### **Chapter 15: Facing the Storm**
The night air was thick with the scent of smoke, the ever-present buzz of tension hanging over the battlefield. Kieran stood at the head of a small, carefully selected group of fighters, their faces set with grim determination. This was it. The moment of truth. The mission that would either give them a glimmer of hope or dash it entirely.
"We move out in five minutes," Kieran said, his voice steady but carrying the weight of the decision he had made. His soldiers, all veterans in their own right, nodded in silence, eyes focused on their leader. There was no question in their minds—Kieran's plan was their only chance to buy the others time.
A group of Chimera Beasts, those monstrous creatures that had been at the frontlines of the enemy assault, loomed in the distance, and it was these creatures that Kieran and his squad would target. Their mission was simple but dangerous: strike the heart of the enemy's formation, disrupt their operations, and force them to split their forces, buying precious time for Riven's main force to regroup and reinforce the walls.
Kieran looked over his shoulder briefly, meeting the eyes of each of his comrades. He could see the uncertainty in their gazes, but there was something else, too—respect. They trusted him. They knew he wasn't the type to ask them to do something he wouldn't do himself.
A young soldier, barely in his twenties, stepped forward. "Kieran," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "We're ready. Let's do this."
Kieran nodded, offering a reassuring smile. "Stay sharp, stay focused. We'll make it through this, together."
With a final glance at the rest of his squad, Kieran turned, motioning for them to move. The silence of the night was broken only by the crunch of boots against the earth and the rustling of the trees as the group made their way toward the enemy's rear flank. The plan was simple: strike fast, strike hard, and vanish before the enemy had time to respond.
They moved through the darkness, their formation tight, weapons drawn. Kieran's heart pounded in his chest, but it wasn't fear that drove him—it was the weight of responsibility. If they failed, everything they had fought for would fall apart. There was no turning back now.
Minutes passed, and the first sign of the enemy's presence appeared—movement in the distance, the flicker of torches and the sound of creatures growling in the shadows. Kieran motioned for his group to halt, signaling them to spread out. The Chimera Beasts, half-man, half-monster, stood in the middle of a clearing, their eerie, glowing eyes scanning the darkened forest.
Kieran's breath caught in his throat. The beasts were larger than anything they had seen before. Their sinewy bodies were covered in thick, matted fur, and their mouths dripped with anticipation. There were four of them—enough to deal significant damage to their forces if left unchecked.
"On my mark," Kieran whispered. "We strike fast, aim for their eyes. They'll be blind before they know what hit them."
The group readied their weapons, bows pulled taut and swords gripped tightly in their hands. Kieran took a deep breath and, with a single motion, raised his hand. "Now!"
The squad erupted into motion, charging forward with the precision of soldiers who had fought together countless times before. Arrows flew through the air, striking one of the Chimera Beasts directly in the eye, while others aimed for its chest. The creature howled in pain, thrashing wildly as the group descended upon it, hacking at its thick hide.
For a moment, it seemed like the battle might be over before it had even begun. The beasts were strong, yes, but they were disoriented, vulnerable. The squad fought with brutal efficiency, taking down two of the monsters in quick succession.
But as the last of the Chimera Beasts fell to the ground, a low growl rumbled from the depths of the forest. The ground beneath them trembled. Kieran's heart sank as he turned to look behind them, only to see an even larger creature emerging from the shadows. This one was different—its eyes burned with an unnatural fire, and its massive, muscular body was covered in scales as black as night.
"Ambush!" Kieran shouted, his voice rising above the chaos. The group was surrounded, trapped between the new threat and the dark forest. There was no escape now.
Without hesitation, Kieran drew his sword, the steel glinting in the dim light. "Fall back!" he barked, his voice cutting through the panic that was beginning to set in. "We need to regroup—keep moving!"
The squad turned, retreating in a controlled chaos, but the Chimera Beast that had appeared wasn't content to let them escape. It charged, its massive claws slashing through the air, forcing the group into a desperate scramble.
Kieran was the last to turn, ensuring that the others were clear before he sprinted after them, but the creature was faster. It closed the gap in seconds, slamming its body into Kieran's side. He was thrown to the ground, pain exploding through his ribs as he struggled to catch his breath. Blood poured from a gash in his side where the beast's claws had raked across his flesh.
He gritted his teeth, pushing himself to his feet. "Keep going!" he shouted, but his voice was ragged. "I'll hold it off!"
The squad hesitated for a moment, looking back, but Kieran's eyes—fierce and unyielding—told them everything they needed to know. He wasn't giving up. They couldn't afford to hesitate.
Reluctantly, they ran.
Kieran stood alone against the Chimera Beast, his sword raised high. The creature snarled, its burning eyes locked onto him with murderous intent. He was badly injured, his movements sluggish, but he couldn't afford to let this thing catch up with the rest of his squad. They had to survive.
With a roar, the creature lunged, its claws slashing through the air like lightning. Kieran barely managed to sidestep, but the attack still grazed his shoulder, the force of it sending him stumbling backwards. His vision blurred, and the pain in his side worsened, but he couldn't stop. He couldn't let them down.
Kieran forced himself to focus, raising his sword just in time to parry another strike. The force of the impact nearly knocked him to his knees. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his head swam with dizziness. He needed to end this quickly, but the beast was relentless.
It attacked again, faster this time, its claws aiming for Kieran's throat. In that moment, everything seemed to slow down. The beast's glowing eyes were all he could see, and the ground beneath his feet seemed to tilt. His body screamed in protest, but Kieran gritted his teeth and swung his sword with all his remaining strength.
The blade struck true.
With a final, deafening roar, the Chimera Beast collapsed to the ground, its body twitching as it died. Kieran staggered back, his legs giving way beneath him. He collapsed to his knees, blood streaming from his side and his shoulder, but he managed to stay conscious. He had done it. The creature was dead.
For a moment, everything was still.
But that stillness was shattered when Kieran heard a voice in the distance—a voice calling his name. It was faint at first, but growing louder.
"Kieran! Kieran!"
He tried to lift his head, to call out, but his body refused to respond. His vision blurred, the edges of his consciousness growing darker with each passing second. As he drifted into unconsciousness, the last thing he remembered was the sound of his comrades' voices calling for him.
And then… everything went black.
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**End of Chapter 15**