NOVEL NEXT Chapter 134: Hero
THIS IS A DUMMY CHAPTER
DO NOT READ!!
# Chapter 115: Under Attack
## Selene's Compound - Late Night
Selene's heart was racing as she quickly got out of bed. She could feel magical energy signatures moving through her property—at least three different people, maybe more. This wasn't good.
She moved swiftly to her dresser and grabbed her communication device, pressing the emergency button that would alert other White Hunter members. But when she tried to activate it, nothing happened. The device was completely dead.
"They're jamming communications," she muttered to herself, realizing this was a coordinated attack.
Selene quickly changed out of her pajamas and into her combat gear. She had trained for situations like this her entire life, but that didn't make the fear go away. Whoever was attacking her compound had come prepared.
She moved to her bedroom window and carefully looked out at the grounds below. In the moonlight, she could see shadowy figures moving between the trees and buildings. They were surrounding the main house, cutting off any escape routes.
Taking a deep breath, Selene focused her magical energy. Her specialty was light manipulation—she could create blinding flashes, laser-like beams, and protective barriers made of concentrated light. She would need all of those abilities tonight.
Just as she was about to leave her bedroom, her door exploded inward. Wood splinters flew everywhere as a figure stepped through the smoke and debris.
It was Lucy, the tattooed woman from Grinning Dead, with a wicked grin on her face and her hands glowing with dark magical energy.
"Hello, sweetheart," Lucy said in a mocking tone. "Hope we didn't wake you up."
Selene immediately raised her hands and created a brilliant flash of light, hoping to blind Lucy temporarily. But Lucy just laughed and raised her own hand, creating a shield of dark energy that absorbed the light attack completely.
"Nice try, but we came prepared for your little light show," Lucy taunted.
Before Selene could react, she heard footsteps behind her. She spun around to see Grimmface climbing through her bedroom window, moving with surprising speed despite his casual appearance. His cigarette was still hanging from his mouth, and his dull eyes showed no emotion at all.
"Two against one? That's not very sporting," Selene said, trying to buy time while looking for an escape route.
"Oh, we're not here for a fair fight, honey," Lucy replied. "We're here to send a message."
Selene created a beam of concentrated light and aimed it at Grimmface, but he moved faster than she expected. The beam hit the wall behind him, leaving a smoking hole in the plaster.
Grimmface reached into his jacket and pulled out what looked like small metal spheres. He threw them at Selene, and when they hit the floor, they exploded into clouds of thick, dark smoke.
The smoke wasn't just for cover—it was magical. Selene could feel it interfering with her light-based powers, making it harder to focus her energy. Her attacks became weaker and less accurate.
"What do you want?" Selene called out through the smoke, trying to locate her attackers by sound.
"We want you to deliver a message to your boss and to USOV," Lucy's voice came from somewhere in the smoke. "Tell them that Dorian Graves sends his regards."
Selene tried to create another light barrier, but the magical smoke was draining her strength. She stumbled backward, feeling dizzy and confused.
Then she heard a third voice—one that made her blood run cold.
"Having trouble, little light bug?"
The smoke began to clear, and Selene saw X standing in the doorway. The creepy woman in the skull hat was even more terrifying up close, her pale skin almost glowing in the dim light.
"Three against one definitely isn't fair," Selene said, but her voice was weaker now.
"Life isn't fair, sweetheart," X replied. "But don't worry—we're not here to kill you. Yet."
Lucy stepped closer, her hands still glowing with dark energy. "Dorian has a special message for the White Hunters and USOV. He wants you to know that he knows all your secrets now. Every dirty little arrangement, every hidden alliance, every secret mission."
Selene's eyes widened. If Dorian really knew about their covert operations, then everyone was in danger—not just her organization, but all their allies and contacts.
"He also wants you to know," Grimmface spoke for the first time, his voice flat and emotionless, "that this is just the beginning. What happened three years ago was nothing compared to what's coming."
X pulled something from her jacket—a small device that looked like a recording equipment. "Say hello to Director Grey and President Nacht," she said, pointing it at Selene.
Selene realized they wanted her to record a message, to prove they had gotten to her and could get to anyone. It was psychological warfare—making their enemies feel vulnerable and afraid.
"I won't do it," Selene said defiantly, even though she was barely standing.
Lucy's grin got even wider. "Oh, you will. Because if you don't, we'll pay a visit to some of your other White Hunter friends. Maybe some of the younger members who haven't had as much combat training as you."
The threat to her fellow White Hunters made Selene's decision for her. She couldn't let innocent people get hurt because of her pride.
"Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "What do you want me to say?"
X held up the recording device. "Just tell them that Dorian Graves has returned, he knows everything, and this is only the beginning. Tell them that nowhere is safe, and no one can hide from Grinning Dead."
Selene looked directly at the device and spoke clearly, despite her fear and exhaustion. "Grey, Nacht—Dorian knows about our operations. He's targeting all of us, and his people can get to anyone, anywhere. Be careful, and protect the others."
X turned off the recording device and smiled. "Perfect. That should get their attention."
The three Grinning Dead members began moving toward the window they had used to enter.
"This has been fun," Lucy said mockingly. "But we have other people to visit tonight."
As they prepared to leave, X turned back to Selene one more time.