The raid had barely ended when the first signs of retaliation appeared. At dawn, from the cliffs above the Red Fang settlement, a column of black smoke rose far in the distance. The scouts who returned carried grim news—the council had moved faster than anyone expected. Their forces were already on the march, burning villages suspected of aiding the Exiles.
Reid stood at the edge of the Red Fang encampment, the scent of smoke carried on the wind. The Bond spoke with a rare stillness, its tone almost curious. "They respond with fire. Will you answer with fire, or with fear?"
Kaela approached, her face grim. "The council wasted no time. They're making an example out of anyone who shelters us."
Lira crossed her arms, leaning against a post with a crooked smile. "Looks like they're scared. I love when they get scared."
Mara's voice cut through sharply. "This isn't a game. Those people out there are dying because of us."
Reid's jaw tightened. "Then we make sure they didn't die for nothing."
The Red Fang leader gathered her warriors, the chants of the previous night replaced by tense murmurs. "The council comes for us," she said, her voice strong. "They burn the weak to draw out the strong. They think we will hide. They are wrong."
A warrior stepped forward, his expression defiant. "We should strike them head-on. Let them choke on their own blood."
Another argued, "If we leave the settlement undefended, they'll flank us. We must hold the walls."
Kaela looked to Reid. "What's your call, Marked One? If you speak now, they'll listen."
The Bond's voice slid into his mind, cold and persuasive. "Tell them to strike first. Break their morale. Crush them where they sleep."
Reid took a breath, feeling every eye on him. "We don't wait for them to come to us. We take the fight to them—but we do it smart. Hit their supply lines, bleed them until they're forced to retreat."
The Red Fang leader's lips curved into a sharp grin. "Spoken like one of us. Then we prepare for war."
System prompt:
[Quest Updated: Counterstrike – Disrupt Council Advance]
[Optional Objective: Protect Civilians Hidden in the Outskirts]
As warriors prepared for the coming clash, Reid sat by the fire sharpening his blade. Mara sat beside him, her voice quiet. "Do you ever stop and think what this is turning you into?"
Reid didn't look up. "Someone who survives."
She hesitated, then touched his arm lightly. "Just… don't lose yourself in the process."
Lira strolled over, smirking as always, but her tone held a flicker of seriousness. "Don't worry, Mara. I'll make sure he doesn't get too dark. Or maybe I'll push him over the edge. Who knows?"
Kaela walked past, her spear in hand, pausing only to glance at Reid. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, we see if your plan works."
The Bond whispered softly, almost like a lullaby. "They worry for you. They should. Tomorrow, they'll see what we truly are."
Reid stared into the fire, the flames reflecting in his eyes. The smoke on the horizon grew thicker, creeping closer with every hour.
The following night, Reid led a small force of Red Fang warriors through the rocky canyons under the cover of darkness. The wind howled through the narrow paths, carrying the scent of dust and smoke. Every step was deliberate; one wrong move and the council scouts would spot them.
Kaela walked at his side, her spear wrapped in dark cloth to keep it from glinting. "The supply lines are ahead. We hit fast, cut deep, and vanish before they can regroup."
Lira grinned in the shadows. "Finally, something fun. I was getting bored of speeches."
Mara shot her a look but said nothing, checking her gear with practiced efficiency. The Bond's voice was unusually quiet, almost calculating. "They are cautious. You should not be. Bold strikes win wars."
Reid crouched low as they reached the ridge overlooking the caravan. Below, a long line of wagons creaked along the path, guarded by soldiers with glowing glyphs etched into their armor. Wardstones pulsed faintly around the perimeter, forming a magical barrier.
Kaela's eyes narrowed. "Wardstones. They'll shield the convoy from our first attack."
Reid studied the pattern of the stones, noticing a faint flicker between two of them. "There's our opening. Take out the one on the right, and the barrier drops."
He signaled the archers. A volley of arrows flew, striking true and shattering the wardstone in a burst of sparks. The barrier collapsed, and the Red Fang charged.
The first wave of soldiers never saw them coming. Spears struck from the shadows, cutting through the startled guards. Reid leapt into the fray, Veil Rend flaring with energy as he cut down the first defender. The Bond hissed with approval. "Good. More."
The caravan erupted into chaos. Council mages scrambled to erect new barriers, but Kaela cut them down before their spells could form. Lira moved like a phantom, slipping through gaps in the line and striking from behind. Mara stayed close to Reid, parrying blows and keeping their flank clear.
A commander with silver glyphs stepped forward, raising a staff that crackled with lightning. "You dare strike the council?" he roared, unleashing a wave of energy.
Reid slammed Veil Rend into the ground, absorbing the force before it could hit his allies. The Bond's tone sharpened, almost eager. "Take him, host. Break his will."
Reid dashed forward, clashing with the commander in a flurry of strikes. Sparks flew as blade met staff, the energy between them warping the air. With a final surge, Reid drove his knife into the commander's chest, the glyphs fading as he fell.
The Red Fang pressed the attack, overwhelming the remaining soldiers. Within minutes, the convoy was in flames, supplies seized, and survivors fleeing into the night.
System prompt:
[Objective Complete – Council Advance Slowed]
[Optional Objective Complete – Civilians Rescued from Captured Wagons.
As the smoke rose from the burning wagons, the rescued civilians—ragged and terrified—thanked them quietly. Mara knelt to comfort a frightened child, her expression softening. Lira winked at Reid, wiping blood from her blade. "Not bad, hero. You might actually live through this."
Kaela approached, pride shining in her eyes. "Your plan worked. The Red Fang see you now not just as a fighter, but as a leader."
The Bond whispered, its tone almost satisfied but carrying an edge. "Leadership, power, fear… all good things. But remember, host, the council will not forgive this."
