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BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 123
Samuel’s lungs burned as they navigated the tunnels beneath the city, the flickering torchlight casting eerie shadows against the damp walls. The air was thick, stale, and suffocating, but they didn’t have the luxury of stopping.Lucian would come after them. That much was certain.Cassandra limped beside him, her ribs still aching from the earlier fight. Evelyn, gripping the torch, moved swiftly, her eyes scanning ahead for any signs of danger.“We need to move faster,” Evelyn urged. “These tunnels may be hidden, but they’re not foolproof.”Samuel knew she was right. If Lucian’s men discovered the entrance, they’d be trapped like rats.Cassandra exhaled sharply. “How much farther?”“Not long.” Samuel pointed down the path. “There’s an exit near the eastern hills. From there, we head to the river.”Evelyn glanced at him. “And after that?”Silence stretched between them.They had no real plan beyond escaping the city. Their home had fallen, and their forces were scattered.Samuel clenc
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 124
The golden symbols pulsed like a heartbeat, casting a dim glow across the cavernous space. Samuel’s breath came in shallow gasps as he traced the crest embedded in the stone door. His family’s crest.“What does this mean?” Cassandra whispered, her voice laced with unease.Samuel didn’t answer immediately. His fingers brushed against the carved emblem, rough beneath his touch. His family had never spoken of underground tunnels, let alone a hidden chamber filled with magic. If his father were alive, would he have known about this place? Or had this been buried in the past, forgotten by generations?Evelyn stepped forward, eyes narrowing at the markings. “This is old magic. Pre-dynastic, maybe older.” She exhaled. “We shouldn’t be here.”Samuel met her gaze. “We don’t have a choice.”A distant clatter echoed through the tunnels above. Lucian’s men were still searching.Cassandra tensed. “They’re getting closer.”Evelyn nodded toward the door. “Then we better hope whatever’s behind this i
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 125
The footsteps in the distance grew louder.“They found the entrance,” Evelyn said, her voice tight with urgency. “We don’t have much time.”Cassandra spun toward the doorway. “We need to block the passage.”Samuel glanced around. The stone walls stood solid, unmoving, but the sword… it was more than just a weapon. He had felt it respond to him, heard the voice whisper through his mind.You have awakened the past.Could it do more?He stepped forward, raising the blade. The symbols on the walls flared brighter, as if answering his call. A strange warmth spread through his chest, his heartbeat aligning with the rhythm of the pulsing magic.“Samuel?” Evelyn asked warily.He didn’t answer. Instead, he drove the sword’s tip into the ground.The reaction was immediate.A deep tremor rolled through the chamber, followed by a blinding flash of golden light. The walls shuddered, and suddenly, the passage they had come through collapsed in on itself. Stone crashed down, sealing them off from th
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 126
The moment Samuel laid eyes on the ancient crest, a chill ran down his spine. His family had hidden this place for a reason—one he was about to uncover.Cassandra and Evelyn stood frozen beside him, their breaths shallow. The soft golden glow of the symbols pulsed, as if responding to their presence.“We shouldn’t be here,” Cassandra muttered.Evelyn ignored her, running her fingers along the intricate carvings on the door. “This magic is old. Older than anything I’ve ever seen.”Samuel clenched his fists. His family’s insignia was right in front of him, carved into something ancient and powerful. What had they been hiding?Before he could react, the ground beneath them trembled.The symbols flickered.Then, with a low groan, the massive stone door began to shift.“Step back!” Samuel ordered.Dust rained down as the door slid open, revealing an eerie darkness beyond.A sudden gust of air rushed past them, carrying whispers—faint, indecipherable voices that sent a shiver through Samuel
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 127
Samuel’s boots echoed against the polished stone as he stepped deeper into the lost city. The golden lanterns lining the pathways flickered as if sensing their presence. Despite the beauty surrounding them, a chill settled over him—one that had nothing to do with the cold cavern air.The Guardian moved ahead without hesitation, their robes flowing behind them like liquid shadow. Samuel, Evelyn, and Cassandra followed, each step bringing them closer to an answer they might not be ready to hear.The truth about his family.The truth about magic.At the heart of the city, an enormous structure loomed—a palace carved from obsidian and inlaid with gold. Strange, swirling runes covered its surface, pulsating with an ancient rhythm.The Guardian halted at the entrance and turned to face them. “Beyond these doors lies the truth your ancestors tried to bury.”Samuel swallowed hard. “And if we go inside?”“You will see.” The Guardian’s silver eyes glowed faintly. “But knowledge comes with a pri
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 128
The weight of the city’s magic settled around Samuel like a second skin. It pulsed in his veins, ancient and powerful, demanding to be wielded. He flexed his fingers, still feeling the residual energy from the altar, and turned to face Evelyn and Cassandra. Their expressions were unreadable, caught between wariness and something else—expectation.Evelyn was the first to break the silence. “So, what now?”Samuel exhaled, steadying himself. “Now, we make sure Lucian never sets foot in this city.”Cassandra let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. “That’s easier said than done.”“I know,” Samuel admitted. He turned back to the Guardian, who stood with the same unshaken calm they always had. “You said others would come. How do we protect this place?”The Guardian’s silver eyes gleamed. “The city is alive, Samuel. It has slumbered for centuries, but now that the seal is broken, its defenses will begin to stir.”The ground beneath them rumbled slightly, as if in agreement. Dust trickled from
