Jay continued, his voice cutting through the quiet tension. "I can't be sure if Urzo is involved, but the odds are high. Especially given how they knew to target the Space Platform and block your escape route. You need to act with that in mind—strike without rcy, because your survival depends on it."
An eerie silence followed. The implications of Jay's words were not lost on any of them. If Urzo was involved, their situation was far more precarious than they had realized. Urzo's vicious thods, and his willingness to sacrifice thousands of Alpha Chosen to stall Jay's progress had cented his reputation as a cunning and malevolent force.
The Raid Party had seen firsthand the devastation he was capable of. His ability to manipulate others, combined with his near-invisible presence, had haunted them for the past few days.
The possibility that the attack had been orchestrated by Urzo—Yinad's role perhaps just a piece in a larger, more sinister plan—brought a deep unease to the group. The weight of that realization pressed down on them like the icy winds that whipped across the mountains.
It wasn't just about surviving anymore. If Urzo was pulling the strings behind this ambush, their very lives were in grave danger. The thought of being toyed with by the sa malevolent ghost who had hounding them for so long left a bitter taste of fear in their mouths.
But there was no ti to dwell on that fear. If they wanted to survive, they had to push it aside. They had to fight—and fight without restraint. The locals surrounding them, perhaps unknowingly part of this grand sche, weren't necessarily enemies in their own right.
But at that mont, in the battle, there was no room for hesitation. The Raid Party couldn't afford to hold back. If they didn't act decisively, they would be overwheld and killed by those who didn't fully understand what they were fighting for.
Dante, Olivia, Min-soo, and the others exchanged grim, determined looks. The ti for second-guessing was over. If they had to cut down the locals to save their own lives, they would. There was no rcy left to give.
After a brief but tense silence, it was Akor who finally broke the stillness, his voice calm but urgent. "Liege, Halbor and his team are working on deploying a new Space Platform inside the Aqua Shell. If we can hold our ground until it's up and running, I'm confident we can make our escape."
Jay's response was imdiate. "MJ, run a simulation of their chances."
MJ's voice chid in, crisp and analytical. "It will take at least 15 more minutes to set up the new Space Platform. The chances of successfully defending it until then are less than 5%, especially with a thousand-strong army of Alpha Chosen closing in and Yinad's long-range attacks continuing."
Kasim, the black-skinned bodybuilder, spoke up next, his tone doubtful yet direct. "What will improve our chances, then?" His question hung in the air, heavy with the implications of their dire situation.
MJ's response ca swiftly. "So of you will need to distract Yinad and keeping him occupied will raise your chances of survival. The rest of the group must focus on the advancing local army."
Jay imdiately followed up. "MJ, devise a strategy that gives them the highest possible survival rate."
Without hesitation, MJ compiled and sent a detailed plan through the mind link, outlining the roles each of them had to fulfill. According to MJ's simulation, the best chance for success involved a specific group breaking off to confront Yinad directly.
The ones chosen for that task were Min-soo, Dante, Henry, and Kensei. Those four apparently had the best odds of occupying Yinad long enough for the rest of the Raid Party to hold their ground and fend off the approaching army.
So mbers of the group exchanged silent glances, wondering why MJ had selected Min-soo and Henry, given that Brandon and Sergei were stronger fighters. However, no one voiced their doubts aloud. MJ's calculations were known to be precise, and in a situation like that, questioning the AI's logic could cost them valuable ti. Trusting the plan, they all prepared to execute it without hesitation.
Min-soo, Dante, Henry, and Kensei quickly gathered near each other, steeling themselves for what lay ahead. Min-soo's teleportation abilities would be crucial to getting them close to Yinad. One by one, they placed their hands on Min-soo's shoulder, as physical contact was required to teleport with him.
As everyone braced for their roles, fully prepared to do whatever it took to survive, Jay's voice broke through the mind link, his tone laced with contemplation. "Maybe I shouldn't have driven us so hard to clear Obelisks at such a relentless pace. If I hadn't been so reckless, maybe you wouldn't be stranded here, with no hope of backup." There was a weight in his words, a rare mont of doubt from his normally resolute self.
Before the silence could stretch too long, Dante's voice cut in, firm and reassuring. "Don't bla yourself, Jay. This was bound to happen eventually. If it weren't for you, we'd all be dead back when the Plasma Predator attacked. Ever since we were thrown into this world, our lives haven't been our own. They could be taken from us at any mont."
He paused, letting the gravity of the truth sink in before continuing. "You've guided us through challenges that would have been impossible for others, and each ti we've erged stronger."
Dante's words rippled through the group, stirring sothing deep within them. They all rembered that fateful day when they thought it was the end, only to be saved by Dante and Jay. That shared mont of survival had bound them closer, and facing yet another impossible battle, those mories fueled their determination.
If Urzo was as vicious and power-hungry as they had heard, his rise to power in the Trial World would be catastrophic for everyone. It was far better to stand beside Jay in the inevitable war among the Alpha Pri Prospects, to help him secure the title of Alpha Pri—the ruler of the Trial World—than to let soone like Urzo reign supre.
Through the mind link Olivia had established, Jay's final words echoed in the minds of everyone in the 1st Raid Party, a grim promise that ignited a fire within them. "Though I'm powerless to save you right now, know this: if, god forbid, any of you fall today, I will hunt down those responsible—no matter how distant their involvent. Their hands, however stained, will pay for your blood."
His words fueled a surge of fierce resolve among them. They knew, without a doubt, that if they fell today, their deaths wouldn't be in vain. Their blood would not be forgotten, and Jay would avenge them. Steeled by those words, each of them prepared for the fight of their lives, driven by a singular purpose—survival.
Just as they were about to set out, Jay's voice slipped through the mind link again, but it was directed solely at Dante. Only Olivia, maintaining the link, could hear it as well. "Dante, tread carefully. Only use your 3rd Innate Exclusive Skill if it's truly a last resort."
Dante understood imdiately. He gave a slight nod, his expression darkening with the knowledge of what Jay was referring to. His third innate skill, recently awakened, held imnse power but ca with an equally grave threat to his life. It was a double-edged sword, sothing that could turn the tide of battle but might also take him down with it if used recklessly.
With the weight of Jay's words and the fire of survival burning within them, the Raid Party set out to face the army and the looming threat of Yinad.
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Author Note:
Exclusive artwork for every free chapter is now available on my PATRE0N page! You can find the link in my Discord server.
I'm thrilled to share that I'm taking a big leap forward! Alongside Earth's Alpha Pri, I've launched the first sub-book for EAP.
ALTER REALITY: Online
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The first ten to comnt for new chapter releases will get '1 ADVANCED CHAPTER' for free on Earth Alpha Pri's Discord server.
In the discord server, I opened a private channel for those Top 10 candidates, where I posted the respective Advanced Chapter.
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Discord Link for 'Earth's Alpha Pri' :
sdiscord.gg/maQC7xDBYZ
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