The journey toward Lord Su’s remaining strongholds took longer than expected. Each day brought new challenges—treacherous terrain, unpredictable weather, and skirmishes with pockets of Lord Su’s scattered forces. But Charlie’s determination remained unwavering. The stakes were high, and every battle, no matter how small, was a step closer to victory.
They moved under the cover of darkness, traveling mostly by night to avoid detection. Charlie’s thoughts often drifted to the dragon, the enormous creature they had faced and destroyed. But it had only been a part of Lord Su’s larger plan. Now, without the dragon’s influence, they had the chance to strike decisively, but they could not afford to let their guard down.
As they neared their first target, a supply depot located in the hills, Charlie held a quick meeting with his commanders and scouts. The plan was simple but dangerous: infiltrate the depot, destroy the supplies, and prevent Lord Su’s forces from regrouping.
“We’ll split into two groups,” Charlie explained, pointing to the map laid out before them. “The first will move in from the west, drawing attention away from the main entrance. The second group will sneak in through the north and target the supply caches. We’re not here to fight—we’re here to cripple them.”
Tim nodded, his expression serious. “You’ll have to move fast. The minute they realize what’s happening, they’ll retaliate with everything they have.”
Charlie’s gaze hardened. “We’ll be ready. Everyone stay sharp.”
The soldiers prepared quickly, securing their weapons and checking their gear one last time. The tension in the air was palpable, but Charlie felt a sense of unity among them. They had fought side by side through countless battles, and they were ready for whatever came next.
As the plan went into motion, Charlie’s group moved stealthily through the darkness, their movements synchronized. The closer they got to the supply depot, the more the adrenaline surged through his body. This was the moment—if they succeeded, they would cripple Lord Su’s forces. If they failed, it could mean the end of their campaign.
Charlie’s heart raced as they approached the depot. The structure was well-guarded, but the first part of their plan had worked. The enemy’s attention was diverted, giving them the window they needed. They moved swiftly through the shadows, evading patrols and slipping past the main guards.
They reached the supply caches within minutes, but just as they began their work, the sound of an alarm rang out.
“Shit!” Jax cursed, eyes wide with realization. “They’ve spotted us!”
Before they could react, the first wave of enemy soldiers appeared, emerging from the shadows with alarming speed. Charlie gritted his teeth and drew his sword. “Fight our way out. Protect the supplies!”
The battle was brutal. Lord Su’s soldiers were well-trained, and they fought with viciousness. But Charlie and his comrades were faster, more determined. Each strike, each counter, brought them one step closer to their goal.
Jax fought beside Charlie, his movements quick and deadly. “We can’t hold them forever!” Jax shouted over the clash of weapons. “We’ve got to finish what we came here for!”
Charlie’s eyes flicked to the supply caches. He could see the crates stacked high, filled with food, weapons, and ammunition. It was critical they destroy everything.
“Get the explosives!” Charlie yelled. “Now!”
Tim’s group, stationed at the north side, had already begun to set the charges. As the first explosions rang out, the depot shook, sending shockwaves through the ground. The enemy soldiers, now in full retreat, had no choice but to scatter.
Charlie, his chest heaving, moved to help the soldiers finish planting the final charges. Just as he turned to make his way back, a loud roar pierced the night. It wasn’t the sound of Lord Su’s forces—it was something far worse. A dark, rumbling growl that sent shivers down his spine.
“What was that?” Jax asked, looking over at Charlie with a mix of confusion and fear.
Charlie’s eyes narrowed. “Get ready. Something’s coming.”
They had no time to prepare. In an instant, the trees around them rustled, and a shadow flitted across the ground. From the distance, a massive figure emerged, its wings spanning the sky. The ground trembled beneath its feet, and the night air filled with the heavy beat of its wings.
Another dragon.
Charlie’s heart skipped a beat. Lord Su had more than one.
But this dragon wasn’t like the one they had fought before. Its scales were a deep crimson, its eyes glowing with a violent fire as it circled the camp. This was a different beast, a more dangerous one.
“Move!” Charlie shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “We can’t fight that thing here. Get to the trees—use the terrain!”
The soldiers scrambled, retreating into the woods as the dragon let out a deafening roar. Charlie’s mind raced. They had just broken Lord Su’s grip on one of the dragons, and now, another one had appeared. The beast was no mere weapon—it was a force of nature.
The dragon swooped down, sending a blast of fire through the forest. The trees ignited instantly, and the heat was unbearable. Charlie and his group dashed for cover, their bodies moving on instinct as the dragon’s flames scorched the earth behind them.
“We need a plan,” Tim said, his voice low, as they took cover beneath the thick trees. “We can’t run from this thing forever.”
Charlie’s mind was working fast. He knew they couldn’t fight the dragon directly—not without proper resources. But there had to be a way to turn the tables. They couldn’t afford to lose this fight.
“Distract it,” Charlie said, eyes lighting up with a plan. “I’ll get close enough to plant another charge near its weak spot—its underbelly. If we can land a hit there, we can take it down.”
Jax looked uncertain but nodded. “It’s risky. But we don’t have any other choice.”
With the plan set in motion, Charlie sprinted toward the clearing where the dragon hovered, its massive form blocking the moonlight above. The dragon’s fiery gaze locked onto him, and for a moment, Charlie felt his blood freeze. But then he focused, remembering his training, remembering his purpose.
He dodged the first wave of fire, using the trees for cover as he closed in on the dragon’s underbelly. The ground shook as the dragon landed, its claws sinking deep into the earth. Charlie crouched, heart racing, and planted the charge with shaking hands.
“Now!” Charlie shouted, signaling to his comrades.
Tim and Jax distracted the dragon, using their weapons and agility to keep it off balance. The dragon snapped its jaws, trying to reach them, but they kept moving, staying just out of its reach.
Charlie pressed the detonator, and with a violent explosion, the dragon let out a deafening roar. The charge hit its target—the weak spot on its underbelly. The dragon staggered back, its wings flailing in desperation as the beast fell to the ground, convulsing in pain.
“We did it!” Jax shouted, as they watched the dragon collapse, its body crashing against the earth with an earth-shaking thud.
But their victory was short-lived. Lord Su’s forces were regrouping, and they knew they couldn’t stay long. The camp was destroyed, the supply depot in ruins, but they had struck a crippling blow against Lord Su’s power.
“We need to move out,” Charlie said, chest heaving from the adrenaline. “Get back to camp. We’ve weakened him, but the war’s not over. Not by a long shot.”
As they retreated into the forest, Charlie couldn’t shake the sense of foreboding that lingered. They had won a battle, but the war was far from over. Lord Su would return, and when he did, it would be with even more fury.
But Charlie had no intention of losing. Not now. Not when so much was at stake.
He would fight. And he would win.