章 33: Phase Two (1) The Tension

The darkened chamber of the Deadly Hollows echoed with hushed, tense whispers. The leaders gathered around a grand oak table, the flickering light of torches casting long, sinister shadows across their faces. Revenant, their enigmatic leader, stood at the head, his face a mask of controlled fury. Before him lay the scattered remains of their latest reports—crumpled papers, broken seals, and the lingering scent of failure.

"Varik, that fool," Kade sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "How could he have been so clueless? He had one job—to secure the artifact and bring it to us."

Selene, the dark witch of the group, cackled softly, her voice like nails on a chalkboard. "Clueless doesn't even begin to describe it. The man couldn't find his own shadow in the dark."