The city of Johannesburg was suffocating under a blanket of paranoia.

It had been five days since the Sunken Necropolis mutated into an S Rank Red Gate. Five days since the entity known as the Ghost of Valor began slaughtering elite Hunter teams across the sectors. The civilian population was in a state of absolute panic. Riots had broken out in the lower districts. The transit trains were packed with people trying to flee to the neighboring smaller Sanctuaries but the Hunter Association had locked down the borders. No one was allowed in or out.

Martial law was in full effect.

Inside the glittering glass spire of the Astra Guild headquarters the atmosphere was just as tense. The grand boardroom located on the hundredth floor overlooked the burning city below.

Viktor Rostova the Executive Director of Astra’s military division slammed his fist onto the polished obsidian table.

"The Valor Guild is bleeding us dry!" Viktor roared glaring at the holographic projections of the other guild executives. "Elias Vance refuses to deploy his S Rank vanguard. He claims he is keeping them in reserve to protect his own assets. Meanwhile our research teams are being butchered in the field. The Ghost of Valor seems to be targeting us specifically."

"Director Rostova" a calm synthesized voice replied from one of the holograms. "The Association has officially classified the entity as an SS Rank threat. We cannot simply throw bodies at it. We need a coordinated strike. We need to petition Chairman Jin to intervene."

"Chairman Jin is in Antarctica!" Viktor spat pacing the length of the boardroom. "By the time the Association bureaucracy approves an SS Rank deployment this city will be a graveyard. We have the firepower. We have three S Rank hunter’s and a dozen A Rank strike teams. We need to find a way to breach the Red Gate and kill the monster in its nest."

Sitting quietly at the far end of the long obsidian table was Elena Rostova.

She wore a pristine white dress her blonde hair tied in a neat braid. She held a porcelain teacup in her delicate hands taking slow measured sips. She looked like a traumatized survivor quietly observing the adults argue.

But behind her blue eyes The Wanderer was laughing.

The entity found human politics endlessly entertaining. They were cattle arguing over who got to hold the slaughterhouse door open. The Wanderer could feel the fear radiating from the executives in the room. It was a delicious intoxicating aroma.

The Wanderer had spent the last two days perfectly assimilating into Elena’s life. He had slept in her silk sheets. He had eaten her expensive synthetic food. He had even cried in Viktor’s arms playing the role of the broken daughter to absolute perfection. The anti mana coursing through his veins was completely masked by Elena’s A Rank mana signature.

"Father" Elena spoke her voice soft and trembling slightly.

The entire boardroom fell silent. Viktor stopped pacing and looked at his daughter his harsh expression softening instantly. "Yes Elena? You do not have to be here for this. The medics said you need rest."

"I want to help" The Wanderer said using Elena’s face to project a look of brave determination. "I saw what that thing did to Gideon and the twins. It is not just a monster Father. It is a parasite. It feeds on fear. If we wait for the Association it will only grow stronger."

Viktor walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "What are you suggesting?"

"A joint expedition" The Wanderer said looking directly into the holographic eyes of the other executives. "The Valor Guild will not commit their S Rank Hunters because they do not want to take the casualties alone. But if Astra commits our S Rank hunter’s and we publicly challenge Elias Vance to match our deployment... his pride will not let him refuse. We gather the strongest Hunters in the city. We form a massive raid group. And we crush the Red Gate together."

The executives murmured among themselves. It was a bold political move. If Astra took the lead and forced Valor’s hand they would look like the saviors of the city.

"A massive raid group" Viktor mused rubbing his chin. "Fifty of the highest ranking Hunters in Johannesburg. A true army."

"Yes" The Wanderer smiled taking another sip of tea. "Send everyone."

Inside Elena’s skull he was grinning so wide it hurt.

Fear tasted good. Viktor’s was hot, copper, like blood on a blade. The executives’ was colder, thin, the kind that made them stutter over numbers. Fifty Hunters. Fifty beacons. He could already feel them across the city — mana signatures flaring like torches in a cave. Each one meant more power for him. More teeth for the Ghost of Valor to break.

He should’ve felt something about the lie. He’d slept in Elena’s bed, let Viktor hold him, memorized the way her voice cracked when she said "Father." The body remembered. The hands shook on cue. But The Wanderer? He felt nothing. Just hunger. A hollow space inside him that human food couldn’t touch. Only mana filled it. Only death.

Patience was the worst part. Two days pretending to be broken. Two more waiting for them to march. He wanted to laugh right there, watch their faces when Elena’s eyes went silver. But he didn’t. He sipped the tea instead. Played the scared girl a little longer.

Let them come. He was already at the door.

The boardroom stank of ozone and cold sweat. Glass sweated condensation from the city’s heat below. Hologram projectors hummed, spitting static into the air. Leather chairs creaked under shifting weight. Every breath tasted metallic. And somewhere far down, sirens wailed. The city was tremblingg. Fear had its own smell. And to him It smelled like copper.

The Wanderer set the teacup down. The unrest was boiling over. The trap was set. Now all he had to do was wait for the meat to arrive.

The harvest was going to be magnificent.