The Chief stood alone in the ruined hall long after the soldiers had left.
Orders had been given.
Scouts dispatched.
Medical camps established.
But his heart was restless.
Half his village burned.
Children were buried before sunrise.
And he—
Could not stop it.
His fists tightened.
“We were unprepared,” he said quietly.
One of his senior advisors stepped forward carefully.
“It was not only preparation, my lord.”
The Chief looked at him.
“The Outsiders cannot be trusted anymore,” the advisor continued. “This attack proves something far worse.”
The Chief’s eyes narrowed.
“Speak clearly.”
The advisor hesitated.
“…Someone from within betrayed us.”
Silence fell heavily.
The Chief’s jaw tightened.
“That is a serious accusation.”
“But not without reason,” another advisor added. “Breaker forces entered through our western blind zone — a route only internal scouts and high-ranking clans knew.”
The Chief’s mind began moving quickly.
Someone had leaked information.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Someone had guided the enemy.
But why?
“For power?” the Chief muttered.
“For influence?”
“Or fear?”
He could not understand how one of their own would sell their people to slaughter.
Another advisor stepped forward urgently.
“My lord, the Major Clans await your orders.”
The atmosphere shifted.
Avoiding internal conflict had always been his priority.
Unity had preserved Kamaskh.
But now—
Unity itself was in question.
“If we delay,” the advisor warned, “we risk civil fracture. The clans will demand answers.”
“And if we don’t act,” another added, “the village will be buried under the graves of its own people.”
The Chief closed his eyes briefly.
War outside.
Distrust inside.
No easy path remained.
He opened his eyes again — firm.
“Summon them.”
“Set up an emergency council.”
“All major clan leaders. Immediately.”
“If there is betrayal within Kamaskh…”
His voice hardened.
“…we will expose it.”
A sealed black envelope was placed on a steel conference table.
A senior intelligence officer entered the secured chamber.
Arjun sat alone near the window, uniform sharp, posture relaxed but commanding.
“Report,” he said calmly.
“Sir,” the officer began, “the Hidden Village of Kamaskh has been exposed.”
Arjun’s eyes lifted slowly.
“Confirmed?”
“Yes. Breaker forces engaged them last night.”
A digital projection activated.
Forest heat signatures.
Magnetic distortions.
Energy spikes.
“Casualty estimate?” Arjun asked.
“High. Village partially destroyed.”
“And unusual activity?”
The officer hesitated briefly.
“Yes, sir.”
He adjusted the display.
“During the engagement, we detected energy fluctuations inconsistent with standard elemental or physical augmentation classes.”
Arjun leaned forward slightly.
“Explain.”
“Multiple high-tier entity signatures were recorded,” the officer replied carefully.
“Entity?” Arjun repeated.
“Yes, sir. The readings don’t align with known categories — not elemental, not kinetic, not gravitational, not psychic.”
“Different.”
“Different how?”
“Layered,” the officer said. “As if more than one presence overlapped within a single combat zone.”
Arjun’s expression remained unreadable.
“Artificial?” he asked.
“Unlikely.”
“External interference?”
“No confirmed source.”
Silence filled the room.
“So,” Arjun concluded calmly,
“Kamaskh houses something beyond standard classification.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And Breakers engaged it?”
“Yes.”
Arjun stood slowly.
“Do they know we are aware?”
“No, sir.”
“Good.”
He turned toward the window.
“We observe.”
“No intervention.”
“Not yet.”
The officer nodded.
“If Kamaskh survives,” Arjun continued quietly,
“we’ll see what emerges.”
“And if they don’t?”
Arjun didn’t answer.
The officer understood.
After he left, Arjun remained alone.
Multiple high-tier entities.
Layered presence.
Unknown classification.
His fingers tapped lightly against the glass.
“Interesting…”
Not curiosity.
Not concern.
Calculation.
The world was shifting again.
And someone — somewhere — had just stepped onto a higher board.
