Chapter 83: War in the Shadows

Chapter 83: War in the Shadows

Silvia's POV

The air was thick with the scent of metal and sweat as the city prepared for the inevitable storm. Silvia stood in the training grounds, watching as recruits and veteran soldiers drilled together. The sound of swords clashing, shields bracing, and boots stomping against the packed dirt filled the air like a war drum, reminding everyone that peace was a luxury they could no longer afford. Each fighter bore scars of past battles, yet their eyes held firm determination.

Dragon leaned against a post nearby, arms crossed, his golden eyes scanning the fighters. "They're getting better."

Silvia nodded, observing the footwork of a young recruit struggling to keep up. "They have to. There won't be a second chance if we fail."

Nearby, blacksmiths worked tirelessly, forging weapons and repairing armor under the searing heat of the forges. The rhythmic hammering of steel was both a comforting and haunting reminder of what was to come. Even the merchants had adapted, setting up shops that now sold rations, medical supplies, and survival gear rather than fine goods. War had become their way of life.

Tarren approached, dust clinging to her armor, sweat glistening on her brow. "The scouts returned. The Heir of Titan is more than just a name. He's raising an army, and they're not just former Remnants. They're mercenaries, deserters, and even some nobles looking to reclaim old power. He's promising them a new empire."

Garrik let out a heavy breath. "And I suppose he's not sitting around waiting for us to make a move?"

Tarren shook her head. "No. He's already making his own alliances. If we wait too long, we'll be facing a force too large to handle."

Silvia turned back to the training grounds, her mind racing. "Then we strike first. But not with an army—we can't afford that. We take the fight to them in the shadows."

Dragon raised an eyebrow. "You're talking infiltration?"

Silvia nodded. "We send a team. Small, skilled, and fast. We find out everything—who he is, what he's planning, and how to cut the head off the snake before it's too late."

Gathering the Team

By nightfall, Silvia had handpicked the squad. Tarren, for her unmatched precision and survival instincts. Garrik, for his battlefield experience and sheer strength. And Dragon—because there was no one she trusted more to have her back.

They met in the underground chamber beneath the keep, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows on the walls. The air was damp with the scent of old stone and parchment, a place where countless strategies had been formed before. Silvia unfurled a map across the stone table. "We infiltrate their camp under the cover of night. We gather intel, sabotage their supply lines if possible, and most importantly, we find out who the Heir of Titan really is."

Garrik grunted. "And if we get a chance to take him out?"

Silvia's expression hardened. "Then we don't hesitate."

Dragon smirked. "Sounds like my kind of mission."

Tarren adjusted her bowstring, eyes sharp. "Then let's not waste time."

Into the Wolves' Den

The journey was swift and silent. The team moved through dense forests and across barren plains, avoiding roads and settlements. The enemy encampment lay nestled in a valley, its fires flickering like a thousand watching eyes. The moon hung overhead, barely illuminating their path as they crept closer.

Silvia crouched behind a boulder, studying the layout. Tents stretched across the valley floor, banners of Titan's old insignia waving in the wind. Guards patrolled in tight formations—disciplined, trained. This wasn't just a gathering of rebels. This was an army being built for war.

Dragon leaned in beside her, his voice low. "This isn't some desperate warlord. This is a tactician. Someone who knows what they're doing."

Silvia's pulse quickened. "Then we make sure he never gets the chance to act."

They moved through the shadows, slipping past patrols, weaving through supply lines. Tarren signaled with two fingers—movement near the command tent. They pressed themselves against the canvas of a nearby supply structure, listening.

Inside, a deep voice spoke, commanding, assured. "We march in two weeks. Earthstar's forces think they've won, but they've only delayed the inevitable. We reclaim what was lost. And we take the city in one decisive strike."

Silvia's blood ran cold. Two weeks.

Garrik shifted slightly, his knuckles white. "That's sooner than we thought."

Dragon's jaw clenched. "We need to end this tonight."

Silvia nodded. "Then let's move."

The Sabotage Begins

Under the cover of darkness, they split into two teams. Silvia and Tarren took the supply stores, slipping through the gaps between tents. The scent of dry hay and gunpowder mixed in the air as they reached the wagons filled with rations and weapons.

Tarren crouched beside a crate, whispering, "If we destroy this, their march will slow. They won't have the resources to push straight to the city."

Silvia nodded. "We do it quietly. We make it look like an accident."

Using oil-soaked rags, they coated the supplies in a thin layer of flammable liquid before retreating. Tarren nocked an arrow, dipped the tip in oil, and with a single precise shot, sent a slow-burning flame into the pile.

Silvia watched as the fire caught, creeping up the wooden beams before bursting into an uncontrollable blaze. Chaos erupted as soldiers rushed to put it out, their shouts breaking the quiet night.

Meanwhile, Dragon and Garrik had slipped into the command sector. Their goal: to confirm the identity of the Heir of Titan.

Dragon peered through a gap in the command tent, eyes narrowing. A figure stood at the center, speaking with authority. He was tall, armored in dark steel, his face partially hidden by a hood. The insignia of Titan's high generals was embroidered into his cloak—a symbol long thought to be eradicated.

Garrik whispered, "That's him."

Dragon's grip tightened on his blade. "We need to move."

Silvia's voice came through the whisper stone. "Pull out. We've done enough damage for now."

Reluctantly, they retreated into the darkness, slipping away as confusion and disorder rippled through the enemy ranks.

A Glimpse at the Future War

Back at the city, Silvia gathered her council. The mission had been successful, but the war was only beginning.

"We have two weeks before they march. But now, they march weakened. We use this time to prepare. To strike before they do."

Garrik nodded. "We make them regret ever thinking they could reclaim Titan's rule."

Dragon smirked, his golden eyes gleaming. "Now we hit them where it hurts."

Silvia's gaze swept the room. "This is our fight. And we will win."

As the city braced for the coming war, Silvia knew one thing for certain.

This would be the battle that decided the fate of everything.