Back in the small, dusty room hidden within the dilapidated two-story wooden building, Bryan, the bald Spider Syndicate captain, held the large, humming teleportation crystal in his hands. It pulsed with a faint, dark energy, the strange symbols etched on its surface glowing ominously. This was their emergency escape route, their one-way ticket to the Syndicate's main headquarters.
He glanced at Billy, the younger, sharp-witted agent. "Ready?" Bryan grunted.
Billy nodded curtly, his face grim. He reached out and placed a hand firmly on Bryan's shoulder. He then looked back at Malkor, the terrified thug who had brought them the warning and who Oliver had ordered to escape with them. Malkor, seeing Billy's look, quickly understood. He stepped forward hesitantly and placed his own trembling hand on Billy's other shoulder, completing the chain.
The moment Malkor's hand made contact, Bryan poured a surge of his own magical energy into the dark crystal.
