A fist slammed into a column in the dimly lit dining room turned throne room of Reunion Tower.

"He should not be allowed to talk about you that way. Miserable worm. I should go over there and force him to regret what he said." A large man wearing a loincloth said angrily.

"Calm yourself, Keith. His time will come." Shandra said from the throne she had built for her facing the view over the city.

"But my lady, he has no right to criticize us when he pathetically continues to take on weaklings!" Keith replied with hatred in his voice.

"It means nothing. We will crush him and his guild and take any survivors as laborers for our guild. We must have the secret to his ability to power that damn building though. So leave the professionals alive." Shandra ordered.

Shandra sat peering out over the skyline, plotting her next move to take out this insufferable Tom. He had been a thorn in her side since she first met him, many of the people flocking to him being fighters who had promise. She regretted not going to the Grand Canyon now, but her choice had been a strategic one.

While Tom and his merry band of friends went off to solve the world's problems, she stayed behind continuing to train. She was stronger now. Much stronger. And the people she had under her were ruthless and efficient. She would destroy them. But their numbers kept growing making it a problem for her. So she needed to make a move.

War was always good for thinning ranks. Her father had taught her that when she was a small child. He had been a high-ranking official in the military and had taught her to be as cunning as possible while being totally ruthless. He had set up a training regimen for her from an early age and always expected perfection out of her. Which she had obliged.

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She was the perfect child. Straight A's on every report card, a sports prodigy in Basketball, Volleyball, and Track and Field. She had the perfect transcript that got her into Harvard Law School where she passed the bar and became a prosecutor for the State. She was just as ruthless in her career as well, which had given her the title of the Shark in the courtroom.

Why was this fool who let kindness, or weakness as her father had thought of it, guide his decisions building a greater following than she was? She had found some of the strongest people in Dallas and assembled them into a team that had been able to overcome any obstacle with relative ease. And now she was feeling threatened by how fast Vanguard had continued to grow.

That son of a bitch came back from the Grand Canyon with what looked like an army from the number of buses and vans entering their guild building.

"Yes, mistress. But I want my chance to make him pay for what he has said." Keith knelt before her.

"You will get your chance. But we must be smart. An all-out war would be too costly right now. We will get our chance. But will play it safe for the time being." Shandra said, putting one hand up to her chin as her elbow rested on the arm of the throne.

"Thank you, my lady," Keith said as he bowed his head as well.

"For now, keep an eye on them. We don't want them getting any further ahead than they already are. We will let Sean and his team begin with their part of the plan. Stealth is key for the initial volley." Shandra said, a small wicked grin touching her lips.

She stood up and walked to the glass walls of the former dining area. This miserable town would all be hers. Then she could rule it with impunity and expand to other areas. People would flock from all around to gather under her banners for protection as well as power. She would become the strongest person this world had ever seen.

And all that stood in her way was one man. She would break him. Then she would watch as the light left his eyes for the final time to allow her goals to be completed.