"Split up. Secure the hostages and retreat to the shore. Create a foothold and prepare for our departure." The soldiers saluted before running off as Marcus led his men up the steps of the fort, not noticing the white rope that ran along them.

Wiping his face he couldn’t help but feel nervous inside. He sheathed his sword and pulled out a smaller weapon, his men quickly doing the same. "Men," Marcus said happily to his soldiers before turning his head and flashing a smile. "I’ll make sure every man who entered this building is rewarded fairly, by the Emporer himself. So make sure not to die."

His words got small laughs from the others, but he could see the new burning desire in their eyes. It was what they needed. They had all been quiet, more than they usually would be. He expected it from the Unyielding. They were more puppets than anything, but his men should have been able to make light-hearted jokes even in the worst of situations.

Yet hearing the sounds in the background he understood why. None of them wanted to stay here longer than necessary. It was an awful place that felt like hell. They had a job and whilst he was sure everyone who took part felt they were doing good, he also knew that some may never wish to fight again afterwards.

He didn’t blame them, and he finally understood why the task to subjugate the Pirate Lords was one no one wanted. Let alone having to deal with pirates who had no qualms about using any underhanded tactics, you also had to go to their homes.

Reaching the second floor he looked down at the long corridor of locked doors. Some had people crying within whilst others were silent. Gulping he hid his nerves not wishing to affect the men behind him and carefully walked over to one. Unlocking it he carefully pushed the door open.

"NO! NO MORE! NO!" The desperate cries of a woman soon echoed as she curled herself up into a ball and hid in the corner of a room.

"Shhh. Calm down." Marcus went over to her side quickly and reached out stopping himself at the last second. "We won’t hurt you." He said softly before taking his helmet off. The woman looked up at him through black eyes. Seeing Marcus’s soft ones streams of tears fell before she knew it.

"Hel-p-p me." Her words were desperate as she clung to his armor. The men behind him watched with cold eyes at the torment the woman had suffered and Marcus nodded turning back to them.

"Unlock the others. You lead them out. Make sure they escape safely." The soldier nodded at the command with Marcus turning back to the woman. "I need you to trust me. Trust my men."

"Help me. No more. I don’t want any more please." His words seemed to fall on deaf ears. Taking action he grabbed her shoulders causing the woman to shudder and try to fight free. "NO! NO!"

"Stop," Marcus said sternly as he looked her deep in the eyes. "I need you to be strong. Behind me is the door keeping you here. I need you to walk out alone." Marcus stood up, putting his helmet back on as the woman curled herself back up once more.

"Help me. Please." She began to cry once more and Marcus could only sigh walking off.

"Find other prisoners who aren’t so broken to help her," Marcus ordered taking the rest of his men with him and running to the higher floors.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Are they inside Gage." Oberon asked getting a nod from his brother. With a cruel smile, he turned to the torch hanging on the wall and walked over to the rope. Grabbing its end he held it. He watched as the flame traveled down it quickly, running down the dim staircase.

"We die like kings brother. Killing the Emporer’s dogs." A small chuckle escaped the man’s lips as he watched the scene outside. Nothing about him showed an ounce of fear, only the burning desire to take as many as he could with him. Gage was silent, yet his deep black eyes felt like the abyss of hell as he watched everything.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marcus walked up the steps, stopping as a flame rushed past him from above. "What was that?" He turned to look and seeing it running across the walls he felt a sense of dread wash over him. "It’s a trap." He quietly muttered to himself looking at it run far out of view.

"Commander. Do we leave? What about the hostages?" Marcus breathed deeply a couple of times but slowly shook his head.

"We finish the mission. Just send word back, speed up the process even if you have to be forceful with them." The soldier nodded, leaving Marcus alone with the four Unyeilding soldiers. He didn’t worry and charged up the steps.

In the room, Oberon sat playing with a small knife looking at the five with a cruel grin. Around him a couple of pirates stood yet Gage didn’t turn not caring for the arriving guests, only looking out at the sea.

Marcus didn’t hesitate and ran forward with his small sword, and swung down. Unlike the previous pirates, the ones in the room were skilled easily blocking his attack. Oberon jumped up and spread his arms, dropping the knife and pulling out two swords. "Brother it’s time." He called out to Gage who nodded and turned, drawing his own.

