part 84 S2: setup

Tittle : Bloodlines of Betrayal S2 - Celestia's Ascension

Written By : Reviline James Wang

thrilling saga of Bloodlines of Betrayal: Celestia's Ascension:

The tension in the air was thick, an invisible force pressing down on both sides of the impending war. Celestia stood before her team, her piercing gaze scanning the room. Lyra, Draven, and the rest of her loyal fighters were ready, waiting for the next command.

"We're not waiting for Lucian to make his move," Celestia declared. "We strike first. We control the battlefield."

Lyra, perched lazily on the armrest of a couch, twirled a knife between her fingers. "You have a plan, don't you?"

Celestia smirked. "Of course I do." She pointed to the digital map projected onto the large screen. "Lucian will expect us to guard the ring like it's our most prized possession. But instead of holding it in a secure vault, we're going to use it as bait."

Draven's brows furrowed. "Bait?"

Celestia nodded. "We leak information that the ring will be transported to a 'safe' location. Lucian will take the bait-he's too prideful not to. And when he does…" She paused, her smirk widening. "We'll be waiting for him."

Lyra let out a low whistle. "Damn, that's ruthless. I love it."

Draven, always the cautious one, rubbed his temples. "This plan has a lot of risk, Celestia. If we're wrong, and he sees through it"

She cut him off. "Then we adjust. But trust me, Draven, Lucian won't pass up a chance to retrieve the ring. His pride won't allow it."

Draven sighed, knowing there was no changing her mind once she had set a course. "Fine. But we need an escape plan in case things go sideways."

Celestia gestured toward Lyra. "That's where our dear friend Lyra comes in."

Lyra grinned, pulling out a detonator. "Let's just say I've set up a few surprises along the route."

Draven groaned. "You and explosives. Why am I not surprised?"

"Because I'm consistent."

Celestia chuckled, shaking her head. "Alright, team. Get ready. By tonight, Lucian will realize he's not the only one who knows how to play the game."

Lucian's Stronghold

Lucian sat in his office, seething. Dante stood across from him, arms crossed, his face unreadable.

"They leaked information," Dante said, voice calm but calculating. "They're moving the ring."

Lucian's jaw clenched. "They're idiots if they think they can just parade it around."

Dante raised a brow. "Or maybe they know exactly what they're doing."

Lucian slammed his fist on the desk. "I don't care. That ring belongs to me. I want every man we have on that transport. We take it back, and we leave them with nothing."

Dante studied Lucian carefully. "You're letting anger cloud your judgment."

Lucian shot him a glare. "And you're questioning my authority."

Dante sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. Have it your way. But don't be surprised if this is exactly what they want."

Lucian smirked. "Then let's give them a fight they won't forget."

The Setup

Midnight. The transport truck rumbled through the dark streets, escorted by two armored SUVs. Celestia, dressed in sleek black tactical gear, sat inside one of the SUVs, watching the road ahead.

"They're coming," Lyra's voice crackled through the earpiece. She was stationed on a rooftop nearby, sniper rifle in hand.

Celestia tightened her grip on her gun. "Showtime."

A split second later, the roaring of engines filled the night. Lucian's men appeared from the shadows, black cars speeding toward them like wolves chasing prey. Gunfire erupted as the convoy came under attack.

Draven, behind the wheel of the lead SUV, cursed. "They don't waste time."

Celestia smirked. "Good. Neither do we."

She grabbed a detonator from her vest and pressed the button. A controlled explosion erupted behind them, blocking the street and cutting off Lucian's reinforcements.

Lyra's voice rang in her ear. "You're welcome."

Celestia chuckled. "Move in."

From the surrounding buildings, her own fighters emerged, catching Lucian's men in an ambush. The fight was chaotic-bullets flying, bodies moving in a deadly dance.

Lucian's car screeched to a halt a few meters away. He stepped out, fury written all over his face.

"CELÈSTIA!" he bellowed.

She stepped forward, holding the ornate ring between her fingers. "Looking for this?" she teased.

Lucian's eyes darkened. "You think you're clever?"

Celestia smirked. "I don't think. I know."

Lucian lunged forward, but before he could reach her, Lyra's sniper bullet whizzed past his ear, forcing him to stop in his tracks.

Celestia took a step closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "Checkmate."

Lucian's nostrils flared, but before he could react, smoke bombs exploded around them, creating a thick fog.

By the time it cleared, Celestia and her team were gone-along with the ring.

Lucian's fists clenched. He had underestimated her.

And now, he was going to make her pay.

