“Then let that choice guide you, General. The Empire’s future rests on shoulders strong enough to bear its weight.”

  Lu Sang turned away, his gaze sweeping over the fortress courtyard now firmly in his control. Soldiers gathered the surviving rebels, their captains issuing orders to secure the area. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting the scene in hues of orange and red—a stark contrast to the blood-soaked ground.

  He strode to the fortress steps, the power within him simmering down, leaving a faint, unsettling hum. At the top of the stairs, a small group of his officers awaited him, their faces reflecting both triumph and apprehension.

  Captain Jin, a grizzled veteran with scars across his face, saluted crisply. “The fortress is ours, General. But we’ve found something... troubling.”

  Lu Sang’s brow furrowed. “Show me.”

  They led him deeper into the fortress, through narrow hallways lined with fading banners and cracked stone walls. The air was damp, carrying a faint metallic tang that set Lu Sang’s nerves on edge. At st, they reached a heavy iron door, partially ajar.

  Inside was a chamber that radiated unease. At its center stood a pedestal bearing a bck, crystalline orb that pulsed faintly, as if alive. Around it, the bodies of rebel soldiers y scattered, their faces frozen in expressions of terror. The air buzzed with an unnatural energy, and Lu Sang’s mark burned faintly on his hand.

  Cao Suyin, who had followed closely, gasped softly. “What is this?”

  Captain Jin shook his head. “We don’t know. The rebels appeared to be guarding it, but whatever this... thing is, it’s beyond us.”

  Lu Sang stepped closer, his every instinct screaming caution. The orb seemed to react to his presence, its pulsing growing stronger, faster. The mark on his hand throbbed in time with the rhythm, and for a moment, he felt something—a voice, faint and whispering, brushing against the edges of his mind.

  “General, don’t,” Cao Suyin warned, her hand on the hilt of her sword.

  But Lu Sang couldn’t pull away. The whispers grew louder, more insistent, words he couldn’t quite decipher but that carried a sinister allure. He clenched his fist, forcing himself to step back, breaking the orb’s hold.

  “This is no ordinary artifact,” he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. “It’s connected to the Bck Hand. Destroying it may weaken their grip—but handling it carelessly could unleash something far worse.”

  Captain Jin exchanged a look with the other officers. “Then what’s the pn, General?”

  Lu Sang’s gaze hardened, the resolve returning to his voice. “We seal this chamber. No one goes near it without my direct order. If the Bck Hand values it this much, then it’s both a weapon and a weakness. We’ll use it against them—on our terms.”

  Cao Suyin hesitated before nodding. “A dangerous gamble, but one worth taking if it shifts the bance in our favor.”

  As they left the chamber, Lu Sang’s thoughts churned. The Bck Hand’s reach extended deeper than he’d imagined, their influence not just in people but in the very fabric of the Empire’s secrets.

  But as he stood once more on the fortress steps, looking out over his soldiers and the nd beyond, he felt the fire reignite within him. The challenges ahead would test him, but he would not falter.

  The Empire’s enemies would fall, one by one, until its honor was restored—even if it meant walking the razor’s edge of light and darkness.

  The echoes of the battle still lingered as Lu Sang’s forces secured the fortress. Smoke rose from scattered fires, mingling with the metallic tang of blood and the acrid scent of burnt wood. His soldiers moved with grim efficiency, tending to the wounded, securing prisoners, and fortifying the newly captured stronghold. The sun, now lower in the sky, cast long shadows across the courtyard, adding a somber hue to the scene.

  Lu Sang stood on the fortress wall, overlooking the surrounding nds. From this vantage point, the countryside stretched endlessly, the hills rolling in a tranquil facade that belied the chaos that had just unfolded. Cao Suyin joined him, her footsteps soft against the stone.

  “The fortress is ours,” she said, her tone carrying both pride and weariness. “But the cost...” Her voice trailed off, and her eyes flicked to the courtyard below, where soldiers carried their fallen comrades to a makeshift pyre.

  Lu Sang’s grip tightened on the battlements. “Every victory carries a price, Suyin. But these sacrifices are not in vain. Each step we take brings us closer to freeing the Empire from the Bck Hand’s grip.”

