8-The Silent Enemy

**Chapter 8: The Silent Enemy**

The battlefield was quiet—a deceptive calm that preceded the storm. Riven stood with his generals on the ridge, scanning the horizon through his binoculars. They had pushed through the first few skirmishes without incident, the enemy falling back as expected, but something didn't feel right. The air was too still, the sky too clear. His instincts screamed that they were being led into a trap.

"Everything's too quiet," Kael murmured from beside him, his eyes narrowed as he surveyed the surroundings. "We've been advancing for hours, and there's no sign of the enemy's main force. They should have engaged us by now."

Riven nodded, his unease deepening. "I don't like it either. We've encountered resistance, yes, but not enough to account for the entire force. Something's wrong."

Lia, who had been silent up until now, spoke up. "Do you think they're waiting for us to move deeper into their territory? Luring us in?"

Riven frowned. "Could be. Or they're preparing a surprise."

The silence around them felt oppressive now, each step toward their next position fraught with the tension of unspoken fears. He turned to face his generals, his voice low but commanding.

"Keep your eyes open. Whatever's coming, we're not going to be caught off guard."

Before anyone could respond, a sudden scream pierced the air, followed by a wave of chaos as the soldiers near the frontlines began shouting in panic. Riven's heart leaped into his throat as he looked toward the source of the disturbance—an explosion of dust and dirt erupted from the ground, and a moment later, the ground itself seemed to tremble beneath their feet.

"Ambush!" Lia shouted, already drawing her sword. "They've been waiting for us!"

Riven's mind raced as he instinctively reached for his own weapon. "Fall back! Everyone, fall back to the formation!"

But it was too late.

The enemy had hidden their forces well—too well. Without warning, they sprang from the earth itself. Soldiers clad in dark armor, indistinguishable from the shadows they emerged from, surged forward with brutal precision. They were everywhere—on the left flank, the right, and even behind them, cutting off their escape routes. Riven's blood ran cold as the realization struck: they weren't just facing an army; they were facing an enemy that had planned this ambush with a level of cunning Riven had never encountered.

"Fall back! Stay in formation!" Riven shouted again, but his voice was drowned out by the sound of battle.

Kael was already moving, directing troops with the efficiency of a seasoned strategist. Lia, too, was fighting fiercely, her sword flashing in the sunlight as she cleaved through enemy lines. But Riven's eyes kept scanning the area, trying to make sense of the chaos.

In the distance, a flash of silver caught his eye. His heart skipped a beat. He recognized the emblem—a twisted black serpent coiled around a blade. It was the mark of the Silent Serpent, a notorious mercenary group that had been rumored to be in the employ of the enemy's top commander. They were deadly, and they moved like ghosts.

"Damn it!" Riven cursed under his breath, realizing the magnitude of the trap. The Silent Serpent had infiltrated their ranks, blending in with the shadows, striking from places where they least expected it.

"Riven!" Lia's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She was covered in blood—though none of it was her own—and her face was set with a grim determination. "We need to regroup now! We're getting overwhelmed!"

Riven clenched his jaw, pushing through the rising panic. He couldn't afford to lose his cool—not now. He turned toward Kael, who had already begun directing their forces into a defensive position.

"Hold the line!" Riven shouted, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "We're not retreating. We hold our ground until reinforcements arrive!"

Kael nodded, his face tense but resolute. "Understood. But we need to take out their leaders, Riven. Cut the head off the serpent, and the body will fall."

Riven's eyes flashed toward the distant lines where the serpent emblem flickered through the chaos. He knew Kael was right—they had to take out the enemy's commanders if they were to have any hope of turning the tide. But just as he was about to make his move, a sharp pain shot through his side.

He stumbled, gasping for air as his hand instinctively went to his waist. Blood stained his fingers as his vision blurred, and he felt his legs begin to give way beneath him. The enemy had come from everywhere, and somewhere in the madness, he had been struck.

"Riven!" Lia's voice rang out in panic, and she rushed to his side, grabbing him under the arm to steady him. "You're injured!"

"I'll be fine," Riven gritted out, though he could feel the blood seeping from his wound. His body protested the movement, but he forced himself to stand upright, ignoring the wave of dizziness that threatened to overtake him. "We can't stop now. We need to get to their commanders."

But as he looked around, the battlefield seemed to stretch on endlessly. The soldiers of the Silent Serpent had surrounded them, their dark armor gleaming in the dimming light of the day. Their movements were too swift, too precise. Riven's mind raced for a solution, but the pain in his side was beginning to cloud his thoughts.

That's when he saw her.

Nyx. Her form was a blur of motion, darting in and out of the enemy ranks with the deadly grace of a predator. Riven watched in awe as she dispatched enemy after enemy, cutting through them with the efficiency of someone who had been born for this kind of violence.

And then, in a flash, she was at his side.

"Stay down," she hissed, pushing him away from the chaos. Her eyes were narrowed in fury, and her body was a whirlwind of deadly intent as she fought her way through the enemy lines. "I'll take care of this. You're in no condition to fight."

"No," Riven growled, trying to rise to his feet again. "We need to—"

But Nyx was already there, blocking him with her body as she dispatched another attacker with a swift strike to the throat.

"You're not thinking clearly," she snapped. "I'm not going to let you die here, Riven. Not today."

She gripped his arm tightly, her voice firm as she dragged him back to the relative safety of their troops. "Stay alive. That's your job."

The force with which she spoke struck a chord deep within him. Despite the blood staining his clothes and the aching wound at his side, he knew she was right. He couldn't afford to lose his focus. He had to lead. He had to survive.

"Nyx," he rasped, his voice barely audible. "Thank you."

She didn't reply at first, her attention focused on the battle around them. But then, as she dispatched another enemy, she met his gaze, her expression hard but sincere.

"We fight together. You're not alone, Riven," she said softly.

And for the first time in a long while, Riven allowed himself to believe it.

---

The tide of the battle began to shift as Riven's soldiers rallied under Nyx's guidance. The Silent Serpent's ambush, while expertly executed, had failed to break their resolve. With each passing moment, the enemy's grip on the battlefield loosened.

Riven, though injured, regained his footing. His mind, sharp and focused once more, returned to the task at hand. The battle wasn't over, but with Nyx at his side, they had a chance.

The enemy commander—whoever he was—had underestimated them.

The Silent Serpent might have struck from the shadows, but Riven knew that there was one thing they hadn't counted on: the unwavering loyalty of those who fought beside him.

And as long as he had that, he would never lose.