CHAPTER 299: THE SURVIVORS RETURN

The gate opened with a low hum.

Three figures walked through, looking tired and bruised.

Ember Striker, Volt Stride, and Sightpiercer had returned.

Vora Dace stood near the command post, arms crossed.

Her visor scanned the field before she even spoke.

"You three made it back," she said, stepping forward.

"Where are the other two?"

There was silence for a moment.

Then Sightpiercer looked away.

His fingers flexed slightly as if remembering the moment.

"They stayed behind," he said.

"Ashblade and Whisperlash. They held the rear so we could escape."

Vora’s jaw tightened. Her visor lit up red for a brief second.

She took a sharp step forward.

"Held the rear? Against what?"

"A full breach," Ember Striker answered, wiping some soot off his arm.

"We ran into something bad. Reval showed up."

At that name, Volt Stride flinched.

"Reval?" Vora repeated. "Who is he?"

"He was the leader of that cult branch, and he was waiting," Sightpiercer said. "Or maybe watching."

"Either way, the moment things went bad, he stepped in. Ashblade and Whisperlash held him back while we ran."

Vora turned sharply, pointing toward the western wall where a group of standby units waited.

"You! move! Sector D5! Get a scan of the volcanic zone."

"Find me a way in. I don’t care if it’s blocked or not. Go!"

The heroes she pointed to snapped to attention and sprinted off.

She looked back at the three returned trialists.

"You did well getting back. I mean that."

They didn’t speak. They just stood there, catching their breath.

"I’ll go after them myself if I have to," Vora said, her voice low. "I owe that much."

Volt Stride looked up. "They’ll be fine. Ashblade... he doesn’t go down easy."

"I know," Vora said.

"But I don’t gamble with people who fought under my command."

She walked past them, her boots hitting the stone floor with sharp taps.

"You three. Get checked. Report to the medbay. Then rest."

Sightpiercer hesitated. "If you’re going after them—"

"No," she said without turning. "You’ve done your part. Let me handle the rest."

Ember Striker gave a short nod. Volt Stride sighed but didn’t argue.

Vora reached the far side of the platform and opened a comm line through her visor.

"This is Blaze Marshal. I want a tactical sweep of the branch facility. Full scan. Priority one."

"We have two missing assets in hostile ground, and we’re not leaving them behind."

She closed the channel and took a breath.

"I’ll find them," she muttered to herself.

Then she turned back toward the field, her eyes locked on the path the three came from.

---

Zain sat on the edge of the table, chewing slowly.

Savra leaned back on a broken throne chair, casually tossing a fruit into the air and catching it.

Velra twirled her fork, tapping her boot against the stone floor.

Zelia sat near the corner, quiet as always, slicing her food in small, neat cuts.

Velra suddenly stopped moving.

Her eyes blinked twice. The light on her collar pulsed softly.

"...Master. People are coming."

Zain looked up, not surprised. "Hero Association?"

Velra gave a short nod. "Yes. They’re coming. Maybe they’re here to rescue us."

Zain paused, staring ahead. A small smile tugged at his mouth. "So those three made it back."

Savra tilted her head. "Who are you talking about?"

Velra stepped forward.

"When we first got here, we joined the Hero Trials? We went undercover as heroes."

Savra nodded slowly.

"One of the missions was to inspect this base," Velra continued.

"The three Zain mentioned... they were the other heroes on our team."

Zain leaned against the table. "Yeah. Ember Striker, Sightpiercer, and Volt Stride."

He smirked. "Looks like they survived after all."

Velra leaned forward. "What should we do?"

Zain stood up, stretched his arms, then grinned.

"Of course, we run. We’re not that strong... yet."

Savra laughed from the back. "Oh? Heavenly Demon admitting weakness?"

Zain smirked and turned her way. "It’s called strategy."

Velra tilted her head. "Teleport where, exactly?"

Zain stepped forward. "To the main base of the Flame God Cult."

Savra’s eyes lit up with realization. "Ah... so that’s how you found it."

Zain nodded. "Exactly. That location’s safer. The Hero Association doesn’t know about it."

Velra glanced over her shoulder, eyes narrowing down the hall. "And what about this base?"

Savra shrugged, then smirked. "Just destroy it."

Velra blinked. "What?"

"I made a self-destruct seal under the altar," Savra said.

"If I trigger it, the whole place folds into the lava veins."

Zain chuckled. "You really are a dangerous woman."

Savra winked. "I know."

Zain turned to Zelia. "Big sister, go first. Head to the teleportation platform."

Zelia stood, wiped her hands, and nodded. "I’ll wait there."

She walked toward the exit, calm and silent.

Velra followed her with her eyes. "Should we pack anything?"

"No time," Zain said. "They’ll reach us in ten minutes if they’re fast."

Savra walked to the altar, brushing her fingers along its surface.

"I’ll trigger the seal once we step onto the pad."

Velra grabbed her whip and fastened it to her hip. "Guess it’s time for a show."

Zain walked toward the hallway, footsteps echoing.

"No show. Just escape. We’ll fight later."

Savra caught up beside him.

"You sure? I wouldn’t mind frying one or two before we go."

Zain smiled without looking back. "We’ll burn them all later. But for now—"

Velra stepped next to him. "We move."

They reached the teleportation chamber. Zelia was already standing on the glowing platform.

Zain raised his hand. "Let’s go."

Savra tapped her wrist. The altar behind them gave off a soft pulse.

A low rumble started beneath their feet.

Zain smiled. "Goodbye... and farewell to our masks."

He looked ahead.

"Ashblade and Whisperlash are dead now."

He stepped onto the platform.

"From today onward, only the Heavenly Demon remains."

The red light surged. The four vanished.

Behind them, the volcano began to rumble, swallowing the whole base with it.