Conquering Planets: Rise of the Cosmic Tyrant-Chapter 8: Work in Progress

They got to work.

The tunnels leading into the mines were narrow—perfect for bottlenecking an attacking force. They reinforced the entrances with fallen rocks and wooden barricades.

Traps were set—spiked pits, collapsing tunnels, and hidden tripwires designed to break the enemy before they even reached the heart of the mine.

Weapons were sharpened. Bows were strung. Every rebel, from the youngest recruit to the oldest veteran, prepared to fight.

But they needed more than traps.

They needed a plan.

Aldric studied the map, his mind racing. The mines had three exits—one main entrance, one smaller tunnel that led into the valley, and a hidden shaft deeper in the caverns.

That was their advantage.

If Cedric’s men attacked head-on, they could lure them into a trap—then escape through the side tunnels and hit them from behind.

Aldric’s lips curled into a grim smile. It was risky—but so was everything they’d done so far.

The Enemy Approaches

At dawn, the first scouts arrived.

Aldric stood at the entrance, watching from the shadows as three riders crested the hill in the distance. They wore Cedric’s colors—black and gold—wolves hunting prey.

Elya crouched beside him. "I can take them."

Aldric shook his head. "Let them come closer."

The riders approached slowly, their eyes scanning the forest. Looking for tracks. For signs of movement.

One dismounted, kneeling to inspect the dirt. He frowned.

And then—

An arrow whistled through the air, burying itself in his throat.

He collapsed without a sound.

The second rider barely had time to react before another arrow struck him between the ribs.

The third turned his horse to flee—

But Valerian stepped from the trees, sword flashing. One clean strike, and the rider slumped forward, lifeless.

The forest was silent once more.

Elya nudged one of the bodies with her boot. "So much for scouts."

Aldric exhaled. "Cedric will notice when they don’t return."

Valerian wiped his blade clean. "Then we better be ready."

A Desperate Strategy

By midday, a messenger arrived.

A young boy, barely twelve, breathless and pale

---

The sun was barely rising when the first warning came.

A lone scout, breathless and covered in dust, stumbled into the cavern. "They’re coming," he gasped. "Cedric’s army. A full battalion."

Silence fell.

Aldric clenched his fists. He had expected them to come—but not this soon.

"How long do we have?" Valerian asked, already reaching for his sword.

"By sundown, maybe less."

A ripple of tension moved through the rebels. Some exchanged uneasy glances, others checked their weapons.

Elya exhaled sharply. "Then we don’t have time to wait."

Preparing for War

There was no more room for doubt.

Aldric gathered his commanders around the wooden table, maps spread before them. "Cedric will come through the main valley. It’s the only clear path."

Valerian nodded. "Then that’s where we hold them."

Elya crossed her arms. "And if they flank us?"

Aldric traced his fingers along the edges of the map. "That’s why we don’t fight them head-on. We make them bleed for every step forward."

The plan was simple—but deadly.

Step one: Lure the enemy into the valley.

Step two: Strike from above. Arrows, rolling boulders, anything they could use.

Step three: If the battle turned against them, they would retreat into the mines, drawing Cedric’s forces into their traps.

It wasn’t a perfect plan. But it was the only one they had.

The Calm Before the Storm

The rebels moved swiftly.

Archers took positions on the cliffs, hidden among the trees. Traps were laid—spiked pits covered with leaves, narrow choke points lined with sharpened stakes.

Every man and woman prepared for battle.

Aldric walked among them, feeling the weight of command settle on his shoulders. He saw faces young and old, some gripping swords with steady hands, others trembling.

They were farmers, blacksmiths, and thieves—not soldiers. But tonight, they would fight like an army.

Valerian approached, his expression unreadable. "They’ll break us if we let them."

Aldric met his gaze. "Then we don’t let them."

A small smile tugged at Valerian’s lips. "Damn right."

The First Strike

The sun dipped below the horizon.

A distant rumble echoed through the valley. Hooves. Marching feet. The sound of steel against steel.

Then—torches.

Hundreds of them. Flickering like fireflies in the darkness.

Cedric’s army had arrived.

Aldric crouched behind a boulder, heart hammering in his chest. He could see their banners—black and gold, fluttering in the evening breeze.

The enemy advanced slowly, unaware of the death waiting above them.

Aldric raised his hand. A signal.

A single arrow cut through the night.

Then—chaos.

Boulders crashed down, crushing men beneath them. Arrows rained from the cliffs, striking soldiers before they could react.

Screams filled the valley.

The trap was working.

Cedric’s men scrambled for cover, but the narrow pass left them nowhere to run.

Aldric turned to his men. "Now!"

The rebels charged.

Blood and Fire

Steel met steel.

Aldric’s sword cut through the first enemy he reached, blood spraying across his face. Around him, the rebels fought with desperation.

Elya was a blur, twin daggers flashing as she weaved through the enemy ranks. Valerian fought like a man possessed, his greatsword cleaving through armor.

For a moment—it looked like they could win.

Then—Cedric’s reinforcements arrived.

More soldiers

---

Aldric’s sword clashed against steel, the force of the impact rattling his bones. He barely had time to twist away before another enemy lunged at him, a heavy axe whistling through the air where his head had been a moment before.

The valley had become a battlefield of fire and blood.

Arrows rained from the cliffs above, cutting down Cedric’s soldiers before they could regroup. The narrow terrain worked against them, their numbers forcing them into a tight formation where they could barely swing their weapons.

But Cedric’s men were disciplined, and the sheer weight of their numbers was beginning to show.

Aldric ducked, rolled, and slashed upward. His sword bit deep into the exposed neck of a soldier, and the man collapsed with a gurgling choke. But even before the body hit the ground, another attacker was already moving in.

There was no time to breathe.

To his left, Valerian fought like a demon, his massive sword carving through armor and flesh. Each swing was precise, each movement practiced. He had trained for this.

Elya moved like a shadow, weaving through the chaos with her twin daggers. She was too fast for them. Too unpredictable. One moment she was in front of an enemy, the next she was behind him, her blade already at his throat.

But for every soldier they cut down, more took their place.

And that was the problem.

The rebels had surprise and terrain on their side, but Cedric’s forces had endless reinforcements.

If this turned into a battle of attrition, they would be wiped out.