Colt recounted the events as his voice filled with worry. "She told us she was going back to rescue Suki," he shared, but Benny stood frozen, astonished by the news.

Benny, unfamiliar with the name, inquired, "Who is Suki? There isn't anyone living here by that name."

Marco swiftly filled in the gap in Benny's knowledge. "It's Faye's teddy bear," he informed, his words coinciding with Faye's tearful reaction.

Standing behind Faye, Colt's face contorted with anger, mirroring his emotional turmoil. "I told her that it was okay and I didn't need Suki anymore, but she wouldn't listen to me," Faye sobbed, seeking comfort by using Marco's shirt to dry her eyes.

Attempting to intervene, Colt clenched his fist tightly, his frustration transparent. Marco understood the complex dynamics at play and gently patted Colt's head. "Colt, it's not your fault. We both know how stubborn Mera can be," he consoled, finally easing the tension in the young boy's timid body.

Colt nodded, finally finding some peace in his heart, but suddenly, a thunderous explosion shattered the ambiance within the structure. Outside the hallways, where the Devils lurked, growls reverberated through every crack and crevice of the building.

"Benny, please save my daughter!" the woman, overwhelmed by emotions, pleaded with him, tears obscuring her vision. The room fell into a profound silence as Benny grappled with her request, stunned by its seriousness.

Dawn's gaze wandered, lost in her thoughts. Images of Mera's face flashed before her eyes, prompting her to take a decisive step forward. Without hesitation, Dawn declared, capturing the attention of everyone in the hall. "I'll go..." she proclaimed, her words resonating with unwavering resolution.

Theo, alarmed by her audacity, shouted in protest, "What!? Dawn, come on, you can't be serious! You've seen what those things can do! We barely made it back alive!"

Unbothered by Theo's objections, Dawn disregarded his reasoning and continued her steady advance toward Benny and Isabella.

"I remember what she looks like," Dawn asserted, gesturing toward Faye. "She was with the others when Theo and I cleared their floor. I can even recall the room they came from."

Concerned for Dawn's safety, Marco attempted to dissuade her. "No, I will go. You stay here with the others," he instructed, hoping to protect Dawn from the imminent danger. However, Dawn remained defiant, ignoring Marco's suggestion.

"It's your responsibility to get them all to safety. Everyone is counting on you for that," Dawn reminded him, causing Marco to waver under the weight of the responsibility.

Dawn's gaze shifted toward Faye, Colt, and the other trembling children huddled beside their anxious parents. The weight of her chosen mission loomed heavily, causing Isabella to question her resolve.

"Are you sure about this, Dawn? It's a dangerous mission." Isabella explained to her with uncertainty radiating in her voice. She couldn't fathom why Dawn had taken this task upon herself.

"Yes, I am... I want to save her," Dawn responded swiftly and with tenacious confidence. Isabella probed further as her curiosity piqued. "And why is that?" she asked, compelling Dawn to pause before answering.

"Because... if I were her, I'm sure I would be desperately hoping for someone to come searching for me," Dawn declared, her stance imbued with relentless decisiveness, commanding the attention of Isabella and the others.

Theo was unable to contain his worry, he interjected, pleading with Dawn to reconsider. "Hold on, Let me come with you," Theo whispered to her, but Dawn remained unmoved by his words.

"No offense, Theo, but you would only slow me down," Dawn replied, dismissing his suggestion.

"Damn it, Dawn... Why are you so stubborn? If you don't want me to go, fine. But at least take David with you," Theo suggested, his voice blended with passion and anger.

"Don't worry so much, Theo. You know I'm faster than both of you," Dawn reassured, a smile playing on her lips. However, Theo's countenance remained steeped in despair.

Isabella commanded the attention of the room, rallying the recruits. "Recruits, fall in! We're moving out!"

Benny and his unit of workers assisted in distributing the shields among the capable men in the room. Theo and his male counterparts of the recruits, David, Curtis, Bryce, and Arthur, stood alongside the male workers poised, clutching their protective elemental shields.

