Chapter 5: First Strike

Over the next few weeks, Elara and Kade trained with the rebels. She learned to fight, to navigate the shadows, and to wield weapons she'd never dreamed of using. Life above ground was harsh, but it was theirs to shape.

One evening, Raya gathered the group around. "Tonight, we strike. We'll hit one of the Ascendant's resource stations. It'll be a message they can't ignore."

Elara felt her heart race as they prepared for the raid. For the first time, she would stand against the system that had kept her underground her entire life.

Under the cover of darkness, they moved silently through the wasteland, their target gleaming in the distance. The resource station was heavily guarded, but with Raya's guidance, they slipped past the security. Elara felt a thrill of purpose as she planted a device that would disable the station's power grid.

The raid was swift, efficient. Alarms blared, and they barely escaped as explosions lit up the night sky behind them. As they ran, Elara felt a mix of terror and exhilaration—she was finally fighting back.