The intense gunfire finally began to slow, but the chaos of battle still filled the air. General Esteban Morales, the ruthless warlord of the region, barked orders to his men as they took cover behind the thick jungle foliage, returning fire at the unseen enemy. Whoever had ambushed them was highly trained, using superior tactics and positioning to decimate his forces.

Carlos, Esteban’s best man, saw the opportunity and took it. A veteran killer with reflexes honed through years of warfare, he dashed toward the wounded trio—David, Solomon, and Jamie—who were still lying low after narrowly avoiding the ambush. His sharp eyes scanned their injuries, calculating his next move.

"The girl’s the key to all of this," he thought. "If I take her now, I can name my price."

With brutal efficiency, he struck Solomon first, delivering a crushing blow to his ribs, forcing a groan of pain from the injured mercenary. David barely had time to react before Carlos’s knee smashed into his gut, sending him collapsing to the ground. Jamie, weakened and dazed, didn’t stand a chance—Carlos knocked her unconscious with a swift strike to the back of her head, throwing her over his shoulder.

The plan had been to take Jamie and retreat toward Esteban’s position, but when Carlos glanced back, his eyes flickered with greed. Esteban was being pushed back, his men falling one after another against the relentless ambushers. It was clear—the warlord’s forces were losing.

"If I take the girl and run now, I won’t have to share the reward with anyone."

Carlos turned on his heel and bolted deeper into the jungle, sprinting toward the primitive wilderness with Jamie in tow.

---

The Chase Begins

Esteban barely had time to register the betrayal. As he saw Carlos vanish into the trees, his expression twisted in rage. He had lost too many men already, and now one of his own had stolen the most valuable target.

"¡Maldito traidor! ¡Fall back!" Esteban roared, ordering his remaining forces to retreat before the unseen enemy overwhelmed them.

Meanwhile, David and Solomon fought to get back on their feet. Their injuries screamed in protest, but they pushed through the pain—Jamie was too important to lose. They forced themselves forward, staggering through the jungle as they tracked Carlos’s footprints in the damp soil.

They moved purely on adrenaline, the sounds of retreating warlord forces fading behind them. But their bodies had taken too much damage. The combination of blood loss, exhaustion, and injuries finally caught up to them.

As they stumbled forward, their vision blurred.

Their strength failed.

The jungle swallowed them whole.

They collapsed into a dark swarm of shadows—and everything faded to black.

---

Rogue

Beth sat in the dimly lit hospital room, the steady beeping of the monitors filling the silence. She was still recovering, but the weight of uncertainty pressed heavily on her chest. Sophia sat beside her, her expression tense, as Ryan entered the room, his face unreadable.

“There’s news,” Ryan said, his voice measured, though Beth could see the hesitation in his eyes. “David, Solomon, and Jamie successfully escaped the elven grasp… but they’ve gone MIA in the Amazon rainforest.”

Beth’s breath hitched. “MIA?” she whispered, gripping the sheets.

Ryan nodded. “No one knows what happened. Some reports suggest they were captured by elves, others say rogue forces might have taken them. And there are even whispers that David and Solomon vanished on their own to protect Jamie. But…” He hesitated before continuing. “The government suspects David may have gone rogue to save his daughter.”

Beth’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That’s absurd! He would never—”

Ryan raised a hand, his expression pained. “I know, Beth. But they’ve tasked me with monitoring whether David tries to contact you. They’re watching closely.”

Sophia tensed beside her. “They think he abandoned his duty?”

Ryan sighed. “Right now, they don’t know what to think. But I needed to tell you before they officially come knocking.”

Beth clenched her fists, her mind racing. David was out there, lost or in danger, and now the government doubted him? No—she refused to believe it. Whatever had happened, she knew one thing for certain: David Lancaster had not abandoned them.

---

Hunter or Prey

A large US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III roared as it touched down on the tarmac of the Brazilian military base, its hulking frame kicking up dust in the humid air. The base personnel watched as the rear ramp lowered, revealing a tall, blonde woman in a sharp black tactical suit, stepping out with an air of absolute authority. She was flanked by a team of elite operatives, their cold, professional demeanor immediately setting them apart from regular soldiers.

As she approached the base commander, she extended a hand, her icy blue eyes locking onto his. “Agent Victoria Langley, CIA. I’m here to take over the search for Major David Lancaster.” Her voice was smooth, yet carried an unmistakable edge of control.

The base commander, a rugged man with years of experience, hesitated for a fraction of a second before shaking her hand. “The situation is… complicated. We’re still gathering intel.”

Victoria gave a practiced smile. “I understand, Commander. But let’s be clear—David Lancaster is no longer just an MIA soldier. He’s a potential rogue asset.” She paused, letting the words sink in. “And I have orders to retrieve Dr. Jamie Lancaster at any cost.”

As the commander nodded cautiously, Victoria’s mind raced. The U.S. government could not afford to fall behind in the race for magical supremacy. The young scientist rescued from the Antarctic waters had already revealed glimpses of what magic could achieve, and Jamie Lancaster—who had spent the most time among the elves—was now the key to unlocking its secrets.

The era of conventional warfare was ending. Magic was the future. And if the United States wanted to remain the world's number one superpower, it needed to control that future.

Victoria’s expression remained unreadable as she continued discussing strategy with the base commander. But deep down, she had already made up her mind—David Lancaster would not leave this jungle alive.