Explosions thundered across Edger as the peaceful valley turned into a battlefield.

Ashren staggered backward, stunned by the sudden chaos.

“Ashren!”
His uncle’s voice cut through the smoke as he sprinted toward him. “Come! We’re going home—underground! It’s safer there!”

Ashren nodded and ran beside him, dodging falling debris as Night Hunters fired at anything that moved. Their dark armor gleamed under the rising sun. Some searched houses. Others marched in formation. All of them looked like they knew exactly who they were here for.

Ashren felt a cold shiver.

“Uncle, what do they want? Why—”

“Questions later!” his uncle shouted. “Move!”

They rounded the corner and raced toward their underground house.

And then—

FWOOOM!

A rocket screamed through the sky.

BOOM!

It struck the street only meters away. The blast tore through buildings, sending wood, dirt, and fire exploding into the air. Ashren flew off his feet, crashing into the ground. His ears rang.

His uncle shielded him from falling debris as smoke engulfed them.

Ashren coughed.
“What… what was that?”

Their home was gone.

Completely destroyed.

His uncle clenched his jaw.
“We can’t go back. We’re heading to the emergency shelter. It’s the only safe place left!”

They sprinted through the burning streets. Villagers screamed. Children cried. Guards fought and fell. Black smoke thickened the air.

Night Hunters marched through the flames.

“They’re searching for someone,” his uncle muttered. “Someone specific.”

Ashren didn’t know who.
But he felt it.
The Hunters weren’t attacking randomly.
They were hunting.

They reached a street corner—just as a terrified voice cried out.

“Help! Please! The children! Someone help them!”

Both Ashren and his uncle froze.

A house nearby was engulfed in flames, its roof collapsing. Inside—
two small children cried weakly, trapped behind burning beams.

A Night Hunter turned its head toward the house and began walking toward it.

Ashren’s uncle lowered Ashren behind a stone water basin.
“Stay here. Do NOT move.”

“Uncle—!”

His uncle looked him in the eye.
“There are children in there.”

Ashren’s breath caught.

His uncle sprinted toward the fire without another word.

Ashren watched helplessly as flames swallowed the doorway and smoke curled thickly around the house.

Seconds stretched into eternity.

Finally—
his uncle burst back through the doorway, carrying the children in his arms, coughing from the smoke.

But danger was already waiting.

Two Night Hunters stepped in front of him, shadows in the firelight.

One of them tilted its head.
“Trying to be a hero?”

They raised their weapons.

Ashren’s heart slammed in his chest.

“UNCLE!”

He jumped out from behind the stone basin before he even realized he was moving.

“Ashren, NO!” his uncle shouted.

But it was too late—the Hunters noticed.

The scene exploded into chaos—

To be continued…

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