Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 362

Chapter 362

Wraith and witty through the dimly lit underground tunnel, his mechanical arm casting long shadows against the rough stone walls. The passageway was ancient–or masterfully designed to appear so–and riddled with deadly traps. But every trap had already been triggered.

Pressure plates lay depressed, poison darts embedded in the walls rather than his flesh, and trip wires hung limply, cut or broken. Someone had passed through recently–and survived. It had to be Jade.

He crouched down, examining a small blood smear on the stone floor. The warmth still lingering told him she couldn’t be far ahead. Despite the speed of his pursuit, the distance between them remained stubbornly constant.

The tunnel took a sharp turn, and Wraith followed, his senses heightened for any sign of danger. More sprung traps, more evidence of Jade’s passage. A faint light appeared ahead, growing stronger with each step. Wraith accelerated, his breath steady despite the exertion.

The tunnel ended abruptly, opening onto a tropical landscape bathed in natural sunlight. The sudden brightness forced him to shield his eyes momentarily. After spending so long in the darkness, the adjustment was painful. When his vision cleared, he found himself several miles from the fortress core, near the coastline. Dense tropical vegetation surrounded him, and in the distance, thick plumes of smoke rose from the direction of the facility–evidence of Ethan’s aerial bombardment.

Wraith scanned the ground, quickly finding Jade’s trail leading into the jungle. Without hesitation, he followed, moving with the practiced silence of a trained killer.

The sounds of combat reached him before he saw them. Jade was engaged in fierce battle with two Shadow Organization elite operatives. Her movements were fluid and deadly, but even she couldn’t maintain this pace forever. One operative already lay motionless on the ground, but the remaining two were pushing her to her limits.

Wraith stepped from the foliage, his mechanical arm whirring softly as he prepared for combat. “I’ll handle this,” he said.

She advanced quickly through the dense vegetation until they reached a cliff edge overlooking the churning ocean below. A helicopter sat on a small clearing, its rotors already spinning. SPECTER stood nearby, clearly preparing for evacuation.

“How did you know about the secret passage?” SPECTER demanded when he spotted Jade, his mismatched eyes narrowing.

Jade’s expression remained cold and detached. “When you’re dead, I’ll tell you the answer.”

SPECTER’s lips curved into a contemptuous smile. “Just you alone?”

“Not just her,” Wraith appeared.

SPECTER’S smile twisted into something more sinister. “Good, another one for the slaughter.” He turned to the armed men positioned around the helicopter. “Open fire. Kill them both.”

The operatives raised their weapons, but when they pulled their triggers, nothing happened. No gunfire, no explosions–just the impotent clicking of jammed mechanisms. Jade and Wraith had been prepared to dive for cover, but now they stood, momentarily confused by the unexpected malfunction.

‘Nice work, Jade said to Wraith, assuming he’d somehow sabotaged the weapons.

“This wasn’t me,” Wraith replied, equally surprised.

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10:39 Tue, Oct 7

Chapter 362

SPECTERS Ace contorted with rage. What are you waiting for? Attack them! he shouted.

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The operatives abandoned their useless firearms and charged forward. Despite their injuries from the earlier fights, Jade and Wraith were still formidable opponents. Bodies began to fall as the two former Shadow Organization assassins demonstrated why they had been among the organization’s elite.

Amid the chaos, Milo Murphy stood slightly behind SPECTER, his face a careful mask hiding the storm of emotions within. His eyes tracked SPECTER’S movements with the precision of a predator. Slowly, he drew a tactical knife from his belt.

“Help them, SPECTER commanded without turning around.

“Yes,” Milo replied softly, his voice barely audible over the sounds of combat. His eyes darkened with hatred and thirst for revenge as he stepped forward, his entire being consumed by the desire for retribution.

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