CHAPTER 118: GUARDIANS OF THE SANCTUM

Marcus and Aldric approached the north corner of the marble building while Tom moved toward the south corner with his characteristic confidence. The guard positioned at their target was an enhancer like Tom, almost as big and clearly enhanced with magical strength that made his muscles bulge unnaturally.

Marcus had his rifle ready and Aldric carried his bombs, but Marcus urged him to avoid using explosives unless absolutely necessary. The sound would alert the entire facility, and they weren't ready for that level of confrontation yet.

The guard stood perfectly still, like a statue carved from living muscle and bone. His eyes swept the surrounding area with mechanical precision, but his gaze seemed focused, unlike slient workers.

"Not mind controlled," Marcus whispered to Aldric. "Unlike the workers, dangerous."

They crept closer, using the constant sound of machinery and steam to mask their approach. The guard was positioned where he could see all approaches to the building's corner, but the thick smoke and ash in the air provided some concealment.

Marcus took aim with his rifle, preparing to take down the guard with minimal noise. But as he was about to fire, the guard's head snapped toward their position with unnatural speed, his enhanced senses detecting something.

Marcus fired quickly, the rifle's sharp crack cutting through the industrial noise. The bullets struck the guard center mass, but instead of dropping, the enhanced warrior staggered and roared with anger. His magical enhancement was protecting him from damage that would kill a normal person.

Aldric rushed forward with his dagger drawn, trying to finish what Marcus had started. But the guard's enhanced reflexes allowed him to grab Aldric's weapon arm and twist with bone breaking force.

"Aldric!" Marcus shouted, firing again to head hoping this would finish the job. Bullets entered enhanced warriors head killing him instantly. Marcus felt surge of emotional level he never felt before. Regret, anger, stress, anger piled on him.

"Snap it Marcus. Focus" Marcus said to himself.

On the south corner, Tom had already collided with his opponent. The uards surged at him at once, fists like hammers slamming against his hardened skin. Sparks flew as steel met enchanted flesh. Tom gritted his teeth and drove his own reinforced fist into guard’s ribs, the blow ringing like an anvil strike. The man lurched back, coughing blood.

At that moment, one of the guards from the main gate advanced toward Aldric other run to Tom, having heard the sounds of combat. Aldric swung his dagger at the newcomer's arm, but the blade didn't even penetrate the magically toughened skin.

Tom, now facing two opponent but before other guard reach him, grabbed his enemy's leg and wrapped himself around it using a grappling technique Han had demonstrated.

"Han, I hope this works!" Tom yelled, applying pressure until he heard the sickening pop of breaking bone.

The guard screamed and fell, his enhanced strength useless with a shattered leg. Tom immediately turned to help Aldric, who was now facing an enhancer.

"Aldric, get back! You're only getting in the way!" Tom yelled as he fought his own battle.

Marcus was dealing with his own problems. While he'd been focused on the ground battle, he'd missed the approach of an aerial threat. A man griffon hybrid attacked them from above, swooping down with massive claws extended. It was probably another guard with shapeshifting abilities, like Master Thymon had possessed.

The griffon man's claws swept through the air where Marcus's head had been a split second before. Marcus dove and rolled, trying to get clear of the aerial assault while maintaining his aim.

"Aldric, assist Tom! He might not be able to take down two at once. I've got this!" Marcus called out, taking aim at the griffon while observing its flight patterns.

While Marcus waited for the optimal shooting opportunity, Aldric rushed toward Tom, who was wrestling his opponent. When Aldric and his opponent arrived. Tom overwhelmed from attacks both sides. Tom had turned his fists to steel and was blocking their advances, but he was clearly outmatched by the numbers.

Aldric tried to help without getting close enough to be grabbed, but it was nearly impossible. It was like watching three giants fighting, and normal human strength couldn't compete.

"Aldric, get back! You're only getting in the way!" Tom repeated, frustrated by having to protect his friend while fighting for his own life.

At that moment, one of the guards advanced toward Aldric with obvious intent to crush him. The freakish giant grabbed Aldric with one massive hand and drew back his other fist, preparing to deliver a blow that would absolutely be too much for a normal person to survive.

Marcus had been waiting for the griffon man to attack again, positioning himself for the perfect shot. When the creature swooped low for another pass, Marcus rolled away from its advance and waited for the optimum moment. When the griffon was close enough that missing would be impossible, Marcus pressed the trigger and released an array of bullets.

The shots hit the creature through its wings, missing its head only slightly. Rather than continuing the attack, the griffon immediately flew up and away, seeking the safety of altitude. It managed to land on top of the building, wounded but not dead.

Marcus immediately turned back to help his friends. Tom had managed to knock out his primary opponent and was rushing to aid Aldric. But the freakish giant holding Aldric was about to land a fist that would probably kill his friend.

Marcus took aim at the giant guard and pulled the trigger before the creature could punch Aldric. The bullets found their mark in the guard's vital areas, and he released Aldric and fell to the ground just as Tom reached them.

"Good job, Marcus!" Tom called out, breathing hard from the exertion.

"I want one of those rifles too," Aldric gasped, rubbing his throat where the guard had grabbed him.

Marcus immediately checked for the runaway griffon. The creature's wing and shoulder were damaged, but it had managed to land safely on top of the building despite its injuries.

The griffon man shouted something in a language they didn't understand, then switched to words they could recognize. "You Valdrians? You will pay for this! Your grandchildren will pay for this! My lord won't let you leave in one piece!"

Marcus tried to get a clear shot, but couldn't see the creature from its position on the building. "I can't see him. He must have flown to the other side."

"He'll probably bring reinforcements," Aldric warned, still catching his breath.

Marcus nodded grimly. "Let's finish our job and get back to the real fight."

The marble building loomed before them, its electrical crown crackling with power that lit up the surrounding area. Whatever was inside that structure, it was important enough to guard with enhanced warriors and magical protections.

"Ready?" Marcus asked.

"Ready," Tom and Aldric replied together.

They advanced toward the main gate, knowing that the next few minutes would determine whether their mission succeeded or failed. They had come too far to turn back now.

The infiltration was about to reach its climax.