My Life Changed with the Unlimited System

The sun was beginning its slow descent when Squad Nine, clad in simple traveler's garb, reached the edge of the first town near the ridge. The town of Brookhaven, as it was called, was the kind of place that rarely made its way onto maps—a modest collection of timber houses with thatched roofs nestled alongside a babbling stream.

To any passerby, it was unremarkable. But to Squad Nine, it was the first piece of a puzzle they had been sent to solve.

Captain Richard Cole walked at the head of the group, his posture relaxed but his eyes as sharp as a hawk's. His broad shoulders and steady gait made him look every bit the seasoned soldier he was, even when dressed as an unassuming merchant.

Behind him trailed Tanner, whose spotless disguise—complete with a polished walking stick—suggested he had missed the memo about blending in. Mara, on the other hand, wore her drab cloak with practiced ease, her auburn braid tucked neatly under her hood.

And then there was Elias. The ill-fitting tunic he had borrowed from the barracks didn't quite match his wiry frame, and he couldn't seem to decide what to do with his hands. For a brief moment, he had thought of carrying a sack over his shoulder.

Still, Tanner's scornful look had swiftly dissuaded him. Instead, he held a small bundle of supplies that seemed just heavy enough to justify his awkward shuffling.

"Keep your eyes open," Captain Cole murmured, his voice low enough to blend with the rustling of the trees. "We're merchants, remember? Curious but cautious. Stay in character."

"Yes, sir," Tanner replied, his tone as crisp as his appearance. Mara gave a curt nod while Elias mumbled something that sounded like agreement.

The road leading into Brookhaven was quiet, save for the occasional chirp of a bird or the distant bark of a dog. The townspeople they passed were a mix of wary and indifferent, their eyes flicking over the strangers with the guarded curiosity of those who had seen one too many unfamiliar faces of late.

"Doesn't seem like much of a threat," Elias whispered to Mara as they neared the town square. He regretted the comment almost immediately when Mara shot him a look that could have pierced steel.

"It's never the places that seem like a threat," she said in a tone that suggested she'd learned that lesson the hard way. "Pay attention."

The square itself was a modest affair—a stone well at its center, surrounded by a few market stalls offering goods ranging from bread to crude tools.

A blacksmith worked nearby, the rhythmic clang of his hammer echoing across the town. Children darted between the stalls, their laughter a brief respite from the otherwise subdued atmosphere.

Captain Cole stopped at a fruit stand, inspecting a basket of apples with feigned interest. "Two coppers," the vendor said, her eyes narrowing as she sized him up.

"Fair price," Cole replied, his tone friendly. He handed over the coins and took an apple, biting into it with the casual air of someone with nowhere to be. But Elias, standing a few paces behind, knew better. Cole's every movement was deliberate, his eyes scanning the square for anything out of place.

Tanner, meanwhile, struck up a conversation with the blacksmith about the quality of his wares. His voice carried just enough admiration to make the smith lower his guard, though Elias suspected Tanner was far less interested in horseshoes than he appeared.

Mara hung back near a wooden bench, fiddling with a loose thread on her sleeve as her sharp eyes tracked the townspeople's movements.

Near the town's central well, a group of children played a game with a wooden hoop, their laughter cutting through the uneasy silence. One of the boys—a wiry lad with unruly hair—caught sight of Elias and stopped mid-play, his stick dropping to the ground.

"You're not from around here," the boy said bluntly, stepping closer. His sharp gaze seemed out of place on such a young face.

Elias hesitated, forcing an easy smile. "Just passing through. My… group deals in goods. Nothing exciting."

The boy tilted his head, studying him as though weighing the truth in his words. "You don't look like a merchant," he said, narrowing his eyes.

"Not much of one, to be honest," Elias replied with a nervous chuckle. "Still learning the ropes."

The boy said nothing, his gaze lingering for a moment longer before he turned abruptly and darted down a side alley. Something about the interaction didn't sit right with Elias.

Maybe it was the way the boy's sharp eyes had seemed to look right through him, or maybe it was how he had left in such a hurry. Either way, Elias felt a strange pull—an instinct he couldn't quite ignore.

Glancing quickly toward his squadmates, who were still spread out in the square, Elias made a split-second decision. He slipped into the alley after the boy, keeping his distance and moving as quietly as the uneven cobblestones would allow.

The boy moved with purpose, taking several quick turns that led deeper into the quieter part of town. Elias followed, his heart thudding in his chest as the narrow streets gave way to a small, secluded courtyard. At its center stood a modest warehouse with weathered wooden doors and no sign to suggest its purpose.

