The transport hummed through the jagged terrain, bouncing over rocky roads as snow began to fall in thick, heavy sheets. The air grew colder the higher they ascended the Ithura Mountains, and Kael could feel it biting through his coat, despite the warmth that lingered inside him from his Arcana.
He stared out of the window, his thoughts clouded. His brother's image haunted him — a shadow at the edge of his consciousness that he couldn't shake off. What had Vael become? What had his desire for power turned him into?
Beside him, Luna shifted in her seat, her spear resting against the wall of the vehicle. She didn't speak, but Kael could feel her gaze on him. She was always attuned to his mood, always waiting for the moment when he'd finally break the silence and talk.
But right now, there was nothing to say. He needed to focus.
Ahead of them, the mountains loomed like dark sentinels, their peaks hidden by the thick clouds that had rolled in. The compound was still hours away, but the closer they got, the more Kael could sense the weight of the mission pressing down on them.
"Keep your focus," Natasha's voice crackled over the comms. "We're about to hit their perimeter. Stay sharp."
Kael's hand tightened around Ashrend. This was more than just another mission. It was personal. If the Crimson Sickle had truly completed the Dual Arcana experiment — and if Vael was involved — then Kael's world was about to shatter in ways he wasn't prepared for.
The vehicle slowed as they neared the outskirts of the compound, and Kael's eyes scanned the snowy landscape. Snowflakes danced in the wind, their descent almost hypnotic. But his instincts screamed. Something wasn't right.
"We're close," Luna said quietly. "Stay close to me."
Kael nodded, clenching his jaw. He could hear the rush of adrenaline in his veins. This wasn't just about stopping the Crimson Sickle anymore. This was about finding the truth. And if he had to confront Vael to do it, then so be it.
The vehicle came to a halt. The base was ahead, nestled in a valley surrounded by cliffs. The structure looked like a fortress, built into the mountain itself — the perfect place for hiding something dark.
"This is it," Edith's voice came through the earpiece, crisp and authoritative. "Get ready. We breach in ten."
Kael's heart began to pound in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. No time for second-guessing. He had a mission. The mission came first.
The doors to the vehicle opened, and the team spilled out into the snow. The cold immediately slapped Kael in the face, but he barely felt it. His fire was already burning deep within, keeping him warm and focused.
Evan, always the strategist, quickly took point. "We move in pairs," he said. "Kael, Luna, you're with me. Natasha, James, Edith — watch our backs."
The team moved swiftly through the snow, staying low and keeping their weapons ready. The sounds of the world faded as they entered the compound's perimeter, the storm making everything seem eerily silent.
Kael's heart raced as they approached the first set of heavy steel doors. The compound was heavily guarded, but their approach had gone undetected so far.
"This is it," Evan whispered. "We're in. We'll breach the door on my signal."
Kael's fingers tightened around the hilt of Ashrend. He was ready. The blade felt like an extension of his body, humming with anticipation, just as eager to fight as he was.
Evan nodded and pressed a button on his wrist comm. The door to the inner compound clicked open with a hiss, and they rushed inside.
The interior was stark, sterile — too clean, almost like a laboratory. It felt wrong.
"Stay close," Natasha's voice came over the comms, low and focused. "We don't know what's waiting for us inside."
The hallway stretched out before them, narrow and lined with metal doors. They moved quickly but carefully, staying out of sight, their every step echoing in the empty silence.
Suddenly, a loud crash sounded from one of the doors ahead. It was followed by frantic shouts and the unmistakable sound of machinery powering up.
"Get ready," Evan ordered. "We're not alone."
They reached the door where the noise had come from. The metal was thick, but Evan worked fast, pulling out a small device that allowed them to hack into the system.
The door slid open.
What they found beyond it made Kael's stomach twist.
Inside the room, massive tanks stood, filled with strange, malformed figures. Each one of them was connected to various machines, tubes snaking into their bodies. They were all in various stages of transformation — and Kael's stomach turned as he realized what they were.
Experiments.
But these weren't just any experiments. These were Dual Arcana subjects. Two Arcana coexisting inside each one, their bodies warped and distorted as the process took its toll.
"What the hell is this?" Luna whispered, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"They've been experimenting with Dual Arcana subjects for years," Evan said, his voice grim. "This is their progress."
Kael's breath caught in his throat as he looked at one of the figures in the tank. It was a young man, barely older than Kael himself, but his body had been twisted beyond recognition. His eyes were empty — dead. His heart still beat, but there was no life in him.
"This is wrong," Kael muttered, his fists clenched.
Suddenly, the loud crack of gunfire echoed through the hall. Kael turned just in time to see a figure step out from the shadows — Vael.
Kael's heart stopped.