BXBX NOVEL Chapter 353 Matilda Was Caught
Matilda\'s suggestion was born of a desire to protect him.
Enzo ultimately nodded in agreement with Matilda\'s proposal,"Very well, but you must be cautious."
They swiftly assigned their personnel. Enzo and Patricia, accompanied by a portion of their group, continued exploring along the original path, while Matilda led another contingent down an alternate route.
Advancing with utmost care, Enzo and Patricia remained vigilant of their surroundings. They navigated through an intricate labyrinth of traps, ultimately arriving before a vast cavern.
Patricia remarked, peering into the depths of the cave,"This appears to be the core area of the ruins."
Enzo nodded in affirmation, "Let us venture inside. The Soul Stone is likely hidden within."
Upon entering the cavern, they discovered it aglow with luminous crystals, illuminating the entire space. At the center stood a towering altar, upon which rested a box radiating with dazzling light.
"That must be the Soul Stone!" Enzo exclaimed with excitement.
As they approached the altar, a sudden, violent tremor shook the cavern, causing it to begin collapsing.
Enzo shouted, "Trouble lies ahead. We\'re in danger!"
They hurriedly dodged falling debris, racing towards the exit. However, the entrance had been barricaded by colossal rocks, leaving them trapped inside the cavern.
Patricia uttered anxiously,"What are we to do?"
Enzo surveyed their surroundings and noticed a narrow crevice in one corner of the cave, seemingly leading to the outside.
"We can escape through there!" Enzo pointed to the gap.
With great effort, they crawled toward the opening, and after a strenuous struggle, finally managed to squeeze through.
Yet, as they emerged from the crevice, a familiar scream echoed in their ears.
"That is… Patricia\'s voice!" Enzo\'s expression changed drastically.
He immediately turned and sprinted toward the source of the sound, discovering Patricia and Matilda surrounded by a horde of Umbra Corps members.
"Patricia! Matilda!" Enzo shouted as he rushed forward.
Fighting fiercely, he maneuvered closer to Patricia and Matilda. However, the sheer number of Umbra Corps made their battle arduous.
"Enzo, you\'ve finally arrived!" Patricia exclaimed joyfully upon seeing him.
"Hold on, I\'m here to rescue you!" Enzo yelled back.
With unwavering determination, he launched a fierce attack, engaging in a fierce battle with the Umbra Corps. After an intense struggle, they finally managed to repel their attackers.
"Is everyone alright?" Enzo inquired with concern.
Patricia replied,"We\'re fine, just a few minor injuries."
"What about Matilda?" Enzo suddenly realized Matilda was missing from the crowd.
"Matilda… she was taken by the Umbra Corps!" one of the warriors exclaimed.
"What?" Enzo gasped in shock. "We must go rescue her at once!"
Patricia said anxiously,"But we have no idea where they\'ve taken her."
Enzo composed himself, pondering for a moment before responding, "The Umbra Corps surely has a purpose. They wouldn\'t have abducted Matilda without reason. Let\'s return to the Temple of the Seven Gods and see if we can uncover any clues."
They swiftly made their way back to the Temple of the Seven Gods and reported the situation to the leader of the Rage Temple.
"Matilda has been taken by the Umbra Corps?"
The leader of Rage Temple furrowed his brow. "This is indeed troubling. However, we cannot act hastily. We must first locate their hideout."
Enzo suggested, "Indeed, we can leverage the intelligence network of the Temple of the Seven Gods to track the movements of the Umbra Corps."
The leader of Rage Temple nodded in agreement. "Very well, I will arrange for an investigation immediately. Enzo, be prepared. The moment we receive information, we will act swiftly."
Enzo nodded solemnly, "Rest assured, I shall exert every effort."
Meanwhile, the White Family learned of Matilda\'s abduction, plunging the entire clan into an unprecedented state of panic and fury.
Within the grand hall of the White Family, Matilda\'s father and head of the family, Grimm White, furrowed his brow, absorbing the reports from his subordinates.
"Are you certain she was taken by the Umbra Corps?" Grimm White\'s voice resonated with a deep, commanding authority, each word dripping with undeniable gravitas.
A subordinate replied respectfully,"Indeed, my lord, our men witnessed Miss Matilda being seized by members of the Umbra Corps."
Grimm White slammed his palm upon the table, exclaiming, "Umbra Corps! They dare to lay hands on my daughter. They are courting death!"
He swiftly rose and commanded his subordinates, "Immediately mobilize all family forces. I shall personally rescue my daughter!"
The subordinates promptly complied, while Grimm White turned to the family elders and intoned, "Esteemed elders, we must dedicate ourselves fully. Not only must we rescue Matilda, but we must also deliver the Umbra Corps a profound lesson!"
The elders nodded in agreement, signifying their support.
