Chapter 47: The Calvary
Morning broke over Iron Bastion.
But it didn't feel like morning.
It felt like something… waiting to snap.
MURMUR!
MURMUR!
The cafeteria buzzed with its usual routine,metal trays, low guards barking orders.
Fwoo....
Daito and the others sat together like always.
But something was off the air felt heavier.
Eyes shifted, whispers spread.
Then—
Fwoosh...
Every single person in the cafeteria stood up, instantly.
Respect, fear and instinct.
Because he had arrived.
Cassian.
Walking in casually—
STEP....
STEP...
Coffee in hand but still half-asleep.
"…Morning…"
He muttered.
Frtlh....
Even the staff straightened up.
"…Director."
He waved lazily.
"…Yeah, yeah…"
Then without hesitation, he walked straight toward Daito's table.
And sat down right in front of them, the entire group froze.
Just them and him.
"…Relax."
Cassian said taking a sip.
"…We're all friends here."
No one laughed, one even breathed properly.
Everyone knew that he was mocking them.
They tried to stand to leave—
"…Sit."
One word, it was heavy.
They sat back down immediately.
Uncomfortable, tense and silent.
Cassian leaned back, looking at each of them one by one.
"…You guys eat this every day?"
No response.
"…Damn…"
He took another sip.
Then—
Fwoosh....
His eyes landed on Daito and stayed there.
Daito didn't react.
No anger, fear not even an expression.
Just…Stillness.
That alone made Cassian smile slightly.
"…You look better."
Silence.
Then—
Brrmm...
A low tremor.
Rumble…
Everyone paused.
Another tremor, stronger.
BOOM…
The cafeteria shook guards shouted.
Inmates looked around in panic.
Cassian sighed.
"…Ah…"
He took another sip of his coffee.
"…Guess the cavalry's here."
Then—
CRAAAAASH!!!
Lightning, pure and violent, struck the roof.
Exploding it into pieces, as debris rained down and smoke filled the air.
And from the chaos—
CRASSHH!!
A figure dropped.
BZZZTLE!
Electricity crackling around him.
Monday Valhalla.
And on his shoulders—
Fwoosh...
Aerin.
They landed hard.
BOOM!
CRACK!
Shockwaves rippling through the ground, the entire cafeteria erupted into chaos.
Guards shouted.
Weapons drawn.
Prisoners screamed.
But Cassian?
He simply stood up holding his coffee.
"…Finally."
He walked away, casually.
As if none of this mattered and as if it was all… expected.
Fwoosh...
Dash...
Aerin jumped down immediately, running straight to Daito—
"…You good?!"
Daito looked at her for a second....
Then nodded.
"…You took your time."
She smiled slightly.
"…Had to pick someone up."
Monday stepped forward—
SNAP!
Stretching his neck.
BZZZ!
Electricity snapping around him.
"…Yo."
He pointed at Daito.
"…Keep the bunny safe."
Daito blinked.
"…Why do you call her that?"
Aerin sighed.
"…Long story."
No time to explain.
Because—
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Gunfire erupted.
Doors burst open.
Unknown figures stormed in—
FWOOSH!
Armed, organized and fast.
"Uaarr!"
"Nooo!"
"Aarrgh!"
They took down guards instantly, precise and efficient.
Some rushed to prisoners, unlocking their collars.
CLANK!
CLANK!
CLANK!
"Freedom!"
Chaos multiplied and the prison began to collapse into madness.
One of the unknown fighters shouted—
"MOVE! MOVE! FREE EVERYONE!"
Prisoners surged forward—
TRUDGE!
Some running, some fighting and some just… having the time of their lives.
Zachia smirked.
"…Now this…"
Wei-Wan stepped forward calmly.
"…Stay focused."
Champagne cracked his knuckles.
"…Finally."
Wasabi activated her senses—
Fwoosh...
Scanning everything.
"…Exit routes are opening up."
Fah-jin took position, her eyes sharp.
"…We move together."
Daito stepped forward taking his stance.
Everything was aligned and ready.
Then—
Fwoosh....
The air shifted again from the distance, but still slow.