Oberon didn’t bother with the pirate engaging Marcus and threw him out of the way swinging his two swords down on him like a wild animal. "Cowards, using us," Oberon said with hate as Marcus threw a kick to his stomach creating distance between the two.

He didn’t dignify a response for the man and charged in once more, swinging his own sword down. Oberon crossed his and blocked the attack bringing his face in front of Marcus’s. "Did you see our little gift?" His eyes spun madly and he pushed Marcus away, the two swinging their sword intercepting one another.

Spark flew with the clash of metal echoing around the room. Gage was different from his brother, attacking two Unyeilding soldiers at once. His moves were precise and he easily avoided attacks like a cat.

"No one leaves here." Oberon teased as Marcus swung down.

"What have you done?" Marcus finally spoke as he felt a weight behind his back. One of the Unyielding soldiers blocked the attack of a pirate trying to kill him, pushing him away.

Oberon’s smile grew wider. Pushing Marcus back, he reached into a bag on his waist, pulling out a small bit of dust. "A parting gift for the brave Empire." Oberon charged forward and madly swung letting Marcus only block and dodge. Cuts formed on his armor with small wounds appearing on his skin.

It was an unfavorable situation and Marcus’s mind thought. His eyes scanned the room in the small opening as he slowly backed up to the wall. Watching Oberons’s sword fall, he dove to the side, an Unyeilding Solider quickly covering for him.

Wasting no time he pushed himself up and Oberon pulled his sword out of the wall. He watched as Marcus charged in and threw the dust in his hand in his direction. Marcus didn’t even close his eyes, fighting through irritation as he swung down. Oberon tried to react but failed to fully dodge, a cut running down his chest.

He gritted his teeth but quickly reached into another pouch on his waist. Pulling out a green powder he snorted it, dodging another attack Marcus threw. "No one is leaving here," Oberon growled the words out as he madly swung his swords again.

His eyes landed on Gage who was slowly being covered in wounds. Despite everything he was completely silent. His back was against the railing overlooking the beach, yet he didn’t give a chance to the two in front. One of the Unyielding stabbed forward and Gage’s eyes darted to the other who also attacked

Dodging to the side, the Unyeilding soldier’s sword got wedged into the railing. The other didn’t stop his attack, not caring for his comrade. His sword, cut across Gage’s shoulder, cutting into the back of the other’s neck, stopping at the last moment.

Gage didn’t react to the pain and smiled for the first time. Grabbing the one whose sword was lodged in the railing, he threw him with all his strength over, the man’s screams echoing across the beach before coming to an abrupt end.

The Unyielding soldier who saw it attacked Gage with greater ferocity forcing the man on the defensive. Gage watched like a hawk for an opening. The wounds on his body piled up, but he didn’t react, waiting patiently until it arrived. Swinging his sword, he knocked back the Unyeilding soldier, stumbling him. Charging forward, he pushed his chest into the railing, forcing him to fall back.

The soldier thought quickly and under his helmet smirked, his eyes burning with conviction. He reached out and grabbed Gage by the hand, pulling him down with him. The world slowed for Gage as he saw the ground below. The Unyielding soldier using all his strength, moved his sword to point up.

The fall was short, with neither screaming nor yelling as they fell. With a loud crash the two landed on the ground, the Unyeilding soldier’s mouth bubbled as he quickly drowned in his own blood. Looking at Gage’s face, the man finally reacted, his mouth opening in agonizing pain. Even so, he couldn’t make a sound, his tongue missing. Gage looked down at the wound in his stomach. His vision slowly went darker as he breathed heavily.

Marcus saw everything, his attention being taken away for a second. Oberon didn’t miss the chance and cut across the small gap in the armor on his arm. A groan came from his lips, but Marcus didn’t let go of his sword, quickly refocusing. Throwing a punch into Oberon’s nose the pirate fell to his back.

Marcus was quick and jumped atop him. It was strange. Despite everything, Oberon chuckled as he looked into Marcus’s eyes with hate. "We win anyw..." His words were cut short with Marcus plunging his sword into Oberon’s neck. Getting up he looked down at the pirate and frowned, the peace of victory only lasting a few seconds with the fort shaking and a deafening explosion stunning everyone.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The rope burnt quickly running past the second squad. They all saw the glass jars in the distance and seeing the rope run into them, they froze. One second it was darkness, the next a light comparable to the sun. The glass jars all exploded setting off a chain reaction, the fire running across the hallway engulfing the second squad.