The air in the Twilight hideout was tense, thick with the scent of burning candles and the musty dampness of underground stone. The map of the imperial holdings was spread across the table, flickering shadows cast over its surface as Alex traced a gloved finger along their next target.
"This is it," he said, voice steady despite the weight of his words. "House Solberg's trade outpost. It's a key supply line for the empire—if we hit it, we cripple their ability to move resources."
Soren Graves leaned forward, sharp eyes assessing the strategy. "It won't be easy. Adrian Solberg plays both sides, but he won't hesitate to defend his assets. We need to be precise. Fast."
Nyssa Caelum smirked from her perch on the windowsill, absentmindedly flipping a dagger between her fingers. "Fast is what we do best."
The room fell silent for a moment. They all knew what was at stake. With each strike, they drew the empire's attention, but it was a necessary risk. Twilight had been in the shadows long enough—it was time to shake the foundation of Saint rule.
The night was mercilessly cold as they approached the trade outpost. It loomed before them, a fortress masquerading as a warehouse, flanked by imperial guards adorned in House Solberg's insignia. Alex felt his heartbeat slow as he channeled mana into his limbs, his breath misting in the darkness.
Kael Dagon, their infiltration expert, signaled from the treeline. "Two sentries at the main gate, another patrol making rounds every five minutes. There's a secondary entrance at the eastern wall, lightly guarded."
Alex exchanged a glance with Nyssa. "We go in silent. Disable the patrols, take control of the main gates, and open the way for the others."
She gave a curt nod, vanishing into the shadows. Within moments, a faint gurgle sounded—the first sentry had fallen. Alex moved in, swift and precise, his blade gliding through the air as he took down the second guard. The gate was theirs.
Soren and the rest of the strike team moved in, their movements synchronized. The warehouse doors groaned open, revealing rows of enchanted cargo—artifacts, weapons, and mana-infused supplies meant to reinforce imperial forces. The sheer amount of resources confirmed what they had suspected—House Solberg was not merely supplying the empire; they were actively preparing for war.
Then the alarms rang.
"Damn it!" Kael cursed, drawing his weapons. "They had a failsafe."
The outpost exploded into chaos as armored soldiers poured in, their eyes glowing with mana augmentation. Alex's grip tightened around his sword as a familiar figure stepped forward—Cassius Solberg, Adrian's younger brother, and an enforcer of the empire.
"You rats have grown bold," Cassius sneered, summoning a greatsword wreathed in crackling energy. "Let's see if you can back it up."
Alex exhaled, his mana surging to life as he took his stance. The battle for the supply line had begun.