Part 1: Echoes of the Night
The desert slept, but inside Skull Rock there was a different pulse. In the nuptial chamber, Samael and Seraphina rested wrapped in shadows, their skin still gleaming with sweat and the swirl of energies intertwined through hours of dual cultivation and sincere passion.
The silence was almost sacred. Samael, lying with his arm around Seraphina, felt that strange peace that only comes when death and danger have become routine and, for a moment, retreat. Her breathing was soft, her silver hair spread over his chest—a small anchor in the storm.
"What are you thinking?" Seraphina asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Samael stroked her cheek, admiring the frost blooming on her skin beneath every caress.
"I never dreamed of reaching this moment," he said. "When I was locked away, I only thought about surviving. Now… I want more than survival. I want to build something no one can take away."
She turned, placing her hand on Samael's heart.
"Are you still afraid?"
"Fear never leaves," he admitted. "But now I use it. Like a blade."
Seraphina kissed him, slow and deep, and when they parted, she smiled with shining sadness.
"Promise me that, if everything goes dark, you won't forget this moment."
Samael nodded.
"It's my blood and soul oath."
A comfortable silence enveloped them, broken only by the distant hum of the defensive matrix and echoes of laughter in the distance. Outside, clan life continued: sentinels changed shifts, the pavilion lights flickered, and the air—though tense—had that touch of pure hope that only precedes great deeds.
Part 2: Preparations of Steel and Will
When dawn came, Samael was already up, dressing in silence. The morning ritual was different: instead of meditating, he paused by the chamber's natural window, gazing at the horizon of dunes and fading stars. Behind him, he heard Seraphina's sleepy voice.
"Take care of your path, dragon. The desert respects those who dare."
"And you, tend the clan's fire," he said, kissing her forehead.
He left the chamber and walked the halls, greeting the guards on duty. With each step, he felt the weight and expectation of hundreds of lives. The fear was real, but he didn't show it. The System whispered evaluations, percentages, and warnings, but he nodded in silence.
[System (for Samael only): Clan aura: High determination. Morale: Excellent. Probability of success in offensive: 74%. Risk of retaliation: high.]
In the strategy room, Kael waited in freshly polished armor, the twins seated at his side. Violeta reviewed maps, Eris sharpened her spear, both with faces marked by worry and pride.
Cedric arrived soon after, dragging a bundle of parchments with routes, formations, and resource lists.
"Patriarch, everything's ready. The infiltration and raiding teams await your signal. Scouts confirm that the Valois mine hasn't received reinforcements; most of their troops are still searching for our hideout in the opposite direction."
Elowen entered with a small box of recovery pills.
"Ration for each squad. If they lose a lot of blood, these pearls will keep them on their feet."
Samael observed them. He saw in their eyes not just a desire for victory, but the anxiety of those who know war can take them at any moment.
"Today we strike the first real blow," Samael said. "We're no longer running. Today, the desert will know that the Morningstars hunt."
Part 3: War Council
The meeting was brief, tense. Samael laid out the plan: the offensive would focus on attacking in the afternoon, when the heat forced the mine's guards to seek shelter and the shift change caused confusion. Cedric detailed hidden entrances and weaknesses in the defensive formation; Kael and Xylia would coordinate assault and cover squads.
"Don't seek glory," Samael warned, his voice firm. "Survive and bring back resources. If something goes wrong, retreat at once. No one is indispensable, except the clan."
The twins would follow Kael's orders. Seraphina and Lilith would remain in command at the base, the Matrix reinforced more than ever.
Violeta asked quietly, looking at her rapier.
"Do you think we can… kill in cold blood?"
Samael knelt before her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"There's no glory in death. But if we don't do it, there won't be a Morningstar tomorrow. Think of the future, not of hatred."
Eris nodded, squeezing her sister's hand.
"If someone takes everything from me again, they'll at least know we bled fighting."
Kael, more mature than ever before, straightened before Samael.
"Give us your blessing, Patriarch."
Samael looked at each one, feeling a wave of pride and fear, and touched the foreheads of Kael, the twins, and the chosen captains.
"May the dragon and the void protect you. Bring blood and hope."
Part 4: The Predators' March
The squad left before noon. The dunes burned under the sun, but the Morningstars moved like shadows: gray cloaks, covered faces, weapons wrapped in cloth. Cedric and two scouts led the way; Kael, the twins, and four warriors formed the core; three light squads advanced in a fan, ready to flank.
The tension was as thick as the heat. Sweat glued clothes to skin, and the air smelled of salt, iron, and the promise of battle. Silence was broken only by sighs, a boot's creak, or the distant whistle of a hungry vulture.
