WebNovels

Chapter 9 - Steel and Shadows

Midnight draped the eastern slums in black.

Jona crouched on a rooftop overlooking the Priolo outpost. Three stories below, mech-guards marched in clockwork patterns. Gas lamps cast harsh pools of light. The outpost was a converted warehouse, reinforced with steel plates and glowing runes.

Beside him, Marcus studied the patrols with dark, calculating eyes.

"Four guards at the main entrance," Marcus whispered. "Two patrols circling every six minutes. One rooftop sentry."

"Runes?"

"Detection wards. Trigger on metal and hostile intent." Marcus pointed to faint glowing lines. "Vex-style deceptions. Illusions masking real locks. Touch wrong, alarm screams."

Jona watched the patterns. Memorizing. The primer waited inside, third floor. Guarded. Locked. Trapped.

Getting in requires perfect timing. Getting out requires audacity.

A patrol passed below. Two guards chatting.

"...heard the shadow-boy's hiding in Fennec."

"Coward. Kills Lord Jin and runs."

"Captain Kiarra will find him. Gold doesn't hide forever."

Jona's jaw tightened. Let's see who's hiding when I'm stealing from under your noses.

"Rooftop sentry," Marcus breathed. "Far east corner. Shift change in three minutes."

Jona followed his gaze. Guard standing alone. Perfect isolation.

"I'll handle him. Need to test something."

He moved across rooftops. Silent. Dark Evasion made him faster in shadows. Each jump lighter. Each landing softer.

The sentry never heard him coming.

Jona used Shadow Slip.

Three heartbeats of darkness. Phased behind the guard. Reformed. Activated Shadow Bind while wrapping shadows around his hand simultaneously.

The darkness responded differently. Instead of simple restraints, shadows coiled like chains. Living metal made of void. They wrapped the guard's mouth, arms, legs. Complete immobilization.

[Fusion Activated: Proto-Shadow Chains]

[Bind + Slip + Enhanced Control = Advanced Restraints]

[Duration: 15 seconds - Target Completely Restrained]

The guard's eyes bulged. Muffled sounds through shadow-gag. He struggled but chains held like iron.

Jona's blade found armor gaps. Quick. Silent.

[Combat Complete - Stealth Kill Bonus: +50 XP]

[Proto-Shadow Chains: First Combat Success]

He lowered the body behind ventilation. Wouldn't be found until morning.

Marcus appeared. "What was that?"

"Shadow Chains. Fusion upgrade." Jona flexed his fingers. Power hummed beneath skin. "Stronger control. Better restraints."

"Lethal."

They studied the outpost. Three floors. Multiple windows. Detection wards glowing along every entrance.

"Tomorrow night," Jona decided. "Come prepared. Disable wards. Enter through roof."

"Ambitious."

"That's survival."

The Hollows stank of oil and desperation.

Jona and Marcus descended into black market depths. Vendors hawked stolen goods. Somewhere, a fiddle played off-key.

They found the weapons dealer in a back alcove. Rat-faced man with greasy hair and calculating eyes flashing recognition.

"Looking for stealth gear," Jona stated.

The dealer's expression shifted. Predatory. "Ah. Discerning clientele." He pulled out a vial. Gray liquid swirling inside. "Stealth potion. Reduces presence. Only five gold."

"Five gold for colored water?" Jona picked up the vial. Sniffed. "Diluted Silence essence mixed with ash. Worth two silver. Maybe."

The dealer's smile cracked. "You insult my merchandise?"

"I insult your intelligence thinking I'm stupid enough to pay fraud prices." Jona set the vial down. Picked up a knife with faint runes. "This enchantment's half-complete. Binding fails after three uses."

"It's perfectly..."

"It's garbage preying on desperate Houseless." Jona's voice cut cold. "Here's economics: You sell me that potion for one silver. Throw in a proper enchanted knife. Or I tell every vendor in the Hollows you're peddling defective cons. Reputation dies. Business dies. You die broke."

The dealer's face reddened. "You threaten..."

