The dust had barely settled when the acrid stench of burnt flesh, cordite, and scorched metal hung thick in the jagged air.
Yet, amidst this chaos, an eerie silence enveloped the battlefield.
Soldiers moved with disciplined precision, their armor glinting under the harsh light,a testament to their recent struggle.
They were alive, and that alone stiffened their backs; however, joy was absent from their expressions.
As they retracted their helmets, pale faces streaked with sweat surveyed the ground they had fought so hard to claim.
Arthur stepped down from the armored truck with a calm demeanor that belied the turmoil around him.
His boots sank into the cracked earth as his sharp eyes scanned for threats.
Every member of his family's personal guard instinctively turned toward him, checking their rifles and gear without needing a word from him,his mere presence reminded them why they followed him.
"Casualties?" Arthur's voice sliced through the quiet.
