Lucien LaRue paced the length of the SilverWave Innovations conference room, his fists clenched and his face flushed with barely contained fury.
The previous day’s events replayed in his mind like a haunting nightmare. The laughter, the absurd animations, and Ethan’s smug face on the screen mocking him were infuriating. SilverWave’s carefully constructed plan had failed and imploded in the most humiliating way possible.
Ethan had corrupted SilverWave’s servers and left them reeling with reputational damage. The fallout was immediate. Their software and app users had flooded SilverWave with complaints, bogging them down in a mess of negative reviews, plummeting their once-pristine ratings overnight. It was as if Ethan had turned SilverWave’s public image into his personal punching bag.
Lucien found himself in this meeting room with his Ascendants, a handpicked team of Low Star Soldiers he had long trusted to help him in similar situations.
He stopped pacing and turned, his dark glare sweeping over the five Ascendants seated around the polished glass table. They were all skilled, powerful, and loyal—but right now, they could feel the tension emanating from Lucien like a storm ready to break.
At the head of the table, his expression was a mask of simmering anger, and Lucien’s voice was dangerously calm. “You all know why we’re here. That man—Ethan Cole—made a fool of me and humiliated this company. Worse, he’s shaken our standing in the market.”
The Ascendants exchanged tense glances but held their silence. They had rarely seen Lucien this rattled, his composed demeanor utterly shattered. They’d heard the stories, of course. News of the failed data heist had spread quickly among SilverWave’s inner circle. And now, they were here to address the backlash.
Lucien’s glare swept across them, his jaw clenched tightly. “Ethan’s retaliation was more than just a prank. He tore apart our data, corrupted our servers, and, in a single stroke, sent our reputation spiraling. I brought you here because I need solutions. I need results.” His fist slammed onto the table, making several of the Ascendants flinch. “I will not rest until he pays for this.”
One of the Ascendants, a dark-haired man with a calculating gaze, finally broke the silence. “Boss, if this Ethan Cole managed to infiltrate our systems that easily, he may have help we’re not aware of. Another tech company or even an ally from outside of Arland. We could investigate those avenues—find his weakness.”
Lucien sneered, the suggestion only fueling his anger. “That’s the obvious answer and one we’ve already considered. But we’re beyond assumptions here. I want actions, not empty ideas. I want Ethan Cole brought to his knees.”
Another Ascendant, a woman with steely eyes and a scar across her cheek, nodded. “We could disrupt NovaTech directly. We show him otherwise if he thinks he’s untouchable within his walls. We strike when he least expects it—make him understand that his little games have real consequences.”
Lucien’s scowl softened just a fraction, a glint of approval in his eyes. “Exactly the kind of thinking we need.” He paused, letting his gaze settle over each of them. “I didn’t bring you here to simply listen to my grievances. You’re my Ascendants, each chosen for your strength and skill. I need you to deliver results.”
The five Ascendants shifted, their expressions hardening with determination. Lucien’s words were a command and a challenge they understood well.
“Ethan Cole may think he’s won this round,” Lucien continued, a vicious gleam in his eyes, “but this was only the beginning. We will dismantle his empire piece by piece until there’s nothing left but rubble.”
Another Ascendant, a woman with steely eyes and a scar tracing her cheek, leaned forward, her tone cautious. “We could disrupt NovaTech directly. But let’s not overlook the fact that Ethan managed to take down Anton from the Petrova family. He’s not entirely without skill and might have deeper connections.”
There was a brief pause before another Ascendant, a tall man with a mocking smirk, scoffed. “Anton? Hardly the Petrova family’s shining star. He’s far from the main heirs—probably just a pawn, nothing more. If Ethan thinks that counts as an accomplishment, he’s delusional.”
Yet another Ascendant, a slender man with piercing eyes, shook his head. “Perhaps. But think about it. If Ethan didn’t hesitate to go up against someone with the Petrova name, it might hint at something more. He could be linked to one of those Grand Families, one of the hidden players looking to make their mark in a place like Novan City. They’d see it as the perfect testing ground.”
The suggestion hung in the air, drawing a wary silence from the group. The idea of a scion from an Ancient Family infiltrating the city, moving under the radar to build influence, was unsettling.
