Chapter 11 - Chapter 11 – Into the Shadows

The battlefield was chaos—a tangle of gnarled trees, broken carts, and scattered remnants of the raid. Smoke curled from smoldering debris, carrying the acrid stench of blood and charred flesh.Veer ducked behind a fallen tree, panting hard. His shield, absorbing kinetic energy, flickered and hissed as arrows thudded against it. Ashish crouched beside him, fists glowing faintly, body radiating raw, stony power."Stay low," Veer muttered, scanning the clearing. Sharp eyes caught subtle movement—calculated steps of orcs reorganizing in the underbrush.Ashish grunted, fists tightening. "They've taken advantage. We can't just sit."Veer nodded. "We move carefully. Cover each other."The quiet boy shifted slightly, hand hovering over a device strapped to his belt. His black eyes locked with Veer's."Don't rush," he said softly, voice edged with command. "Every step counts."Veer cracked a faint smile. "Glad you're finally talking."The boy gave no reply, but his stance subtly shifted. Survival could unlock even the tightest lips.Moving cautiously through the ruined forest, they used fallen trunks and rocks for cover. Ashish led when Veer signaled, taking hits from traps and debris without flinching. Veer calculated paths, while the quiet boy subtly manipulated gravity—rolling rocks to block narrow trails, flinging debris at pursuers.Hours passed in tense synergy. Veer admired how Ashish's strength, the boy's precision, and his own energy manipulation meshed to keep them alive.At a narrow clearing, they paused, gasping."Something's wrong," Veer whispered.The quiet boy's eyes narrowed."They've been herding us." His hand gestured slightly, gravity shifting faintly around boulders. "We're heading into a trap."Ashish's gaze sharpened. "Then we strike first."He charged, fists blazing, breaking a trap that would have ensnared them.Veer surged behind, absorbing the kinetic backlash, redirecting it in a pulse that knocked lurking orcs back. The boy stayed behind, guiding the terrain with gravity tricks—tripping and disorienting pursuers.For a fleeting moment, victory flickered.But the forest seemed to hold its breath.A low, guttural growl reverberated through the trees.Enhanced orcs emerged—taller, faster, smarter than any they'd faced. Their eyes glowed with strange energy, crude markings pulsed across their green skin.Veer's heart sank. "These aren't scouts."Ashish tensed beside him. "We're not ready for this many."The quiet boy's lip twitched. "We hold until cover."There was none.The enhanced orcs charged as one, war cries echoing loudly.Veer raised his shield, bracing for impact. Ashish's stone-like form shimmered brighter. The boy twisted gravity, shifting foes off balance, but numbers overwhelmed them.Veer's heart raced—fear and resolve burned. He met Ashish and the boy's eyes."We survive. Together."In that moment, the three charged, blazing with power.They fought not just for survival, but for the future of the disaster zone.