The smog hit them like a wall as they moved deeper into Iron Vale's industrial district, thick gray soup that made breathing feel like drowning and reduced visibility to maybe 50 meters on a good day, The temperature had dropped to about 10°C in the pre-dawn hours but the heat from the brass forges kept the air uncomfortably warm and humid, creating a miserable combination that made everyone's clothes stick to their skin.
This is way worse than I expected, can barely see the buildings let alone spot potential threats before they're right on top of us.
Alucent pulled his storm cloak tighter around his shoulders as they navigated the narrow streets, his frock coat already stained with coal dust and his eyes streaming from the acrid air, The Void-touched dagger at his side felt heavier than it should, like the corrupted metal was responding to something in the atmosphere that normal senses couldn't detect.
"The forges are running at maximum capacity" Raya observed, her Weaveblade drawn and ready despite the poor visibility "Temperature readings suggest they are maintaining about 100°C, far hotter than normal metalworking requires"
"Mass production facilities" Sir Vorn agreed, adjusting his monocle against the smog "Designed for quantity rather than quality, which explains the excessive heat and industrial waste"
They moved carefully through streets that had once been residential neighborhoods but were now choked with workshops and assembly lines, the original buildings buried beneath layers of industrial construction that spoke of months of intensive modification, Brass gears and steam pipes visible through open doorways, the constant hammering of metal on metal creating a rhythmic background noise that seemed to echo from every direction.
"The Runepaths are barely functioning" Gryan noted, his mechanical arm creaking slightly in the humid air "Dim amber glow instead of the usual brightness, probably drained to power all this industrial equipment"
The corruption was visible in other ways too, Glowrose gardens that had once provided light and beauty to the residential areas now wilted and gray, their bioluminescent petals dark and lifeless, Even the Runewells looked wrong, their 2-meter diameter circles pulsing with unstable energy that flickered between normal amber and corrupted red.
"This place used to be home to maybe 500 people" Alucent said studying the transformed cityscape "Now it looks like a weapons factory with a few houses attached as an afterthought"
"The residents are still here" Tavin said, his Runetoken pulsing faster as visions showed him glimpses of the occupied buildings "Pressed into service, working the forges and assembly lines under guard, Most of them probably don't even remember what their lives were like before Eloha arrived"
Before Eloha arrived and turned their quiet mining town into a production center for the equipment that would conquer their neighbors and families.
As they approached what the crystal's intelligence had identified as a Forge Coalition workshop, Alucent heard voices from inside, people working despite the early hour and talking in the kind of hushed tones that suggested they were discussing things that could get them in serious trouble if overheard.
"Someone's awake in there" he said pausing outside the brass-reinforced door "Multiple voices, sounds like they are planning something"
"Resistance activity" Sir Vorn suggested "Or perhaps workers discussing escape plans"
"Either way, they might have information about the maintenance tunnel entrance" Raya pointed out "Worth the risk of contact if they prove friendly"
The workshop door was unlocked, which was either a sign of trust or a trap, but they were committed now so Alucent pushed it open and stepped into a space that was about 200 square meters filled with brass gears and mechanical components, Coal dust covered every surface and the air was thick with the smell of metal and oil, but the workspace was organized and functional despite the harsh conditions.
"Who goes there?" a woman's voice called out, sharp with tension but not immediately hostile "State your business or get out"
"Travelers seeking information" Alucent replied, keeping his hands visible and his voice calm "We mean no harm to anyone who opposes Eloha's occupation"
A figure emerged from behind a large brass gear assembly, a woman about 28 years old and maybe 5'4" with pale skin and short black hair that was streaked with coal dust, Her gray eyes were alert and intelligent, studying the newcomers with the kind of wariness that came from months of living under hostile occupation, She wore a leather apron over practical work clothes and carried a Steamwrench that was probably worth about 10 Silverweaves.
