The eastern mountains loomed like jagged teeth against the horizon, their peaks dusted with snow. The path leading to the hidden stronghold was treacherous, winding through dense forests and sheer cliffs.

Varrek led the group silently, his steps purposeful as they ascended the narrow trails. The air was sharp and cold, biting at their skin, but none of them wavered.

Ari walked at the front, his presence commanding and silent. He didn’t speak, his focus fixed on the task ahead. His dark eyes were unreadable, his usual calm replaced by something colder—something sharper.

The Stronghold

The hidden base came into view suddenly, its massive gates carved into the face of the mountain. Wards shimmered faintly over the entrance, their intricate patterns glowing like embers in the fading light.

“They know we’re here,” Varrek said, his voice low.

“Good,” Ari replied, his tone devoid of emotion.

“Those wards are no joke,” Kimi said, her violet eyes scanning the barrier. “Getting through them without triggering an alarm is—”

“We’re not sneaking in,” Ari interrupted.

The group turned to him, their surprise evident.

“Wait,” Yuri said, frowning. “You’re saying we just walk in?”

Ari stepped forward, his movements steady and deliberate. “No. I’m saying we break in.”

Before anyone could respond, Ari raised his fist and struck the barrier.

The impact was immediate and catastrophic. The shimmering wards shattered like glass, their glow exploding outward in a blinding flash. The gates trembled under the force of the blow, their hinges groaning as cracks spiderwebbed across the surface.

The ground shook, and the sound echoed through the mountains like thunder.

As the dust settled, Ari turned to his team, his expression cold and unyielding. “Stay close. We’re finishing this.”

The Invasion

The stronghold’s defenders were ready—or so they thought.

The first wave of enemies surged out of the shattered gates, their armor gleaming and weapons drawn. There were at least a dozen of them, their movements disciplined and coordinated.

Ari met them head-on.

Without drawing a weapon or casting a single spell, he moved like a predator, his steps measured and deliberate. The first defender swung a massive warhammer, aiming for Ari’s chest.

Ari sidestepped effortlessly, his hand snapping out to grab the man’s wrist. With a sharp twist, he disarmed the attacker, the warhammer clattering to the ground. In the same motion, Ari drove his knee into the man’s stomach, sending him crumpling to the ground.

Two more came at him from opposite sides. Ari spun, his movements fluid and precise. His open palm struck one man’s chest, the force sending him flying into the wall. The other attacker lunged with a spear, but Ari caught the weapon mid-thrust, snapping it in half before delivering a brutal elbow strike to the man’s jaw.

His expression remained cold, his focus unbroken.

The Enemy’s Desperation

Inside the stronghold, alarms blared as more defenders poured into the corridors. The group moved as a unit, each member taking their place in the fray.

Yuri darted through the chaos, her twin daggers flashing as she dispatched enemies with lethal precision.

Kimi’s magic flared, shields and enchantments protecting the group while her fire and ice spells carved through the opposition.

Finoria held the rear, her massive shield deflecting blows as she taunted the attackers with sharp quips.

But it was Ari who stood at the center of it all, his presence like a storm.

A towering swordsman charged at him, his blade swinging with deadly force. Ari ducked under the strike, his fist driving into the man’s ribs with a sickening crack. Before the attacker could recover, Ari grabbed him by the collar and hurled him into a group of reinforcements, scattering them like bowling pins.

Another fighter, a lithe woman armed with dual blades, tried to catch him off guard. Ari’s hand shot out, catching her wrist mid-swing. With a brutal twist, he disarmed her and sent her sprawling with a precise kick to the chest.

The Cold Precision of a Legend

It wasn’t just Ari’s strength that was terrifying—it was his efficiency. Every movement was calculated, every strike designed to incapacitate without hesitation.

A heavily armored knight charged him, a spiked mace raised high. Ari didn’t flinch. He sidestepped the downward swing, letting the mace smash into the ground. In a single, fluid motion, Ari grabbed the knight’s arm and wrenched it backward, the sound of bone snapping echoing through the corridor.

The knight screamed, dropping his weapon, but Ari didn’t stop. He swept the man’s legs out from under him and drove him to the ground with a brutal elbow strike to the chest.

The defenders were relentless, but their efforts were futile. Ari’s cold precision made it clear: they were outmatched in every way.

The Final Push

By the time the group reached the heart of the stronghold, the corridors were littered with fallen defenders. The remaining forces had barricaded themselves in the central chamber, their desperation palpable.

Ari stood before the reinforced doors, his dark eyes fixed on the barrier.

“They’re trying to buy time,” Varrek said, his voice grim. “They’ll have traps waiting inside.”

“They won’t matter,” Ari replied, his voice ice-cold.

Without waiting for a plan, Ari struck the doors with a single, devastating blow. The wood and steel buckled under the force, the barricade shattering as the doors swung inward.

The defenders inside froze, their weapons trembling as Ari stepped into the room. His expression was unreadable, his cold gaze sweeping over the cowering figures.

“You thought you could take me down,” Ari said, his voice low and sharp. “You thought wrong.”

The defenders hesitated, their resolve crumbling under the weight of his presence.

And then Ari moved.

A Message Delivered

When the battle was over, the chamber was silent save for the ragged breathing of the surviving defenders. They lay sprawled across the floor, battered and broken but alive.

Ari stood in the center of the room, his dark eyes cold as he addressed the few who could still listen.

“Tell your leaders,” he said, his voice steady and unrelenting. “This is what happens when you come for me.”

Without another word, he turned and walked away, his companions falling in step behind him.

As they left the stronghold in ruins, the cold mountain air filled their lungs, and the weight of their victory settled over them.

For Ari, it was just another battle. For everyone else, it was a warning.