In a hidden spot deep within the dark forest, a group of soldiers dressed in black gathered around the ruins of a shattered house. One of them, breathless and trembling, bowed his head before a commander standing tall amidst the debris, his gaze fixed on the lifeless bodies of their fallen comrades.
Soldier: "Commander… they're all… dead." His voice quivered as he struggled to suppress the fear crawling up his spine.
The Assault Commander, a cold and furious man, glared at the soldier. "What do you mean? The elite team we sent… annihilated?"
The soldier quickly shook his head, unable to meet the commander's gaze. "Not the elite team, commander… only the main squad."
Silence fell for a moment before rage boiled within the commander's chest. In a swift motion, he struck the soldier, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Assault Commander: "Fool! You underestimated the enemy! The former leader of the Shadow Knights is not a foe to be trifled with!" His voice thundered, causing the rest of the troops to flinch. "Did you really think you could handle Aldric Elric with just a handful of ordinary soldiers? He is a legend of the shadow wars!"
The fallen soldier winced in pain but struggled to rise, blood dripping from his lips. With a shaky voice, he tried to relay the crucial information.
Soldier: "S-Sir… it's possible that Aldric is injured… he might have been poisoned by one of our men."
The words made the Assault Commander pause, his expression thoughtful. "Poison, you say?" His eyes narrowed with a cunning gleam.
Assault Commander: "If Aldric is poisoned, his strength may be limited. This is our chance." He grinned wickedly. "We can't let them escape."
The commander then turned to face his remaining soldiers, who stood tense under his command.
Assault Commander: "Gather the elite team. Hunt them down—follow that family's trail to the ends of the earth if you must! Don't let them slip away!"
The troops moved quickly to obey, spreading out to scour the ruins for any clues. One of the soldiers noticed bloodstains on the ground, likely Aldric's, and began to track the trail.
Soldier A: "The trail leads westward into the forest, commander. They couldn't have gone far."
The Assault Commander approached, studying the tracks intently. "They're carrying two injured. Their pace will be slow."
He turned to the rest of his men, his eyes gleaming with cruelty. "Aldric may be strong, but he's weak now. We must make sure that family never reaches safety."
He barked orders to prepare his remaining forces. "Summon every elite soldier we have. We'll hunt them down like animals!"
Amidst the tense atmosphere, one of the soldiers hesitated, stepping forward with uncertainty on his face.
Soldier B: "But, commander… if Aldric is still alive, even wounded, he could be dangerous. What if…?"
The Assault Commander strode toward the soldier with a burning gaze. "There are no 'ifs'! We will strike with full force, and if necessary, we'll burn the entire forest to find them." His voice was icy, yet lethal. "Remember, Aldric may be strong, but he is not a god. If the poison has taken hold, it's only a matter of time before he falls."
The soldier nodded obediently, though the worry still lingered in his eyes. The commander raised his hand, giving his final order to the troops.
Assault Commander: "Remember, no mercy. Leave no one alive. Wipe them out, including their child. No one must know the Elric family still lives."
With vengeance and hatred fueling them, the enemy forces began to advance, following the trail left by Aldric, Mira, and Izzan. They knew time wasn't on their side, but with poison coursing through Aldric's veins, they believed victory was within reach.
Far away, in a hidden cave deep within the forest, Izzan remained blissfully unaware of the danger closing in. The atmosphere in the Aradune forest grew more ominous. A light fog clung to the towering trees, casting dark shadows that danced as if watching those who ventured down the winding path. A group of elite enemy soldiers, clad in black and blending seamlessly into the night, moved cautiously, tracking Aldric, Mira, and Izzan—the family their commander saw as a grave threat.
Soldier A: "The trail is fresh... they must be nearby," one soldier whispered, crouching down to examine the muddy ground, noticing the small footprints that might belong to Izzan.
Soldier B: "They're likely hiding somewhere in this forest. But it's odd… no sign of a camp or a fire."
The tension mounted. The soldiers felt they were drawing close, but something was amiss. A rustling sound came from the bushes, and all the soldiers instantly readied their weapons. Their eyes locked onto the source of the noise, bodies tense.
Soldier C: "Careful… it could be a trap."
Suddenly, out of the darkness, a giant beast with matted fur and razor-sharp teeth emerged. It was a "Felguard," one of the monstrous creatures native to the forest, known for its ability to smell blood from miles away. The Felguard let out a low growl, its eyes glowing red in the dark.
Assault Commander: "Stay focused! Don't let this creature distract us! Focus on the mission!"
But before the order could be carried out, the Felguard lunged at one of the soldiers with terrifying speed. Its fangs sank into the soldier's shoulder, a scream of agony echoing through the woods. Blood splattered as the others quickly found themselves in a fierce battle with the beast.
The Assault Commander growled in frustration. "Damn it! We don't have time for this!"
But the Felguard wasn't the only threat. Heavy footsteps began to rumble in the distance, followed by more growls. Weary and battle-worn, the soldiers began to panic as more forest creatures, smaller but just as deadly, gathered, drawn by the sounds of combat and the scent of blood.
Soldier D: "Commander! We can't keep this up! These monsters will kill us before we find the Elrics!"
Meanwhile, deep in the safety of the cave, Izzan sat calmly, chuckling as he played chess with Athena. The small holographic projection of Athena stood beside the chessboard, controlling the pieces with a tiny golem she had summoned.
Izzan: "Haha, Athena! You think you can win this time? Don't underestimate my chess skills!" Izzan laughed, deep in thought over his next move.
Athena: In her calm system voice, "You're rushing, Izzan. Take a closer look… my golem already has your king."
With an effortless move, Athena maneuvered the piece held by her golem, sealing her victory. Izzan stared at the board, frozen, before realizing his mistake.
Izzan: "What?! How did you…? I planned everything perfectly!"
Athena: In her amused tone, "Artificial intelligence never makes mistakes, Izzan. You still have much to learn."
They both laughed, the atmosphere light and playful, far removed from the danger lurking outside. In the corner of the cave, Aldric, Izzan's father, slept peacefully. His condition had stabilized, though his wounds hadn't fully healed. Mira, still weak, could now sit up, slowly regaining her strength.
Izzan: "Athena, you're too good at this game. Can you beat every human at chess?"
Athena: Confidently, "So far, I hold a 99% win rate. But for you, Izzan, I might offer some mercy."
Outside the cave, the scene was starkly different. The elite enemy soldiers sent to track the Elric family were now fighting for their lives against the Felguard and the forest's other deadly creatures. One by one, soldiers fell, their bodies torn apart by claws and fangs.
The Assault Commander looked desperate but still refused to give up. Slashing at one of the monsters with his heavy blade, he issued a final command to his remaining troops.
Assault Commander: "We can't let this be our end! The Elrics are hiding somewhere here. Keep pushing forward—find them!"
But as time passed, the number of soldiers dwindled. The monsters gave no mercy, attacking relentlessly. The Assault Commander looked around, his eyes burning with determination, even as they fought a losing battle.
Assault Commander: "Aldric may be wounded… but we still have time. We must find them before they can escape any further!"
Meanwhile, inside the cave, Izzan casually moved one of his final chess pieces, while Athena confidently maneuvered hers.
Izzan: "Come on, Athena. This time I'm going to win! I've studied all your moves!"
Athena: "Unfortunately, the next move isn't something you can predict. My golem will claim victory, Izzan."
Amidst their laughter and light-hearted game, the threat outside grew ever closer. The battle between the enemy soldiers and the forest creatures may have slowed them down, but it wouldn't stop them. The remaining elite soldiers, though wounded and few in number, were still determined to finish their mission.