Chapter 87: The Last Assault

Chapter 87: The Last Assault

Silvia's POV

The tension in the war room was suffocating. The heavy wooden table was covered with maps, bloodstained reports, and hastily scribbled battle plans. Every passing moment felt like a countdown to catastrophe. Silvia stood at the center, her fingers pressing into the map, tracing the possible routes the enemy reinforcements could take.

Dragon leaned against the wall, his golden eyes unreadable. "You know this mission is a gamble. If we get caught, we won't make it back."

Silvia met his gaze, her resolve unshaken. "If we don't try, the city falls. We don't have a choice."

Tarren tapped her dagger against the table. "We go in, we strike fast, and we leave before they even know what hit them."

Garrik crossed his arms. "And if we get surrounded?"

Silvia exhaled. "Then we fight our way out."

The Infiltration

Under the cover of night, Silvia and her strike team slipped through the ruined outskirts of the city, moving like shadows along the tree line. The moon was barely a sliver in the sky, the darkness their only advantage.

Tarren scouted ahead, her bow at the ready, while Dragon stayed close to Silvia's side, his form shifting slightly, his instincts sharpening. He was ready to shift at a moment's notice.

Silvia's heart pounded in her chest as they neared the enemy encampment. Fires flickered in the distance, illuminating rows of tents, supply wagons, and stacks of freshly forged weapons. The reinforcements weren't just a ragtag group—they were an army in their own right.

She crouched behind a fallen log, whispering, "We take out the supply depot first. Cut off their food and weapons, and they'll be weaker when they reach the battlefield."

Dragon nodded. "Leave the explosives to me."

Tarren smirked. "I'll cover you. Just don't get yourself killed."

The First Strike

Silvia and her team moved with deadly precision. Tarren took position on a ridge, her arrows cutting through the air with silent lethality. Dragon slipped through the shadows, planting explosives at key points near the supply wagons. Silvia and Garrik handled the guards, cutting them down before they could raise the alarm.

The moment the last charge was set, Dragon whispered, "Now."

A series of explosions tore through the camp. Fire erupted, swallowing the supply wagons and sending enemy soldiers into a frenzy. Silvia and her team didn't wait to watch the destruction—they ran, dodging arrows and leaping over fallen bodies as chaos erupted behind them.

The fire spread quickly, licking at the wooden beams of makeshift barracks and igniting supply crates filled with oil and rations. Screams echoed in the night as soldiers rushed to contain the inferno, but the confusion was exactly what Silvia had counted on.

She turned to Tarren. "How far until we reach the ridge?"

Tarren loosed another arrow before answering. "Half a mile. If we push hard, we can make it before their reinforcements regroup."

Garrik wiped a smear of blood from his forehead. "Then let's move!"

A Desperate Escape

The enemy was on their heels, but Silvia's team knew the terrain better. They darted through the trees, using the cover of darkness to evade their pursuers. Dragon shifted into his monstrous form, cutting down any soldiers that got too close.

Silvia's breath came in ragged gasps as she sprinted, her muscles burning from exhaustion. The weight of the mission, the battle, the entire war pressed against her chest, but she couldn't let it slow her down.

As they reached the ridge, Tarren dropped to one knee, lining up her shot. "Give me a second."

She let loose a flaming arrow, striking a barrel of stored gunpowder within the enemy encampment. A second explosion rocked the valley, throwing embers high into the sky.

Silvia took one last look at the burning enemy camp. "That should keep them busy for a while."

They kept moving, reaching the outskirts of the city just as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon. The guards at the gate recognized them immediately, swinging the reinforced doors open just in time for Silvia and her team to stumble inside, breathless and battle-worn.

Garrik collapsed against a stone column, laughing. "I can't believe we actually pulled that off."

Dragon shifted back into his human form, shaking his head. "We got lucky."

Silvia, still catching her breath, straightened. "Not luck. Strategy. And we're not done yet."

The Final Stand Approaches

The city was alive with renewed energy. News of their successful mission had spread, lifting the spirits of the weary soldiers. Silvia stood before her war council, her fingers gripping the edges of the table as she addressed them.

"The enemy reinforcements are in disarray, but the battle isn't won yet. Their main army is still coming, and they'll be desperate to retaliate after what we just did. We need to be ready."

Garrik nodded. "The walls are still holding, but not for long. We need a way to push them back."

Tarren leaned over the table, pointing at a narrow valley just beyond the eastern gate. "If we lure them in here, we could use the terrain against them. A well-placed ambush could crush their forces before they reach the inner city."

Dragon exhaled. "It's a risk. If it fails, they'll overrun us."

Silvia met his gaze, determination burning in her eyes. "Then we make sure it doesn't fail."

She turned to the assembled commanders. "This is it. The final battle for our city. We either stand and fight, or we fall. There is no middle ground."

The room was silent for a long moment before Garrik pounded a fist against his chest. "For the city."

Tarren followed, gripping the hilt of her dagger. "For our people."

Dragon smirked, his golden eyes gleaming. "And for victory."

Silvia took a deep breath, stepping out of the war room and onto the balcony overlooking the city. The sun was rising, bathing the city in light, but beyond the walls, the enemy still loomed.

Tomorrow, the final battle would begin.

And Silvia would see it through to the end.