Side Story 4.31 - Victory Claimed

Hans’s POV

The faction’s hideout was buried deep within the ruins of an old settlement, its stone walls worn and cracked from time. The air was thick with the scent of damp wood, rusted metal, and something else—fear. They knew we were coming.

I stood at the entrance, the leader’s token clenched in my fist. The symbol of their power, now nothing more than a discarded relic. My grip tightened as I stepped forward, my boots crunching against the gravel. The remaining faction members had gathered in the courtyard, their faces shadowed in flickering torchlight. Some looked wary, others furious.

They were expecting their leader.

Instead, I tossed the token onto the ground. It landed with a dull clink, rolling slightly before coming to a stop. Silence followed.

Then the whispers started.