Chapter 15: First Strike
Night fell quickly, swallowing the city in darkness. Le Wai moved silently across the rooftops, the cold wind whipping against his face. The messages had led him here—to a deserted warehouse at the edge of the district.
The figure from before stayed close, scanning the shadows. "This place is a trap," they warned. "Be ready for anything."
Le Wai nodded. His instincts screamed danger, and he felt the familiar surge of adrenaline. Every sense sharpened, every movement measured.
Suddenly, shadows erupted from the corners of the warehouse, twisting into forms more solid and threatening than before. Le Wai struck immediately, his weapon slicing through the first wave of attackers.
The figure beside him fought with equal precision, moving like an extension of Le Wai's own instincts. Together, they pushed through the darkness, yet for every shadow they destroyed, two more seemed to take its place.
Amidst the chaos, a deep, commanding voice echoed through the warehouse. "Le Wai… you've finally come."
Le Wai froze. The voice was familiar, yet distorted, almost otherworldly. He scanned the shadows, searching for the source. A figure stepped forward—tall, cloaked, radiating power. This was no mere scout. This was the one behind the attacks.
"Who are you?" Le Wai demanded, holding his weapon steady.
The figure laughed, a sound that sent shivers down his spine. "Names are irrelevant. What matters is that you've finally arrived at the beginning of your true test."
The shadows around the figure writhed, forming weapons, spikes, and clawed hands. The air itself seemed to bend, responding to their presence.
Le Wai exchanged a glance with his ally. "We fight together," he said, determination hardening in his eyes.
"Yes," the figure beside him nodded. "Or we die trying."
The first strike came from above. Le Wai dodged and countered, the clash of steel and shadow ringing through the warehouse. Every move demanded precision, every strike carried life-or-death consequences.
The enemy laughed again, faster and more unpredictable than anything Le Wai had faced. But amidst the storm of attacks, a strange thought solidified in his mind: this was only the beginning.
The real battle—the one that would define him—had just begun.