The settlement had begun to recover, though the scars of the Reaver attack were still fresh. Soldiers worked tirelessly to repair the walls and set up new defenses, their determination fueled by Billy’s rousing speech. Yet amidst the rebuilding, an unseen threat crept closer.
The Specters were already here.
---
Silent Infiltration
Night cloaked the settlement in a tense stillness. Only the occasional flicker of patrol lights disturbed the shadows. Billy sat in his quarters, poring over maps and strategies. His exhaustion was palpable, but he refused to rest.
Outside, a ripple of darkness passed undetected over the walls. The Specters moved like wraiths, their forms indistinct, blending with the night. Their armor, sleek and black, pulsed faintly with chaos energy, masking their presence from the patrols.
One paused, a spectral blade materializing in its hand as it studied the patrolling guards. With a quick, fluid motion, the Specter eliminated the closest guard, catching his body before it could fall.
Inside the command center, a chill ran down Billy’s spine. He stopped writing, his instincts screaming that something was wrong.
---
The First Strike
A sudden explosion rocked the eastern gate, throwing the settlement into chaos. Billy rushed to the scene, activating his Lord Form as he ran. Soldiers scrambled to put out the fire, their shouts filling the air.
“They’ve breached the gate!” Aelric shouted, his face grim.
“No,” Billy said, scanning the scene. “This isn’t a full assault. It’s a diversion.”
Before Aelric could respond, a scream pierced the night. Billy spun around just in time to see a soldier collapse, his throat slashed by an invisible force. Chaos energy flared, briefly revealing the Specter before it disappeared again.
“Soria! Garron! Get here now!” Billy barked into his comms.
Soria’s voice crackled through. “On my way!”
Garron arrived first, daggers drawn, his rogues close behind. “What are we dealing with?” he asked, eyes scanning the shadows.
“Assassins,” Billy said. “They’re using chaos energy to hide. Stay alert.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
---
A Deadly Game
The Specters struck with precision, targeting key figures and sowing confusion. Garron’s men clashed with one Specter, their blades barely keeping pace with the assassin’s inhuman speed.
“Knight! These things aren’t just fast—they’re reading our moves!” Garron yelled, barely dodging a blow.
Billy leaped into the fray, his chaos blade igniting the darkness. He swung at the nearest Specter, but it twisted unnaturally, evading his strike with ease.
The Specter retaliated, its blade flashing toward Billy’s neck. He blocked just in time, sparks flying as their weapons collided. Chaos energy surged from the Specter’s blade, attempting to destabilize him.
For a moment, Billy felt the chaos within him respond, threatening to overwhelm his control. He gritted his teeth, forcing the whispers into submission as he counterattacked.
“Focus on the energy signatures!” Soria shouted, arriving with her rifle. She aimed carefully and fired, the energy bolt grazing the Specter’s armor and briefly revealing its outline.
Billy seized the opportunity, driving his blade into the Specter’s core. The assassin hissed, its form dissolving into shadow as it fell.
---
A Battle of Wills
The Specters adjusted their tactics, striking from the shadows and vanishing before counterattacks could land. Billy’s forces fought valiantly, but their exhaustion from the Reaver battle was evident.
Soria provided cover fire, her shots illuminating the Specters long enough for the soldiers to respond. Garron and his rogues focused on drawing the assassins into traps, using their agility to outmaneuver them.
Despite their efforts, the Specters seemed endless. Billy faced another assassin, its movements mirroring his own. Each strike he landed was countered with ruthless precision.
“They’re not just fighting us,” Billy realized, his voice strained. “They’re studying us.”
The whispers grew louder, urging him to unleash more power. He hesitated, knowing the cost of giving in.
---
Turning the Tide
As the battle raged, Soria devised a plan. “Billy, if you can disrupt their chaos energy, it might break their stealth!”
Billy nodded, channeling his chaos energy into his blade. The whispers screamed in protest, but he ignored them, focusing on a controlled release.
With a shout, he unleashed a wave of chaos energy, the shockwave rippling through the settlement. The Specters flickered into visibility, their forms briefly destabilized.
“Now!” Billy roared.
Aelric led the charge, his soldiers striking with renewed vigor. Garron’s daggers flashed as he took down another Specter, his grin returning.
One by one, the assassins fell, their stealth useless against the coordinated assault.
---
Aftermath
When the last Specter dissolved into shadow, the settlement fell silent. Billy deactivated his Lord Form, his body trembling from the strain.
“Casualties?” he asked, his voice hoarse.
Aelric hesitated. “Twenty dead, thirty wounded. But it could’ve been worse.”
“It’s getting worse every time,” Soria said, approaching Billy. “The Shadow Lords won’t stop until they break us.”
Billy nodded, the weight of leadership heavier than ever. He glanced at Garron, who was unusually quiet. The rogue leader met his gaze, his expression unreadable.
“They’re testing us,” Billy said finally. “Next time, they’ll come with something worse.”
Soria placed a hand on his shoulder. “Then we’ll be ready.”
Billy wasn’t so sure. As he walked away, the whispers returned, louder than before.
“You need us,” they hissed. “Embrace the chaos, and no one will stand against you.”
Billy clenched his fists, his purple eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.
---
End of Chapter 48