The valley had transformed.

Under Juri Winkler’s direction, the rebels had fortified their new home into something resembling a war camp. Wooden palisades lined the entrances, traps covered the surrounding cliffs, and the makeshift workshops churned out weapons, ammunition, and machinery day and night.

The air was filled with the steady rhythm of hammers striking metal, the hiss of steam from Juri’s machines, and the faint hum of mana crystals salvaged from the Sentinels. Despite the brutal cold and the ever-looming threat of attack, the rebels worked with grim determination.

Juri stood at the heart of the camp, surrounded by blueprints and maps spread across a large table. His sharp blue eyes scanned the sketches and calculations, his mind racing as he pieced together his next move.

Kira stood beside him, her arms crossed. “You’ve turned this place into a fortress,” she said. “But fortresses don’t win wars. They’re just walls.”

Juri smirked faintly. “That’s why we’re not staying behind the walls.” He tapped a map with his finger, his expression sharp. “We’re taking the fight to them.”

The map was marked with detailed notes and hastily drawn symbols, each one representing a key location controlled by the nobles. Juri’s finger rested on a small town near the base of the mountains.

“Greystone,” Kira said, raising an eyebrow. “Didn’t you already hit their spire there?”

“We did,” Juri replied. “But the spire wasn’t the only thing they relied on. Greystone is a critical supply hub for the nobles. It’s where they process mana crystals, build their weapons, and distribute resources to nearby regions.”

Halrick approached, leaning over the table. “You’re talking about hitting their supply lines. That’s risky.”

“Everything we do is risky,” Juri said. “But if we can cut off their supplies, we cripple their ability to retaliate. It’s not just about survival anymore. It’s about making sure they bleed for every step they take.”

Kira studied the map, her brow furrowing. “The nobles won’t let Greystone fall without a fight. You’ll need more than just firepower to pull this off.”

Juri nodded. “That’s why we’re not taking it head-on. We’re going to infiltrate, sabotage their infrastructure, and get out before they know what hit them.”

Halrick smirked. “Now you’re speaking my language.”

Juri wasted no time organizing the operation. He selected a small team of skilled rebels, each chosen for their specific abilities. Halrick, with his combat experience, would serve as their enforcer. Kira, whose knowledge of the nobles’ operations was invaluable, would guide them through the town. Garrick, with his sharp aim and steady nerves, would cover them from a distance.

And then there was Juri himself—the architect of the plan.

The rebels gathered in the workshop that night, the firelight casting long shadows on the walls as Juri laid out the details.

“The goal is simple,” Juri began, pointing to the map. “Greystone has three key targets: the mana processing plant, the armory, and their supply depot. We’re going to hit all three.”

Halrick whistled low. “Ambitious. I like it.”

“We’ll split into teams,” Juri continued. “Halrick and I will handle the processing plant. Kira and Garrick will take the supply depot. Once we’ve completed our objectives, we’ll regroup and hit the armory together.”

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“And if things go south?” Garrick asked.

“They won’t,” Juri said firmly. “But if they do, we prioritize survival. No one gets left behind.”

Kira nodded. “What’s the plan for getting in?”

Juri smirked, pulling a small device from his satchel. It was a circular gadget with a glowing core, wires protruding from its sides.

“This,” he said. “A mana disruptor. It’ll create a temporary blackout in their security systems, giving us enough time to get inside unnoticed.”

The rebels exchanged uneasy glances, but no one voiced their doubts.

The team set out under the cover of darkness, their footsteps muffled by the snow. The wind howled through the mountains, masking their movements as they descended toward Greystone.

The town loomed in the distance, its spire still reduced to rubble from Juri’s earlier attack. But the surrounding buildings were alive with activity, their windows glowing with warm light.

Halrick crouched behind a boulder, peering through a spyglass. “Guards at the main gate,” he muttered. “And more patrols along the perimeter. They’ve tightened security since the last time we were here.”

Juri adjusted the straps of his satchel, his mind already running through the plan. “We’ll stick to the eastern route. Less visibility there.”

The rebels moved silently through the shadows, slipping past the guards and climbing over the outer wall. The mana disruptor buzzed faintly in Juri’s hand as he activated it, its core pulsing with light.

For a moment, the air seemed to ripple, and the hum of the town’s mana-powered defenses abruptly ceased.

“We’re in,” Juri whispered. “Let’s move.”

The mana processing plant was a squat, industrial building on the edge of town, its chimneys belching black smoke into the night sky. Juri and Halrick approached cautiously, their weapons at the ready.

Juri scanned the exterior, noting the pipes and vents that crisscrossed the walls. “The main processing chamber will be at the center,” he said. “We’ll plant the charges there.”

Halrick grinned. “I love when things go boom.”

Inside, the plant was a maze of machinery and glowing crystals. The air was thick with the hum of mana energy, the sound reverberating through the cavernous space.

Juri set to work immediately, attaching small explosives to the main processing units. Each device was carefully calibrated to destroy the machinery without triggering a larger chain reaction.

Halrick kept watch, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “How long is this going to take?”

“Not long,” Juri replied, his fingers flying over the detonator. “Just keep them off me.”

As if on cue, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the plant. Halrick drew his sword, his eyes narrowing.

“We’ve got company.”

The guards entered the plant cautiously, their lanterns casting flickering light across the machinery. Halrick waited until they were close before springing into action, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Juri worked quickly, his focus unwavering as he armed the last of the explosives. The sound of steel clashing against steel filled the chamber, but Juri didn’t flinch.

“Halrick, let’s go!” Juri shouted, slinging his satchel over his shoulder.

Halrick dispatched the last guard with a swift strike and followed Juri toward the exit. As they slipped out into the cold night air, Juri pressed the detonator.

The plant erupted in a burst of fire and smoke, the explosion lighting up the sky as machinery and mana crystals were obliterated.

“One down,” Juri muttered, his breath visible in the cold.

Meanwhile, Kira and Garrick made their way to the supply depot, a large warehouse guarded by several soldiers. Kira led the way, her movements silent as a shadow, while Garrick provided cover from a nearby rooftop.

Inside, the depot was packed with crates of weapons, armor, and raw materials. Kira moved swiftly, planting incendiary charges along the walls and setting fire to the supply stacks.

The flames spread quickly, illuminating the night as smoke poured from the warehouse. Garrick picked off any guards who tried to stop them, his shots precise and lethal.

As the depot collapsed in a fiery blaze, Kira and Garrick slipped away, their mission complete.

The team regrouped near the armory, their faces grim but determined. The final target was the most heavily guarded, but Juri’s confidence never wavered.

“We hit them fast and hard,” Juri said, loading his Repeater. “No mistakes.”

The assault was a blur of fire and chaos. Juri led the charge, using his new machine to breach the armory’s defenses. The rebels moved with precision, overwhelming the guards and setting charges throughout the building.

By the time the nobles’ reinforcements arrived, the armory was already in flames.

As the team retreated into the mountains, the glow of the fires behind them lit up the night sky. Juri’s heart pounded with exhilaration, his mind already planning their next move.

The nobles would retaliate—he knew that much. But for now, they had struck a decisive blow.

“This is just the beginning,” Juri said, his voice steady.

Kira glanced at him, her expression unreadable. “You keep saying that. Let’s hope you’re right.”