"She's back!" a guardsman yelled from the rickety watchtower, his voice cutting through the crisp evening air. The structure was barely more than a raised platform, hastily put together from logs and rope, but it served its purpose well enough. The encampment nestled within the thick forest, hidden beneath the shadows of towering pines.

  I trudged up the sloping hill, my boots pressing into the damp earth, the cold nipping at my exposed skin. The journey back from Trivoko had been long, nearly two miles of careful navigation through uneven terrain. A small clearing had provided just enough space to set up camp, and we kept it compact to avoid drawing unwanted attention. I spotted small pockets of snow clinging stubbornly to the ground, remnants of winter refusing to fade.

  A guardsman, clad in weathered armor, stepped forward as I approached, his posture tense with anticipation. "Did you accomplish your task?" he asked, his voice barely containing his eagerness.

  I reacted without hesitation, my hand striking his cheek with a sharp crack. "A mere guard has no right to question me. Did you forget I'm an officer?" My glare bore into him.

  He immediately bowed, his hands clenched at his sides. "I apologize," he said, his tone hurried. "I'm just excited for the raid tonight. I don't want anything to go wrong."

  I stepped past him, allowing a smirk to cross my lips. "Save the excitement for then," I said, my voice laced with amusement. "you'll be able to let loose."

  Three minutes later..

  The Serpent spoke, his voice smooth yet commanding. "Come in."

  I stepped forward, pushing aside the heavy flap of his tent. The space inside was far more lavish than the standard soldier’s quarters—larger, with thick carpets covering the cold ground and a sturdy wooden table set off to the side. A brazier flickered in the corner, casting wavering shadows against the canvas walls. The scent of roasted meat lingered in the air.

  He sat on a plush couch, legs crossed casually, a plate of food balanced on his knee. His relaxed posture contrasted with the aura of quiet menace that always surrounded him. I stood straight, clasping my hands behind my back as I addressed him. "Sir, I've analyzed Endo's fighting style."

  The Serpent barely paused in his eating. "Tell me about it."

  I took a measured breath before explaining. "His moniker, The Right-Handed Wraith, reveals more than you might think. He can use his left arm, but he only fights with his right. His martial arts style—the formal name, at least—is unknown to me. But I’d like to call it Force Absorption."

  The Serpent’s gaze sharpened, interest flickering across his face. I continued, "He absorbs force through his right open palm and stores it. When he wishes, he releases all that energy in a single devastating burst. Against weaker opponents, this ability is probably meaningless. But when he fights the strong..." I paused, exhaling slowly. "He could easily take them out in one blow. The strong attack him, unaware that his palm has grown accustomed to high-level force, and then—it’s over."

  The Serpent leaned back, a smile playing at his lips. "Wow, sounds dangerous."

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  "Yes, sir, it is." I replied. Deep down, unease twisted in my gut. I knew how strong Endo was... and yet...

  The Serpent continued smiling, his eyes gleaming. "It seems like I can finally test out what I've been learning."

  What?

  Five hours later..

  Me and my one hundred and sixteen men marched steadily up the steep hill toward Fort Nephrite. The towering fort loomed ahead, its stone walls weathered by years of battle.

  The enemy spotted us almost immediately. A harsh alarm rang through the air, a metallic clang that sent soldiers on the castle walls scrambling. They moved with urgency, dashing toward a small tower before emerging moments later, bows in hand. The moonlight glinted off the arrow tips as they notched them onto their strings. Black.

  I narrowed my eyes.

  Darksteel.

  I raised my voice, the command cutting through the night air. "That's darksteel. It will kill you. Dodge it."

  A split second later, the archers released. The air whistled with the deadly barrage as the dark-tipped arrows sliced through the wind. I tilted my head slightly to the side, feeling one skim past my cheek before cracking my neck.

  "Anyone get hit?" I asked.

  A soldier from the back, one of the lower ranks, called out confidently, "You underestimate us, sir. We may be mere soldiers, but we're Sun's. The minimum speed requirement to join is a hundred meters per second. Only the strongest bows in existence surpass that speed."

  A laugh bubbled from my chest. "You're so right. I'm sorry for underestimating you, soldier."

  The archers above began to hesitate, their hands no longer rushing for arrows. They had realized. None of us had been struck. That could only mean one thing—we were from Sun.

  I stepped forward, my voice commanding. "Stop! Officers, to me."

  At once, we halted a hundred feet from the fortified gate.

  Emma approached swiftly, handing me a loudspeaker. "Here, sir."

  I took it and raised it to my lips. My voice echoed across the battlefield. "Endo, come out already! We're here to take this fort."

  For a moment, silence. Then, the slow groan of shifting iron filled the night as the fortress gates began to open. A shadow emerged, stepping forward.

  A man, my height, clad in a crisp black suit. His hair was just as dark, one singular strand swaying with the wind. His lips curled into a crazed smile, his eyes gleaming with barely restrained excitement.

  "You bastards want it?" His voice rang out like a challenge. "Come take it!"

  He punched his right palm, striking it in rapid succession. The air vibrated with power. Then, in an instant, he unleashed it.

  A gust unlike any I had seen before roared toward us, tearing through the ground with the force of a hurricane. Dust and debris surged forward like a tidal wave. My men braced themselves, raising their arms to shield against the onslaught.

  I stepped ahead of them. My right arm lifted, my fingers forming a spear hand. Then, with a swift downward motion, I sliced through the force, splitting it in half. The wind howled as it diverted to the sides, crashing into the soldiers stationed on the edges. They staggered back, some knocked off their feet.

  I let the loudspeaker fall to the dirt, my voice unwavering. "Endo, your abuse ends here."

  His smile twisted into something more intrigued. His sharp gaze studied me, and then, realization flickered across his face. He pointed at me.

  "You're the Piercing Serpent, no wonder you could do that! Lucky bastard survives the assassination attempt and comes to me?! This is perfect!"

  One of his soldiers, eager and reckless, stepped forward. "Let me at him, sir!"

  Endo didn’t even glance at him. He waved his hand dismissively. "No, he’s mine." Then, turning slightly, he issued a curt command. "Send a carrier pigeon to Toda."

  His stance shifted. He dropped lower, his palm open, fingers relaxed yet ready. The air between us crackled with tension.

  "The Piercing Serpent will have his final fight!"

  I stepped forward, the energy surging through my body, my hands morphing into twin spears. My gaze locked onto his. "No, Endo," My sense of justice, clouded by joining Sun and growing accustomed to its evils, was lacking. The balled up emotions came out at once, "this will be your final night... alive!"