Chapter 06

Chapter 06

Ambush on the Adinkra Highway

Two days after the alley fight, Judah received new orders:

Another escort mission.

This time: Minister Ansah himself.

Security level: high.

Destination: a private estate outside the city.

Judah’s breath stalled. A contract meant real work. Real danger. Real pay. It meant stepping into the world of the elite—those who used spirit gangs as both shields and swords.

It meant responsibility.

The convoy rolled onto the Adinkra Highway, an elevated road cutting through the forested outskirts. Judah rode shotgun in the front SUV, mask on, senses sharp.

Captain Nuru’s voice crackled through the comms:

“All units, maintain formation. We have reports of strange spirit activity in the southern districts. Stay alert.”

Judah felt the Dralio stir uneasily.

Something watches, it murmured.

The trees blurred by. The night grew strangely quiet.

Then—the lights ahead blew out.

Every single one.

The highway plunged into darkness.

“Eyes up!” Nuru barked.

A roar—unnatural, echoing—shook the air.

Judah’s heart stopped.

From the treeline, shapes emerged.

Huge shapes.

Wolves.
Not ordinary ones—these were spirit-forged, glowing with sandy energy, eyes like dim lanterns.

“The Sand Wolf Syndicate,” Judah hissed.
“But why leave their territory?”

One massive sand-wolf creature leaped onto the lead SUV, claws cracking the windshield.

Chaos ignited.

The wolves collided with the vehicles. Tires screeched. Metal crumpled. Bodyguards fired stunners and spiritual bolts. Wolves dissolved into sand only to reform behind the cars.

Judah kicked open his door and leaped out onto the road.

A wolf lunged. Judah dodged and slammed a fist into its snout—the Dralio’s power flaring red on impact. The creature exploded into dust.

Three more circled him.

Use me, the Dralio urged. Release our fire.

“No,” Judah growled. “Not yet.”

They attacked.

Judah moved like a flame—fast, unpredictable, striking with fierce precision. For every wolf he destroyed, two more formed from the sand.

“Judah, fall back!” Nuru shouted from behind.
“Stay with the convoy!”

But it was too late.

The largest wolf—twice the size of the others—rose from the sand, its mask carved with ancient desert symbols.

It spoke, voice gritty and deep.

“Red Lion… the desert remembers you.”

Judah froze.

“What do you mean?”

The sand-wolf snarled.
“Ask your elders. Ask them about the dynasty you are destined to crown… or destroy.”

Then it lunged.

Judah barely raised his arms before it hit him like a collapsing mountain. The impact sent him flying across the highway, skidding across asphalt.

Pain screamed through him.

The Dralio roared.

Judah felt heat explode in his veins.

He stood—barely—and flames spiraled around him.

“Judah! Control it!” Nuru yelled.

But Judah couldn’t.
Not this time.

The Dralio burst through him, eyes blazing gold.
His roar shook the forest.

He charged the sand-wolf king with blinding speed—
A single punch shattered it into a storm of glittering dust that swallowed the highway.

The world went silent.

Then the wind died, the flames faded, and Judah collapsed onto the asphalt, breathing raggedly.

Captain Nuru rushed to him.

“Judah… what was that?!”

Still trembling, Judah whispered only one thing:

“The Sand Wolves knew me… before I ever put on this mask.”