**Chapter 2: The Phantom's Hunt**

After returning from the rescue mission, Abhiraj barely took a moment to rest. The adrenaline was still pumping through his veins, his mind already focused on the next move. He gathered his men for an urgent meeting in the command tent. The air was tense, the soldiers seated around the large table exchanging glances. They knew their captain well enough to sense that something was brewing.

Abhiraj stood at the head of the table, his mask removed but his expression just as unreadable. "Report," he ordered, his voice sharp. "I want to know everything we’ve learned about the attack."

Lieutenant Arjun, ever reliable, was the first to speak. "We’ve gathered intel from the captured terrorists, sir. It seems this attack was orchestrated by a new player—a man they call 'The Spider.' He’s been pulling the strings behind several recent operations, always staying in the shadows."

Abhiraj’s eyes narrowed. "The Spider, huh? Do we have any idea where he might be hiding?"

One of the tech specialists stepped forward, a young soldier with a laptop. "Sir, we’ve been able to trace some encrypted communications. With a bit more time, we could potentially pinpoint his location."

Abhiraj gave a curt nod, his mind already racing ahead. "Good. Patch me in. I’ll handle it."

He moved to a nearby terminal, his fingers flying over the keyboard with speed and precision. His hacking skills were legendary within his unit; there wasn’t a system he couldn’t breach. As the screen filled with lines of code, he delved deeper, tracing the web of connections until he found it—a secure signal originating from a remote warehouse on the outskirts of the city.

He smirked. "Found you," he muttered.

Turning back to his men, he issued rapid orders. "Gather a small team. We move out in ten. This Spider thinks he’s safe. We’re about to prove him wrong."

---

The convoy of military vehicles cut through the night, their headlights piercing the darkness as they approached the warehouse. Abhiraj surveyed the area through his binoculars. The place was heavily guarded—men with automatic rifles patrolled the perimeter, and spotlights scanned the surroundings. It was a fortress, but nothing his team couldn’t handle.

Abhiraj gave the signal. "Move in. Silent takedowns only. We don’t want to alert them until it’s too late."

His team fanned out, moving like shadows in the dark. One by one, the guards fell, taken down with precise, silent strikes. Abhiraj led the charge, his movements swift and deadly. He was a force of nature, slipping through the defenses like a phantom.

As they breached the main building, they made their way through the dimly lit corridors, clearing room after room. Finally, Abhiraj reached the central chamber. There, seated at a desk covered in monitors and communication devices, was a sinister-looking man with a thin smile—The Spider.

"Well, well," The Spider sneered, rising from his chair. "The infamous Captain Abhiraj. I’ve heard so much about you."

Abhiraj didn’t waste time with words. He lunged at the man, but The Spider was quick, drawing a knife and slashing at him. Abhiraj dodged effortlessly, countering with a strike that disarmed The Spider in seconds. With a swift kick, he sent the mastermind sprawling to the ground, the knife clattering away.

"Did you really think you could hide from me?" Abhiraj asked coldly, standing over the injured man. The Spider winced, clutching his side where Abhiraj’s blow had landed.

"You think you’ve won?" The Spider coughed, blood trickling from his lips. "You have no idea what’s coming."

Ignoring his words, Abhiraj activated his communication device. "Team, the target is down. Secure the area and capture anyone left."

He took a deep breath, finally allowing himself a moment of satisfaction. But just as he was starting to relax, a sudden movement caught his eye. A shadow flickered at the edge of the room.

Before he could react, a woman dressed in black, her face obscured by a mask, entered the chamber like a wraith. In one fluid motion, she drew a blade and slit The Spider’s throat. The man gurgled, his eyes wide with shock as he collapsed lifelessly to the floor.

Abhiraj’s eyes widened in shock. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded, stepping back into a defensive stance.

The woman said nothing, her eyes narrowing behind the mask. She moved with blinding speed, launching a flurry of strikes at Abhiraj. He blocked and parried, but the force of her blows pushed him back. She was fast—faster than anyone he had faced before.

The room erupted into a fierce battle, the clang of metal echoing as their blades clashed. Abhiraj was a master fighter, his skills honed through years of combat, but this woman was matching him strike for strike. Her movements were fluid and precise, as if she had studied his every move.

"Who are you?" Abhiraj growled, frustration lacing his voice as he struggled to gain the upper hand. "Why did you kill him?"

The woman didn’t answer, her focus entirely on the fight. Abhiraj’s shock grew with each passing second; he was known as the strongest soldier in his unit, capable of taking on dozens at once. Yet here he was, struggling against a single opponent. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut—this woman was fighting him on equal grounds.

They exchanged a series of rapid blows, moving faster than the eye could follow. Abhiraj spun, delivering a powerful kick aimed at her midsection. She dodged, but the momentum allowed him to swipe at her face, tearing away her mask.

For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still. Abhiraj froze, staring into the face of the woman before him. Her features were sharp and striking, framed by a cascade of dark hair. But it was her eyes that caught him off guard—piercing blue, filled with a fierce intensity he had never seen before.

The woman looked back at him, her expression a mix of anger and something else he couldn’t quite place. Before he could say anything, she turned on her heel and sprinted toward the window, smashing through the glass and disappearing into the night.

Abhiraj stood there, stunned and silent, the broken mask still clutched in his hand. He had come to capture a mastermind, but instead, he had uncovered a new mystery. His thoughts raced, a thousand questions flooding his mind, but one stood out above the rest:

Who was this woman, and why did she kill The Spider?

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***