Measured footsteps echoed.
Cassian's voice followed—
"…You guys really don't know when to quit…"
The chaos didn't stop.
But something deeper and more heavier entered the battlefield.
And this time it wasn't a game anymore.
* * *
The prison had lost its shape.
What was once order was now noise, fire, power, and rage.
ZWIING!
ZWIING!
ZWIING!
Sirens screamed.
Walls cracked.
FLASH!
BOOM!
Energy flared from every direction.
Inside the chaos—
GRAB!
Wasabi grabbed Daito's arm.
"…Listen carefully."
Her voice was calm but urgent.
"…Our weapons and gear are in the basement."
She showed a small roughly drawn map that was shining through the interference.
"…Heavily locked, strict watch, multiple fail-safes."
Zachia crossed his arms.
"…Meaning?"
"…Meaning if we don't get there now…"
Wasabi continued,
"…we lose our biggest advantage."
Wei-Wan nodded.
"…Then we move."
But before they could—
CRACKLE!
Electricity surged behind them.
Monday stepped forward—
BZZZTLE!
Energy dancing wildly around him.
"…You guys go."
He tilted his head, looking toward the upper levels.
"…I'll keep Mr Bossman busy."
Aerin immediately stepped beside him.
"…You're not doing that alone."
Champagne grinned—
Fwoosh!
Rolling his shoulders.
"…Wouldn't miss this."
Brandon stepped forward calm, and solid.
"…We hold the line."
Daito looked at them just for a second.
No words but understanding passed between them.
Then—
"…Don't die."
Monday smirked.
"…Same to you."
And just like that—
Fwoosh!
The team split.
Daito, Wasabi, Wei-Wan, Fah-jin, Zachia, Avenor.
Vanished into the chaos heading down.
Monday, Aerin, Champagne, Brandon.
Turned upward toward the storm.
* * *
"ROOAAARR!"
"YEEAAAHH!"
All around the prisoners roared.
Collars hit the ground.
CLANK!
Power exploded.
Savage energy—Unleashed.
Brrmm....
Flames.
BZZZTL!
Lightning.
WHOOM!
Shockwaves.
The guards tried to fight back, but it was already over.
Without the collars the inmates weren't prisoners anymore.
They were monsters, warriors, and survivors.
And now they were free.
Upper Levels — Iron Bastion
Step....
Step....
Cassian walked casually through the halls, coffee in hand stepping over unconscious guards.
Fwoosh!
Dodging debris without even looking.
"…Man…"
He sighed.
"…This place got loud real quick."
SWOOSH!
From the opposite end, a figure moved fast.
They were clean, precise and efficient.
Shinsei.
SLAM!
CRACK!
POW!
She slammed a prisoner into the wall, dropped another with a sharp strike, and disabled a third before he could even react.
CLANG!
Her heels clicked against the cracked floor, unbothered and unstained.
She stopped seeing Cassian standing there, drinking coffee in the middle of the chaos.
Her expression immediately flattened.
"…You're kidding."
Cassian glanced at her.
"…What?"
"…Take your job title seriously for once."
Booom.....
Another explosion echoed in the distance.
She sighed, clearly irritated.
"…For crying out loud, Cassian."
He took another sip.
"…Relax."
He looked around, almost amused.
"…Sometimes it's fun watching people let loose."
Shinsei's eye twitched slightly.
"…Cassian."
A pause.
He sighed.
"…Fine. Fine."
He raised his hand lazily.
"…I'll stop them."
A beat.
"…After I finish my coffee."
Shinsei closed her eyes for a second.
She was feeling both regret, impatience, and ultimately annoyance.
"…Unbelievable."
She turned away.
"…I'll fix this mess myself."
Cassian smirked.
"…Try not to break your heels.
She didn't respond.
But the air around her got colder.
SWOOSH!
And then She vanished into motion.
Back below, the war inside Iron Bastion had only just begun.
And somewhere between the chaos, two forces were about to collide.
Monday…and Cassian.
* * *
Lower Levels — Iron Bastion
The deeper they went, the quieter it became, too quiet.
