Shadows of Betrayal and the Spear of Fate
The basement door creaked open, and a gust of cold air swirled around the trio. Ethan, Mia, and Nefera turned their heads toward the sound. A man stepped through, his presence commanding and suffocating. His tailored black coat fluttered behind him as he walked, the gleaming silver tip of a weapon—a spear—resting casually on his shoulder. His sharp features were illuminated by the dim light, his piercing blue eyes carrying a predatory gleam.
"Well, well, well," he said with a smirk that sent chills down Ethan's spine. "Long time no see, Nefera."
Nefera's entire body tensed, and her confident demeanor cracked like fragile glass. Her hands trembled as she took a step back. Ethan noticed the rare emotion that crossed her face—fear.
Ethan leaned closer and asked cautiously, "Who is he?"
Nefera swallowed hard, her voice low and trembling. "He's someone who betrayed us. Someone who sold us out to the organization." Her eyes darted toward the spear, a mix of anger and regret swimming in them. "He's Alexander Vale… and that weapon he wields is the Spear of Longinus, the Artifact of Precision and Destruction."
Mia's face contorted with confusion. "Wait… betrayed you? What do you mean?"
Nefera didn't answer right away. Her gaze locked on Alexander, who gave her a mocking bow, his smile never faltering.
---
The memory surged forth like a tidal wave, drowning her in its depth. Nefera closed her eyes, her voice cracking as she began to speak.
"Years ago, we were a team—a family of artifact users, united against the organization. Alexander was one of us. He was charming, clever, and seemed loyal. But it was all a lie."
Her voice grew colder, laced with sorrow. "I trusted him. We all did. We planned to take down one of the organization's labs—a place where they experimented on artifact users like me. We thought we had the advantage. What we didn't know was that Alexander had already sold us out in exchange for power."
The memory shifted in her mind. She saw the chaos as it unfolded:
The ambush.
Her friends screaming as artifact-wielding enforcers surrounded them.
The clanging of weapons and the bloodied faces of her comrades.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued. "Most of us didn't survive. The few who did… were taken. Prisoners of the organization, subjected to more experiments. They wanted to turn us into obedient weapons. I barely escaped that night, but not before seeing Alexander standing among them."
Her voice broke, raw with emotion. "He didn't even flinch as our friends were slaughtered. He stood there, smiling. Smiling like this was all part of his plan."
Ethan's fists clenched as he listened, anger bubbling beneath his calm exterior.
Nefera's eyes snapped open, filled with hatred. "He's a piece of shit."
Alexander laughed, his voice dripping with mockery. "That's a bit harsh, don't you think, darling? Oh, I almost forgot. I'm here to take you back to your home sweet home."
---
Ethan noticed Nefera's hesitation. Her usually sharp, unshakable resolve faltered.
Ethan took a step forward, forcing a confident grin. "Hey, let's not get ahead of ourselves. You look like a gentleman—how about we just talk this out?"
Alexander cocked his head, amused. "Talk? Oh, I don't think you're in a position to negotiate."
Without warning, Ethan's shadow surged forward like a living thing, aiming to bind Alexander. But the spear in Alexander's hand flashed with blinding speed, slicing through the tendrils of darkness as if they were paper.
Alexander smirked. "Nice trick, but you're not the only one with power." He twirled the Spear of Longinus, its silver tip glowing ominously. "They said in the news that a meteorite destroyed your little apartment, but we both know the truth, don't we? That was you. An artifact user."
Before Ethan could respond, Alexander vanished in a blur of movement. His speed was unreal, faster than anything Ethan had encountered. A shockwave rippled through the room as Alexander reappeared, his spear inches from Ethan's face. Ethan barely dodged, the weapon carving through the air with precision.
---
Alexander grinned, his voice eerily calm. "Oh, I almost forgot—can't have any interruptions."
He raised the Spear of Longinus, slamming its tip into the ground. A pulse of energy radiated outward, and the very floor beneath them shattered. The fragments twisted and distorted, forming a dimensional rift that enclosed the basement in a surreal, shifting void.
Mia gasped. "What is this?"
Alexander chuckled. "Just a little insurance. Don't want unnecessary attention, do we?"
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "You really went all out, huh?"
Alexander pointed the spear at him. "Of course. You see, you're quite the prize yourself, artifact user. I might as well take you along with Nefera."
Ethan's shadow flickered around him, his body tensing as he prepared to fight.
Alexander's grin widened. "Let's see what you've got."
---
Nefera stepped forward, her fists clenched, but Ethan stopped her with a glance. "Stay back. This guy's after you. Let me handle him."
Nefera hesitated, but she nodded. "Be careful. He's more dangerous than he looks."
Ethan smirked, the shadow around him growing darker. "Don't worry. I've got this."
The two artifact users charged at each other, their powers colliding in a dazzling display of light and shadow. Alexander's spear glowed with deadly precision, each strike carving through the air like a blade of pure energy. Ethan's shadows danced around him, countering each attack with explosive force.
The ground beneath them cracked as the
ir battle intensified, the void around them pulsating with raw power.
---
To Be Continued...