Cedric, always cool, murmured to Kael:
"Remember: not a single scream. If we alert the mine too soon, it'll be a slaughter."
Kael nodded, swallowing.
"Are you afraid, Cedric?"
"Only fools aren't," the strategist replied with a sad smile. "But fear keeps us alive."
Violeta moved in silence, rapier ready. Eris, her spear wrapped in bandages, looked at the clouds, hoping the storm would favor them.
[System (for Samael only): Enemy presence: 72%. Medium-level vigilance. Two sentinels with alarm runes. Reinforcement risk: low for 90 minutes.]
Samael, hidden on a distant hill, watched with the System's Eye. He monitored every movement, every chance of ambush. In his mind, responsibility weighed heavier than steel.
"Let them all come back. I don't want to bury any more of my own."
Part 5: The Assault on the Valois Mine
The mine seemed alive: torches flickered, slaves dragged carts, and Valois foremen sheltered under silk awnings. The smell of sweat, blood, and metal was thick.
Cedric gave the signal. Kael and his group slipped through the rear fissure, silent as the wind. The sentinels barely had time to turn before Violeta dispatched her rapier, freezing one's throat, and Eris drove her spear into the other's chest, sealing the scream with fire.
The first Morningstar squad pushed through the barracks, eliminating guards with precise, ruthless cuts. The second squad diverted attention, throwing small alchemical smoke bombs that confused and blinded.
Kael entered the main courtyard, dragon armor gleaming. A Valois foreman, with a patchy beard and hoarse voice, tried to raise the alarm.
"Alert! We're under attack!"
Kael intercepted him with a slash: the head rolled, and the body fell without another sound. Violeta and Eris cleared the way to the mine entrance, covering the rear.
Inside, slaves stared open-mouthed. A young man, trembling, whispered:
"Who are you?"
Kael barely responded, his voice low and fierce.
"We've come to break chains… and take what is ours."
Part 6: The Heart of the Storm
At the center of the mine, Elder Valois—a burly man with a cruel face and old scars—appeared with two champions at Transcendence Stage 7.
"Damn outcasts! For the honor of Valois, I'll crush you!" he roared, conjuring a whip of dark energy.
The battle was brutal. Kael blocked the first blow with his sword, grinding with force. Eris leapt at one champion, dodging the axe and unleashing a burst of flame to the face. Violeta moved like a specter, freezing her opponent's leg before piercing his heart.
Elder Valois, furious, unleashed a Qi wave that split the ground. Cedric, from the shadows, activated a defensive formation that absorbed the damage.
"Defense is ours!" he yelled, as his group swept the rest of the guards.
Violeta and Eris, working in tandem, circled Elder Valois. Violeta distracted him with cold thrusts, while Eris, in a synchronized move, drove her spear into his back.
The Valois's scream was lost in the mine. The few survivors dropped their weapons and begged for mercy.
Kael, panting, raised his sword.
"This mine belongs to the Morningstars. Any slave who wishes to stay may do so. Anyone who wants to leave can depart with supplies."
Morningstar morale reached its peak. The warriors gathered spirit stones, weapons, maps, and treasures. Cedric organized the looting and retreat in perfect synchronization.
[System (for Samael only): Offensive mission complete. Reward: 2000 Clan Luck points, Weapon Reforging Chest, Recruitment Chest (slaves with potential).
Warning: Reinforcements detected on the horizon. Estimated safe retreat window: 30 minutes.]
Part 7: Retreat and Oath
On the hill, Samael spotted the Valois banners approaching swiftly. The wind shifted, bringing the echo of war horns.
Samael gave the signal:
"Orderly retreat! No one left behind. Bring back everything and everyone!"
Kael covered the rear, the twins at his side, and Cedric guiding the convoy of freed slaves and treasure carts. The Morningstar squads moved as one, without panic, leaving no trace.
By sunset, the group returned to Skull Rock to cheers and tears of relief.
That night, Samael gathered the clan.
"Today, we didn't just win resources. We won courage and respect. Today the desert knows the dragon has awakened."
Laughter mingled with tears and victory. A new feeling took root in everyone: real hope.
Part 8: Echoes of Vengeance
In a Valois battle pavilion, generals argued over a bloodstained map.
"They sacked our mine!" one howled. "Where were our trackers?"
Another, face pale, replied:
"All dead. They didn't even leave the bones."
The Valois Patriarch, seated on high, clenched his fist until the goblet shattered.
"Now… there will be no more warnings. Summon the Protector. Prepare for total offensive."
In the distance, a shadow older than the desert began to move, drawn by the scent of blood and the roar of a dragon that refused to die.
End of Chapter 20