Chapter 140: The War Inside the Fortress
The moment they stepped inside Malakar's fortress, Raizen knew something was off. The air hung heavy with tension, guards shifting uneasily as if sensing an impending storm.
The warlord's compound wasn't just a base—it was a battleground in waiting.
A muscular enforcer led them through dimly lit corridors, past lines of mercenaries checking their weapons, cybernetically enhanced brutes preparing for an unseen battle. Nyx gave Raizen a subtle glance. They weren't the only ones planning something tonight.
Meeting Malakar
They were brought to a high-ceilinged chamber where Malakar waited—a towering man with crimson cybernetic implants fused into his skin, his left arm gleaming with titanium plating.
His voice was a gravelly boom. "Smugglers, eh?" He eyed Raizen's group, his gaze lingering on Seraphina and Selara before settling back on him. "You look like someone who has more than cargo to trade."
Raizen's golden eyes locked onto Malakar's own. "I bring opportunities."
Malakar smirked. "Opportunities or problems?"
Raizen tilted his head. "Depends on how you play this."
The warlord chuckled, but his amusement didn't reach his eyes. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing to you."
The tension in the room thickened. This negotiation was a test.
The First Shot
Before Raizen could respond, alarms blared through the compound. Explosions rocked the outer walls. Malakar's expression twisted in rage. "What the hell is going on?"
A soldier ran in, panting. "Syndicate hit squad! They're breaching the south gate!"
Raizen smirked inwardly. Perfect timing.
Joran cracked his knuckles. "Guess we'll have to fight our way out."
Malakar's cybernetic fingers flexed. "Not so fast. If you're in my stronghold, you fight for me. Let's see if you're worth the air you breathe."
Raizen turned to his team. "You heard him."
The war had already begun.