The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic

Soon, a wave of restlessness began to spread through the port. The guards grew alert and started moving around with sharp eyes, scanning the surroundings.

Among them, one guard walked directly toward the area where the containers were stacked high.

Inside that very place, hidden behind the heavy steel walls and crates, the group held their breath.

Everyone froze.

No one dared to speak. Their eyes flicked between each other, panic rising with every step the guard took.

Sol clenched his teeth. Martina didn't move a muscle. Kael's hand slowly went to the grip of his sword.

But just when the tension was about to snap, the guard suddenly turned away.

The patrol pattern shifted. The guards began walking in different directions again.

Sol exhaled sharply, shoulders dropping.

"I thought for a moment that we were going to get caught," he whispered, wiping sweat from his brow.

Others just nodded, too tense to speak.

The —Kael's senses screamed.

Something wasn't right.

His head snapped up.

"FUCKKKK! They're shooting!" Kael shouted, voice cracking.

His words hadn't even left his mouth when—

BOOOOOOM!

An explosion ripped through the air. The blast rocked the ground, shaking containers and sending dust flying.

Before they could react, more blasts followed by explosion.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Explosions one after another, targeting their very spot.

A few meters away, Adele stood calmly on the raised platform. Her cold eyes were locked onto the section of the port amidst the container stacks.

The hiding spot was deep inside a maze of metal crates—stacked tightly, forming a shadowed corridor where even moonlight barely reached. A few narrow gaps allowed air to flow, but otherwise, it was a perfect place to hide—or be trapped.

Adele's expression didn't change. Her lips pressed into a thin line.

She glanced at Bernard. "Is that the place they are hiding?"

Bernard gave a slight nod, a small smirk forming. "Yes."

Just then, Major Radii stepped forward, sensing the heavy air. "That blast...?" he asked, brows furrowed.

Adele didn't even look at him. "There isn't a big problem," she said coolly. "For the time being, it's better if you go inside the ship.We will call you after things calm down."

Radii didn't argue. With a stiff nod, he turned and quickly walked away.

The moment he was gone, Adele's eyes returned to the smoke. Her voice was low but firm. "Can you take them down without problem?"

Bernard gave a cocky laugh. "My Lady, are you underestimating us?" His voice was louder now, tinged with pride.

Adele didn't reply. She just snorted softly and looked ahead again.

Bernard's grin faded as he noticed where she was staring.

His brows lowered.

The smoke was fading. And what stood behind it made his jaw clench.

A large, glowing shield shimmered in the middle of the blast zone.nside it—figures in dark cloaks stood still. Metallic masks covered their faces, hiding any trace of emotion.

They hadn't even flinched.

Bernard narrowed his eyes. "Tch... persistent," he muttered. Then his smile returned, cruel and sharp.

"But that's all."

He raised his hand and waved it forward.

"Attack them."

The guards rushed forward, weapons raised.

And then the real fight began.

....

The ground trembled faintly beneath their feet, and the air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke and scorched metal. Martina, Kael, Sol, Adonis, Herion, Freya, and Linda stood close together inside the large, glowing shield, the light flickering as residual energy from the blast dissipated.

For a moment, time itself seemed to hold its breath. No one spoke. No one dared to move. Then, Martina's sharp voice cut through the silence like a blade through silk.

"We need to escape. Immediately."

Her tone was urgent, commanding. Everyone turned toward her, and the tension that had built up from the earlier explosion seemed to compress even tighter around them.

Kael looked at her, confusion and dread in his eyes. "But… how? How were we found out?"

Sol shook his head slowly, his voice cracking with disbelief. "Yeah… we planned everything. We were careful. How did they even track us?"

"We don't have time for that," Adonis interrupted, his voice cold and focused. He reached behind his back and unsheathed his longsword with a ringing metallic note that seemed to slice through the anxiety lingering in the air. "They're coming."

Everyone turned their eyes toward the shimmering edges of the shield, where dark silhouettes were now forming within the thinning smoke. And then, among the shadows, one figure emerged clearly. He walked slowly, steadily, his long coat flaring slightly with each step. A gleaming metallic mask covered his face, and his very presence made the hair on everyone's neck stand.

Martina's eyes narrowed as they locked on him. Her voice dropped into something darker, deadlier.

"That man… He's the one you all need to be cautious about. Don't engage him. Don't even try. I will handle him. The rest of you try to escape..Don't think unnecessary things and escape.$

Kael's mouth parted in protest. "No! You'll be killed—"

"Killed…"Martina paused for a bit and looked at Kael and then burst into laughter.

"Hanahah!"

Her laughter became unrestrained and wild.And as it finished, a sharpness that shook his body erupted from her.

"I'm not asking for permission," Martina snapped, her tone fierce and unwavering. "This is what I'm good at. Move now or we all die."

Before Kael could argue again, a gentle hand landed on his shoulder. It was Freya, the group's swordswoman. She wore a calm expression, though her eyes shimmered with tension. "We'll only get in her way. Let's do what she says."

Linda, the mage who had cast the protective shield earlier, stepped forward and closed her eyes for a second. The runes glowing on her staff flickered faintly, then dimmed. The shield surrounding them dissolved into wisps of light.

"Thank you, Linda," Sol whispered, placing a hand on her shoulder. Everyone gave her a brief nod of gratitude, acknowledging that her spell had bought them the precious time they'd needed.

Linda gave a tired smile. "Get going. I'll lay a cover enchantment around the containers. It should scatter their magic sensors."