At a military base in Kreyn's world, the Road of Peace, it would be impossible to access an arsenal full of explosives without a complex code and several levels of security.
But here?
One key from the guard was more than enough to solve this problem.
Crack.
The door opened as Kreyn stepped inside. He saw boxes filled to the brim with simple but effective dynamite. All that was needed was to light the fuse, and the warehouse would be replaced by a crater the size of a field.
"Hah, and they keep all this in one place? Unbelievable!" Kreyn rushed to examine the dynamite.
The others looked back as Groza stepped forward. "Hey, what's your plan anyway?"
"I agree." Valyra nodded. "The guards will be here very soon."
"I know. Don't worry." Kreyn waved his hand. "In fact, they turned out to be much slower than I thought. You'd better tell me, the only valuable place in this prison is that mine in the main courtyard, right?"
She pointed toward the mine.
"Yes. The Worm Mines, prisoners mine ore there every day in hopes of getting some Worm Crystals."
"Worm... What?" Kreyn raised an eyebrow. "Who even came up with these names? Tsk. Not only are we in prison, but there are worms around us too."
"Hahaha, luckily, we have nothing to worry about. The Arakta Worms rarely venture so far from their lair to encounter prisoners. Although... sometimes it happens."
Kreyn narrowed his eyes. "What happens then?"
"Isn't it obvious? If you're not an Origin, you don't stand a chance against them."
"Sure. I don't like the names, but I understand that the entire prison is held together by these Worm Crystals because they're quite valuable."
"Of course. Even the Wurhen Family can't ignore this resource, even though they're rich bastards."
A few moments later, Kreyn stood up and clapped his hands.
"Captain." Azura spoke for the first time since their transfer. "What are we going to do?"
"What we love most — blackmail and intimidation!"
...
Kreyn understood that they had to act quickly, faster than the guards could react.
It seemed that he was late, as dozens of guards were rushing down the corridor, and a few prisoners in the yard were no problem for them. If they suppressed the riot at its beginning, they would avoid disaster. They believed that.
"Hurry! They're in the warehouse!"
"I'll show these bastards what it means to go against us!"
Among the group of guards, one stopped, looking at the delighted glances of the prisoners.
"W-Wait… Could they already…?"
Unfortunately for the guards, Kreyn understood perfectly well how his enemies would act.
Right now, Azura, Liam, Groza, and several women from the kitchen were running through the cells and freeing the prisoners who were supposed to work in the mine during the second and third shifts.
It was obvious to the guards that as soon as all the prisoners joined forces and everyone knew what was going on, they would quickly move into a stage of combat where the prisoners would have a clear advantage.
Did Kreyn want to save the guards' lives for a trade? Sure, but he wasn't going to waste time trying to control hundreds of prisoners.
His goal was different.
He couldn't defeat all the guards and control all the prisoners, but he could take over the prison and rule them all at once.
...
"Now?" Kreyn whispered as a group of guards in unusually long coats ran past them on the left.
Valyra nodded. "The warden's office is right in front of us. He's a useless piece of shit who can't even beat a half-dead man, but he always has two personal guards with him. They should be standing in front of the doors."
"I see, work with me and don't waste a moment."
"S-Stop, I'm not—!"
She didn't have time to finish before Kreyn revealed himself, walking toward the two menacing guards with his arms spread wide as if greeting old friends.
They were immediately on alert. Unlike the other guards, their gazes were predatory, and heavy coats covered their strong, tall bodies, and their belts held long swords instead of clubs and short blades.
Valyra had to come out of hiding, and as soon as she did, the guards stood in a fighting stance, hands on their hilts.
"So you started all this?" The guard's hoarse voice rang out. "Tsk, gaunt and weak, are you from death row?"
The older guard nodded. "Impressive. It's a shame that such a mind will be wasted in this prison."
Kreyn spread his arms wide. "What can I say, life is cruel. But! I have one trump card!"
'A trump card?' The guards thought simultaneously, watching Kreyn's every move intently.
As if in the center of a theatrical performance, Kreyn pulled dynamite from behind his back and threw it right at the guards' feet.
Their minds were too focused on his words and the threat of the dynamite to immediately notice one important detail.
'Wait...' The older guard muttered internally. 'The fuse isn't lit, he just—'
Too late.
With a whistle of the wind, two blades pierced the necks and heads of the guards, who had allowed themselves to be distracted during the fight.
"You." Valyra clenched her teeth, her fingers trembling from the risky throw. "You're crazy! What if I had missed?"
"Then you would die, and I would run away. It would be your fault." Kreyn replied carelessly and kicked the door to the warden's office open.
Splinters flew past his eyes as a click sounded from inside.
"Don't come any closer!" The fat man with sweat running down his forehead exclaimed in panic.
The warden held a revolver with two trembling hands, polished and ready to fire at any moment.
Valyra rushed forward. Even she wasn't crazy enough to take such a risk at that moment.
"Mr. Warden, you'd better give up." She tried to calm the situation down.
"SHUT UP, BITCH!" The warden screamed. "I'm in charge here, and you'll do what I say! You'll surrender now and quell the riot, or I'll shoot you right here! I'm not kidding!"
Valyra gulped. No matter how insignificant the warden was in her eyes, the gun in his hands was capable of ending her life in the blink of an eye.
"Go on."
Kreyn's words broke forth.
"Shoot if you want. But, considering how your hands are shaking, aren't you afraid of hitting me?"
"Agh?"
Kreyn pointed to the dynamite behind him.
"One shot, one mistake of a couple of centimeters, and we'll all die."
Step.
Kreyn took a powerful step forward.
"Are you willing to take that risk?"
"I... That's... No..."
The warden muttered something while sweat streamed down his forehead. He didn't want to die, and that fear completely consumed him.
Tap.
By the time the panic attack was over, Kreyn was already right in front of him, knocking the revolver out of his hands.
"NO!" The warden exclaimed as he tried to grab his gun back, but Kreyn just twisted his wrist, and only the table separated them.
Click.
Without saying a word, under Valyra's shocked gaze, Kreyn opened the cylinder, as five of six bullets fell onto the table.
"W-What are you doing?!" The warden's voice trembled.
"Just want to ask you a question." Kreyn began to slowly run the cylinder along his arm.
Click. Click. Click.
The cylinder spun quickly, making it impossible to tell where the bullet was.
"What will you choose?" Kreyn grabbed him by the collar. "Will you hand over the prison to me, or will you try to defeat me?"
He put the revolver to his head.
"Come on, I'll go first! The odds are 50/50, either you or me!"
Kreyn's grip tightened.
"What will you choose!?"
The warden's eyes darted from side to side.
"ANSWER ME!"
The warden closed his eyes, on the verge of tears.
"I surrender! The prison is yours, just don't kill me, please!"
With a cold stare, Kreyn released the warden, who collapsed to the ground, trembling with fear.
Then, Kreyn turned to Valyra, waving his revolver.
"The prison is ours. Half the battle is won, right?"
Valyra just gulped, promising herself that she would never go against the demon in front of her.