Chapter 92: The Shadow War Begins

Chapter 92: The Shadow War Begins

Silvia's POV

The air inside the war room was stifling, thick with the tension of unanswered questions. The council members sat around the large wooden table, maps sprawled out before them, detailing the outer perimeters and areas affected by the unknown creatures.

Silvia stood at the head of the table, her hands pressed against its surface, eyes scanning the worried faces of her advisors.

"We need answers," she stated firmly. "If we don't figure out what these creatures are and what they want, we won't survive another wave."

Garrik exhaled, crossing his arms. "And where exactly do we start? We barely made it out alive."

Tarren leaned forward, tapping a section of the map. "We know where they appeared. They were gathered near the ruins outside the city, but they didn't push forward. They were studying us."

Dragon's golden eyes flickered with thought. "Then it's time we study them."

The room fell silent.

Silvia looked at him, her mind already racing. "You're suggesting another mission."

"We don't have a choice. We need information, and we need it fast. Sitting behind these walls won't protect us forever."

There were murmurs of unease.

A healer stood. "Silvia, we barely have enough people to treat the wounded from the last battle. If we lose more…"

She raised a hand, silencing the room. "I know the risks. But we can't afford to be blind. If these creatures are testing us, we need to test them back."

Garrik grumbled but nodded. "Then let's assemble a team."

The Hunt for Answers

Under the cover of darkness, Silvia, Dragon, Tarren, and a small team of elite warriors set out toward the ruins. The cold night wrapped around them, their breath forming small clouds as they moved silently through the forest.

Every step felt heavier, the land itself seeming to shift under their feet. There was no wind, no rustling leaves. Just an unnatural stillness.

Tarren whispered, "I don't like this. It's as if the world is holding its breath."

Silvia nodded, gripping the hilt of her sword tighter. "Stay close."

They reached the outskirts of the ruins, the same area where the creatures had last been seen. The remains of old stone buildings stood like the skeletons of a forgotten world, their edges softened by time yet still looming with eerie authority.

Then, a sound. A whisper in the wind that didn't belong.

Dragon tensed. "We're not alone."

Silvia signaled for the group to form a defensive stance. The shadows moved.

Then, the first creature emerged.

It didn't attack—it simply stood there, watching. Its elongated limbs twitched as if barely restrained by the laws of nature. Its hollow eyes locked onto Silvia, and she felt a chill crawl down her spine.

Another emerged. Then another.

Within moments, they were surrounded.

A Battle in the Dark

The creatures moved first, lunging toward the group with unnatural speed.

Silvia slashed, fire erupting from her blade as she cut through the nearest creature. It screeched, its form twisting and distorting before collapsing into ash.

Dragon transformed, his monstrous form tearing into the enemy with savage fury. Tarren's arrows glowed with enchanted light, piercing through the shadows.

The fight was brutal, relentless. The creatures weren't just strong—they were learning. Adapting. They dodged attacks they hadn't before, struck with precision they lacked last time.

"They're getting smarter!" Tarren shouted.

Silvia cursed, dodging a clawed hand that reached for her. "We need to retreat!"

Dragon snarled, slashing another enemy apart. "Not yet!"

Then, the largest shadow emerged. Taller, broader, its form shifting more fluidly than the others. It raised a single hand, and the battlefield went still.

Silvia felt her body freeze, a pressure locking her in place.

A voice—not a sound, but a feeling—echoed through her mind.

You do not belong here.

The pressure intensified. She struggled against it, her vision dimming.

Dragon roared, breaking through the force, tackling Silvia to the ground as the spell shattered around them.

Garrik swung his axe, breaking the hold on the others. "Fall back! Now!"

They didn't need to be told twice. They ran, the shadows watching but not following.

As they crossed back into the safety of their territory, Silvia turned, catching one last glimpse of the creatures fading into the darkness.

They had let them go.

And that terrified her more than anything.

The Warning

Back inside the city walls, Silvia paced the war room, her mind reeling.

Dragon leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "They could've killed us. They didn't."

Tarren shook her head. "They were testing us again."

Silvia clenched her fists. "No. This time, they sent a message. They don't see us as enemies."

Garrik frowned. "Then what do they see us as?"

She exhaled. "A threat. And threats are meant to be eliminated."

Silence followed her words. The weight of what they faced settled over them.

The creatures weren't mindless. They were planning. Watching.

Tarren hesitated. "Then we can't wait for them to make the first move. If they're studying us, they'll anticipate our strategies."

Dragon nodded. "Then we need an unpredictable plan. Something they don't expect."

Silvia looked at her team, determination hardening her features. "Then we change the rules of engagement. We take the fight to them."

Garrik chuckled darkly. "I was hoping you'd say that."

As the first rays of dawn broke over the city, Silvia knew that the time for waiting was over.

The war wasn't over.