Elias ducked behind a stack of barrels at the edge of the courtyard, peering out just in time to see the boy knock on the warehouse door. The knock wasn't random—it was deliberate, a series of three quick taps followed by a pause and two more.

A moment later, the door creaked open, and a man in a tattered cloak stepped out.

"You need to be careful," the boy said in a hushed but urgent tone. "There are groups of people claiming to be merchants wandering into town."

The man frowned, his voice low but audible to Elias's straining ears. "What about the group we're expecting? Have they arrived yet?"

"Not yet," the boy replied, shaking his head. "But I don't think they'll be long."

Elias's breath caught. The exchange was brief, but it was enough to spark suspicion. The man's guarded tone, the boy's warning, and the secrecy of the warehouse—none of it felt ordinary.

It wasn't hard to piece together that these men were likely connected to the enemy movement Squad Nine had been sent to investigate.

The door closed, and the courtyard fell silent once more. Elias lingered for a moment longer, his mind racing with questions, before choosing to get a better view of what was inside the warehouse.

Elias took a deep breath and edged closer to the warehouse. His heart pounded like a drum, but he forced himself to focus. Every step needed to be silent, every movement deliberate.

It was in moments like these that the grueling weeks of training at the camp began to make sense. The climbs that had seemed impossible, the stealth drills that had left him bruised and exhausted—they had prepared him for this. Well, mostly.

The narrow alley provided enough shadows to keep him concealed, but he still felt exposed. He hugged the wall, his wiry frame helping him slip into a less visible position.

With a glance upward, he spotted a large window high up on the warehouse wall. The wooden planks framing it were old but sturdy enough to support his weight, and the ledge looked just wide enough to crouch on.

"This better hold," he muttered under his breath as he gripped the uneven surface of the wall and began to climb.

The rough stone bit into his palms, but his progress was steady. Elias wasn't the strongest recruit, but what he lacked in brute force, he made up for with quickness and determination.

His training hadn't been perfect, but it was enough to get him up the wall without making too much noise. As he reached the window ledge, he pulled himself up and crouched low, his breath shallow as he peered inside.

What he saw made his stomach twist.

The warehouse was larger than it appeared from the outside, its interior dimly lit by hanging lanterns that cast flickering shadows across the wooden beams.

At least twenty men moved about the space, their movements purposeful and efficient. Crates lined the walls, their tops pried open to reveal rows of firearms glinting dully in the lamplight. Rifles, pistols, and boxes of ammunition—it was a stockpile large enough to arm a small battalion. Read new chapters at empire

Elias's eyes darted from the crates to the men. Some were dressed as ordinary laborers, but others wore uniforms that were unmistakable—the insignia of the enemy soldiers emblazoned on their sleeves.

A jagged emblem, black and red, stood out starkly against the drab fabric. It was the mark of the Feroshian forces, the formidable enemy nation that had waged relentless war across the continent of Korradel for over a decade.

Elias's mind raced as he took in the scene. The Feroshians were known for their ruthless tactics and efficient organization. A hidden supply depot like this wasn't just a coincidence—it was a foothold, a strategic piece in a much larger game.

"This place," Elias thought, his fingers gripping the edge of the window tightly, "isn't just a weapons stash. It's a staging ground. If they're here, they're planning to use this town. Maybe as a base. Maybe for supplies. Or…" His heart sank at the thought, "Maybe to take hostages."

His jaw tightened. The thought of the townsfolk—ordinary people just trying to survive—being caught in the crossfire made his blood run cold.

The children playing in the square, the blacksmith at his forge, even the suspicious vendor at the fruit stand—they were all at risk if the Feroshians made their move.

Elias leaned closer to the glass, his breath fogging the surface slightly. He needed more details—something he could bring back to Captain Cole, something actionable.

But getting caught here would be a death sentence, not just for him but possibly for his entire squad. The stakes were higher than they'd ever been, and for the first time, Elias truly understood the weight of the mission.

He stayed crouched, his mind whirling with a mix of fear and determination as he tried to decide his next move.

*Author's Note*

Hey everyone! Just a quick update: I've been going through all the feedback you've been giving me, and I want you to know that I'm editing this series to make it even better.

Your thoughts and suggestions have been super helpful in shaping the story, so thank you for sharing them! Every comment and piece of advice really means a lot and helps me improve.

If you're enjoying the series and want to see even more polished, top-quality chapters, I'd love your support. Please consider voting with Power Stones, sending gifts, and dropping some Golden Tickets my way.

All of that goes a long way in motivating me to bring you the best of the best!

Thanks so much for reading and sticking with me. Let's keep making this story amazing together!

Cheers,

Noah Caelum