Chapter 13: The Enemy Revealed

In the dimly lit confines of a black van speeding through the streets of Cairo, Bane lay back against the seat, wincing as the Crystal Hunters' medical team administered first aid. His mind raced, haunted by the sting of his recent defeat. Not only had he failed to secure the Black Crystal, but he had also lost his own crystal to Chris and his companions. This failure threatened to strip him of his position within the Crystal Hunters—a consequence he could not afford.

The van arrived at their hotel, and Bane, feeling the weight of his failure, made his way to his room. As he entered, a heavy, suffocating atmosphere greeted him. He froze, his breath hitching in his throat when he saw Silas, the 9th Rank of the Crystal Hunters, standing in the shadows, his piercing gaze fixed on him.

"Sir, what an honor to have you here. What... What can I do for you?" Bane stammered, his voice trembling.

Silas stepped forward, his eyes cold and unfeeling. "You? You can't do anything, you worthless worm. I'm here to inform you that you are no longer a member of the Crystal Hunters."

Bane's heart pounded in his chest. He knew what that meant. When a higher rank delivered such news, it often ended in death. Desperate, he tried to plead, "Sir, with all my respect—"

But the words caught in his throat. He fell to his knees, gasping for breath as an unseen force constricted his airway. Panic surged through him as he clawed at his throat, his vision blurring.

Silas sneered. "Respect? I don't need respect. I need power. Power that you wasted by losing to those brats. You lost the most important crystal that ever existed."

Bane's struggles grew weaker, his body convulsing as he tried to draw air into his lungs. Summoning his last bit of strength, he croaked, "Please... one... one more... chance..."

Silas's face twisted into a mocking smile. "Nope. Not for you. Not today."

Those were the last words Bane heard before darkness claimed him. Silas watched impassively as Bane's body went limp. He called in a few members from the adjacent room and instructed them to clean up the mess. Then, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"Yes. I fixed the situation with Bane. He won't be a problem anymore. Yes, I'll look for them. I'm sure they're still in Cairo. If I have any news, I'll let you know. Thank you, Boss."

Silas descended the stairs, where a sleek black car awaited him. He climbed in, and the driver turned to him.

"Sir, where are we going?"

"Let's go to the airport," Silas replied, his mind already calculating his next move.

As the car sped through the city, Silas's thoughts raced. He didn't know exactly where Chris and the others were, but he swore he would find them. There was one more place he suspected they might go, but first, he would check the airport.

Silas's thoughts drifted to the larger scheme of the Crystal Hunters. The Black Crystal was just one piece of the puzzle. Their ultimate goal was shrouded in secrecy, even among the higher ranks. Only a few, like their enigmatic leader, knew the full scope of their plan. Silas had his suspicions, and each new crystal brought them one step closer to unimaginable power.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed, and he saw the name Cassandra flash on the screen. He sighed, then answered the call.

"Silas," Cassandra's voice was sharp and demanding, "what's the update on Bane?"

"Bane's done," Silas replied coolly. "I'm handling the pursuit of the targets now. I suspect they might still be in Cairo, but I'm covering all bases."

"Don't fail, Silas," Cassandra warned, her tone dripping with condescension. "Or you'll end up like Bane."

Silas rolled his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. After the call ended, he mimicked her voice, "'Don't fail, Silas. Or you'll end up like Bane.'" He chuckled to himself, shaking his head. "As if you could ever do my job better."

He put away his phone and glanced out the window. The chase was on, and he would stop at nothing to retrieve the Black Crystal and eliminate those who stood in their way.

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To be continued