The Beginning Adventure of the New Monarch

The Shadow Raven had struck with ruthless precision. The burning warehouse was not just a message to Ouroboros—it was a declaration of war.

The inferno devoured the night, painting the starry sky a blood-red hue.

Katran, the unit's captain, watched the flames with cold determination. His features were as immovable as those of a statue.

His eyes however betrayed a restrained fury, an unyielding resolve.

 "You thought yourselves untouchable," he murmured, almost to himself. "But the shadows no longer belong to you."

Miles away, far from the chaos, Ethan ran until his lungs burned.

A leader of Ouroboros and the mastermind behind the production of Seylis—a drug that enriched the organization as it destroyed the weak—they had spent years building this empire in the darkness. Ethan genius bolstered by alliances and lavish parties, had allowed him to keep a leash on a power-hungry elite. He knew their vices exploited their flaws, and manipulated their weakness.

But tonight, it was all unraveling. Every step echoed with a haunting question in his mind: Why me? I was meant to be one of supreme ruler of Ednia in the shadows not a fugitive.

At last, he reached his sprawling estate, an isolated manor surrounded by dense forest. The grand hall greeted him with a heavy silence quickly shattered by his shouted orders.

— "Prepare a carriage! We're leaving this island immediately!"

His men, startled by their usually unshakable leader's panic, hesitated. But Ethan had no time to waste. His paranoia urged him to assume the worst—and he was right.

Outside, sudden explosions rocked the manor, shaking its walls.

A shockwave rippled through the building, extinguishing chandeliers and snuffing out any hope of a discreet escape. The hall doors burst open violently. Agents of the Shadow Raven stormed in, accompanied by a group of women disguised as servants.

But these women were far from meek domestics. Armed with daggers and sabers they moved with deadly precision, their blades gleaming in the flickering light of the flames.

Overwhelmed by terror, Ethan screamed to his men:

— "Fight them! Kill these vermin!"

His rage only bolstered the loyalty of his subordinates. Despite their hesitation, they raised their weapons, determined to eliminate the intruders. Ethan however, had no faith in their victory. Taking advantage of the chaos, he fled down a back corridor.

In his desperate flight Ethan collided with a young woman. Her beautiful frame brown skin, and fiery red hair were unmistakable.

She wore a servant's uniform, but the amused smile on her face clashed sharply with the terror etched on Ethan's.

— "Oh, where are my manners?" she said sarcastically, her tone dripping with mockery. "I'm Nilyna, head maid of the royal palace. By order of Princess Raelia, I'm here to eradicate the parasites plaguing this kingdom."

Sensing the imminent danger Ethan summoned two earth golems, hoping the creatures would serve as a diversion. The massive monsters rose from the ground, imposing and threatening.

But Nilyna eerily calm, dodged their attacks with unnerving agility. With sheer brute force, she destroyed both golems in a single strike each, their bodies crumbling into fragments under her blows.

Paralyzed with fear, Ethan stumbled backward, tripping over his own feet and collapsing to the floor. Trembling he tried to crawl away but Nilyna approached slowly, her cruel smile lighting up her face.

— "Not running anymore, are we?" she taunted.

She drew a dagger, its jeweled hilt gleaming menacingly.

With a swift and precise motion, she plunged it into Ethan's heart. The leader of Ouroboros let out one final scream before his body went limp, lifeless.

Shortly afterward, the agents of the Shadow Raven and the disguised servants regrouped with Nilyna. Katran arrived at the forefront, stopping before Ethan's lifeless body. His impassive expression betrayed no emotion.

— "Search the manor," he commanded. "Take all the documents. Burn what remains."

The servants, agile and methodical, scattered throughout the building, gathering evidence and destroying the remnants of Ethan's empire.

Meanwhile Nilyna still kneeling by the corpse, murmured:

— "The hunt for serpents has only just begun."

As the Shadow Raven set the manor ablaze, black smoke rose into the night sky, sending a clear message: another blow had been dealt to Ouroboros. Yet both Nilyna and Katran knew this was only the beginning.

The other leaders of Ouroboros would not remain idle. Their vengeance would be swift and brutal. But the Shadow Raven was unafraid. They had chosen to fight in the shadows and were ready to face anyone who opposed them.

Nilyna stood wiping the blood from her dagger with a silk curtain. She watched the flames consume the manor, her eyes blazing with fierce determination.

In the darkness, the flames of vengeance burned brighter than ever, marking a new phase in the relentless war between the crown and the shadows.