Endi and Cain soared up the craggy heights of Mildonia like hawks riding the storm, reaching the summit in the blink of an eye.
From the peak, they looked down upon soldiers clad in the same combat uniforms as Darmaine's men, both hands gripping machine guns as they prowled through the island's darkness.
They looked like a pack of hellhounds guarding the gates of the underworld.
At the island's center, a colossal white tower loomed coldly, bathed in moonlight, radiating a sterile brilliance.
"That lifeless fortress must be their stronghold. Lamia should be inside as well."
Cain's voice was sharp as the blade of night itself.
Endi fixed his gaze upon the tower, his heartbeat quickening.
"Lamia is in there…"
His murmur was like a prayer cast upon the wind.
"The guards are sloppier than I thought. What if we borrow one of those grim uniforms and sneak in? We could infiltrate the place without drawing suspicion."
Cain calmly laid out his plan, ready to refine their strategy.
But his words vanished into emptiness.
When he turned, Endi was gone.
Cain froze, then peered over the cliff's edge.
Far below, Endi was already on the ground.
"Damn that fool!"
Cain's voice cracked like thunder shattering rock, seething with frustration.
"Argh!"
Endi had leapt from fifty meters up, pain stabbing through his legs as he landed. But he shook it off and charged straight for the tower. Reckless beyond reason—a suicidal act.
"Huh? Who the hell's that?"
"No way… an intruder?!"
The soldiers' cries ripped through the night, and sirens wailed across the island like the tolling of infernal bells.
Bullets tore after Endi, but not one struck him. Racing through the dark, he was like a phantom draped in the wind, the bullets never catching him.
Near the tower's entrance, a rusted concrete punishment block squatted in silence, its bleak exterior like a forgotten tombstone.
Inside a filthy solitary cell—infested with dust and cockroaches—Darmaine lay imprisoned.
Shut away from all light, his heart boiled with hatred and despair.
"What the hell's all that racket?"
He snarled at the noise outside, sprawling with arrogant ease, scratching his rear.
"Those bastards locked me in here… only to drag me out when they need me to command their invasion of Nakhatam? Then toss me aside like trash? Damn them…"
His lament seeped into the dark like droplets of poison, gnawing at his spirit, fanning the flames of his fury.
Just then, the iron bars screeched open, and three soldiers entered his cell.
"Huh? What do you want?"
"Admiral—it's us!"
"Y-you guys…!"
Darmaine narrowed his eyes, recognizing the familiar faces—crewmen of the Indas, his loyal comrades from the Lamia abduction mission.
"You came to bust me out?!"
His voice trembled with barely restrained emotion, like a beast choking back tears.
"Yes, sir! An intruder's appeared, and everyone's too busy fighting him. We slipped away to rescue you!"
"Ha! Didn't think you weaklings had it in you. All right—hand me a cigarette first!"
Lighting up the stick they offered, Darmaine inhaled deeply, then exhaled in bliss, savoring the smoke like pure ecstasy.
"Sir, now's no time to relax! We've had enough of taking orders from those bastards—let's get out of here!"
One of them urged him on.
Darmaine blew out smoke, his face clouded with grim thought.
"And go where? If I run after abducting Lamia and betraying them, Nakhatam and Old Doal will both be hunting me down."
His words dripped like curses rising from an abyss. His men fell silent.
"You're right… but if we stay, they'll use us until we die…"
Then, a cry rang from outside.
"Lamia! I've come for you!"
Darmaine's eyes gleamed sharply, like a wolf catching sight of prey in the dark.
"Wait—that voice… wasn't that Endi?"
"No way… he's alive? How did he even get here?"
While his men gaped, Darmaine grinned with a wicked glint.
"Calm yourselves. Seems the heavens are smiling on me today."
"What do you mean, sir?"
"We take Lamia hostage and break out. That way, no one will dare lay a hand on us!"
His grin was like a viper baring its fangs—the face of a villain drunk on his own assured triumph.
"I see! But how do we take her hostage?"
"We use that fool Endi to our advantage. Now move, men! Raise the banner of rebellion!"
"Yes, sir!"
Darmaine and his three men burst from the cell, racing toward the voice.
Their footsteps thundered like war drums calling the storm.