Chapter 67 – Shadows Within Shadows
The night air was thick with mist as Lin Xue and her small team slipped silently through the dense forest bordering the Veiled Commander's territory. Each step was deliberate, every breath measured to avoid detection. They moved like ghosts, shadows within shadows, their mission clear but perilous.
"Remember, this is no ordinary scouting," Lin Xue whispered, her eyes sharp beneath the hood of her cloak. "We must find the source of the Veiled Commander's new magic—and if possible, a way to stop it."
The men and women beside her nodded, their faces tense but resolute. Among them was a young sorcerer, Mei, whose fledgling powers shimmered faintly with nervous energy.
As they neared the enemy encampment, eerie blue flames flickered along the outer fences, casting unnatural light on the twisted banners that marked the Veiled Commander's domain. The air hummed with dark energy, a palpable sense of dread pressing down.
Lin Xue signaled for the team to halt. From their vantage point, they saw a massive structure rising beyond the tents—a dark tower of jagged stone pulsating with ominous runes.
"It's a source of power," Mei whispered, eyes wide. "A wellspring of the Veiled Commander's magic."
Lin Xue's jaw tightened. "If we destroy it, we cripple his strength."
They crept closer under the cover of darkness, avoiding patrols and traps set by enemy scouts. Every moment was a test of nerves, every shadow a potential threat.
Inside the tower, Lin Xue caught glimpses of chanting figures—warlocks weaving spells, their voices a low, rhythmic drone. In the center, an orb of swirling dark energy pulsed like a heartbeat, feeding the tower's power.
Suddenly, a sharp cry rang out. Mei stumbled, narrowly avoiding a trap that sprang from the ground. Lin Xue moved swiftly, pulling her back to safety.
"We must hurry," Lin Xue urged. "If we delay, reinforcements will come."
With careful precision, they set charges at key points around the tower's base—ancient glyphs and structural supports etched with powerful magic. The runes glowed brighter, sensing the threat.
As they retreated, the charges detonated in a thunderous roar, shaking the earth. Flames burst from the tower, and the pulsating orb shattered, sending waves of dark energy scattering into the night sky.
But their victory was not without cost. Enemy forces converged swiftly, forcing Lin Xue's team into a desperate fight through the encircling darkness.
Back at the imperial camp, news of the mission's success was met with cautious hope. The destruction of the tower weakened the Veiled Commander's magic—but it also revealed a darker truth.
"His power is fragmented," Jinhai explained. "But he has other sources, hidden deeper. This war will not end easily."
Yanyue's resolve only deepened. "Then we must be relentless. Every victory counts."
In the quiet moments before dawn, Lin Xue stood alone on a hill overlooking the camp, the weight of their mission pressing on her. The shadows they fought were not only without, but within—and the war for the empire's soul had only just begun.