- Oliver -

  Katherine sprioward her brother, embrag him tightly. John held her against his armored chest as if he would never let her go again. He gently cupped her face, gazing deeply into her eyes, as if assessing her well-being. " you run?" he asked with .

  She nodded slightly.

  Oliver stood at the cell door, watg the reunion but also anxious about the possibility of more Orks appearing at any moment. As Oliver and Isabe began to step out of the cell, the Golden Ranger raised a hand to halt them. The trio didn't quite uand why they o wait.

  "One moment," John said. He stepped away and moved toward the fallen Orks, tearing off pieces of their clothing and ragged fabrics. Returning, he hahe makeshift garments to Katherine. "Maybe these will help," he suggested.

  "Ah! One moment," Katherine replied, suddenly remembering their disheveled state. Quickly, she distributed the pieces of cloth to Oliver and Isabe, who took the opportunity to cover themselves. Although the fabrics were nothing more than tattered rags, it was better than nothing.

  Ohe three finished dressing, they finally stepped outside the cell. For all of them, the sensation of freedom was overwhelming—a feeling that would only be surpassed when they finally stepped into the sunlight.

  "You three. We are dug a rescue operation at this moment," John crified, seeing that the three were retively well, although extremely thin. You will apany General Quinn to the surface," he expined, pointing to the Red Ranger beside him.

  Quinn wao deny his and; this was supposed to be her operation. However, after what she saw him doing in the ter of the Fortress, she preferred not to provoke his wrath.

  Oliver was surprised to learn that Quinn was a General. She was the highest rank a Ranger could achieve and was responsible for all the other Red Rangers. The surprise wasn't just his; when Oliver g Isabe and Katherihey both had the same expression of surprise as him.

  "Quinn, I will tinue expl the ruins. We'll meet at the ter of the Fortress at the time of extra," John expio the General.

  "Right. You, follow me," she called to the group.

  Oliver saw, John giving o gnce before advang deeper into the fortress.

  As the boy watched him leave, he wao tell the Golden Rahere was nothing valuable in the pce. They had explored the area during their sed escape attempt; however, he didn't know what the Ranger was searg for. Maybe it was something they hadn't noticed.

  As soon as they separated, Quinn took the group's lead, guiding them through the corridors of the a fortress. The stone walls were, in several pces, covered with moss and marked by scars of past battles. However, even so, wherever they went, the signs of ret bats were undeniable—more than undeniable. Mutited bodies of monsters and Orks y scattered on the ground, their ons abandoned beside them, still stained with the blood of their st fights.

  The air was heavy with the metallic smell of blood and the acrid odor of death. Drops of green blood dripped from the ceiling, occasionally mixed with pieces of entrails that detached and fell silently, creating macabre patterns on the floor.

  Following right behind, Oliver couldn't help but wonder how those creatures had met such a terrible end—or worse, which of the twers had created that se. The evident brutality suggested they wao cause the maximum amount of pain to their enemies before they were permitted to die.

  The boy felt a slight chill at the thought.

  A little farther ahead, they found the long staircase that ected this floor to the dungeon gates.

  'It was the same one we used in the first escape,' he thought.

  "Alright, let's keep going up here. It will lead us to the ter of the fortress," Quinn expined.

  The group could see the work done by the Rangers on each floor they passed. Some of them were still expl the corridors when they saw the General returning.

  "General." One of the Red Rangers saluted upon seeing her. "We couldn’t find any dots, information, or useful teology. Seems like more of the same we obtained on GL-581."

  "Uood. Inform the others to initiate the retreat. We'll return to the ter aablish a secure area to board the extra ship," Quinn instructed the Ranger.

  "Yes, ma'am." Again, the Ranger saluted and quickly returo gather the rest of the team.

  "Alright, our turn to get out of here," she told the group.

  Climbing the stairs was the simplest part; there was no sign of any living oppos ihe fortress.

  Oliver's heart beat faster each time they began to approach the dungeon gate.

  After six months of tinuous suffering in the dark depths of the dungeon, Oliver felt once more the rough texture of the steps that would lead him to freedom.

