The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 195

**TITLE: A Symphony of Shadows by Evelyn Hart**

**Chapter 195**

In the midst of chaos, Nova was playing a dangerous game of pretense, feigning ignorance of Maxwell and Hannah’s presence. It was a calculated risk, one that she hoped would keep them safe from the lurking dangers of their surroundings.

As she navigated a gruesome path strewn with lifeless bodies, her mind echoed with Lionel’s ominous words. She was on the verge of becoming the most wanted target on the training ground, a label that would draw the eyes of every enemy lurking in the shadows.

Staying close to her would only amplify their peril.

Yet, her resolve was tested.

“Yellowcat,” she whispered, her voice barely rising above the din of the battlefield.

“Boss,” Yellowcat replied, leaning in closer, his eyes glinting with a mix of loyalty and determination.

Unlike Eder and Fierce Python, who had earned her trust over time, the new recruits of the Blood Doll Corps remained enigmatic to her—save for Yellowcat. He was an exception, a flicker of reliability in a storm of uncertainty.

She lowered her voice, ensuring only he could catch her words. “Head back. Protect Maxwell and Hannah from the shadows. If the opportunity arises, get them out of here.”

Yellowcat nodded, understanding her urgency. “Got it!” he affirmed, his voice steady.

With a swift flicker of movement, he vanished into the surrounding darkness, blending seamlessly with the night.

Above her, the sky loomed heavy and gray, the sun retreating behind a curtain of clouds, surrendering the world to the encroaching darkness. Yet, the night was not devoid of life; it thrummed with tension.

“Rat-tat-tat—” The sharp crack of gunfire shattered the stillness, reverberating through the air like a sinister symphony.

“Bang! Bang!” The sounds of explosions and artillery shells punctuated the night, tearing through the dense forest, each blast a reminder of the chaos unfolding around her.

The path ahead was fraught with danger, littered with the remnants of battle. Corpses lay sprawled in grotesque positions, their lifeless forms a grim testament to the violence that had unfolded.

Kill zones bristled with mortars and shoulder-mounted rocket launchers, transforming the landscape into a deadly maze. Bullets rained down incessantly, a relentless barrage that left no room for error.

Nova stood resolutely atop a thick branch, high above the carnage. Her grip tightened around the eight-power scope, her eyes narrowed in focus as she relayed orders to Eder, Sham, and the rest of the squad.

“Enemy gunner spotted. Two thousand five hundred feet out, wind speed seven point two feet per second, strength two, three o’clock,” she stated with precision, her voice cutting through the chaos like a knife.

Eder, ever diligent, aligned his sniper rifle with the target, his focus unwavering.

“Fire!” Nova commanded, her tone leaving no room for hesitation.

The air crackled with anticipation as Eder squeezed the trigger.

“Whizz!” The bullet sliced through the darkness, finding its mark with deadly accuracy, striking the enemy gunner squarely in the skull as he manned the cannon.

Before them lay an enemy kill zone, tightly secured and brimming with hostility. As long as that gunner remained operational, their path forward was barred.

Through the lens of her scope, Nova watched as the gunner crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

“Whizz!” But the reprieve was short-lived; a counter-sniper shot whistled through the air, aimed directly at her forehead.

As they delved deeper into the forest, ambushes awaited them at every turn, the dead accumulating like fallen leaves in autumn. These were all fresh recruits, each one unprepared for the nightmare that had unfolded.

One by one, they began to flee, accusations flying as they pointed fingers at one another, fear overtaking their reason. Some even began to suspect their companions were actually Bloodforge in disguise, paranoia gripping them tightly.

Right beneath Yellowcat’s vantage point, Zane, Ethan, Maxwell, Hannah, and the rest of their group huddled together, a small island of survival amidst the chaos. They had managed to remain unscathed thus far, avoiding the darker depths of the forest where the masked man lurked.

“This is the only way we can help Nova out!” Zane insisted, his voice resolute.

Currently, Zane sat beside the campfire they had hastily built, the flickering flames casting shadows around them. The warmth felt comforting, but the urgency of their situation loomed larger.

“Maxwell, I agree with you—if we want to avoid dragging Nova down, we have to figure out a way to get out of here,” he continued, frustration evident in his tone.

“But you saw it yourself—we’ve searched everywhere, but there’s just no way out,” Maxwell countered, his brow furrowed in thought.

Back at Saint Laurel Royal Academy, Zane had been the captain of the Taekwondo Club, while Maxwell led the Free Combat Club. In terms of skill, they were nearly equals, but when it came to strategy, Maxwell, the older brother, often outshone him.

Maxwell was the type to believe that sometimes the best course of action was to remain still, to wait for the right moment.

Zane, however, was driven by an insatiable competitive spirit, an unyielding confidence that refused to let him sit idle. The thought of Nova facing such danger alone filled him with dread.

“I can’t just sit here and do nothing!” he declared, his voice rising slightly above the crackling fire.

He turned to Maxwell, challenging him in front of the entire group. “But I don’t agree with your plan to just stay put. We need to keep our distance from Nova to avoid dragging her down. Didn’t you hear? Ever since Bloodforge—the leader of the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps—showed up, everything has escalated. The trial has become much more brutal, and the death toll has skyrocketed.”

Zane’s eyes burned with determination. “Nova’s in even more danger now. What I mean is, we need to work from the shadows and track down Bloodforge. If we can get Bloodforge to leave, only then can we truly help Nova!”