Thanks to their unsparing effort of whittling down at the horde’s headcount, the rest of the defense force, along with the Hybrid guards, were able to push it back, even killing the Omega Zombie in the process.

"We did it," Yumi said, a hint of a smile on her lips.

Lea nodded, a sense of pride swelling in her chest. They had faced impossible odds and emerged victorious. But her thoughts quickly turned to her next challenge: escaping the stronghold.

If there was a single opportune moment to escape, now was the time. After all, everyone was exhausted from fighting the horde. Pushing through with the escape plan now would yield her a higher chance of escaping... or so that’s what her logic told her.

Upon their return, and once the horde was dealt with, Lea and her squad were labeled as heroes. The captain and the residents congratulated them, and yet, Lea could tell that something was off.

They were celebrating, even the Hybrid guards were going at it more than expected... but it’s as if they were celebrating something else, and her squad’s achievements were only a small portion of it.

"Well done, Lea, you’ve proven to be an invaluable asset to this stronghold. I would like to personally thank you." The captain said, with a smile that had a hint of mischievousness in it.

Forcing a smile on her face, Lea had began to contemplate on the inner workings of her escape plan. Their successful mission had given her valuable insights into the stronghold’s entire defense and security, as well as the surrounding terrain.

The time has come. ’If I’m planning to escape... I should do it tonight. I don’t think I’d have another chance like this, at least not for a long while.’ She said to herself, steeling her resolve.

With her moment to act drawing near, she continued thinking about her plan as the night wore on.

— — —

That night, as the stronghold slept, Lea made her move. She slipped out of her quarters, her footsteps silent on the stone floors. She had memorized the patrol schedules, knowing exactly when and where the guards would be.

She made her way to the outer wall, her heart pounding in her chest. The night was dark, the moon hidden behind thick clouds. It was the perfect cover for her escape.

As she reached the wall, she took a deep breath, her body tensing in anticipation. She climbed swiftly, her fingers finding purchase on the rough stone. She moved with the grace and precision of a predator, her senses on high alert.

Finally, she reached the top of the wall, looking out at the forest beyond. There were no watchmen in sight, just as she had predicted.

Freedom was within her grasp. She took a moment to steady herself, then leaped down, landing softly on the other side.

Her heart raced in exhiliration as she sprinted towards the forest. She had done it.

She was free.

Or so she thought

Bam!

A blow to her head immediately knocked her on the ground, causing her to gasp for air. Her eyes dimmed and her consciousness deemed as she tried to look back, trying to get a glimpse of her attacker.

It was all for nothing though. Just as she saw a silhouette in the background, her body gave up, and she fell into unconsciousness.

— — —

Lea’s ’return’ to the stronghold was met with a sarcastic surprise and relief. The captain welcomed her back when she came to and he didn’t even bring up the subject of a subordinate knocking her unconscious.

"I knew you would come back," He said with the same old smile he wore when he knew that Lea was escaping tonight.

Well, he was already aware that she was planning her escape, and tonight was the best opportunity to do so. If he were in her shoes, he would’ve done the same. That’s why his expactation of her escape was already there before she did anything.

"Don’t put up a mask, you never intended us to have freedom." Lea gritted her teeth in pure rage when she noticed that her entire body was bound to the chair where she sat. She couldn’t even move an inch.

"Of course," The captain nodded his head in complete agreement as he stood up. "I guess it’s time for you to know the full story." He continued.

As if on cue, four Hybrid guards entered the captain’s office, picking Lea up as they followed the captain.

He led Lea to a hidden chamber deep within the stronghold. The room was filled with monitors and scientific equipment, a stark contrast to the rest of the fortress. In the center of the room stood a large cage, its bars thick and unyielding.

Inside the cage were several other Hybrids, each of them looking weary but determined. Lea’s heart sank as she recognized some of them. Of course, how could she not recognize them? Hiroshi and Yumi were part of her training squad, and then there were the others whom she sparred with during her training session for the defense force.

"You monster... What is this?!" she demanded, her voice shaking with anger.

The captain’s expression was pained. "This is the second phase of our experiment. You’ve all proven yourselves to be exceptional fighters, capable of withstanding incredible odds. But now, we need to test your true potential."

Lea’s mind raced as she tried to process his words. "You used us," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You made us think we were fighting for something real, but it was all just a test."

The captain’s expression was pained. "This is the second phase of our experiment. You’ve all proven yourselves to be exceptional fighters, capable of withstanding incredible odds. But now, we need to test your true potential."

With disbelief, Lea’s eyes glared a bright red color as she tried to struggle from her bounds. "You used us," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You made us think we were fighting for something real, but it was all just a test."

The captain shook his head. "It wasn’t just a test. The threats we faced were real. But we needed to see how you would perform under pressure, how you would adapt and overcome."

Seething with anger, Lea clenched both of her fists. "And now what? You keep us in cages and treat us like lab rats?"

The captain’s filled with regret. "I wish it didn’t have to be this way. But we need to understand your abilities fully if we’re going to survive. The world is changing, and we need every advantage we can get."