"I am Mira" she said not relaxing her guard "Formerly of the Iron Vale Council, currently trying to keep my people alive while this madman turns our home into his personal weapons factory"
"The Coalition still exists then" Sir Vorn observed "Most encouraging, we had feared all organized resistance had been eliminated"
"Barely" Mira replied with bitter laughter "Maybe twenty people left who are willing to risk their lives for a chance at freedom, Everyone else is either dead, corrupted, or too scared to act"
She gestured toward the workshop's interior where several other figures were visible working on mechanical repairs, their faces showing the same combination of determination and exhaustion that marked people who had been fighting a losing battle for way too long.
"We heard explosions yesterday" one of them called out, a man about 5'6 with the calloused hands of someone who had spent years working with machinery "Steamwagon attack on the northern defenses, thought it might be reinforcements from the Green Council"
"That was us" Alucent admitted "Though we are not exactly reinforcements, more like a specialized team with a very specific mission"
"What kind of mission?" Mira asked suspiciously "And why should we trust outsiders who show up in the middle of the night claiming to be on our side"
It was a fair question and one that deserved an honest answer, but explaining their mission to sabotage the Loom without revealing too much about their capabilities was going to be tricky, These people had been living under occupation for months and had probably learned to be very careful about who they trusted with sensitive information.
"We are here to stop Eloha's ritual" he said finally "The one that will give him permanent control over the magical infrastructure, We have intelligence about his facilities and enhanced equipment that might actually give us a chance"
"Enhanced equipment?" Mira's eyes went to the Void-touched dagger at his side "That is not standard Green Council issue, where did you acquire Void-enhanced gear"
"Liberated from one of Eloha's supply caches" Raya answered "Along with tactical intelligence about his fortress layout and defensive capabilities"
As they talked, Alucent noticed that Mira kept favoring her left arm, holding it close to her body in a way that suggested injury or pain, When she moved to demonstrate something about the workshop's layout he caught a glimpse of burned skin on her forearm, probably from working with the overheated forge equipment without proper protection.
"You are injured" he said "Burns from the forge work?"
"Occupational hazard" she replied dismissively "When you are forced to work 16-hour shifts maintaining equipment that was not designed for continuous operation, accidents happen"
"I might be able to help with that" Alucent said reaching for his Runequill "Healing runes, Thread 3 level work that should handle minor burns and tissue damage"
"You are a Runemaster?" Mira asked, her attitude shifting immediately "Real training or just basic inscriptions"
"Silverline Scribe specialization" he replied "Not a full Master yet but competent with healing and enhancement work"
Thread 3 abilities should be more than enough for basic medical runes, even with the complications of working in a smog-filled environment.
But as he began etching the healing pattern, Alucent realized that the smog was interfering with his precision way more than he had expected, The fine particles in the air were making it hard to see the delicate silver lines clearly and the humidity was affecting the way Runeforce flowed through his connection to the magical infrastructure.
"This is more difficult than usual" he muttered as the rune took shape slowly, the healing pattern requiring about 8 square centimeters of precisely aligned silver-glowing inscriptions "The atmospheric conditions are affecting the inscription quality"
"The smog contains Void particles" Sir Vorn explained "Corruption from the industrial processes, it interferes with Thread manipulation and can cause unpredictable effects in magical workings"
The healing rune was supposed to provide stability and restoration, green glow that would accelerate natural healing and reduce pain and inflammation, but working in the corrupted environment was introducing variables that Alucent's training had not prepared him for, Each line of the inscription had to be etched with perfect precision or the entire pattern could collapse.
"Steady" Gryan advised watching the rune develop "The mechanical precision is good but I can see slight wavering in the outer circles, probably from atmospheric interference"
"I can compensate for that" Alucent said with more confidence than he actually felt "Just need to adjust the power flow to account for the environmental factors"
But even as he worked, he could feel something going wrong with the healing pattern, The alignment was shifting slightly as Void particles in the smog interfered with the magical resonance, creating tiny distortions that were propagating through the entire inscription matrix, The green glow was building properly but there were shadows creeping in around the edges.
