Chapter 8: League Raid
The Arrowcave—Felicity's "Foundry"—was a fortress under siege, its air thick with the acrid bite of welding fumes and the faint tang of smoke from hastily rigged defenses. Luke wiped sweat from his brow, his sleeve damp, the effort leaving a streak of grime on his face. He stood with Felicity and Oliver, the clatter of tools and the hum of computers a restless heartbeat, his fingers fidgeting with a stray bolt, rolling it like a worry stone. Nyssa al Ghul doesn't knock politely. He popped a piece of gum, the mint sharp, snapping it loudly to mask his nerves, the sound echoing in the dim space. Felicity muttered at her screens, her glasses glinting, her ponytail bouncing, while Oliver adjusted a tripwire, his green leather creaking, his jaw tight.
The System pinged, a spark of clarity cutting through the tension, its interface glowing in Luke's mind.
[SYSTEM: DAILY ROLL ACTIVATED: DOCTOR STRANGE MAGIC (FACE 1)]
[SYSTEM: POWER ACTIVATED: MYSTIC ARTS. STAMINA DRAIN: MODERATE]
"Nyssa's coming for Sara and whatever 'artifact' they think I've got," Luke said, his voice low, wiping his sweaty palms on his jeans, the fabric sticking. "We need a magical no-entry sign, not just nets and smoke bombs."
He channeled the Mystic Arts, his hands tracing intricate patterns, orange light weaving into the Foundry's entrance, a shimmering, near-invisible web of energy humming faintly, like a distant storm. The air grew heavy, the scent of ozone mixing with the cave's metallic tang, his temples throbbing as he worked.
"This won't stop them, but it'll slow them down, give us a heads-up," Luke said, gesturing at the glowing doorframe, his voice steady despite the burn in his chest. "Think of it as a mystical speed bump."
[SYSTEM: MASTERY UPDATE: DOCTOR STRANGE MAGIC +15% (COMPLEX WARDS).]
He turned to Felicity, his Gadgeteer instincts kicking in, his fingers itching to tinker. "More nets, more smoke bombs, less exposed wires. We need chaos, not a server crash." He adjusted her trap designs, tightening a bolt too fast, the wrench slipping and grazing his knuckle, a sharp sting making him hiss.
[SYSTEM: GADGETEER TRAPS ACTIVATED.]
[SYSTEM: STAT UPDATE: INTELLIGENCE +3 (STRATEGIC DEFENSE).]
Felicity grinned, her fingers flying over her keyboard, the clatter a counterpoint to Luke's muttered curses. "You're like Rocket Raccoon with a PhD, Luke. Keep it up."
Oliver watched, his eyes narrowing, skepticism warring with trust, his fingers flexing around his bow. "Don't get us killed, Luke."
"No promises, Hood," Luke shot back, his grin shaky, popping his gum again, the snap sharp in the quiet.
At 3 AM, the Foundry's doors groaned, a silent CRACK echoing as Nyssa al Ghul breached the ward, the air sparking briefly. She stood in the doorway, her League armor gleaming, her dark hair framing a face both elegant and lethal, her presence a cold blade. Six assassins flanked her, their movements synchronized, their eyes glinting with purpose, the air heavy with the scent of leather and steel.
"Where's Sara?" Nyssa's voice was a whip, sharp and commanding, her gaze locking onto Luke.
"She sends her regards and a strongly worded cease-and-desist," Luke quipped, stepping beside Oliver, his heart pounding, his gum snapping loudly, a defiant tic. Keep it cool, Luke. She's out of your league—literally.
The fight erupted, Nyssa lunging at Luke with inhuman speed, her blade a silver blur, her movements fluid, like water over stone. Oliver engaged the others, his arrows whistling, his leather creaking as he dodged. Luke was outmatched, his body screaming as Nyssa's blade grazed his side, a white-hot flash of pain searing his ribs.
[SYSTEM: REGENERATION ENDURES STRIKE. STAMINA DRAIN: HIGH.]
The regeneration burned through the wound, knitting it shut, but the effort left him gasping, his vision blurring. Last spark. No more healing. He phased through her next strike, his body shimmering, the blade passing harmlessly as he re-materialized behind her, shoving her off-balance, her boots skidding on the concrete.
[SYSTEM: VISION PHASING DISRUPTS.]
Luke conjured two spinning mandala shields, their orange light flaring like twin suns, and flung them at the assassins threatening Oliver, the air crackling with energy. The shields disoriented them, buying Oliver time to fire, his arrows dropping two attackers with electrified precision.
[SYSTEM: WEAVING MAGIC/REGENERATION COMBAT SUCCESS. +75 EP.]
Luke's Hawkeye instinct kicked in, a shock arrow flying from his borrowed bow, its arc perfect, stunning Nyssa briefly, her eyes widening as Oliver cornered her, his bow steady.
[SYSTEM: ARCHERY COVERS TEAM.]
[SYSTEM: EVOLUTION POINTS GAINED: +20 EP.]
Nyssa stood, unyielding, her breath steady, her gaze a storm of defiance. Luke stepped forward, his legs shaking, his voice calm despite the sweat stinging his eyes. "We're not fighting because we want to, Nyssa. You're after Sara's family. Let's talk truce—call it an assassin peace treaty."
Her eyes narrowed, suspicion sharp, her fingers tightening around her blade. "You speak of peace after defying the League? What artifact fuels your power? The Lazarus Pit?"
Luke's empathy surged, a faint pulse now, catching her fear of Ra's al Ghul's disapproval and her conflicted relief over Sara's safety, a tangled knot of loyalty and love. No pit. Just me. He leaned against a console, his breath hitching, the cold metal grounding him.
[SYSTEM: EMPATHY ON NYSSA: CORE EMOTION: FEAR OF RA'S AL GHUL'S DISAPPROVAL/RELIEF OVER SARA.]
"I've got no pit, just a weird metabolism," Luke said, his grin weak, his gum snapping softly. "But you said 'Artifact of the Ages.' Spill."
Nyssa's gaze flicked away, her voice low. "The Demon's Head seeks it to cement his legacy. You've disrupted his plans, and you'll pay."
[SYSTEM: ARTIFACT INSIGHT GAINED.]
[SYSTEM: SOUL POINTS DRAIN: -10 SP (EXCESSIVE STRESS).]
Luke sagged, the effort draining him, his fingers fumbling the bolt, dropping it with a clink. Ra's wants a magic toy, and I'm the glitch. The truce hung fragile, Nyssa's presence a warning of bigger battles. Slade's still out there, and now Ra's. Time to bunk up and magic up.
To supporting Me in Pateron .
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