It wasn’t about power or money or survival in a warzone. It was about fear, about living with someone who was supposed to protect you but became your worst nightmare."You did what you had to do," Jeremy finally said, his voice low. "To survive."Mary looked up at him, her expression full of sorrow but also something else—hope. For the first time, someone didn’t look at her like a murderer or a victim. Jeremy saw her for what she was: a survivor."Thank you," she whispered, her voice shaking. "For listening."Jeremy gave her a small nod. "We all have ghosts," he replied quietly, his eyes flickering with an understanding that came from his own haunted past. "But you don’t have to carry them alone."*_*James Detroit's roar echoed through the empty streets, the ground still trembling from the impact of his fist. His bloodshot eyes, burning with frustration and fury, searched in vain for any sign of Jeremy. The shadows where his opponent had been moments ago were now eerily still, the p

“They did what?!” Bazel Detroit's voice boomed through the lavish halls of the Detroit mansion, rattling the chandelier above like a low thunderstorm. His anger filled the room like a suffocating fog, and his son, James, stood rooted in place, torn between fury and shame. James had never seen his father so livid. He was just as enraged himself—how could they have let it happen? How could someone have stolen the key right out from under their noses? He clenched his fists, trying to contain the fire of frustration that threatened to consume him.“I don’t know who did it!” James snapped, though his tone was more desperate than defiant. “We have no clue. No one saw a thing. It was clean, almost… supernatural.” Bazel glared at his son from behind the heavy oak desk, his eyes burning with an intensity that could melt iron. “No clue? No opening? You’re telling me that nothing slipped? How were they dressed? How did they attack? For God’s sake, there has to be something—anything!” His voic

Celicia’s eyes darted back and forth between Jeremy and Kade, trying to piece together the subtle tension that hung in the air. "Who are these two, really?" she wondered, her mind racing. There was something oddly familiar about their dynamic, something deeper than the surface animosity. She could sense it, even though neither of them had said much. "And what does Kade want with Jeremy" The pressure he was putting on him was obvious, and it gnawed at her curiosity.Just then, Jeremy’s eyes met hers, pulling her out of her thoughts. His gaze was softer than Kade’s, a bit more vulnerable. The moment lingered a second too long, and Celicia felt her cheeks flush slightly. She quickly looked away, embarrassed by how easily she had been caught staring.“Are you okay?” Jeremy’s voice broke through her awkwardness, his tone gentle.“Um, yeah...” she muttered, trying to regain her composure.Jeremy tilted his head, studying her face as if searching for something deeper. “I hope it’s not beca

Jeremy sat in the chair across from Jessica and Elijah, the soft hum of the guild’s ambient magic pulsing through the room. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the air between them grew heavy. Jeremy knew he couldn't delay this any longer. Clearing his throat, he straightened his posture, eyes locking with Jessica’s first, then Elijah’s. "I need to come clean about something,” he began. Their brows furrowed slightly, both of them leaning in, sensing the shift in tone. "What I told you about my strength during the incident with the Freaks in the dungeon... it wasn’t entirely true." Jessica raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she glanced at Elijah, who maintained his calm yet penetrating gaze. "What do you mean by that, Jeremy?" Elijah asked, suspicion lacing his voice. Jeremy stood, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small, obsidian key. Its surface glimmered with faint purple light. He walked closer, the key resting in his palm. Both guild leaders tensed, th

The tunnel echoed with slow, deliberate footsteps. Each step felt like a countdown, reverberating through the cold, dank air. Jeremy’s breath hitched in his throat as he heard the low, guttural growl echo from the shadows. His grip tightened on his sword, sweat beading on his forehead.**[A ranked Werewolf Hybrid]**The system's cold voice made it clear. This was no ordinary opponent. Emerging from the shadows was a creature that appeared almost human, but its face—oh, its face—was covered in blood, and a fresh heart dropped from its hand, hitting the ground with a wet thud.“This will be fun!” the hybrid grinned, revealing sharp, bloodstained fangs as its glowing red eyes fixed on Jeremy and Elijah.Jeremy felt his pulse quicken. "This is serious. I need to go all out right from the start," he thought, his heart pounding in his chest. Elijah, on the other hand, stood calm and poised, his sharp gaze trained on the hybrid as if analyzing every twitch of its muscles. "Stay behind me,