Back at Skull Island, the atmosphere was completely different from the usual silence that surrounded the fortress. More than eight hundred stood across the enormous open field in organized formations, their weapons secured and armor fastened. The original eight hundred Iron Wolves had been joined by injured members who had recovered enough to fight, along with several former members of the conquered factions who had chosen to stand with them. The field was crowded with warriors, but despite their increased numbers, everyone understood the reality of what they were facing.Across the battlefield, five thousand Sovereign soldiers were preparing to march against them.At the highest point of the field, Kade stood with Victor Crane and Michael beside him. He slowly looked across the formation, studying the faces of the men who had chosen to remain.“Is this everyone?” Kade asked.Victor stepped forward and nodded. “Yes, Boss. Everyone who is ready to fight is here.”Kade’s eyes moved acro

Evening descended upon South City beneath a darkening sky, but instead of the usual calm that came with sunset, an atmosphere of fear spread through every street and district.The news had already reached every corner of the city.The Sovereign Empire had declared war on the Iron Wolves.Businesses shut their doors long before nightfall. Schools dismissed students early, and entire neighborhoods went into lockdown. Families hurried indoors, locking their gates and windows as rumors spread from one street to another. Shop owners abandoned their stalls, and even the busiest roads became strangely empty.Everyone understood one thing.Tonight, South City would witness a war unlike anything it had seen before.Far away from the city center, an enormous army marched across the roads leading toward the coast.More than five thousand men moved like a dark tide swallowing everything in its path. Their footsteps shook the ground as they advanced in perfect order, singing harsh war songs that e

On the shoreline, Victor continued watching the approaching vessels through the smoke and muzzle flashes. Suddenly, something strange happened. The front section of one of the enormous warships began opening, and a massive armored weapon emerged from within the hull. Another appeared beside it, followed by identical weapons on the second warship.Victor’s expression changed as he stared at them in disbelief.“What the hell is that?”Michael looked toward him. “Victor…”Victor’s eyes widened.“Oh no.”The Iron Wolves had expected soldiers. They had expected rifles, armored vehicles, and perhaps heavy weapons. They had prepared themselves for a land assault, but they had not expected the Sovereign Empire to bring naval artillery.“SHIELD TEAM!” Victor screamed. “GET TO THE FRONT!”The Shield Team immediately rushed forward, forming a defensive wall between the approaching ships and the rest of the army. Victor pointed toward the incoming warships as the massive guns slowly turned toward

The Striking Team surged forward, attacking in coordinated groups rather than individually. They targeted exposed Sovereign soldiers, striking quickly before immediately retreating behind the shield formation. They never stayed in one position long enough for the enemy to surround them, and every movement had a purpose. Each retreat created another opening, while every coordinated attack forced Sovereign into another disadvantageous position.Victor grinned when he realized their strategy was working.“Don’t waste your strength!” he shouted. “One strike, one kill, then fall back!”The Iron Wolves followed the command. Instead of fighting five soldiers individually, they focused their strength on one target, overwhelmed him together, and moved immediately to the next. They were conserving their stamina, controlling the battlefield, and most importantly, refusing to fight Sovereign on Sovereign’s terms.Michael suddenly leaped over the shield line, landing directly in the path of three

The commander hesitated before glancing toward the battlefield, where the Iron Wolves were still pressing the retreating Sovereign soldiers.“But, Young Master Cassian, we still have four thousand soldiers waiting. We can overwhelm them with sheer numbers. Why retreat now?”Cassian slowly turned his head toward him. The cold look in his eyes silenced the commander immediately, and the man swallowed before lowering his head.“Yes, Young Master Cassian.”He hurried toward the communication officer, and moments later, a deep war horn echoed across the battlefield.BOOOOOOM!The sound carried across the entire island, and the Sovereign soldiers immediately recognized the signal.“Fall back!”“Retreat!”“Return to the ships!”The sudden command confused the Iron Wolves. The soldiers they had been overwhelming only moments earlier abruptly turned around and began running toward the shoreline. Before Victor could understand what was happening, excitement erupted among his men.“We won!”“The