Chapter 67: Aftermath

Chapter 67: Aftermath

Silvia's POV

The echoes of battle still rang in Silvia's ears as she led her team out of the underground city. The towering remnants of an ancient civilization loomed behind them, its secrets barely touched, its horrors barely contained. Even though the monstrous entity had been sealed away, the weight of what had transpired settled like iron in her chest. They had won—but at what cost?

Dragon walked beside her, his expression grim. "They sacrificed themselves without hesitation. That kind of loyalty doesn't come from fear. They believed in something."

Silvia nodded, tightening her grip on her weapon. "And now they're gone. We don't even know who they were. What they fought for."

Tarren exhaled sharply, her rifle still slung over her shoulder. "I hate to say it, but Titan isn't done with this place. If they went through all that trouble to get here, they'll be back. And next time, they'll come prepared."

Garrik studied the underground city one last time before stepping forward. "Then we prepare first. We don't just leave this place behind—we make sure it's protected. If Titan wants this power, we make damn sure they don't get their hands on it."

Silvia looked at her team, then back at the ruins. "We don't have enough people to hold it. But we do have something else."

Dragon arched a brow. "And what's that?"

She glanced at the ancient construct, still pulsing faintly with residual energy. "Whatever technology they used to lock that thing away—we're going to learn how to use it. If we can turn their own secrets against them, we might have a chance at stopping Titan for good."

Dragon smirked. "You really do love messing with ancient, dangerous things, don't you?"

Silvia shot him a look. "I hang out with you, don't I?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Fair point."

Regrouping and Rebuilding

The journey back to the surface was silent, each member of Silvia's squad lost in their own thoughts. The tunnels, once filled with chaos and violence, now seemed eerily quiet. The air was still thick with the scent of smoke and charred remains, the evidence of the battle they had barely survived.

When they emerged under the night sky, the sight of their camp brought little comfort. The resistance fighters who had remained behind were tending to the wounded, reinforcing defenses, and preparing for the next fight.

Silvia barely had time to breathe before a scout rushed up to her. "Commander! We've intercepted a Titan transmission. They're mobilizing another force. They'll be here in less than three days."

Tarren groaned. "Of course they are."

Silvia's mind raced. "They know we survived. They won't make the same mistakes twice."

Dragon crossed his arms. "Neither will we."

He reached out and casually flicked a strand of her hair. "You sure you're okay? You look like you've been dragged through a battlefield."

Silvia gave him a deadpan look. "Dragon, I was dragged through a battlefield."

He grinned. "Well, in that case, you look great."

Garrik cleared his throat. "Can we focus before you two start making eyes at each other again?"

Tarren snorted. "Let them have their moment. They might die in three days."

Silvia sighed. "Thanks for the optimism, Tarren."

A New Plan

Inside the command tent, Silvia spread out a map over the table. Titan's forces were closing in from multiple fronts, and their numbers were growing. A full-scale battle wasn't just inevitable—it was imminent.

Garrik tapped a section on the map. "They'll expect us to stay on defense. We should do the opposite. Hit them before they hit us."

Tarren nodded. "We still have explosives left. If we can target their supply lines before they reach us, we cripple their reinforcements."

Silvia exhaled. "We'll need to split up. A team to sabotage their supplies, another to hold the underground city, and the rest to fortify our position here."

Dragon leaned in. "And which team are you leading?"

She met his gaze. "The one going after Titan."

A grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "Good. I'd hate to miss the fun."

Garrik rolled his eyes. "I swear, you two enjoy this way too much."

Dragon shrugged. "What can I say? Explosions bring us closer together."

Silvia smirked. "That's not how relationships work."

Dragon waggled his brows. "Are you saying we're in a relationship?"

Tarren groaned. "I'm leaving before this turns into a rom-com."

The War Isn't Over

The morning came too soon. The sun rose over the ruins, casting long shadows over a battlefield that had yet to be fought. Silvia strapped on her gear, her mind already focused on the mission ahead.

Dragon approached her as she adjusted her weapons. "You ready?"

She smirked. "Always."

He leaned in, lowering his voice. "Then let's go remind Titan why they should be afraid of us."

He surprised her by reaching out and brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her cheek for a moment longer than necessary. "Just… don't get killed, okay?"

Silvia swallowed, her heartbeat picking up despite herself. "You too."

Dragon grinned. "I'd never hear the end of it if I died before our first date."

Silvia snorted. "First what?"

Dragon was already walking away. "You heard me."

With one last glance at the rising sun, Silvia turned toward the battlefield, ready to lead her people into the next war.