The Wrath of the Unchained-Chapter 100 - A Hidden Storm

A week passed in a blur of activity, and training for the deployment had begun. Fifty men were carefully selected from the Abyssinian navy, each chosen not for brute strength, but for something far more valuable: adaptability. Their mission was clear — blend into crowds, recognize threats before they materialized, and master the codes and signals that would allow them to vanish when needed.

They didn’t need to be the best fighters. They needed to be ghosts.

Khisa personally drilled into them the importance of their role. No speech, no ceremony — just hard, relentless training. This operation would depend on precision, subtlety, and discipline.

Among the recruits, Biruk had made a surprising choice. Instead of remaining with the regular ranks, he requested to join the intelligence squad. Khisa had accepted without hesitation. Over the past few months, Biruk had grown tremendously, learning under the Shadows and Khisa himself. From a small border village to now, standing shoulder to shoulder with the best Abyssinia had to offer — Biruk was proof of how much one person could change when given purpose.

Now, Biruk was about to embark on the most dangerous mission of his life: moving thousands of slaves through enemy territory, checkpoint by checkpoint. They had only a month to prepare for an undertaking that would alter the course of history. But they would be ready.

In the command tent, Khisa sat with his 18 Shadows. The Shadows from Massawa and Zeila had already returned, battered but alive. Now, they were all gathered, the full strength of Nuri’s elite intelligence unit.

Khisa’s eyes swept over them, pride burning in his chest. Each one had fought beside him through fire and blood. Now, he needed them more than ever.

"Musyoka, Akumu, Tiriki," Khisa began, his voice low but steady. "You did well. You have earned your rest. I’m sorry to ask you to go back so soon. You have a month here to recover before the next phase begins — and it will be harder. Much harder."

He paused, letting the silence sink in. "I will personally make sure our communications improve. No more delays. No more room for error."

Musyoka grinned, leaning forward. "I’m ready to break those slavers apart, Prince Khisa. Just say the word." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"Me too," Akumu added fiercely. "Seeing what they did... and not being able to act... it was killing me. I won’t disappoint you."

Khisa gave a small smile, pride and worry warring in his chest.

"Alright," he continued. "Time for the debrief."

He stood, hands behind his back. The air in the tent grew heavier.

"A week ago, I told you the importance of this mission. Hundreds, possibly thousands of lives depend on what we’re about to do. We cannot afford mistakes. Betrayal by merchants, a single captured messenger — any one of those could doom us all."

He stepped closer, his gaze steady. "That’s why I need you to promise me something: survive. Whatever happens, survive."

The Shadows shifted uneasily, but said nothing.

"I don’t care if you have to abandon a post, or betray the Abyssinian soldiers if it means staying alive. I brought you here. You’ve fought by my side for years. I intend to bring all of you home. Together. Alive."

For a long moment, there was only silence. Then, slowly, Simba stepped forward.

"You don’t have to do that, Prince Khisa," he said quietly. "We followed you because we trust you. So trust us as well. It would kill us to see you change your principles for us. Your mission... your dream is bigger than ours. You are the bridge that will drive the invaders out. Our lives are precious, yes. But you — you will change the world. You already have."

He bowed his head slightly, and the rest of the Shadows followed, nodding in silent agreement.

Khisa swallowed hard. Their loyalty, their belief in him, weighed heavier than any burden.

[You’ve raised your Shadows right, Khisa. It’s good to see they have your back,] Ayaan said quietly, her voice filled with pride.

Khisa took a deep breath and nodded.

"I’m glad I have you," he said simply. "Now, let’s get to work."

He spread a large map across the command table. Pins and notes marked seven possible checkpoint locations. They would have to move quickly and invisibly, coordinating hundreds of slaves without alerting the slavers or the Adal forces.

"We need to start preparing supplies at these locations. But first, we must secure them. Each team will have about five local helpers at the checkpoints — lookouts, coordinators with merchants. Beyond that, we need to tap into the invisible layers of society: orphans, beggars, cripples, street kids. Those no one notices. They will be our eyes and ears."

Khisa pointed to the first group.

"Musyoka, Akumu, Tiriki — you are now the Drift Squad. You will split up, embedding yourselves in different merchant caravans. Your job is infiltration: gather intelligence on slave hubs, sabotage operations if possible. You’ll be alone most of the time. If you’re in danger, retreat to the nearest checkpoint. Do not risk yourselves trying to save slaves directly. Maintain your cover at all costs."

They nodded grimly.

He continued, assigning the rest of the missions:

"Jelani and Simba: Old fortress ruins. Hostile territory. Secure it discreetly."

"Musimbi and Wasike: Forest route. Watch for hunter traps. Clear and mark safe paths."

"Nia and Bakari: Seaside cliffs. Unknown security — tread carefully."

"Zuberi and Kiprop: Abandoned farmland inland. Perfect for feeding our people and providing long-term cover."

"Faida and Onyang’o: Catacomb temple ruins. Dangerous, but perfect for hiding large groups if secured."

"Zara and Waweru: Coastal villages. Civilians will help maintain your cover."

"Cherono and Barasa: Swamps. Difficult terrain, but strategic for ambushes and disappearing movements."

Khisa straightened.

"Tesfaye will brief you further on the precise locations after this meeting. Over the next week, I will also train you in a new set of codes — rotating codes that will change weekly, and private emergency codes for us alone."

He looked them all in the eyes.

"If anything feels off — a strange merchant, a helper acting suspiciously, or any hint of a traitor — use the private codes to warn us. Trust your instincts."

He tapped the map again, adding a new layer to the plan.

"In addition," he said, "we will create decoy convoys. Groups of fake slaves and disguised fighters will move openly in false directions. Their job is to attract attention and draw enemy forces away from the real paths. They won’t engage — their goal is to be seen, then vanish into the wilderness."

The Shadows murmured approval. It was risky but brilliant.

"Each checkpoint will also have secondary messengers," Khisa continued. "If primary communications are compromised, fallback couriers — young runners trained in our codes — will activate to relay updates. And if a checkpoint is burned or captured, each team will have pre-designated dead-drop sites to leave messages without being detected."

He leaned in, voice low and firm.

"Redundancy. Confusion. Layers of protection. We must make the enemy chase shadows while we move reality under their noses."

This time, the room truly felt alive. Every Shadow could see it now: the shape of victory taking form.

"This will not be easy. Some of you will be alone. Isolated. You will see things you can’t stop. Save who you can without losing yourselves. This mission must succeed — not for glory, not for revenge — but because every life we save brings us one step closer to breaking the chains forever."

The Shadows rose, one by one, saluting him. There was no need for more words.

They understood.

War had already begun. It was now a war fought in the shadows.

And they would be the storm.

"Let them hunt shadows," Khisa said, his voice like steel. "While we deliver freedom."