortlessly.

Ryn didn't react, didn't question it. It was natural—habit.

And with that, the group marched forward, toward the lair of Catapony.

To war.