This is getting way more complicated than basic healing work should be, maybe I should stop and try again when we reach cleaner air.
But Mira was watching him with the kind of hope that came from months of pain and inadequate medical care, and stopping now would probably destroy whatever trust they had managed to build with the resistance members, Sometimes you had to push through complications rather than give up at the first sign of difficulty.
The rune completed with a flash of green light but instead of the smooth healing effect he had been expecting there was a 5-second delay as the pattern struggled to integrate with Mira's natural biorhythm, During those long seconds Alucent could see shadowy visions flickering around the edges of his sight, glimpses of corruption trying to twist the healing energy into something darker.
"What is happening?" Mira asked, her voice tight with concern as the green glow wavered and shadows seemed to move independently around the workshop
"Void interference" he replied, fighting to maintain control over the healing pattern "The atmospheric corruption is trying to corrupt the rune, but the underlying structure is still sound"
"Can you stabilize it?" Sir Vorn asked, his cane crackling with Thread 4 energy as he prepared to intervene if the healing rune collapsed completely
"Working on it" Alucent said through gritted teeth, channeling more Runeforce through his connection to the local Runewell to overcome the environmental interference "The healing effect should activate properly once the corruption burns itself out"
And finally it did, the green glow stabilizing and flowing into Mira's injured arm, accelerating the natural healing process and reducing the inflammation from her forge burns, The shadows faded as the healing energy overwhelmed the Void interference, leaving behind the clean light of properly functioning medical magic.
"That is incredible" Mira breathed, flexing her arm as the pain disappeared and the burned skin began to heal visibly "I had forgotten what it felt like to be free of constant discomfort"
"Basic Thread 3 work" Alucent replied, though he was more exhausted than he wanted to admit "The environmental complications made it harder than usual but the result is the same"
The healing had worked but the effort of fighting through the Void interference had drained him way more than normal medical runes should, His connection to the magical infrastructure felt strained and there was a persistent ache behind his eyes that suggested he had pushed his abilities close to their current limits.
Maybe I need to be more careful about advanced rune work in corrupted environments, this place is way worse than anything I trained for.
"Your assistance is most welcome" Mira said, her attitude toward the group transforming completely now that Alucent had proven his abilities "The Coalition has been trying to maintain medical care for our people but without trained Runemasters most injuries just have to heal on their own"
"How many wounded do you have?" Raya asked "And what kind of medical supplies are available"
"Fifteen people with forge burns, eight with respiratory problems from the smog, and three with serious injuries from industrial accidents" Mira replied "As for supplies, we make do with what we can scavenge or steal from Eloha's medical stores"
Fifteen people with forge burns, that would require a lot of healing runes and way more Runeforce than Alucent was prepared to spend, especially working in an environment that made every inscription twice as difficult as normal, But leaving injured people to suffer when he had the skills to help them was not really an option.
"I can probably handle the burns and respiratory issues" he said "Though working in this atmosphere is going to be slow and exhausting, The serious injuries might require Thread 4 level work"
"Which I can provide" Sir Vorn offered "Though medical runes are not my primary specialization, I have sufficient training to address traumatic injuries"
As they discussed medical treatment, the workshop door burst open and another resistance member stumbled in, his face pale with shock and his clothes singed from recent exposure to extreme heat, About 5'6" with the kind of mechanical knowledge that marked him as one of Mira's regular collaborators.
"Explosion at Forge Seven" he gasped "Boiler rupture, at least three workers trapped in the debris and the Shadebinders are already responding"
"Damn" Mira cursed grabbing her Steamwrench and heading for the door "That is my brother's workshop, we have to get there before Eloha's people decide the explosion was sabotage and start executing survivors"
"We will come with you" Alucent said, though part of him knew this was going to complicate their mission significantly "Additional medical support and combat capabilities if the Shadebinders prove hostile"
"Too dangerous" she protested "You are not Coalition, this is not your fight"
"It is now" Raya said, her Void-touched longsword already in her hand "We cannot complete our mission if Eloha's forces are alerted by rescue efforts, Better to help you handle this quietly than risk larger complications"
The run to Forge Seven took about ten minutes through smoke-choked streets that seemed to get worse with every block, the smog so thick that navigation was mostly a matter of following the sound of shouting voices and the acrid smell of burning metal and wood, When they arrived the scene was way worse than the messenger had indicated.
