13 Palace Assault

Elion walked in the lower hallways of the high-king's palace during his regular patrol route, the security of the palace has been more lax than usual due to the fact the the best soldiers are sent to the front to fight against the demons.

Then he heard a slight 'click'.

Adjusting his head to the source of the sound, he faced a corner of one of the hallways, a perfect spot to ambush an unsuspecting guard.

"In the name of the high-king who goes there?!" He shouted to the corner while drawing his sword.

He didn't get a response, and he took nervous breathes as he walked towards the corner.

It could be a trick of his ears.

It could be assassins.

Or it could be demons.

He has heard the rumors about entire scouting parties never returning when sent against the demons, and how they've defeated three holy armies and an elite evangelical army in a span of a week. They've been quiet for the past months but that only made the generals and the thinkers of the Valecan Empire more nervous as to what the demons are planning.

But he shooed those thoughts away, it wasn't his place or duty to think about those things, he has only one thing to do right now and find out who their uninvited guest could be.

He drew closer to the corner, taking a deep breath he immediately turned around the corner and thrust his sword forwards.

Only to be met with air and nothingness.

Relieved, he looked around to make sure that there was nothing out of place, and after he was content with his survey he continued on with his patrol.

Anton's POV

One of the operators activated the safety of his rifle right when a guard showed up in the hall, the operators quickly hid to the adjacent corners and watched as the guard shouted something.

"Logan, why is your safety on?" Anton asked after the guard walked away.

"Sir, I didn't even touch my rifle!"

"Then why the fuck did it switch right when that guard showed up?"

"I don't know sir but fucking hell it wasn't me, I had the safety off ever since we landed into the LZ."

"Goddammit Logan, if I don't know you any better I would've called bullshit on you, lets just drop this for now. Move!" Anton and his men moved to a stairwell leading downwards with a heavy metal door at the bottom.

"Brandon, Ross?" The Anton asked.

"On it sir." The two engineers replied.

"Alright After the breach we only have five or less minutes to find and extract the scientist understood?" Anton asked then received affirmatives from his men in forms on nods.

"Alright then, Blow it up!"

Colin's POV

Colin Palmer, head scientist of the project for a new energy source was dangling from the ceiling in chains. He has been tortured ever since he got here, they were asking him questions in a language he didn't understand which nullified all his begging and pleading for his tormentors to stop.

But his ears picked up and explosion shouting from outside of his shell, He at first thought it was another prisoner being tortured with magic but then realized that those weren't the sounds of agony he usually hears, but that of battle.

His heart almost jumped when he heard someone shout in a familiar language.

"CLEAR!"

He was saved, he was saved. He looked at his cell door as it opened revealing men in black military clothing and holding rifles and asking him:

"Colin Palmer?"

He responded in a nod as the soldier walked closer to him and inspected his chains.

"Walsh, get this chain off the scientist." He commanded.

Anton's POV

It was a short fight, the guards were stunned when the heavy metal doors exploded and were quickly dispatched by the Delta operators as they moved in and kicked open the jail door to the scientists cell.

His state was... pitiful.

Haggard eyes, and dried blood on the floor is evidence that the scientist has been tortured, his clothing was only a loincloth covering his dignity and even his own filth was never disposed of.

But the delta operators stayed cooled and confirmed his identity.

"Colin Palmer?" Anton asked.

He received a nod from the scientist and he moved closer to inspect the chains that was holding him.

"Walsh, get this chain off the scientist."

The engineer also inspected the chain before making a regretful look and looking at the scientist.

"Sorry man, but its either this or not getting out." The engineer apologized before pulling something out from his rucksack.

The engineer immediately went to work, with his portable blowtorch. It hurts for the scientist as the chains holding him heated up and he screamed in pain.

"Sir! Tangos are coming down the stairwell!" One of the operators shouted, catching his attention.

"Let's just wait for Walsh to finish up, take out any hostiles you see coming from the stairwell, MOVE!

The operators moved to the bottom of the stair well and fired at the guards coming down.

"How long before the scientist is free Walsh?!" Anton asked.

"A minute Cap! Gimme a minute!" He replied.

More guards started coming, some even with bows and it hit one of the Deltas in the shoulders.

"Fuck! Robbins has been hit!" One of the operators shouted as he pulled back his comrade to a safe location.

The captain fired a couple of shots to the perpetrator making him come falling down the stairway.

"OKAY I GOT IT HE'S OFF THE CHAINS!" Walsh reported has he carried the scientists arm over his shoulders, the ordeal of being burned knocked him unconscious.

"Shit sir! They got the stairwell on lock-down! We cant get out of here!" An operator shouted.

Anton cursed, they cant get out of this dungeon because the stairwell was the only exit, he was pondering what to do when a tiny voice spoke up.

"Maybe I can help."

Anton pointing his rifle to the source of the voice, only to find a little girl who.... has light emitting from her?

Anton kept his rifle on the girl, innocent looking or not anything could be a threat. The girl tilted her head to the side in confusion, then spoke.

"I do not know what that is but it seems to be a weapon." She paused expecting a reply from Anton but received none.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, where are my manners!" She bowed.

"I am Clavina, goddess of mischief."