The forest darkened as Alucard, Garret, Seraphina, Jasper, and a handful of Ironwood hunters made their way toward the ridge. The silence of the forest was unnerving, only broken by the occasional rustle of wind through the thick canopy. The Ironwood hunters moved like shadows, blending effortlessly into the surrounding trees. Alucard kept his eyes sharp, sensing the weight of the task before them.
Reyna had not sent any of her best fighters, just a few scouts to guide them through the densest parts of the forest. She still wasn't fully convinced they could pull off this mission. Alucard felt the pressure of proving themselves not just to her, but to the Ironwood hunters who held the key to rallying more allies in the fight against the sorcerer.
Jasper's voice was barely a whisper as they approached the edge of the ridge. "There. The outpost."
The sorcerer's forces had constructed a small encampment along a narrow stretch of land. The camp was hidden in a valley surrounded by cliffs, an easily defensible location. Alucard saw the darkened tents and smoldering campfires scattered throughout the clearing. Patrols of armored soldiers roamed between the tents, their movements methodical and disciplined.
"We'll need a plan," Garret said, crouching behind a tree and scanning the area. "Charging in blindly will get us killed."
Seraphina moved up beside him, her eyes narrowing as she took in the enemy positions. "There's a guard rotation every few minutes. If we time it right, we can slip in during the changeover. Take them out quietly before they realize what's happening."
"I'll take the archers on the perimeter," Seraphina continued. "Their vantage point is the biggest threat if things go wrong."
Garret nodded. "Good. Alucard, Jasper, and I will hit the main camp. Take out as many as we can quietly before they raise the alarm."
The Ironwood scouts crouched low, listening to the plan but saying nothing. They were watching, waiting to see if this group of strangers could truly handle the task ahead. Failure wasn't an option.
Alucard's heart pounded in his chest, but he focused on the task. The memory of his village's destruction fueled his determination. This camp represented just a small piece of the sorcerer's dark army, but every battle won chipped away at the enemy's hold on the world.
"We move when the moon dips behind the clouds," Garret said quietly. "That'll be our window."
The minutes passed in tense silence, everyone waiting for the moment to strike. Alucard gripped the hilt of his sword, his eyes locked on the camp below. The moon slowly began to drift behind the thick clouds, casting the forest into deep shadow.
"Now," Garret whispered.
They moved as one, slipping through the trees with deadly silence. Seraphina broke off to take out the perimeter guards, her bow already in hand. Alucard, Garret, and Jasper crept toward the main encampment, their movements fluid and purposeful.
The first soldier never saw Alucard coming. His sword flashed in the dim light, slicing through the air and ending the guard's life before he could make a sound. Jasper followed suit, quickly dispatching another. They moved through the camp like ghosts, taking out each enemy in swift, silent strikes.
But as they neared the center of the camp, a shout rang out.
"Intruders!"
The alarm was raised.
Alucard's heart skipped a beat, but there was no turning back now. The quiet assault had turned into an all-out fight for survival. Soldiers poured out of their tents, weapons drawn, as the small band of hunters prepared for the inevitable clash.