The jungle clearing was quiet but alive with tension.Two hundred members stood in formation — four divisions of fifty.

  Strike Unit.

  Scout Unit.

  Defense Unit.

  Support Unit.

  At the front stood Orion.

  Calm. Steady. Watching every face.

  “Listen carefully.”

  The murmurs stopped at once.

  “In the coming days, we move from this place.”

  A wave of seriousness spread across the group.

  “The soldiers of Aqualis are searching harder than before. Their scouts are getting closer.”

  He paused.

  “They think they are hunting us.”

  His eyes sharpened slightly.

  “They are wrong.”

  A few fists tightened.

  “From tonight, patrols will increase. Day and night. No one walks alone. Strike Unit stays ready at all times.”

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  His voice was not loud.

  But it carried strength.

  “They have more men than us.”

  Silence.

  “But numbers do not win wars.”

  He looked at all two hundred of them.

  “Skill wins wars.”

  A small murmur of pride moved through the crowd.

  “They fight because they are ordered.”

  “We fight because we choose to.”

  Energy began rising.

  “If they bring more soldiers—”

  His tone grew firmer.

  “—then we defeat more soldiers.”

  Now voices burst out.

  “Yeah!”

  “For the Revolution!”

  “Leader!”

  Orion raised one hand.

  The noise slowly settled.

  “Stay disciplined.”

  “If you panic, you fall.”

  “If you hesitate, your comrade falls.”

  The air turned sharp.

  “Remember this.”

  “They have quantity.”

  A faint fire appeared in his eyes.

  “We have quality.”

  The clearing erupted.

  “Our Leader!”

  “Glory to the Aqualis Revolutionary Group!”

  “For freedom!”

  Their voices echoed into the jungle night.

  Orion did not smile.

  He only looked toward the dark trees.

  Because he knew—

  The enemy was close.

  Later that night.

  The jungle was silent.

  Moonlight slipped between branches, creating pale lines across the ground.

  Kael walked along the outer patrol route.

  Alone.

  Other Strike Unit members were stationed in different areas. Some hidden in trees. Some watching from shadows.

  All alert.

  Kael’s thoughts were heavy.

  Thalrion…

  Destroying that man was not just part of the revolution.

  It was personal.

  A faint metallic sound broke the silence.

  Kael stopped immediately.

  Between two trees—

  Something reflected the moonlight.

  A small flash.

  Not natural.

  His hand tightened around his weapon.

  He lowered his body slightly, ready to fight.

  The forest went still.

  Then—

  A sharp sound cut through the air.

  Something fast came toward him.

  A large blade attached to a thick chain swung straight at his neck.

  Kael raised his weapon just in time.

  Clang!

  The impact shook his arms.

  Sparks flashed in the dark.

  The force pushed him back several steps.

  The chain pulled back into the shadows with a heavy rattling sound.

  Kael’s eyes narrowed.

  That strength.

  That weight.

  This was not a normal soldier.

  From the darkness, he heard metal scraping softly against wood.

  Then—

  A calm voice spoke.

  “So… you’re the one causing trouble.”

  Kael stood firm.

  The night had just changed.

  And this was only the beginning.