2025-02-01 15:19:03Vardy 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, are you sure it’s worth the risk? The cost?"
Dean’s lips curled into a cold smile. "It’s not just worth it. It’s necessary. With the artifact in my hands, no one will stand against me. Not Vardy, not the people, not anyone."
In the slums, a young boy moved through the streets, clutching a piece of bread in his small hands.
Behind him, two men shouted, their heavy boots pounding against the ground as they chase after him.
"Thief!" one of them shouted.
The boy grasped, his legs burning as he pushed himself to run faster.
He turned a corner and collided with a cloaked figure, the impact sending him sprawling to the ground.
The figure knelt, its face hidden by a hood. It placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder, the voice calm. "Easy, kid."
The men rounded the corner, skidding to a stop when they saw the figure.
"This doesn’t concern you," one of them said, his tone threatening.
The figure stood slowly, revealing a dagger in their hand. "Leave," they said simply.
The men hesitated, but when they saw the blade, they had no option.
Without another word, they turned and fled.
The figure looked down at the boy, handing him a small coin pouch. "Get somewhere safe," they said before disappearing into the shadows.
“Wow…who was that?” The boy whispered to himself, staring down at the coin pouch in his hand.
He watched the figure go, he turned back from where he ran out from, checking if he was being followed.
He zoomed off almost immediately.
---
"We need to move soon," Ferah said, pacing near the fire. "Every day we wait, Dean gets stronger."
"And every move we make risks exposing us," Tracy countered.
"That’s enough," Vardy said. “We’ll act when the time is right. Not a moment before."
Selene, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke. "It might be too late for that."
The room turned toward her.
"What do you mean?" Vardy asked.
Selene stepped forward, her eyes locking onto his. "Dean’s after something. An artifact. Powerful, ancient. If he gets it, everything changes."
"What kind of artifact?" Ferah asked, her voice skeptical.
Selene shook her head. "I don’t know all the details. But I know this, it’s the kind of power that could tip the scales in his favor for good."
Vardy’s expression darkened.
"You’re sure about this?" he asked.
Selene nodded. "The whispers in the city are clear. He’s already making moves to secure it."
"Oh no!" Vardy lamented, his voice filled with dread.
"I’ll help," Selene said suddenly.
All eyes turned to her. Vardy’s brow furrowed, his grip on the edge of the table tightening as he studied her.
Ferah crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. Tracy leaned forward slightly, her spear resting across her knees, waiting for Selene to speak further.
"You’ll help?" Ferah repeated, her tone sharp. "Since when do you just offer help without some angle?"
Selene’s lips curled into a faint smirk, her eyes glinting in the dim light. "You know me too well."
"So what’s the catch?" Tracy asked, narrowing her gaze.
Selene shrugged lightly. "No catch. Just terms."
"Terms," Vardy echoed, his tone wary. "What kind of terms?"
Selene leaned against the wall, crossing one leg over the other. "I know where to start looking for the artifact. But I’ll only take you to the lead under one condition."
"Here it comes," Ferah muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Only if you escort me to a safe haven beyond Haven City," Selene said, her voice calm but firm. She glanced at everyone in the room, her smirk fading into something more serious.
The room fell silent. Even the spectral wolf, usually restless, sat still, its glowing eyes fixed on Selene.
Vardy leaned forward, his eyes locked on Selene. "You want us to risk everything to get you out of Haven? Why? What’s so special about this ‘safe haven’?"
Selene’s smirk returned, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "Let’s just say I’ve made a few enemies in this city. Staying here isn’t exactly in my best interest."
Ferah scoffed, her frustration bubbling over. "Unbelievable. You want us to babysit you while we’re trying to stop Dean from tearing this city apart?"
"You need me," Selene said simply, her tone unwavering. "Without my help, you’re chasing shadows. With it, you might actually stand a chance."
Tracy shook her head, her expression torn. "We don’t have the time or resources to split our focus like this."
"And we don’t have a better lead," Vardy countered, his voice firm.
Ferah turned to him, her eyes blazing. "You can’t seriously be considering this."
"I am," Vardy said. "Because if she’s telling the truth, this artifact could change everything. And if Dean gets it first, we’re done."
Luthor, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke.
"Maybe we should hear her out," he said carefully. "If she really knows where to start, it’s better than wandering around blind."
Ferah threw her hands up in frustration. "Of course you’d say that."
"It’s not about trusting her," Luthor said calmly. "It’s about the bigger picture."
"And the bigger picture is that we’re already stretched thin," Tracy said. "If this goes wrong—"
"It won’t," Vardy said, cutting her off. "Because we won’t let it."
Selene raised an eyebrow, her smirk returning. "So, what’s it going to be? Do we have a deal?"
---
Marcus stood in Dean’s chambers, delivering his latest report.
"The Dud’s been spotted again," Marcus said. "He’s moving more cautiously, but his group is still holding together."
Dean leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes narrowing. "And the artifact?"
"The search teams are closing in," Marcus replied. "It’s only a matter of time."
