After Kai, Ray, and Mono left, Hiro, Maximus, and Justin made their way to the magic prism. As the three teleported there, they came forward to one of the chambers, as the three entered there. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with tension. In the center, Jellal sat on the ground, his hands on his knees.

As the three approached, Jellal looked up and smiled. His smile prideful and mischievous. “Have you already made up your minds to give me the Rainbow Feather?” He asked, laughing out loud.

Hiro stepped forward, his expression stern. “Since the kids were there, we couldn’t have a proper discussion. So we came here to have it now.”

Jellal’s laughter stopped, his smile faded slightly as he looked up at them. “Do you know what can happen if you lay a finger on me?”

Justin stepped forward, his eyes cold and calculating. “A detection magic is placed over you, right? Or more specifically, a psychic alarm spell… which can tell your team that you got hurt, right?”

Jellal’s smile returned, more confident this time. “If you already know that, you won’t make the mistake of even touching me, right?”

Justin laughed softly, a dangerous edge to his voice. “Did you forget we are in the magic prism right now, Jellal? Except for mine, no one else's' magic doesn’t work in here.” He looked at Jellal with a serious expression. “You should know what that means, right?”

Jellal’s eyes widened in realization as the three men approached him. Maximus knelt down in front of him, his face a mask of controlled fury. “My daughter was there, so I had to hold back my anger. But not anymore.”

Jellal started to shake, fear creeping into his eyes. He moved back slightly, as the three just watched him. Slowly, the three men began their interrogation, their methods harsh and unrelenting. Maximus’s fists landed with precision, each blow demanding answers. Hiro’s voice was calm but menacing, his questions cutting through Jellal’s defenses. Justin’s presence was a constant reminder of the power they held over him.

“Where is Nino?” Maximus demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Jellal gasped for breath, his resolve weakening. “I… I don’t know…”

Hiro’s hand gripped Jellal’s shoulder, his fingers digging into the flesh. “Tell us the truth, Jellal. Where is she?”

Jellal’s eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape that didn’t exist. “She’s… she’s in the old ruins outside the city. They planned to use her as an exchange for the Rainbow Feather.”

Justin’s eyes narrowed. “Who are they?”

Jellal hesitated, then finally broke. “A group of rebels… they call themselves the Shadow Order. They’re planning something big, but I don’t know all the details.”

Maximus stood up, his fists still clenched. “If anything happens to her…”

Justin placed a hand on Maximus’s arm, calming him. “We’ll get her back, Max.”

Hiro turned to the others. “We need to move quickly. Gather the knights and mages. We leave immediately.” As he stood up, he looked over Jellal one last time, as he says. “We will get rest of the details later...”

As they prepared to leave, Justin looked back at Jellal one last time. “Thank you for your cooperation. You’ll be dealt with accordingly.”

Jellal slumped back to the wall, defeated. “Just get it over with.”

With a final nod, the three men left the room, their minds focused on the rescue mission ahead.

Around the same time, Ray was already at the outskirts of the city, his red cloak billowing behind him as he moved swiftly through the shadows. The night was cool, and the distant sounds of the city faded as he ventured further away. In his ear, Kai’s voice provided guidance, calm and steady.

Kai sat in their room, surrounded by two screens. One displayed Ray’s live location, showing him running in the outskirts, while the other tracked the distance to Nino’s suspected location. The glow from the screens illuminated Kai’s focused expression.

“Ray, take the next left. It should lead you to a less guarded path,” Kai instructed through the earpiece.

Ray nodded, even though he is surprised how Kai is precisely guiding him. “Got it,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He followed Kai’s directions, moving with purpose and determination.

As Ray navigated the darkened streets, he couldn’t help but feel a mix of anxiety and hope. The thought of Nino in danger spurred him on, his resolve unwavering. “How much further, Kai?” he asked, his breath coming in steady puffs.

Kai glanced at the second screen, calculating the distance. “You’re about two kilometers away. Keep going straight, and you’ll reach the old ruins.”

Ray’s heart pounded in his chest, but he pushed forward. “Thanks, Kai. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

To Ray's words, Kai smiled slightly. “We’re a team, Ray. Just stay focused and be careful.”

Ray continued running, his mind racing with thoughts of Nino. He couldn’t afford to fail. As he approached the outskirts, the landscape began to change. The buildings became more sparse, and the air grew colder.

“Ray, there’s a small forest ahead. It should provide some cover as you get closer to the ruins,” Kai advised.

Ray nodded again, his eyes scanning the area. “Understood.”

Kai’s voice remained steady, providing a sense of calm amidst the tension. “Remember, Ray, we will try our best not to get into combat, but if we have no other choice but to fight, then it's all on your shoulder to keep Nino safe.”

Ray’s determination only grew stronger. “I know, Kai. Let’s bring her back.” In a blink of an eye, Ray swiftly entered the forest, the shadows enveloping him as he moved closer to his destination.

Ray moved swiftly through the forest, his red cloak blending with the shadows. As he approached the old ruins, he saw many buildings, old and crumbling, as if a small town had once thrived there. The eerie silence was broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl.

“Kai, I see a lot of old, ruined buildings here. It looks like a small town,” Ray whispered into his earpiece.

