Rune moved like a shadow, a phantom in the industrial gloom. The warehouse, despite its apparent chaos of supplies and busy workers, was a labyrinth of potential cover for someone with his unique abilities. He flattened himself against stacks of salvaged machinery, his mutated skin shifting to absorb the dull, metallic sheen, making him almost invisible in the low light.
His enhanced senses picked up fragments of conversations. Workers grumbled about long hours and meager rations. Overseers barked orders, their voices laced with an edge of fear. The Night Hunters Guild wasn't just a scavenging crew; it was a tightly controlled organization.
He followed the most active pathways, tracking the flow of goods and personnel. His crimson eyes scanned for anything out of place – a hidden door, a secure office, or perhaps a leader's personal quarters. His instincts, sharpened by both survival and his evolving power, screamed for him to find the source, the head of this serpent.
Deep within the warehouse, beyond a section filled with strange, glowing crystals humming with a faint, unnatural energy, Rune found what he was looking for. A heavily reinforced door, guarded by two more Awakened, their energy signatures stronger than any he'd encountered so far in the guild. One exuded raw kinetic force, the other seemed to drain ambient light, creating pockets of deeper darkness around him.
Rune pressed himself against the cold metal, listening. Muffled voices filtered through the thick door. He distinguished a booming male voice, and then, unmistakably, a woman's voice – sharp, cold, and utterly familiar.
"The latest haul is sufficient, Warden," the woman's voice cut through the muffled sounds. "But the Leader demands more. The... experiments require constant feeding."
Rune's mutated heart hammered against his ribs. Experiments? And the "Leader" they spoke of...
Then, the booming male voice responded. "Seraphina is right, Guild Master. We need to push harder. Vorn's demands are increasing, and our tribute isn't enough."
Seraphina. The name hit Rune like a physical blow. She wasn't just a traitor; she was a key figure here, a leader within the Night Hunters Guild, coordinating with Vorn. The web was more intricate, more insidious than he had imagined. This wasn't just about revenge against a few betrayers; it was about unraveling a larger conspiracy, one that might explain the very nature of the apocalypse, or at least how certain factions were thriving within it.
A cold, calculating fury settled over Rune. He had stumbled upon something far greater than he expected. The "experiments," the "tribute" to Vorn, Seraphina's deep involvement. It all pointed to a darker truth.
He wouldn't just tear down Vorn. He would dismantle this entire network, piece by bloody piece, until every single secret was laid bare, and every single betrayer was accounted for. The Night Hunters Guild was more than just a target; it was his first step into the heart of the world's rot. And Seraphina, the serpent who had charmed her way into his trust, would be the first to truly understand the horror of a predator reborn.