The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the desolate landscape of the outskirts of the Free Territories. Dust swirled lazily in the air, remnants of the day’s heat settling into the cool embrace of the approaching evening. It was a false tranquility, a momentary lull before chaos would erupt. Here, nature seemed to mock the turmoil that brewed just beneath the surface.

  Nestled behind a cluster of rocky outcrops, the Ascendants lay in wait, their hearts racing, breaths measured, every sense heightened. The trio was poised, expertly trained to blend into their surroundings. Each member was a product of their environment, forged in the fires of conflict and loss. Jade adjusted her grip on the scope of her rifle, her striking purple eyes narrowing in concentration. The rifle felt like an extension of herself, steady and unyielding, just as she had been trained to be. The faint tremor of adrenaline coursed through her veins, but she had learned long ago to transform that energy into focus.

  “Do you see them?” Kai’s calm voice broke through the tension, barely above a whisper. His shoulder-length dreadlocks caught the fading light, framing a face that embodied determination. His red eyes, often a harbinger of the storm brewing within, remained focused on the target. He always found solace in the mission; it was a familiar dance, one that allowed him to push aside the memories of pain and loss that threatened to overwhelm him.

  “Yeah, two clicks north,” Jade replied, her voice steady, betraying none of the adrenaline that coiled tight in her chest. She squinted through her scope, zeroing in on the figures below—a pair of unsuspecting guards patrolling the perimeter of a ramshackle compound, their postures relaxed, oblivious to the predators watching them from the shadows. The guards were just “civvies,” mere obstacles in the line of duty.

  “Time to make it rain,” Kara chimed in, her voice laced with playful mischief, a stark contrast to the gravity of their mission. Her dark, slightly wavy hair flowed freely as she leaned over her weapon, dual pistols at the ready. The twinkle in her vibrant green eyes hinted at the chaos she craved, an infectious excitement that pulled at her comrades’ resolve. In her mind, she could already envision the aftermath—a glorious chaos painted in hues of gunfire and blood.

  “Let’s keep it clean, Kara. We don’t want any surprises.” Kai’s words were firm, yet he couldn’t hide the smirk threatening to break through at her playful attitude. They all understood the stakes, but Kara’s defiance made the tension palpable. Her spirit often lightened the weight that hung over them, but he also knew how reckless she could be.

  “Fine, fine.” Kara rolled her eyes, though a grin remained on her lips. She positioned herself next to Jade, waiting for the signal. The world seemed to hold its breath, time slowing in anticipation of the violence to come. As she leaned against the craggy outcrop, a shiver of exhilaration tingled down her spine.

  “On my mark,” Kai instructed, his voice steady and commanding. He scanned the horizon, absorbing every detail—the rusting fences, the flickering lights in the distance, the telltale signs of the enemy’s carelessness. It was the calm before the storm, and he reveled in it. Each mission felt different, the weight of the world resting heavily on their shoulders. Internal doubts flickered through his mind; what if this was the day things went wrong? He shook his head, focusing instead on the task at hand.

  As Kai counted down in his mind, the air shifted. A breeze whispered through the rocks, stirring the dust and sending a shiver down Jade’s spine. The feeling was akin to the anticipation of a lightning strike, powerful and electric.

  “Three… two…” Kai’s voice was a low rumble, each number punctuated with a focus that bordered on obsessive.

  “One.”

  In that instant, three shots rang out, cutting through the stillness like lightning. The guards dropped, lifeless, before they even realized they were targets. Jade exhaled, a rush of relief and exhilaration coursing through her. Each kill was a testament to her skill, a reminder of her purpose.

  “Got ’em!” she exclaimed, her voice rising in triumph, breaking the tension that had coiled tight in the air.

  “Nice shot,” Kara added, pumping her fist. “That’s your three hundredth kill, right? Way to go!” Her excitement was contagious, infusing the moment with a sense of victory, a much-needed reprieve from the weight of their reality.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Jade was stunned for a moment. Three hundred kills. A grim milestone, yet a testament to her skill and the harsh reality of their world. She had numbed herself to the pain of those she had taken down, but now, the number struck her like a physical blow. The faces of those she had slain flickered briefly in her mind, ghosts haunting her with every heartbeat.

  As Jade processed the weight of her accomplishment, Kai’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Let’s move,” he urged, snapping her back to the present. “We need to secure the compound before reinforcements arrive.”

  The trio cautiously advanced toward the compound, their senses heightened. The silence was broken only by the soft crunch of gravel beneath their boots, each sound amplified in the stillness. Jade felt the weight of her rifle pressing against her shoulder, a comforting burden reminding her of her purpose. But with every step, unease twisted in her gut, whispering doubts that she struggled to silence.

  Inside the compound, they found a small armory, a stash of weapons and ammunition. The air was heavy with the scent of gun oil and metal, a bittersweet reminder of the conflict that surrounded them.

