Sera staggered through a grimy, metallic alleyway. She took deep breaths and slumped against the cold metal wall. Black sap oozed from the stumps where her arms had been torn apart, the viscous liquid dripping onto the ground in thick, inky drops.

She leaned against the wall, trying to steady herself, her eyes traveled over the carnage she had left behind. A tide of red-cloaked men and women lay strewn across the alley, their bodies twisted and broken, blood pooling around them.

Sera's breathing was ragged, but she kept her cool as her arms began to regenerate. Twisted sinew emerged from the ragged stumps, the raw, fibrous tissue knitting itself together in a display of rapid healing. The sinew twisted and coiled, growing thicker and more defined with each passing moment. Slowly, the grotesque mass softened, the rough texture smoothing out as new flesh formed over it.

Pale skin spread across the newly formed muscle and sinew, covering the once-raw wounds with a fresh, unblemished surface. Fingers extended, joints realigned, and soon, her arms were whole again, as if they had never been torn apart. Sera flexed her regenerated fingers, testing their strength and mobility as pain subsided.

Sera pushed herself off the wall and stood up, the shadowy fabric of her cloak elongating to cover her newly healed arms. She walked slowly towards an open door frame, her bare feet drenched in blood.

The Black Eagles had sent in wave after wave of warriors, which was why Sera had allowed both of her hands to be injured in order to use more of her power. The fact that there was no foliage or even soil in the area for her to use certainly made things more difficult than they should have been.

When Sera was getting close to the doorframe, she heard a groan. One of the Black Eagle members was pushing himself up from the ground. His hand gripped a spear that pulsed with electrical energy, the faint crackle of electricity filling the air. Determination was etched on his bloodied face as he struggled to stand, every muscle tensed with the effort.

Sera stepped forward with cold precision, her bare heel coming down hard on his head. The impact was swift, and the man's screams were cut short as frost spread rapidly from her foot, freezing his skull solid. The chilling sound of ice crackling through bone and flesh echoed briefly before silence fell once more.

Once the man was dead, Sera knelt down and turned him over. She spotted a dagger tucked into his belt, its blade still stained with blood. She pulled it free, wiping the blood off on the man's clothing before securing it in her cloak. The weapon was a simple one, but it would be useful for triggering her own abilities when needed.

Continuing towards the door frame, Sera's senses remained alert. Her eyes scanned the shadows for any signs of movement. As she stepped into the open space, she was met by a lone Black Eagle member, a woman who pointed her spear at Sera, its tip pulsing with electric energy. "S-stay back!"

Sera gestured to the surrounding corpses. "Do you really think you stand a chance, human? Your petty spear isn't going to save you."

The woman's resolve faltered visibly. She lowered her spear, allowing it to clatter to the ground. "Just… kill me."

Sera approached the woman, leaning in and breathing down her neck. "Take me to Vega, or at least, someone who can."

The woman nodded slowly. "I-I'll take you to him."

***

The woman led Sera through a series of winding corridors and steep staircases. Occasionally, they passed a Black Eagle member, their dark uniforms blending into the shadows. At the woman's subtle gesture, these guards quickly averted their eyes, pretending not to see Sera.

Eventually, they arrived in front of a luxurious ebon door, its surface polished to a high sheen. The rich, dark wood contrasting with the rough stone of the surrounding walls.

The woman gestured towards the door and bowed her head. "Vega's inside."

Sera's expression remained unreadable as she extended her hand. "Thank you."

Before the woman could react, Sera's grip tightened, and an icy chill spread from her fingers. Frost rapidly encased the woman's hand, the cold traveling up her arm with ruthless speed. The woman gasped, her eyes widening in shock and pain as she fell to her knees, the frostbite creeping further up her limb.

Sera's other hand moved with lethal precision, pressing against the woman's neck. The cold spread instantly, freezing the skin and tissue beneath. The woman's breath came in ragged gasps, her body trembling as the ice immobilized her.

Sera watched impassively as the woman knelt before her, now a frozen statue. She released her grip, stepping back to admire her handiwork for a brief moment before turning her attention to the door.

She pushed the door open and was immediately greeted by clouds of thick, purple gas. The air was dense with the scent of various herbs combined with alchemical elements. Poison, nothing particularly impressive though.

Inside, Sera saw who she presumed to be Vega lounging casually on a luxurious couch, the opulent fabric contrasting with the grimy surroundings she had just left. He took a leisurely draft from a smoking pipe, the tendrils of smoke curling lazily in the air around him.

Vega's black hair was slicked back, and he wore a cloak with the hood pulled down to reveal his sharp, angular features. His skin was pale, almost luminescent, and crisscrossed with intricate purple tattoos that snaked across his face, down his neck.

Soon, he put his pipe down and stood up, gaze fixed on Sera. "I take it you're the one who's been killing all my employees?

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Sera closed the door behind her and casually stepped forward. "You should thank me, I rooted out all the weaklings from the Black Eagles."

Vega stood up and extended a hand forward for a handshake. "Well, I'm not the type to hold a grudge. Why don't we call things even for now?"

Sera considered for a moment whether she wanted to freeze his hand or not. There was nothing in Vega's behavior that would indicate to her that he had hostile intent as of now. He's still unsure as to what to do with me, he'll likely turn hostile sooner than later.

For now, Sera reached out and shook his hand. "Admittedly, you're more calm about this than I would have thought."

Vega chuckled again as he released the handshake and moved back to his couch. "No disrespect, but who did you think was sending all those people at you? Let's just say I know when I'm beat, and I'm also not exactly in a rush to die."