"After you find her, make your way to the main entrance. Once we've evacuated the others, we'll clear a path for you," Isabella directed Dawn, who nodded in acknowledgment.

"Prepare yourselves, my brothers! Stand strong! For we won't let these abominations defeat us! We shall reclaim our home, our Iron Fortress!" Benny's rallying cry boomed throughout the room, resonating with his companions, their voices joining in a persistent chant.

"Dawn, avoid those creatures at all costs. Your safety is just as important as hers," Isabella explained, emphasizing the importance of avoiding confrontation with the Devils as Benny approached them.

"But if it comes to that, and you can't avoid them, take this with you. It's better than nothing," Benny said, handing Dawn a compact, well-fitted blade that nestled comfortably in her palm, her grip tightening around its hilt.

David adjusted his glasses, his gaze fixed on Theo, keenly observing the visible shift in Theo's demeanor. A wave of somberness washed over Theo's face, apparent to anyone looking his way.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"We'll be waiting for you," David reassured Dawn, his words accompanied by a smile that reflected genuine support.

"Not if I make it out before you guys," Dawn replied playfully, a glimmer of confidence dancing in her eyes. The exchange elicited a shared moment of laughter between the two friends.

"See you in a bit," David bid her farewell, positioning himself among the other men who stood steadfast, their sturdy shields ready.

"Yeah..." Dawn responded, her gaze locking with Theo's. "You'll be waiting for me too. Won't you?"

"No, I'm not waiting. I'm coming back to save you," Theo responded, his voice brimmed with sincerity, drawing a smile from Dawn.

"Didn't you hear me? I'm going to make it out before you guys," Dawn repeated as Isabella seized the moment and addressed the room. "Okay, everyone! We're heading out!"

With a burst of energy, the men surged forward, swiftly exiting the room and flooding the corridor as they sprinted through the door. As the group rushed through the hallway, their footsteps reverberated throughout the Iron Fortress.

The lurking Devils took notice and jolted into action, hurling multiple fireballs toward the approaching group of men. In perfect synchrony, the men raised their shields, forming an impenetrable barrier against the scorching flames, shielding themselves and the others. Advancing down the hall, Isabella, armed with her whip made of water, elegantly through the ranks of the Devils, dispatching them with deadly precision.

"Now is your chance! Go!" Isabella's voice rang out, urging Dawn into action amidst the chaos. Isabella's words were accompanied by Dawn's swift ascent, gracefully leaping over the shield wall of men and ascending the staircase as more Devils emerged from the shadows, driven to pursue Isabella and her companions.

"Charge!" Isabella's commanding voice pierced through the tumultuous air, guiding the men as they rushed forward, shields raised high, forming an impenetrable wall against the onslaught of elemental attacks. The men courageously defended Isabella and their fellow survivors, their collective strength and unity paving the way.

Through sheer teamwork and cooperation, they forged a path ahead, navigating the corridors and drawing the attention of the remaining Devils, who roamed with increasing curiosity and aggression.

"Hold the line!" Benny's roar echoed through the chaos as he tirelessly chased after the recruits and men leading the charge.

"Take cover!" Benny's urgent cry echoed through the ranks as the frontline warriors lowered their shields, bracing themselves for the incoming blast of flames.

"Get down!" Benny's voice boomed again, prompting the frontline to lower their shields in unison, fortifying themselves against the incoming fiery blast. Bryce's forehead glistened with sweat as he battled against the scorching heat, his shield a stalwart defense against the sizzling assault.

"It's hot..." Bryce grumbled, sweat streaming down his face as he strained to maintain his grip on the shield, desperately fending off the relentless surge of flames that threatened to consume them all. Arthur's voice carried a note of stern warning, cutting through the roaring inferno as he braced himself against the searing flames. "Don't you dare let go of that shield!"

Seizing the opportunity presented by the chaos, Isabella capitalized on the distraction, wielding her water whip to carve a path through the horde of Devils. Curtis dashed toward the newly cleared opening, his heart pounding with anticipation as he surveyed the area, ensuring their escape route was clear.