The forge explosion had been massive, probably a full boiler rupture that had sent brass fragments and superheated steam through a blast area of about half a square meter, The workshop was partially collapsed and there were at least four people visible in the debris, some moving and calling for help, others ominously still.
"There" Mira pointed toward a figure trapped beneath a fallen brass beam "That is my brother Marcus, he is alive but the beam is too heavy for us to lift manually"
Marcus was about 5'8" with the same gray eyes and determined expression as his sister, his legs pinned beneath maybe 200 pounds of brass-reinforced timber but conscious and apparently not seriously injured beyond the crushing weight, His mechanical tools were scattered around the debris but within reach if someone could free him.
"Gryan can handle the beam" Alucent said "His enhanced arm should provide sufficient lifting power while I check Marcus for internal injuries"
"Already on it" Gryan replied moving toward the trapped man, his mechanical arm whirring as hydraulic systems engaged to provide the leverage needed to lift heavy debris "This represents approximately 150% of my normal lifting capacity but well within emergency parameters"
But as Gryan positioned himself to lift the beam, Alucent heard the distinctive sound of Voidshard darts being fired, the high-pitched whistle that meant Shadebinders were already engaging targets in the immediate area, Three red-eyed figures moving through the smog with the coordination that marked them as experienced urban fighters.
"Contact" Raya called out, her longsword meeting the first Voidshard dart in a shower of sparks "Shadebinders, at least three of them, moving to cut off our escape routes"
The corrupted scouts were fast and professional, spreading out to control the tactical situation while maintaining enough distance to use their ranged weapons effectively, Each carried maybe a dozen Voidshard darts and seemed willing to use them liberally to prevent any organized rescue efforts.
"Lift on three" Gryan called out, ignoring the combat around him as he focused on freeing Marcus "One, two, three"
The brass beam came up smoothly, Gryan's mechanical arm providing precise control as Marcus scrambled clear of the crushing weight, but the effort left the artificer vulnerable to attack and one of the Shadebinders had noticed the opening, A 5-centimeter dart flying directly toward Gryan's exposed back.
"Down" Alucent shouted, tackling Gryan sideways as the Voidshard projectile passed through the space where his head had been maybe half a second earlier "These things are accurate and they will keep firing until we eliminate them or break contact"
But even as they took cover behind the forge debris, Alucent could see that Marcus was in worse shape than initial observation had indicated, Internal bleeding from the crushing injury and possible organ damage that would require immediate medical attention, The kind of healing work that normally took careful preparation and optimal conditions.
"Marcus needs Thread 3 healing immediately" he called out to Mira "Internal injuries, probably abdominal bleeding that could be fatal if not treated quickly"
"Can you work under fire?" she asked, her Steamwrench deflecting another Voidshard dart with a spray of sparks
"Going to have to" Alucent replied, pulling out his Runequill despite the terrible tactical situation "Basic stabilization rune first, then more complex healing work if we can clear the immediate threats"
Working combat medicine under Shadebinder fire in a smoke-filled environment was about as far from optimal conditions as medical rune work could get, but Marcus was losing blood fast and waiting for better circumstances would probably mean watching him die, Sometimes you had to improvise with whatever tools and abilities you had available.
The stabilization rune took shape quickly, green light cutting through the smog as Alucent channeled Runeforce through his connection to Iron Vale's corrupted magical infrastructure, The pattern was designed to stop internal bleeding and maintain vital functions, about six square centimeters of precisely etched silver lines that would provide temporary life support until more comprehensive healing could be applied.
