The group followed Juliana and Runebelle. The duo led them to the beach, where Juliana’s lab was behind. Juliana and declared, "I know my technology. The day I discovered there was a traitor within our ranks, I also uncovered their identity. That's how prepared I am for this day."

  In a swift motion, Juliana tossed a small cube onto the sand. The cube emitted a soft glow as intricate holographic projections materialized in the air. The images coalesced to reveal the hidden base of Shadowcroft, previously obscured by powerful cloaking devices.

  When the holographic representation stabilized, the group could see the imposing structure of Shadowcroft's base, nestled clandestinely behind the lab.

  Runebelle, Roselle, Risebelle, Jess, and the other two stared onwards with brief awe. Then, they nodded their heads and proceeded into the base. They found themselves in a hallway with a blue light. The ambient hum of machinery filled the air. After travelling for awhile down a straight path, they reached a vast chamber lined with tanks. Inside the tanks lay unconscious individuals, their faces frozen in peaceful slumber.

  Runebelle remarked, “These people are victims that are unaware of what Shadowcroft is planning with them."

  Risebelle clenched her fists,. "We need to stop this. No one else should suffer because of Shadowcroft." Runebelle nodded in agreement.

  The group continued to advance through the vast chamber. They came across row upon row of tanks that each contained one individual. Juliana’s face turned grave. “The number of individuals in this room could be about seven thousand,” she said. “And this is only the first room.”

  Roselle’s eyes widened in horror while looking around. “There are so many…How could they do this?”

  Risebelle’s face hardened with fury. Her fists were clenched tightly at her sides. “This is beyond disgusting. How dare they use people like this? Urgh! I’ll destroy Shadowcroft!”

  Jess noticed Risebelle’s growing agitation and stepped closer, gently placing her hands on Risebelle’s shoulders. “Hey, take a deep breath,” she said softly. “We’re going to deal with this, but you need to stay calm.”

  Rosebelle observed the group's reactions with curiosity. Her own upbringing as a Doppelganger had steeped her in a different perspective, one shaped by Shadowcroft's twisted ideology. Seeing the raw reactions of those around her sparked a flicker of understanding within her.

  The group reached the entrance of the next room, where a pair of Shadowcroft grunts engaged in a conversation:

  “You know, I've been honing my skills in Akido lately. It's all about using an opponent's energy against them. Pretty effective against those people who started awakening unique abilities."

  "Really? That's impressive. I've always wanted to learn something new. Maybe you can teach me some new moves later on."

  Risebelle smirked and whispered. "They're too busy discussing their fighting skills to notice us. Let's keep going."

  Juliana motioned for everyone to follow her lead. She guided them through the shadows and avoided the attention of the chattering grunts.

  The group reached a junction with three pathways. Runebelle examined the surroundings with a furrowed brow, “It seems Shadowcroft used the money they amassed from their shady lending business to expand and fund their sinister experiments."

  Juliana assessed the situation. "We need to choose the right path. If we take the wrong one, we might run into heavy resistance."

  Roselle looked to Runebelle for guidance. "Which way, Runebelle? We're counting on you."

  Runebelle pondered for a moment before pointing to the middle path. "Let's go this way. It seems less guarded."

  The group followed Runebelle down the middle path. The further down they went, the more the lights in the Corridors began to dim.

  The corridor stretched ahead, revealing a group of Shadowcroft guards. Their backs were turned and they were in heavy conversation, but they were stationed in a way where they could see anything that tried to pass.

  Runebelle turned to Rosebelle. "This is your chance to prove your dedication to the team, Rosebelle. Can you take them out silently and swiftly?"

  A mischievous grin spread across Rosebelle's face. With a confident nod, she stealthily approached the guards. In a swift series of well-timed strikes, she incapacitated them without a sound before they could begin to make noise. She left them slumped on the floor.Runebelle nodded in approval.

  The group continued forward, taking advantage of the cleared path, and pressing deeper into the heart of Shadowcroft's base.

  The group found themselves at another crossroads only moments later. Risebelle sighed deeply. "Not again….seriously?"

  Roselle chuckled nervously. "Well, we've got a 33.3% chance of getting it right, right?"

  Runebelle looked around, contemplating the right way forward. Before a decision could be made, a figure emerged from the door down the left path, causing Roselle to gasp loudly.

  Out of the shadows stepped Chloe, one of Roselle's seven friends who had once surrounded her menacingly at school; however, something was different about Chloe. She dressed in a more provocative outfit than what Roselle was used to seeing from her.

