MTLNOVEL Chapter 9: The Hound of the Empire
The hunt had begun.
Minus had eluded the Empire for too long. The war had ended, but she had never answered for her crimes. She was supposed to stand trial, to pay for the countless wars she had ignited. Instead, she vanished, slipping through their grasp before justice could be served.
But the Empire did not forget.
They sent their best to track her—first the Shadow Warriors, silent and relentless, assassins trained to eliminate even the most dangerous targets. When they failed, the Magic Special Forces took over, bringing overwhelming firepower and strategy. And now, Lowe had been sent to finish the job.
Unlike the others, Lowe did not believe in hesitation. He did not concern himself with the weight of history or the politics surrounding Minus's crimes. He was a hunter, and she was his prey.
The Valley of Silence stretched before him, a battlefield long since abandoned. Crumbling fortresses stood as grim reminders of forgotten wars—some of which Minus had started. The land itself bore her mark.
A storm loomed overhead, thick clouds rolling in, casting the valley in an eerie gloom. The wind howled through the ruins, carrying with it the scent of rain and something else—magic. It lingered in the air, an invisible pulse, unmistakable to those who had spent their lives hunting mages.
She was here.
The Shadow Warriors were already in position, their blades poised for the kill. The Magic Special Forces had set their trap, spells ready to collapse the valley upon her if necessary. They believed that this time, with their full force bearing down on her, she would finally fall.
Lowe wasn't so sure.
Minus had survived too much, evaded too many traps. She didn't just run—she calculated, adapted, and struck when least expected. That was what made her dangerous. That was why she was still alive.
But this time, she had nowhere left to run.
Lowe tightened his grip on his sword—a weapon designed to sever magic itself. Against any other mage, a single strike would be enough. Against Minus? He knew better.
This would not be an easy fight.
The hunt was over.
It was time to kill Minus.