Ethan and Lena pulled to a massive warehouse on the city’s outskirts. The clock on the dashboard read 3:00 PM, and the area around them felt eerily quiet. It was a stark contrast to the buzzing metropolis just miles away. Ethan could sense the tension in the air as they exited the car.
As they stepped out, Lena glanced at him with a playful smirk. “You’re rich, Ethan. Why on earth aren’t you driving your own car? Or are you too humble for that?”
Ethan chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “I’ve been a little too busy lately. Buying a car slipped my mind, but I’ll get one soon enough.”
Lena raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by his response. “Busy, huh? Well, make sure you pick something fitting. It wouldn’t do to have the CEO of NovaTech walking everywhere.”
Ethan smiled, but his focus quickly shifted to the large warehouse ahead. It was massive—its steel exterior weathered from years of exposure yet still standing tall and strong. The surrounding area was mostly deserted, with no visible signs of activity, but something about it made Ethan uneasy. He couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, as if the air carried an underlying menace.
Looking closer, he noticed subtle movements in the shadows near the warehouse. The auras he sensed weren’t ordinary—it was as though the very atmosphere was charged with hidden power. The danger was lurking behind every corner.
“Feel that?” Lena asked, her voice dropping in volume as her gaze fixed on the warehouse.
Ethan nodded, his eyes narrowing. “Yeah, I can feel it. There’s something off about this place. Like it’s alive with… I don’t know, tension?”
“That’s because it is,” Lena replied, her tone more serious now. “The auras you’re sensing belong to the mercenaries. They gather here to train and wait for missions. This place isn’t your typical meeting spot. It’s where some of the most dangerous individuals in the world come to stay sharp and make deals.”
Ethan glanced at Lena, processing her words. This wasn’t just some back-alley deal—they were about to step into a world filled with people who thrived on violence, who were hardened by battle, and who would do anything for the right price.
“The warehouse owner,” Lena continued, “is someone you’ll want to keep on your good side. He’s well-known among the mercenaries as the go-to person for handling clients and posting missions. If a mercenary is interested, they’ll meet with the client or have the owner act as a middleman.”
Ethan nodded, understanding the implications. “So, if I want protection, I’ll need to go through this guy?”
“Exactly,” Lena said. “But don’t worry. I’ve worked with him before. He’s reliable—as long as you’re willing to pay.”
They approached the heavy, rusted doors of the warehouse. Ethan could hear faint sounds coming from within—grunts of exertion, clashing metal, and the occasional muffled voice. It was clear that this wasn’t just a meeting spot. This was where dangerous individuals honed their skills, constantly preparing for whatever mission awaited them.
Lena stopped before the door, placing a hand on it before turning to Ethan. “Once we’re inside, stay close to me. These people don’t trust outsiders easily, and you’ll need to show strength, even if it’s just through confidence.”
Ethan gave her a firm nod. “Got it. I’m ready.”
Lena pushed the door open, and the world inside the warehouse unfolded before them. As they stepped through, Ethan could feel the full weight of the mercenaries’ presence. Eyes turned toward him, sizing him up as if they were measuring his worth.
Lena glanced at Ethan as they walked further into the warehouse. Her lips curved into a subtle smile. “It looks like you’ve caught their attention,” she said softly. Everyone seems interested in you.”
Ethan maintained his composure, trying to ignore the piercing gazes from the mercenaries around him. He returned their stares, unflinching, though he could feel the intensity behind their eyes. Ethan knew most of these people were likely at ranks far higher than his own. Ascendants who had survived wars and missions far beyond anything he had experienced.
But as they walked, one thought gnawed at the back of his mind—how could Lena, a woman, walk so easily through this den of hardened killers and not even flinch? It wasn’t just about being fearless. There was something more.
Was it her background that commanded such silent respect? Or perhaps Lena’s rank as an Ascendant was far higher than even the Great Families’ strongest members. Ethan had no clue how high up the ladder she stood. Still, there was an unmistakable aura of authority around her.
He wondered briefly about the hierarchy of power. If the influential families in Novan City were called the “Great Families,” what made the Volkovs and Petrovas? They stood on a different level, much higher than the elites of Novan City. What were families like them called?
But Ethan pushed those thoughts aside. There was a time and place for such questions, but this wasn’t it. His current concern was the meeting ahead and the ominous feeling growing with each step they took.
As they passed through the warehouse, Ethan saw men and women engaged in rigorous training. Some were lifting weights far beyond what any normal human could manage. Others practiced with weapons Ethan had never seen before, their movements sharp and deadly.
This was no ordinary training ground. Every person in the room exuded power and experience, and the atmosphere was thick with an almost tangible sense of danger.
The interior of the warehouse was a surprising contrast to its rugged exterior. State-of-the-art equipment lined the walls—advanced tech that Ethan could tell was far beyond anything available to regular humans.
It made sense. These people weren’t just ordinary mercenaries; they were Ascendants. Superhumans, in a way, each one a force to be reckoned with.
After a few minutes of walking, Lena led him to a large, reinforced door at the far end of the warehouse. As they approached, Ethan felt a terrible aura radiating from behind it. The energy was suffocating, heavy with raw power. Whoever—or whatever—was inside, it was nothing like the people training outside.
Before Ethan could ask Lena anything, a deep, commanding voice came from behind the door. “Come in.”
Ethan’s muscles tensed as Lena reached for the door, pushing it open easily.
As the door swung open, Ethan braced himself for whoever—or whatever—might be inside, expecting someone terrifying based on the aura he had sensed. But to his surprise, a chubby, seemingly harmless old man sat calmly behind a large desk. His round face was framed by neatly styled white hair parted in the middle, and he wore round glasses that rested on his nose. The contrast between the overwhelming aura Ethan had felt moments before and the person sitting before him was jarring.
The old man smiled warmly as he glanced up from the stack of papers on his desk. “Lena! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” His tone was casual, almost cheerful, as if old friends were catching up.
Lena stepped forward and bowed her head slightly out of respect. “It has, Mr. Halen. It’s good to see you again.”
Ethan blinked, barely able to process what he was seeing. He had expected a menacing warlord, not a gentle-looking man who could have been mistaken for a retired professor. The contrast between Lena’s deferential tone and the old man’s laid-back demeanor was astonishing.
Sensing Ethan’s confusion, Lena turned her head slightly toward him, her voice calm but filled with subtle meaning. “Don’t let appearances fool you, Ethan. Mr. Halen may seem harmless, but beneath that calm exterior is one of the most powerful Ascendants you’ll ever meet. Everyone outside,” she gestured toward the door, “answers to him. They’d fall in line without a single word if he releases his aura. No one dares to cross him.”
Ethan’s eyes widened slightly as he looked back at the old man—Mr. Halen—who was now casually scribbling something on a piece of paper. The aura he had felt earlier made sense now. It wasn’t about physical presence but the quiet, overwhelming power lurking beneath the surface.
But Mr. Halen, hearing Lena’s praise, waved a hand dismissively and laughed. “Oh, please, Lena! You always make me sound scarier than I am!” He leaned back in his chair, a playful twinkle in his eyes. “I’m just an old man who likes his peace and quiet. Besides, the youngsters outside are much too well-behaved to need any kind of aura-suppression nonsense.”
Lena smiled softly, though she didn’t refute what she had said. Still trying to reconcile the man before him with the formidable aura he had sensed, Ethan remained silent, feeling more than ever that this world of Ascendants was full of unexpected twists.
