The Legend of the Ares: Rise of the Legend

Chapter 7: The Calm Before the Clash

The Ares base buzzed with activity as soldiers moved between their posts, strategizing for the next move. In the command room, Alisa stood alongside Jincheol and a few other high-ranking officers, discussing the latest intelligence. Jin, standing off to the side, kept his eyes on Alisa, admiring her poise and calm under pressure.

"Alisa," Jincheol said, placing a hand on her shoulder once again. "Your contributions have been invaluable. I don't know what we'd do without you."

Alisa nodded, acknowledging his gratitude, but her focus remained on the mission. As one of the highest-ranking lieutenants, and Jincheol's most trusted soldier, she bore the weight of her responsibilities heavily, but she was more than prepared to handle it.

Jincheol's attention shifted to the boy standing beside her. "And this young one—Jin, was it? What's his story?"

Alisa crossed her arms with a smile and looked down at Jin. "He's my apprentice," she said, her voice filled with pride. "He's been learning fast, and I believe he's got a future in this line of work."

Jin's eyes widened in awe as he looked up at Jincheol. To him, the leader of Ares was larger than life—muscular, composed, and radiating authority. It was hard for Jin to believe he was standing in the same room with both his mentor and the leader of the faction.

Jincheol chuckled at Jin's reaction and knelt down to meet his eye. "Stick close to Alisa, kid. She's one of the best. You'll learn a lot from her."

Jin nodded quickly, his eyes filled with admiration. "I will! I won't let her down!"

Alisa, standing nearby with her arms crossed, smiled softly. It was moments like these that made her realize how much she had grown—not just as a soldier, but as a leader.

As they continued their discussion, the calm was abruptly shattered by a violent explosion. The walls shook, and alarms blared throughout the base. Dust filled the air as debris rained down from the ceiling, and soldiers scrambled into position.

"What the hell was that?!" one of the soldiers shouted as he jumped to his feet.

Alisa's heart pounded in her chest as she quickly scanned the room, her mind racing to assess the situation. Jincheol narrowed his eyes, and before he could give an order, the room's door burst open. From the smoke emerged three figures—Chang, Choi, and Xanadu—their presence menacing and unmistakable. Team Villain had arrived.

Chang, wielding his massive iron ball, swung it effortlessly in his hand. "Looks like we found you," he growled.

One of the Ares soldiers stood up, determined to speak, but before he could even finish his sentence, Chang's iron ball whizzed through the air, striking him with terrifying force. The soldier was sent flying across the room, crashing into the far wall with a sickening thud. Alisa's eyes widened in shock, and she rushed over to the fallen man.

"Kang, are you okay?!" she asked, her voice filled with worry as she knelt beside him. The soldier groaned, barely conscious, but nodded weakly, showing he was still alive.

Alisa's worry quickly turned to anger as she stood up and faced the intruders. Her sharp eyes locked onto Chang, Choi, and Xanadu. Her fists clenched at her sides as her fury rose. The other soldiers around her were tense, ready to make a move, but before anyone could act, Alisa raised her hand to stop them.

"Stand down," she ordered, her voice firm. "I'll handle this."

The soldiers looked at her with wide eyes, but they obeyed without question. As Jincheol's most trusted lieutenant, her authority was absolute. Alisa stepped forward, cracking her knuckles as she squared off against Team Villain.

"You think you can just walk in here and cause chaos?" Alisa said, a dangerous edge in her voice. "You're more than outmatched."

Chang grinned menacingly, his grip tightening on the iron ball. "We'll see about that."

Choi, with his twisted smile and sharp claws, snickered. "This is gonna be fun."

Xanadu simply muttered to himself, his erratic movements making it hard to predict what he would do next.

Alisa tossed her sniper rifle to the side. This wasn't a fight for long-range weapons—this was going to be hand-to-hand combat. Her expression shifted into a mischievous grin as she cracked her knuckles again, stepping into her fighting stance.

Jin, watching from behind a corner, could feel his heart race. Alisa had told him not to get involved until the situation was stable, so he stayed hidden, sneaking peeks at the impending battle. His admiration for her only grew as he saw her face the three villains without a trace of fear.

Alisa's eyes scanned her opponents, calculating their moves. Chang with his brute strength, Choi with his speed and unpredictability, and Xanadu's wild, chaotic energy. It would be a tough fight, but she wasn't backing down.

Team Villain got into their respective fighting stances, ready to clash with Alisa. The air was thick with tension as both sides prepared for the inevitable showdown.

With her fists raised and a determined grin on her face, Alisa glanced over at her team, her voice low but filled with confidence. "Don't worry. I'm more than enough to handle these guys."

The members of Team Villain exchanged glances, each of them wearing wicked smiles. They were ready for the fight. And so was Alisa.

As the tension built and both sides prepared for the battle, the chapter closed with both Team Villain and Alisa locked in their fighting positions, ready for the imminent clash.

End of Chapter 7: The Calm Before the Clash