"We're good! It's all clear!" Curtis bellowed triumphantly, his voice echoing through the group with a tone of relief. Theo and the other male recruits, accompanied by Benny and a handful of his men, raced past Curtis, their eyes fixed on the entrance to the outside world. However, their path was abruptly obstructed by a gang of ferocious Devils, blocking their way out of the Iron Fortress.

"Don't Stop!" Isabella's voice resounded through the chaos, urging the frontline to charge head-on into the menacing horde of Devils.

"Keep pushing! We're almost there!" Benny's rallying cry pierced through the halls as he led the charge with fearlessness.

"Get ready! We're running right through them!" Curtis's voice boomed with adrenaline-fueled intensity, urging his fellow recruits onward as their shields clashed with the Devil, disrupting the charge-up of their destructive Dyna abilities.

The force of the shield's impact sent the Devils hurtling backward, crashing through the fortress's entrance doors. Driven by the momentum of their charge, Benny, his men, and the recruits stumbled out of the crumbling stronghold.

Adjusting his crooked glasses from the tumble, David gazed upward before raising his shield high, his voice brimming with a warning, "Above us!" David's urgent cry pierced through the air, alerting the group as a barrage of boulders launched into the sky, descending upon them like a torrential downpour to pummel their gallant efforts into oblivion.

Meanwhile, deep within the crumbling confines of the Iron Fortress, Dawn maneuvered through a debris-ridden hallway, her heart pounding in her chest. "Mera!?" Dawn's voice echoed through the desolate corridor as she combed through each room, her anxiety mounting with every second.

As she turned the corner, Dawn's heart lurched, stumbling upon a chilling scene, Mera, clutching a toy bear tightly, trembling with fear. A Devil, its sinister presence unmistakable, loomed over her, slowly advancing toward Mera, its saliva dripping like corrosive acid, eating away at the floor beneath.

"Stay away from me...! I'm not afraid of you...!" Mera's voice quivered in her attempt to maintain a facade of strength, her small hands clutching the toy bear tighter than before, barely concealing her fear.

Dawn stood frozen, her body paralyzed by fear as she desperately willed herself to move, her mind teetering on the edge of despair. She stood frozen, a chill of fear coursing through her veins, rendering her momentarily unable to move. Her mind wandered, drifting away, as she became overwhelmed by the impending danger and uncertainty that enveloped her and Mera.

In a magnificent expanse of wildflowers, their vibrant hues painting the landscape as far as the eye could wander, a man unleashed a swift swing of his wooden sword, his target being a youthful Dawn, who appeared no older than ten years.

As swift as a gazelle, Dawn skillfully sidestepped, effortlessly evading the man's imminent strike. Her wooden sword parried his, creating a symphony of clashing amidst the open field of flowers. Their duel intensified, blow after blow exchanged between them, each displaying their unwavering resolve. However, as the clash reached its zenith, Dawn gracefully leaped back, creating a brief interlude and a measured distance separating her from her adversary.

The momentary pause ended as she poised herself to launch a counterattack, yet uncertainty flickered across her face. Observing Dawn's brief falter, the man's voice roared with haste as he charged forward, closing the gap between them. "Hesitation isn't what I taught you, Dawn! I taught you how to..."

"Fight!" Dawn's fervent shout completed the unfinished sentence lingering from her daydream. Summoning every ounce of courage, Dawn lunged at the Devil, swinging her short sword, cleaving through the air with a fierce arc. With a merciless slash, the Devil's hand severed, preventing it from seizing hold of Mera. Grabbing Mera's hand firmly, Dawn propelled them forward as they ran down the corridor.

The Devil, unimpressed by the loss of its limb, appeared impervious to pain as it initiated a relentless pursuit. The Devil stomped the ground, unleashing a seismic tremor that thundered through the very foundation of the hallway, causing the floor to rupture. Dawn and Mera found themselves plunging into an abyss beneath the fractured floor.

"Mera! Grab my hand!" Dawn's anguished cry echoed through the darkness as she reached out, desperately seeking to bridge the growing distance between her and Mera, but together, with the cascading rubble and debris, Dawn and Mera descended into an abyssal void, their fate shrouded in impenetrable darkness.