Dean’s lips curled into a cold smile. "Good. Let the Dud play his little games. When I have the artifact, it won’t matter what he does."
Marcus smirked, “I bet he'll be so scared right now.”
Dean smirked, his gaze distant.
“But, I heard about his Army… The Altanas were no match for it..” Marcus stated. “I wonder who they were…”
“I heard they were the undead army..” Kael muttered from a corner.
Dean froze.
“Undead Army?”
---
Selene’s offer was hanging heavy in the air.
Finally, Vardy broke the silence. "We’ll escort you," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "But you’re not calling the shots. We move on my terms."
Selene’s smirk widened, and she gave a mock bow. "As you wish, fearless leader."
Ferah groaned, muttering something under her breath as she moved to the other side of the room.
"You’re going to regret this," she said, though her tone lacked its usual bite.
Tracy sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I hope you’re right about this, Vardy. For all our sakes."
---
In the slums, a family sat together by the fire, careful with their words.
The father, a wiry man with tired eyes, stared out the window at the darkened streets.
"Things are changing," he said quietly.
His wife looked up from where she was tending to their youngest child. "What do you mean?"
"The Dud," he replied. "They say he’s fighting back. Taking down Dean’s men one by one."
"And what good will that do us?" she asked, her voice bitter. "We’ll still be here. Still struggling to survive."
"Maybe," he said. "But if he can stop Dean... maybe things will be different." The man muttered.
“I hope so..” The woman said, staring into distance.
---
As the group prepared, Selene approached Vardy, her expression serious, though calm.
"You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that," she said.
"Save the compliments," Vardy replied, his tone even. "Just do your part."
Selene chuckled softly. "Fair enough. But you should know, this artifact isn’t just another weapon. It’s... different. Dangerous."
"Everything about this is dangerous," Vardy said.
Selene’s smirk faded, replaced by a rare flicker of concern. "Just be ready for what we might find."
"I always am," Vardy replied, though the weight in his voice suggested otherwise.
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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
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“When do we attack?” Ferah asked.“Right now!” Vardy said.“But, we just left there, people would still be there…” Tracy said, staring straight at Vardy.“More reason we have to go back,” Vardy said.Tracy heaved, not knowing what to say again.“We go now!” Vardy said and motioned towards the mouth of the cave, as Selene followed.“No Selene, you have to stay back..” Vardy said, gesturing for her to stay.“Why?” Selene asked, a bit confused.“Dean mustn't see you, else it'll be brutal and Luther…” Vardy glanced at Luther who was resting on the wall.“What about him?” Selene asked.“You have to look after him..” Vardy muttered, his eyes convincing.Soon, Vardy and the rest stormed out with the rest, their faces hidden.The spectral wolf padded silently at Vardy’s side, its glowing eyes scanning the shadows.“Stick to the plan,” Vardy said, his voice low but commanding.Ferah nodded, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. Tracy tightened her grip on her spear, her expression grim.T
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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
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The system’s voice continued, unrelenting.“You’ve seen what you’re up against. Dean’s empire, the Altanas, the corruption eating Haven alive. You’ve only scratched the surface of your potential. Let me show you the rest.”“I don’t need you,” Vardy muttered under his breath.“Don’t you?” the voice countered. “Your power has already grown because of me. The spectral wolf, your magic, your resilience. Do you think that came from you alone?”Vardy’s jaw tightened. “I’ve fought for everything I have. Nothing was handed to me.”“And yet, you’re here because of me. Without the System, you’re just a man with a grudge. With me, you’re something more. You could be unstoppable.”The words were tempting, like a melody he couldn’t ignore.---In a distant part of Haven City, Marcus paced round a fire place.“You’re sure about this?” he asked, his tone edged with doubt.A woman seated near the fire nodded, her dark eyes glinting in the light. “Dean’s orders were clear. If Vardy is still in the cit
Chapter 44: The Hidden Library
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
Chapter 43: I Can’t Let Him Die
“Just go on with it..” Vardy responded.“Vardy, don’t,” Ferah said, her voice pleading.“We don’t have a choice,” Vardy replied, his tone grim.Selene reached into her cloak and pulled out a small bottle of liquid. “This will keep him alive. But it’s not a cure. He’ll still need time to heal.”Vardy nodded. “Do it.”Selene uncorked the bottle as she poured it onto Luthor’s wound. The effect was immediate. The bleeding slowed.Luthor’s breathing steadied, his eyes fluttering open.“You’re going to be okay,” Ferah said, her voice trembling.“Thanks,” Luthor whispered weakly, his eyes closing again as exhaustion overtook him.Vardy stood, his gaze locking onto Selene. “You’ll get your favor,” he said, his voice cold.Selene smiled faintly. “I know.”Ferah knelt beside Luthor, her hands trembling as she adjusted his bandages. Tracy leaned against a crumbling wall, her spear still in her hand, though the battle had long since ended.Vardy stood rigid, his gaze fixed on Selene.The spectra
Chapter 42: The Baited Trap
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
