Saito and Lily quietly moved through the hidden base.
The sound of explosions and gunfire could still be heard from outside, but the inside of the facility was strangely quiet.
Lily looked around the empty corridors.
"Looks like all of the scientists are outside."
Saito glanced around, making sure there was no one nearby.
"Then our phase one plan is complete."
He looked deeper into the base.
"Now we just need to find Rin, Alya, and Yin."
Saito and Lily continued walking further into the facility, carefully checking every corner as they moved.
Meanwhile, in the jail area, Alya was sitting near the control panel beside her cell.
She carefully examined the inside of the device, holding a small circuit plate in her hands.
Yin watched her from his cell with a confused expression.
"What are you doing?"
Alya didn't look away from the circuit.
"Trying to get us out of here."
She slowly opened the panel and looked at the wires inside.
Yin frowned.
"You know they'll come any minute now, right?"
Alya continued working.
"Then I need to hurry."
She looked toward Yin.
"So help me with this."
Yin stared at her for a moment.
He sighed.
"Fine..."
He stepped closer to inspect the circuit.
"How many wires are in there?"
Alya looked carefully at the small connections.
"Purple, red, yellow..."
She pointed at the different wires and the plug attached to the system.
Yin immediately stopped her.
"Don't remove the plug."
Alya looked at him.
"Why?"
Yin pointed at the connection.
"That doesn't unlock the door."
"It only activates the alarm in this area."
Alya looked back at the circuit.
"So if we touch the wrong thing..."
Yin nodded.
"The entire base will know we're trying to escape."
Alya tightened her grip on the circuit plate.
"Then we need to be careful."
Yin looked at the device again.
"...Very careful."
Yin stared at the circuit panel for a moment, carefully examining the connections.
"How about this..."
He pointed toward a small lever connected to the red wire.
"Try turning that lever."
Alya looked at the control panel.
"Here goes nothing."
She slowly reached out and turned the lever.
Click.
For a moment...
Nothing happened.
The two of them waited in silence.
Alya looked at Yin.
"...Is it done?"
She glanced toward the cell door.
But the door remained locked.
"It didn't open."
Yin didn't seem surprised.
"Then try removing that plug."
Alya looked at him with uncertainty.
"But you said—"
Yin looked at her seriously.
"Trust me."
Alya hesitated.
She let out a small breath.
"Alright..."
Slowly, she reached inside the panel and removed the plug.
Click.
They both waited.
A few seconds passed.
No alarm.
No warning.
Nothing.
Alya looked around in surprise.
"It didn't activate."
Yin gave a small smile.
"Exactly."
He nodded toward the control panel.
"You just turned off the alarm."
Alya looked at him.
"Wait... I did?"
Yin chuckled slightly.
"Nice one, kid."
Alya smiled faintly.
"Then we can escape?"
Yin looked at the locked door.
"Not yet."
"But at least now we have one less problem."
Footsteps echoed through the prison corridor.
Tap...
Tap...
Tap...
Yin's expression immediately changed.
"Someone's coming."
He looked at Alya.
"Put the plate back."
Alya quickly nodded.
She carefully placed the circuit plate back into its original position and closed the panel.
Then she hurried back into her cell, acting as if nothing had happened.
A few seconds later—
The door opened.
Noxus stepped into the prison area.
Her glasses reflected the cold light from the hallway as she looked around.
Then her eyes landed on Alya.
"You know what happened outside?"
Alya kept her expression calm.
"What?"
Noxus smiled slightly.
"Your friends..."
"They're trying to free you."
Alya's eyes widened for a moment.
"They're here?"
Noxus noticed her reaction and smiled.
"Don't get too happy."
She slowly walked closer.
"Because I will kill every single one of them."
Alya grabbed the bars of her cell.
"Maybe you can try."
She glared at Noxus.
"But we have our captain."
"Saito will beat your ass."
Noxus laughed softly.
"I would like to see him try."
She walked toward Alya's cell and unlocked the door.
Click.
Alya stepped back.
Noxus reached inside and grabbed her arm.
"Now come here."
Alya struggled.
"Let go of me!"
Noxus ignored her and began pulling her away.
Yin immediately stepped forward.
"Wait, Noxus."
"Don't do this."
Noxus glanced back at him.
Her expression softened slightly.
"Just a little more, honey."
"Then we'll be together again."
Yin clenched his fists.
"How about you take me instead?"
Noxus stopped.
Yin looked directly at her.
"You can use me as your experiment rat."
"Just let her go."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
But Noxus shook her head.
"No."
Her answer was cold.
"I can't do that."
Yin's expression darkened.
"Noxus..."
She ignored him.
Noxus continued dragging Alya down the hallway.
As the door slowly closed behind them, Yin could only watch.
Alya looked back at him.
Yin stood there silently, knowing something terrible was about to happen.
Back in the village, the battle between Axel and Herion continued.
The ground around them was covered with bullet marks and broken pieces of concrete.
Axel stepped back, breathing heavily, but a smile remained on his face.
"You're tough."
Herion lowered his weapon slightly.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
He looked toward the direction of the base.
"But I have to rejoin them."
Without wasting another second—
Bang!
Herion fired.
Axel quickly moved to the side.
He smirked.
"You missed."
But then—
Clang!
The bullet struck a metal surface behind Axel.
The strange angle caused the bullet to bounce back.
Axel's eyes widened.
"What?"
Before he could react—
Bang!
The bullet hit him directly in the chest.
He stumbled backward, shocked.
"How..."
His legs weakened, and he fell to the ground.
Herion looked down at him for a moment.
Then he turned away.
"We are gangsters."
He walked toward the base entrance.
"And you're just a scientist."
Without looking back, Herion continued forward, leaving Axel behind.
At the entrance of the base, the battle continued.
Explosions shook the ground as Bomb and Fanny fought against the remaining scientists.
Metal parts and debris were scattered everywhere, but neither side showed signs of stopping.
Then—
The large door behind the scientists slowly opened.
A figure stepped out.
Fawn.
His deer-like head twitched slightly, and his ears moved as he looked across the battlefield.
He stared directly at Bomb.
"You came back."
Bomb turned around and grinned.
"Oh."
"There you are."
He looked around.
"Where are your buddies?"
Fawn's expression remained calm.
"They are preparing."
"For the final experiment."
His ears twitched again.
"An experiment that will change our fate."
He looked at Bomb.
"And no one can stop it."
Bomb stared at him for a moment.
Then he shrugged.
"Bla bla."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Let's do this."
Fawn's eyes narrowed.
Without another word, he pulled out a black sword.
The blade reflected the light from the burning battlefield.
In an instant—
He lunged forward.
Bomb's eyes widened slightly.
He quickly moved aside, avoiding the slash.
"Fast!"
Bomb stepped forward and threw a kick toward Fawn.
But—
Clang!
Fawn blocked the kick with his sword.
The force pushed him back slightly, but he remained standing.
Bomb smiled.
"Not bad."
Fawn tightened his grip on the black sword.
"This is only the beginning."