Rebirth: 100 Days Before Doomsday-Chapter 341: Successful Extraction

The mist was thick... so thick that even breathing it in felt like inhaling secrets meant to be forgotten.

Grace and Rune were standing at the edge of the Misty Woods, cloaked beneath a veil of concealment magic so heavy it hummed against their skin.

A thin layer of frost was covering the ancient trees despite it being a warmer season in the realm, making it feel as if the forest itself had frozen in time. And somewhere inside this treacherous maze, Rune’s Elite Team had been held captive for over a decade.

Hidden behind enchantments, cursed trees, illusions, and protective seals older than some realms themselves, this part of the Magik Realm was known by only a few. And even fewer survived venturing into it.

Rune’s expression was grave as they approached the outer perimeter of the forest. The cloak over his head was barely concealing the lines of tension etched into his face.

"The last time I saw the Misty Woods," he said quietly, "was before I left the realm. Even back then, this area was considered forbidden. They said those who enter either lose their minds… or never return."

Grace didn’t speak. Her gaze swept across the eerie fog in front of them. The energy here was unlike anything she had felt before... cold and sinister, yet strangely sentient. Like it knew they were coming.

2025’s voice hummed in her mind. "All entry points to the underground base are warded with detection enchantments. I’ll disable what I can, but the system adapts quickly. You’ll have a three-minute window, at most, before it resets."

She nodded her head in understanding. "That’s all we need."

From there, they silently made their way into the dense woods. Their cloaking spells were hiding their presence from the creatures lurking in the woods. And while these creatures were nothing like the ones roaming on Earth, they were still not to be taken lightly as they mostly worked as spies.

Rune used his knowledge of ancient runes and glyphs to disable traps along the way, muttering spells that twisted the air and silenced glowing symbols etched on trees and stones.

As for Grace, she occasionally extended her hand to absorb excess energy from enchanted vines that slithered across their path.

"Another barrier ahead," 2025 informed. "Heavily encrypted. I’ll need a few moments to override."

Rune knelt near the base of a tree and etched counter-runes into the soil. "Make it fast. We are already too close."

It was only after a few more seconds before they finally saw it. Hidden under layers of visual illusion and spatial distortion was the facility that finally came into view. Its low, dark towers were covered in climbing vines, with no windows, no guards visible.

But they knew better.

They approached the outer wall, where powerful wards were shimmering faintly. 2025’s familiar voice once again filled her head. "I’m initiating synchronized interference. Three… two… one…"

The wards fizzled for a moment only, but it was long enough for Grace and Rune to slip inside the building.

The interior was cold, silent, and made entirely of enchanted stone and metal. Grace could feel the subtle hum of energy beneath her boots. Cameras made from enchanted crystals were lining the halls, but 2025 was already jamming their feeds.

"They are underground," 2025 guided them through the maze. "This way."

They passed through reinforced corridors, dodged patrols of cloaked guards and shadow hounds, and even bypassed a blood-magic lock thanks to a spell Rune created years ago, ironically, for security.

The tension was growing heavier with each step. Then, finally, they reached a thick door sealed with multiple layers of protection - spells, enchantments, and something darker.

Grace placed her palm on the metal, feeling the power working on it. "I can break it," she said. "But we’ll have only minutes."

Rune nodded. "Do it."

A soft light burst from her hand and wrapped over the metal. She closed her eyes and summoned her power of thought-creation, using it to dismantle every and each layer of magic working on the door, pulling them apart thread by thread.

Slowly, one by one, the enchantments cracked like glass under pressure. And then, the door flew open with a low rumble, causing the sight before them stop Rune in his tracks.

There were six of them... weak, bruised, but alive... chained by magical restraints inside a room with walls inscribed with suppression symbols.

"Rune?" one of them croaked and his eyes widened in recognition.

"Kael," Rune’s voice was thick as he stepped forward. "You are alive…"

The others stirred. Despite the toll of eleven years, there was still strength in their eyes, in their postures. These were warriors.

Grace wasted no time. She touched the symbols etched on the walls and once again used her thought-creation power to reverse the spell. One by one, the chains fell and the suppression spells shattered.

The moment the last chain dropped, 2025’s voice rang sharply.

"Alarms have been triggered. You have less than sixty seconds before reinforcements arrive."

"Grace!" Rune called.

Grace was already ready. She raised her arm and a swirling storm of cosmic energy erupted from her fingertips. A golden portal burst open in front of her, swirling with starlight and planetary fragments.

The warriors were too weak to walk, so Rune and Grace pushed the six through the portal before following themselves.

Grace turned at the last second, hurling a blast of raw energy down the corridor behind her. The walls cracked, lights burst, and the guards, who were almost there, were momentarily thrown back.

She jumped through the portal just as a flaming arrow sped past her cheek, and the portal collapsed behind her with a thunderous boom.

And then... they were back on Earth, in the safe sanctuary of Starfall Isle.

The six warriors collapsed onto the ground, breathing hard. Rune rushed to them, checking injuries, clutching hands, exchanging silent looks filled with years of pain and relief.

Grace kept her distance while catching her breath. And system’s final notification regarding the mission filled her head.

[Extraction mission successful. All energy readings back to normal. Welcome back.]