Chapter :-105

Arc 6: Rise of the Mogul

Chapter 10: Counterattack

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The Aftermath of Shadows

Kai Ashton sat in his office, staring at the note left by Damien Cross.

The implications were clear—this wasn't just an attack, it was an invitation.

Cross wanted to toy with him, study him, push him to his limits.

Kai chuckled, twirling the note between his fingers. How amusing.

If Damien wanted a game, Kai would make sure it ended with only one winner.

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Securing the Battlefield

The first move was eliminating vulnerabilities.

Kai called Cassandra. "I want a full sweep of our security. If Cross found a way in, I need to know how."

"Already on it," Cassandra replied. "But it wasn't just hacking. He bypassed both digital and physical measures. He had inside help."

Kai narrowed his eyes. A mole.

"Find them," Kai said. "And when you do, bring them to me."

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The Art of War

By nightfall, Kai had already begun setting his countertrap.

Step one: Force Cross into the open.

Kai leaked false information about a billion-dollar deal he was about to close. A deal Nexus couldn't ignore.

The bait was set. Now, he just had to wait.

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A Dangerous Invitation

The response came faster than expected.

A text message.

Unknown Number: "Midnight. Warehouse District. Alone."

Kai smirked. Perfect.

He replied: "See you there."

Cassandra, listening in, frowned. "You're actually going?"

Kai leaned back, eyes glinting. "Of course. He thinks he's the predator. Let's show him otherwise."

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The Showdown

Midnight.

A dimly lit warehouse on the outskirts of the city.

Kai walked in, hands in his pockets, exuding nothing but calm confidence.

Damien Cross stood in the center, dressed in black, his expression unreadable.

"You're either brave or foolish," Damien said.

Kai smirked. "I like to keep people guessing."

Damien chuckled. "Then let's make this interesting."

Lights cut out.

Silence.

Then—movement.

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The Trap Within the Trap

Kai had expected an ambush.

What he didn't expect—was an entire kill squad.

Figures moved in the darkness, trained professionals, armed and deadly.

Kai sighed. "I thought this was a one-on-one."

Damien's voice echoed. "That wouldn't be fun, would it?"

Kai smiled. His turn.

A sharp beep filled the air.

Then—explosions.

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Checkmate

Kai had planted silent charges around the warehouse before arriving.

Now, the battlefield was his.

The moment the explosions went off, his own men moved in.

A reversal. A complete trap.

Gunfire erupted. Shadows clashed.

And at the center—Kai and Damien.

Damien lunged, blade flashing.

Kai dodged, countering with a precise strike.

Blow for blow, two masters clashed.

But Damien was fast. Too fast.

He managed a cut—Kai's arm.

Blood dripped.

Kai sighed. "That's going to ruin my suit."

Damien smirked. "I expected more."

Kai chuckled. "Then you're about to be very disappointed."

Because in the chaos, Kai had positioned himself perfectly.

A hidden device in his sleeve activated—a high-frequency pulse.

Damien staggered. His earpiece disrupted, his vision blurred.

And in that moment—Kai struck.

One precise hit. A syringe into Damien's neck.

Damien stumbled back, blinking in shock. "What… did you…?"

Kai smiled. "A little something special. Paralysis in 30 seconds."

Damien exhaled, sinking to one knee.

The fight was over.

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The Final Move

Kai crouched in front of Damien, watching as the enforcer struggled to stay conscious.

"I could kill you," Kai mused. "But that's too easy."

Damien chuckled weakly. "Then what's your play?"

Kai leaned in. "You work for me now."

Damien blinked. Then—he laughed.

Kai grinned. "Welcome to the winning side."

End of Chapter 10.