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 129
The tunnels felt different now.Before, they had been cold and suffocating, mere passageways of damp stone leading to an uncertain future. Now, they thrummed with a faint energy, as if the city itself had woken and was watching. Samuel felt it in his bones, in the air around him, and in the way his sword seemed lighter in his grip.They moved swiftly, their newly found allies following in near silence. The warriors who had sworn themselves to the old ways moved with the precision of those trained for war. Some carried weapons Samuel had never seen before—blades etched with forgotten runes, staffs that pulsed with a quiet glow.Cassandra, walking beside him, cast them a wary glance. “You sure we can trust them?”“They stayed hidden all this time,” Evelyn said. “They could’ve taken the city for themselves, but they didn’t.”“That doesn’t mean they won’t change their minds.” Cassandra’s voice was low, but sharp.Samuel understood her hesitation. He wasn’t sure he fully trusted them eithe
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 130
The city was alive in the dead of night.Samuel moved through the streets like a ghost, his cloak drawn tight around him as he and Evelyn wove through the labyrinth of alleyways. The air smelled of soot and damp stone, the remnants of another day under Lucian’s rule. Even in the darkness, the city felt suffocating, like it had been shackled in invisible chains.Guards patrolled the main roads, their torches flickering against the walls. Lucian had fortified his grip on the capital, and Samuel could feel the weight of it with every step.“We shouldn’t be out here this long,” Evelyn murmured beside him, her voice barely audible. “If they catch us—”“They won’t,” Samuel said, though he wasn’t sure if he believed it.Their goal was simple: find any surviving allies still hidden in the city and bring them back to the watchtower. But so far, they had found only abandoned hideouts and cold trails. Either the survivors had gone deeper into hiding, or worse, they had been caught.Evelyn stoppe
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“Mr. Hayes, there’s a report of an attack at the oil refinery…”Samuel Hayes, in the middle of a yoga session, opened one eye. A whisper reached his ear, and the name mentioned was Brian.“Huh, such a nuisance. Him again, always him. Is there no one else in my life?” Hayes grumbled.His eyes scanned the three subordinates who looked terrified, clearly affected by Samuel’s disturbed expression.“Y—Yes, Mr. Hayes…”“I wasn’t speaking to you. Why are you scared? By the way, since you spoke, I want you to call Melanie,” Hayes replied.Ronald’s heart pounded erratically. How could he summon someone who had long been missing and presumed dead?“But… Mr. Hayes, Miss Melanie--”“How many times have I told you Melanie is not dead? Are you doubting me?”Ronald fell silent, his eyes pleading to his two teammates for help in making Hayes see reason—but no one dared oppose him. Samuel’s word had the weight of law.Hayes’s decisions had never failed, but this time, they were clueless. The last sigh
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Samuel’s breath felt heavy, as if the air itself had thickened around him. Lucian’s words coiled in his mind, each syllable pressing against something deep inside him, something he wasn’t ready to face.But he couldn’t let this man—whoever or whatever he was—control the conversation.Samuel squared his shoulders. “You talk like you know everything, but if you really did, you wouldn’t be wasting time playing cryptic games.”Lucian’s lips curled slightly. “Ah. So you do have some fight in you.” He exhaled slowly. “Good. You’ll need it.”Cassandra tensed beside Samuel, her fingers twitching toward her knife. “I’m getting real tired of this guy’s riddles.”Evelyn didn’t move, but Samuel could feel her measuring Lucian, weighing his every word. She finally spoke. “You mentioned a choice. But you haven’t actually offered one.”Lucian chuckled, slow and deliberate. “Sharp. I like that.” His gaze returned to Samuel. “I told you—the temple was only the beginning. What you unleashed doesn’t jus
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Samuel settled into his role as the hidden force behind Valora’s growing network of power, he couldn't shake the feeling that everything was leading to a major confrontation. The influence of Black Talon was far-reaching, but the global organizations that had begun to take notice of him were even more dangerous. It wasn’t just about controlling Valora anymore; it was about reshaping the world itself. But Samuel was patient. He’d been raised to play the long game, and every move he made was calculated to bring him closer to that ultimate goal.Evelyn, a former military strategist, was one of the first to join Samuel's "Council of Shadows." With a sharp mind and unparalleled tactical ability, she had been one of the few who understood Samuel’s vision. She saw the potential in him—not just as a leader of Valora, but as someone who could dominate the global stage."You're not just playing with the city," she said one evening, studying the digital maps of Valora. "You’re aiming for somethi
