Affinity: Chaos

Chapter 2190: Sneaking Into A Sealed City

Grey moved through the forested slopes with deliberate care. Each step was measured, each shift of position calculated to keep him beyond the reach of the senses of the patrolling Gnomes that criss-crossed the mountain. The bunny leader sent out a few scouts to help Grey out while Void stayed on his shoulders.

The outer ring of Gnome sentries proved relatively loose. Most of the weaker Gnomes walked fixed routes, their attention dulled by repetition. Grey slipped between them with short spatial blinks, never remaining in one line of sight long enough to draw notice. The air grew thinner as the elevation increased, and the dry heat of the region clung to the rocks even under the cover of the trees.

Closer to the middle ring the patrols tightened. Stronger auras appeared at irregular intervals, late-stage Sovereigns and the occasional Necromancer whose presence carried a colder edge. Twice Grey was forced to halt completely, pressed against the shadowed side of a boulder while a pair of Ninth-stage Gnomes passed within twenty meters. He kept his own aura compressed to the barest thread. Void’s senses stretched outward, confirming the moment the danger moved on.

One close call came when a Necromancer paused mid-step and turned his head in Grey’s direction. For several heartbeats the man simply stood there, eyes narrowed. Grey remained motionless, ready to vanish the instant the gaze settled on him. In the end the Necromancer muttered something under his breath and continued along his route. Only after the aura had fully receded did Grey allow himself to move again.

The final stretch before the walls was the most exposed. Trees thinned, replaced by broken scree and open rock. The mountaintop city rose ahead, its outer defenses scarred by repeated assaults. Sections of the wall had been repaired with mismatched stone; other parts still showed deep cracks. Gnome forces held a continuous line around the base, yet the coverage was not perfect. Grey studied the pattern of movement until he found a narrow interval between two patrol routes.

He waited for the right moment, then crossed the open ground in a single, extended spatial shift. The world folded and unfolded around him. When his feet touched solid stone again he stood in the deep shadow of a collapsed watchtower just inside the outer wall.

The city was quiet in a way that felt unnatural. Many buildings stood empty or partially ruined. The remaining defenders had clearly concentrated their strength near the central strongholds. Faint human auras flickered in the distance, tired, strained, but still present. The smell of old smoke and unwashed bodies hung in the narrow streets.

Grey moved deeper into the city, keeping to alleys and the cover of damaged structures. Void scouted ahead in brief, silent leaps. After several minutes of careful progress Grey sensed a stronger human presence nearby: at least one Peak Sovereign and several Ninth-stage experts gathered in a fortified compound near the city’s heart.

He approached with caution, stopping at the edge of an open square that had been turned into a defensive position. Makeshift barricades of stone and timber blocked the main approaches. A handful of weary guards stood watch.

Grey stepped out of the shadows just far enough to be seen, hands open and empty.

The reaction was immediate. Spears and elemental energy locked onto him. A rough voice shouted for him to identify himself.

"I am Grey Dawson," he said clearly. "I came here from the Molten Crest Faction. I need to speak with whoever is in command."

The name produced a moment of stunned silence. One of the guards turned and ran toward the main building. A short time later a middle-aged man in battered armor emerged, flanked by two Ninth-stage experts. His aura marked him as a Peak Sovereign, though fatigue weighed heavily on his presence.

The Mayor of the city studied Grey with narrowed eyes. "Grey Dawson? The son of Lucas?"

"Yes."

Relief and disbelief warred on the older man’s face. "How did you get inside? The Gnomes have sealed every approach for weeks now."

"I came alone and under concealment," Grey answered. "I can bring reinforcements directly into the city, but I need a secure location and a short amount of time to prepare."

The Mayor did not waste moments on further questions. He gestured sharply. "Follow me."

They moved quickly through the compound and into a reinforced cellar beneath the main hall. The space was dry, defended, and far enough from the walls to avoid casual detection. Grey examined the floor and the surrounding stone, then nodded.

"This will work."

He set to work at once. The second teleportation array required the same care as the first, yet the conditions were far less ideal. He drew the lines with precise movements, adjusting for the limited space and the residual elemental interference left by days of fighting. Void kept watch near the entrance. The Mayor and his remaining experts stood back, speaking only when Grey requested materials or confirmation of the city’s remaining strength.

Time passed in focused silence. Outside, the distant sounds of the Gnome encampment continued without change. Inside the cellar the array gradually took shape, complex, stable, and linked to the formation waiting at the Molten Crest Faction.

When the final node locked into place, Grey rose and checked the entire structure one last time. The connection held steadily. He nodded in satisfaction.

He turned to the Mayor. "It is ready. Once I send the signal, the main force will begin crossing. You should prepare your people to strike the moment they arrive."

The Mayor’s expression hardened with renewed purpose. "We will be ready."

Grey placed his hand on the central node of the array. A low hum of spatial energy built beneath his palm. The link to the distant formation stirred, waiting only for the final command.

Outside the city the Gnome forces continued their watch, unaware that the sealed mountain was about to open from within.

Grey drew a slow breath and prepared to cross over.