  She studied him, her expression unreadable. “You speak of victory as though it’s inevitable. But have you considered what that victory might cost you?”

  He turned to her, his eyes sharp. “What are you trying to say?”

  Cao Suyin hesitated, as though weighing her words carefully. “The old man’s warning—the rebel commander’s words—do they not give you pause? You wield a power that could consume you, Lu Sang. Are you certain you can control it?”

  Lu Sang looked away, his jaw tightening. The truth was, the power within him was a constant presence, a double-edged bde that both strengthened and haunted him. He had felt its pull during the battle, the way it had heightened his reflexes and fueled his strikes—but also the subtle whisper, urging him to unleash more, to let it take over.

  “I don’t have the luxury of doubt,” he said finally, his voice low. “This power is a tool, nothing more. It doesn’t define me.”

  Cao Suyin pced a hand on his arm, her touch grounding. “Just promise me you’ll remain vigint. I’ve seen men lose themselves to far less.”

  Before he could respond, a scout approached, his armor dusted from the march. He saluted briskly. “General, we’ve captured the rebel leadership. They’re being held in the lower chambers.”

  Lu Sang nodded. “Good. I’ll speak with them immediately.”

  Cao Suyin followed him as he descended the stone stairs, the air growing colder as they moved deeper into the fortress. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the narrow corridors until they reached a heavy iron door guarded by two soldiers. With a nod from Lu Sang, the door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room where three rebel leaders were chained to the walls.

  Their faces bore a mixture of defiance and exhaustion. One, a woman with fiery red hair and piercing green eyes, met Lu Sang’s gaze without flinching. Another, a grizzled man with a scar running down his cheek, sneered. The third, a younger man who couldn’t have been older than twenty-five, kept his head bowed, his expression unreadable.

  Lu Sang stepped forward, his presence commanding. “You’ve lost,” he said, his voice firm. “Your rebellion ends here. But your lives don’t have to.”

  The scarred man spat on the ground. “Spare us your mercy, Empire dog. You’re no savior—you’re just another pawn of the Bck Hand.”

  The red-haired woman’s eyes narrowed. “You think defeating us will change anything? The Bck Hand’s roots run deeper than you can imagine. They’re already inside your ranks, your councils. You’ve won nothing but a hollow victory.”

  Lu Sang ignored their taunts, focusing on the younger man. “And you? Do you share their defiance, or are you willing to see reason?”

  The young rebel hesitated, his chains rattling as he shifted. “I fought because I believed in something,” he said quietly. “But now... I’m not sure what I believe anymore.”

  Lu Sang nodded slowly. “Belief is a powerful thing. But blind belief can be dangerous. You have a choice—help us rebuild the Empire, or cling to a rebellion that’s already crumbled.”

  The young man looked up, his eyes searching. “And what of the power you wield, General? Can you promise it won’t corrupt everything you fight for?”

  Lu Sang’s expression darkened. “I can’t promise perfection. But I can promise that I will fight for an Empire free of corruption, even if it means fighting against the darkness within myself.”

  The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging heavy. Finally, the young rebel nodded, his chains clinking softly. “If you mean what you say... then I’ll stand with you.”

  The scarred man growled in frustration, but the red-haired woman tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “You speak as though you’re immune to the Bck Hand’s influence. But tell me, General—what will you do when their shadow falls over those you care about?”

  Lu Sang’s gaze hardened. “I’ll burn that shadow to the ground.”

  He turned sharply, signaling for the guards to secure the prisoners. As he and Cao Suyin stepped back into the corridor, she regarded him with a mixture of admiration and concern.

  “You’re walking a fine line, Lu Sang,” she said. “But for what it’s worth, I believe in you.”

  He paused, meeting her gaze. “Then let’s ensure that belief isn’t mispced.”

  As they returned to the courtyard, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky in hues of crimson and gold. The fortress, though battered, stood as a symbol of their first step toward reciming the Empire. Yet Lu Sang knew the road ahead would only grow darker.

  For in the shadows of the battlefield, the Bck Hand watched—and waited.