Before the zero hour struck, and while the engines of the Aether vehicles emitted a low roar resembling the growl of lions, the Liberation Army headquarters was buzzing with extraordinary activity. In a corner far from the din of weapons, Picos decided to put his final touch in a manner befitting him: "The Farewell Feast."
The comrades gathered around a dilapidated wooden table, where Picos placed a massive pot emitting a strange scent—a blend of sharp spices and something resembling sulfur.
Picos (Proudly distributing the plates): "Eat up, friends! This is the 'Crystal Earthquake' dish. A recipe I just invented."
Darius (Examining a piece of meat skeptically): "Picos, is this meat moving, or is my mind playing tricks on me? And why is the broth a glowing purple?"
Picos: "That's the Aether fungi, Darius! It gives you energy that makes you run faster than the guards' bullets. Try it; you won't regret it."
Nikos (Coldly, tasting a small spoonful): "It tastes like fuel... but it's swallowable."
Darius (Looking at his father): "Father, how can you always be this cold? We are going to storm the palace, and you're eating 'Picos's fuel' as if we're on a rural picnic!"
Nikos (Setting the spoon down slowly and looking at his son): "My son, a smart warrior is one who fills his stomach before he fills his ammunition magazines. Besides, I spent twenty years enduring your rebellion; do you really think 'Picos's cooking' is what will finish me off?"
Ortinus and Romulius burst into laughter, while Meron tried to shovel the largest possible amount of food into his mouth while panting.
Meron (With his mouth full): "It's amazing! Picos, if we survive, I want you to open a restaurant in the capital and call it 'The Rebels' Hideout'."
As the comrades laughed, Nilon (Commander of the Second Division) appeared alongside a slender young man wearing complex technical goggles. He was "Fix," the substitute chosen to replace Nirar for the defense-disabling mission, as Nirar was to remain with the comrades.
Nilon (In a sharp, stern voice): "Enough laughing! We move now. This is 'Fix,' the most skilled hacker in the Second Battalion. He will disable the gravity systems while I cover his back."
Fix (In a slightly trembling voice): "Hello... I... I only need thirty seconds in front of the central console. If I don't get sniped, I will literally make the palace fly."
Kayan (Stepping toward them, wearing his full combat armor): "Nilon, our success depends on you and Fix. If the defense towers don't go dark on time, the Liberation Army will be easy prey for the gravity cannons. Move out!"
Nilon and Fix bid the comrades a quick farewell and sped off in a high-speed vehicle that vanished into the still dawn horizon, heading toward the electro-crystalline frequency towers.
Kayan turned to the remaining comrades (Ortinus, Romulius, Nikos, Darius, Picos, Meron, and Nirar). A sudden silence fell, as the laughter faded and the gravity of the situation took hold.
Kayan: "My friends... this is not just a mission. This is the moment the future generations of Atheria will talk about. The map you have is a trust. The bird is the hope, and the solution is life. Meron... you lead them through the lab passages. Are you ready?"
Meron (Standing tall, his eyes gleaming): "I will bring the bird back to life, and I will do it for Meres."
Nikos (Placing his hand on his son Darius's shoulder): "Listen to the mentor, Darius. Do not be reckless. The palace is full of traps, and not everything that glitters is gold... sometimes it's an electrical puzzle."
Darius (Smiling at his father): "I'll be fine, Father. Just make sure you're there so we can celebrate the victory... and Picos's cooking once more."
Romulius: "Ortinus, are you sure about the emergency route in case the palace collapses?"
Ortinus (Checking the device in his hand): "The path is secure, but Kayan is right... time is very tight. The Great Collapse will change the terrain of the place."
Kayan stood before the Liberation Army soldiers who had lined up in solemn rows. He raised his Aether sword, which began to glow with a pure blue light—a color that hadn't been seen in decades.
Kayan (Shouting powerfully): "Sons of Atheria! Today we do not fight for revenge, but for the future! The Great Collapse begins now! Move!"
In 그 moment, dozens of vehicles launched simultaneously, leaving behind clouds of crystalline dust. Nilon and Fix were approaching the towers, Kayan and his soldiers were heading for the main gates, while the comrades (Ortinus and his team) slipped toward the secret "Laboratory" passage opening, carrying Kayan's map and the dream of Atheria in their bags.
The roles were split, and the race against time began. The royal palace, which had seemed as steadfast as a mountain, began to tremble as the first waves of the attack arrived. The thirty seconds separating life and death were drawing near.