Chapter 22: Prepare for Extraction

The tension in the arena was a living thing, thick and heavy. Kenny, Alina, and Lucas stood side by side, weapons at the ready, their hearts pounding as Valkyrie’s enforcers closed in. Mason lingered nearby, his usual cocky demeanor replaced with a flicker of uncertainty as he realized he was now a target as well.

The enforcers, clad in their imposing dark armor, moved with a precision that was almost mechanical. The leader of the squad stepped forward, the mirrored visor of their helmet reflecting the chaos of the disrupted arena. “You’ve defied Valkyrie for the last time,” the enforcer declared, their voice cold and devoid of emotion. “Surrender, or be eliminated.”

Kenny swallowed hard, his grip tightening on his bow. Running wasn’t an option, and surrender was unthinkable. They had fought too hard and come too far to back down now. He glanced at Alina and Lucas, drawing strength from their unwavering resolve.

“We don’t surrender,” Alina said, her voice cutting through the tension. Her blades gleamed in the arena’s flickering light, a testament to her determination.

Lucas stepped forward, his gauntlets pulsing with energy. “If they want a fight,” he said, a grin breaking through his exhaustion, “we’ll give them one.”

Kenny took a deep breath, focusing on the enforcers’ formation. They were heavily armored and highly coordinated, but if he and his team could disrupt their unity, they might stand a chance. We just have to hold out long enough for Kael to finish the upload, he reminded himself.

“Get ready,” he whispered. “We fight as one.”

The enforcers attacked with brutal efficiency, their weapons slicing through the air with deadly precision. Kenny fired arrows in rapid succession, each one aimed at the weak points in their armor, but the enforcers adapted quickly, deflecting his attacks. Alina engaged two of them at once, her movements a blur of speed and precision. She ducked and weaved, her blades clashing against the enforcers’ energy weapons, each strike echoing through the arena.

Lucas took on the brunt of the assault, using his gauntlets to create shockwaves that forced the enforcers to stagger. He gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face as he blocked and countered with every ounce of strength he had left. “Come on!” he yelled, his voice a mix of determination and desperation. “Is that all you’ve got?”

But the enforcers were relentless, their combat training evident in every coordinated strike. One of them lunged at Kenny, a blade humming with energy aimed for his chest. Kenny twisted, narrowly avoiding the blow, and retaliated with an arrow that shattered the enforcer’s visor. The enforcer stumbled, but another quickly took their place, pressing the attack.

“They’re not slowing down!” Kenny called, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Alina parried an enforcer’s strike, her face set in a grim mask of focus. “We need a new plan!”

Just then, Mason stepped forward, his eyes darting between the enforcers and Kenny’s team. For a moment, it looked as if he might run, but instead, he raised his spear, a defiant glint in his eyes. “You think you can beat all of us?” he shouted, a wild energy in his voice. “Think again!”

With a sudden burst of movement, Mason attacked the nearest enforcer, his spear crackling with electricity. The surprise move disrupted the enforcers’ formation, and Kenny’s eyes widened in shock. Mason was… helping them?

Mason met Kenny’s gaze, his grin both reckless and genuine. “Don’t look so surprised, Valera. Even I’m not dumb enough to side with Valkyrie!”

Kenny didn’t have time to process the shift. The chaos of the battle intensified, and he knew they had to capitalize on the confusion. “Lucas, create a barrier!” he yelled.

Lucas slammed his gauntlets into the ground, sending a wave of energy that forced the enforcers back. The ground trembled, and debris scattered, buying them a few precious moments. Kenny turned to Alina, his mind racing. “We need to split them up and isolate their leader.”

Alina nodded, her eyes blazing with determination. “On it.”

The three of them moved as one, coordinating their attacks with a precision born from countless battles. Alina led two enforcers away, using her speed to bait them into a trap. Lucas faced off against another, using his raw power to keep the enforcer occupied. Kenny focused on the leader, nocking an arrow and aiming for the joints in their armor.

The enforcer leader stepped forward, their weapon raised. “You’re only delaying the inevitable,” they said, their voice ice-cold.

Kenny fired, his arrow striking true and causing the leader to falter. He could see the strain in their movements, the cracks forming in their perfect coordination. “We’ll see about that,” he muttered, his jaw set.

Just as the battle reached a fever pitch, a message flashed across Kenny’s visor:

Data upload complete. Prepare for extraction.

Kael’s voice came through their comms, filled with urgency. “We did it, but Valkyrie’s onto us. We need to get out of here—now!”

Kenny’s heart surged with relief, but the fight wasn’t over yet. The enforcers regrouped, their leader recovering from the earlier attack. They advanced, and Kenny realized they were running out of time.

“Mason!” Kenny shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Cover our escape!”

Mason’s eyes widened in surprise, but he didn’t hesitate. He charged at the enforcers, his spear spinning in a whirlwind of energy. “Don’t get used to me saving your asses!” he called over his shoulder, a wild grin on his face.

Kenny, Alina, and Lucas seized the opportunity, retreating toward the arena’s exit. The enforcers pursued, but Mason’s interference bought them just enough time to slip away.

They regrouped in a darkened corridor beneath the arena, hearts pounding and breaths coming in short gasps. Kael and the Midnight Alliance were waiting, their faces flushed with victory and exhaustion.

“We did it,” Kael said, a smile breaking through his tension. “The data’s out there. Valkyrie’s corruption is about to be exposed to the entire world.”

Alina leaned against the wall, her body trembling from the exertion. “We’re not safe yet,” she warned. “They’ll come for us, and they won’t stop until they’ve silenced us.”