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The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 294. The Rescue Gamble
“We move in fast and quiet,” Elijah said, his voice low but firm. His eyes scanned the fortress walls, calculating every weak point. “No mistakes.” Doug nodded. “Understood, Marshal.” He glanced at the rest of the team—five of the best men they had. “We get Sophia and get out.” Elijah’s jaw tightened. “Exactly.” His gut told him this was a trap, but he didn’t care. Sophia was inside, and he wasn’t leaving without her. ...Inside the fortress, Sophia sat across from Lando, masking her tension with forced ease. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows along the stone walls. “You’re stalling,” Lando said, watching her closely. Sophia met his gaze without flinching. “I’m considering my options.” He smirked. “You don’t have many.” Leaning forward, he poured himself another drink. “Elijah is reckless. He’ll come for you.” He swirled the liquid in his glass. “And when he does, I’ll be waiting.” Sophia’s fingers curled under the table. “He’s not a fool.” Lando
The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 295. The Narrow Escape
“Stay with me, Sophia,” Elijah said, gripping her arm as they moved through the dark hallway. Sophia’s legs felt weak, her body aching from the fight. Blood stained her sleeve, and every step sent a sharp pain through her ribs. “I’m fine,” she lied, gritting her teeth. Elijah shot her a look. “No, you’re not.” They didn’t have time to argue. Shouts echoed behind them, boots pounding against the stone floor. Lando’s men were closing in. Doug’s voice crackled through the earpiece. “Marshal, the east side is clear. We’ve got an exit.” Elijah pressed the device. “Hold position. We’re coming.” A bullet whizzed past his head, slamming into the wall. He pushed Sophia behind cover and fired back, dropping the nearest guard. She flinched at the sound, her breath shallow. “Can you shoot?” he asked, handing her a pistol. Sophia took it, her grip unsteady. “Yeah.” But her hands trembled, her body struggling to keep up. Elijah noticed. “Stay behind me.” They moved quickly, taki
The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 296. Fractured Loyalties
“You shouldn’t have done it,” Elijah said, his voice cold. Sophia sat on the edge of the wooden table in the safe house, her arms crossed over her aching ribs. The dim candlelight flickered between them, casting long shadows. “I didn’t have a choice.” Elijah paced, his jaw tight. “You always have a choice.” He turned to her, eyes burning with frustration. “You handed yourself over to Lando. You could’ve been killed.” Sophia met his gaze, exhaustion and defiance mixing in her expression. “And if I hadn’t? You would be dead right now. I did what I had to do.” Elijah exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. His knuckles were still bruised from the fight. “You don’t get to decide that for me.” Doug cleared his throat from the corner of the room. “Marshal, we have bigger problems.” Elijah’s glare lingered on Sophia for a moment before he turned away. “Go on.” Doug pulled a chair closer, lowering his voice. “Lando’s influence is spreading fast. People are switching si
The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 297. A Dangerous Alliance
Elijah stared at the man across the table. “We don’t have time for games, Cassian. Talk.” Cassian leaned back in his chair, a smirk on his scarred face. “Now, Marshal, you know me better than that. I don’t give away information for free.” He tapped his fingers against the wooden surface, looking entirely too relaxed. Sophia crossed her arms. “What do you want?” Cassian's eyes flicked to her. “Straight to the point. I like that.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “There’s something I need stolen from the merchant quarter. A shipment that was… unfairly taken from me.” Elijah’s patience thinned. “You’re making deals while Lando is gaining ground?” Cassian shrugged. “I make deals to stay alive. You want my intel? Do the job.” Sophia exchanged a look with Elijah. This was a terrible idea. Elijah exhaled. “Where’s the shipment?” Cassian grinned. “Now you’re talking.” ...The streets of Evendore were quiet, but Sophia knew that didn’t mean safe. She adjusted her cloak,
The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 298. A City on the Brink
“The council isn’t listening,” Sophia said, slamming the door behind her. Elijah stood by the window, watching the streets of Evendore below. Tension hung thick in the air. People whispered in alleyways, merchants packed up their stalls early, and patrols had doubled overnight. Fear was spreading fast. “They’re fools,” Elijah muttered. He turned to face her. “Lando is gathering support, and they’re too blind to see it.” Doug, seated at the table, shook his head. “Not blind, sir. Scared.” Sophia ran a hand through her hair. “They think we’re exaggerating. That Lando is just another warlord who’ll fade away.” Elijah clenched his jaw. “By the time they realize the truth, it’ll be too late.” Doug cleared his throat. “Sir, we need proof. Something they can’t ignore.” Sophia nodded. “Then I’ll get it.” Elijah frowned. “What are you talking about?” She tightened her belt. “I heard whispers about a meeting tonight. Lando’s allies—merchants, officials, and a few council membe