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Samuel gazed at the gloomy sky of Valora. A city that was once full of hope now lay shrouded in darkness. Every corner, every alley, every towering building that once stood proud, now only carried memories. Valora, a city of prosperity, was now caught in the grip of secret syndicates that controlled everything from the shadows.As he stood before the towering building that would now become his new home, Samuel took a deep breath, releasing the tension that had long plagued him. Moving to this city wasn’t an easy decision. But after everything that had happened in the past, he knew Valora was the right place to start over.With a new identity carefully concealed, Samuel was determined to rebuild his strength from the ground up, change his destiny, and perhaps, one day, change this city itself.Months after settling in Valora, Samuel began uncovering the hidden legacy of the "Old Master," a legendary strategist known for his extraordinary ability to foresee the future. One evening, as h
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\The road to the Vale of Remnants wasn’t marked on any map. It was hidden, buried beneath centuries of secrecy and natural camouflage. Eli had given them a tattered scroll, ink faded but still legible, containing coordinates only someone with the sigil could decipher. As they left the last paved road behind, the air grew heavier, laced with static. Trees loomed taller here, their twisted trunks like sentinels watching every move.Samuel sat in the backseat, staring out at the encroaching forest, his mind reeling. The Mark of Ascendance pulsed under his sleeve with quiet insistence, as if reacting to their proximity to the boundary. Every time he blinked, he saw that throne again—ancient and immense, its surface etched with glowing veins of light and shadow.Joey drove in tense silence. He had stopped cracking jokes two hours ago, when the GPS died and the radio began spitting out bursts of static mixed with those same whispered voices Samuel had been hearing. Sarah sat beside him, ey
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The handshake lingered longer than it should have, and when Marcus finally let go, Samuel wiped his hand on his coat, as if trying to rid himself of something foul. The warehouse hit had gone clean, precise, but that didn’t matter now. Callahan’s warning refused to quiet in Samuel’s head. The real players—the ones who truly run this city—are still out there.Back at the safe house, the atmosphere was no warmer than when they had left. Olivia was asleep on the couch, her breathing shallow but even. Rafael stood by the window, watching the street, while Evelyn leaned against the wall, arms crossed, the lines of tension etched deeper into her face.“You okay?” Samuel asked, stepping beside her.She didn’t answer at first. Then, quietly, “We just shot a man in cold blood, and I don’t feel a thing. That’s not normal.”Samuel glanced at her. “Normal left the building a long time ago.”Rafael spoke up. “We’ve stirred something up. Marcus might be useful, but he’s no ally. He plays sides, not
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'Hey, how about now? I am hungry'.There really was no other choice but to send a message to Gelael and go out with him. I couldn't possibly have to whine to Adrian, he might get really angry with me, because earlier he had offered to buy food straight away.Luckily, in no more than five minutes, Gelael arrived. I immediately got down and opened Gelael's car door when I saw that he had come with his friend. I immediately closed the front door and moved to the back. Unlucky! It's really embarrassing."Eh, sorry Emma, I forgot to tell you that I invited my brother, his name is Bon," said Gelael, Bon then extended his hand towards me."Emma," I said, shaking Bon's hand."Where are you going, sis?" Bon asked Gelael."Whatever, just a place to eat, a relaxed cafe, something delicious, if possible with live music," said Gelael.I sent a message to Gelael.'Why didn't you say that you would invite your brother, I was embarrassed because I suddenly opened the front door''Why should you be em
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"Why did you bring your brother? That's really cool," I asked."He was the one who wanted to come, he said he was bored at home, lazy about being told by his older brother, so I just invited him, do you feel bothered?" Gelael asked back."No, it's up to you, whoever you want to invite," I answered.Gelael smiled, he kept looking at me, I became uncomfortable."What now?" I asked Gelael."Nothing, I'm just happy to see you again, forgive all my stupidity yesterday, I think I was possessed by the ghost of a woman, that's why I acted so annoyingly," said Gelael."There's no need to discuss it any further, just assume that if you're crazy, I understand," I said.Gelael laughed, he looked back at me while supporting his chin. A very annoying pose for me, I ignored it and immediately played with my cellphone.Adrian sent photos of the food being served at Sandra's house, lots of it. It looked like they were having a luxurious party, Sandra was also seen smiling holding a lobster. I'm gratef
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“Why, just because I said something wrong earlier? "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, don't be angry like this, we can discuss other things that are more interesting," replied Gelael."What else can I discuss with you?" I asked."What, I don't know either, there are many things I could tell you but you won't hear them, you understand what I mean," said Gelael, he looked at me sharply."Yeah, thank you, I don't want to hear it one bit," I answered.Gelael raised his eyebrows, he then opened his cellphone. Likewise with me. I also kept myself busy by opening my cellphone.I looked around, people seemed to be chatting with each other, sharing stories, laughing, and making memorable memories. Meanwhile we were both just busy with our own affairs. There are no more words, no more stories that we can talk about, it's all over.Likewise with this relationship, it should be completely over, it cannot be forced. Between the two of us we still have wounds and hopes, I have wounds that have not yet h
