Chapter 73: Fallout and Reflection

The success of the mission brought a temporary sense of relief, but the fallout was immediate. Word spread quickly that Isaac's team had taken down Kova's faction, and the remaining rogue groups began to consolidate their power, preparing for retaliation. The chaos they had feared was already beginning to spiral out of control.

Back at camp, Isaac and Nyla argued over their next move.

"We need to be more aggressive," Nyla said. "These factions won't back down unless we show them that we're serious. We can't keep playing defense."

Isaac shook his head. "We can't go to war with everyone, Nyla. If we escalate, we'll just end up destroying everything we're trying to save. There has to be another way."

Nyla's frustration was evident, but she understood Isaac's hesitation. He had always been reluctant to resort to violence, and the toll of the mission was already showing. Several soldiers had been killed in the operation, and Isaac bore the weight of their loss on his shoulders.

As they debated, a message arrived from General Maren. The council wanted Isaac to move against another faction—this time, a group controlling a crucial communications hub that could disrupt their rebuilding efforts. The pressure was mounting, and Isaac knew that the military wouldn't wait much longer.

He was running out of time, and out of options.