Lucien’s scowl softened, but they brushed the notion aside with a dismissive wave. “Unlikely. Ethan’s not that strong—Anton or not, his rank barely registers. He’s twenty years old and only at the Lower Star Apprentice level. Any true Ancient Family member would have surpassed that years ago.”
His words seemed to reassure the others, but he let his gaze linger on each of them, ensuring they understood the task. “We don’t need to overthink this. We strike, dismantle, and remind him who he’s dealing with.”
The five Ascendants exchanged looks, their expressions tightening with renewed resolve. They knew what Lucien expected. His words were a command, an unspoken vow of vengeance that they would see through.
***
Ethan leaned back, his calm confidence filling the room as he looked around at the Iron Vanguards, Jessica, and Lena. Each face was eager, some showing quiet determination, others a flicker of excitement. Calder, however, appeared more intense than usual, his usual composure betrayed by a subtle clench of his jaw.
“You all know the plan,” Ethan began. “To become the thirteenth Great Family in Novan City. It won’t be simple, and we’ll face resistance, but I believe in you and what we’re building here.”
Thorne smirked a glint of excitement in his eye. “About time someone gives those families a run for their money. They’ve monopolized power too long, treating everyone else like disposable resources.”
Jessica nodded. “From what I’ve seen, many people would welcome that shift. The Great Families hold too much power only to serve themselves. They need a real rival.”
Ethan nodded. “Exactly. This isn’t about overthrowing them but creating something different. This family values its people and lifts up those who deserve it.”
Lucan, as stoic as ever, gave a single nod. “The other families won’t like it. But if anyone can pull it off, it’s this team.”
Calder, still silent, finally glanced at Lucan, who returned his gaze with a subtle nod, encouraging him to speak.
With a steady breath, Calder broke the silence. “Most of you don’t know this, but I have a reason to stand against the Great Families—specifically, the LaRues.”
The others turned to him, intrigued, and Calder continued, his voice steady but edged with bitterness. “My father was once an heir to the LaRue family, meant to compete for the head. But Lucien’s father decided he wouldn’t risk the competition. They framed my father, stripped him of his status, crippled him as an Ascendant, and left him in ruin.” Calder’s gaze hardened. “My father never recovered. And my mother… she fell ill from the poison they used on my father. She’s lived with that curse ever since.”
The room fell silent, and the shock was visible on the faces of the other Iron Vanguards. Even Seraph, who had seen her share of ruthless behavior, looked shaken.
“Your parents… were destroyed by them?” Rhea asked quietly, her gaze filled with sympathy.
Calder nodded. “The LaRues have destroyed countless lives to keep their place at the top. They guard their power ruthlessly, and no one dares challenge them.”
Ethan listened, absorbing the weight of Calder’s story. He hadn’t known the full depth of Calder’s past. Still, it resonated with his own reasons.
The others absorbed Calder’s words in silence, and Flint finally broke it with a low chuckle. “Well, that just makes this even more satisfying. I look forward to seeing them squirm.”
Ethan nodded, his tone calm but firm. “Remember, this isn’t about going to war. We’re not becoming another version of them—we’re here to build something better, sustainable, and different. We’ll do it smartly without becoming them.”
Lena, silent until now, watched Ethan with an interested gaze as if searching for what had driven him to dare dream of challenging the Great Families. She was intrigued by his calm audacity and steady resolve in his voice, which went beyond ambition.
Finally, Calder spoke, his tone softened but resolute. “It’s an ambitious plan, but if anyone can disrupt their control, it’s you, Ethan. They won’t expect this—not from someone outside their world.”
Ethan’s expression softened with a hint of satisfaction. “That’s one of our advantages—the element of surprise. They see us as small players, a mere nuisance. Let’s keep it that way for now.”
The group nodded, the weight of their mission settling over them. They knew the risks, but each was fueled by a shared purpose, bound together by a vision greater than their own.
“We’re aiming to become the thirteenth Great Family,” Ethan said, his gaze sweeping over each of them. “It’ll take patience, but if we stay focused, we’ll get there.”
With a final nod, the unspoken resolve filled the room. They were ready, each of them committed to the path ahead.