Reid looked at the flames, his expression unreadable. "Let them come. We'll be ready."
The victory was short-lived. Two days after the ambush, the sky over Red Fang territory darkened with smoke that wasn't their own. Scouts returned with urgent reports—multiple council battalions were advancing, their war machines cutting through the forests and burning everything in their path.
Kaela stood at the center of the camp, speaking to the gathered warriors. "The council comes with numbers and fire. They seek to crush us quickly. We must prepare for a siege."
The Red Fang leader clenched her fist. "We do not cower behind walls. If they want war, they'll find it in the open."
Reid listened silently before stepping forward. "We can't fight them head-on. They'll tear through us. We need to slow them down—set traps, lure them into the canyons, and break their advance."
The Bond stirred, its voice low and calculating. "Or you could meet them in the open, take their fear and make it your own. Boldness breaks armies."
Kaela met Reid's gaze. "You've faced them more than any of us. What do you suggest?"
Reid's jaw tightened. "We strike their vanguard, cripple their machines, and vanish. Make them bleed for every step they take."
The leader nodded slowly. "Then that is what we'll do. Red Fang, prepare. Tonight, we become the storm."
As night fell, Reid led a small strike team to intercept the first column of council troops. Fires burned in the distance, lighting their path with an ominous glow. The air was thick with the scent of ash and the low hum of warded engines.
They struck like ghosts, cutting through the outer guards before alarms could be raised. Explosives planted by the Red Fang tore through the first line of war machines, sending metal and flames into the sky. Council soldiers scrambled to respond, but Reid and his team moved faster, striking and disappearing into the dark.
A commander with glowing crimson glyphs emerged from the chaos, his weapon crackling with energy. "You again," he snarled. "The council will make an example of you."
Reid's grip on Veil Rend tightened. "Try it."
Their duel erupted in a storm of sparks and energy. The Bond's voice sharpened to a hiss. "He's strong. Kill him, and take his power." Reid channeled every ounce of focus, breaking through the commander's defenses and delivering a decisive strike. The glyphs shattered, and the man fell.
The rest of the vanguard faltered, giving the Red Fang the chance to withdraw. Explosions consumed the remaining machines, forcing the council advance to halt.
System prompt:
[Objective Complete – Council Advance Delayed]
[Hidden Effect: Council Deploys Elite Units]
As they retreated through the canyons, Reid felt something strange—a pulse in the air, faint but unmistakable. The Bond's voice grew quiet, almost uneasy. "Do you feel it, host? The Maw watches. It hungers."
Kaela noticed his expression. "What is it?"
Reid scanned the dark horizon. "Something worse than the council. It's coming."
The Bond's tone hardened. "Then prepare, because when it arrives, nothing will stand."
The next evening, the Red Fang camp remained tense. The warriors sharpened their weapons under the glow of the torches, while scouts whispered about something new—elite council hunters who had entered the territory. Unlike ordinary soldiers, these were specialists trained to kill targets like Reid.
Kaela studied the scout's report by the fire. "They travel in small squads, no more than five at a time, but each one is lethal. If they find us, they won't attack head-on. They'll come for our leaders."
Lira leaned back with a sly grin. "Sounds like they want to play hide and seek. I like games where I get to do the hunting."
Mara's voice was firm. "This isn't a game. If they reach the camp, they'll kill more than just Reid."
The Bond stirred with a cold edge. "Hunters? Good. Let them come. We'll turn them from predators into prey."
Reid stood, his expression hard. "No. We find them first. If they're here, they're already watching us."
System prompt:
[Quest Updated: Eliminate the Elite Hunters]
[Optional Objective: Capture a Hunter Alive for Interrogation]
Under the cover of night, Reid led a small strike team into the forest where the hunters were last seen. The woods were silent, the usual animal sounds replaced by an unnatural stillness. Every step felt like a trap waiting to spring.
Kaela whispered, "They're near. I can feel it."
Lira's grin faded as she drew her blade. "Finally, something worth my time."
The first attack came without warning—a volley of silent arrows from the trees. One struck inches from Reid's shoulder, another embedding itself in a Red Fang warrior's chest. Figures in black armor moved through the branches like shadows, their glyphs glowing faintly.
Reid dodged another arrow, rolling into cover. The Bond hissed, almost laughing. "They think they can stalk us? Show them who stalks who."
Using Veil Step, Reid vanished from sight and reappeared behind the nearest hunter, his blade flashing. The man fell silently, his body dissolving into the underbrush. The others reacted quickly, surrounding Reid in a deadly formation.
Kaela and Lira broke through the line, their strikes forcing the hunters back. Mara's arrows whistled through the trees, pinning another to the ground. The hunters were skilled, their movements sharp and unpredictable, but they hadn't faced Reid at full force.
The last hunter lunged with a blade crackling with energy, only to be caught mid-strike by Reid. He slammed the man to the ground, pinning him with Veil Rend at his throat.
System prompt:
[Optional Objective Complete – Hunter Captured Alive]
The Bond purred with approval. "Good. Now make him talk."
Interrogation
Back at the camp, the captured hunter was bound to a post, his armor cracked and his expression defiant. The Red Fang leader circled him like a predator. "Speak. Who sent you?"
The hunter spat blood. "We are the council's will. You will burn."
Reid stepped forward, his voice low. "The next words out of your mouth decide if you walk out of here alive."
The Bond's tone slithered through Reid's mind, dark and tempting. "Let me speak through you. He will tell us everything."
The hunter's resolve cracked when Reid's eyes glowed faintly with Bond energy. "They sent more," he gasped. "Not just hunters—something worse. A weapon made to kill you."
The Bond grew eerily quiet. "A weapon? This will be interesting."
Reid glanced at Kaela. "Then we prepare for it."