Elle's gaze remained on the Telegate's location. It towered like a doorway to another dimension—an enormous frame carved into the wall, wrapped in a labyrinth of cables and metal tubing that met at the center: a glass, mechanical capsule enclosing a brilliant green crystal emitting an unusual, almost eerie sparkle.

"Hey," Elle spoke, her voice cutting through the quiet whine of the monitor.

Dani looked up, briefly distracted from the tangle of surveillance streams showing the Vacile members—each window color-coded and flashing with movement from their hidden body cameras.

Elle nodded to the Telegate. "Tell me more about it. According to what I've heard, teleportation technology like this is banned—something about violating human rights?"

Dani gave a dry chuckle. "We're not exactly law-abiding citizens," she joked, before shifting her expression. She turned to face the Telegate, her gaze drawn to the glistening crystal as if it were screaming secrets only she could understand.

"But don't worry," she said, her tone softer now. "We didn't kill anyone to make it. An ex-member came up with it. He infused a portion of his ability into a Girgouite crystal… and with Mika, we built the Telegate."

Girgouite. It was a crystal found in the lands near Catterdawn Cathedral. It was an empty crystal where one could store one's ability. In the old times, it was used as punishment for criminals, draining them of their abilities. But now, it is used for medical stuff, where an ability user donates a portion of their ability to the unfortunate. 

But ever since the emperor died, Girgouite had been illegally mined by the empress, storing it away from the people in need and using it to her advantage.

Elle didn't ask further, having a hint on who might that certain member be as she had probably heard of him in The Shelter. She turned her head back to the huge monitor, four windows opened to each member's hidden camera. 

"Code red and green is inside the premises," Nico whispered in his earpiece as Mathilda placed him down on the ground after using her ability to lift them up to the second floor.

"No showing off." Mathilda sternly reminded him, crouching down with Nico as they looked around at their surroundings cautiously, making sure that they wouldn't run into guards or workers. Mathilda furrowed her eyebrows, their position gave her a limited sight of the second floor due to the dividers. "Dani, position."

"Good news, They're on lunch break," Dani said, opening a new window on the monitor screen to open the CCTVs of the warehouse, switching between them to see that most workers and guards were either at the cafeteria beside the warehouse or were outside, either chatting or smoking. "Bad news, they only have 15 mins till their lunch break ends."

Mika had Natsuo managed to sneak their way inside the ground floor. Hiding behind the crater boxes as they looked around their surroundings. There were only five workers on the ground floor and two guards at the far corner. Mika reached for her earpiece, turning it on, "Code black and purple in the premises. Remember everyone, stick to the plan, and try not to make a scene."

"Copy that." Niko replied smoothly, peeking out from the divider they were crouching on, making sure that there were no workers and guards around. When things were clear, Niko sneaked his way to one of the desks with an open computer, swiftly connecting a USB to it where it takes every information in it and sends it directly to the base for download.

Immediately, all information from the device was transferred to the Vacille base which Elle and Dani took notice of, the bar immediately going from one to five. "Alright, five minutes till complete download. Just stay back and stay hidden."

"Easier said than done." Mathilda muttered under her breath, as she peaked downstairs through the metal railings of the second floor, catching a glimpse of Mika and Natsuo trying to open one of the crater boxes.

Mika made a crowbar from scratch, handing it to Natsuo as he flawlessly opened the crater box. The two instinctively covered their nose as countless of sparkling purple powders blinded them, avoiding inhaling the ability-weakening drug. "You got a pouch."

Natsuo pulled out a small black leather pouch from his waist bag. He took off both his gloves and with his bare hands, he took a handful of the powder and carefully put it inside the pouch.

"In Lucienna's blood, Natsuo be careful with that thing." Mathilda scolded, her face scrunched with worry as she watched Natsuo casually grab another handful of the powder and place it inside the pouch with little care for his safety.

