In the center of the City, inside a reinforced and guarded room, Ethan remained under strict protection. Four members of the Vesper Special Forces flanked the entrances, while the Hu brothers stood by his side as a final line of defense.
After the alarm sounded, Officer Wei had arrived with an additional Vesper detachment. The perimeter security was reinforced within seconds. With Ethan and the Hu brothers at the heart of the building, that point became the safest position in the city.
Just a few minutes after Eclipse issued its warning, the distant echo of gunfire and explosions shattered the silence, coming from the eastern sector. The wolf, always at Ethan's side, kept a tense posture, eyes scanning the surroundings for threats. Its bristling fur and restrained breathing spoke of the danger still looming.
The battle was brief. Shortly afterward, the sounds ceased. A messenger burst through the main corridor with firm steps, carrying the news: the enemy group had been completely eliminated.
Ethan stood in the center of the room, still wearing the steel scale vest. With a meticulous gesture, he adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose before speaking in a firm voice.
"Officer Wei, secure the area. I want every shadow logged and every corner cleared. Prioritize medical attention for the wounded, and don't let your guard down."
"Understood," Wei replied with a nod. He immediately exited the room and began issuing commands in a commanding voice.
Outside, the first lights of oil lamps began to flicker on between the buildings. Some citizens, startled by the recent explosions, opened doors and windows with fear in their eyes. Families sheltered in makeshift tents murmured nervously, trying to understand what had happened.
"Do not come out! Remain in your homes!" the soldiers ordered firmly as they patrolled the streets.
The response was immediate. The neighbors who had peeked out pulled back. The refugees crouched beneath tarps, embracing their loved ones.
The fear was palpable… but something changed when they saw the Vespers deploying through the streets.
The troops, dressed in their dark armor and armed, moved with precision.
Some secured intersections, others checked doors, alleys, and rooftops.
Their mere presence imposed order. Though fear still lingered in the air, the sight of the Vespers running through the streets with discipline and control began to calm the population.
"East zone, clear alley by alley," Officer Wei's voice echoed.
Units split into squads of four. They searched the area, cleared debris, aided the injured. The response was fast, leaving no room for panic.
In the combat zone, beyond the rubble of the gate, behind a barricade of sandbags, they found movement.
"Contact!" a Vesper shouted, aiming his weapon with precision.
Under the dim moonlight lay a still-living body. A young man, face dirty, robe torn and bloodied, moaned softly. A shot in the stomach and another in the leg kept him immobilized. Dark blood oozed slowly.
A Vesper advanced, weapon raised, aiming as others secured the perimeter.
he murmured. "No visible weapons."
The young man tried to turn, but the soldier's voice stopped him instantly.
"Don't move."
Another Vesper approached quickly with a pair of black steel handcuffs. His face showed no emotion.
"Stay still, trash," he snapped in a dry tone.
The young man flinched and reflexively tried to move. The Vesper didn't hesitate: he planted his boot hard on the man's abdomen, forcing him to turn face down. The young man screamed, weakened by the abdominal wound.
"Don't resist," he growled as he grabbed the man's arms and firmly applied the cuffs.
Two soldiers lifted him by the arms, dragging him through gasps and blood. They took him straight to the main street, where Officer Wei coordinated operations from an improvised command post.
The young man was thrown to his knees before him. His breathing was irregular, eyes half-closed in pain.
Wei observed him in silence for a few seconds, while the rest of the squad formed a semicircle around them.
"Watch him," he ordered firmly, not taking his eyes off the captive.
A pair of Vespers behind Officer Wei nodded and dragged him away.
In one of the nearby houses, a middle-aged woman slowly peeked from behind a window. She held a small child to her chest, her face pale with fear. Around her, other families began to emerge cautiously, their steps silent, eyes fixed in the direction where explosions had been heard minutes earlier.
A group of Vespers passed in front of them—dark armor, armored helmets, rifles with parts no local blacksmith could replicate. They didn't shout. They didn't run. They moved with precision and control.
"Is it over?" an elderly woman whispered.
"I don't know... but I think so," a young man replied.
On the outskirts, several camps began to relax. The torches were lit again. Rumors circulated in whispers: that the attackers had been exterminated.
The next morning, in the main building at the center of the city, the grayish light of dawn filtered through the slits of the windows. In a spacious room with reinforced walls, Ethan sat in front of a long table covered with a detailed map and several tactical reports.
He rubbed his eyebrows in exhaustion. He hadn't slept a single second since the beginning of the attack. His glasses rested on the table, within reach, but for now he preferred to feel the weight of the breeze without a filter.
The door opened with a creak.
"Report, sir," said Officer Wei in a clear voice, entering with a resolute step.
Ethan raised his gaze slowly and took his glasses. He put them on precisely, adjusting them with two fingers before responding in a low tone:
"Speak."
Wei stepped forward until he stopped on the other side of the table. He opened a folder made of dark leather and began to read.
"Battle report: eighteen confirmed enemy casualties. Five captured alive, all with gunshot wounds. One of them is in critical condition; he won't survive the night."
He spoke coldly. There was no room for sentimentality.
"On our side, no casualties reported," he continued. "Most have bruises, minor cuts, or injuries from debris. Only one severe case: the captain in charge of the east gate suffered multiple rib fractures and internal bleeding. However, he used a dose of D-Serum during the combat. That stabilized his vital signs and accelerated the initial regeneration, but he remains unconscious."
Ethan nodded, the gesture barely perceptible.
The D-Serum… It not only offered enhanced strength and reflexes. Its resistance to damage was remarkable, almost unnatural. But each use left a severe biological toll.
"I'll check on him later," he said. "I want to make sure there are no complications from the D-Serum. I'll analyze the progression of the wounds and the residual effects."
"Yes, sir."
Wei closed the folder. His expression remained firm, without a trace of doubt.
"Anything else?" Ethan asked, without raising his voice.
"The prisoners are separated, under constant surveillance. The interrogation can begin at any time."
"Good. We'll start."
Ethan leaned back slightly.