Chapter 30: The Price of Shadows
The night air was thick with tension as Joshua and the operatives burst out from the warehouse's back exit, alarms blaring behind them. The Soul Reaper moved like a specter through the chaos, covering their retreat with silent precision.
Joshua's heart pounded—not just from the fight, but from the revelation gleaned inside: the Veil's plans were more expansive than anyone had feared. Their reach extended beyond Soul Island and Lagos, aiming at destabilizing the very foundations of the Soulborne families.
As the team reached the safety of Rose's secure convoy, Joshua took a moment to catch his breath. The Soul Reaper, now visible beneath the cloak of night, removed their hood, revealing an enigmatic face — calm, unreadable, but fiercely loyal.
Back inside the armored vehicle, Joshua accessed the stolen intel. Among the coded files was mention of "Cirth the Black King," one of the Veil's elite Nine, preparing a decisive strike against Karen Lockwood.
The weight settled heavy on Joshua's shoulders. The Veil was no longer just hunting—they were planning an all-out assault.
Rose's voice came steady through the comm-link: "We've bought ourselves time, but it's not enough. We need to fortify Karen and the others. No more mistakes."
Joshua nodded grimly. "Agreed. We'll need every resource, every ally."
As the convoy sped toward safety, Joshua's thoughts drifted to Karen and the others — vulnerable yet fiercely determined. Their journey was far from over. In the battle between light and shadow, sacrifices were inevitable. But he swore, with every fiber of his being, to protect them all — no matter the cost.