Chapter 33- Nobody left behind

"Tiavan, Sienna, Johan and Tina have all gone quiet. Since their communication crystals have been destroyed, there's a good chance that they were discovered and either captured or killed..." Adrianna's voice cracked slightly in anger as she spoke.

She and her party knew the risks and what this quest entailed, yet she couldn't help but feel anger towards those that hurt her friends.

Sensing her anger, Lucious was about to suggest they go help the others, but Adrianna stopped him in his tracks before he could say anything.

"Let's pull back and retreat. We can report everything to Abe once we're back." She balled her hands into fists as she spoke but reactivated her concealment bracelet and went invisible once again.

Lucious hurriedly activated his own concealment bracelet and stopped Adrianna before she could make her way to the exit.

"Hold on, we can't just abandon them. They could still be alive and if they are then-"

"We knew the risks going in and this was always a possibility." Adrianna said with a serious voice, cutting off Lucious.

"Now, we follow protocol and retreat to the city to report what happened to the guildmaster." she continued as she pushed her way past him.

Each member of her party, including herself, was at the fifth stage and could take care of themselves in a crisis. If, they had been captured, then it could only mean the twilight general had found them and activated his special ability on his guards.

Lucious hated the idea of abandoning them, but Adrianna was right. The two of them alone couldn't handle it, especially while trying to protect the prisoner, who they came here to rescue in the first place.

"If you like, I could help save them before helping myself to the treasury here." Bellatrix finally spoke up after watching the pair bicker.

Though she didn't much care what happened to them, she owed Lucious for freeing her from her own prison and for telling her where she could find three generals along with their treasures. On top of that, Lucious let her take the entire treasury within the fortress without protest. Refusing to help here and repay those debts would be stain on her honour.

"We don't know if they are even alive, retreating now while we still can is the best course of action." Adrianna cut in before Lucious and Bellatrix could cut any deals.

Bellatrix is at the sixth stage and if we can divide their forces with a big enough distraction, we might be able to recover them... but that's on the assumption that they are even still alive.

"How many people are in this fortress at the fifth stage?" Lucious asked while forming a plan on how to help everyone despite Adrianna's order to retreat.

The twilight general had five guards at the fifth stage, so any more than that would mean that they are still alive somewhere. However, if they had been moved to the prison already then, they wouldn't be detected by Bellatrix thus forcing him to abandon his plans.

Adrianna could tell that her disobedient tagalong for this quest was plotting something, words failed to convince him to retreat, and she couldn't stop him with force due to Bellatrix being on his side.

It didn't take long for Bellatrix to locate all those at the fifth stage within the central building. In addition to the five guards, four more where being kept in an underground facility. It was likely that they were currently being interrogated or being used as bait.

"I know this is a risky move, but I've got a plan, and it will require both of you to help me for it to succeed. This way, we will save everyone and potentially eliminate a human general." Lucious said in a confident tone

"You're going to do this regardless of what I say, aren't you?" Adrianna replied in defeat with an annoyed tone while putting down the prisoner. "Fine, let's hear this plan of yours."

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[Twilight general POV]

This was supposed to be an invisible fortress with the strongest barrier humanity has achieved... so why the hell is this happening?

It had all started less than an hour ago. The twilight general had started receiving reports from his subordinates that the soldiers on patrol weren't responding on their communication crystals.

As per procedure, all soldiers on patrol had to report to their superiors every fifteen minutes due to being within enemy territory.

However, reports started coming in that various soldiers around the three towers had missed their reports. Not only that, but they also weren't responding to their communication crystals.

The twilight general had sent units to investigate what was happening and even mobilised his personal guards.

He didn't have to wait long before he had received news of enemies within the towers. Three beastmen and a demon had been captured within the North and East towers after his personal guards went to investigate.

That should have been the end of it, so then why?

Right as the general was preparing to head to the basement along with his personal guards, a loud explosion resounded outside the central building, which he was currently within.

Loud shouts and screams quickly followed and flames producing thick clouds of smoke could be seen from different areas around the fortress. It wasn't long before several reports came in all at once.

"What do you mean there's a stage five demon on a rampage?" The twilight general didn't receive an answer though as the soldier on the other end of the communication crystal was cut down.

This had now happened at least four times. Whenever he received a report, the one contacting him was quickly killed, preventing him from gaining a clear picture.

The increasing intensity of the enemy attack and the lack of information was slowly getting to him, and he couldn't help but punch the table in anger.

"General, what are our orders?" A large bald man in plated armour with a face full of scars asked as he grabbed his two-handed sword with one hand.

"Should we head out and kill whoever is making this ruckus?" A short woman with green hair spoke up. She wore some old, worn robes with tears and holes on the sleeves and back while in her hands was a golden staff with a large red gem embedded in the centre.

These two were personal guards of the twilight general, each being at the fifth stage and were the two he trusted most.

However, their questions were drowned out by several soldiers who suddenly burst through the door into his office and asked the same questions.

"Will everyone just shut up, I need to think." This can't be the work of a single demon, not even a fifth stage demon would be able to cause this much destruction in three different areas like this... how many are they? How strong are they? Who do I send?

Father told me this would be an easy assignment and I wouldn't see any action.

The twilight general gnashed his teeth as he began to spiral while drowning out everyone else in the room.

And yet it looks like I'll be forced to fight anyway... so much for being able to relax unnoticed.

"General, your orders?" The large man asked again while placing one hand on the general's shoulder, interrupting his thoughts.

"I don't... Urgh! Kane, Jessica you two will stay by my side and we will head to the basement towards the prisoners." he finally said while gathering his thoughts before turning the soldiers who came with reports and continuing

"and you, tell the three of my personal guards stationed in the base to take a squad of fourth stage soldiers each and confront the attackers. Everyone else, secure and protect the central building."

With a plan in motion, the general gathered a few documents and was led towards the basement as his soldiers rushed out to face the attackers.

I can't afford to let the fortress fall, no matter what.