The air grew steadily colder as Leo and Lara descended the winding, narrow tunnel. The path was slick with mineral-laden runoff, the silence broken only by the drip of water and the hushed, methodical sound of their own movements. Leo led the way, his Mind (13) mapping the passage, his hands instinctively checking the alignment of his two new Stabilized 9mm Pistols.
"The air is moving faster here, Leo," Lara whispered, her voice tight with caution. "This tunnel is opening up into something massive."
"It's the main complex," Leo confirmed. "The Mountain Temple is an underground fortress. It's the next major hub for resources, but it's also where the Solarii made their last stand and where Trinity will have established their command center."
His Meta-Strategist II trait was displaying a high-alert warning. The sheer volume of armed hostiles in this zone meant stealth was paramount.
They reached the end of the passage. The tunnel opened onto a ledge overlooking a truly immense subterranean cavern. Below them, dozens of feet down, lay the vast, crumbling ruins of the Mountain Temple. Ancient stone structures, carved with the grim, bird-like iconography of the Sun Queen's guard, were swallowed by the gloom.
And among the ruins, illuminated by harsh, temporary work lights, was Trinity's Base.
The camp was a cold, organized military operation: soldiers in full tactical gear patrolling precise routes, heavy generators humming, and a large, armored command vehicle parked near the central altar. It was a fortress of modern firepower layered over ancient stone.
"A dozen soldiers, maybe more," Lara hissed, nocking a silent arrow into her Partner Bow. "They're disciplined. This isn't the Solarii."
"No," Leo agreed, focusing his thoughts. His enhanced Mind (13) immediately pinpointed the key vulnerabilities:
* The Generators: Disrupt the power and plunge the cavern into darkness.
* The Command Vehicle: Cripple their communications and mobility.
* The Choke Points: Use the ancient temple structures to funnel the Trinity response.
"We go high, then strike hard," Leo dictated, his voice calm and tactical. "We won't survive a frontal assault. Look for a path leading to the upper scaffolding. We need to get above the Generators."
He pointed to a narrow, crumbling ledge that skirted the cavern wall, leading toward a rickety wooden scaffolding Trinity had erected near the cavern roof.
They began the precarious traverse. Leo, with his maxed Dexterity (17), moved with unbelievable precision. He flowed across the narrow, slick rock, his boots gripping seemingly impossible surfaces. He was the shadow, the phantom climber.
Lara followed, matching his pace with her natural athletic prowess. The silence of their movement was their only armor.
They reached the wooden scaffolding, and Leo took the lead in climbing. Just as he reached the main platform, a Trinity guard below paused his patrol, looking directly toward their position.
System Alert!
[Hostile Detection Imminent! Risk Factor: 85%]
Action Required: Silent Takedown.
The soldier was too far for Leo to use the rope, and too close to risk a shot that might echo in the cavern.
Leo pulled out one of the Improvised Grenades he had crafted. He didn't pull the pin. Instead, with a flick of his wrist and the precision of his Dexterity (17), he tossed the heavy sphere just over the guard's head, aiming for a small, shallow puddle behind him.
The grenade, encased in heavy tin, landed with a dull, harmless PLOP in the water.
The guard spun around, rifle raised, his attention fully focused on the strange sound behind him.
That was all Leo needed.
Lara seized the moment, her own skills immediately complementing his distraction. She fired her Partner Bow silently. The arrow struck the wooden watchtower twenty feet to the guard's left, drawing the man's attention away from the platform.
The guard hesitated, his attention split between the noise in the water and the noise on the tower.
Leo seized the window. He dropped from the scaffolding with a feather-light landing (perfected by his Dexterity), landing directly behind the confused soldier. Before the guard could turn back, Leo had wrapped his Hemp Rope around the man's neck and pulled.
[Skill Active: Silent Takedown (Successful)]
EXP Gained: +200
The soldier dropped, silenced. Leo dragged the body into the shadows beneath the scaffolding. They stripped the body instantly, gaining a Tier 2 Tactical Rifle and a sealed pouch of high-grade explosive powder—a massive upgrade for Leo's crafting efforts.
Lara quickly secured the new rifle, her face a mask of grim determination. "They won't stay silent now. What's the target?"
"The generators," Leo replied, securing the new loot. "The power needs to go down before we hit the command vehicle. That explosive powder will do the trick."
He now had the perfect materials for the Tier 3 Explosive Schematic he knew was coming. But first, he had to take out the lights.
Leo took one of the Improvised Grenades he had crafted and carefully pulled the pin. He didn't throw it, however. He placed it gently on the ground, using a smooth river stone to brace the burning wick.
"Cover me," Leo instructed, drawing his stabilized pistol.
He sprinted along the shadows toward the two main generators, the smell of diesel overwhelming. He reached the first generator, and with a grunt of his Strength (11), he ripped off a heavy access panel. He dropped the primed grenade inside the whirring machinery.
Leo sprinted to the second generator just as the first one erupted in a massive, localized explosion—BOOM!
Shrapnel and fire erupted from the first generator. The entire cavern's lighting immediately flickered and died, plunging the vast chamber into near-total darkness, save for the emergency red lights and the muzzle flashes of the now-alert Trinity guards.
Leo threw the second grenade, targeting the fuel line of the second generator. BOOM!
The second, blinding explosion tore through the base, plunging the command center into total chaos.
"Generators down! Comm center is next!" Leo roared, his voice cutting through the ringing in his ears.
He and Lara melted into the shadows of the ancient temple ruins, two ghosts in the dark, ready to wage war on the helpless military force.