Nevertheless, one of the attackers quickly freed his leg and pulled out his gun to shoot. And just as the bullet fired, Amira’s eyes flickered as she reached out and conjured an ice shield in front of her teammate.
"Thanks, Captain!" Dia called out as she twisted the gun from her attacker’s hand and slamd the butt of it into his temple.
Amira didn’t respond—she was already conjuring another shield for other, who had just dodged a blade swipe. The ice shimred as it caught the edge of the weapon as it snapped into two, capitalizing on the opening, she delivered a bone-cracking punch that sent her opponent sprawling.
While gan, who had just joined the fight, paused for a mont because she was amazed at how well the team worked together, but she quickly shook it off and raised her hand.
Her opponent stumbled as if an invisible force had gripped his mind while his eyes glazed over, and he froze in place. gan closed the distance, delivering a swift uppercut that knocked him out cold.
Amira noticed and nodded in approval. "A psychic ability," she thought. "Her strong mind and soul must’ve caused her awakening."
By the ti the main hall was clear, the sound of footsteps thundered down from above. Amira raised a hand, signaling her squad to regroup. Over forty n flooded into the main hall, surrounding them.
Mira’s eyes darted across the room, counting. "Looks like we’ve got company," she muttered.
Amira touched her comm. "Liam, what’s your status?"
"Hostages are free and safe, we’re heading out through the side exit now." Just then Liam’s voice ca through, steady yet distant tone.
Amira’s lips curled into a small smile. "Good." She lowered her hand and addressed the crowd. "Listen up! I know so of you are here because your families were threatened. But you don’t have to fight for these scum anymore. Your loved ones are free—they’re outside this mansion, safe."
A ripple of uncertainty spread among the group. Several n lowered their weapons, doubt and hope flickering in their eyes.
"She’s lying!" one of the thugs snarled. "If you stop now, your families are dead!"
Amira’s gaze remained calm as she pointed toward the direction of wine cellar. "Then go and check for yourselves."
The thug’s face twisted with anger as he gestured to one of his lackeys. "Go see!" The man sprinted toward it, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife.
"Don’t listen to her!" the thug shouted. "Take them down! If we win, the boss will reward us!" His eyes glead with depravity. "You’ll all get your turn with them after he’s done!"
Amira’s expression darkened, her voice cold as ice. "Dia, break their bones."
Dia’s grin was wolfish. "With pleasure."
The first thug lunged at her, his arm coated in thorns vines but Dia sidestepped at the last second, driving her knee into his ribs. He gasped in pain before she spun and delivered a strong kick that sent him crashing into the wall.
She paused for a mont as she was sure that in that attack she felt so wind-imbued spiritual energy around her looked at Amira’s direction to understand but saw her nodding in approval which proved her intuition that she was in process of awakening.
The man thrown a fire-coated ball at Dia who was in her stance, but Mira parried with her own water bubble, as she made a fierce whip slashing on his hand. He scread as the whip cut into his fingers.
After which, Mira dodged and weaved, binding her opponents with streams of water before knocking them out with precise strikes.
The man who had gone to check returned, panic written across his face. "She’s telling the truth!" he shouted. "No one is in the cellar and our guys are also missing!"
The remaining n hesitated, their resolve crumbling as so dropped their weapons and ran for the exit.
Amira grabbed one by the arm as he passed. "Where’s this Cole holed up and why isn’t he here after such disturbance?"
The man stamred, "Top floor... the room is soundproof... he won’t hear anything."
Amira released him and turned to her team and saw only twenty-five enemies remained. "Clear the rest," she ordered.
Her team surged forward, bolstered by Amira’s protective ice shields. Knowing they were guarded, they fought without fear, taking down their opponents with ruthless efficiency. Every attempted shot or strike was blocked by her precise shields.
Within minutes, the hall was clear. Amira lowered her hand, her breathing steady. She exchanged a look with her team, silently proud. "Let’s finish this."
Her squad straightened at her words, their expressions grim but resolute. Amira quickly divided them into four teams. "gan, Aria, and I will take the second floor on the right. Dia, you take two others to the second floor on the left. Mira, you’re leading the team on the first-floor right side. Dami, you’ve got the left."
Everyone nodded as they absorbed their roles. Amira paused for a mont, her voice lowering. "The number of awakened individuals inside is around four or five. Nothing we can’t handle." Her eyes darkened. "But be prepared as what’s behind these doors… won’t be pleasant because these n don’t deserve an easy death."
A wave of silent understanding rippled through the squad. They knew what those words ant—what they might see. Nine girls had been taken last night, and none had been seen since. Everyone’s mood shifted. Their resolve hardened, anger simring beneath their calm exteriors.
Amira led her group up the stairs, the old wood creaking beneath their boots. The corridor stretched ahead, lined with closed doors as she gestured to gan and Aria. "Check the second room. I’ll take the first."
Although gan hesitated, she sensed that there was sothing more darker hiding behind Amira’s calm exterior. Nevertheless, she nodded and walked toward the second door with Aria.
Amira walked to the end of the corridor and gripped the door handle. It was unlocked as the door creaked open, revealing a horrifying scene.
A man lood over a bruised, naked woman tied to the bed. Her eyes stared blankly at corner of the room, lifeless and void of emotion. Blood had dried on her skin, staining the sheets beneath her.
At the far corner of the room, two children—a boy and a girl—were tied to chairs. The girl, barely holding it together, was covering her little brother’s eyes as silent tears stread down her face.
The man didn’t notice Amira at first. "Who the hell is disturbing now?" he barked without turning around. "It’s my turn! Can’t I have a damn mont of peace?"
Amira’s expression was carved from ice. She didn’t say a word. She raised her hand and conjured a set of ice daggers that shimred in the dim light before launching them forward.
They flew straight and true, pinning the man to the wall by his arms and legs with a sickening crunch. He scread as blood dripped down his limbs, his arrogance replaced by terror.
Ignoring his cries, Amira grabbed a bed sheet from a nearby cupboard and gently covered the woman. Then, she crouched by the children, her voice soft. "It’s okay now, you’re safe." She untied them as the little boy clung to his sister, who couldn’t stop trembling.
gan burst into the room, eyes wide at the scene before her as her gaze locked on the woman on the bed, and she gasped, horror twisting her features. "No… that’s the mayor’s wife," she whispered, her voice breaking.
Amira watched as gan’s composure shattered while tears stread down her face as she moved to the bed, guilt crushing her. "I should’ve co sooner… I’m so sorry."
The mayor’s wife turned her head weakly. Her lips quivered as she whispered, "Thank you… for saving my children." Her gaze drifted toward Amira. She had already recognized the authority the other woman commanded "Please… take care of them."
Her breath shuddered, and then she went still as the life in her eyes extinguished. gan let out a broken sob as she clutched the woman’s hand.
Amira closed her eyes briefly, fighting the surge of anger and grief that threatened to consu her. She stepped away, giving gan a mont.
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