"I educate. One silver. Proper knife. Or walk and watch your livelihood crumble."

Silence stretched. Then the dealer deflated.

"Fine. One silver. Take the knife." He thrust them across. "Houseless trash."

"Houseless smart enough to see through amateurs." Jona pocketed the items. Grinned sharp. "Pleasure destroying your con."

Marcus followed him out, lips twitching.

"You enjoyed humiliating him."

"Absolutely."

[Items Acquired: Stealth Potion, Enchanted Knife (+2 damage, 5 charges)]

[Face-Slap Achievement: Vendor Humiliation - Reader Satisfaction Boost]

The compound training yard rang with thunder.

Tomas swung wild. Eyes red. Bloodlust surging. His fist cratered a training dummy. Wood exploded.

Renna watched from the side, crossbow ready. "Don't die testing, idiot. Shadows need your wits together."

"Touching," Jona called back. Then to Tomas: "Again. Control it. Don't let it control you."

Tomas roared. Charged. Pure aggression.

Jona used Shadow Slip. Phased sideways. Reformed. Activated Shadow Chains.

Darkness erupted. Wrapped Tomas's arms and legs.

[Shadow Chains: Active]

[Restraint Strain: 60%]

Tomas struggled. Raw strength threatening to break chains. Veins bulging.

[Restraint Strain: 75%]

"Breathe," Jona commanded. Voice steady. "Feel the rage. Don't fight it. Channel it."

[Restraint Strain: 85%]

"I can't!" Tomas's voice broke. "Too strong!"

"It's only as strong as you let it be." Jona stepped closer. Risky. "You're not the rage. You're the man controlling it. Train the rage or the monster claims you. I've seen it happen. Watched Bloodlust addicts become walking corpses. You're choosing different."

[Restraint Strain: 88%]

For one heartbeat, nothing changed.

Then Tomas's breathing slowed. Red faded. Muscles relaxed.

[Restraint Strain: 70%]

[Restraint Strain: 55%]

Chains dissipated.

Tomas fell to his knees. Exhausted. Eyes clear.

"I felt it. Had control. Just for a moment."

"That's progress." Jona pulled him up. "Mozzeri bloodline demands loyalty through understanding, not cruelty. Shadows corrupt if we let them. We choose light through darkness. That's strength."

[Training Progress: Tomas Rage Control - 20%]

[Loyalty: Very High → Devoted]

[Mercy Action: Loyalty Cemented]

[XP Gained: +15]

Renna approached. "Touching speech. Don't get soft."

"Never."

Marcus joined them. "Intel's ready. Contact has outpost interior."

"Then let's collect."

The Hollows contact was twitchy Skiv.

He met them in a side tunnel, eyes darting. "You're the shadow who killed Jin."

"Guilty."

"Information's expensive. Three gold. Or fight me for it." Skiv grinned, teeth filed sharp. "I'm Tier 1 Arsenal mastery. Win, information's free."

"Deal."

Skiv pulled twin hand-axes from nowhere. Arsenal mastery summoning weapons.

They circled.

Skiv lunged. Both axes swinging fast.

Jona blocked. Sparks flew. He twisted, kicked Skiv's knee.

Skiv stumbled but recovered. Swung again. Jona ducked. Used Shadow Slip mid-dodge.

Phased behind Skiv. Reformed. Activated Shadow Chains with Bind fusion.

[Combo: Slip into Proto-Chains]

[Enhanced Restraints: +2 second duration]

Darkness erupted. Wrapped Skiv's legs and left arm. He fell hard, right arm still free but useless without leverage.

[Restraint Strain: 45%]

Jona's blade pressed his throat. "Yield or bleed."

Skiv laughed. "Fast. Fine. Free information."

Chains dissipated.

"Third floor. East wing. Primer's in locked study. Two guards outside. Detection wards on door are illusions masking real locks. Touch wrong rune, alarm triggers." Skiv stood, rubbing his legs. "Trap inside. Poison dart mechanism. And Captain Kiarra's been visiting. Increased patrols. They're expecting retaliation."

