Chapter 218: Hostage Situation

Chapter 218: Hostage Situation



The wind howled through the narrow crevices of the Akarios Mines, sending a chill down the spines of the soldiers patrolling the dimly lit tunnels. The mines had been abandoned for months after Vincent and his forces had successfully dismantled a series of demonic gates hidden deep within. The remnants of the last gate, twisted shards of dark metal and glowing runes, had been left behind as a grim reminder of the demons' failed incursion.

Corporal Jensen adjusted his grip on his rifle, his eyes flicking nervously toward the faint red glow that seemed to pulse from deeper within the tunnel. The mines had been quiet for months-no sign of demonic activity since Vincent's forces had cleansed the area. Yet tonight, something felt wrong. Very wrong.

"Corporal, did you see that?" Private Reynolds whispered, his voice barely audible over the wind's mournful wail. He pointed toward the end of the tunnel where the remnants of the gate were stored under heavy guard.

Jensen squinted, his breath catching in his throat as he saw what Reynolds was pointing at. The shards of the gate, once lifeless and cold, were now pulsing with a sickly red light. The twisted metal fragments began to shift, twitching as if trying to reassemble themselves. A low hum filled the air, growing louder with each passing second.

"This can't be happening," Jensen muttered, his pulse quickening. "The gate was destroyed. We made sure of it."

Reynolds swallowed hard. "What do we do, sir?"

"Sound the alarm. Get Command on the line. Vincent needs to know about this immediately," Jensen ordered, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his gut.

The mine's alarm blared to life, echoing through the underground passages. Soldiers scrambled to their posts, confusion and panic spreading like wildfire as the once-dormant gate began to reassemble itself before their eyes. Sparks of dark energy arced between the fragments, pulling them together with a force that defied explanation.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

In the Akarios Village, Vincent was seated in his command office, finalizing the plans for the deployment of the new naval assets he had discussed with Brandt. The sudden blaring of the emergency comms system interrupted his thoughts, the red indicator light flashing urgently. "This is Commander Vincent Stryder. What's the situation?" he demanded, his voice steady.

"Commander, this is Corporal Jensen at the Akarios Mines," came the breathless reply. "Sir, we have a major situation here. The demonic gate we dismantled months ago... it's... it's reassembling itself."

Vincent's eyes narrowed, a cold dread settling in his gut. "That gate was destroyed. Are you certain?"

"Yes, sir. I'm looking right at it. The pieces are coming together on their own. It's... it's like it's repairing itself."

Vincent shot up from his chair. "Keep your men clear of the gate. I'm on my way. Do not engage until I get there. Understood?"

"Understood, Commander."

"Oh, I don't intend to intimidate, Commander," the Demon Lord replied, his voice a low growl. "I intend to destroy. I've grown tired of your interference. If you wish to see this pitiful woman alive, you will meet me... alone, at the Broken Cliffs in three days. Come, and perhaps you'll have the honor of dying by my hand."

With a final, mocking laugh, the image flickered and vanished, leaving only the crackling energy of the gate behind.

Vincent stood there, his mind racing. Brandt stepped forward, his expression grim. "It's a trap," he said quietly. "He wants to draw you out."

"I know," Vincent replied, his voice barely a whisper. "But we don't have a choice. If there's a chance to save her and put an end to this... we have to take it."

Turning to his men, Vincent's voice rang with the steel of command. "Prepare for deployment. We have three days to plan, and I want every possible contingency covered. This

ends now."

As his orders were relayed, Vincent couldn't shake the image of Elinalese's terrified eyes. He knew it was a trap, but he also knew that he couldn't let the Demon Lord's challenge go unanswered. The fate of their world-and the lives of those he swore to protect-depended

on what came next.

The command center was a flurry of activity as Vincent and his team made their way back from the mines. The echo of Vincent's heavy boots filled the room, a grim reminder that the clock was now ticking. Monitors buzzed with live feeds, maps flickered on large screens, and officers rushed to relay orders to their units. The air was thick with tension, the kind that settled in the moments before a storm.

Vincent strode in, Brandt by his side, their faces set with determination. As they approached the central table, Eamon, who was looking at Vincent concernedly.

"Eamon, where is the Broken Cliff?" Vincent asked.

It was only obvious that he'd asked this to Eamon as he was the denizen of this world, and a scholar on top of that. If there is q question about location aside from the elves and dwarves,

it was Eamon.

"Broken Cliffs? That's a dangerous place sir," Eamon said with a careful tone. "It was located in the southern part of the continent. It is a desolate expanse. It has a jagged coastline surrounded by treacherous waters and sheer rock faces. It's the perfect place for an ambush." Vincent studied the illuminated topography on the screen. The cliffs jutted out into the sea like the jagged teeth of a beast, and the surrounding terrain was marked with dense fog banks and unpredictable weather patterns. It was a place that offered few options for retreat or

support. "Very well, thank you, Eamon."