"Download done?" Niko asked through the earpiece. He waited at the desk for the USB, leaving it would be a great risk the group couldn't make as they feared that it might lead the imperial government to the Vacille Base.

"One minute left, Niko." Elle answered him, pressing the orange button in front of her to open the microphone, looking at the bar and seeing that it was already 95%

Niko was taken aback, not expecting Elle to answer. Her voice was nonchalant as ever, but the way she said his name clearly did things for him. A smile slowly crept on Niko's face, feeling a surge of warmth in his chest, "Thank you, princess."

Mathilda cringed at the exchange, not amused by Niko's flirtations at a time like this. She peaked on her side to check on Niko, her eyes widening as she seew a guard heading towards his direction, "Shit, Niko. On your six."

Niko didn't waste time and hid under the desk, keeping quiet as he watched the guard's boots stop to where he was — probably checking the opened computer before walking away. Niko sighed in relief, his shoulders resting.

"Niko, download's complete." Elle informed him through the ear piece. The loading screen was running in circles, disappearing from the monitor just as six folders appeared, all had 'KIKANA' labeled on them.

"Copy that, princess." Niko replied before getting out of the desk and quietly pulling out the USB. But before he could leave the desk, he felt a cold object press against the back of his head.

Nico silently cursed at himself before turning to face the guard to was pointing a gun at him. Niko gave him a charming smile, feigning innocence, "Why hello there, I was simply fetching a pen I dropped."

The guard didn't buy it, narrowing his eyes as he tighten the grip on the gun just as hurried foot steps of the other guards were heard running towards them. Niko slowly raise both his hands in false surrender when the guard was suddenly lifted up the air and threw to the other guards who were running, giving Niko just enough time to run towards where Mathilda was hiding.

It didn't take long for the guards to get back up their feet and started shooting towards Niko and Mathilda who attempted to shot back. Suddenly, the alarm started blaring, alerting the other guards.

"Shit." Mika, muttered under her breath as she looked at the second floor where the guards were opening fire on Mathilda and Niko. She then took out her gun and open fired at the guards from the second floor, killing two of them.

"There they are!" A guard pointed at Mika and Natsuo. Natsuo didn't waste anytime and he grabbed a handful of the purple powder before throwing it at the direction of the guards, giving him time to quickly place the pouch on his waist satchel before taking out a dagger and cutting the palm of his hand. He used the blood that was dripping on him to make a sharp whip and started to slash the guards with it, cutting them in half.

Mika then caught a glimpse of guards turning on her direction, without hesitation, she made a gun using her ability and shot at them, easily taking them down with her precise shots.

Mathilda then used her ability to lift up the guards and throwing them to the incoming ones, giving Niko time infuse his bullets with fire, easily taking down the guards.

"Dani, we have the powder and a guard ready. Open the Telegate." Mika said on the earpiece, taking cover behind one of the boxes as multiple of guards arrived and began shooting. She then made a metal shield for her and Natsuo as they get out numbered.

Dani then quickly began pressing on the control panel, inputting the location of the members to open the Telegate for them to easily access. Meanwhile, Elle's eyes focused on Niko and and Mathilda's cameras. They were out numbered as well. Mathilda couldn't make a tornado inside the warehouse as it might get mixed up with Kikana. And Nico can't just make a huge fire while everyone was still inside there.

But they didn't have a choice. It was dangerous risk, but it was a risk that one of them needed to do in order for their escape. And Mathilda knew it needed to be done. She also knew that simply elevating the guards up the air as they escape won't do. They won't get paralyzed and can still shoot. "We're gonna have to set this shit up on fire." 

"That's more like it." Niko smugly said, a smirk on his face as he summoned a ball of fire and throwing it at the guards, causing a big fire to burst at the other side of the second floor. Mathilda and Niko stood up from the divider and looked at the scorching fire. No doubt that none of the guards survived from it.

"Alright Dani, ope-" Mathilda was cut off when a huge explosion came other them, catching the attention of everyone, including Dani and especially Elle.