Celestia leaned against the rooftop railing, the cool night breeze ruffling her hair as she held the ring between her fingers. The city below was still alive with the chaos they had left behind. She could almost hear Lucian's furious roar echoing in her mind.

"He's pissed," Lyra commented, casually biting into an apple as she perched on the ledge beside Celestia.

Celestia smirked. "Good. That means he's losing control."

Draven approached, his expression less amused. "We pulled off the job, but it won't end here. Lucian doesn't take humiliation well."

Celestia turned the ring over in her palm. It was heavy, ancient, radiating power. The artifact wasn't just a symbol-it was the key to something much bigger.

"We're one step ahead," she said. "And we'll keep it that way."

Draven exhaled, rubbing his temple. "You say that like he's not going to try and burn the city down looking for us."

Lyra grinned. "Let him try. I've always wanted to see a vampire king throw a tantrum."

Celestia chuckled, but her mind was already working through the next move. Lucian wouldn't back down, which meant she had to be ready for whatever he threw at them next.

Lucian's Stronghold

Lucian sat in silence, his fingers drumming against the armrest of his chair. Dante stood beside him, arms crossed, watching as their men reported back in shame.

"They vanished into thin air," one of the mercenaries stammered. "It was like they knew every step we were going to take."

Lucian's eyes glowed with barely restrained fury. "Of course they did. Celestia isn't stupid."

Dante exhaled. "We need a new approach. Hitting them head-on isn't working."

Lucian stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the marble floor. "I don't need a new approach." He turned to one of his men. "Find out who she trusts. Everyone has a weakness. I want hers on a silver platter."

The soldier nodded and hurried off, leaving Lucian staring out at the city skyline.

"You can't win a war with brute force alone," Dante muttered.

Lucian smirked. "You can if you strike the right nerve."

Celestia's Safehouse

It was almost dawn when the team finally allowed themselves a moment to breathe. Lyra was sprawled across the couch, flipping through her phone. Draven stood by the window, lost in thought.

Celestia sat at the dining table, staring at the ring.

"You haven't taken your eyes off that thing," Lyra pointed out.

"It's important," Celestia replied. "More than we realized."

Draven turned. "How so?"

Celestia hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "This ring isn't just an artifact. It's a key to something hidden. Something Lucian desperately wants."

Lyra whistled. "Great. And here I thought we were just playing keep-away with a shiny trinket."

Celestia tapped her fingers on the table. "If we figure out what it unlocks before he does, we win."

Draven's brows furrowed. "And if we don't?"

Celestia looked up, determination in her eyes. "Then we make sure he never gets the chance."

Unknown Location

A shadow moved through the dimly lit room, watching the security feeds. Lucian's men were already out hunting for information, and soon enough, they'd find something useful.

A voice crackled through a speaker.

"She's getting closer."

The figure smirked, adjusting the audio. "Then we make sure she never reaches the end of the game."

The screen flickered, showing an image of Celestia.

"Time to raise the stakes."

The tension in the safehouse was almost tangible. Celestia paced back and forth, her mind racing with possibilities. The ring wasn't just a relic-it was a key to something hidden, something Lucian would burn the world to obtain. And that meant they had to move fast.

Lyra groaned, rolling onto her stomach on the couch. "Cel, I love you, but if you don't stop pacing, I'm going to throw myself out the window."

Celestia shot her a look. "Then I'll have one less distraction."

Draven chuckled from where he leaned against the doorframe. "She's got a point, Lyra. We need to focus."

Lyra sat up dramatically, flinging her arm over her forehead. "Fine, fine. What's the next move, oh fearless leader?"

Celestia placed the ring on the table and pointed at the symbols carved into it. "This isn't just decoration. It's a map. A puzzle. And I think I know where it leads."

Draven's eyes narrowed. "Where?"

Celestia took a deep breath. "An old temple. Hidden beneath the city."

Lyra blinked. "Oh, cool. A temple. Under the city. You mean to tell me we've been walking over ancient secrets this whole time?"

Draven smirked. "You say that like it surprises you."

Celestia grabbed her coat. "We don't have time to waste. If we can find whatever this ring unlocks before Lucian, we might actually have a shot at stopping him."

Lyra hopped up, grabbing her weapons. "Finally, some action! I was starting to think we were going to sit around and talk our enemies to death."

Draven rolled his eyes but followed as Celestia led the way out the door.

Meanwhile, at Lucian's stronghold…

Lucian stood in front of a massive, ancient map, his fingers tracing over familiar markings. He had studied these symbols for years, and now, Celestia had what he needed to unlock them.

