Chapter 204: Begin
A sudden and uncomfortable twist formed in Michael’s stomach as his eyes locked onto the advancing figures in the distance. It wasn’t just fear. It was something bigger. Something instinctive that told him the situation in front of them had already gone beyond what they had prepared for.
The pressure pressing against his chest grew heavier with every step Red took forward.
Beside him, Tobias narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening around his crossbow as his breathing slowed unnaturally. Darius shifted his stance slightly, his shoulders stiff as if bracing against something invisible.
Selene’s expression hardened, but there was a faint tension showing at the corner of her lips, while Hana’s gaze flickered for a brief second before she steadied herself again.
They all felt it.
That same quiet dread crawling under their skin.
But not all of them reacted the same way.
Rafe stood just slightly behind Michael, his posture relaxed compared to the others. His eyes remained fixed on the approaching army, but instead of tightening, the corner of his lips lifted into a faint smirk. It was subtle. Small enough that no one noticed it in the middle of the tension.
A smirk that didn’t belong on a battlefield like this. A smirk that carried a quiet, selfish anticipation.
To him, this wasn’t just a battle for survival. It was an opportunity.
An opportunity where others would fall, where chaos would consume both sides, and where he alone could walk out gaining everything he wanted.
Not Michael or Myles would win.
Only him.
The moment passed without anyone noticing.
Michael drew a slow breath, forcing the dread down as he straightened his posture. This wasn’t the time to hesitate. If he let that feeling take control now, everything would collapse before the battle even began.
"Tell everyone," he said with a firm voice as it cut through the tension around him. "The fight is about to begin. Get the ranged attackers into position. Now."
The command spread instantly.
Rafe turned without a word, his earlier expression already gone as if it had never been there. Tobias and Darius moved at the same time, jumping down from the wall with practiced movements, while Selene and Hana followed, their steps quick and precise as they relayed the orders across the camp.
Within moments, the entire camp shifted into motion.
From below, figures began to emerge. Survivors that have abilities as archers, spell casters, and other long-range fighters rushed forward with their weapons already in hand as they climbed the crystal structures or moved along the elevated pathways leading to the top of the wall.
Boots struck against the smooth surface of the crystal as they took their positions. Some of them crouched low behind the edges while the others stood upright with weapons raised. Their eyes fixed on the approaching army.
Magic circles flickered faintly into existence beneath several mages’ feet, glowing softly as they prepared their spells. Bows were drawn halfway, fingers resting on strings, waiting for the signal.
The air changed. The earlier chaos transformed into sharper, controlled, and focused movements.
The words spread around the camp.
"They’re here."
"The enemy’s here!"
"Get ready!"
The announcement echoed across the camp, carried from one group to another until everyone heard it.
The effect was immediate.
The tension rose like a tightening coil. Movements slowed for a fraction of a second before sharpening again. Every single person felt it now.
This wasn’t time for preparation anymore. This was the beginning.
Beyond the wall, Red and his army continued to approach, their figures growing clearer with every passing second. The distance between both sides shrank and with it, the weight in the air became almost suffocating.
And amidst all of that, Myles and his group stood apart.
They didn’t join the rush toward the wall. They didn’t shout or move in haste. Instead. They remained slightly behind the others. Their formation was loose but ready. Their gazes fixed forward.
They were calm.
Not completely free from tension or totally indifferent to the danger. But calmer than most.
Their expressions held focus rather than panic. Their breathing was steady instead of uneven. They had already accepted what was coming.
To them, this battle was dangerous. But it wasn’t unfamiliar.
They had faced something like this before. Something worse.
And that experience showed in their behaviour.
Myles stood at the front of his group. His eyes locked onto the crystal wall that hides Red’s distant figure. His expression remained composed, but a faint sharpness lingered in his gaze.
"This is going to be bad," he thought.
But his stance didn’t waver.
Behind him, his companions stood ready with confidence settled between them.
They didn’t need to say anything because nothing was left to be said.
The distance between both sides finally closed.
Red slowed his steps first. Then he stopped.
Just a few meters away from the towering crystal wall, he stood there in silence. His head tilted upward as his gaze climbed along the translucent structure until it found its target.
Michael.
For a brief moment, neither of them moved or said anything.
Then Red smiled.
It wasn’t a normal smile. It stretched slowly across his face, carrying something raw and unrestrained beneath it. Feeling of excitement and hunger. Something far too eager for what was about to happen.
"Michael," Red called out, his voice rising clearly across the battlefield. "It’s been a long time!"
The sound echoed.
There was a faint distortion beneath his voice, subtle but unmistakable. A low, almost inaudible growl layered under his words like something else had spoken alongside him. Something that didn’t belong to a human throat.
Some of the people closer to him felt it immediately. A slight chill ran through them as their grip tightened unconsciously.
Up above, Michael didn’t respond.
His hand clenched slowly at his side, fingers digging into his palm as his body trembled faintly. The moment Red spoke, something inside him surged violently.
The anger he had been holding back all this time rushed up all at once. Uncontrolled and unfiltered.
In his mind, a face appeared.
Her face.
The memory came sharp and clear. The way her expression had twisted in pain. The way her voice had broken. The way everything ended in front of him while he could do nothing.
His jaw tightened.
His breathing grew heavier for a split second.
The urge to jump down from the wall, to rush forward and tear Red apart with his own hands, rose so strongly it almost drowned everything else.
"Kill him!"
The thought burned through him.
But Michael didn’t move. He forced everything down for now.
His shoulders straightened as he dragged his mind back into place. The anger didn’t disappear. It remained there, boiling under the surface. But he didn’t let it take control.
Not when everyone behind him was watching they needed him to lead.
His eyes hardened.
Without looking away from Red, he raised his hand slightly.
The word came out cold. Sharp enough to cut through everything.
"Attack!"
The command echoed across the wall.
The response came instantly.
Arrows shot forward in a sudden storm, cutting through the air with sharp whistles as dozens of bowstrings released at once. Magic circles flared brighter, and beams of light, fire, and compressed Ether surged outward, crashing down toward Red and the army behind him.
The first strike of the battle came fast. Relentless. Without hesitation.
The calm shattered completely.
War had begun.
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