The journey back to the Ogre stronghold was relentless. Every mile felt like a battle against time itself. The weight of the evidence they carried—proof that General Solana of the Human Empire was in league with K’s agents—was heavy, and Alex knew it was the key to stopping the war before it could start.
But K wasn’t going to make it easy.
As CODE pushed through the mountain passes, Alex and his team were on constant alert. K’s elite assassins had already tried to stop them in Aurelia, and Alex had no doubt they would strike again before they reached the Ogres. The air was thick with tension, and every shadow felt like it was watching them.
“We’re not far now,” Rogan said as they crested a ridge overlooking the valley that led to the Ogre stronghold. “But we need to stay sharp. K’s not going to let us walk in unchallenged.”
Betsy had her bow drawn, scanning the terrain for any signs of movement. “He’s going to hit us again. It’s just a matter of when.”
Drax gripped his hammer tightly, a grim smile on his face. “Let him come. We’ll smash through whatever he throws at us.”
Alex remained focused, his mind racing through possible scenarios. They had the evidence, but that didn’t mean the Ogres would listen. The Warchief was proud and eager for battle—he would need more than just words to convince him to hold off on the attack. And if K’s agents had infiltrated the Ogres’ ranks, as Rogan suspected, there was no telling how deep their influence went.
Luke, as always, was the silent sentinel. His calm demeanor was a source of reassurance for the team, even as the storm of war swirled around them. “Verum,” he said quietly, his single word a reminder that the truth they carried was their greatest weapon.
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K Strikes Again
As they descended into the valley, the tension in the air grew thicker. The path narrowed, and the mountains on either side loomed high, casting deep shadows across the rocky terrain. It was the perfect place for an ambush.
And that’s exactly what it was.
Without warning, dark figures emerged from the shadows, their forms barely visible in the dim light. K’s elite assassins had found them again, and this time, they weren’t holding back. The air crackled with dark energy as the assassins moved with inhuman speed, their blades gleaming in the fading sunlight.
“They’re here!” Betsy shouted, loosing an arrow that flew straight into the chest of one of the assassins. But the figure barely flinched, the wound quickly closing as dark magic pulsed through its veins.
Alex drew his sword, summoning his shades in an instant. “Stay together! We can’t afford to be separated!”
Drax roared as he charged forward, his hammer swinging with deadly force. The ground shook as he slammed it into the nearest assassin, sending the figure crashing into the rocks. But more were coming—too many to count.
Rogan darted between the shadows, his daggers flashing as he parried a series of rapid strikes from one of the assassins. “These guys are stronger than the last group!” he called out. “K’s upped the ante!”
“They’re feeding off his magic!” Alex shouted, his sword clashing with another assassin’s blade. His shades surrounded him, their dark forms striking out at the attackers, but the assassins seemed almost immune to pain, driven by an unseen force. “We need to cut them off from their source of power!”
Betsy, already in position on a nearby ledge, fired a series of arrows aimed at the assassins’ backs. “We’ll have to fight our way through them! No time to waste!”
Luke, standing firm in the midst of the chaos, raised his shield and channeled his healing magic, a soft glow surrounding the team as they fought. “Verum,” he said again, his voice steady and strong.
Despite the overwhelming odds, CODE fought with everything they had. The battle raged on, the clash of weapons and the hum of dark magic filling the valley. But for every assassin they struck down, more seemed to take their place, and the path to the Ogre stronghold was growing longer with each passing second.
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“We’re not going to make it at this rate!” Rogan shouted, his daggers flashing in the dim light.
Alex gritted his teeth, his mind racing. They couldn’t afford to be delayed—not when the fate of the fourth floor hung in the balance. And that’s when the realization hit him.
The assassins weren’t just trying to kill them. They were stalling.
“They’re slowing us down!” Alex shouted, his sword cutting through the chest of an assassin. “They don’t care if we win this fight—they’re just trying to keep us from getting to the Ogres in time!”
Betsy’s eyes narrowed as she fired another arrow. “Then we need to break through—now!”
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The Breakthrough
With renewed urgency, Alex summoned more of his shades, their dark forms swirling around him like living shadows. He could feel the energy pulsing through him, the raw power of his Shade Master abilities growing stronger with each passing moment. The glitch in his class gave him more power than he could fully comprehend, but now wasn’t the time for restraint.