The chaos above faded into dull echoes.
No screams or gunfire.
Just—
Drip… drip… drip…
Water leaking through cracked pipes.
Zachia exhaled slowly.
"…I don't like this."
Wasabi checked her map again patterns showing.
"…We're close."
Fwoosh....
Wei-Wan raised his hand, stopping everyone.
"…Wait."
Avenor tilted her head listening.
"…Something's moving."
Then—
CLICK!
Lights.
FLASH!
All at once.
Blinding white.
The corridor lit up, revealing guards.
Rows of them standing still and waiting.
Not panicked, disorganized, but heavily prepared.
Fah-jin narrowed her eyes.
"…Ambush."
The lead guard stepped forward armor heavier than the others eyes calm.
"…You made it further than expected."
Wasabi's eyes widened slightly.
"…These aren't regular guards…"
The man raised his hand.
"…Basement Division."
Zachia smirked.
"…Finally, something interesting."
But before anyone moved—
SHHHHHHH!
Gas.
Released from the walls.
A thick colorless fog.
Wasabi reacted instantly.
"…Don't breathe it in!"
Avenor moved fast, activating her camouflage, wrapping it around the team, and distorting their presence.
But the guards didn't hesitate they charged.
GLANG!
GLANG!
GLANG!
Weapons drawn.
Each one moving with precision.
SWOOSH!
FWOO!
Daito stepped forward, ready, and he vanished.
CLANG!
First strike blocked.
The lead guard caught it as Daito's eyes sharpened.
"…Not normal."
The guard smirked slightly.
"…We were trained for people like you."
Behind him—
TRUDGE–TRUDGE–TRUDGE!
More guards engaged.
SWOOSH!
Zachia laughed while charging straight in—
"…GOOD!"
His fists collided with reinforced armor—
GLANG!
WHOOM!
Sending shockwaves through the hall.
Fah-jin moved to the side taking position, her strikes precise targeting joints and weak points—
POW!
PANG!
BAM!
But the guards adapted by blocking and countering.
SWOOSH!
Wei-Wan stepped in fluid movements, redirecting attacks and creating openings—
SLIDE!
POW!
KA–POW!
"…Stay coordinated!"
But the gas it lingered.
Wasabi's breathing became uneven.
"…It's… not poison…"
Her device beeped wildly.
"…It disrupts… neural signals…"
Avenor's camouflage flickered.
"…I can't hold it steady…"
Zachia growled...
"Oaarrrgg!"
SWOOSH!
FWOOSH!
Swinging harder, but his movements slowed just slightly.
Daito noticed immediately
Everything the gas, the formation, and even the timing.
"…They're stalling us."
Wei-Wan nodded.
"…For something worse."
Then—
THUD!
A door behind the guards opened.
STEP!
STEP!
Something stepped out.
Each step shaking the ground.
Fah-jin's voice dropped.
"…What is that…"
Wasabi tried to process it, but something was wrong.
"…No data…"
Fwoo....
Daito stepped forward, eyes locked.
The figure emerged fully, not human, not even a freaker.
Something else.
SWOOSH!
Metal fused with flesh, with veins pulsing through steel.....
A Basement Warden.
The lead guard stepped aside.
"…You wanted your weapons…"
He gestured behind him.
"…Earn them."
The Warden lifted its head—
FWOOSH!
And its eyes locked onto Daito.
FWOOSH!
Then it moved.
Gone—
BOOM!!!
The entire hallway exploded outward, walls cracking, air bursting, Daito blocked barely.
SLIDE!
Sliding back—
SKREEETCH!
Feet carving into the ground.
Zachia grinned even through the pressure.
"…Now THIS…"
Wei-Wan took stance.
"…Stay alive."
Wasabi whispered—
"…If we fall here…"
Avenor finished—
"…There's no second chance."
Daito tightened his grip as blood started dripping.
Eyes steady.
"…Then don't fall."
"RWAAAGH!"
The Warden roared
SWOOSH!
WHOOOOOOOM!!
Daito and the others were blown back by it's voice, and the basement turned into a battlefield.
to be continued....