The night felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too still.
---
At the settlement walls—
Guards stood alert.
Weapons ready.
Eyes scanning the darkness.
---
Grik stood on the tower, arms crossed.
"…I don't like this."
---
Ruun stood below, calm as ever.
"…They'll move soon."
---
Lucian leaned against the wall, bored.
"…Good."
"I'm getting tired of waiting."
---
Karn remained silent.
But his hand rested on his blade.
---
Then—
Rai's voice echoed calmly.
"…They're here."
---
Everyone froze.
---
The next second—
BOOOOM
The outer wall exploded.
Wood and stone shattered outward.
Flames burst into the air.
---
"ATTACK!"
---
Figures rushed through the smoke.
Fast.
Silent.
Deadly.
---
Masked fighters.
Dressed in black.
Moving like shadows.
---
Grik roared.
"INTRUDERS!"
---
Lucian's grin returned instantly.
"Finally."
---
He jumped down from the wall.
Landing hard.
"COME ON!"
---
The masked attackers didn't hesitate.
They rushed forward.
Blades drawn.
---
Lucian met them head-on.
CLANG!
His sword smashed into one attacker's weapon.
The impact sent the attacker flying.
---
"Hahaha!"
"Too weak!"
---
But more came.
Surrounding him.
Attacking from all sides.
---
Lucian spun.
Swinging wildly.
Crushing two.
Knocking another back.
---
Meanwhile—
Karn moved like a ghost.
Precise.
Deadly.
One strike.
One kill.
No wasted motion.
---
Grik charged in with his hammer.
"GET OUT OF OUR HOME!"
BOOM!
He slammed the ground.
Sending enemies flying.
---
Ruun stood behind.
Watching.
Analyzing.
"…They're coordinated."
---
Rai stepped forward.
Slowly.
---
The attackers noticed him.
And stopped.
---
One stepped forward.
Taller than the rest.
Stronger.
---
"…So you're the vessel."
---
Rai looked at him.
"…You're not demons."
---
The man removed his mask slightly.
Revealing human features.
---
"…We are the Shadow Order."
---
Lucian shouted from behind,
"HEY!"
"Don't ignore me!"
---
The leader ignored him.
Eyes fixed on Rai.
---
"Our mission is simple."
---
He raised his blade.
---
"Eliminate the threat."
---
Rai's eyes didn't change.
"…You came unprepared."
---
The man smirked.
"…Did we?"
---
Suddenly—
More explosions.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
---
Multiple sections of the settlement were attacked.
Fire spread.
Chaos erupted.
---
Grik shouted,
"THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!"
---
Ruun's eyes widened slightly.
"…Diversion…"
---
The leader smiled.
"…This was never just an attack."
---
"It's a test."
---
Rai stepped forward.
Dark Dominion expanded slightly.
---
The pressure slammed into the attackers.
Several dropped to one knee.
---
"…Then test me properly."
---
The leader's smile widened.
"…Gladly."
---
He vanished.
---
Appearing directly in front of Rai.
Blade aimed at his neck.
---
SLASH!
---
Rai tilted his head slightly.
The blade missed by inches.
---
Then—
THUD
Rai's hand struck the man's chest.
Sending him flying.
---
The leader crashed into the ground.
Rolling back to his feet.
---
His expression changed.
---
"…Fast."
---
Rai spoke calmly.
"…Weak."
---
Lucian laughed loudly.
"HAHA!"
"Yeah! He is!"
---
The leader wiped blood from his mouth.
---
"…Interesting."
---
He raised his hand.
---
"Fall back."
---
The attackers immediately retreated.
Fast.
Efficient.
Gone within seconds.
---
Silence returned.
---
Fire crackled.
Smoke filled the air.
---
Grik looked around.
"…They just left?"
---
Ruun nodded slowly.
"…It was a probe."
---
Karn spoke quietly.
"…They were measuring us."
---
Lucian scoffed.
"Then they got their answer."
---
Rai looked at the destruction.
The broken walls.
The injured.
The fire.
---
His eyes darkened slightly.
---
"…No."
---
"They didn't."
---
Because now—
They had seen enough.
---
Far Away — Hidden Location
The Shadow Order leader knelt before a cloaked figure.
---
"…Report."
---
The leader spoke calmly.
"…Confirmed."
---
"The target…"
---
"…is far beyond expectations."
---
The cloaked figure smiled.
---
"…Good."
---
"Then we escalate."
---
Back at the Settlement
The fires were being put out.
The wounded treated.
The walls rebuilt.
---
But the atmosphere had changed.
---
Grik clenched his fists.
"…They attacked our home."
---
Lucian smirked.
"…Good."
---
Ruun looked at Rai.
"…What's the plan?"
---
Rai looked toward the dark horizon.
His voice calm.
Cold.
---
"…We strike back."