The fires were still burning.
Smoke drifted across the settlement.
Broken walls.
Scattered debris.
Wounded outcasts being treated in the open.
---
Rai stood in the center of it all.
Silent.
Watching.
---
Grik slammed his hammer into the ground.
"They attacked us first."
His voice was filled with anger.
"We can't just sit here!"
---
Lucian cracked his neck.
"Yeah."
A grin spread across his face.
"Let's go crush them."
---
Ruun stood calmly beside Rai.
"…We don't even know where they're based."
---
Karn stepped forward.
"…I do."
---
Everyone looked at him.
---
Karn continued.
"Their movements. Their formation."
"They operate like hunters."
---
Rai's eyes shifted slightly.
"…Tracking type."
---
Karn nodded.
"Yes."
"They leave patterns."
---
He pointed toward the horizon.
"…Northwest."
---
Ruun narrowed his eyes.
"…Confident?"
---
Karn didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
---
Rai turned.
Decision made instantly.
"Prepare a strike team."
---
Grik grinned.
"Finally!"
---
Lucian laughed.
"Hahaha!"
"This is gonna be fun!"
---
Ruun sighed.
"…At least make a plan."
---
Rai spoke calmly.
"We move fast."
"Minimal force."
"Strike the core."
---
Karn nodded slightly.
"…Efficient."
---
Lucian shrugged.
"Or we just fight everything."
---
Ruun ignored him.
"…We go in, destroy leadership, and leave."
---
Rai nodded.
"Yes."
---
Later — Outside the Settlement
The strike team stood ready.
Rai.
Lucian.
Karn.
Ruun.
---
Grik crossed his arms.
"You better bring back something good."
---
Lucian grinned.
"Don't worry."
"I'll bring back a head."
---
Ruun muttered,
"…Please don't."
---
Rai stepped forward.
"Move."
---
They vanished into the wasteland.
---
Shadow Order Territory
Hidden between cliffs.
Camouflaged.
Silent.
---
A base.
---
Masked figures moved through the area.
Unaware.
---
Until—
---
FLASH
Rai appeared at the edge of the camp.
---
Behind him—
Lucian and Karn.
---
Ruun stepped out last.
"…No alarms yet."
---
Rai looked forward.
"…Good."
---
"Begin."
---
Lucian didn't wait.
"LET'S GO!"
---
BOOM
He charged straight into the camp.
Crashing through a wooden structure.
---
"INTRUDERS!"
---
Chaos erupted instantly.
---
Karn moved next.
Silent.
Fast.
Eliminating targets before they could react.
---
Ruun stayed behind Rai.
Observing.
"…Main building."
---
Rai nodded.
"I see it."
---
They moved.
Straight through the chaos.
---
Attackers rushed them.
---
Rai didn't slow down.
---
One enemy lunged—
THUD
Rai struck him without even looking.
The man dropped instantly.
---
Another came from the side—
CRACK
Karn intercepted.
Clean kill.
---
Lucian laughed in the distance.
"HAHAHA!"
"IS THAT ALL?!"
---
The camp was collapsing.
Fast.
---
Ruun spoke calmly.
"…Too easy."
---
Rai agreed.
"…It's a trap."
---
Suddenly—
The air changed.
---
A powerful presence descended.
---
From the main building—
A figure walked out.
Slow.
Confident.
---
Cloaked.
Masked.
But different.
---
Stronger.
---
"…So."
The figure spoke.
"You came to us."
---
Rai stopped.
"…You were waiting."
---
The figure smiled beneath the mask.
"…Of course."
---
Lucian walked up beside Rai.
Grinning.
"Finally."
"A boss."
---
Karn's eyes narrowed.
"…Strong."
---
The figure removed the mask.
Revealing sharp features.
Cold eyes.
---
"…I am the First Blade of the Shadow Order."
---
His aura expanded.
Sharp.
Deadly.
---
"…And this…"
He drew his weapon slowly.
A thin, black blade.
---
"…is where your story ends."
---
Rai stepped forward.
Unshaken.
---
"…No."
---
His eyes darkened slightly.
---
"This is where yours does."
---
The air cracked between them.
---
Two killers.
Two leaders.
---
And only one would walk away.