Chapter 23: The Successor of Rayne

The Rockhill Valley Shelter, hidden 1,000 meters beneath the hills west of Mount Rainier, had long been believed to be the only underground refuge in the area. However, that was not the case.

A massive stronghold lay nearby—nestled deep within Mount Rainier itself.

A crowd gathered at the entrance of Rockhill Valley Shelter, watching as the thick steel doors slowly swung open. One by one, a large group of people marched inside. From their appearance and demeanor, they, too, seemed to be part of the resistance.

These newcomers were the Terra Stronghold Resistance Fighters from Mount Rainier.

Unlike the Rockhill Valley rebels, they were heavily armored, equipped with powered exoskeletons, and wielded far superior weaponry. Some carried Gatling guns and rocket launchers, a stark contrast to the Rockhill rebels, who only had rifles at their disposal.

More than four hundred of them entered the shelter’s grand plaza in perfect formation, their imposing presence overshadowing the Rockhill resistance forces in both numbers and discipline.

The residents of Rockhill Valley murmured among themselves, whispering in confusion and curiosity. They had never known that such a formidable force existed so close by, nor did they understand the purpose of this unexpected visit.

Among the onlookers was Alex and his companions, with Alex in particular wearing a grim expression.

Finally, two men stepped forward from the open entrance. They both wore berets and military insignia, walking with steady, commanding strides.

“Who are they?”

The murmurs grew louder as the crowd sized up the newcomers. One appeared middle-aged, while the other was much younger—though the resemblance between them suggested they might be father and son. They seemed to be waiting for Commander Rayne.

Not long after, their wait ended.

“You’ve finally arrived...”

Commander Rayne approached them from the resistance camp, his steps steady but his complexion noticeably pale. Though he tried to mask his condition, it was clear he wasn’t in good health.

The older man stepped forward immediately, offering his arm in a familiar gesture of support, as if they had known each other for a long time. The younger man followed suit, greeting Rayne with equal familiarity.

The crowd couldn’t hear their conversation, but speculation ran rampant.

Understanding the rising curiosity, Rayne turned to the people of Rockhill Valley and spoke:

“Citizens of Rockhill Valley, these men are from the Terra Stronghold Resistance in Mount Rainier. There is no need for concern... Please remain calm. I will provide an explanation shortly.”

With that, Rayne led the two men into the resistance camp’s meeting chamber, closing the door behind them. Whatever they were discussing, it was clearly of great importance.

Alex remained tense, his eyes locked on the meeting chamber. Suddenly, Joey shouted:

“Look! Anna just went in too!”

Sure enough, Anna, expressionless as ever, stepped into the meeting chamber. Just before she closed the door, her gaze briefly met Alex’s from across the crowd—her eyes flickering with a trace of regret before disappearing behind the door.

A surge of frustration burned inside Alex. He wanted to run forward, to demand answers from Anna, but his growing agitation had already taken a physical toll—his grip tightening so forcefully around the iron railing that it began to warp under his strength.

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“Alex, control yourself. Don’t let them see your power.”

The AI in his smartwatch, Rey, spoke up in warning.

Only then did Alex, unwillingly, release his grip from the now-deformed railing.

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Finally, the door to the meeting hall swung open once more. The crowd, waiting anxiously, turned their eyes toward it. Commander Rayne emerged, leading two men toward the plaza. A microphone stand was set up—clearly, Rayne had something important to announce.

Standing before the microphone, Rayne scanned the faces of the Rockhill Valley citizens before speaking:

"People of Rockhill Valley... I've been fortunate to serve as your resistance commander since my youth. And while I’ve always been willing to fight for our survival, the truth is, our forces are too under-equipped and outmatched. If the machines ever find this place, we won’t stand a chance. That’s why the time has come... for the next generation to take over."

A murmur spread through the crowd, confusion evident on their faces. But Rayne continued, now introducing the two men beside him.

"During our battles on the surface, I encountered the Terra Fortress Resistance, hidden deep within Mount Rainier. This is Colonel Alexander Kald, and his son, Captain Leonardo Kald."

The revelation of their identities sent a wave of whispers through the crowd. But Rayne wasn’t done. His next words carried even greater weight.

"In order to ensure Rockhill Valley’s survival, I have decided to form an alliance with Terra Fortress. As part of this pact, my daughter, Anna, will marry Leonardo."

The crowd erupted in shock, voices rising in protest and disbelief. But Rayne pressed on with yet another announcement.

"Leonardo will lead his elite force of several hundred soldiers into Rockhill Valley. And I have decided... to appoint him as the new commander."

Chaos broke loose among the citizens. The choice was clear—Rayne was handing leadership over to an outsider, despite the widely accepted belief that Leo was the rightful successor.

Max and the others were stunned. Max instinctively turned to check on Alex’s reaction—only to realize Alex was gone.

"Wait… where’s Alex!?"

Before anyone could answer, Shirley suddenly pointed toward the plaza.

"There! He’s right there!"

Sure enough, Alex had already stepped forward, standing in the middle of the plaza, face-to-face with Leonardo. The sudden confrontation sent a ripple of unease through the crowd.

Staring directly at Leonardo, Alex spoke in an icy, unwavering voice:

"I don’t approve of this."

Leonardo, however, didn’t flinch. He stepped closer, towering over Alex by half a head. His calm yet calculating smile made it clear—he wasn’t one to be intimidated.

"And who are you, kid?"

Alex smirked, completely unfazed.

"I’m Alexander Hawk—the number one rich kid of Rockhill Valley. Got a problem with that?"

Their gazes locked, neither backing down. Alex had already ignored his smartwatch’s warnings and begun channeling his energy, ready to strike at any moment.

But then—

"Step back, Alex."

A calm yet firm voice shattered the tension. The crowd turned, and there she was—Anna.

She walked out from the meeting hall, her usual cold demeanor unchanged. But something was different this time. A quiet weight lingered behind her expression, a burden only she understood. Stopping in front of Alex, she looked at him—not with anger, not with contempt, but with something far more painful. For a moment, she hesitated, as if searching for the right words. But in the end, she only said:

"The decision to marry was mine. You don’t need to concern yourself, rich boy."

Alex clenched his fists. He wasn’t willing to back down. He opened his mouth to argue, but—

SMACK!

A sharp slap echoed through the plaza.

The sting on his cheek was nothing compared to the ache in his chest.

Anna’s voice was steady, but her words cut deeper than any wound.

"We were never anything to each other… were we, Alexander Hawk?"

Alex stood frozen.

She was right. He had never truly won her heart. He had no right to object.

But after everything he had done—everything he had endured to save her—none of it mattered to her?

He let out a bitter laugh, as if mocking himself.

"So that’s how it is…? I was never important to you at all."

The energy within him dissipated. His posture slumped, the fight drained from his body. Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Anna never looked back. She had to pretend she didn’t care. She had to bury everything deep inside.

Inside, though, she whispered the words she couldn’t say aloud.

"I’m sorry…"

She fought to keep her emotions in check. Because the truth was—Alex was the first person who had ever truly risked everything for her. She had felt it. She had been moved by it.

But for the sake of Rockhill Valley… she had no choice but to be cruel.

She had to bury her feelings forever.