Odyssey Of Survival

Ryder moved fast, stepping in between Nate and Claire before Nate could take another step toward her. His stance was firm, his eyes locked onto Nate's with a rare intensity.

"Nate," Ryder said, his voice steady but urgent. "I don't know what the hell happened here, but you've already killed someone. Now you want to kill her too?"

Nate's gaze didn't waver. He barely even blinked.

Ryder exhaled sharply, his expression hardening. "Every life matters, especially now that Zoro's threat is getting closer. The man you just killed—he was strong, Nate. He had an ability that could've helped us. And now he's gone." Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

Nate's fingers twitched, his entire body still rigid with unspent fury. Then, slowly, he lifted his gaze and met Ryder's eyes.

His voice was cold when he spoke.

"Claire tarnished my name." His words were sharp, like steel cutting through the air. "That is unforgivable."

Ryder didn't flinch. He just held his ground and spoke evenly. "I know you, Nate. I trust you. But you need to calm down and let me settle this."

Nate's jaw clenched, but he didn't move forward again. Instead, he slowly looked around.

The people he had injured were still on the ground, rolling in pain. Some were groaning, clutching their wounds. Others were being helped up by the ones who hadn't been caught in the chaos. None of them met his eyes. They were afraid.

For the first time, something flickered inside him—a soft pity for those who hadn't been part of Claire's plan but had gotten caught in the storm.

But regret?

No.

He didn't regret anything.

Suddenly, Ryder's voice cut through the silence. "This isn't going to be easy," he said, his expression firm. "But we need to take you away until we can fully investigate what happened here."

Nate's eyes snapped back to Ryder, his brow furrowing.

A second passed. Then another.

Then—he laughed.

At first, it was just a light chuckle, quiet and bitter. But then it grew louder, heavier, until it filled the entire cave.

They wanted to lock him up?

After everything he had done for them?

After all the times he bled for them?

After everything Claire had done to him, they wanted to lock him up because of her lies?

The laughter didn't stop, even as his hands curled into fists at his sides.

Ryder remained calm, unshaken by Nate's reaction. "No," he said, his tone even. "We're not locking you up because Claire claimed you raped her."

His next words came like a hammer.

"We're locking you up because you killed someone just now."

Nate's laughter faded, his expression darkening.

Ryder continued. "And we don't know if you were the one who killed the man you argued with this morning. Too many things are against you right now for us to just let you walk free."

Nate's lips parted slightly as if he was about to argue—but then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something.

A pot belly.

Ray.

Ray stepped forward, his presence alone making the tension shift. Unlike the others, he didn't look afraid. He didn't look angry. He just looked… Ray.

His voice was casual, but there was something heavy underneath it.

"Everybody, get out," he said.

Nobody moved.

Ray's face darkened. "I said, get the hell out. I want to talk to Nate alone."

His words carried weight.

Even Ryder hesitated before nodding to the others. One by one, they began to move away, some glancing back at Nate, others glaring, others whispering among themselves.

Jack was the last to stay, his ability still active.

Ray turned to him. "Deactivate your powers."

Jack's brows furrowed, clearly hesitant.

Ray's expression didn't change. "I said, turn it off."

Jack looked at Nate, then at Ray, then at Ryder. He hesitated for a few more seconds—then he exhaled and did as he was told.

The moment Jack's ability deactivated, Nate felt it.

The power that had been stripped from him came flooding back, the flames, the lightning, the raw energy roaring to life inside him once more.

Ray glanced at him, then at Ryder, then back to Nate.

"Alright," he said. "Let's talk."

Ray stood firm before Nate, his expression unreadable. The cave had mostly emptied now, leaving just the two of them standing amid the wreckage of the chaos Nate had caused. The silence between them was thick, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Ray exhaled and said, "What I'm about to tell you is important, but you're gonna have to cooperate with me, Nate."

Nate's eyes narrowed slightly, but he gave a small nod. "I'm listening."

Ray studied him for a second, then took a deep breath.

"Jason is dead."

The words hit Nate like a hammer.

His body tensed. His heart pounded. His jaw clenched.

He stared at Ray, waiting for some kind of correction, a follow-up, anything that would make sense of what he just heard. But Ray said nothing.

Nate's voice came out low, sharp. "What?"

Ray ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Jason's dead."

Nate took a step forward, his mind racing. "How? Who did it?"

Ray's expression darkened as he spoke. "I am seeing a woman. We are keeping it a secret, so we always sneak out into the wild whenever we wanted to—" He paused, raising an eyebrow slightly. "You know… do our thing."

Nate didn't react. He didn't care about that detail. He just wanted to know who killed Jason.

Ray continued, his voice quieter now. "Yesterday was just like any other day. I was out in the morning with her. But then—" Ray's fists clenched. "I saw Axel, Claire, and four others killing him."

Nate's entire body went rigid.

His hands clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

His breathing slowed, controlled—but the heat inside him surged dangerously.

Ray's voice was steady, but his eyes were watching Nate carefully. "The guy you just killed?" Ray said. "He was one of the four."

For a moment, Nate couldn't speak. His mind reeled, struggling to process the information.

Then, finally, he forced the words out. "But… why? Axel and Jason were best friends."

Ray shook his head. "There are things happening here, Nate. Things no one knows about." His gaze flickered toward the entrance of the cave, as if making sure no one else was listening.

"There's someone in the shadows. Someone controlling Claire." His voice was low, almost a whisper now. "And it looks like they've been doing it for a while."

Nate's mind sharpened instantly. Someone in the shadows? Controlling Claire?

That changed everything.

His rage was still burning, still clawing at him from within, but now a new feeling was creeping in alongside it.

Suspicion.

"Who?" Nate asked. His voice was cold, measured.

Ray shook his head again. "I don't know. Not yet."

Nate took a deep breath, then exhaled sharply. "So what do you want me to do?"

Ray's eyes locked onto Nate's. "Calm down," he said. "Let everything play out."

Nate narrowed his eyes. "You want me to let them lock me up?"

Ray didn't flinch. He simply nodded.

Nate scoffed. "You can't be serious."

"I am."

Nate clenched his teeth, his rage flaring up again. "You really think I'm gonna sit in a cell while they walk free?"

Ray's expression didn't change. "Yes."

Nate's fists tightened at his sides. He could feel his power surging, his body screaming to act.

But then Ray spoke again.

"The person pulling the strings," Ray said quietly. "They want you out of the picture. And until you're locked away, they won't reveal themselves."

Silence.

The meaning of those words settled deep in Nate's chest like a weight.

Ray's plan made sense.

It was dangerous.

It was insane.

But if it meant exposing the real enemy…

Nate exhaled through his nose, his jaw still tight. "Fine."

Ray studied him for a long moment, then nodded once. "Good."

The trap was set. Now, they just had to wait.