Kael Drax lounged in a penthouse that overlooked the city like a chessboard. Neon streets twisted below him, each glowing sign a pawn, every moving car a knight in his mind's game. He didn't need to leave the building to see the world unfold—he could watch it, calculate it, and manipulate it.
A holographic display floated before him, projections of networks, security grids, and encrypted messages. Lines of data flowed like rivers of light. Somewhere in the city, someone had triggered a subtle anomaly. He recognized it instantly.
Arin Vale.
Kael's lips curled into a half-smile. So eager, so predictable.
He tapped the table, sending a signal to his enforcer, Riven. The giant, augmented with cybernetic enhancements, appeared in a shimmer of holographic projection.
"Probability shows him in the downtown sector. He hasn't noticed the trap yet," Kael said. His voice was calm, deliberate, every word a tool.
Riven's eyes glowed faintly under his cybernetic implants. "Shall I intervene?"
Kael shook his head. "No. Let him play his moves. The thrill is in the mind game. Besides…" He leaned back, fingers steepled, eyes narrowing. "…I want to see just how far he'll go before he realizes he's already inside my web."
Kael moved his hand across the holographic map. Tiny glyphs blinked into existence, ancient symbols mixed with encrypted code—a subtle magic layered into the tech. Only someone like Arin would notice the pattern, and only someone who could outthink him could decode it.
His obsession wasn't just about winning. It was about proving superiority, the ultimate satisfaction of outmaneuvering a mind as brilliant as Arin's. But Kael knew every genius had a flaw. And flaws… were meant to be exploited.
He leaned forward, eyes glinting. Let the game begin.