We Can Do The Introductions Later

The underground fortress was drenched in blood.

Damien stepped over the cooling corpses of the last two guards, their expressions frozen in defiant refusal even in death. They had guarded the door with their lives—not out of duty, but out of pure fear of what lay beyond it.

That was all the confirmation Damien needed.

This was it.

The leaders of the Stray Hounds were supposed to be in this room. There couldn't be any other reason as to why the guards would protect it this way if that wasn't the case.

Yet, as Damien pushed open the heavy steel doors and strode inside, he found only one man.

A single figure sat at a round table meant for seven, reclined in his chair, his fingers idly tapping the tabletop.

The room was spacious, lined with dark stone walls, an intricate chandelier made of enchanted crystals casting an unnatural glow across the chamber.