Several days had passed since Ryu accepted his crucial mission and departed from Ashwind Post. The path ahead led him through diverse terrains under the influence of the Nebula Machine Empire. From the arid lands near his village, he ventured into sparse forestsscattered with strange, unfamiliar flora, and at times, had to navigate the crumbling ruins of ancient, forgotten civilizations, swallowed by time and creeping vines. Ryu moved with the speed and silence characteristic of a seasoned scout, his passage leaving almost no trace for the untrained eye.
Every step was taken with utmost caution. He had to evade the patrols of small mechanical scout drones that droned intermittently in the distance, and occasionally confront ferocious, famished mutated beasts. Each encounter, though not overwhelmingly difficult, cost him time and increased the risk of detection. His beloved katana flashed with swift, deadly precision, dispatching foes as quickly as possible to minimize noise and evidence of his presence.
Ryu's thoughts were entirely consumed by the mission entrusted to him. He had to gather as much intelligence as possible about the "Seven Hunters" and assess the Nebula Empire's current military situation to aid his village's planning. The safety of Kiana, his only sister, Elder Eldrin, and all the villagers was the paramount driving force that propelled him forward, undeterred.
One day, while traversing a narrow mountain pass that seemed to be a shortcut through a limestone range, Ryu's instincts screamed a warning. He halted instantly, melting into the deep shadows of a rock outcropping. Moments later, a group of four or five rugged men in tattered leather, armed with rusty swords and old axes, emerged from the other end of the pass. They were a band of local bandits who preyed on unfortunate travelers in this lawless region of Nebula territory.
"Well, well, looks like a lost little mouse has wandered into our neck of the woods, boys!" the bandit leader sneered, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he spotted some faint tracks on the ground.
Ryu quickly assessed the situation. He didn't want to waste time or risk unnecessary injury, but letting them pass could mean trouble for other travelers in the future. More importantly, they might have already spotted him, and could potentially report the presence of a stranger to Nebula authorities.
His decision made, Ryu moved like a phantom. He burst from his hiding place, lunging at the bandits with a speed they could barely follow. The clang of metal on metal rang out only a few times. Ryu's katana flashed, a silver blur like a lightning strike, before the bandits collapsed to the ground one by one. He hadn't killed them, merely rendered them unconscious and disarmed them, before tying them securely to a tree by the wayside. "Don't even think about causing trouble for anyone else," Ryu murmured softly, before disappearing from the area as swiftly as he had appeared.
As he drew closer to areas more densely controlled by the Nebula Empire, Ryu's vigilance intensified. He began to encounter small Nebula military outposts stationed at regular intervals along key routes, and saw newer, more advanced-looking mechanical patrol units than those he had encountered near Ashwind Post. Ryu had to utilize all his skills in stealth and observation to avoid detection. He moved through shadows, hid in the crevices of ruins, and even held his breath, motionless, when patrols passed dangerously close, the tension immense.
At this juncture, the scene briefly cut back to Ashwind Post. Da Vinci and Kiana were overseeing the villagers as they tested a large stone-thrower, newly constructed according to his designs. A massive stone was launched, soaring much farther than anyone had anticipated, eliciting cheers of joy and renewed hope from the assembled villagers. Kiana watched with a faint smile before turning to discuss the next phase of construction with Da Vinci. The atmosphere was one of cooperation and a shared determination to build a better future, though a flicker of concern for her absent brother still lingered in Kiana's heart.
Cutting back to Ryu, after several more arduous days of travel, he finally began to see signs of "Siren's Haven," the major port city of the Nebula Empire, looming in the distance. From the crest of a high hill, he could see the bright lights of the sprawling city cutting through the darkness of the approaching night, a stark contrast against the inky blackness of the sea. The city walls were tall and imposing, with watchtowers stationed at regular intervals. At the massive harbor, numerous merchant ships and imperial warships were docked, a testament to the city's bustling activity and strategic importance. Though it appeared vibrant and "safe" from a distance, Ryu could still sense an underlying atmosphere of strict control and the ever-watchful eyes of the Nebula military dispersed throughout.
He spent the remainder of the day concealed on the hilltop, meticulously observing the comings and goings at the city gates and the harbor. He noted the stringent checks conducted by Nebula soldiers on everyone entering and exiting, and the sophisticated defensive systems in place. Ryu knew that infiltrating this city would be no easy task.
As darkness fully descended, Ryu began to make his move. He shed his dust-covered travel clothes, replacing them with a darker, more inconspicuous cloak that would allow him to blend in with the merchants and travelers he had observed frequently entering the city around dusk. He concealed his katana carefully beneath the cloak and prepared a few small items essential for disguise and evasion.
His sharp eyes scanned the still-busy city gate. He saw a large convoy of merchant wagons awaiting inspection to enter, and a group of dockworkers heading back into the city after their shift. That could be his opportunity.
Ryu took a deep breath, gathering all his focus and composure, before moving with the silent swiftness of a shadow, intending to merge with a group of travelers heading towards the gates of Siren's Haven. His eyes remained vigilant, scanning for any sign of danger with every step. The perilous mission, fraught with uncertainty... had only just begun.
[End of Chapter 13]