"Rune integration successful" he announced as the green glow merged with Marcus's biorhythm "Bleeding stopped, vital signs stabilizing, but he will need additional treatment within the hour"
"Outstanding work" Sir Vorn observed, his cane firing Thread 4 energy blasts that forced the Shadebinders to take cover "Though I suggest we conclude this rescue operation before additional enemy forces arrive"
"Agreed" Raya said, her Void-touched longsword cutting through the smog as she pursued the nearest Shadebinder "These scouts will have reported our presence and capabilities, probably calling for reinforcement as we speak"
The combat lasted maybe 5 minutes, long enough for the Shadebinders to realize they were outnumbered and outmatched by opponents with Void-enhanced equipment and Thread mastery, The corrupted scouts melted back into the smog with the kind of tactical discipline that suggested they had accomplished their primary objective of gathering intelligence.
"They have withdrawn" Sir Vorn announced "But they observed our magical capabilities and equipment quality, quite sufficient information for planning future engagements"
"Then we move fast" Mira said helping her brother to his feet "Get the wounded to safety and evacuate this area before the next patrol arrives"
As they organized the evacuation, Alucent noticed something that made him pause, a faint glow coming from deeper in the ruined forge, blue-white light that seemed to pulse with its own rhythm despite the destruction around it, The color was wrong for normal magical equipment but familiar from recent experience with Void-enhanced materials.
"Tavin" he called out "Your visions, are they showing anything about that glow from the forge interior"
Tavin's eyes went distant as he touched his Runetoken, the copper disc pulsing with sympathetic light as another vision took hold "Voidshard cache" he whispered "Hidden in the forge foundations, emergency supply left by whoever established the resistance network"
A Voidshard cache, that could be incredibly valuable or incredibly dangerous depending on whether the crystals were purified for safe use or raw corruption that could kill anyone who handled them incorrectly, But either way it represented resources that might make the difference in their mission against Eloha.
"How much Voidshard?" Raya asked "And what condition"
"Maybe 20 crystals, various sizes, purification status unknown" Tavin replied "Hidden beneath the main forge, protected by mundane concealment rather than magical wards"
20 Voidshard crystals could provide temporary Thread advancement for the entire team or power enhancement runes that would let them punch way above their normal weight class, but handling corrupted crystals without proper preparation was an excellent way to get yourself killed or worse, The kind of resource that came with serious risks attached.
"We should investigate" Sir Vorn said "Voidshard resources could prove decisive in our confrontation with Eloha, though proper precautions will be essential"
"After we get the wounded to safety" Mira insisted "My people come first, treasure hunting can wait until everyone is out of immediate danger"
She was right of course, but Alucent could not shake the feeling that time was working against them, Every hour they spent on rescue operations was another hour for Eloha to strengthen his defenses or advance his ritual preparations, The balance between doing the right thing and completing their critical mission was getting more complicated with every decision.
"Quick evacuation then investigation" he suggested "Get Marcus and the other injured to wherever the Coalition maintains medical facilities, then return for the Voidshard cache"
"The old Steamcottage" Mira explained as they organized the wounded for transport "About 400 meters from here, mostly abandoned but we have established a basic medical station in the basement, The Steamsewer connections provide clean water and the location is easy to defend"
They made good time through the smog-choked streets, moving in small groups to avoid attracting attention while ensuring that injured resistance members received appropriate support, Marcus was stable thanks to Alucent's healing rune but still weak from blood loss and the trauma of being crushed beneath brass debris.
"That healing work probably saved his life" Mira said as they reached the Steamcottage medical station "Without immediate magical intervention the internal bleeding would have been fatal within minutes"
"Thread 3 medical training" Alucent replied "Though working in this corrupted environment is way more difficult than normal conditions, The atmospheric interference makes precision work nearly impossible"
The medical station was basic but functional, equipped with supplies that had been scavenged or stolen from Eloha's facilities over months of resistance activity, Clean bandages and basic medicines plus a few pieces of Thread 1 medical equipment that could handle routine treatment, Not much by Council standards but probably the best the Coalition could manage under occupation.
