Loma's eyes fluttered open. He was lying on the bed of their hideout, bandaged and weak. His lips trembled.
Loma (whispering): "...Xoza…"
A pause. Then Vamos' voice, heavy with regret:
Vamos: "He's dead."
Loma's eyes widened. His chest tightened. Tears began to spill, one after another.
Loma: "It… it can't be!"
Vamos (low, bitter): "I tried to save him. When I couldn't… I tried to join the Fangs. Just to get revenge on Kael."
The words only twisted the knife deeper.
Loma (choking): "...Leave me alone. Just… for a second."
The room fell silent. Vamos left.
Alone, Loma buried his face in his hands. His body shook as sobs ripped through him.
Loma (thinking): "Xoza… you fought for me. You trained me. You believed in me. I owed you everything… and I couldn't repay it. Thank you, Xoza. I got your revenge… but it cost me you."
For ten long minutes, he wept. The kind of crying that leaves the throat raw, until there were no more tears left.
A knock came at the door. Darok stepped in quietly.
Darok: "Loma. Everyone's waiting."
Loma wiped his swollen eyes, splashed water on his face, and forced himself to stand.
Loma (quietly): "...Yeah. I'm coming."
---
[The Meeting Room]
Everyone had gathered around the long wooden table. The air was tense, expectant.
Vamos was the first to speak.
Vamos: "I've brought someone in. An advisor. He used to be RDX's strategist. From today… he'll be ours."
A sharp-eyed man stepped forward. His presence carried weight.
Advisor: "First, we need order. Power is nothing without structure. I will assign proper rankings to each of you. If no one objects, I'll proceed."
The group exchanged looks.
Loma: "...Yeah."
Darok: "Yeah."
Sylven: "Yeah."
Ryn: "Yeah."
Vamos: "Yeah."
The advisor gave a thin smile. Papers and charts were laid out. The new hierarchy was about to begin.
But while the Crimson Eclipse reorganized in the shadows, something far greater was already moving in the world outside. Something Loma could not yet see.
Chapter 91 End