Already In Motion

The clearing was eerily silent, save for the distant sounds of battle echoing through the jungle. The air was thick with tension as Somchai stepped into the center, his gaze fixed on the figure standing atop a fallen tree. She was a shadow against the moonless sky, a silhouette of deadly confidence.

Alia—the Desert Viper—dressed in black tactical gear, her posture sharp and predatory. Her eyes locked onto his, a gleam of cruel amusement flickering behind them.

“So, the Iron Crane finally shows himself,” she sneered, her voice a low, venomous hiss. “I wondered when you'd crawl out of the shadows.”

Somchai’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. Every muscle in his body tensed, ready for the confrontation he had long anticipated. He stepped forward, his voice calm but resolute.

“Your time is up, Alia. This land… these people… they’re not yours to take.”