“From darkness, you are born,” Alex whispered, the words filled with power as his shades surged forward, tearing through the ranks of the assassins. The force of their attack was overwhelming, and for the first time, the assassins faltered.
The break in their defenses was all CODE needed.
“Go!” Alex shouted. “We’re pushing through!”
Drax roared as he charged forward, his hammer shattering the ground beneath the assassins’ feet. Betsy’s arrows flew with deadly precision, and Rogan moved like a shadow, striking down any enemy that stood in their way. Luke’s healing magic kept them on their feet, even as the assassins’ blades cut deep.
The battle was fierce, but CODE was stronger. With a final surge of power, they broke through the assassins’ ranks, leaving the dark figures crumpled in the dust behind them.
“We did it,” Rogan said, his breath ragged as they sprinted toward the Ogre stronghold. “But they’re not going to give up. K’s not done with us yet.”
“We don’t have time to worry about that,” Alex replied, his eyes fixed on the stronghold ahead. “We need to get this evidence to the Warchief—before it’s too late.”
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The Ogre Stronghold Under Siege
When CODE arrived at the Ogre stronghold, they found the city in chaos.
The Warchief’s army was mobilizing, preparing for war. War drums echoed through the streets, and Ogre warriors rushed to and fro, gathering their weapons and armor. The air was thick with the smell of burning torches and the sound of clashing steel. The stronghold was preparing for an all-out assault on the Humans, and there was no time to lose.
“We’re too late,” Betsy said, her voice filled with dread. “They’re already preparing for the attack.”
Alex’s heart sank. The war they had worked so hard to prevent was about to begin.
“No,” he said, his voice firm. “We’re not too late. We have the proof. We can still stop this.”
The team made their way through the crowded streets, pushing past Ogre soldiers and civilians alike. As they neared the Warchief’s war room, they were stopped by a group of Ogre guards.
“Halt!” one of the guards shouted, his massive axe blocking their path. “The Warchief is not to be disturbed!”
“We have evidence that could stop this war!” Alex shouted back, his frustration boiling over. “Let us through, or everything you’ve worked for will be destroyed!”
The guard hesitated, his eyes flicking to the others. After a tense moment, he stepped aside. “Make it quick.”
CODE rushed into the Warchief’s war room, where the massive figure of the Warchief stood over a map of the Human territories, his generals gathered around him.
“What is the meaning of this?” the Warchief growled, his eyes flashing with anger. “We are preparing for battle, and you come here with interruptions?”
“We have proof,” Alex said, stepping forward and placing the coded message on the table. “Proof that General Solana has been working with K’s agents. She’s been manipulating your war with the Humans from the start.”
The Warchief’s eyes narrowed as he took the message, his massive hands unfolding the parchment. His generals gathered around, their expressions dark as they read the coded words.
“This…” the Warchief began, his voice filled with disbelief. “This cannot be.”
“It is,” Rogan said, his voice steady. “We’ve been tracking K’s agents for weeks. They’ve infiltrated both the Ogres and the Humans, pushing for war. If you attack now, you’ll be playing right into K’s hands.”
The Warchief was silent for a long moment, his eyes locked on the message in his hand. Finally, he looked up, his face a mask of fury.
“We have been deceived,” he growled. “K’s agents will pay for this.”
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A Fragile Peace
With the evidence of K’s manipulation in hand, the Warchief reluctantly agreed to call off the attack. The Ogre armies were halted, and messages were sent to the Human Empire, urging them to stand down. It wasn’t an easy decision—the Ogres were still eager for battle, and many of the Warchief’s generals were furious at the delay. But the truth of K’s involvement was undeniable.
“We’ve bought ourselves time,” Alex said as he and his team left the war room. “But this isn’t over. K’s agents are still out there, and they’re not going to stop until this floor is in flames.”
Betsy nodded, her eyes scanning the horizon. “We need to find the rest of K’s network. We’ve taken down one of his agents, but there’s more—hidden in both the Human Empire and the Ogre Kingdom.”
“And we’ll find them,” Alex replied, his voice filled with determination. “We’re not letting K win this.”