The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 299. The First Strike
“They’re here, sir!” a soldier shouted, sprinting into the war room.Elijah was already moving. He grabbed his coat and weapons, his face set in grim determination. “Positions now. We hold the city.”Doug tightened his grip on his rifle. “Marshal, it’s worse than we thought. Lando’s hitting three locations at once—the barracks, the council hall, and the supply depot.”Sophia’s stomach twisted. “He’s cutting off our legs before we can stand.”Elijah nodded sharply. “Then we fight with what we have.”Outside, the city was chaos. Smoke curled into the sky as flames consumed buildings. The sound of c
The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 300. A Choice in the Dark
“You’re hesitating,” Lando said, his voice calm, confident. “That means you’re considering it.” Sophia’s hand curled into a fist at her side. Her body was rigid, her mind a battlefield of conflicting thoughts. The sounds of war echoed beyond the walls—the city was burning, people were dying, and Elijah was still out there, fighting a losing battle. Lando stepped closer, his tone smooth. “You and I both know he can’t win this. But you? You could save him.” Sophia forced herself to breathe, to think. She had come here to end this, not to be manipulated. “And if I say no?” Lando’s expression didn’t change. “Then Elijah dies tonight. Along with everyone who follows him.” Her stomach twisted. “You wouldn’t.” He tilted his head. “Wouldn’t I?” Sophia’s heart pounded. She needed time to think, to find another way, but time was the one thing she didn’t have. A commotion outside the war room made Lando’s eyes flick toward the door. The distant sounds of gunfire grew closer. So
The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 301. Welcome to the End
“You should’ve stayed down, Elijah,” Lando said, his voice smooth, taunting. “You’re fighting a war you’ve already lost.” Elijah didn’t lower his gun. His eyes flicked to Sophia—dirty, bruised, but alive. That was all that mattered. “I don’t lose,” Elijah said, his tone ice-cold. Lando smirked. “Then let’s test that.” With a flick of his wrist, his men raised their weapons. Elijah fired first. The room erupted into chaos. Sophia ducked, grabbing a fallen pistol from the ground. Cassian yanked her behind cover as bullets tore through the wooden railing of the staircase. “Do you always have to be in the middle of the worst situations?” Cassian muttered, reloading his weapon. Sophia gave him a dry look. “You’re here too, aren’t you?” Cassian smirked. “Fair point.” Elijah moved fast, cutting through Lando’s men with precise, ruthless efficiency. Doug and the rest of the soldiers pushed in behind him, forcing Lando’s forces back. Lando barely flinched. He drew his s
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357. No More Goodbyes
“Elijah…” A soft voice broke the quiet evening. Elijah stood at the edge of the city, watching the last light of the sun fade into the horizon. The sky burned with hues of orange and deep crimson, a reflection of the journey that had brought him here. The wind carried a familiar scent, one that stirred memories he had buried deep. Years had passed since the war ended. Evendore had changed under his leadership, rising from the ashes of corruption into something new. The people called him a legend—the Black Dragon who had defied fate and rewritten history. Statues had been built, songs had been sung, and yet none of it truly mattered to him. Because for all his victories, a part of him had remained empty. He turned at the sound of his name, his breath catching in his chest. Sophia stood a few feet away, bathed in the golden light of dusk. She had changed, yet she was still the same—strong, beautiful, and filled with a fire that had never faded. Her eyes held a depth that spoke
356. A New Dawn
“The world is finally changing, Sir.” Doug stood beside Elijah, overlooking the city from the tallest watchtower. Below them, the streets of Evendore bustled with life. Merchants called out their wares, children played freely, and workers repaired buildings that once stood in ruins. The scars of war remained, but hope had taken root. Elijah’s gaze swept across the city. “It’s changing, but not fast enough.” Doug crossed his arms. “Progress takes time.” Elijah exhaled, his shoulders tense. “Time isn’t always on our side.” The past few months had been filled with rebuilding, restructuring, and keeping order. He had expected resistance, and he was right. Not everyone welcomed the new Evendore. Former enemies lurked in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. A soldier approached, saluting. “Marshal, we have visitors at the southern gate. They claim to be old allies.” Elijah exchanged a look with Doug. Doug’s expression darkened. “Old allies? Or old enemies?”