"Dr. Henley will handle the ongoing care" Mira explained as an older man emerged from the medical supplies "Former Guild physician, one of the few medical professionals who refused to collaborate with the occupation"
Dr. Henley was maybe 60 years old with gray hair and hands that showed the kind of precision that came from decades of medical practice, His examination of Marcus confirmed that Alucent's healing rune had been properly applied and that the internal bleeding had been fully stopped.
"Excellent stabilization work" he said approvingly "Thread 3 level precision, though I can see signs of environmental interference in the rune structure, You were working under difficult conditions"
"Smog and Void particles" Alucent explained "Made the inscription process way more complicated than normal healing work"
"Indeed, this entire city has become nearly uninhabitable for anyone with magical sensitivity" Dr. Henley replied "The constant industrial pollution combined with Void corruption creates an atmosphere that interferes with most Thread-based abilities"
As they prepared to return to the ruined forge, Mira pressed a small leather pouch into Alucent's hands, the contents clinking with the distinctive sound of Silverweave, Payment for the medical assistance that had saved her brother's life and probably several other Coalition members.
"Twenty Silverweaves" she said "Not much by Council standards but everything the Coalition can afford for life-saving medical work"
20 Silverweaves was actually pretty good payment for maybe 30 minutes of healing rune work, even accounting for the difficult environmental conditions, but taking money from resistance fighters who were already struggling to survive under occupation felt wrong, These people needed every resource they could gather for their own operations.
"Keep it" Alucent said trying to hand the pouch back "Use the money for medical supplies or weapons, we have funding for our mission"
"No" Mira insisted firmly "The Coalition pays its debts, especially to people who risk their lives to help our wounded, Take the payment or we will assume you think our cause is not worth proper compensation"
When she put it that way, refusing the payment would probably be more insulting than accepting it, and 20 Silverweaves could buy equipment or supplies that might prove useful during their mission, Sometimes the best way to help people was to let them maintain their dignity and independence.
"Thank you" he said accepting the pouch "The Coalition's reputation for honor remains intact"
As they prepared to leave the medical station, one of the other resistance members approached with a small cloth bundle, the contents shaped like breathing protection but made from materials that were clearly improvised from whatever was available.
"Smog masks" he explained "Made from Glowrose fibers and charcoal filters, not perfect but should reduce respiratory irritation and provide some protection against Void particles"
"How much?" Raya asked examining the construction quality.
"Ten Copperweaves per mask" the man replied "Though we can barter for useful equipment or information instead of coin"
10 Copperweaves was maybe 1 Silverweave for basic respiratory protection, reasonable pricing for handmade equipment that could provide significant health benefits in Iron Vale's toxic atmosphere, Alucent handed over the coins and accepted masks for the entire team.
"Good investment" Sir Vorn observed as he adjusted his mask against the smog "Even minor respiratory protection should improve our effectiveness in this environment"
The return trip to Forge Seven took about 15 minutes through streets that seemed to be getting more active as the morning progressed, Workers heading to their assigned shifts and patrols moving through the industrial districts with the kind of routine efficiency that marked an established occupation, The smog masks helped considerably, reducing the constant irritation and making it easier to focus on navigation and threat assessment.
"The cache should be accessible through the forge basement" Tavin said consulting his visions as they approached the explosion site "Concealed beneath what appears to be routine storage but actually provides access to emergency supplies"
The forge basement was partly flooded from ruptured steam pipes but still navigable, brass stairs leading down to a storage area that had been protected from the worst of the explosion damage, Wooden crates and metal shelving filled with the kind of supplies that any working forge would need, but Tavin's visions pointed toward a section of the wall that looked like solid stone.
