Chapter 14 – Echoes of Fire and Shadow
The aftermath of the explosion echoed through the distant outskirts like a warning bell. A tremor rippled outward, unsettling the earth beneath Frank and Elias' feet.
Frank stumbled slightly, instinctively planting a hand on the nearest wall. "You felt that?"
Elias turned sharply, his eyes narrowing. "What the hell was that?"
The sky shimmered faintly as dust clouds curled into the air, far off but potent. They shared a glance—tense, unspoken, yet immediately agreed.
"We're heading back," Elias said firmly.
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At the Inn – Later That Night
Tayla paced by the window of their rendezvous point—an old, creaky inn lit by warm lantern glow. Joel sat quietly nearby, arms folded, watching the flickering shadows dance across the walls. Neither had encountered anything during their infiltration.
Then the door creaked open.
Frank entered first, Elias behind him—clothes singed, sleeves torn, and blood caked across their arms. They looked like they had wrestled a dragon and barely survived.
"Yeesh," Tayla muttered. "You two look like hell."
Joel raised a brow. "What happened to stealth?"
Frank collapsed into a chair with a groan. "Let's just say the welcoming party wasn't so welcoming."
Elias smirked faintly but said nothing. The rest of the group settled in as Kaido joined them. Raymond came last, slipping in quietly.
Raymond looked frustrated. "We couldn't retrieve the main data. Explosion wiped out the systems. Best we got were some photos of the lab... maybe that's something."
Kaido crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "So much for intelligence. Just a bunch of scraps."
Raymond's lips curled into a slight grin as he reached into his coat. "Not quite."
He revealed a slim black flash drive. "Before things went south, I managed to copy most of the lab files."
Kaido blinked. "You what?"
Raymond chuckled. "Call it Plan B."
Frank looked up, a small smile playing on his bruised face. "That's the smartest thing anyone's done today."
---
Somewhere Else – Hidden Encampment
The hideout was shrouded in unnatural darkness. The torches lining the stone walls burned a cold blue. Figures in deep brown cloaks stood around a table carved from ancient obsidian.
Spike sat in a corner, her arm wrapped in bloodied bandages. She sat cross-legged, her head bowed, whispering words no one could hear.
"You failed," a low voice growled. The leader—Jack—stood tall, his head shaved clean, a scar running down his cheek.
Spike didn't even glance up. She continued her murmuring until Jack slammed a fist on the table.
"We gave you a directive—kill the target. You had one job!"
She looked up slowly. Her golden eyes narrowed beneath her dark fringe. "You didn't give me enough information."
Jack's teeth clenched. Around them, other warriors—sharing her tanned skin and strange, shimmering eyes—watched in silence.
"You're one of our best," he snapped. "That skill—Vance gave it to you. You had everything you needed."
Spike stood up slowly. "And yet, he… that boy, he replicated me. Matched me blow for blow. You sent me in blind."
Another figure leaned forward—a female warrior twirling a dagger between her fingers. "Maybe he's evolving… faster than we thought."
Jack's head tilted suddenly. A low hum radiated from him as his eyes glowed faintly blue. Everyone froze.
"Jack?" the dagger-wielding woman asked.
He inhaled sharply. "New directive. From Lord Vance."
Spike stepped forward. "What is it?"
Jack looked up, voice grim. "We're not to kill him anymore. The order has changed. Capture and convert the target."
Spike's expression twisted. "You want us to what?"
Jack met her gaze. "You heard me."
"…Fine," she hissed. "It shall be done."
---
La Jar – Royal Council Room
The great hall was sleek, ornate, and awash in holographic projections. Frank and the others stood before a semicircle of cloaked council members, while the king of La Jar observed from an elevated throne.
A massive screen projected images of mutated beasts. The first twisted form snarled on the screen—labeled: Warped Mooncrawler – Spatial Distortion.
Next appeared:
Oblivion Hydra – Biological Regeneration
Glass Strider – Invisibility and Phase-Walking
Crimson Myrrh – Induces Blood Rage on Nearby Creatures
"These are just a handful of the anomalies we've documented," said one councilwoman. "Their abilities grow stranger by the day."
Frank furrowed his brow. "These mutations… they're not random, are they?"
Raymond stepped forward. "During our infiltration, we encountered an organized faction. They worship someone named Vance."
Elias added, "Our attacker mentioned the same name. 'Hail Vance,' she said, before she disappeared."
Murmurs filled the chamber. One man tapped at his console and pulled up images of several terrorist attacks across the continent—all marked by the same serpent sigil… and a name written in blood: VANCE.
Frank flinched, just slightly.
Linda, a stern councilwoman with piercing eyes, narrowed her gaze. "Frank… are you alright?"
He didn't answer immediately. A cold chill traced his spine.
I don't know if I should tell the council about it actually been my name...Earth names should be rare in this world right?....
He thought....
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To Be Continued…