Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: The Scout’s Warning

Three days after Tate's exile, a scout from the Eclipsion Guard returned, bloodied and gasping. His name was Kaden, a 22-year-old with the Ability to move silently—perfect for scouting. He collapsed into Jax's arms, his leg shredded by Wraith claws. "They're coming," he whispered. "A horde—bigger than Portland. Led by two Wraith Kings. Heading straight for us."Panic rippled through the armory. The Guard had barely recovered from the last battle; they were low on ammo, and half their members were still injured. Lila rushed to Kaden, cleaning his wound with antiseptic and wrapping it in bandages. "He'll live," she said, glancing up at Elias. "But we don't have much time. The horde is 48 hours out."Elias called an emergency council meeting. Nova spread a tattered map of Portland on the table, pointing to a cluster of warehouses on the city's edge. "We can't defend the armory—it's too exposed. These warehouses have thick walls, and there's a loading dock we can block with trucks. We'll set traps—runes to slow the Wraiths, tripwires for explosives."Jax nodded. "I'll split the Guard into two teams—one to fortify the warehouses, one to scavenge for ammo and explosives. Mia, you'll lead a small group to evacuate the civilians to the basement. Lila, set up a field infirmary there."Elias leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the map. "I'll go scouting. I need to see the horde—how big they are, how fast they're moving. With Teleportation, I can get in and out without being seen."Mia grabbed his hand, her eyes wide. "No—what if you get caught? Two Wraith Kings, Elias. You can't fight them alone.""I won't fight," he said, squeezing her hand. "I'll observe. We need information to win." Nova handed him a small rune stone. "This will hide your energy signature from the Wraiths. If you're in trouble, crush it—I'll sense it."Elias slipped the stone into his pocket, activated Teleportation, and vanished in a flash of violet light. He reappeared a mile outside the city, where the stench of rot and Void energy hung thick in the air. In the distance, he saw them—a black tide of Wraiths, stretching as far as the eye could see. At the front, two massive figures loomed: Wraith Kings, one with bones like obsidian (the same breed he'd defeated before), the other with bones glowing crimson, its claws dripping with acid.He teleported closer, hiding behind a collapsed building. The crimson King let out a roar, and the horde accelerated. Elias's Danger Sense (a faint tingle, borrowed from Mia's proximity) screamed. He crushed the rune stone, teleported back to the armory, and stumbled into the council room. "They're 36 hours out," he gasped. "Two Kings—one with acid claws. The horde is 5,000 strong, at least."Nova's jaw tightened. "We need a new plan. 5,000 Wraiths—our traps won't hold them forever." Elias closed his eyes, focusing on the system. He had 300 System Points saved. [Use 300 System Points to Unlock: Energy Barrier.][Ability Unlocked: Energy Barrier. Host may create a temporary shield to block attacks. Duration: 30 minutes. Cooldown: 1 hour.]He opened his eyes, resolve hardening. "We'll hold the warehouses. My Energy Barrier will buy us time. Nova, your runes—can you amplify the barrier?"Nova smiled. "I can do better than that."