The wheel turned again, slower this time, almost as if the mechanism itself was deliberating carefully. It ticked past Self-Control, brushed against Redemption, and finally settled on a glowing segment the color of iron and ash.
"Resilience," Nyros announced, with a thin smile that betrayed nothing.
This time, Bane McGregor's name lit up.
He didn't react as his arms stayed crossed and expression neutral, his almost serpentine eyes calm and unreadable.
For most of the team, Bane had always been an anchor of quiet presence.
He was big, unshakeable, and seemingly immune to the mental and emotional whiplash that plagued others.
But until now, no one had questioned why.
The arena changed as the glossy tiles of the casino floor faded, replaced by dry soil and brittle grass. A scorching sun hung overhead, and in the distance, a lion's roar echoed through the sparse African bush. The scent of blood was faint, but present.
