An Understated Dominance (Dustin Rhys)

"Kill them all!" At Warrick's command, the Red Legion charged without hesitation. Blades flashed as they stormed toward the elite enforcement unit.

This time, nearly a thousand Red Legion soldiers arrived. With their sheer numbers, they launched a pincer attack from both flanks, leaving the enemy with no way to fend it off.

"Form the Shield Formation!" Axel shouted upon seeing the dire situation.

His men immediately sheathed their blades and raised their shields to form a defensive line. Their pursuit had cut them off from the main force. Since they were up against an enemy ten times their size, forming a defensive line was their best option.

If they could stall for even a moment, reinforcements from the castle would arrive, and the tide would turn in their favor. Once that happened, the thousand-strong Red Legion would be the ones on the defensive.

After a brief charge, the two forces collided.

Warrick had personally trained the Red Legion. He selected only the most loyal and battle-hardened soldiers. They weren't only disciplined but also highly skilled, with each one capable of taking on a hundred enemies.

They might not match the elite enforcement unit in one-on-one combat. However, when charging in formation, they had a crushing advantage. With sheer numbers on their side, they pressed forward relentlessly, leaving the elite enforcement unit struggling to fight back.

If not for Axel's sheer strength and ability to hold the line, the formation would have been broken through long ago.

"Connor! Dave! How dare you attack the enforcement team? Are you trying to start a rebellion?" Axel roared. Attacking the enforcement team meant going against the entire kingdom. Doing so would lead to immediate exile from West Lucozia.

"If you dare to assassinate Sir Prescott, then why should we care if we're starting a rebellion?" Connor Brent stood his ground.

"That's right. Today, we're rebelling!" Dave Zadded, just as defiant.

Everything they had-their wealth, their status-was given by Warrick. Attacking the enforcement team was nothing. If Warrick told them to take their own lives, they'd do it without hesitation.

"You fools have no idea what you're up against. Let's see if you can make it out of Celestria alive." As Axel spoke, he pulled out a flare and fired it into the sky. A sharp blast echoed through the air.

The red flare shot into the sky and exploded with a thunderous blast at an altitude of 330 feet. Thick crimson smoke spread across the sky and lingered for what felt like an eternity.

This was the signal for a citywide lockdown. All official troops were required to mobilize immediately, and civilians were to return hand lock their doors. The launch of the lockdown signal flare heralded an earth- shattering crisis.

Axel had been after Warrick as part of a routine arrest but hadn't planned on making a scene. However, the Red Legion's resistance had escalated the situation into an outright rebellion.

This matter wouldn't end with just a few lives. By the end of the night, the entire Red Legion and Warrick's stronghold would be caught in the bloodshed.

"Sir Prescott! Things are looking bad. We should fall back." Connor and Dave's faces darkened at the sight of the red flare.

The Red Legion was formidable, but they were no match for the law. The castle's elite forces alone were already more than they could handle-let alone the entire city mobilizing against them. If they were surrounded, there would be no way out.

Only death awaited them.

"Leave a squad behind to hold them off. The rest, fall back with me." Warrick made a snap decision and led most of his forces into retreat. If it weren't for the Tranqurin in his system, he would lead the Red Legion to counterattack. But for now, survival was the priority.

"Do you think you can run? Not that easy!" Axel sneered.

With a leap, he vaulted onto the rooftops. He had no tto worry about the enforcement team still locked in battle with the Red Legion. Instead, he sprinted across the roof, determined to catch up with his target.

No matter what, he couldn't let Warrick escape. He had to report back to Austin, and failure wasn't an option.

"Sir Prescott! Someone's on our tail." Connor quickly noticed something off. He turned to look and saw a figure chasing them on the rooftops, about a hundred yards behind.

"Send a squad to take him down," Warrick ordered. His voice was rougher than before.

A wave of dizziness hit him as his strength ebbed away. His breaths cquicker, shallowen. He had to e reach the hideout-only the valuable herb he'd safeguarded for years could counteract most of the Tranqurin's effects. "You two, lead a team and hold them off!" Connor ordered.

Two lieutenants spun on their heels with a squad of soldiers. They drew their blades as they charged at Axel.

Meanwhile, Connor and Dave stayed close to Warrick. They could tell he tell was in bad shape. Ian exper O launched a sneak attack, things could turn ugly fast without them guarding him. "Attack!" The sound of battle cries rang out from behind them.

The two lieutenants had led dozens of soldiers to intercept Axel. But the O difference in strength was too great. Akel struck down both lieutenants in a single strike before they could close the distance. The dozens of Red Legion soldiers barely put up a fight. Without a proper formation, they scattered the moment they engaged since they were no match for him.

After breaking through the interception, Axel didn't waste twith a fight. Instead, he kept pursuing the rest of the Red Legion.

He didn't need to take on their main force. He only had to stay close, keeping a safe distance and occasionally firing a flare.

When the reinforcements from the castle arrived, that would be the moment to spring the trap.