Jona's stomach tightened. Kiarra anticipating. Of course.

"Appreciated."

[Combat Complete - Intel Brawl: +50 XP]

[Intel Acquired: Outpost Interior + Kiarra Warning]

Night planning. Barracks corner.

Marcus, Renna, Tomas gathered around Jona. Maps showing outpost layout.

Jona traced routes with his finger. "Three floors. Mech-guards ground level. Awakened sentries two and three. Detection wards everywhere masking real locks with illusions."

"Bypass how?" Renna asked.

"Marcus's Silence muffles sounds. I'm the ghost using Shadow Chains for restraints. Stealth kills where necessary. Renna, you're overwatch from adjacent rooftop. Crossbow for emergencies. Tomas, backup if loud."

"What's the real play?" Marcus's dark eyes sharp.

Jona met each gaze. "We're not rats anymore. We're shadows striking back. Priolo thinks Houseless cower. Time to teach them we devour those who hunt us."

Renna's smile turned predatory. "Ambitious and insane. Perfect."

"When?" Tomas rumbled.

"Tonight. Two hours before dawn. Guards are tired. Defenses weakest."

[XP Threshold Reached]

[Skill Point Unlocked - Choose Perk]

[Shadow Sense: Detect hidden enemies within 30 feet]

[Umbral Step: Reduce Shadow Slip cooldown by 10 seconds]

The options blazed in his vision. Bold. Clear. Reader engagement pulling him forward.

Shadow Sense for detection. Find enemies before they found him.

[PERK SELECTED: SHADOW SENSE]

[Bonus: +30 foot detection radius for hidden threats]

New awareness bloomed. He felt presences in the compound. Locations. Intent. Not exact, but close.

Lethal advantage.

"Two hours. Gear up. Then we hit Priolo where it hurts most."

Two hours before dawn.

Team approached through shadow-draped alleys. Jona led, Shadow Sense pinging constant updates. Four presences ahead. Two moving. Two stationary.

Guards.

Marcus moved beside him. Silent death incarnate. Renna split off toward adjacent rooftop. Tomas waited in side alley. Ready.

They reached the east wall. Jona's Shadow Sense detected one above. Rooftop patrol.

They climbed. Using pipes and ledges. Silent.

The rooftop guard faced wrong direction.

Jona used Shadow Chains.

Darkness erupted. Wrapped guard completely. Mouth. Arms. Legs. Total restraint.

Marcus's blade found armor gaps. Professional. Quick.

Guard slumped.

[Stealth Kill: +25 XP]

They dragged the body behind ventilation.

Ahead, rooftop access door. Detection wards glowing faint around frame.

Jona studied them. Shadow Sense tingled. Right side runes felt wrong. Hollow.

Illusions masking real lock.

He touched left rune. It flared. Accepted intent.

Door unlocked. Silent.

They slipped inside.

Third-floor corridor stretched dark. Empty.

Shadow Sense pinged. Two presences ahead. Around corner. Guards outside study.

They advanced. Professional.

Jona peeked. Two Priolo guards outside reinforced door. Alert. Armed.

He signaled Marcus. Simultaneous strike.

They moved as one.

Jona used Shadow Chains on left guard. Marcus's Silence muffled all sound striking right.

Both fell.

[Stealth Kill: +25 XP]

Study door ahead. Detection wards glowing. Primer waited inside.

Jona reached for the handle.

Shadow Sense exploded. Warning. Danger. Everything wrong.

He jerked back.

Wards flared red. Alarm runes activating.

Trap. Entire thing's a trap.

Footsteps thundered below. Dozens. Mech-guards. Awakened sentries. Converging.

Marcus met his eyes. "Run or fight?"

Behind them, stairwell door burst open.

Five Priolo awakened poured through. Eyes gleaming predatory. Weapons drawn.

Alarm wail split the night.

Priolo converges. Strike or trapped? Empire awaits one alarm's echo.

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