Chapter 72 CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO | VICTORY

Chapter 72 CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO | VICTORY
CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO | VICTORY

RONAN

I stepped inside the hut where Brian had arranged to meet me. The place smelled of smoke and wet earth. Around me, fifty men stood ready, weapons in hand, eyes sharp and alert. My heart pounded as I took in their faces. These were men willing to die for what was coming.

Brian stepped forward and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Ronan,” he said with a firm smile. “I’m glad you’re here.”

I nodded at him. “Thanks for having me.”

One by one, the men saluted me. “Sir,” they said, voices strong and steady. Each salute made something inside me tighten. I felt a mix of fear and pride. This was it. The moment I’d been waiting for for years.

Brian handed me my armor and sword. The metal was cold in my hands. I adjusted the straps and felt the weight settle on my body. “Will this be enough?” I whispered to him.

Brian’s eyes were steady. “It’ll be enough. Remember, we’re ambushing them. They won’t expect us.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. I could feel the fear crawling under my skin, but there was pride too. Pride that I was finally taking action for my parents. Smoke drifted past my face from a small brazier, curling in the hut like it had its own will.

Brian spread a map on a table. His finger traced a line to the outskirts of the city. “Here,” he said. “This is where they’re hiding.”

I leaned closer, eyes scanning the terrain. The men gathered around the map. Their voices were low but determined as we planned our attack.

“Flank them from the left,” Brian said. “I’ll take the right with twenty men.”

“I’ll take the center,” I added. “We have to hit fast.”

They nodded. I could see the fire in their eyes matching my own.

When we were done, a bus waited outside. The air smelled of oil and earth. One of the elders stepped forward and pulled me aside.

“You can do this,” he said quietly, his voice steady. “You can bring Alettoi down. I know you can.”

I smiled, a thrill running through my body. “It’ll be a victory,” I said.

The men climbed aboard the bus, singing a war song. Their voices were loud and harsh but strong. The song filled the air, beating in time with my heartbeat.

I watched them, my chest swelling with something fierce. Fear was still there, yes, but it was under control. I could feel it twisting into something else, power, anger, readiness.

I stood at the front, the sword at my side, and raised my hand. “Listen up!” I shouted. “We’re going to win this! We’re going to show them what we’re made of!”

The men cheered, voices crashing against the walls of the bus. “Victory!” they shouted.

I raised my sword, feeling it light in my hand. “Victory!” I echoed, letting it roll out loud and proud.

The bus began moving, carrying us to the outskirts of the city. I could feel the thrill burning through me, the weight of what was coming pressing against my chest. This was it. The fight for revenge, for justice, for everything I had lost.

The men around me sang louder, voices strong and unyielding. I stood tall, letting the sound fill me. This was our moment.

It was ours.

The bus stopped deep inside a forest, close to where the hideout was supposed to be. The engine went quiet, and the night sounds rushed in. Crickets, wind, and leaves brushing against each other. The men climbed down one after the other, boots sinking into the soft ground.

I raised my hand, and they froze. I led them forward, just like we planned. We split into groups, each man knowing his place. No noise. No mistakes.

The Red Ones’ hideout sat ahead of us, shaped like a mountain house. It was dark and silent. Only a few guards moved around, careless and slow. I watched them for a while, counting their steps and studying their patterns. Something felt wrong, but I pushed it aside.

I lifted two fingers. Wait.

I waited for a few minutes to pass, and suddenly the forest felt too quiet.

Then I dropped my hand.

“Go,” I whispered.

We rushed forward. The guards didn’t stand a chance. It was a quick attack. We spread through the house, checking room by room, our hearts pounding.

But there was nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Only bones piled in corners. Blood-stained clothes thrown carelessly on the floor. Old blood. Dried blood. The smell hit me late. It was thick and sickening in a way that almost made me vomit. I covered my mouth, my chest tightening.

“What the hell is this?” one of the men muttered.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I checked it. It was a private number.

I answered, and laughter exploded from the other end.

“Look at you,” the voice said. “Marching into an empty house like a hero.”

My grip tightened. “Alettoi,” I growled.

He laughed again. “You really thought I’d be there waiting for you?”

“You’re a coward,” I snapped.

“No,” he said calmly. “You’re just stupid. You don’t even know what the Red Ones are.”

My blood burned. “Where are you?”

He ignored that. “You should be worrying about the girl instead.”

My heart stopped. “What?” I roared. “Don’t touch Aspen!”

He chuckled softly. “Too late.”

The call ended.

“No!” I shouted, staring at the dead screen.

I turned sharply to Brian. “We need to retreat. Now.”

He didn’t question me. “Everyone out!” he yelled.

We grabbed the guards we had captured and ran out of the hideout. The bus engine roared to life as we jumped in.

The moment the bus pulled away, the ground shook.

A massive explosion ripped through the hideout behind us. Fire burst into the sky. The shockwave slammed into the bus, throwing us forward.

“Hold on!” someone screamed.

Men cried out as the bus sped through the trees, branches snapping against the sides. I turned back just in time to see flames swallowing the house completely.

My chest burned as my hands shook terribly.

Aspen.

I clenched my fists hard. “I swear to God,” I muttered, my voice breaking, “if you touched her…”

The forest disappeared behind us, but the fear stayed.

This wasn’t a victory but a warning.

The real war was just starting.