Love System Redemption

: We're On Our Own "Double check the quadrants. Secure the east and west sides. No mistakes. Eyes on everything, and report back immediately." He paused, listening, waiting for the response he needed. But it never came. The screen on his phone glitched, the signal cut off, and only static filled his ear.

Somto tried again, his fingers pressing harder on the phone, growing more desperate with each attempt. "Unit Four, report! Perimeter, NOW! I need backup immediately, do you hear me?!" He tried again, but once more, the signal failed.

His frustration boiled over. His breath cout in short, angry bursts. Damn it! Somto's mind raced. He was supposed to be prepared for everything. But he had been careless. He thought that Omniora Academy, its defenses, its location, would keep her safe. He thought no one would dare strike here.

But this wasn't just any attack. Whoever these enemies were, they had cprepared. They had anticipated his every move.

He cursed under his breath. They're not afraid of Omniora's defenses. They're not afraid of us.

The thought gnawed at him. The fact that they had attacked while Arthur was present, meant something. Something bigger. They're not afraid of the royal family either.

Arthur, struggling to his feet beside him, didn't speak. But the tension between them was palpable. Somto could feel his eyes on him, asking the squestion, What the hell just happened? Somto didn't have an answer.

He had made a mistake. And now, they were all in danger.

Arthur had already rushed over to Nnenna, his movements swift but careful. He knelt beside her, checking for any signs of serious injury. A wave of relief washed over him when he confirmed she was still breathing, shallow but steady.

His gaze shifted to Somto, who was standing a few paces away, his expression calm but noticeably darker. Arthur's instincts kicked in, he knew something wasn't right. He had heard the faint crackle of Somto's phone failing to connect, and he could guess what it meant.

The signal had been jammed.

As if reading his thoughts, Somto turned to him, his eyes steady but with a quiet weight. "We're on our own." Arthur nodded without hesitation, his face betraying no panic, just a quiet resolve. He moved quickly to lift Nnenna, carefully placing her against the base of a large tree to stabilize her, making sure she was comfortable and as safe as possible, given the circumstances.

He exchanged a glance with Somto, and together, they stood back to back, the air thick with tension. They could only wait and hold on for as long as they could.

They trusted that the academy, their subordinates, and Carl were already on the move. A bomb of that magnitude was impossible to miss.

But they didn't know that, at that very moment, Carl and the others were already deep in their own battle.

Carl's voice cthrough the comms, calm, steady, and reassuring, yet edged with a quiet authority that made people listen.

"Focus on the immediate threat,” he ordered, tone even but unyielding. “Maintain distance when you can. I want every quadrant secured. Watch each other's backs, and no one goes in alone.” He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. Arthur's and Somto's subordinates had always respected him, not merely for his skill in battle, but because he carried himself like a leader who valued every soldier as more than just a non a roster.

He was patient with them, gentle when the moment called for it, yet immovable when the situation demanded. His loyalty to Somto and Arthur ran deeper than any duty, an unspoken bond forged through trials and trust.

"Remember why we're here," he continued, his voice softening, though it lost none of its resolve.

"No one gets left behind. I'm trusting you all.” Carl's gaze flicked over to his left as the fight around them intensified, masked enemies emerging from every direction. But his focus remained clear, get through this, get to Somto, and Arthur.

He moved forward, but as if the enemies knew exactly what he planned, they made a calculated move. More forces closed in on him, blocking his path with brutal precision. The plan had been simple: rally the forces and charge toward Somto and Arthur's position.

But the enemies weren't making it easy. They had anticipated his every move. Carl gritted his teeth but didn't frustrated his allow frustration to show. Instead, he shifted his focus, issuing orders to his people with the scalmness that had always kept them centered. "Push through. Take control of the perimeter. I need a clear route to Somto and Arthur. Do not let them isolate us. No matter what happens, keep the formation tight." His subordinates, responding with practiced professionalism, followed his instructions, but Carl could feel the pressure mounting. The masked enemies were relentless, and every step forward felt like an uphill battle. Carl's heart ached. They're keepingfrom reaching them.

His family, his brothers, were out there, and there was nothing he could do to get to them. Not yet. He could only trust his team to hold the line.

In the forest, Somto and Arthur didn't have to wait long.

The air in the forest suddenly seemed to grow heavier, more oppressive, as figures began to descend from the trees, dark shapes moving in a coordinated wave, dropping like shadows in the dimming light. They were dressed head to toe in black, their movements swift and fluid, an army of unseen attackers that had been waiting, watching. Somto let out a bitter scoff. So this was their game.

They had been hidden in the trees all along, waiting for the right moment to strike. Every step they took now felt like it had been meticulously planned, their precision betraying just how prepared they were.

If this was a fight they wanted, then so be it.

Somto's jaw tightened, his expression steely as he surveyed the growing numbers in front of them. Let them come.