Chapter 176: It's the BloodHawk Gang... they're here
Even with their advanced capabilities, the drones could only do so much. Sid's condition was grave, and without immediate, higher-level intervention, the slow regeneration process could leave him incapacitated for months.
The medic drones were effective at stabilizing his body and neutralizing toxins, but the deeper, more severe injuries were still far from being healed.
Ram clenched his jaw, frustration building within him. "He barely escaped death… If I'd been there, this wouldn't have happened." His thoughts raced with guilt.
Mai stepped over to him, her face serious as she placed a hand on his arm. "Ram, we just need some time to get him back to full strength, if only I was strong enough this wouldn't have happened."
"The drones are doing all they can, however, we have other important matters to look after." Mai's voice was steady, but there was an underlying tension in her words that Ram could sense immediately.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Ram questioned back; his brow furrowed in confusion. He couldn't fathom what could be more pressing than Sid's condition right now, especially given how severe his injuries were.
Mai pointed towards the multiple holographic interfaces displayed beside her, which flickered with data.
"Those guys that ambushed us followed our tracks here. Looking at the monitoring devices I arranged, there were more of them." She paused, and Ram noticed her gaze flickering with concern as she scanned the screen.
Su Mu, standing beside Mai, chimed in at the same time. "Yes, it seemed these guys were the same as those we encountered earlier outside the void space. Most of their equipment looked similar," she said, her tone grim as she observed the familiar signs of the Bloodhawk gang members—gear, weapons, and insignia.
Ram clenched his fist, a surge of anger rising within him. The mention of the Bloodhawk gang brought memories of Shane and the humiliation they went through that day.
"Do you see Shane with them?" His voice dropped, a cold edge to it as he analyzed the events leading up to Sid's injuries.
Su Mu and Mai skimmed through various screens, their faces tense as they reviewed the data. "Nope, so far we haven't seen him," Mai replied.
"There were only 40 gang members that appeared within our monitoring radius." She looked up at Ram, her eyes filled with resolve.
"But given the size of the group, I don't think they'll be content with just scouting. They'll be back for another fight."
Ram's mind raced as the situation unfolded before him. Forty gang members—this wasn't a random ambush. Something more was at play.
"It was planned," Ram thought, his brow furrowing. "They must already know that Liam and Esha aren't here. And the fact that Shane isn't with them makes me wonder if they're setting up for something bigger."
He gritted his teeth, realizing the disadvantage they were in without Esha, their chances of fending off a coordinated attack like this were slim.
"Have you tried calling Liam?" Ram asked, hoping for any good news.
Su Mu nodded, though her expression was tense. "We did, but we weren't able to reach him."
"Great," Ram muttered, running a hand through his hair. The situation was quickly deteriorating. "Alright, tell me about your plans," he said, his tone sharp. "We can't afford to wait around and let them get more comfortable."
Mai, who had been standing quietly by the holographic interface, spoke up, her voice calm but firm. "I plan on holding them off alone. Both you and Su Mu need to escape with Sid and Xiao Mu."
Ram's eyes widened at the suggestion. "What?" He shook his head, disbelief creeping into his voice. "You plan on facing them alone? No, that's not happening."
"I can hold them off for half an hour with my robots," Mai continued, unbothered by his reaction. "That should give you enough time to escape." Find adventures at m_v l|e'm-p| y r
But before Ram could voice his concerns, Su Mu spoke in the same firm tone. "No. We'll stay and fight together."
Both Ram and Su Mu spoke at the same time, their voices resolute.
Mai looked at them both, her expression hardening. "You're not listening. You need to escape now while we still have a chance. We're not prepared for a full-on fight with those numbers, especially if they're getting ready for something bigger."
"We know the risks," Ram countered, his eyes narrowing. "But we won't leave you behind to face them alone. We stick together. That's how we've always done things."
Su Mu stepped forward, nodding firmly. "We're in this together. If we split up now, we risk everything."
Mai hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering between Ram and Su Mu. She knew the risks, but it was clear that neither Ram nor Su Mu were backing down.
"Fine," Mai said finally, her voice softening slightly, "But we need a plan. We can't handle forty professionals of Tier 3 and Tier 2 on our own, there might even be Tier 4 coming."
"If you're worried about that, I think I can call for some help." Ram's words echoed in the room as he summoned his Wood Spirits and all the revived Half-Drows inside his space.
Korrin, Nyra, and the rest appeared before him one by one. More than twenty figures stood around Ram, each of them Tier 3 'Rare' quality and above. Their presence exuded strength, and their eyes glinted with anticipation.
"Master, we are at your command," Korrin, the Fire Mage leader, stepped forward first as he spoke, his fiery presence standing out among the group.
Nyra stood beside him, her dark eyes scanning the surroundings.
"This...??" Mai and Su Mu froze in surprise looking at the group that appeared out of no ware.
It wasn't just them—even the Evil Spirit within Su Mu, who had been eerily silent until now, let out a soft exclamation in surprise.
The group stood silently, awaiting Ram's orders. Their attention was entirely focused on him, each one prepared to follow his command without question.
Turning his gaze back to Mai and Su Mu, Ram spoke firmly, "We're not outnumbered anymore."
Mai's eyes narrowed as she assessed the situation, her lips curling into a rare, determined smile. "Hmm... I'll take my chances."
She nodded to Ram, she didn't ask him how he did it but just accepted the reinforcements without any hesitation.
Su Mu, her expression still tense, took a deep breath and asked, "Aren't these the same cavemen from the void space? How did you bring them out from there?"
Ram smiled, his confidence showing in the way he stood tall. "Haha... It's simple. I just used some space props to collect them all before. Now they can help us."
He gestured to the group, the powerful Half-Drow and Wood Spirits now gathered around him, each one radiating strength. "Don't worry, they're absolutely trustworthy and strong. They'll help us fight back and protect everyone here."
Su Mu looked at them, her eyes scanning each figure as her mind quickly processed the new situation. "I see... It seems like we're much better off now."
Mai, who had been quietly observing the conversation, finally nodded. "We'll need every bit of strength we can get."
"If they're bringing Tier 4s, we won't stand a chance, but if it's just Tier 3 and below we can still handle it before someone from the Shadow Society notices what's happening here."