Restart: the ultimate system

A New Alliance

The flickering lanterns in the underground hideout cast eerie shadows as Kai, Edric, Vale, and Voss stood before Lyra Vex, leader of Eldoria's resistance.

Lyra crossed her arms, her sharp gaze flicking between them. "So let me get this straight—you want me to shelter a commander of the King's Guard, one of the Duke's closest allies, because he's suddenly had a change of heart?"

Voss scowled but didn't argue. He knew better than to expect trust so soon.

Kai stepped forward. "The Duke's planning a coup. He's moving against the king, and if we don't stop him, the entire kingdom will fall under the Order's control."

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "And why should I care? The nobles fight their wars while the rest of us starve. Let them burn."

Vale interjected. "And what happens when the Duke tightens his grip? You think your little rebellion will survive when the entire kingdom is under his rule?"

Lyra frowned, but the words struck a nerve.

Kai leaned in. "You know me, Lyra. I wouldn't come here if I didn't have a plan."

She studied him for a long moment. Then, with a smirk, she turned to her men.

"Get them something to eat. We have planning to do."

The Duke's Counterattack

While Kai and the resistance plotted, Duke Alistair Ravencourt moved his own pieces.

Inside the grand halls of Ravencourt Manor, the Duke sat at the head of a long table. Around him, several noble lords and high-ranking officers of the King's Guard stood in silence.

Among them was Lord Damian Graves, the king's chief military strategist—and one of the Duke's most trusted allies.

Graves placed a sealed scroll on the table. "The king has received reports of unrest. He's considering sending troops to investigate."

The Duke tapped his fingers against the polished wood. "And what did you tell him?"

Graves smirked. "That the only unrest in Eldoria is caused by common criminals and gutter rats. I assured him you had everything under control."

The Duke chuckled. "Good." His expression darkened. "But that does not change the fact that my enemies are still breathing."

He turned to a hooded figure standing in the shadows—a figure few dared to name.

The Shadowbinder.

A master assassin, a mage of forbidden arts.

The Duke's voice was cold. "Find them. Burn the resistance to the ground."

The Shadowbinder nodded once before vanishing into darkness.

Striking the First Blow

Back in the underground hideout, Kai studied the map Lyra had spread out before them.

"This," Lyra said, tapping a point on the parchment, "is the Duke's supply depot. He stores weapons, gold, and food here before shipping them to his forces."

Edric grinned. "So we hit it?"

Kai nodded. "Hard. We take his resources, we weaken his grip on the city."

Vale frowned. "And in doing so, we'll force him to react. If we make the first move, he'll strike back. Hard."

Kai's eyes gleamed. "Exactly."

Lyra smirked. "I like this plan."

That night, as the city slept, the first battle of the resistance began.

The Spark of Rebellion

A Dangerous Mission

The underground hideout buzzed with quiet tension. Kai's plan was bold—maybe even reckless—but it was the only way to strike first.

The Duke's supply depot was heavily guarded, sitting on the eastern edge of the city near the military barracks. Inside, there were weapons, food, gold, and alchemical supplies—everything needed to sustain his growing forces.

If they took it, the Duke's war machine would be crippled before it could march.

Kai stood at the center of the room, facing Lyra, Edric, Vale, and a handful of resistance fighters. This was their first real strike. If they failed, the Duke would tighten his grip on Eldoria. If they succeeded, it would mark the beginning of an open rebellion.

Kai's eyes swept over them. "We do this fast and quiet. No unnecessary bloodshed—our goal is to take the supplies, not fight a war in the streets."

Edric smirked. "No promises."

Lyra rolled her eyes. "If we get caught, the Duke will send the entire city guard after us. We won't get a second chance."

Kai nodded. "Then let's make sure we don't get caught."

The Approach

The supply depot sat within a stone-walled compound, guarded by two dozen elite soldiers. High watchtowers flanked the entrance, and a locked iron gate stood between them and their prize.

But Kai had no intention of going through the front.

