⚔️ **CHAPTER 68 — The Gauntlet Expands**
The forest ended. Beyond it lay jagged hills, crumbling ruins, and narrow ravines—a perfect hunting ground. The Council's ambush had escalated: **five generals and multiple operatives** coordinated to crush them from every angle. Mist swirled like living smoke, hiding attacks until they were almost upon the group.
Kael staggered forward, body screaming, hunger and exhaustion gnawing—but **Centering and Iron Mind worked together**, keeping him upright, focused, alive.
Veyrath observed silently from a ridge, watching Kael thread balance through chaos.
But Kael wasn't alone this time. His companions were more than protection—they were **active forces**, each with a skill sharpened under desperation.
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**Caelin**: sword drawn, moving like a shadow. Every strike precise, every guard predictive. He cut paths for the group, intercepting Rhayel's swift assaults and forcing Tavric to redirect his attacks. Where Kael's skill kept him alive, Caelin's skill **kept the battlefield from swallowing them whole**.
**Mireya**: shield raised, unmatched endurance. She used terrain to her advantage, deflecting attacks from the flanking Council operatives while creating cover for Kael. Her experience as a border guard let her **predict ambushes before they fully formed**, buying crucial moments.
**Tomas**: silent and nimble. The information runner moved through shadows like water, striking at Soryn's mental probes indirectly. He threw knives to break focus points, **forcing the Mindbreaker to recalibrate constantly**. His speed kept Kael and the others from being mentally cornered.
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The first strike hit like a storm. Rhayel lunged at Kael, blade flashing. Kael sidestepped using Centering, Iron Mind filtering the mental chaos from Soryn's attack.
Tavric slammed a fallen tree toward Caelin. Caelin twisted, slashing Tavric's wrist with precision, redirecting the log safely past Kael and Mireya.
Soryn reached into Kael's mind—memories, fears, Lysa's death—but Tomas threw a small knife that disrupted the psychic flow, giving Kael the fraction of a second needed to **thread Iron Mind's filter and stay upright**.
Mireya intercepted an ambush from behind, using her shield to shove an operative into the misty ravine. Kael adjusted mid-step, avoiding Rhayel's next strike by pivoting through Caelin's sweeping guard.
Every motion, every strike, every dodge was **a team calculation**: Kael balanced body and mind, Caelin cleared paths, Mireya controlled the battlefield edges, Tomas disrupted enemy coordination.
Despite exhaustion, Kael found himself smiling grimly. For the first time, he realized **survival didn't have to be solo**. Each companion amplified the value of Centering and Iron Mind.
By the time the generals began to retreat, frustrated and regrouping, the team had survived multiple simultaneous attacks. Bruised, bloodied, exhausted—but alive.
Kael sank to one knee, sweat and blood streaking his face. "We survived… together," he said, voice hoarse.
Veyrath crouched beside him. "This is only the beginning. You've evolved your mind, your balance… but coordination, trust, and timing—these are your greatest weapons."
Caelin wiped his sword. "And we're ready to follow, no matter how far they push us."
Mireya exhaled slowly. "For now, we're alive. That's all that matters."
Tomas leaned against a rock, chest heaving. "Alive… and still dangerous."
Kael nodded, looking toward the jagged hills where the next ambush would surely come. His Centering and Iron Mind had kept him upright, but his companions' skills had **turned desperation into a tactical advantage**.
For the first time, Kael realized that survival wasn't just about resisting the storm—it was **about using the storm as a weapon**, together.
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