Kai’s voice came through, calm and steady. “During a battle, this town was destroyed and became uninhabitable. Maybe that’s why the kidnappers brought Nino here.”

Ray nodded, understanding the strategic choice. “Makes sense. It’s the perfect place to hide.”

Kai’s looked at the map carefully, as he navigated Ray through the ruins. “Head towards the largest building in the center. That’s where Nino is likely being kept.”

Ray moved cautiously, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement. He reached the building and carefully pushed the door open. Inside, it seemed empty, the air thick with dust and decay.

“Kai, it looks empty,” Ray reported, his voice tinged with frustration.

Kai glanced at his second screen, which displayed a detailed map of the building. “Wait, Ray. There’s an underground floor. It goes deeper, with many rooms. Nino is underground right now.”

Ray’s heart pounded, surprised how Kai was so perfectly able to navigate him. As he followed Kai’s directions, searching for the entrance to the underground rooms. He found a hidden staircase behind a broken wall and descended quietly, his footsteps barely making a sound.

“Be careful, Ray. There are kidnappers down there, lots of them. Move slowly and stay hidden,” Kai advised. looking at the second screen filled with lots of red dots.

Ray nodded, his senses on high alert. He crept through the narrow corridors, carefully avoiding the kidnappers patrolling the area. Kai’s guidance was precise, helping him navigate the maze of rooms and hallways.

As Ray approached the room where Nino was being held, he could hear muffled voices. He pressed himself against the wall, listening intently.

“Kai, I’m close. I can hear them,” Ray whispered.

Kai smirked, as he looks at the first screen showing Ray carefully getting closer to the room. “Great! Stay focused, Ray. We’re almost there. Just a little further.”

Ray took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. He moved closer, his heart racing with anticipation.

Ray stood at the door, his hand trembling slightly as he prepared to open it. The muffled voices inside indicated that Nino was close. Just as he was about to push the door open, Kai’s urgent voice came through the earpiece.

“Ray, someone is right behind you!”

Ray’s heart skipped a beat. He spun around, his eyes widening as he saw a kidnapper silently approaching, a blade glinting in his hand. The kidnapper’s eyes were cold and focused, intent on his target.

“Grab the hand holding the knife and thrust it to his neck,” Kai instructed, his voice calm but firm.

Ray hesitated for a split second, fear and uncertainty gripping him. But the urgency in Kai’s voice spurred him into action. He lunged forward, grabbing the kidnapper’s wrist and forcing the blade towards the man’s neck. The kidnapper’s eyes widened in shock as the blade pierced his skin.

“Now, go behind him,” Kai continued.

Ray moved quickly, positioning himself behind the kidnapper. The man struggled, but Ray held firm, his adrenaline pumping.

“Now, hold his head with both hands and twist it violently,” Kai instructed.

Ray’s hands trembled as he placed them on the kidnapper’s head. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he had to do. With a swift, violent motion, he twisted the man’s head. There was a sickening crack, and the kidnapper went limp, collapsing to the ground.

Ray stood there, breathing heavily, his heart pounding in his chest. He looked down at the lifeless body, a mix of emotions swirling within him. He had never taken a life before, and the reality of what he had done hit him hard.

“...Ray, are you okay?” Kai’s voice was filled with concern.

Ray took a shaky breath, nodding as he stood his ground. “Yeah… I’m okay.”

“Good. We need to keep moving.” Kai says, looking at Ray on the first screen.

Ray nodded again, his resolve hardening. "It's his first time to kill someone. I can’t afford to let his emotions get the better of him." Kai thought, looking at how Ray's eyes were filled with a mix of emotions.

Kai’s voice came through the earpiece, calm but urgent. “Ray, move the lifeless body to a dark corner. Quickly, but quietly.”

Ray nodded, even though he was still having a hard time. He bent down, gripping the kidnapper’s lifeless body and slowly dragged it to a shadowy corner of the room. The weight of the body made his muscles strain, but he managed to move it without making much noise.

“Stay quiet and listen carefully,” Kai instructed. “There are two people coming your way coming.”

Ray froze, his breath catching in his throat. He pressed himself against the wall, straining to hear. Footsteps echoed down the corridor, accompanied by the low murmur of voices. Two figures emerged from the darkness, their conversation growing clearer.

One was the leader, a tall man with a commanding presence, wearing an armor cloak, with a great sword behind him. The other was his subordinate, holding a crystal ball in his hands claude in armor, who seemed nervous and on edge.

“We lost the magical signal to Jellal,” the subordinate said, his voice tinged with worry.

The leader’s expression darkened. “Keep an eye around the base. We can’t afford any mistakes. I’ll talk to him.”

Ray listened intently, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the tension in the air, the danger lurking just around the corner.

“Who is ‘him’?” Kai wondered back in their room, his eyes fixed on the screens.

Ray remained silent, focusing on the conversation between the two men. The leader’s voice was low and menacing. “If anyone tries to interfere, we’ll deal with them swiftly. Make sure the guards are on high alert.”

The subordinate nodded, his fear evident. “Yes, sir.”

As the two men moved away, their footsteps fading into the distance, Ray let out a slow breath. He turned his attention back to the task at hand.

“Kai, they’re gone. What now?” Ray whispered.

Kai’s voice was steady. “Continue to the underground rooms. The faster, the better. Be careful, Ray.”

-To be Continued