"There" he whispered pointing to what appeared to be normal foundation work "The Voidshard cache is concealed behind that section, hidden by mundane methods rather than magical concealment"
Gryan examined the wall with professional interest, his mechanical fingers detecting subtle differences in the construction that were not visible to normal inspection, After about 5 minutes of careful probing he found the hidden release mechanism.
"Clever work" he said as a section of the wall swung inward "Spring-loaded pivot concealed behind normal masonry, would be nearly impossible to detect without knowing exactly where to look"
The concealed chamber was small, maybe 3 square meters, but filled with exactly what Tavin's visions had promised, Twenty Voidshard crystals of various sizes ranging from small enhancement gems to larger crystals that pulsed with significant power, Plus documentation that explained their purification status and safe handling procedures.
"These are purified" Sir Vorn announced examining the documentation "Void corruption neutralized for safe use, though they retain the power enhancement properties that make Voidshard valuable"
"Temporary Thread advancement lasting about one hour per crystal" Alucent read from the instruction sheets "Plus enhancement bonuses for weapons and armor, significant tactical advantages but limited duration"
20 purified Voidshard crystals represented serious resources, the kind of power boost that could make the difference between success and failure when confronting Thread 5 opposition, but the documentation also contained warnings about extended use and the risks of Void addiction.
"We should take what we can carry" Raya suggested "But avoid using them until we reach the Loom chamber, Save the enhancement for when we need maximum effectiveness"
As they loaded the Voidshard crystals into their packs, Alucent noticed that the blue-white glow seemed to respond to his presence, pulsing brighter when he handled the crystals and creating sympathetic resonance with the Void-touched dagger at his side, The connection felt natural but also slightly dangerous, like touching something that was more powerful than it appeared.
"The crystals are responding to your Void-touched equipment" Sir Vorn observed "Harmonic resonance that suggests compatible power frequencies, potentially useful for enhancement applications"
"Or potentially dangerous if the resonance gets out of control" Raya pointed out "Void corruption is unpredictable even when properly purified"
They secured the cache and prepared to leave the ruined forge, but as they climbed back to street level. Alucent could hear increased activity from the industrial districts, more patrols and work gangs moving through the area with the kind of purpose that suggested someone had noticed the explosion and rescue operation.
"We should return to the Coalition workshop" Mira suggested "Plan our next moves and coordinate with the resistance network before attempting to reach the maintenance tunnel"
But as they reached the street, Tavin's eyes went wide with another vision, this one showing immediate danger rather than distant possibilities "Patrol approaching" he whispered urgently "Rune-Armors, five units, they will reach this position in approximately eight minutes"
Five Rune-Armors meant serious opposition, Thread 2 level combat capability multiplied by advanced protective systems and coordinated tactics, the kind of force that could overwhelm individual opponents even with enhanced equipment and superior magical training.
"Time to go" Alucent said leading the way through the smog-choked streets toward whatever concealment they could find before the patrol arrived "And time to figure out how we reach that maintenance tunnel without fighting half of Eloha's army"
The smog swirled around them as they disappeared into Iron Vale's industrial maze, concealing their movement but also hiding potential threats until they were almost close enough to touch, Every step taking them deeper into enemy territory and closer to the fortress that contained both their objective and enough defensive capability to kill them all several times over.
Behind them the ruined forge settled back into the kind of silence that marked a successful covert operation, but ahead the smoke from dozens of other workshops continued to rise into the gray sky, a constant reminder that they were moving through the heart of Eloha's industrial empire with nothing but enhanced equipment and desperate courage to protect them from detection.
"The maintenance tunnel entrance should be about 300 meters ahead" Mira said consulting a map that was probably outdated but better than nothing "Assuming the patrol routes have not changed since yesterday"
300 meters through hostile territory to reach a tunnel filled with Void corruption that might kill them even if they avoided the patrols, the mission was getting more dangerous with every step but they were committed now, everything depending on speed and stealth and whatever tricks they could manage with Thread abilities and Voidshard enhancement when the time came to face Eloha himself.