  “Perfect,” Kara grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Let’s arm ourselves to the teeth.” She rifled through the supplies, her fingers brushing against the cold steel of guns that promised power and control.

  As they gathered supplies, a sudden commotion erupted from the main building. The sound of gunfire echoed through the compound, reverberating in Jade’s chest like a warning bell.

  “Something’s gone wrong,” Kai said, his voice tense. The calm demeanor he often exuded was replaced by a sense of urgency. “Let’s move.”

  The Ascendants rushed toward the source of the noise, their weapons drawn, adrenaline surging through their veins. They burst into a large room, finding a group of Zoryn’s soldiers engaged in a fierce battle with a small resistance cell. Bullets flew, ricocheting off walls, filling the air with an acrid scent that stung their nostrils.

  “Civvies are getting hit!” Kara shouted, her voice rising above the chaos. “We can’t let this go on!”

  Without hesitation, the Ascendants joined the fray. Jade picked off enemy soldiers one by one, her aim deadly and precise. She felt the familiar rush of adrenaline, a high that accompanied each shot fired. It was like a dance, fluid and relentless, but the weight of responsibility bore down on her. Each pull of the trigger reminded her of the lives she was taking, yet the thrill of the fight pushed her forward.

  Kai and Kara fought with brutal efficiency, their movements fluid and deadly. Kai’s tactical mind calculated each move, assessing threats and vulnerabilities in the chaotic battlefield. He ducked behind cover, returning fire with his FN SCAR-L, “Sable.” Every shot was deliberate, a testament to his training and instinct. Each soldier he dropped was a step closer to reclaiming a sense of control in a world gone mad.

  The battle was intense, a chaotic ballet of death and destruction. Bodies fell, and blood painted the floor, the walls stained with the consequences of their actions. Yet, the Ascendants fought with a ferocity that belied their small numbers. This was their life—mercenaries in a world torn apart by ambition and greed. They were warriors, but at what cost?

  As the dust settled, the acrid scent of cordite hung heavy in the air. The once bustling compound was now a graveyard of fallen soldiers. Jade, her breath ragged, leaned against a crumbling wall, the weight of her rifle a comforting burden. She could still feel the thrill coursing through her veins, yet beneath it lay an unshakable sense of dread.

  “Nice work, Jade,” Kara said, a grin spreading across her face. “Three hundred kills. You’re officially a legend.”

  Jade forced a smile. “Just another day at the office,” she replied, her voice flat. The weight of the number hung heavy on her shoulders, a stark reminder of the violence that consumed their world. Inside, she battled with the conflicting emotions that threatened to tear her apart. Was she a legend or merely a pawn in a larger game?

  Kai, ever the pragmatist, broke the silence. “We need to move. Zoryn’s forces will be here soon.”

  They quickly looted the armory, gathering valuable supplies and weapons. The adrenaline that had surged moments before began to wane, replaced by a creeping unease. They had won this battle, but the war was far from over. Zoryn’s watchful eye would never waver, and they knew he would not rest until they were dead.

  “Check your gear,” Kai instructed, his voice calm yet urgent. Each member of the team obeyed, their training kicking in. They had rehearsed this routine countless times before, but the stakes had never felt higher. As Jade tightened the straps of her tactical vest, her mind wandered to the faces of the resistance fighters they had just saved.

  What would they think of her three hundred kills? Would they see her as a hero, or just another killer in a world that had grown weary of violence?

  Meanwhile, in the heart of Zoryn’s Dominion, a figure sat behind a massive desk, his eyes fixed on a holographic map of the Free Territories. Zoryn, a man of ruthless ambition, was furious. The Ascendants had once again defied his authority, striking at the heart of his empire. His fingers tapped impatiently against the surface of the desk, each pulse reflecting his mounting anger.

  “Find them,” he growled, his voice a low rumble that echoed in the stillness of his chamber. “And eliminate them.”

  A shadowy figure emerged from the shadows, a cold, calculating gaze meeting Zoryn’s. “It will be done, my lord.” The figure bowed slightly, ready to execute Zoryn’s orders without hesitation. Loyalty and ambition mingled in the air, a dangerous cocktail that would inevitably lead to bloodshed.

  As the Ascendants made their way through the desolate landscape, they knew that Zoryn would not rest until they were dead. The war had just begun, and the stakes had never been higher. The fate of the Free Territories hung in the balance, and they were the last line of defense. With every step, they forged deeper into the heart of conflict, determined to stand against the tide that threatened to consume them. Each heartbeat echoed in their ears, a reminder of the lives they had taken, the lives they would continue to fight for.

  And yet, as they vanished into the shadows of the world that had shaped them, they also carried the weight of their choices—haunted by the echoes of loyalty that bound them together, even as the specter of Zoryn loomed ever closer, ready to strike again.