Chapter 8: Aftermath of the Atttack

------the present------

The war room was alive with activity. Soldiers and officers moved with purpose, carrying reports and maps, their boots echoing on the stone floor. At the center of it all, Su stood with Zanaiya and Titus, their heads bent over a large map of the city.

"The tunnels," Su said, his finger tracing a jagged line that ran beneath the western district. "This is how they're moving unseen. If we can cut off their access, we force them to fight on our terms."

Titus nodded, his weathered face thoughtful. "Easier said than done, Captain. Those tunnels run deep, and they're old. Half of them don't even show up on the maps we've got."

"We'll start with what we know," Su replied. "We collapse the entrances we can find, post guards at the others. If they want to keep using the tunnels, they'll have to dig them out."

Zanaiya tapped the map with the butt of her trident. "And what about this?" she asked, pointing to a series of marks near the eastern district.

Su's eyes narrowed. "Supply caches. If we're right, that's where they're storing the weapons."

"Then we hit them there," Zanaiya said. "Hard and fast."

Before Su could respond, the door to the war room slammed open, and Dorrik entered, his black-and-gold armor gleaming in the torchlight.

"What is this?" the general demanded, his voice sharp. "Another of your little plans, Captain?"

Su straightened, his expression unreadable. "We're preparing a counterattack, General. The rebels are using the tunnels to outmaneuver us. If we cut them off, we force them into the open."

Dorrik stepped closer, his gaze cold. "And if this plan of yours fails? What then? Another raid? More dead soldiers? I will not have this city torn apart by your recklessness."

Su's jaw tightened, but he kept his voice steady. "With respect, General, doing nothing isn't an option. The rebels are growing stronger. If we don't act, we'll lose control entirely."

Dorrik's lips twisted into a sneer. "If this is your idea of action, Captain, then I suggest you reconsider your career. But fine. Do what you will. Just remember—when this fails, the blame will fall squarely on you."

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Deep in the tunnels beneath Bel'zhun, the rebels worked tirelessly. The air was cool and damp, the flickering torchlight casting jagged shadows on the walls.

Kahlira Zahr stood at the center of the activity, her sharp amber eyes scanning the room. Crates of stolen weapons were stacked against the walls, their contents gleaming faintly as they caught the light.

"We can't keep this up forever," said Tarek, a wiry man with a scar running down his cheek. "The Noxians are tightening their grip. We've already lost two supply routes this week."

Kahlira turned to him, her expression calm but firm. "We don't need forever, Tarek. Just long enough to make them bleed."

"And if they come for us down here?" asked another rebel, a young woman with nervous eyes.

Kahlira's lips curved into a faint smile. "Then we remind them what it means to fight on Shuriman soil. We know these tunnels better than they do. If they come, they'll wish they hadn't."

Tarek crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "And the weapons? They won't mean much if we can't figure out how to use those rifles."

"They will," Kahlira said confidently. "We just need time. And time is what we'll buy with the blood of the Noxians."

The Desert Raiders moved through the dimly lit streets of Bel'zhun, their black-and-crimson armor blending with the shadows. Su led the group, his twin blades strapped to his back, while Zanaiya walked at his side, her trident resting against her shoulder.

Behind them, Titus and Thelassan marched in formation with the other soldiers, their expressions grim. The squad moved with precision, their footsteps muffled against the cobblestones.

As they approached the entrance to one of the tunnels, Su raised a hand, signaling for the group to stop.

"This is one of their main routes," he said quietly. "We collapse it, we cut off a significant portion of their movement."

Titus stepped forward, inspecting the entrance. "It's narrow. We'll need explosives to bring it down properly."

Zanaiya smirked. "Good thing we came prepared."

The Raiders worked quickly, placing charges along the tunnel's support beams. Thelassan stood guard near the entrance, his spear gripped tightly in his hands. His sharp green eyes darted nervously across the shadows, every faint sound making him tense.

"Relax, Thelassan," Titus said as he passed by. "If they were going to attack, they'd have done it by now."

Thelassan nodded, though his grip didn't loosen.

As the charges were set, a faint sound echoed through the tunnel—the soft scuff of boots on stone.

"Captain," Zanaiya said, her voice low. "We've got company."

Su's hand went to his blades, his scarlet eyes narrowing. "Hold position. Let them come to us."

The sound grew louder, and moments later, a group of rebels emerged from the shadows. They were armed with scavenged weapons, their faces grim as they spotted the Noxians.

"Ambush!" one of the rebels shouted, and chaos erupted.

The tunnel filled with the clash of steel and the shouts of battle. Su moved like a storm, his twin blades cutting through the rebels with brutal efficiency. Beside him, Zanaiya fought with practiced grace, her trident spinning in deadly arcs that kept the attackers at bay.

Titus led the other Raiders in forming a defensive line, their shields locked as they pushed back against the rebels. Thelassan held his ground, his spear striking with surprising precision despite his obvious nerves.

"Finish setting the charges!" Su barked, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Zanaiya nodded, breaking away from the fight to oversee the placement.

With the charges set, Su gave the order to retreat. The Raiders fell back quickly, their movements precise despite the chaos.

"Blow it!" Su shouted as they reached the surface.

A deafening explosion rocked the ground beneath their feet, and a cloud of dust billowed from the tunnel entrance as it collapsed. The sound echoed across the city, a clear message to the rebels that their sanctuary was no longer untouchable.

Zanaiya smirked as she wiped dust from her spear. "That'll get their attention."

Su nodded, his gaze fixed on the rising dust cloud. "It's a start."