Chapter 12: Rebirth in Despair
1189 Words
The brief calm brought no comfort; instead, it felt like the silence before an execution, charging every mote of dust in the air with ominous foreboding. Lyra held the still-trembling Ella close, her ears straining, alert to any sound outside. The Pack warriors had repelled the first wave, but the alarm hadn't ceased. Everyone knew this was likely just the lull before a fiercer storm.
Sure enough, just as a sliver of hope for temporary safety began to form, a new alarm siren tore through the sky above War Howl Fortress—even more piercing, more frantic than before!
WHOOO—WHOOO—WHOOO—!!!
This time, the siren seemed laced with a note of... despair!
Almost simultaneously, the sounds from outside exploded into a maelstrom of violence! No longer just scattered fighting, but… waves of screams! The roar of collapsing structures! And savage, frenzied howls!
"'Can't hold! The west dwarf wall is breached!'" "'So many… so many Rogues! They're insane! Pouring in like a tide!'" "'Quick! Defend the inner fortress! All Alpha Guard, fall back! Now!'" "'Help me! Aaaah—!'"
A symphony of terrified shouts, desperate commands, and dying screams wove together, drilling clearly into the ears of everyone inside the laundry room like music from hell.
The west wall… breached?!
Lyra felt an icy hand clamp around her heart, nearly stopping its beat. The laundry room was located in the rear service area, near the relatively weaker west side defenses! That meant…
"'No… don't…'" Ella was already beyond pale, her lips trembling uncontrollably, too terrified even to cry.
The other Omega and Beta servants in the laundry room descended into utter panic—some collapsed, some scrambled uselessly for better hiding spots, most just screamed helplessly.
CRASH!!
An ear-splitting crash—not a tentative blow this time, but the full impact of something heavy! The laundry room's flimsy wooden door shattered inwards, splinters flying!
The sight revealed in the doorway stole the breath from everyone's lungs!
Not one! Five or six Rogues! Like demons crawled up from hell, they blocked the entrance! These were larger, stronger, and far more ferocious than the ones earlier! They were caked in fresh, dripping blood mixed with dirt and sweat, radiating a nauseating stench. Their eyes glowed crimson, filled with the manic greed of predators cornering prey. Their weapons were crude and varied—bloodstained stone axes, broken spears, even clubs fashioned from bone, jagged barbs still visible!
"'Heheheh… Look what we found?'" the leader, a one-eyed Rogue, grinned, revealing stained white teeth. His gaze slithered like a viper across the terrified occupants, lingering on the Omegas huddled in the corners, the sight clearly exciting his sadistic urges. "'Lots of… tender little lambs!'"
His words drew rough, cruel laughter from the other Rogues.
"'Quick! Before those damned Pack warriors catch up! Grab some Omegas for a taste first!'" the one-eyed Rogue roared, brandishing his stone axe as he charged in first!
"'No!!'" "'Help us!!'"
The room erupted into chaos! Servants screamed and scattered, trying to flee, but in the confined space, against overwhelming strength, it was futile!
One Rogue, grinning savagely, grabbed a fleeing Beta male servant by the ankle, slammed him to the ground, and snapped his neck with a booted foot! Another lunged for a young Omega girl frozen in terror, roughly tearing at her clothes as she let out desperate cries!
Lyra and Ella huddled behind the innermost barrel, watching this hellish scene unfold, ice flooding their veins, drowned in a tidal wave of terror.
Just then, a relatively smaller Rogue, but with exceptionally vicious eyes, noticed them in the corner and advanced with a twisted grin!
Lyra's heart leaped into her throat. She instinctively pulled Ella tighter behind her.
However, as the Rogue neared their hiding spot, a figure previously hidden nearby suddenly moved! Selena! She had been hiding here too! Lyra saw the terror plain on Selena’s face, but beneath it, was that an almost imperceptible glint of… calculation?
Just as the vicious Rogue focused entirely on Lyra and Ella, lunging forward, a flash of ruthless determination crossed Selena’s face! With a sharp grunt, summoning all her strength, she didn't try to save herself or flee—instead… she violently shoved Ella, who was beside her!
"'Aaaah—!'"
Caught completely off guard by the push from behind, Ella shrieked as she lost her balance and tumbled directly towards the lunging Rogue!
"'ELLA!!'" Lyra screamed, her voice tearing, eyes wide with horror!
The vicious Rogue paused for a split second, surprised by the prey practically throwing itself at him, then let out an even more excited, cruel laugh. He didn't even need to exert himself now; simply reaching out with his gnarled, black-nailed claws was enough to grab the terrified, stumbling Ella!
And Selena, seizing that crucial instant, scrambled away towards another corner the Rogues hadn't yet reached, gasping for breath like someone who'd just cheated death!
She actually… she actually sacrificed Ella's life to save her own skin?!
Witnessing this vile, shameless act, Lyra felt her blood instantly ignite! Ella's terrified, tear-streaked face, the Rogue's leering claws reaching for her, Selena's repulsive, cowardly retreat… like three razor-sharp knives stabbing simultaneously into her heart!
Boundless fury erupted like molten lava within her chest, churning violently! Fury at the Rogues' brutality! Fury at Selena's despicable betrayal! But most of all, a towering rage and furious despair at her own weakness, her inability to protect her only friend!!
Why?! Why should Ella die because of that coward's selfishness?! Why should Omegas like them be treated like ants, to be sacrificed and trampled at will?!
NO!!! SHE WOULD NOT ALLOW IT!!!
Protect Ella! I MUST protect Ella!!!
The thought burned like the hottest brand, instantly overriding all fear and reason! It transformed into an unparalleled, almost frantic force of will, slamming against the shackles binding her body and soul!
"'——GET AWAY FROM HER!!!'"
A raw, primal scream, born of ultimate suppression, finally ripped from Lyra's throat, laced with endless grief, fury, and absolute resolve! The sound was unlike her usual soft voice; it held a strange, piercing power and undeniable authority!
Almost simultaneously, the amulet clutched instinctively at her chest suddenly erupted with searing heat! It was so intense it felt like it was branding her very bones, a sharp, definite pain!
Immediately following, an indescribable, torrential flood of power, like a behemoth breaking free from an ancient seal, roared awake in the deepest core of her being! Utterly uncontrollable, it surged madly through her limbs, her veins!
Blood roared in her ears! Her heart hammered like a war drum! Her soul trembled!
The world seemed to slow down around her.
She could see the reflection in Ella's wide eyes—the Rogue's leering face drawing closer, the glint of his filthy claws.
She could hear the faint whimper choked off in Ella's throat by terror.
And she could feel it—the power inside her, about to shatter all restraints, world-breaking power… letting out a deafening internal roar!
Power roared! Could Lyra save Ella in the nick of time? What would happen next?!
- Writer