355. A Leader’s Burden
“Elijah Norton, the world is waiting for your next move.” Elijah glanced up from the map spread across the table. Across from him sat an elder statesman, his expression calm but expectant. Others in the council chamber watched Elijah closely, their gazes filled with a mix of respect and uncertainty. Doug stood at Elijah’s side, his posture rigid. He could feel the tension in the room. The war was over, but leadership brought its own kind of battle. Elijah leaned back in his chair. “The world doesn’t need me to rule it,” he said. The elder gave a knowing smile. “Perhaps not. But it does need someone to guide it.” Elijah tapped a finger on the table. “Evendore must rebuild first. There are still families in mourning, cities in ruin. People need stability, not another ruler.” A younger council member frowned. “But without you at the forefront, chaos could return. Power-hungry men will see this as an opportunity.” Doug finally spoke, his voice firm. “The Marshal is not a kin
354. The Final Goodbye
“I have to leave.” Sophia’s voice was quiet but firm. The air in the room seemed to shift, as if even the walls understood the weight of her words. Elijah stood by the window, his back partially turned. He had expected this. The moment she woke up different, he knew. Still, hearing her say it felt like a blow he wasn’t ready for. Doug stood near the door, tense but silent. He watched his Marshal closely, waiting for his response. Elijah inhaled deeply before turning to face her. “Where will you go?” Sophia hesitated, as if the answer wasn’t clear even to her. “I don’t know yet. But I need to figure out who I am now.” Her fingers gripped the fabric of her sleeve. “Everything feels… wrong. Familiar, but different. I can’t stay like this.” Elijah studied her carefully. The woman before him was still Sophia, yet there was a distance between them, an invisible wall that had not been there before. Doug finally spoke, his tone careful. “Miss Sophia, the city is still in recover
353. A World Without Chains
“She’s waking up.” Elijah turned at Doug’s words. His hands, stained with ink from writing orders, clenched slightly. He had spent days dismantling the last of the corrupt families, ensuring Evendore would never fall into the same darkness again. But none of it had mattered more than this. He pushed the heavy door open, stepping into the dimly lit room. Sophia lay on the bed, her skin no longer deathly pale, but there was something… different. Her eyes, once warm and familiar, now held an eerie stillness. She blinked slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Elijah.” Relief surged through him, but it was laced with caution. He sat beside her, studying her carefully. “You’re awake.” She exhaled, as if testing the very act of breathing. “I feel… strange.” Doug remained near the door, standing guard as always. “Marshal, should I call the healer?” Elijah shook his head. “Not yet.” He looked back at Sophia. “What do you remember?” She frowned slightly, as though pulling me
352. The Price of Victory
"It's over." Doug's voice carried across the battlefield, but no one responded. The silence was heavy, broken only by the crackling flames and the distant groans of the wounded. Elijah stood still, staring at the Warden’s lifeless body. His hand was clenched at his side, his knuckles white. Victory had come, but at what cost? Doug stepped closer, his face grim. “Marshal, we should regroup.” Elijah exhaled slowly. “What’s the status?” Doug wiped the sweat and dirt from his forehead. “We won, but barely. Our forces are in bad shape. Too many losses.” He hesitated before adding, “Lando… he’s gone.” Elijah’s gaze snapped to him. “Gone?” Doug nodded. “Vanished after the fight. No one knows where he went.” Elijah’s jaw tightened. Lando had always been a threat lurking in the shadows. If he was still alive, this war wasn’t truly over. “We’ll find him,” Elijah said, though exhaustion pulled at his voice. Doug gave a firm nod. “Understood, Sir.” A sudden gasp made them tu
351. Breaking the Cycle
"You were never free, Elijah." The Warden’s voice echoed through the ruined battlefield. Dust and ash hung in the air, swirling around his towering figure. Sophia stood beside him, her expression unreadable. Elijah’s grip tightened on his sword. “Enough of your lies.” The Warden chuckled. “Lies? No, Marshal. Only the truth. You and Sophia—your entire existence has been leading to this moment.” He gestured around them. “Did you really think your survival was coincidence? That your strength was simply fate?” Elijah’s jaw clenched. He had spent years fighting, carving his own path through blood and loss. The thought that someone else had been pulling the strings made his stomach turn. Doug stepped closer, his breathing ragged. “Sir… don’t listen to him.” But Elijah had to know. “Explain.” The Warden smiled. “Very well.” He turned his gaze to Sophia. “You, my dear, are the key. The final piece of a long-buried project. Your blood, your abilities—none of it was natural.” So
350. A Battle of Ideals
“The choice was always yours, Elijah,” the Warden said, standing tall amidst the chaos. “And you chose wrong.” Elijah gritted his teeth, his fingers tightening around his sword hilt. The battlefield around them was in shambles. Soldiers clashed, blades rang, and shouts of agony filled the night. Smoke curled into the sky, and the ground was slick with blood. Doug and the others fought desperately, their forces barely holding on against the Warden’s elite warriors. The battle had tipped dangerously out of their favor, and Elijah knew it. He could hear Doug’s grunts of effort, the sharp clash of steel, but he kept his focus on the man before him. “You think I’d ever stand beside you?” Elijah growled, his eyes burning with fury. “You’ve destroyed lives, torn families apart. And for what? Power?” The Warden chuckled. “Power is what shapes this world, Marshal. Not honor. Not justice. You cling to those things like a drowning man clutching a broken raft.” He spread his arms. “But lo
349. The Last Betrayal
“Sir, we’ve got a problem,” Doug said, his voice tense as he approached Elijah. “Something’s wrong.”Elijah’s gaze shifted from the map spread out on the table to Doug, his expression already darkening. “What is it, Doug?”“There’s been a breach. A leak,” Doug said, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Someone’s been feeding information to the Warden. They knew our plans, our movements.”Elijah’s heart sank. He had always trusted the men and women under his command, but now, doubt crept in like a shadow. “Who?” he asked, his voice tight with anger.“I don’t know yet,” Doug replied, his voice steady. “But we’re working on it. We’ll find out who’s behind this.”Elijah clenched his fists. “They betrayed us. They’ve been working for him all along.”Doug nodded grimly. “Yes, Sir. The Warden knew exactly when to strike. It’s too perfect.”The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the camp, and Elijah’s attention shifted. Sophia appeared, her face pale and her eyes wide with worry. “Elijah,
