Nerion stepped forward beside Keal. "If we leave them here, it's only a matter of time before the other soldiers find them. The ones we defeated will soon be missed."
Mika nodded in agreement. "Let's bring them to our camp. They'll be safe there for now. Once the patrols move on, they can continue their journey."
Elandra and the others agreed. Keal, too, knew that leaving the refugees behind would mean certain death.
"All right," Keal said firmly. "We'll bring them to our camp. When the danger passes, they must leave—and they cannot tell anyone about us."
"And what about the bodies?" asked Torgul.
"Let's hide them beneath those rocks so they won't be discovered out in the open," Keal suggested.
They made their decision and escorted the terrified refugees back to their camp. Once there, Nerion reinstated the concealment barrier.
The survivors thanked them in hushed, weary voices. Mika asked if they were hungry; modestly, they declined. Elandra didn't hesitate—she gave each a bowl of food and a glass of water.
"Unutay, Kiro," Keal instructed. "Scout the area. Watch for more patrols."
They nodded and slipped among the rocks outside the camp.
The little girl from the village approached Mika, eyes shining with admiration. "You're very strong. Where are you from? You look so... different. Can you save my father? Those bad men took him."
Mika met her gaze gently. "Tell me about your father. Why did they attack your village?"
Before the girl could answer, her mother called her back. "I'm sorry. She didn't mean to intrude."
"She's not intruding," Mika reassured her.
The woman lowered her gaze in shame. "We're sorry for dragging you into this."
Nerion joined them. "Why was your village attacked?"
The woman took a steadying breath. "After our old king died, his son ascended—he's a cruel tyrant. He declared war on our neighbors, saying they attacked our villages. It was a lie. Our own king hired mercenaries. Our army prevailed, but many good men died. When the truth came out, part of the army rebelled. The king had them arrested or killed. Now... civil war rages."
Keal listened, his heart heavy. The story felt uncomfortably familiar—suppression for standing against authority.
"We should help them," Mika murmured to Nerion.
But Nerion shook his head. "Our mission forbids interference in internal conflicts of other worlds."
Outside, on watch:
Kiro froze, eyes narrowing. "Unutay! Soldiers—eastward!"
Unutay nodded calmly. "I see them too. Go back and warn Keal. I'll keep watching."
Kiro slipped away, then Unutay caught him. "Wait... there are more coming from another direction."
Kiro looked. "So many... Have they found the bodies?"
Unutay remained tense. "They're dangerously close."
Kiro nodded and quietly returned to camp. Torgul noticed him instantly.
"What's wrong? Where's Unutay?"
"He's watching the soldiers—they're closing in!" Kiro replied panic rising.
Keal arrived. "How many?"
"Seven from the east... and at least eight more from the south!"
"Everyone, ready arms!" Keal commanded. They drew their weapons.
"Mika, turn into a mouse and see if more troops are hiding nearby," Keal ordered. "Kiro, stay with the refugees. Protect them."
Mika transformed into a small mouse and disappeared into the dark. The rest quietly slipped out—but at Unutay's spot, they found nothing but empty ground.
"Where is Unutay?" Keal frowned. He looked to Nerion and Torgul. "Do you see him?"
Both shook their heads. Something was off.
Torgul paused, listening. A sound behind him. He raised his axe—but froze. Out of the shadows, Unutay appeared, lightly panting.
"Unutay?!" Keal rushed forward. "Where have you been?"
"The soldiers from the east... they spotted Kiro. I took them out—before they could follow."
Nerion frowned. "Alone? Without being seen?"
Unutay nodded, breathing hard. "Their eyes were on Kiro. I came from behind—one by one. They never saw me."
The group exchanged impressed, incredulous looks. Silently taking down seven soldiers, without leaving a trace? Impossible.
Mika sprinted in, serious. "I've spotted the group from the south—nine behind a large boulder. And behind them... at least sixty more, gathering."
Nerion stepped forward. "They'll pass right by our camp. If they discover the fallen… "
"It's over," Keal finished grimly.
