Chapter 8: The Shadow of Pioneers
The moment seemed victorious, but little did Raven and his followers know that a far greater threat loomed in the shadows.
Unknown to them, the Duskborn faction was already weakened by internal struggles. The city's largest and most dangerous faction, the Pioneers, had orchestrated this entire situation. They had set Raven up, using the Duskborn to probe his strength and uncover his secrets. This revelation came through none other than Ezryn, whose informants were deeply embedded within the Pioneers.
Raven received this critical intelligence in a sealed message, delivered by Ezryn’s most trusted operative. As he read through it, his expression remained calm, but his eyes darkened with realization.
"I should’ve known," he thought. "This was going too smoothly."
Without wasting a moment, Raven called for an urgent meeting. Every member of his faction gathered in the hall, curiosity and tension filling the air. Khaon stood beside him, his sharp gaze scanning the room, while Kaela watched from the shadows with her arms crossed.
Raven raised his voice, commanding immediate attention.
“We were expecting a battle, but what lies ahead will be far more dangerous than we imagined.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “The battle we thought we would fight… that was nothing more than a child’s game. The real war is upon us now.”
Whispers spread through the hall, but Raven silenced them with a single glance.
“The Pioneers can strike as early as tomorrow. We have no time to waste. This will be a battle of survival, and if we fight them head-on, our chances of victory are slim.”
He let the weight of his words settle before continuing.
“There’s only one way we can win—by assassinating their leaders and dismantling their command structure.”
The hall fell into silence once again. Even the most seasoned warriors looked unsettled. Assassination was a risky plan, one that required absolute precision and unwavering resolve. But none of them questioned Raven. They had seen his instincts at work before, and they trusted him with their lives.
Raven’s gaze swept across the crowd. “I have made you fear only me, not death. You are already capable of achieving this
As they left to begin their preparations, Raven addressed the rest of his followers.
“We’ve been training hard, but it’s not enough. From this moment on, you will train as if your life depends on it—because it does. Train until you can no longer lift a spoon to eat. Push yourselves beyond your limits.”
The crowd murmured in surprise, but Raven’s unwavering authority left no room for doubt. He turned and walked toward the training grounds, Khaon following close behind.
Raven said "Khaon Gather them It's time to Talk"
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The Three Pillars
Commander Thallan was the first to enter. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his dark armor bearing the scars of countless battles. His eyes were sharp and calculating, his presence commanding attention the moment he stepped into the room. Thallan had once served as a mercenary captain, but after witnessing Raven’s power firsthand, he had sworn unwavering loyalty to him.
“The Pioneers won’t see us coming,” Thallan said with a calm confidence. “Just give the word, Sovereign.”
Raven nodded, his gaze steady. “You’ll be leading the strike force. I’ll need your tactical mind on the ground.”
The second to enter was Elaris, the strategist. A woman with piercing green eyes and a sharp intellect, she was known for her unorthodox tactics. Dressed in light armor adorned with runic symbols, she carried an air of mystery about her.
“I’ve already begun analyzing the Pioneers’ movements,” Elaris said, her voice smooth and measured. “We’ll need to exploit their blind spots and create confusion before the strike. I’ll ensure their response is delayed long enough for us to achieve our goal.”
Lastly, Varik, the assassin, appeared almost out of nowhere. A hooded figure with pale skin and eyes like a predator, Varik was the kind of man who thrived in the shadows. Few knew his true origins, but his skill in eliminating high-profile targets was undeniable.
“I’ll take care of their leaders,” Varik said in a low voice. “They won’t even know I was there.”
A Mysterious Meeting
Khaon, Kaela, the lea blacksmith and the Three Pillars stood in a circle, their eyes fixed on Raven, waiting for his command. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, yet beneath it all was a current of anticipation—a shared understanding that something monumental was about to unfold.
“This mission will decide our future,” Raven began, his voice calm but unyielding. “The Pioneers are stronger than any enemy we’ve faced so far. If we confront them directly, we’ll be crushed. Our only chance is to hit them where it hurts—take out their leaders and destabilize them from within.”
He glanced at Thallan, Elaris, and Varik in turn. “Each of you has a vital role to play. Thallan, you’ll lead our strike force. Keep the main force distracted and buy us time. Elaris, you’ll orchestrate the chaos and ensure their response is delayed. Varik, you know what to do—remove their leaders, one by one.”
They nodded in unison, their resolve clear.
Kaela crossed her arms, a sly smile playing on her lips. “Sounds like a suicide mission. I love it.”
Raven chuckled softly. “Good. Because failure isn’t an option.”
A Sovereign’s Resolve
Raven threw himself into training with relentless intensity. His movements were brutal, efficient, and unyielding. Every strike, every maneuver seemed to push his body to the brink of collapse. His muscles screamed in protest, his breath came in ragged gasps, but he didn’t stop.
The members of his Death Army stood in silence, watching in awe and disbelief. Many thought he might collapse at any moment, yet he continued. He trained harder than any of them, setting a standard none dared to question.
In that moment, a shared thought spread through the ranks like wildfire:
"He’s not just our leader. He’s our family. Our backbone."
Their admiration grew into something deeper—an unbreakable bond of loyalty. They knew that no matter how dangerous the battle ahead, Raven would always be at the front, leading them into the fray.
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The Forge
After hours of brutal training, Raven made his way to the blacksmith’s forge. His body ached, but his resolve remained unshaken. He found the blacksmiths hard at work, sweat dripping from their brows as they hammered away at weapons and armor.
“How’s the progress?” Raven asked, his voice steady despite his exhaustion.
The lead blacksmith wiped his brow and hesitated. “It’s going well, Sovereign, but… there’s a good chance the weapons won’t be ready in time.”
Raven nodded thoughtfully. “Do you have a spare hammer?”
The blacksmiths exchanged nervous glances before handing him a heavy hammer. They had heard rumors of Raven’s intense training earlier and couldn’t believe he still had the strength to stand, let alone lift the hammer.
“Are you not tired, Sovereign?” one of the blacksmiths asked cautiously.
Raven smirked. “Tired? When I first discovered my source of power, my body was in such a state that every single cell screamed in agony. My muscles burned and froze at the same time. It felt as if every second dragged on for eternity, and every part of me begged for death. But I endured.”
He lifted the hammer, feeling its weight in his hands. “That… was nothing compared to this.”
Without another word, Raven began to work. His instinct guided him, every strike landing with perfect precision. He treated the hammer as an extension of his hand, each movement deliberate and measured. The blacksmiths watched in awe as he shaped the weapons with an almost supernatural ease.
Time seemed to blur. The sound of metal striking metal echoed through the forge, a rhythm of determination and purpose.
By the end of the day, the blacksmiths stood before him, holding the completed weapons.
“They’re ready,” the lead blacksmith said, barely believing it himself.
Raven took a long look at the weapons, then nodded.
“Are they?” he asked softly, his voice barely audible.
Then, without warning, he collapsed.
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The Aftermath
The blacksmiths rushed to his side, but Khaon appeared almost instantly, his expression calm. He lifted Raven with ease, carrying him back to his quarters.
“He’ll be fine,” Khaon assured the worried onlookers. “He’s stronger than all of us combined.”
As Raven rested, his followers reflected on what they had witnessed. Their Sovereign wasn’t just a leader—he was a symbol of unwavering strength and determination. He didn’t just demand loyalty; he earned it with every action, every sacrifice.
They knew that when the time came, they would fight not just for survival but for him—the one who had always stood at the front, leading them with unwavering resolve.