All Chapters of THE RELUCTANT WARBORN: Chapter 31
- Chapter 40
70 chapters
Chapter 31 – Rallying the Forces
They reached the foothills of the stronghold mountains by dawn.Kael called a halt. Eighty fighters against ten thousand wasn't just bad odds. It was suicide. They needed more people."There's a settlement three miles east," Vincent said, checking maps. "Independent fighters. Mercenaries who don't align with any faction. They might help.""For a price," Hayes added."Then we'll pay it." Kael looked at their supplies. They had weapons. Artifacts. Information. "We have things they want. Let's negotiate."The settlement was built into the mountainside. Rough buildings. Defensive walls. People who'd chosen to stay out of faction politics.They were stopped at the gate by armed guards."State your business," one demanded."We need to speak with whoever's in charge," Kael said. "It's urgent.""Everyone's business is urgent. What makes yours special?"Kael activated his gauntlet slightly. Just enough for blue light to show. "Because I'm Kael Draven. And in two days, the Seven Lords are going
Chapter 32 – The First Alliance
The message came at midnight.A small faction called the Crimson Hand wanted to meet. They claimed to have fifty fighters willing to help. But they wanted assurances. Guarantees. Protection after the battle."It's too convenient," Lyra said, reading the message. "They show up the night before we attack?""Could be genuine," Vincent offered. "Word's been spreading. People are scared."Kael studied the message. Something about it felt wrong. The timing. The wording. The fact that they specifically asked to meet with him alone."I'll meet them," he decided. "But not alone. Lyra, you're with me. And Astrid, position yourself where you can watch. If this goes bad, I want backup."They chose a neutral location. An abandoned quarry two miles from their camp. Open ground. No cover for ambushes.The Crimson Hand arrived exactly on time. Fifteen people, led by a man who introduced himself as Drake. He was tall, muscular, with a scar running down his left cheek."Kael Draven," Drake said, extend
Chapter 33 – Ambush at Dawn
Kael woke to the sound of explosions.He rolled out of his bedroll as his tent collapsed around him. Fire, smoke and screams. The camp was under attack."Everyone up!" he shouted, activating both artifacts. Blue light cut through the smoke.Figures poured into the camp from all sides. Too many to count. They wore mixed faction colors. Covenant, order and shadow faction. All attacking together with perfect coordination."How did they find us?" Lyra appeared beside him, blades already drawn."Doesn't matter!" Kael deflected a burst of gunfire with an energy shield. "We need to organize a defense!"But the camp was chaos. People running in all directions, tents burning and supplies scattered. The attack had caught them completely off guard.Kael spotted Vincent trying to rally fighters near the command tent. He ran toward him, cutting through enemy soldiers with precise strikes."Where's Hayes?" Kael shouted over the noise."Don't know! Communications are down!" Vincent fired at approach
Chapter 34 – Secrets of the Ancestors
The enemy army stopped just outside weapon range.They weren't attacking. Just watching and waiting."What are they doing?" Lyra asked, scanning the ridgelines."Psychological warfare," Vincent said. "Making us wait. Building fear.""Or buying time," Kael's father added. He'd propped himself against a rock, still weak but conscious. "The ritual. They're waiting for the alignment. They want to capture you alive, take you to the stronghold."Kael studied the enemy positions. His father was right. This wasn't an assault formation. It was containment."They've got us pinned," Hayes observed. "Can't advance. Can't retreat. Just wait until they're ready.""Then we use the time." Kael turned to Cole. "Can you access any of their communications? Figure out what they're planning?""I'll try." Cole worked his equipment. "But they've upgraded their encryption since last night. It'll take time."Time they didn't have.Kael walked to where they'd stored supplies. Most had been lost in the camp att
Chapter 35 – The Rival Returns
They broke through the containment line with brutal efficiency.Kael led the charge, artifacts blazing. The enemy forces weren't expecting a direct assault. They scattered, trying to regroup.By the time they organized a response, Kael's people were already past them, running toward the stronghold.They made it three miles before the real opposition appeared.A force of two hundred soldiers blocked the mountain pass ahead. Professional, and organized. Led by someone who knew what they were doing.Kael raised his hand, signaling a halt. His people stopped, weapons ready.The enemy forces parted.Cassius walked through the gap.He looked different. Stronger. His black armor had been upgraded, more crystals embedded in it. More power radiating from him."Hello again, Draven," Cassius called. "Miss me?""Not particularly." Kael activated both artifacts. "Get out of my way.""Can't do that. I've been ordered to stop you. Or die trying." Cassius smiled. "Though this time, I'm betting on opt
