On The Plan (Ryuu)

Before putting our plan into action, we gathered people together in a central area to review and share the details of our strategy. Hiroshi placed a map and a couple of stones on the table, using them as visual aids to explain our plan.

"Listen up, everyone," Hiroshi began, his voice commanding attention. "I'll only say this once. One of these stones represents our distraction group, while the other represents the digger group. In about an hour or two, when the sun rises, we'll put our plan into motion. From what we've observed, the creatures are least active during the daytime, so that's when we'll get to work."

He pointed to the stone representing the digger group. "Your task is to dig just beyond the large door. The girl here will protect you while you work. Once you're finished, ignite the flammable liquid we've spread on the ground. As the fire spreads and reaches the gunpowder we've strategically placed in the shadow lineage's nest, we'll trap them here. This will create enough force to make us fly upwards."

Hiroshi paused and looked around the room. "Any questions? Is there anything that's unclear?"

A hand shot up, and someone voiced their concern. "What if things don't go according to plan? What if we don't make it through all of this?"

Hiroshi responded without hesitation, his confidence unwavering. "If that happens, we ignite the flammable liquid anyway and find another way out. We can't afford to leave anyone behind."

Suddenly, Wise rose from their seat, exuding an air of determination. "There's no such thing as leaving anyone behind. We will all succeed," they declared, their words carrying a powerful sense of unity and hope.

I could sense the fear lingering among the group, but Wise's proclamation injected them with a renewed sense of purpose. Hiroshi, lighting his cigar, added, "We'll see about that."

After Hiroshi's speech, everyone dispersed, busying themselves with preparations. The miners gathered their tools for the excavation, while the rest of us tended to various tasks. Lezlie took care of her rabbit, Babu assisted in moving heavy barrels and equipment, and Hiroshi reviewed the plan once more with Wise.

Lost in my own thoughts, I found a corner to collect myself before our impending mission. It wasn't long before Hiroshi approached me and got me out of my thoughts.

"We're good to go, kid. I hope you're ready too," he said.

"I'm ready. Let's do this," I replied, matching his resolve.

As we gathered at the entrance of the mine, everyone stood there silently. My friends and I positioned ourselves at the front of the group, ready to face any attack that might come our way.

Lezlie, her curiosity piqued, took the opportunity to initiate a conversation.

Lezlie turned to Hiroshi, her voice tinged with genuine interest. "Hiroshi, how did you come up with this plan? It seems complex and well-thought-out."

As we waited for the door to open, Hiroshi, his usual grumpy demeanor softening slightly, took a moment to respond. "To be honest, it was a combination of careful observation, trial and error, and utilizing the limited resources we have. It wasn't easy, but I and the Kid managed to come up with a plan." Then he looked at the Wise rising and getting ready to command, he finished his sentence, "And now we can only hope to make it happen."

The Wise took charge, signaling the doorman to open the door.

"Open it up! We're ready," he commanded.

With a slow, creaking sound, the large door began to swing open. Babu, Hiroshi, and I ventured cautiously into the abyss of darkness that awaited us inside the mine. On the other hand, Lezlie and the miners headed in a different direction to commence the digging.

This time, the mine felt colder and even darker than before, since many miners that were sent for collecting materials were drawn back. We were preparing for the dangers of the mines in detail, so we hoped to move carefully. I held a torch tightly, providing a flickering light to guide our way. Hiroshi carried a can of flammable liquid, his preparedness evident in every step. As for Babu, he insisted on carrying the powder kegs himself, his strong Panda arms supporting their weight effortlessly.

While Hiroshi grabbed the metal box on his back that was knotted with a rope, and carefully poured the flammable liquid, I whispered to him, my voice hushed. "Hiroshi, are you sure this amount of flammable liquid will be enough?"

"I can't say for certain if it'll be enough," he replied softly. "But trust me, I'll figure something out."

We continued our silent progression, the liquid trickling down the mine's floor. Soon, we could hear the sounds of the miners advancing as well, their movements barely audible yet discernible. According to the plan, they would only start digging once we created a sound to signal them. It was a noisy process, and we knew it would draw the attention of the creatures guarding the mine's depths.

As we pressed forward, Hiroshi abruptly raised his hand, signaling for us to halt. I followed his gaze and quickly understood the reason for his caution.

Ahead of us lay nearly a hundred slumbering shadow-descended monsters, blocking our path. We had to navigate our way through their sprawled bodies with utmost care.

Slowly, we stepped over the gaps between the creatures, treading as lightly as we could. As I moved ahead, I heard a slight noise from behind. I swiftly turned to see Babu teetering dangerously close to one of the creatures, on the verge of losing his balance. Reacting swiftly, I reached out and caught him just in time, but struggled to maintain my own footing on the precarious terrain. Babu, burdened by the weight of the gunpowder barrels, swiftly handed them to Hiroshi, who effortlessly took them in his grip.

Once Babu regained his balance, we resumed our journey, finally reaching our intended destination. Babu and Hiroshi carefully placed the gunpowder on the ground, their movements deliberate and calculated.

"Now all that's left is to divert the attention of these ugly monsters," Hiroshi declared, rising to his feet.

"We need to create enough noise to get their full attention," I responded.

With deliberate precision, Hiroshi drew his gun and fired a shot into the air, the deafening sound echoing through the mine's depths.

"Get ready," he warned, his voice filled with precaution. "We might have to do some running to make up for lost time."

At that moment, the sound of countless footsteps rapidly approached us. We braced ourselves for the impending battle, knowing that the miners had received the signal and were already hard at work, their tools digging deep into the earth.

Then, a distant sound began to seep into our ears—a rhythmic, persistent pounding. It grew louder and more distinct with each passing second, gradually transforming into a symphony of metal striking rock, reverberating through the mine's tunnels.

It was the sound of the miners heeding the signal, their pickaxes and tools striking against the unforgiving walls of stone. The noise echoed through the air, reaching our ears in a cascade of determined clinks and thuds. It was the sound of hope and desperation entwined, the sound of their unwavering determination to create a way out.

Me, Babu, and Hiroshi exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting a mixture of relief and anticipation. The signal had been received, and the miners were now in motion, laboring diligently to carve a path toward freedom.

But as the cacophony of mining sounds reverberated through the mine, a more sinister response began to stir in the depths. Faint at first, but steadily growing in intensity, the ominous footfalls of the awakened shadow bloodline creatures echoed through the tunnels. The hollow thuds resounded, like the heartbeat of imminent threat, echoing off the walls and seeping into our bones.

With each passing moment, the sound multiplied, the footsteps overlapping and blending into a disconcerting symphony of impending doom. Fear gripped us, tightening its icy hold on our hearts. The creatures, disturbed from their slumber, were now roused and on the move, drawn by the disturbance caused by the miners' desperate struggle.

My grip tightened on my torch, its flickering light casting dancing shadows on the walls. Babu's muscles tensed as he instinctively adjusted his stance, readying himself for the coming confrontation. Hiroshi's eyes, usually sharp and confident, betrayed a glimmer of uncertainty, a reflection of the daunting odds we now faced.

The realization of the impending danger spurred us into action. With a silent understanding, we prepared ourselves for the fierce battle that awaited. The miners' efforts provided us with a fleeting advantage, a precious window of time to navigate through the awakened horde.

With gritted teeth and hearts pounding, we steeled ourselves for the clash that lay ahead. The battle lines had been drawn, and the struggle for survival would soon be joined.