The Shadow of War Grows

The victory from the ambush on the Vorath scouting party spread through the camp like wildfire. Soldiers who had once questioned the effectiveness of guerrilla warfare now trained with a newfound determination.

Kael stood at the edge of the training grounds, arms crossed, watching his forces adapt. They moved differently now—more fluidly, more efficiently.

Thane approached, his greatsword resting on his shoulder. "The men are improving, but they're still not fast enough. In a real skirmish, they won't have the luxury of second chances."

Kael nodded. "We need to sharpen them further. Tonight, we push their limits."

He turned to the assembled troops, his voice ringing with authority. "You've all adapted well to our new methods, but what we face ahead is far worse than a simple scouting party. The Vorath won't be caught off guard forever. The next time we strike, they'll be prepared."

Lyria stepped forward, her arms crossed. "And we can't let that happen. Which is why starting tonight, we take the training to the next level."

Darran, the head of the Ingenious Division, smirked. "That means no sleep for any of you."

A murmur rippled through the ranks. Some were already exhausted from the day's training, but none dared to protest. They had seen firsthand how effective the new strategy was.

Kael's gaze swept over them. "We begin immediately."

Under the cloak of darkness, the soldiers were divided into their respective divisions.

The Seekers were taken deep into the forests surrounding the camp. Lyria led them personally, pushing them harder than ever before.

She crouched behind a tree and gestured for a group of trainees to approach.

"Your mission is simple," she whispered. "Cross this clearing without me detecting you."

One of the recruits hesitated. "But… you're standing right there. There's no cover."

Lyria's eyes gleamed in the darkness. "Then make your own."

The Seekers quickly dispersed, using whatever they could to blend into their surroundings. Some crawled through the underbrush, others moved through the branches like shadows. But none were fast enough to escape Lyria's sharp eyes.

One by one, she caught them—a flick of a knife here, a snap of a branch there.

Each time she struck, she whispered the same words: "Dead. Try again."

By the end of the night, only three out of twenty had successfully reached the other side undetected.

Lyria smirked. "Better than before, but not good enough. Next time, I want to see half of you survive."

The exhausted recruits nodded, sweat dripping from their brows.

On the other side of the camp, Thane was running his own brutal training. The Guardians were lined up in formation, shields locked together in an unbreakable wall.

Thane paced in front of them, his expression hard. "The enemy won't give you time to think. They will smash into you like a storm. If your line breaks, you die. Understood?"

The soldiers shouted in unison. "Understood!"

Thane nodded. "Good. Now let's see if you can handle the storm."

Without warning, he swung his greatsword forward with terrifying speed.

The first row of shields shuddered under the impact, feet skidding against the dirt. Some men faltered, the formation rippling dangerously.

Thane growled. "Pathetic. Again!"

He struck again, this time harder. The force of his blow sent two soldiers stumbling backward.

"Dead," Thane said coldly. "If this were a real battle, the enemy would have broken through. Regain formation and brace yourselves!"

The Guardians adjusted their stance, tightening their ranks.

Thane lifted his sword once more. "Good. Now let's see if you can hold."

He struck over and over again, testing their endurance, their willpower. By dawn, many had collapsed, but the line had not broken.

Darran's training was unlike the others. Instead of brute force or stealth, his soldiers trained in the art of trickery and mind games.

Their challenge? Deceive Kael himself.

Kael stood in the center of the training field, surrounded by twelve recruits.

Darran grinned. "Your mission is to convince the Commander of something that isn't true. It can be anything, but it must be convincing. If he sees through your lie, you fail."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "This should be interesting."

One by one, the recruits tried.

One attempted to create a false report of an incoming attack. Kael saw through it instantly.

Another tried to forge orders from the higher command. Kael caught the inconsistencies in seconds.

By the end, none had succeeded.

Darran sighed. "Pathetic. If you can't deceive your own commander, how will you deceive the enemy?"

Kael smirked. "I'll give them this—at least they're persistent."

Darran crossed his arms. "They need to be more than persistent. They need to be believable. We'll try again tomorrow. And the next day. Until one of them can fool even you."

Kael chuckled. "I look forward to it."

By the time the sun rose, the entire camp was exhausted—but stronger.

Kael watched his soldiers with pride. They were adapting, improving. But there was no time to rest.

A scout rushed into the command tent, breathless. "Commander! Urgent report!"

Kael turned, his expression serious. "Speak."

The scout saluted. "Vorath forces have been spotted massing near the eastern border. They're preparing for a large-scale incursion!"

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Lyria clenched her fists. "They're finally making their move."

Thane grinned. "About damn time. I was starting to get bored."

Darran frowned. "If they're moving this quickly, they must have a plan. We need to find out what it is."

Kael's eyes burned with determination. "Then we move first. We will strike them before they strike us."

Lyria smirked. "A preemptive strike? I like it."

Kael turned to his officers. "Prepare the divisions. We take the war to them."

The camp burst into motion.

The time for training was over.

The battle was about to begin.