Chapter 16 – Shadows in Motion

Velantir simmered with tension. The bounty on Revenant had turned the city into a battleground, but beneath the surface, the real war was taking shape. Guilds maneuvered in the shadows, alliances were questioned, and ambitions clashed. The streets were no longer ruled by the strongest but by the most cunning.

In Eclipse's underground stronghold, Mirabelle sat in the war room, maps and reports spread before her. The bounty hunters had failed again. Revenant was slippery, but more importantly, he was learning. The last few reports showed something concerning, he wasn't just avoiding fights. He was setting them up.

Jason strode in, his presence commanding immediate attention. "Update me."

Mirabelle pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, eyes flicking over the latest data. "He's not running anymore. He's hunting the hunters."

Jason's lips twitched in amusement, but Mirabelle continued, her tone sharp. "We underestimated him. He's not just a rogue, he's a tactician. He knows how to draw enemies into a fight on his terms. And he's getting stronger."

Kain scoffed, arms crossed. "So we send better hunters. The ones we've used so far are disposable. Revenant's a threat, but he's alone. We have numbers."

Mirabelle shook her head. "Numbers won't matter if we don't control the battlefield. The city is too unpredictable. We need to change tactics."

Jason leaned back against the edge of the table. "Nightfall is watching us. If we focus too much on Revenant, they'll make their move. We need to handle both at once." His gaze flickered toward Mirabelle. "How's the recruitment?"

"Slow," she admitted. "Too many guilds are waiting to see what happens. They won't commit unless they think we're winning."

Jason nodded. "Then we give them a reason to believe."

He turned to Kain. "You've been wanting to deal with Revenant directly. You'll get your chance. But we do it on our terms. Set a trap. Make it public."

Kain grinned, the anticipation clear in his eyes. "Consider it done."

Mirabelle frowned. "And Nightfall?"

Jason smirked. "We let them think they have the upper hand."

Selene watched from the rooftops as Eclipse's enforcers moved through the city. Jason's plan was easy to see, he wanted to make a show of power. Convince the smaller guilds that Eclipse was still in control. But power wasn't about how strong you were. It was about knowing when to strike.

Darius landed beside her, his steps silent. "They're tightening their hold. If we wait much longer, they'll have enough forces in place to make a real push."

Selene exhaled slowly, her silver hair catching the moonlight. "Then we don't wait."

Darius smirked. "You want to hit them first?"

Selene's eyes gleamed. "Not yet. Let them think they've won. Then, when they get comfortable, we remind them why they should be afraid."

Darius chuckled. "You always did like playing with your prey."

She turned, her voice cold. "This isn't a game. Jason thinks he's already won. I'm just making sure he realizes his mistake at the right moment."

Darius nodded, his usual grin tempered by the seriousness in her tone. "And Revenant?"

Selene's lips curved slightly. "He's not our enemy. Not yet."

Liam sat in the corner of a dimly lit tavern, his hood pulled low as he observed the bounty hunters filtering in and out. They were getting desperate. Some had started working in groups, pooling their resources to increase their chances. It wouldn't help them.

He took a slow sip from his drink, mind already running through his next moves. The bounty was an inconvenience, but it was also an opportunity. Every fight sharpened his skills. Every victory widened the gap between him and the rest. But more importantly, it was revealing who his real enemies were.

Eclipse was making their move. That much was obvious. They had underestimated him at first, but Jason wasn't a fool. If they were shifting tactics, it meant they had something planned.

Liam's gaze flickered to the bounty board near the bar. The usual listings were there, monsters, rare quests, assassination targets. But something new caught his eye. A notice, written in bold letters:

REVENANT – WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE. SPECIAL REWARD FOR CONFIRMED KILL. BOUNTY INCREASED TO 200 GOLD.

A trap. And a public one at that. Eclipse wanted to draw him out.

Liam smirked, leaning back in his seat.

Perfect.

If they were going to make a move, he'd make sure they regretted it.

In a different corner of the city, a cloaked figure slipped through the alleyways. He wasn't a bounty hunter or an enforcer, he was something else entirely. A messenger. A broker of information. And right now, he had a job to do.

He reached a discreet door, knocked twice, then once more after a pause. The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit chamber where a group of players sat around a low table. Their guild insignia marked them as members of the Shadow Veil, a smaller but highly influential organization known for their intelligence network.

A man with sharp eyes motioned for the newcomer to sit. "You have news?"

The messenger nodded, pulling out a sealed parchment. "Eclipse is preparing a move against Revenant. Public trap. High bounty. They want it to look like a citywide hunt."

The man at the table exchanged glances with his companions before speaking. "And Nightfall?"

"Watching. Waiting. Selene's waiting for the right moment."

The man chuckled. "Smart. This isn't just about Revenant anymore. It's a power struggle."

The messenger smirked. "It's always been a power struggle."

The parchment was passed around the table, eyes scanning its contents quickly. After a moment, the man in charge leaned forward, fingers steepled. "Spread the word. Revenant isn't the only one Eclipse is trying to control. If they succeed, the city belongs to them. And I doubt any of us want that."

The messenger gave a small bow before slipping back into the shadows.

As the room fell silent, one of the guild members let out a low chuckle. "If Revenant survives this, he's going to owe us."

The leader smirked. "Survival isn't the question. It's what he does after."

The trap was set. The pieces were moving. And Velantir, once merely a city of opportunity, was becoming a warzone. Eclipse wanted to make a statement. Nightfall was waiting for their moment. And Liam (Revenant) was ready to turn the game against them.

The city was about to learn a lesson.

Not all shadows hid in fear.

Some hunted.