He led the group through the sewer tunnels beneath the compound, emerging inside the storeroom of a nearby merchant's shop. From there, they climbed onto the rooftops, moving like shadows in the night.

From their vantage point, they saw the guards patrolling below—well-armed, but predictable.

Kai turned to Vale. "Can you silence the watchtowers?"

Vale nodded, whispering a few words before raising his hand. A dark mist curled from his fingers, spreading toward the guards in the towers.

Within moments, their movements slowed, their heads nodding as a powerful sleep spell took hold.

Edric grinned. "I'll never get tired of watching you do that."

Kai motioned to Lyra. "We move now."

One by one, they dropped into the compound.

The Infiltration

Moving swiftly, they avoided the guards and slipped into the main warehouse, where rows of crates were stacked to the ceiling. The scent of dried meat, oil, and steel filled the air.

Kai gestured to the others. "Take only what we need. Gold, weapons, medical supplies."

Lyra's people moved quickly, grabbing sacks of coin, rations, and bundles of enchanted weapons.

But then—footsteps.

Kai pressed himself against a crate, motioning for silence.

A pair of guards entered the storeroom, their torches casting long shadows.

"Thought I heard something," one muttered.

Edric, crouching beside Kai, whispered, "Want me to handle it?"

Kai shook his head. No unnecessary killing. Instead, he reached into his pouch and pulled out a small glass vial.

He flicked it toward the guards—and a thick, colorless gas erupted around them.

The guards staggered, their eyes fluttering shut as they collapsed into unconsciousness.

Edric whistled. "Sleep powder?"

Kai smirked. "A little trick I picked up."

With the guards dealt with, they moved fast, loading crates onto a pair of stolen carts. Within minutes, they were ready to leave.

The Alarm is Raised

But just as they reached the gates—a shout rang out.

"INTRUDERS!"

A patrol had spotted them.

Immediately, the entire compound roared to life.

Guards rushed toward them, swords drawn. Arrows whistled through the air.

Edric shoved a crate off the cart, using it as cover. "So much for quiet!"

Vale raised a hand, chanting a spell—a wave of force knocked back several soldiers, sending them crashing into barrels.

Lyra spun, cutting down a guard who got too close. "Move! We don't have time for this!"

Kai leaped onto one of the carts, grabbing the reins. "GO!"

With a snap of the reins, the carts lurched forward, crashing through the half-open gates.

Guards sprinted after them, arrows raining down. Vale raised a shimmering barrier, deflecting most of the shots, but one arrow struck a resistance fighter in the leg.

"Hold on!" Edric grabbed the wounded man and pulled him onto the cart.

As they reached the city streets, Kai shouted, "Split up! Head for the tunnels!"

The resistance fighters veered off into different alleys, vanishing into the night.

Kai, Edric, Vale, and Lyra took the main cart, pushing the horses to full speed. Behind them, the Duke's forces poured out of the compound, but they were too slow.

By the time the guards reached the crossroads—Kai and the others were gone.

The Resistance Strikes Back

Back in the underground hideout, the stolen supplies were unloaded. Gold, weapons, medical kits—everything they needed.

The resistance fighters cheered, their spirits high. They had won.

Kai, however, was already thinking ahead.

"This was just the beginning," he said, looking at Lyra. "The Duke will come for us harder now."

Lyra nodded. "Then we hit him harder first."

Edric smirked. "I like the sound of that."

Meanwhile…

In Ravencourt Manor, Duke Alistair Ravencourt sat in silence as a bloodied soldier kneeled before him.

"They… they took the supplies, my lord."

The Duke's expression was unreadable. Slowly, he stood, walking to the large window that overlooked the city.

His voice was soft—but filled with venom.

"The rats have grown bold."

A shadow shifted behind him. The Shadowbinder had returned.

"They are hiding beneath the city," the assassin murmured. "Shall I burn them out?"

The Duke's lips curled into a cold smile.

"No." He turned, his eyes burning with dark magic.

"I want them to watch as I burn everything they love first."