"What if we slip back into camp and stay hidden?" Keal offered.
"Or," Torgul interrupted, "we strike first while they don't expect it."
"Then we actively interfere in this world's affairs," Nerion warned. "That breaks our mission—"
"Have we not already?" Elandra cut in softly.
Keal looked to Nerion. "What other options do we have?"
Nerion said nothing, teeth grinding. Keal nodded.
Suddenly, a cry echoed—near the fallen soldiers.
Torgul raised his axe. "They've found the bodies."
"Prepare yourselves!" Keal ordered. "Mika—how far are the main forces?"
"Roughly a kilometer," she replied in a small voice.
"Good. Then we act now."
He addressed his team, voice calm and clear: "Torgul, flank them from the left. Unutay, from the right. I'll go head-on. Nerion, Elandra—once we're set, launch your spells. We must strike before they can react."
They all nodded, melting into the darkness to take positions.
Nerion raised a hand—an ember of fireball streaked through the night, slamming into the first soldier. Simultaneously, an Elandra's lightning arrow pierced another's throat. Before the others could respond, Torgul leapt in, cleaving one in two.
Keal dashed into the fray—dodging a blow and stabbing one soldier in the side. A second soldier fell to a simultaneous clone strike.
Unutay moved like a shadow, blade flashing—another fallen by silent decapitation.
Elandra fired deadly shots. Nerion unleashed a blinding flash that scattered the remaining foes.
The vanguard was completely wiped out.
"Well, that was quick," Torgul muttered, wiping his axe.
Keal turned to Mika. "Where's the rest?"
"South—about 800 meters, forming behind those hills."
"Facing them head-on would spell our end," Nerion said bleakly.
Keal nodded slowly. "Then we must divide and plan."
Keal turned to the others.
"Mika – fly behind the enemies and draw their attention. Once they're distracted, we strike."
"Elandra, Nerion – support us from a distance with your spells."
Torgul hefted his axes onto his shoulders. "Understood."
Unutay gave a silent nod, his eyes already locked on the battlefield.
Mika spread her arms as her body shimmered with light and shadow. Wings grew from her back, and with a powerful flap, she rose into the air. Higher and higher she climbed until she circled behind the enemy formation.
A deafening roar tore through the silence – Mika had transformed into a dragon-like creature. Her voice shook the ground beneath them.
The soldiers flinched, some stumbling backward. At that moment, Nerion's fireballs and Elandra's magical arrows shot out from cover. Lightning struck the earth, explosions shattered the enemy line.
"Now!" Keal shouted.
Torgul, Unutay, and Keal burst from their hiding spots. The chaos offered no clear target – and that was their greatest advantage. Torgul spun his twin axes in a deadly dance, cutting through the enemy like grass. His raw strength allowed no resistance.
Unutay glided between them – fast, precise, a shadow dancing between light and death. His blade left only silence behind.
Keal focused on every movement – no wasted swings, no unnecessary effort. He moved like flowing water – deadly, controlled. No opponent could withstand his sword.
Then Mika crashed into the fray. She hurled enemies through the air, crushed their defenses with claws and crushing blows. The enemy line collapsed – they stood no chance.
Minutes later, it was over. The ground was littered with fallen foes. Keal turned, scanning the dust-filled air.
"That... was all of them?" he murmured.
Nerion stepped beside him, scanning the surroundings with a sharp gaze. "That wasn't sixty. More like... thirty at most."
"Mika?" Keal raised an eyebrow.
She landed heavily beside them, breathing hard, and shrugged. "I was pretty sure there were more."
Just then, Keal's communicator crackled to life.
"Keal!" Kiro's whisper came through, urgent. "Our camp... it's surrounded! I see soldiers everywhere. They're walking between the rocks like they're searching for something. They haven't found us yet – but that could change any second!"
The group froze.
"Damn," Keal muttered. "The second group... they moved on. Without us noticing."
He looked around at his team.
"We have to go back. Now!"