Sera pulled a wooden chair closer and sat down. "If it makes you feel better, I'm here to talk business."

Vega shrugged, lounging comfortably on the couch. "I don't mind talking business, but I don't enjoy speaking with someone wearing a mask."

Sera's voice was cold and steady. "I don't enjoy speaking with you either, but here we are."

Vega leaned back, his demeanor seemingly relaxed, though his eyes remained sharp and calculating. "Alright," he said with a shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. "I'll concede for now. Why are you here?"

Sera's eyes remained fixed on him. "I wish to take over the Black Eagles for myself."

"Ambitious, aren't we?" Vega said, taking another leisurely puff from his pipe. "And what makes you think you can just waltz in here and take over?"

"I've already eliminated many of your members," Sera replied bluntly. "That should give you an idea of my capabilities."

Vega's smile didn't falter, but there was a coldness in his eyes. "Fair point. But surely, you didn't think it would be that simple, did you?"

"I'm not interested in a power struggle. I'm offering you a chance to step down willingly and save your life."

"And what would I get out of this? Surely, you don't expect me to just hand over everything I've worked for without some form of compensation."

"That depends, what do you want and what value can you provide?"

"Positions of power within the new Black Eagles," Vega suggested. "I could still be useful to you, you know. My knowledge, my connections... they could all be at your disposal."

Sera's expression remained stoic. "You can have a position, but you'll have to start from scratch, like everyone else. I want the cream of the crop, and if you're truly as useful as you claim, you'll rise anyway."

Vega's eyes narrowed slightly, though his tone remained casual. "You're quite direct, aren't you? But if you push everyone out, you'll be left with nothing but enemies. It's smarter to keep some of the old guard close, don't you think?"

"No," Sera said flatly. "I need loyalty, not treachery disguised as cooperation. I have no use for you if you're not completely under my command."

"You're making this difficult. You can't expect to take over an organization like the Black Eagles without some form of compromise."

"I'm not here to compromise. I'm here to take over. Now, are you going to cooperate, or do I need to find someone else who will?"

Vega took a long, slow drag from his pipe, the smoke curling around him like a lazy serpent. He exhaled, the tendrils of smoke drifting towards the ceiling. "This isn't really going anywhere, is it?"

Sera stood up. "If you're not willing to cooperate, then our business is done here."

"You're right, it is."

In an instant, Vega's hand darted into his cloak and took out two small black spheres. With a swift flick of his wrist, he hurled them to the ground. They exploded with a sharp crack, releasing a thick, poisonous gas that rapidly filled the room.

Sera remained unfazed as the toxic fumes enveloped her. She focused her senses, honing in on Vega's presence amidst the swirling haze. She could feel his movements, sharp and deliberate, as he attempted to take advantage of the cover.

Before long, Vega lunged at her with a dagger. Sera sidestepped with fluid grace. Too slow.

Vega swung again, his blade cutting through the air, but Sera was already a step ahead. She dodged his attacks with a grace that bordered on effortless, her eyes never leaving his.

Vega's frustration mounted as he aimed a swift kick at her midsection. Sera caught his leg mid-strike, her hand gripping his ankle. Ice spread rapidly from her fingers, encasing his leg in frost. Vega yanked his leg free, but the damage was done.

Undeterred, Vega switched tactics, throwing a series of punches aimed at Sera's head and torso. She dodged each blow with minimal effort, his fists cut through the air, missing her by mere inches.

As Vega overextended with a particularly aggressive jab, Sera saw her opportunity. She ducked beneath his arm before grabbing part of it. Ice spread instantly from her touch, freezing his arm solid in a heartbeat.

Vega roared in pain and frustration, trying to pull away, but Sera's grip was unrelenting. She twisted his frozen arm with a merciless efficiency, sending him stumbling backward. He regained his balance quickly, only to find Sera already closing the distance.

Sera touched his other arm, the freezing cold locking his limbs in place. The ice spread with a crackling hiss, encasing his muscles and joints in an unyielding grip.

Desperation flashed in Vega's eyes as attempted a final, desperate kick aimed at Sera's legs, hoping to topple her. But Sera was ready. She sidestepped his kick with ease, and then used a hand to catch his leg mid-air, freezing it from the knee down.

Vega cried out as the ice spread, his leg growing heavy and immobile. His balance faltered, and he crashed to the floor with a thud. He struggled to move, muscles straining against the unyielding frost, but it held him firmly in place.

Sera stood over him with a cold expression. She watched as the fight drained out of him, his defiance giving way to resignation.

"You should have cooperated," Sera said softly. "Now, this ends on my terms."

Satisfied that Vega was no longer a threat, Sera knelt beside his now still form as she searched through his clothing. The coarse fabric of his tunic rustled as she rifled through the pockets, her expression focused and methodical. She found a few coins, a rusty dagger, and more importantly: a piece of folded parchment. Carefully, she unfolded the note and read its contents.

This is my last warning to you, Vega. I know what you've been trying to do behind my back, and if you keep it up, I'll have you killed myself.

In other news, I'm going to be dealing with a beastkin shifter from the raid a few months ago. Keep an eye out for any intruders and make sure nobody sticks their noses where they don't belong.

-Vittorio

Sera folded the paper again and tucked it in her cloak. Looks like Aermo's been captured, I should head down to that prison complex immediately.

Satisfied with the information, Sera kept searching through every pocket and fold in Vega’s clothing, just in case. Her persistence paid off when she found a small set of keys tucked inside his boot. This should make things easier.