As Luz lay unconscious in the mountain clearing, the world continued to move without him.
Far from the quiet peaks, near the dangerous shadows of Argos, Den and his team arrived at the edge of a Dark Army base.
"We're here," Den announced, halting the group.
His eyes scanned the team—eleven total, including some he hadn't worked with before.
"You," Den pointed to a boy near the back. "You're friends with Luz, right?"
The boy stepped forward and nodded. "Yeah. Name's Ino."
Den gave a quick nod. "Good. I've got a plan. We'll split into two teams. I'll lead one group. The second will be led by you—" Den turned to a young woman standing confidently with her arms crossed. "Your name?"
"Liu," she replied coldly.
"Alright, Liu. You'll take five. I'll take Ino and the healer. What's your name?"
"Elena, sir," she said softly.
"Good. Liu, take your squad and move along the west ridge. Keep it stealthy. No mistakes."
Liu smirked.. — She turned toward a quiet girl with a strange-looking instrument strapped to her back. "You. What's your name?"
"Kyra," the girl answered shyly.
"Let's move," Liu said. "Keep low. Keep silent."
---
On the West Ridge
Liu and her squad crept across tree branches and thick roots, moving like shadows. The Dark Base loomed ahead—its towers watched, its guards alert.
Liu whispered, "Too heavily guarded. We wait."
Suddenly—SNAP!
One of the boys lost balance and fell from the tree with a loud thud.
Liu's eyes widened in fury. "Idiot!"
"INTRUDERS!" a Dark soldier yelled.
Alarms flared. Guards stormed the forest.
"No choice. Attack!" Liu commanded.
The four boys on her squad charged—and were cut down in an instant.
"Useless fools," Liu hissed.
She stepped forward, inhaled sharply, and unleashed a blazing torrent of fire breath, engulfing several Dark warriors. But from behind, a shadow crept up, blade drawn.
The sword lunged toward her back—
BOOM!
A shockwave of sound blasted the enemy away.
Kyra, her massive trumpet glowing with energy, stood firm, the air around her vibrating with power.
"Go!" Kyra shouted. "Fall back!"
---
Meanwhile, Den's Side
Den's squad had reached a vantage point near the base.
"No one moves," Den ordered. "We wait for the signal."
But the signal never came. Instead, a distant explosion echoed.
Den cursed. "Those idiots! I said stealth!"
Moments later, Liu and Kyra arrived, breathing heavily, covered in dirt and ash.
"What happened!?" Den snapped.
Liu growled, "Those boys fell from the trees and alerted the base. They're dead. We barely made it."
"Damn it…"
The forest lit with approaching torches.
"They'll be on us soon. We hide," Den commanded.
---
They found shelter in a narrow cave.
"We'll rest here for now," Den said, pacing.
Liu leaned against the wall. "Forget it. Mission's blown. Let's abandon it."
Den stopped cold. "No. We don't quit. Bin trusted me. If you want to leave, go."
Silence.
Liu didn't move.
"We need reinforcements," Elena said. "Or a way to contact Biringan."
Kyra looked at her instrument. "I can send a signal... but it's loud. The Dark Army might hear it too."
Den exhaled. "We hold off. No risk yet."
---
At Biringan
A soldier approached Bin. "Sir… the recon team hasn't returned. Do you think they're still alive?"
Bin stood tall, calm. "Den is leading them. I believe in that boy. He's not his father's son for nothing."
---
Back in the Cave
Everyone slept—except Den. He sat near the entrance, staring at a crudely drawn map of the base.
There has to be a way in… a weakness…
A rustle behind him.
He jumped, hand to weapon—only to see Liu.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!" he hissed.
"Didn't mean to," Liu shrugged. "Why are you still awake?"
"I'm planning. Someone has to."
"You'll burn yourself out."
Den glanced at her, surprised by the concern. "I'll rest when we win."
She didn't argue. "Alright… just don't die."
---
Dawn
"Wake up," Den said, shaking the others. "We move."
The remaining team—Den, Ino, Liu, Kyra, and Elena—crept back toward the base, smoke still rising from the trees.
"Stay sharp," Den said. "We move on my mark."
But then—
Arrows flew.
Two of the scouts were instantly killed.
"Damn it!" Den shouted. "Regroup!"
Now only five remained.
"Ino, Kyra, Elena—circle right. Liu, with me!" Den ordered.
Ino nodded and charged forward, fists glowing with aura. He smashed through a soldier's helmet with a brutal punch, dropping enemies with swift martial arts.
Meanwhile, Den's chain sliced through the air, wrapping around throats and limbs, slamming enemies into trees.
Liu danced through fire and water—igniting flames and drowning the Dark Army in her dual-element fury.
But she wasn't watching her back.
Slash!
A sword struck her shoulder. She screamed and fell.
The enemy raised his weapon to finish her—
CLINK!
Den's chain wrapped around the blade just in time. He dashed in, stabbed the soldier, and caught Liu as she fell.
"I got you," he muttered.
Back at the regroup point—
"Elena!" Den called. "Heal her!"
As Elena knelt to patch Liu's wound, Den turned to Ino and Kyra.
"With me. We end this now."