The rain fell in relentless sheets, turning the cobblestone streets of Valenport into rivers of cold water that reflected the scant light of flickering lanterns. My cloak was soaked through, clinging to my skin like a second layer, but the chill of the rain was nothing compared to the burning rage that churned inside me. It was the same rage that had fueled me through every agonizing step of my resurrection, the same fire that now drove me to strike back against the Silent Serpents.
The Black Fang safe house was a modest, shadowed building tucked away in one of Valenport's oldest districts — a forgotten corner where crime thrived and the city's officials dared not tread. Inside, the air was thick with smoke and whispered tension, the flicker of candlelight dancing across the faces of those who had chosen to follow me despite the danger.
Saria sat across from me at the rough wooden table, her sharp eyes scanning the map spread before us. Every wrinkle on her face seemed carved by years of hardship, every scar telling a story of battles fought and survived. She was the only one I trusted to share this burden, the only one who understood that this was more than just a mission — it was a reckoning.
"The Serpents believe that fear will keep us cowering in the shadows," Saria said, her voice low and hard, "but they don't know how desperate we've become. Desperation breeds strength. And it breeds cunning."
Her words hit me like a hammer. I glanced around the room — the Black Fang members, hardened and grim, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the map and the flickering candles. Every one of them bore the same look: determination sharpened by loss and the hunger for justice.
I placed my palm firmly on the table, my fingers brushing the red marks we'd made on the map — safe houses, patrol routes, supply depots. "We hit their supply lines first. Cut off their resources, disrupt their communication. If we cripple them, the Serpents will have no choice but to expose themselves."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the group. These men and women had seen too much death. They were tired of running and hiding.
I looked up, locking eyes with Saria. "We have the element of surprise. We move at midnight, shadows guiding us through the alleys and rooftops. We strike quick, we strike hard."
The group dispersed to prepare, the weight of the plan settling over us like a mantle. For a moment, I felt the heavy burden of command — every life here depended on me.
The streets outside had changed. The city was quieter now, the usual nighttime revelry silenced beneath the steady drum of rain. I pulled my cloak tighter, the Soul Resonance humming faintly beneath my skin, a constant reminder of the power I was still learning to master.
The fog clung to the city like a veil, softening edges and swallowing sound. It was the perfect cover.
As we moved through the maze of alleys, I felt the familiar surge of adrenaline. The plan was clear, but the danger was real. One wrong move, one careless breath, and we'd be sitting ducks for the Serpents.
I led the vanguard, my senses sharpened by the Soul Resonance's subtle pulse. Every shadow seemed alive, every whisper a possible trap.
When we reached the first Serpent outpost, silence reigned. It was a dilapidated warehouse at the edge of the district, surrounded by crude wooden fences and guarded by two sentries who seemed far too confident in their safety.
I signaled to Saria, and we slipped closer, the cold rain muffling our steps. The sentries barely had time to react before the first wave of Black Fang operatives fell upon them — swift hands covering mouths, blades flashing silently in the dark.
I didn't wait. The energy around my fists flared as I stepped forward, the Soul Resonance transforming into razor-sharp blades that hummed through the damp air.
The first guard barely caught a glimpse of the blue flames before he was sent sprawling, the impact sending crates tumbling behind him. The second tried to raise the alarm, but a quick strike silenced him forever.
Inside, the outpost was a hive of activity — crude maps, stolen goods, and the unmistakable scent of blood and sweat. The Serpents had no idea what hit them.
We moved like ghosts, eliminating threats before they could even scream. My energy blades cut through wooden crates and steel weapons alike, a blur of deadly precision.
One thug lunged at me from the shadows, a serrated dagger aimed for my throat. I twisted, parrying the strike with a shield of swirling blue energy, then retaliated with a burst of power that sent him crashing into the wall.
Pain lanced through my arms from the intense drain of using Soul Resonance so aggressively, but I ignored it — every second counted.
When the last Serpent hit the ground, groaning and defeated, I took a deep breath. Victory was ours, but the cost was clear. The strain left me trembling, my vision swimming as the mana backlash clawed at my mind.
Saria's steady hand on my shoulder grounded me. "You're pushing too hard," she warned quietly. "This power isn't endless."
I nodded, swallowing the bitter taste of frustration. The system's cold voice echoed in my mind: Rank Update: E+ → D-.
A small step forward — but still a long way from the strength I needed.
As dawn crept through the fog, we retreated to the shadows of the city, the rain easing into a soft drizzle. The Black Fang gathered briefly in a hidden courtyard, faces weary but eyes burning with renewed hope.
I found a quiet moment to myself, the familiar glow of the system interface appearing before me like a spectral guide.
Rank Update: D-.
I stared at the words, a mix of pride and impatience welling up inside. The climb was slow, grueling — but progress was progress.
My hand trembled as I clenched my fist, feeling the energy thrumming beneath my skin, raw and untamed.
The city was waking, oblivious to the battle that raged beneath its surface. And somewhere out there, the Silent Serpents were regrouping, sharpening their claws for the next strike.
But I wasn't afraid anymore.
The past had tried to bury me.
But I was rising.
And soon, the flames of retribution would consume everything that had wronged me.