  "Chloe?" Roselle blurted out. Without waiting for an answer, she hurried off in Chloe's direction, driven by the need to understand the sudden change.

  "Roselle, wait!" Runebelle shouted after her, but Roselle was already on the move.

  Risebelle scoffed, "Let her go. If she dies, it's on her, not us. She didn't stick to the plan."

  Jess pouted and rubbed the top of Risebelle’s head. "Risebelle, you can be so cold."

  Risebelle lowered her eyes slightly.

  Runebelle sighed. "Roselle went down the left path. We may have to split up. I don't like the idea of her going alone."

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Risebelle crossed her arms and shook her head. “Splitting up is always a bad idea. We might cover more ground, but it also increases the risk of getting caught or worse. We need to stick together if we want to maximize our chances of succeeding.”

  Jess frowned. “But Roselle went after Chloe, and it’s not like we can just leave her hanging.”

  Runebelle nodded. “Risebelle’s right. We’re stronger as a unit. However, we can’t just ignore Roselle’s situation either….”

  Jess raised up one hand "I'll go! I can flirt with her and bring her back. No problem! Hehehehe!" She went to run off, but Risebelle pulled Jess back. She her eyes lowered in disapproval. "No flirting, Jess. This is a serious situation."

  Jess pouted, "Aw, Risebelle, no need to be jealous. I'll come right back to you."

  Risebelle responded, "Jess, I can't take much more of this. This is not the time for your antics."

  Jess grinned mischievously, "I'll go with you then, Risey!" She hugged onto Risebelle.

  Risebelle muttered, "I’m stuck with you again. It’s just something that seems to happen all the time."

  The duo made their way north with Jess dragging Risebelle along. Runebelle called out, “Wait, don’t go off that way!”

  Jess and Risebelle made their way down the north path. Jess cheerfully hummed a tune. Risebelle tugged at her arm. "Jess, can you stop dragging me? This is serious!"

  Jess grinned playfully. "Come on, Risey, lighten up! We’re on an adventure!"

  Risebelle gritted her teeth. "Seriously, Jess. You’re not making this any easier."

  Jess just continued humming. Risebelle’s patience wore thin. She sighed and muttered, “You’ve left me no other choice.”

  With a swift motion, Risebelle overpowered Jess and delivered a precise karate chop to her head. Jess yelped, “Ow! That really hurt!”

  Risebelle crossed her arms and glared. “Maybe if you had been listening, I wouldn’t have to resort to this.”

  Jess rubbed her head. “Okay, okay. I get it. No more dragging. I promise.”

  Risebelle . “Good. Now, let’s focus. You do know what stealth is right? Cause were gonna need it.”

  Jess, with a sly smile, whispered, “Oh Don't worry, Risebelle. I'm an expert at sneaking around."

  Risebelle raised an eyebrow but decided not to comment.

  Jess and Risebelle used the shadows in the building to move about undetected by guards in a few areas where the security level was low. Afterwards, they reached an open area where a flight of stairs led upward. The duo ascended to the next floor. When they reached the top, they found themselves in a hallway. There were occasional murmurs and distant footsteps echoing through the corridor.

  Risebelle gestured for Jess to stay low. “Keep your eyes peeled."

  Jess, with a mischievous grin, whispered, "Ready for some action, Risebelle?"

  Risebelle shot her a disapproving look but nodded nonetheless. “Let’s stick to the plan and shut this place down. No unnecessary risks."

  Risebelle and Jess silently advanced through until they encountered a group of guards patrolling the area.Risebelle signaled to Jess to follow her lead. With precise and synchronized movements, they ambushed the guards one by one, incapacitating them without too much noise. The subdued guards slumped to the floor.

  The duo reached a section of the base that seemed to be the central hub. It was a massive open area with catwalks above and various control panels scattered around. The hum of machinery and the occasional beep of monitors filled the space.

  In the center of the room stood an enormous tube which was surrounded by tanks which were connected through a complex network of wires.

  Jess, with a hushed tone, remarked, "What in the world is that thing?"

  Risebelle shrugged. "No idea, but it can't be anything good. We need to find out more."

  The duo noticed that the tanks connected to a giant tube that contained unconscious individuals. The wires seemed to be extracting something from the tanks and channeling it into the massive tube.

  Risebelle muttered. "This is messed up. We need to put an end to whatever they're doing here."

  While they continued to investigate, they discovered that the giant tube had a display panel showing a countdown timer. The numbers were rapidly decreasing.

