🔥 Chapter 41 — Infiltrating the Hub
Night had fully blanketed the eastern territory, and Kael and Rhyne crouched at the edge of the forest overlooking the hub. The structure glimmered faintly with green magical currents, the wards pulsing rhythmically as if alive. Every beat was a challenge they had to navigate carefully.
Rhyne whispered, "This is the heart of their operation here. One mistake, and the entire network could be alerted."
Kael extended the Ember, threads of fire weaving silently ahead. "Follow me closely. The Ember senses the wards and highlights weak points. Step into the light of its guidance, and we can bypass the majority of defenses without alerting the hub."
They moved through shadows, Ember threads gently manipulating the flow of magical energy. Minor guardians patrolled the perimeter, unaware as Kael redirected residual currents, creating illusions of empty ground and false pathways. Rhyne slipped past the guards, striking silently when necessary, leaving no trace of their presence.
Rhyne's eyes narrowed. "The wards here are synchronized with the core. If we trigger one out of rhythm, the alarm spreads instantly."
Kael nodded, Ember threads spiraling around his hands. "We work in rhythm. Every pulse of energy we send is measured. We disrupt gradually, never abruptly, until we reach the core."
As they approached the inner chamber, the glow of the hub's crystal intensified. Veins of green energy pulsed outward, casting eerie shadows on the walls. The air hummed with power, heavy and almost sentient.
Kael whispered, "This is it. The core controls the hub's defenses and communication. Disable it, and the hub is ours."
Rhyne exhaled sharply, gripping his sigil blade. "Then we do it carefully. One misstep and the King will know exactly where we are."
Kael extended Ember threads toward the crystal, sensing every fluctuation, every ward, every pulse. "Steady… we work with it, not against it. We destabilize slowly, methodically, until the hub collapses under controlled conditions."
Outside, the forest lay silent, waiting. Inside, Kael and Rhyne moved with deadly precision, preparing to strike the next decisive blow against the King's eastern stronghold.