In another part of the city, Marcus stood in a darkened room, his arms crossed as he listened to the report from one of Dean’s informants.“The Dud’s grown stronger,” the informant said, his voice shaking slightly. “He’s got some kind of... spectral beast with him now.”Marcus frowned. “A beast?”“A wolf,” the informant clarified. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. Glowing, silent, dangerous.”Marcus turned toward the window, his gaze fixed on the city below. “And Dean knows about this?”The informant hesitated. “I... haven’t told him yet. Thought it best to bring it to you first.”Marcus nodded slowly. “Good. Keep quiet about this for now. Dean doesn’t need distractions.”“But what do we do?” the informant asked.Marcus’s lips curled into a faint smile. “We let the Dud think he’s winning. And when the time comes, we'll remind him who holds the real power.”---Back in the alley, the group rested briefly.“You think Dean’s already heard about this?” Luthor asked, glancing nervously at

Vardy stared back at Tracy, “I do..” he muttered before stroding off.“Damn it!” Tracy sighed. “I just can't believe all this.”“What is the problem?” Luthor asked weakly, his voice barely audible as Ferah helped him sit against a wall.“Just rest…” Tracy said and strode off.Selene gestured toward the city around them. “Corruption, power struggles, people too scared to fight back. Dean’s hold on this place is strong, but there are others waiting to take his place the moment he falls. If we’re not careful, we’ll end up replacing one tyrant with another.”“And you think you have the answers?” Vardy asked, his tone sharp.“I have a plan,” Selene said, her smirk returning. “But it’s going to require more than brute force and your fancy undead tricks. We need allies, influence, leverage.”“You’re talking about politics,” Ferah said, her voice filled with disdain.“Exactly,” Selene replied, unbothered by Ferah’s tone. “Haven’s chaos is its strength and its weakness. If we want to win, we

Zayn led Vardy through the winding alleys of Haven, the rain continuing to fall around them. The spectral wolf stayed close to Vardy’s side, its glowing eyes scanning the shadows.“Dean’s got a shipment coming through tomorrow night,” Zayn said, his voice low. “Weapons, supplies, the works. It’s all moving through the south docks.”“And you know this because?” Vardy asked.“Because I was supposed to oversee it,” Zayn replied.Ferah and Tracy caught up to them, their expressions wary as they flanked Vardy.“You trust him?” Ferah asked bluntly.“No,” Vardy said. “But I’m listening.”Zayn smirked faintly. “That’s a start.”---At the docks, a group of workers moved crates onto a waiting shipA man in a dark coat watched from the shadows, his sharp eyes taking in every detail.“Everything’s on schedule,” one of the workers said, glancing at the man.“Good,” the man replied. “Make sure it stays that way.”---As they reached a small hideout, Zayn stopped and turned to face Vardy.“This is

Kael stood in a dimly lit chamber beneath Haven, addressing a group of Altanas. Their weapons were pointed and sharp.“Dean wants the Dud dead,” Kael said, her voice cold and commanding. “We find him, corner him, and take him out. No mistakes.”The Altanas nodded silently, their loyalty unwavering.Kael smirked. “Let’s show him what happens when you cross Dean.”—As night fell over Haven, Vardy stood at the entrance of the cave, his gaze fixed on the distant city. The spectral wolf sat beside him.“Dean won’t stop until we’re all dead,” Ferah said, joining him.“Then we don’t give him the chance,” Vardy replied.In the shadows behind them, Tracy and Selene exchanged a glance.“This is only going to get worse,” Tracy said quietly.Selene nodded. “And if we’re not careful, we’ll lose him before the fight even begins.”“The Altanas are coming, we should get ready for them..” Vardy said and sprang to his feet, moving away.—-Marcus approached Dean, his expression grim.“The Altanas are

Vardy leaned back in his chair, exhaustion creeping into his voice. "Every time we make progress, he finds a way to pull ahead.""That’s what men like him do," Selene said, her tone matter-of-fact. She moved closer, her dark cloak trailing behind her. "They keep you on the defensive until you’re too tired to fight back. And then they crush you.""Cheerful as always," Ferah muttered.Selene smirked faintly but didn’t respond.Tracy leaned forward, her hands resting on her knees. "If we can’t take him head-on, what’s the plan? Because we can’t just sit here waiting for him to make the next move."Vardy didn’t answer immediately. His eyes drifted back to the map.DEAN'S CHAMBER Dean stood in his lavish chamber as Marcus stood nearby, his expression grim as usual."They’re saying the Dud is still out there," Marcus said.Dean turned."Let them talk," he said dismissively. "It doesn’t matter. When the time comes, they’ll see what true power looks like."Marcus hesitated. "The artifact, ar