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Home / Fantasy / THE RELUCTANT WARBORN / Chapter 13 – The First Artifact
Chapter 13 – The First Artifact
Author: Jules
last update2025-12-13 19:55:58

Kael's fist connected with the first soldier's chest.

Blue energy exploded on impact, sending the man flying backward into two others. They went down in a tangle of limbs.

"Left side!" Rajan shouted.

Kael spun. Three more soldiers rushed him from the trees. He ducked under a swing, drove an elbow into someone's ribs, and swept another's legs.

Lyra was a blur of motion beside him, her blades flashing in the dim light. Rajan moved with calculated precision, taking down anyone who got too close.

But there were too many.

For every soldier they dropped, two more appeared. The Shadow Faction's robed figures hung back, watching, not participating. Just observing.

Testing him.

"We can't hold them!" Lyra gasped, back to back with Kael.

"The sanctuary!" Rajan pointed. "Back inside! We can bottleneck them at the door!"

They fought their way back into the ruins, Kael covering their retreat with bursts of energy from the gauntlet. Once inside, Rajan slammed the heavy door shut and barred it with a
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