The Black Fang Guild wasn't just a name whispered in dark alleys — it was a force woven into the underbelly of Valenport, a network of rogues, spies, and mercenaries with teeth sharp enough to tear through steel and loyalties as fleeting as the morning mist. Now, they wanted me. Or rather, they wanted what I represented: a chance to shake the city's rotten foundations.
That night, after the meeting at the docks, I barely slept. The weight of the silver wolf's emblem pressed heavy against my chest, not physically but like a promise — a pact I wasn't sure I was ready to keep.
By dawn, I was on the streets, moving through the waking city with a purpose sharpened by necessity. My body was still aching from the poison's slow burn and the relentless training with Soul Resonance, but my mind was razor-sharp. If the Black Fang wanted to help, I needed to know their game — and what they were willing to risk.
My first stop was a hidden tavern, the Bleeding Thorn, nestled between crumbling buildings near the docks. The air inside was thick with smoke and suspicion, filled with low conversations and eyes that never rested for long.
A few sharp nods later, I found myself led through a narrow passage into an underground chamber. The flicker of torchlight revealed a gathering of rough men and women — seasoned fighters, smugglers, and information brokers. Their eyes locked onto me, hungry for answers.
At the head of the room sat a tall woman with a scar running from her left temple down to her jaw — a map of battles won and losses survived. Her voice, calm but commanding, cut through the murmurs.
"You are Kael Draven," she said. "A man they tried to erase. But you came back."
I met her gaze steadily. "I'm here because your emissary said you want change. I want answers — and allies."
She nodded. "The Council rules this city with iron fists disguised in silk gloves. They control the guards, the merchants, the mages — anyone with power. We've been fighting in the shadows, but the Silent Serpents have been tightening their grip, crushing dissent."
"Why help me?" I asked, voice low.
"Because your return disrupts their plans. And you have something we don't — Soul Resonance. That power is rare, dangerous, and unpredictable. But in the right hands, it can tip the scales."
I felt a flicker of something deep within — a mixture of hope and caution.
She leaned forward, her scarred face hardening. "We want to strike back. But we need to be smart. The Council's spies are everywhere. Any rash move, and we'll be crushed."
The words echoed a truth I'd known for years: this wasn't just a fight for survival; it was a war for the city's soul.
Over the following days, I was plunged into the Black Fang's world — a labyrinth of coded messages, secret meetings, and covert operations. Their spies slipped through the city like shadows, gathering whispers and tracking the movements of our enemies. Their fighters trained relentlessly, preparing for the inevitable storm.
I shared what I could — my knowledge of Soul Resonance, the scars of betrayal, the weight of revenge burning in my heart.
Each night, I trained harder, pushing my body and mana to the edge, driven by the memory of those who fell and the future I was determined to claim.
One evening, as rain hammered against the city's rooftops and thunder rolled distant like the growl of an awakening beast, a messenger arrived with news that chilled my blood.
The Silent Serpents had struck again.
This time, their target was a safe house where several Black Fang members had gathered to plan their next move. The attack was swift, brutal, leaving no survivors.
The message was clear: No one is safe. Not even in the shadows.
Saria found me after the news broke, her eyes fierce beneath the hood she always wore.
"We can't hide anymore," she said. "They're hunting us down, one by one."
I clenched my fists, feeling the pulse of Soul Resonance thrumming through my veins like a battle drum.
"It's time to strike," I said. "They think they can control this city through fear. They're wrong."
Her lips curled into a ghost of a smile. "Kael Draven, the shadow who won't be silenced."
The hunt was on.
And this time, the city itself would burn if it stood in our way.