Chapter 36 – Betrayal Within
Kael closed the book and tucked it inside his jacket.The seventh tier. The complete sacrifice. He'd deal with that knowledge later. Right now, they had to survive.He emerged from the vault to find Lyra fighting.Three Shadow Faction soldiers had found their position. Lyra held them off, but barely. She was exhausted, her movements slower than usual.Kael activated his artifacts and ended the fight quickly. The soldiers went down without getting up."How did they find us?" Lyra gasped, breathing hard."I don't know. This passage was supposed to be secret."They heard footsteps above. More soldiers are coming."We need to move," Kael said. "Regroup with the others."They ran back through the passage, climbing toward the surface. But something felt wrong. The soldiers had found them too easily. Know exactly where to look.They emerged near where they'd left the others.The defensive position was in chaos. Their people were under attack from multiple directions. But not from external fo
Chapter 37 – Siege of Ironhold
Kael's message broadcast across all channels.Every communication device at the stronghold received it. Every soldier heard his voice. Saw the evidence he'd compiled. The documents from the naval base. The records of experiments. The truth about the Seven Lords.For five minutes, the stronghold went silent.Then chaos erupted.Some soldiers stopped their preparations. Started questioning orders. Others fought to maintain control. The ritual formation began to collapse."It's working," Vincent said, monitoring their communications. "At least a third of their forces are refusing to participate.""That's not enough," Hayes countered. "The other two thirds are still committed. The ritual can proceed with reduced numbers.""Then we hit them now," Kael decided. "While they're disorganized. Before they can adapt."He gathered his remaining forces. One hundred twenty fighters are still capable of combat. Against several thousand. But those thousands were now divided, confused and fighting amo
Chapter 38 – Shadows in the Ranks
Kael woke to pain.Every part of his body screamed. He tried to move and couldn't. Restraints held him down."Easy," a familiar voice said. "You've been out for two days."His vision focused. Lyra sat beside him, bandaged and exhausted but alive."What happened?" Kael's voice was barely a whisper."You drove the First into the gate. It collapsed. Pulled him through to the other side." She helped him drink water. "The ritual failed. The convergence broke. We won.""At what cost?"Lyra's expression darkened. "Thirty dead. Twice that wound. Vincent lost his left arm. Hayes is in a coma. And you nearly burned yourself out completely."Kael tried to sit up. Failed. "The First?""Gone. Trapped on the other side of the gate. Or dead. We don't know." She adjusted his pillow. "But the other Six Lords are still out there. And they're not happy.""Where are we?""Safe house. Twenty miles from the stronghold. Your father coordinated the evacuation while you were fighting." Lyra stood. "Speaking o
Chapter 39 – The Lost Artifact
Kael decided to wait before confronting Lyra.Better to watch her. Learn who she reported to. And use the connection to find the Architect.But he didn't get the chance.The attack came at dawn.Not a full assault. A targeted strike. Precise and surgical.Kael woke to alarms. He grabbed his weapons and ran toward the commotion.The armory was on fire. People rushed to contain it. In the chaos, he saw figures in dark gear moving through the smoke.Not Shadow Faction. Not Covenant. Something else."Thieves!" someone shouted. "They're after the artifacts!"Kael's blood went cold. He ran toward his quarters where he'd stored the gauntlet and bracer when he slept.Too late.His door hung open. Inside, his room was ransacked. The case where he kept the artifacts sat empty."No!" Kael activated his senses, trying to track the thieves.There. A group of five moving fast toward the perimeter. Carrying something wrapped in cloth.Kael chased them. His body still ached from the stronghold battle
Chapter 40 – The Warborn Challenge
Kael stared at Lyra and Marcus Chen standing in the vault doorway."How long?" he asked quietly."Since the beginning," Lyra admitted. "Before I even met you. The Architect recruited me two years ago. Trained me. And place me in your path.""Everything was a lie.""Not everything." Her voice cracked slightly. "The fighting. The friendship. That was real. But my mission was always to watch you. Report your progress. Guide you where the Architect needed you to go.""And steal my artifacts.""No. That was Marcus's addition. The Architect wants you alive. Functional." Lyra looked at Marcus. "He went rogue. Decided the artifacts were too dangerous for anyone to possess."Marcus shrugged. "The Architect is playing a long game. I'm playing a practical one. Draven is too unstable. Too powerful. Better to neutralize him now.""By taking tools you can't even use?" Kael gestured to the artifacts. "They're bonded to my bloodline. They'll kill you if you try.""We'll see about that." Marcus walked