Dante entered the room, his usual smirk in place. "Our spies confirmed it. Celestia's on the move."

Lucian's jaw clenched. "Where?"

Dante tapped the map. "She's heading underground."

Lucian's eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "Then we follow."

Dante raised a brow. "You sure about that? She's always one step ahead."

Lucian smirked. "Not this time."

Beneath the City

Celestia crouched, running her fingers over the stone entrance hidden beneath the abandoned subway station. The symbols on the ring matched perfectly.

"This is it," she whispered.

Lyra peered over her shoulder. "Great. Now how do we open it?"

Draven stepped forward, examining the carvings. "The ring. Try placing it in the center."

Celestia took a deep breath and pressed the ring into the circular indentation.

The ground trembled. Dust rained from the ceiling as ancient gears groaned and shifted. Slowly, the stone doors slid open, revealing a dark staircase descending into the unknown.

Lyra grinned. "Well, that's not ominous at all."

Celestia smirked, stepping forward. "Let's find out what Lucian's so desperate to keep hidden."

The three of them disappeared into the darkness, unaware that they were being watched.

From the shadows, Lucian's spies smirked before vanishing to report back to their master.

Lucian's Stronghold

The messenger knelt before Lucian, relaying the news.

"She's found the entrance."

Lucian smiled. "Then it's time to greet her properly."

Dante folded his arms. "You really think she's ready for what's down there?"

Lucian's gaze darkened. "She won't be."

The underground temple smelled of damp stone and something ancient-something that had been waiting for centuries to be disturbed. Celestia led the way, her torch casting flickering shadows against the cavern walls. The deeper they went, the more intricate the carvings became, depicting scenes of battles between vampires and beings wreathed in golden light.

Lyra trailed behind, tracing one of the figures with her fingers. "Okay, is it just me, or do these guys look suspiciously like celestial warriors?"

Draven examined another carving. "Not just warriors. Guardians." He pointed at an engraving of a large stone door with the same ring symbol. "And that… that's what we're looking for."

Celestia stepped closer, studying the details. "It's a seal. Something's locked behind this."

Lyra snorted. "Yeah, let's hope it's not something that wants to eat us."

Before Celestia could respond, the ground rumbled. A gust of wind, unnatural in the underground chamber, whipped through the corridor, snuffing out the torches.

Draven's eyes glowed faintly in the darkness. "We're not alone."

Lyra groaned. "Great. Of course we aren't. Because why would an ancient death trap be easy?"

Suddenly, shadows pooled in the center of the chamber, twisting into a humanoid form. A pair of glowing red eyes flickered to life. The entity's voice was like a whisper carried on the wind.

"You bear the key… but are you worthy?"

Celestia tightened her grip on the ring. "Who are you?"

The figure ignored her question. Instead, it extended a clawed hand, and before any of them could react, the chamber warped. The walls blurred, twisting into a vortex of shifting light.

Celestia gasped as she suddenly found herself standing in a completely different place. Gone was the temple-now, she was in the ruins of an ancient city, bathed in moonlight.

"Great," Lyra's voice echoed beside her. "Did we just get isekai'd?"

Draven appeared next to them, scanning the area. "No. This is an illusion."

Celestia's heart pounded. This wasn't just any city. This was Celestia Prime, the lost city of her ancestors.

"Why are we seeing this?" she murmured.

The shadowy entity materialized again, standing atop a ruined pillar. "Because history demands a reckoning. The sins of the past are not so easily forgotten."

Celestia stepped forward. "You mean Lucian, don't you?"

The entity's gaze burned into hers. "He seeks to finish what was started. But only the true heir can unlock the final seal."

Lyra crossed her arms. "Okay, let's cut the cryptic nonsense. What happens if she does unlock it?"

The entity tilted its head. "Power. Knowledge. And the ability to rewrite fate itself."

Celestia felt a chill run down her spine.

Draven's voice was low. "That's what Lucian is after."

The shadow flickered. "You are running out of time."

Before Celestia could ask anything more, the illusion shattered like glass, and they were back in the temple chamber.

Lyra let out a sharp breath. "Okay, that was officially the weirdest thing I've ever experienced."

Draven frowned. "We need to move. Lucian won't wait for us to figure this out."

Celestia clenched her fist around the ring.

No more waiting. No more hesitating.

If Lucian wanted a war for the past, then she would end it in the present.

Meanwhile…

Lucian stood at the entrance of the underground temple, a wicked smirk on his lips.

"She found it," Dante muttered beside him.

Lucian's eyes gleamed. "Yes. And now… we take it."

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