[Hacking into the systems. Opening all security systems.]
[All security systems within the complex have been deactivated.]
Obviously, the defenses of the pirates couldn't handle the overpowering A.I. of Sera, as she deactivated all security measures and defenses of the entire complex, giving Sylas free access to the entire place.
"Where should I head? Where are the high-profile targets located?"
Sylas asked as he entered the complex within the valley. The enormous steel doors that had previously blocked the entrance were now wide open, having been hacked by Sera.
[Head to the right, approximately five hundred meters straight, and you will find an elevator that leads directly to the deepest levels of the headquarters. I took control of the facility, so it is safe to go. Across the halls, there is only minimal resistance registered, mostly average soldiers of the pirates.]
Hearing that, Sylas nodded and ran according to Sera's instructions, searching for the elevator. His priorities were clear: find the pirate leader, get his secret data stash, and cut off his head, along with that of the other leaders.
Then, he would need to clear the deepest levels of the most essential personnel because, according to Sera's calculations, the level where the most important figures of the pirates were hiding was tightly guarded.
"Good. Monitor the entire situation and have the base on standby."
He issued orders to Sera as he proceeded toward the elevator, only to find it guarded by several pirate sentries.
However, these ones looked more like security personnel than actual soldiers, dressed in uniforms and armed only with handguns.
'Seven targets, all armed with small handguns. No visible armor or specialized equipment.' Sylas thought as he quickly assessed the situation, gripping his Aether Sword as he rushed toward the guards.
With a few swift slashes, three fell immediately, while the others barely had time to react before being cut down as well.
"This was too easy," he muttered, delivering a final slash across the back of a dying guard, ensuring his death before proceeding deeper underground.
*******
{Underground Headquarters of the Pirates}
The underground levels were vastly different from those above—almost a literal fortress. The area was well-fortified, with significant manpower being moved around.
More than a hundred pirate elite guards were stationed at the lowest level, tasked with protecting their leader and the rest of the pirate command.
"We're at a severe numerical disadvantage," Sylas muttered as he reviewed the data Sera had gathered. Still, with her assistance, he wasn't too concerned about their numbers.
[Indeed.]
Sera was actively monitoring the entire lower levels, controlling everything. Unfortunately, there were no pre-existing traps that could be exploited en masse to eliminate the enemy.
"Can you create enough distractions to buy me time for stealth kills?"
Sylas asked, already formulating a plan to systematically take down the pirate elite guards.
[I can… quite a few, actually. Some could even be lethal. But be warned, these elite guards are better equipped than the average foot soldiers.]
He smirked—this was good news.
"And the situation with the battle droids?"
If everything was going according to plan, his battle droids should be breaching the pirates' defenses and moving into the headquarters.
[Encountering heavier resistance now. They're bringing out anti-tank weapons. I'll be using Aether Raptors for support.]
That was expected—at least they were putting up some resistance, even if it was ultimately pointless.
"And our losses?"
He was curious about how his battle droids were holding up—hopefully, the damage wasn't too severe.
[We have lost 132 light combat droids and 14 Gladius Units. No Raptors, since they have no anti-air turrets.]
Even better than he had anticipated.
Even though he knew the pirates' military forces were no match for the battle droids specially designed for an important mission, Sylas still anticipated some losses.
For the destroyed droids, the pirates would pay for the repairs—or if needed, he would get new ones.
'That reminds me—an organization like this should have a substantial stash of gold from ships they had robbed.'
After all, even though they were pirates, they still needed to get supplies for themselves, especially since they couldn't be publicly associated with the Baron.
While the battle droids unleashed havoc above ground, Sylas carved his way toward the heart of the pirates' underground stronghold.
As he decapitated another pirate, he frowned and asked,
"The number of enemies is decreasing… your doing?"
As he took down yet another guard, he noticed the resistance thinning out.
[Yes. I managed to activate several hidden traps, eliminating fifty-seven elite guards. However, some sections of the underground structure collapsed due to this. The entire facility's stability may now be compromised.]
Sylas let out a dry chuckle. "Lovely…"
He was now near the vault room, which doubled as the pirates' leader's panic room in emergencies.
The higher-ups had been smart, building it in a hidden section of the complex. Without inside knowledge, it would have been nearly impossible to find.
"Unlock the door."
Since Sera had already seized control of the facility's security systems, the massive steel doors began to slide open. Sylas immediately dodged to the side as a barrage of gunfire erupted from within.
The elite pirate guards inside were firing blindly, desperately trying to hold their ground.
"Can't even deflect them back at them…"
He needed the leader alive, so he didn't want him to die to a stray shot.
After a few minutes, the gunfire ceased. Either they had run out of ammunition, or they were reloading. He heard footsteps approaching—three of them.
"One… two… three…"
As the first pirate guard rounded the corner, Sylas struck with lightning speed, decapitating him in one clean slash.
He then drove a powerful kick into the second guard's chest, shattering ribs instantly.
Before the third could react, Sylas pulled him closer with telekinesis and buried his sword deep into his gut, ending the fight in a heartbeat.
'Few more to go,' Sylas thought as he simply waited patiently behind cover for the next pirate guards to come to him.
He didn't have to wait long since a new group started advancing toward his position, pressured by the pirate leaders.
Sylas dashed toward the three pirate guards as the Aether Sword cracked with the distorting field, cutting through the soldiers like a hot knife through butter.
Using the moment of opportunity, his slaughter of the pirate guards created panic among the remaining people within the vault, as some took their opportunity and attempted to run out while he was engaging the guards in single combat.
He only vaguely looked at the several people that attempted to escape, all four of them wearing lavish clothes, signifying their high status among the pirates. Meanwhile, Sera did a quick facial scan to see if they were worth taking alive.
[You can kill all four of them; none of them are vital for you.]
Hearing that, he nodded, and with several swings, he cut through them with his sword, meeting no resistance at all.
Though it was an unfair comparison, considering his extremely advanced equipment against relatively primitive foes.
With the last pirate guard dying, he entered the vault room, and truthfully, he was rather surprised to see its state—it could only be described as the pinnacle of luxury.
Everything was covered in gold and various luxurious materials, likely collected from several raids.
When he looked at the several men present, they were shouting and screaming something he didn't care to hear.
He then turned his gaze to the middle-aged man, human by all accounts, portly and very fat. It was clear that he was living far above the standards of the average person.
He dashed in front of them, and with two swings of his Aether Sword, he decapitated the military leaders of the pirates.
Before the pirate leader could say anything or fall on his knees to beg for himself in fear, Sylas held him in place with telekinesis, looked him straight in the eyes, and said,
"You shall answer my questions, and you shall answer me truthfully."
The fear immediately disappeared from the pirate leader's face. His expression went blank as he replied,
"I shall answer your questions, and I shall answer you truthfully."
"Well, that worked well," Sylas chuckled. "Sera, have our droids take everything we can while I talk to our friend here."
"Also remember to destroy anything we can't take."
[Yes Master, I have a count down for the two days we have left going.]