Chapter 180: Operation Skeleton Key.

Lpki glanced up from his seat and got up immediately and he got up exactly at the same time with Beatrice who was also already eager to move. Beatrice looked at him and then smiled. “Thank you very much,” she said. “That helped a lot,” she held Richard's hand for a while then leaned forward and pecked him on the forehead.

Richard was surprised at this and looked at her with a serious gaze. “In another world, I'd be your big sister,” she said with a giggle and walked away with Avalors.

Richard smiled and just shook his head. She was a cool person and he realized that she was one of the few people he was actually comfortable with. Even though they didn't speak much, their urge to protect and help Melissa put them as friends much more than she realized.

They walked forward as the Infernal entered the room and everyone lined up to get started. The group was split into four squads. Beatrice led one, Richard led one, the Infernal led one and then Avalors.

They were going to the old destroyed witch town where the Infernal was certain the Oracle was located. The reason they actually had to wait was because an informant of the Infernal was coming with them. The person as he would reveal now was his daughter. The Countess, Arabella. She was dressed in a black leather coat and was armed to the teeth.

Richard realized all that was happening had been a longer plan for the infernal. Margaret on the other hand just sat down staring at all of them, her face filled with fear. An intense level of fear that made him feel sorry for himself. It was as if they were going to their deaths.

She walked up to Avalors who was beside her and then dragged him away. They talked with each other for a while and then she wrapped her hand around him and then kissed him. The elderly man walked towards him with blushes on his cheek. “Now I have to survive,” he said with a smile and Richard almost vomited.

“Just stop… stop that,” he said and the elderly man chuckled.

The Sentinels had already been briefed about the mission, so there isn't much to talk about now and they were all ready. Richard activated his abilities and dragged all the twenty five of them with him. They appeared somewhere within the sacred forest.

Although they were plenty, the distance traveled was way too short for him to be affected greatly. He was just a little jaded and after a while he recovered. When they appeared, four armored vehicles were already parked there. Those were the divisions that Candice and Vanessa helped Margaret run. The mission was a secret one, so they had to do everything in secret.

They were able to get the armored vehicles, thanks to Melissa's friend in the inquisition who was happy to help them throughout. He even offered to come, as they'd told him the truth, but the infernal convinced him to stay back and that they cannot afford to lose someone as vital as him. His position was vital and they would be needing his help even if they survived.

The team set out, each squad of six people choosing a vehicle. The location as Infernal described it was a two hour journey through the sacred wood. It wasn't far at all. As Richard entered his own vehicle, he started to check for his weapons if they were complete. He knew he would need a lot of weapons because he was not going to have his ability for the first few minutes of the battle or a few hours.

That is till their witch Clarissa could counteract the dampening effect. She was the twenty fifth person that was following them and she was in Beatrice's vehicle. She would be the one to counteract the dampening rune so they can raid freely with their abilities.

The journey was slow and Richard had to count from one thousand to keep himself focused. After what felt like ages they arrived at the town and the whole squad dropped down. Then the infernal walked towards them and exhaled.

“Everyone,” he said. “You remember what we told you and remember, we are probably not going to come back at all. So if you wanna leave,” he said. “You can still save yourself,” he said.

The Sentinels replied by putting off the safety on their guns and then pointing it forward. The infernal nodded and then he raised his hand. “Commence operation,” he said.

“Operation Skeleton Key,” Avalors said with a chuckle.

“That name still sucks,” the infernal reacted and Richard almost gorged his eyes out. The Infernal was actually acting towards Avalors like a friend. He smiled and they all rushed in.

The town itself seemed to have been destroyed by the fury of some gods and skeletons laid here and there. And also, a thick stinging mist literally covered the town so they couldn't see farther than about fifty meters.

They all put on their visors and masks and then disappeared into the mist. They walked at the same pace and their movements rhymed with each other. The moment they reached a certain position, Lpki felt his darkness ability switch off.

“We are near here,” he said in his comms.

“Roger that Ashfall,” The Infernal replied.

They walked forward, even with the visor it was still hard to see within the mist. At last Beateice spoke through the comms. “We are here,” she said. “East wing. The red gem is setting up rituals here. Three of my team members will stay within proximity to protect the others from hiding out. The rest of you can proceed,” she said.

Richard headed towards the east wing and they could see in their line of vision a series of buildings built together in a sort of cluster that made it seem like a pyramid. This was the Oracle,’’s actual base. They walked slowly towards it and when they entered the building they didn't spot any guard. They hadn't walked more than a few meters when Richard heard Melissa's scream.