Novels by ashiquepriest123

After stepping out of the bar, Mark headed directly toward his jeep.Once inside the vehicle, he locked the doors and unfolded the piece of paper he had obtained beneath the cocktail glass.Written on it was a set of coordinates.Nothing else.No names.No instructions.Exactly how professionals operated.Mark took out the newly purchased burner phone from his pocket and entered the coordinates into the navigation system.A route immediately appeared on the screen.Without wasting time, he started the engine and drove toward the destination.Outside Black City, hundreds of abandoned towns and ghost villages were scattered throughout the surrounding wastelands.Over the years, smugglers, mercenary groups, fugitives, traffickers, and underground organizations had occupied many of these forgotten settlements.Every territory belonged to someone.And clashes between rival groups occurred almost daily.The deeper one traveled into the outskirts surrounding Black City, the weaker the law be

Mark stepped out of the Deacon's office with the sealed envelope tucked securely inside his coat.The heavy iron door closed behind him with a dull metallic thud.For several seconds, he stood silently in the corridor before finally beginning to walk.As his footsteps echoed through the dim underground passageways, Mark quietly reorganized his plans.Yesterday, he had already discarded Plan A.Now, Plan B had become useless as well.The problem was not that he had offended the Deacon. Honestly, offending the Deacon was far from the biggest issue.The real problem was that the leak regarding compromised identities had now spread throughout Shadow Mountain.Yesterday, only Mark knew that several foreign intelligence agencies had likely obtained information regarding the candidates' fake identities and travel routes.But now?Everyone knew.Mark's eyes narrowed slightly beneath his mask.The higher-ups had intentionally released the information.There was no other explanation.A candidat

Finally, after silently gritting his teeth, he spoke."I would prefer to receive the package personally."The Deacon raised an eyebrow."I don't trust others handling mission-sensitive materials," Mark continued calmly. "My plans cannot be exposed under any circumstances. If possible, give me a time and location. I will retrieve everything myself."For several seconds, the room remained silent.Then an amused smile slowly appeared on the Deacon's face."Do you take me for a servant?" the old man asked lazily."You think I would sacrifice my rest for your convenience?"His eyes narrowed slightly."This is also part of your evaluation. If you cannot build loyal subordinates or maintain operational secrecy, then you have already failed before the mission even begins."The Deacon waved his hand dismissively."Now get out. Your package will arrive before dawn."Mark gave a small nod and turned toward the exit without arguing further.But inwardly, his thoughts had already begun moving rapi

Mark's boots echoed softly through the underground corridor as he walked alone toward the administrative wing of Shadow Mountain.The mission briefing had ended less than an hour ago, yet the atmosphere across the mountain had already changed.The competition had begun.Even the air itself felt sharper.Disciples hurried through the stone corridors carrying sealed documents, weapons cases, and coded messages. Silent observers lingered in the shadows pretending not to watch the remaining candidates.But Mark knew better.Inside Shadow Mountain, someone was always watching.He eventually stopped before a massive black iron door engraved with the symbol of the organization—a faceless figure standing beneath a crescent moon.The Deacon's Office.Without knocking, Mark pushed the door open and stepped inside.Warm air greeted him immediately, a stark contrast to the freezing corridors outside. The office walls were lined from floor to ceiling with shelves containing scrolls, intelligence f

The world Mark lived in was known as Orivarion—a vast planet divided across ten continents, each shaped by its own powers, conflicts, and histories.Far from the influence of the major nations lay the Solaris Continent.Solaris was known across the world for its brutal terrain. The continent itself was divided into three hostile regions.To the south stretched an endless sea of scorching desert, where violent sandstorms could bury entire convoys within hours.The central region was dominated by colossal mountain ranges that extended from east to west like a frozen wall splitting the continent in half. Temperatures there remained below freezing throughout most of the year.The northern region, however, was different. Vast forests, deep valleys, and towering green mountains covered the land beneath a blanket of mist.Hidden deep within those northern mountains stood Shadow Mountain.Despite Solaris being rich in minerals, rare resources, and undiscovered energy reserves, almost no major

Three Years Before the Present DayNine young people stood in silence inside a dimly lit hall.They were dressed entirely in tight black garments, their faces hidden beneath featureless masks. Rows of candles flickered along the stone walls, casting distorted shadows that danced across the chamber.Before them stood a middle-aged man clad in dark robes."You nine are the finest candidates of your generation," he said calmly. "You survived the competition for the position of the Shadow."His sharp gaze swept across them."But there cannot be nine Shadows. Only one may inherit the title."The atmosphere in the hall grew heavier."The rest of you," he continued, "will become the pillars supporting the Shadow Village. Yet before any of you can ascend to the position of Shadow, you must complete one final test."He paused."One final mission."None of the nine moved."The one who successfully completes this mission will become the next Shadow."A faint smile appeared on the man's face."Yo