This mission was not merely about Matilda\'s safety. It was intrinsically linked to the honor and status of the White Family.
As the White Family busily prepared for the rescue operation, Enzo was diligently scouring the intelligence network of the Temple of the Seven Gods for leads on the Umbra Corps.
"News has arrived!" a scout suddenly cried, pointing at the surveillance footage on the screen, "Look here. This is a recent staging ground for the Umbra Corps, and they appear to be engaged in some clandestine activities."
Enzo immediately leaned in closer, scrutinizing the footage. The screen revealed an abandoned factory, teeming with Umbra Corps personnel who were bustling to and fro, appearing thoroughly occupied.
Enzo deduced,"This place is most likely where they are holding Matilda. We must act immediately to rescue her."
The leader of the Rage Temple nodded in agreement, "Very well, let us promptly devise a rescue plan."
They swiftly gathered the elite warriors of the Temple of the Seven Gods, along with Enzo\'s comrades, to collaborate on the rescue strategy.
"According to the intelligence, the Umbra Corps has set a multitude of traps and guards within this stronghold." Reported one warrior, "Infiltrating will not be an easy task."
After a moment of contemplation, Enzo proposed, "We can shroud ourselves in the cover of night, splitting into several small groups to attack from different directions simultaneously, thereby diverting their attention. Subsequently, we shall dispatch a select team to stealthily penetrate the stronghold in search of Matilda."
Everyone concurred that the plan was viable, and thus they began to assign roles and prepare for the rescue operation.
As night fell, the city succumbed to slumber.
Yet, within the confines of the Umbra Corps stronghold, the lights blazed brightly and guards stood vigilant.
Enzo, leading the elite team, approached the stronghold with utmost stealth. They skillfully navigated the cover of darkness and terrain, successfully evading the majority of the guards as they crept toward the interior.
Enzo whispered, his voice low,"Everyone be cautious. There may be traps ahead."
They advanced with great care, each step measured and deliberate. Suddenly, a faint rustle emerged from ahead.
"Something\'s amiss!"
Enzo swiftly gestured for silence, signaling the team to halt.
They stealthily approached the source of the sound, discovering a squad of Umbra Corps patrols.
Without hesitation, Enzo formulated a plan, opting to utilize the surrounding environment to ambush the patrols.
They quietly maneuvered behind the patrolling soldiers and launched a surprise attack. The patrolmen, caught off guard, were swiftly overcome and brought to the ground.
"Splendidly done!" Enzo murmured in admiration.
They pressed on, finally reaching the heart of the stronghold.
This area was riddled with intricate mechanisms and traps, where the slightest misstep could trigger an alarm.
Enzo commanded,"Everyone, spread out and meticulously search each room."
They began to meticulously inspect each chamber in search of Matilda\'s whereabouts.
After an arduous search, they eventually uncovered Matilda in a concealed chamber.
"Matilda!" Enzo exclaimed with fervor.
Upon hearing the voice, Matilda looked up at Enzo and the others, her eyes sparkling with surprise: "Enzo, you\'ve come for me!"
Enzo hurriedly untied Matilda\'s bonds, his voice laced with urgency: "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Matilda shook her head, a glimmer of gratitude in her eyes: "I\'m fine, thank you for rescuing me."
"Enough of this. We must leave at once." Patricia urged from the side, her gaze alertly scanning the surroundings.
Enzo nodded and instructed, "We shall split into two teams: one to hold the rear and prevent the Umbra Corps from pursuing. The other to escort Matilda to safety."
The group swiftly divided tasks, with Enzo and Patricia covering the rear, while Matilda was hurriedly guided out by the other members.
During their retreat, the Umbra Corps finally caught wind of their presence and began a frantic pursuit. Enzo and Patricia fought valiantly against the oncoming attackers while retreating.
"Enzo, go ahead, I\'ll hold them off!"
Patricia suddenly shouted, casting a powerful enhancement spell that temporarily increased Enzo and the others\' speed.
"No, I cannot leave you behind!" Enzo resolutely shook his head.
"This is an order!"
Patricia insisted sternly, "You must ensure Matilda\'s safety. I will handle this!"
Enzo was acutely aware that this was not the moment for dispute. He cast a piercing glance at Patricia before swiftly retreating with Matilda and the other team members.
Patricia, however, remained steadfast at her post, confronted by the advancing horde of Umbra Corps.
Brandishing her staff, she unleashed a barrage of potent spells, repelling her pursuers one by one.
Yet, the sheer numbers of the Umbra Corps proved overwhelming, and Patricia\'s magical energy began to wane.
She understood that her endurance had limits, but even so, the thought of retreat never crossed her mind.
"For the planet Alfa, for our homeland, I shall not yield!" Patricia silently vowed, redoubling her efforts against the onslaught.