Chapter 16: Tactics in the Shadows
Dawn had not yet arrived, but the warehouse was already scorched with the remnants of the night's battle. Le Wai leaned against a steel beam, catching his breath. The enemy had retreated—for now—but the scars of the fight remained.
"We can't keep reacting," Le Wai said, wiping blood from a cut on his hand. "We need a plan."
The figure beside him nodded, scanning the area. "Agreed. They're not just attacking—they're studying us, learning our patterns."
Le Wai's mind raced. Every encounter had been a test: gauging his reflexes, measuring his strengths, probing for weaknesses. "Then we turn the test against them," he said, determination solidifying in his chest.
They moved through the city, analyzing each previous attack, mapping out possible ambush points, and noting the enemy's behavior. Le Wai realized the patterns weren't random—they were almost ritualistic, designed to lure him into confrontation while revealing information about his abilities.
Hours passed, and the first hints of daylight began to pierce the horizon. Le Wai crouched on a rooftop, looking down at the streets below. "We need to force them into a corner," he said. "Make them commit, make them reveal themselves."
The figure nodded. "And we prepare contingencies. We can't underestimate them—they're stronger than anything we've faced."
Le Wai's gaze hardened. He felt a flicker of frustration but also clarity. The enemy had provoked him into a reaction before, but now, he would control the battlefield. He would anticipate their moves, predict their strategies, and strike at the right moment.
As they watched the city wake, a shadow moved across a distant rooftop. Le Wai's eyes narrowed. The game had begun again.
"We wait for the signal," he said quietly. "And when it comes… we hit harder than they expect."
The wind whispered through the streets, carrying the promise of confrontation. Le Wai felt the tension, the anticipation, the knowledge that the next battle could define everything.
He was ready.