  As he set his first foot outside the prison, the hot desert wind enveloped him like a long-desired embrace.

  The arid breeze, den with sand particles, caressed his face. Despite the harshness, it was as if a soft feather had touched his skin, awakening long-fotten senses. His eyes, aced to darkness, blinked rapidly as they adjusted to the intense brightness of the sun shining high in the sky.

  Tears filled his eyes; he would undoubtedly have cried if he were more hydrated. During his captivity, the only indication of passing days were small slits of light that barely illuminated.

  Oliver inhaled deeply, letting the warm air fill his lungs. Each breath was a mixture of pain and relief, a remihat he was still alive.

  Around him stood a massive fortress with three enormous towers and a gigantic protective wall. However, the signs of battle were evident. One of the towers was utterly destroyed, and the walls were cracked.

  The structures that were still standing were riddled with cracks.

  In addition to the hundreds of Ork bodies scattered on the ground.

  "Yes. We are at the ter of the fortress," Quinn said, one of her hands holding the unicator. "You're being followed by vessels? Alright. No problem."

  As soon as she finished unig with the ship's captain, the General tried to use the gau unication to talk to the Rangers on-site.

  "Is anyone listening? Full retreat. There are signs of Ork ships approag; the extra ship is on its way. Estimated arrival in ten minutes." The General repeated the message; however, there wasn't any response.

  As she fihe message, sers emerged from the dungeons and began to position themselves in formation, proteg the fortress’ ter. A few mier, all 23 Rangers were already in the fortress's pza.

  Only John remained in the dungeon, still expl whatever was down there.

  Oliver, Katherine, and Isabe sat on the ground in one of the areas that seemed er, with fewer Ork bodies nearby.

  “When I was little, I’ve only lived in Area 55. It was always so hot and dry; I hated being outdoors.” Isabe ented. "I thought I'd never miss feeling the sun and wind on my face."

  Oliver smiled upon hearing their friend; he felt the same way.

  "We're almost done," Katherine said. "Just get on that ship, and htmare is over."

  Their chat was suddenly cut off by the arrival of one of the Red Rangers running towards Quinn.

  "Ma'am. Ma'am. We o expedite the extra," the Ranger warned. "There are signs of a huge mass of Energy ing in our dire."

  Oliver could faintly feel the ground shaking. Every sed, the sound of something hitting the ground grew louder.

  Just as the first Ranger finished speaking, another one approached. "Madam Quinn, we just received a notification. There's a Titan on the way to the fortress. It should arrive in the min—"

  Before the Ranger could finish his words, the group was taken aback by the sight.

  On the scorg horizon of the desert, a colossal silhouette emerged, dist the air with its presence.

  The creature loomed like a nightmare dragged from the depths of a fever dream, its form a chaotic amalgamation of pulsating flesh and bones. Standing impossibly tall against the vast, golden expanse of the desert, it moved, each step sinking deep into the sand and leaving behind a trail of red-streaked craters.

  Its body atchwork of torn muscle and glistening viscera as though it had been violently stitched together. Dark veins bulged grotesquely across its surface, pumping a viscous, crimson liquid that oozed and dripped to the ground.

  Spines sprouted erratically from its torso, whipping and writhing as though they possessed a mind of their own. The creature’s “head,” if it could be called that, was obscured by a tangle anic growths.

  "Titan sighted. Titan sighted," Quied into the unicator with the ship. "I repeat, the Orks have summoned a Titan. We o evacuate immediately."

  Despite its immeature, the creature moved with uling speed. Its long strides creat distances in mere seds, redug duo dust in its wake.

  Oliver watched incredulously as the monster advanced, his heart beatiically in the face of su infernal sight. He had read that a Titan was one of the ultimate ons the Orks used ireme situations; however, he had never imagihat he would meet one face to face.

  “There must be something precious here for them to use a Titan,” Quinn murmured.

  Suddenly, without warning, the massive arms of the living flesh of the golem raised and stretched over the wall with devastating force.

  Soon, the Titan was no longer outside the fortress but i.

  "Attack! Hold off the Titan until the ship arrives!"

  GCLopes