The Shadows that Watch

Liam and Kai had barely caught their breath after escaping the battlefield when an uneasy silence settled around them. The ruins they took shelter in were eerily quiet, too quiet.

Kai whispered, "Something feels off… Like we're being watched."

Liam's eyes narrowed. His instincts screamed danger.

From the shadows, figures in dark armor moved silently. The same ones who had appeared briefly during the earlier battle.

The Black Armor Guild.

But unlike before, they weren't just observing. They were hunting.

The Silent Stalkers Liam and Kai moved cautiously, navigating through the broken cityscape.

Every now and then, shadows flickered in their peripheral vision.

The wolves Liam had tamed earlier growled lowly, sensing the incoming threat.

Suddenly—

An arrow whizzed past Liam's face, embedding itself in a nearby wall.

Kai spun around, drawing his weapon. "They found us!"

The moment he spoke, three armored figures leapt from the rooftops, weapons drawn.Ambush! A Test of Strength Liam activated Override, commanding his wolves to attack—

But something was wrong.

His wolves hesitated. Their bodies glitched, flickering like a broken hologram.

One of the enemies chuckled. "Your ability is strong, but it's still incomplete."

The leader of the Black Armor Guild stepped forward. Unlike the others, his presence was suffocating.

Liam clenched his fists. "Who are you people?"

The leader's voice was distorted by a voice modulator. "You'll learn soon enough."

Then—they attacked.