Shadows Of Deception

The sun rose over the Free World, casting a golden hue over the grand council hall of King Aegon's palace. The air was heavy with anticipation as top officers gathered at the circular table carved from ancient stone. At its head sat King Aegon, his commanding presence filling the room, while the others quietly prepared for what was bound to be a tense meeting.

Shenlog, seated near the king, leaned forward with a furrowed brow. His eyes flicked toward the empty seat at the table, and he exhaled sharply. The names of the other officers—Heart, Kelvin, and Reid—were etched onto their assigned spaces, each symbolizing their years of service to the Free World.

"We're wasting time," Shenlog growled, his voice a low rumble. "We need to act fast. What I received last night was no ordinary call."

Before he could continue, the oak doors of the council hall creaked open. In walked Seiji, his hair slightly ruffled and a playful grin plastered across his face. He raised both hands in mock surrender. "Ahhh, I'm late again! My apologies, my esteemed council. You know how it is—long nights, tea breaks, a bit of meditation—time flies."

The tension in the room was palpable as Shenlog slammed a hand on the table, causing cracks to splinter across its surface. "Seiji," Shenlog began, his tone sharp. "Why must you—"

"Yare yare," Seiji interrupted, still smiling. "You look stressed, old friend. I suggest deep breathing. Works wonders."

The room erupted into muffled chuckles as Heart and Reid exchanged amused glances. King Aegon sighed, rubbing his temples. "Enough," he said, his voice silencing the murmurs. "We have more pressing matters."

Shenlog straightened, shooting Seiji one last glare before addressing the group.

"As I was saying," Shenlog began, "last night, I received a call from one of our Sentinels in the New World. Before he could finish giving me the coordinates for Blackstone City, he was killed. The enemy intercepted the call."

A hush fell over the room as the weight of his words sank in. Reid leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "You're certain it's Blackstone?"

"Yes," Shenlog replied. "After months of searching, we've finally located it. But Blackstone isn't just another city. It's the Shadow Council's stronghold, and Nicklaus—their Legion Commander—is in charge."

"Nicklaus…" Heart muttered, her voice tinged with unease. "If he's there, then we're walking into a trap."

Shenlog nodded grimly. "That's not all. Blackstone is housing something stolen from the Free World years ago—a weapon known as X."

At the mention of X, the officers exchanged uneasy glances. Kelvin spoke first. "Weapon X… it's more than a weapon. It's an energy source with limitless destructive potential. If the Shadow Council has it, they could use it to power their war machines—or worse."

Reid chimed in. "There's also Max. That weapon was used during the ancient wars, capable of wiping out entire cities in seconds. If both X and Max are in Blackstone, we're dealing with a crisis of apocalyptic proportions."

Shenlog's fists tightened. "We have no choice. We must retrieve those weapons, or they'll destroy everything we've built."

The room fell silent, the gravity of the mission weighing heavily on everyone. Then, Seiji leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head. "Sounds like a fun little field trip. I'll go."

Shenlog narrowed his eyes. "You're volunteering for this mission?"

"Of course," Seiji said casually. "And I'll be taking Jin with me. The boy needs the experience."

Shenlog's voice thundered through the room. "Absolutely not. That boy barely held his own against Agent 66. You'd throw him into Blackstone?"

Seiji shrugged. "He's stronger than you think. Besides, he won't grow if we keep coddling him."

The tension in the room skyrocketed as Shenlog's dragon energy surged uncontrollably. The air grew thick with heat, and the floor beneath him began to crack as veins of molten red light snaked outward.

"You're reckless," Shenlog snarled, his voice a growl. "You'd risk the mission—and his life—for your own whims?"

Seiji smirked, unfazed. "Reckless? Or realistic? You know as well as I do that Jin needs to be ready for what's coming. If you keep sheltering him, he'll never survive the Shadow Council."

The tension exploded as Shenlog released a surge of energy, the roar of his dragon aura echoing through the chamber. Flames licked at the edges of his form, and the heat warped the air.

Seiji stood, his demeanor still calm. A faint golden glow emanated from his body as he released his own energy, the two auras colliding in a spectacular display. The room shook violently, and the sound of crumbling stone filled the air as the table splintered further under the pressure.

"Enough!" King Aegon's voice boomed, silencing the clash. "I will not have my council destroyed by petty squabbles."

Both men reigned in their energy, though the tension between them remained palpable. Shenlog's glare could have cut through steel, while Seiji merely smiled, unbothered.

King Aegon leaned forward, his gaze stern. "Seiji, if you insist on taking Jin, then know this: whatever happens is on your head. If he fails, the blame falls squarely on you."

Seiji gave a mock salute. "Understood, Your Majesty."

Shenlog exhaled sharply but didn't argue further. The king turned to the group. "Shenlog will lead this raid. You leave in one day. Prepare yourselves."

The room fell silent as the council members processed the orders. One by one, they rose and left the chamber, their expressions a mix of determination and unease.

As the door shut behind Seiji, Shenlog remained seated, his hands clenched into fists. His thoughts were heavy, his mind replaying the Sentinel's desperate call and the chilling silence that followed.

"Blackstone…" he muttered under his breath. "This will be the fight of our lives."

The camera lingers on the cracked table, the fractured surface a symbol of the tension and stakes ahead.