Jade stood still, the last remnants of his brother's shadow fading into the dense trees, leaving him alone with his thoughts. The words still echoed in his mind: "You don't understand, do you? Nebet is more than just a leader. He's… he's something else. Something you can't even begin to comprehend."
Jade's hand instinctively gripped the key hidden under his coat, the cool metal grounding him in reality. His mind raced. What was his brother trying to tell him? Nebet wasn't just some ordinary leader of a gang. There was more to the story, and Jade knew that whatever it was, it was dangerous—dangerous enough to consume his brother.
With a bitter taste of betrayal on his tongue, Jade pressed forward. The thick forest surrounded him, the darkness creeping in as the sun dipped lower in the sky. He needed answers, and he needed them fast. But every step he took felt heavier, as if the weight of the world was pressing down on him.
He had hoped for a reunion, a moment of reconciliation. But the man standing before him—his brother—was a stranger now. Cold, distant, someone who had chosen a side. Nebet's side.
The reality of it settled in. There was no going back for them. Not anymore.
Jade pushed the thought aside. There was no time for hesitation, no time for emotional conflict. He couldn't afford to lose focus. The gang, Nebet, his brother—they were all a part of a larger game, and Jade had to find a way to tip the scales in his favor.
The mission hadn't changed. He was here to stop Nebet, to stop the madness from spreading, and to protect the people he cared about.
But now, Jade wasn't just fighting for others. He was fighting for the truth, for himself, and for the man he used to call family.
The journey to Nebet's stronghold was harder than Jade had expected. Every turn seemed to lead him deeper into unfamiliar territory, and he began to wonder if the entire forest was designed to confuse and disorient anyone who dared to enter.
Hours passed, and Jade found himself at the edge of a cliff overlooking a vast valley. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the area below. The stronghold was visible now—a sprawling fortress hidden deep in the valley, surrounded by high stone walls. Guards patrolled the perimeter, and Jade could sense the overwhelming presence of power within.
It was as if the place itself exuded an aura of danger.
Jade stood there for a long while, weighing his options. Rael's words played through his mind: "You can't do this alone. You'll need help. You'll need strength beyond what you've got right now."
Jade knew Rael was right. But what kind of help could he even get? Nebet's gang wasn't something you could just walk up to and ask for a fight. This was going to require more than just raw power.
He turned away from the cliff, his thoughts consumed with strategy. If he was going to get in, he would need to gather more information, learn the layout of the fortress, find the weak spots. And above all, he needed to learn more about Nebet. The man who had his brother's loyalty.
As Jade made his way back through the forest, the oppressive silence seemed to close in around him. Every branch that snapped underfoot seemed louder than the last, and every rustling leaf made his heart race.
It was then that he heard it—the faint sound of footsteps.
He quickly dove into the shadows, crouching low to the ground as he peered through the trees. A group of men, cloaked in dark robes, walked past him without noticing. The tattoos on their arms were unmistakable—the insignia of Nebet's gang.
Jade's heart skipped a beat. He knew this was his opportunity. He could follow them, learn more about the stronghold, get closer to the truth.
But as he prepared to move, his mind flashed back to his brother's face, the coldness in his eyes, the warning in his words. The truth was there, somewhere in that fortress. But would Jade be able to survive long enough to uncover it?
Taking a deep breath, Jade made his choice. He would follow them. He would take that first step into the lion's den. And he would find out what Nebet was really after, even if it meant putting himself in the most dangerous position of his life.
Hours later, Jade found himself at the outskirts of the fortress. The gang members he had followed had led him to a hidden entrance, a small, unguarded door on the eastern side of the compound.
His heart pounded in his chest, but he pushed the fear aside. He wasn't a child anymore. He had a purpose. And if he was going to succeed, he couldn't afford to hesitate.
He reached for the door, his fingers brushing the cold metal of the handle.
And then, he froze.
A voice from behind him made his blood run cold.
"Going somewhere, Jade?"
Jade turned slowly, his stomach dropping as he saw the man standing in the shadows.
His brother.