  The duo began to explore the control panels surrounding the central tube, searching for any indication of how to halt the mysterious process. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the chamber, and both Risebelle and Jess froze.

  A figure emerged from the shadows. She had white braids, a curvy figure and wore the same school uniform as Risebelle. Her golden eyes surveyed the scene. A mischievous smile played on her lips.

  Risebelle squinted. She tried to place where she had seen this girl before.

  The girl approached confidently. "Well, well, if it isn't Risebelle, one of the top students at the college. Skipping class today, are we?"

  Risebelle's eyes widened in recognition. “I knew you looked familiar…You’re…Ayana? What are you doing here, and what's with this Shadowcroft operation?"

  Ayana chuckled. "Oh, Risebelle, always the curious one. I'm here on official business. Shadowcroft and I have a mutually beneficial arrangement."

  Risebelle's gaze hardened. "Beneficial arrangement? Involving innocent people and whatever that countdown is? I won't let you get away with it."

  Ayana tilted her head. "You've always been such a goody-two-shoes, Risebelle. But let me enlighten you. This experiment is crucial for Shadowcroft's plans, and you won't interfere."

  Before Risebelle could respond, Ayana raised her hand, and Shadowcroft grunts emerged from the shadows, surrounding Risebelle and Jess.

  Jess was swiftly cuffed by a Shadowcroft grunt. She struggled against the restraints but managed to raise her cuffed hands to give Risebelle a jokingly serene smile.

  Risebelle lowered her eyes.

  Ayana spoke with once hand raised up to her chin. "Now, Risebelle, I know you could be quite resourceful, but you're not leaving here until our experiment is complete."

  Risebelle launched herself at Ayana. Her strikes were swift and precise, catching Ayana off guard. Ayana stumbled backward, crashing into the waiting Shadowcroft grunts.

  The grunts hesitated for a moment before they charged at Risebelle in an attempt to overwhelm her with sheer numbers. Riseblelle thossed powerful blows and knocked back several of them, but the numbers overwhelmed her. They managed to subdue her, and the sound of handcuffs clicking into place echoed through the chamber.

  Ayana, having recovered from the initial surprise, approached Risebelle with a triumphant smirk. "Nice try, Risebelle. But you can't fight fate. The experiment will proceed as planned, and there's nothing you can do about it."

  Risebelle growled. “What are you getting out of this, Ayana…?”

  Ayana looked down at Risebelle with a haughty expression. "What do I get out of this? Oh, the trifecta, my dear Risebelle. Money, fame, and power. The world bows to those who hold the strings of influence, and with Shadowcroft. Who needs school and a father breathing down their neck when you can have it all?"

  Risebelle, though physically restrained, attempted to charge forward, but Shadowcroft grunts held her back. "You're willing to sacrifice innocent lives for your own gain?"

  Ayana chuckled softly with a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Innocent? Oh, Risebelle, you really don't see the bigger picture, do you? Shadowcroft isn't just about chaos; it's about liberation. The world is a stage, and we're rewriting the script. To free magical energy, we need power—real power. And that means tapping into sources others fear to touch, including yours."

  Risebelle's eyes widened at the revelation. "Me? What power do I have?"

  Ayana smirked, "Acute Awareness. It's a power that allows you to perceive and analyze your surroundings with extraordinary precision, especially during combat. Shadowcroft attempted to replicate it with Rosebelle, but your ability is the real deal."

  Risebelle recalled the mention of Acute Awareness during her encounter with Rosebelle. It was the first time she had heard about such an ability, and now Ayana's confirmation brought a sense of clarity.

  “Why didn’t my ability work just now then,” asked Risbelle.

  Ayana chuckled again, “Your power, Risebelle, activates during combat situations. It seems the circumstances here didn't trigger it. Unfortunate for you, but fortunate for us."

  Risebelle looked up with a face of frustration. "You won't get away with this. I'll find a way to stop you and this entire operation!"

  Time passed in a blur, and the next thing Risebelle and Jess knew, they found themselves unceremoniously thrown into a Shadowcroft cell.

  Risebelle groaned. She pushed herself up from the cold floor, shooting a disdainful glare at the cell door. Jess dusted herself off nonchalantly.

  "What a welcoming committee," Jess remarked

  Risebelle clenched her fists. "God damn it…”

  Ayana’s echoed from some unseen speakers, permeating the room. "Welcome, Risebelle and Jess. I hope your accommodations are to your liking. Unfortunately, we don't have tanks ready for the two of you just yet. Sit tight and enjoy the show that’s about to unfold."