NXT_MARVEL

In a city where shadows hold more power than light, Detective Marcus Trent is drawn into a web of deceit, manipulation, and a chilling game that threatens to unravel everything he knows. When he receives an anonymous message promising disaster, Marcus finds himself chasing a series of cryptic clues that lead him to a mysterious figure known only as The Shadow—a mastermind pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

The clues are sinister: coordinates, encrypted messages, and cryptic warnings, all leading Marcus to a chilling truth—someone is always one step ahead. As the puzzle pieces fall into place, Marcus discovers that the game is more than just about tracking a criminal. It’s a countdown to a terrifying revelation—the endgame has already begun.

As the stakes rise and more lives are threatened, Marcus is forced to confront his own demons and question the trust he places in his colleagues. With no allies, no clear path forward, and the shadow of the mastermind looming closer, Marcus must navigate a treacherous maze of false identities, hidden motives, and twisted alliances.

The question is no longer just who is behind the chaos, but how far will they go before Marcus becomes the next pawn in a game where no one wins?

The Silent Veil: Code of Shadows

The darkness swallowed everything.

Marcus lay still, ears straining to catch any sound in the suffocating blackness. His breathing was ragged, the pain in his side sharp and hot. Somewhere ahead, Emily whispered frantically, her fingers still hammering at the keyboard.

"Emily?" he called out, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm here," she answered, panic edging her voice. "The system's not responding. Whatever that thing is—it's overriding everything!"

A low growl echoed through the chamber. Marcus forced himself to his feet, eyes scanning the shadows for any hint of movement. The creature was still there—he could feel it. The air itself seemed to vibrate with its presence.

"Stay behind me," Marcus instructed, stepping toward the sound.

The growl became a snarl, and then the creature was moving.

Marcus barely dodged the first attack. Claws slashed through the air where his head had been a second earlier, sparks flaring as they carved deep into the metal wall. He swung his fist in response, but the blow met nothing but empty space.

"Marcus, I need more time!" Emily's voice trembled.

"I'll buy you all I can," he promised.

The creature struck again. This time Marcus wasn't fast enough. A heavy blow caught him in the chest, lifting him off his feet and sending him skidding across the floor.

He coughed, tasting blood. But there was no time for pain.

He pushed himself up just as the creature charged. At the last second, Marcus rolled aside, and the creature slammed into the console where Emily worked. Sparks exploded, and the room was momentarily bathed in flickering light.

For the first time, Marcus saw it clearly.

The creature was humanoid, but its skin was a shifting, chitinous armor, rippling like liquid shadow. Its eyes burned with a molten, hellish light, and its mouth twisted into something that might have been a smile.

"You shouldn't have woken me," it hissed.

Marcus didn't waste breath on a response. He lunged.

They collided with bone-shattering force. The creature's strength was overwhelming, but Marcus fought with desperation. He rained blows on it, targeting joints and weak spots, but it was like fighting a storm.

Behind him, Emily screamed. The console was sparking wildly, the screens filling with error messages.

"You will," Marcus growled. "You have to!"

The creature lashed out, and Marcus barely blocked the strike. But the force drove him to his knees.

And then Emily's voice rose, fierce and defiant.

Dark Reckoning