Chapter 55: Warpath

Chapter 55: Warpath

Silvia's POV

The fire from the destroyed fortress still smoldered as Silvia and her team traveled through the barren landscape, moving under the cover of night. The victory was theirs, but they had no time to celebrate. Titan would retaliate soon, and they needed to be ready.

"We need to keep moving," Garrik said, scanning the horizon for signs of enemy movement. "That explosion put a target on our backs."

Silvia exhaled. "We'll be ghosts before they get a chance to track us."

Dragon chuckled beside her. "Ghosts don't leave a trail of burning fortresses in their wake."

She shot him a look. "That's why we don't stop. We take the war to them before they can regroup."

Tarren, who had been silent most of the journey, finally spoke. "We need a new target. Something that will cripple them even further."

Silvia glanced at the map. "Their supply chain. We hit their weapons depot next. No guns, no war."

Garrik grinned. "I like the way you think."

Titan's Stronghold: The Supply Depot

The next evening, Silvia and her team stood atop a ridge overlooking Titan's main weapons supply depot. It was heavily fortified, crawling with patrols and automated defenses. Taking this place down wouldn't be easy.

Dragon crouched beside her, golden eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "We're going to need more than stealth for this one."

Silvia nodded. "We go in loud. Hit them fast. If we control the depot, we control the war."

Tarren checked her rifle. "Then we better do it right."

Silvia inhaled deeply, the weight of command heavy on her shoulders. This was the next step in crippling Titan. They would not fail.

She raised her hand, signaling the attack. "Let's end this."

The Assault Begins

The team moved in fast, splitting into smaller units to cover multiple entry points. The depot's outer perimeter was patrolled by Titan soldiers armed with high-caliber rifles and motion sensors, making a stealthy approach nearly impossible. But Silvia didn't plan on being subtle.

Garrik and his warriors took the left flank, while Tarren and a handful of Kallisar's best infiltrators approached from the right. Silvia and Dragon moved straight through the center, drawing as much attention as possible.

Dragon transformed mid-air, his monstrous form silhouetted against the moon before he landed in the middle of the enemy patrols. The first wave of Titan soldiers barely had time to react before his claws tore through their ranks, sending bodies flying.

Silvia followed close behind, channeling raw energy into the ground beneath her. The earth trembled before erupting in a controlled shockwave, toppling enemy defenses and sending crates of weapons crashing down. Alarms blared throughout the depot.

"No turning back now!" Silvia shouted. "Push forward!"

Garrik's unit stormed the eastern barricade, overwhelming the guards in brutal close combat. Tarren's snipers took out the automated turrets along the depot's rooftops, giving Silvia's squad the opening they needed to advance.

Dragon leapt onto a Titan tank, his claws raking across its armored hull. With a growl, he ripped open the cockpit, dragging out the pilot before tossing him aside. He turned to Silvia, a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. "This is almost too easy."

Silvia smirked, dodging a soldier's blade before countering with a fire-infused strike. "Don't jinx it."

Just as the words left her mouth, heavy reinforcements poured in from the depot's main structure. Titan's elite soldiers—larger, heavily armored, and trained in advanced combat techniques—moved into position, blocking every exit.

"Looks like they were expecting us," Garrik muttered, falling in beside Silvia.

"Good," Silvia said, summoning energy to her fingertips. "That means they're afraid."

Dragon's POV

Dragon's instincts flared as the elite soldiers closed in. This fight wasn't going to be as simple as the others.

He positioned himself beside Silvia, watching her magic pulse and crackle as she prepared for the coming battle. She was fearless, and he admired that. But part of him also hated the danger she constantly threw herself into.

"Stick close to me," he murmured, his voice low but firm.

Silvia scoffed. "I can handle myself."

Dragon's grin was sharp. "I know. But let me have my fun."

The first elite soldier lunged, a blade of blue plasma cutting through the air. Dragon sidestepped just in time, countering with a swipe of his claws. The soldier's armor was reinforced, his strike barely leaving a scratch. This was going to take more effort.

Silvia unleashed a burst of fire, engulfing two of the soldiers in flames. They rolled, trying to extinguish themselves, but she didn't wait—she pressed the attack, hurling another wave of energy their way.

Dragon shifted back into his monstrous form, using his superior strength to overpower the closest opponent. He tore through the soldier's helmet, revealing the terrified face underneath before ending the fight with a swift strike.

But Titan wasn't done.

From the depot's interior, an armored vehicle rolled into position, its massive cannon aimed directly at Silvia.

Dragon's breath caught. Too close. Too fast.

Before he could react, Silvia thrust both hands forward, sending a concentrated blast of energy straight into the cannon's barrel. The resulting explosion tore through the vehicle, sending debris flying in all directions. Dragon shielded her from the blast, his wings folding around her as fire and shrapnel rained down.

When the dust cleared, Silvia looked up at him, a mixture of amusement and gratitude in her eyes. "Now who's sticking close?"

Dragon rolled his eyes but smirked. "Still me."

The Final Blow

With Titan's forces in disarray, Silvia gave the final command. "Destroy everything."

Her team set charges throughout the depot, planting explosives on every weapons cache and supply crate they could find. Dragon and Garrik covered their retreat as Titan's remaining soldiers tried to salvage what they could.

As they reached a safe distance, Silvia pressed the detonator.

A deafening explosion tore through the depot, sending a massive fireball into the sky. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the stronghold was reduced to little more than rubble.

Silvia watched the destruction unfold, her chest rising and falling with exertion. They had done it. Titan's war machine had just suffered its greatest loss yet.

Dragon stepped beside her, watching the flames with his usual smirk. "I think that's going to hurt them."

Silvia let out a slow breath. "It's a start."

For the first time since the war began, Titan was on the defensive. And Silvia had no intention of giving them time to recover.