Yassmin al-Rashid was in her private cabin, on a flight to Argentina, meditating on the recent events and the uncertain future that lay ahead of her. The news of her brother Yassir's failure had complicated her plans. Now, more than ever, she needed to secure control over the Apophis to prevent the ritual that destined her to be one of the four chosen for the reincarnation of the God Ra.
Since childhood, Yassmin had been trained for a lofty purpose: to be the reincarnation of one of Egypt's most powerful and enigmatic figures. Alongside three other chosen ones, she had been selected by her family's elders and a secret religious order that ensured the existence of the gods. This order had followed this tradition since the times of Cleopatra, without success until now. However, with the emergence of these worlds shrouded in magic, they had acquired the keys to a ritual for their purposes.
Yassmin had excelled from a young age due to her determination, intelligence, and magical abilities, even surpassing the other chosen ones. But behind her facade of obedience and devotion, she harbored a secret desire to break free from the imposed destiny. With the help of her brother Yassir, she had begun searching for ways to escape the ritual and live a life of her own choosing.
The al-Rashid siblings had discovered that the key to breaking the bond with the reincarnation ritual was to absorb the energy of the Apophis, a shadow demon whose essence opposed the God Ra. However, the Apophis was an extremely rare and elusive being, making its capture a titanic task.
Yassir had failed to capture the true Apophis and instead brought a false, soulless version. This had enraged Yassmin, who knew that each passing day brought them closer to the ritual. She urgently needed the energy of the true Apophis to break the spell that kept her bound to the imposed destiny.
Reclining in her seat, Yassmin reviewed the events that had led her to this point. She recalled the long training sessions, the duels she participated in, and the trials she overcame to prove her worth. Since the way to access the other worlds was discovered a few years ago, she had excelled greatly in magic, mastering the art of Therianthropy. While her peers focused on more conventional skills, Yassmin explored various forms of magic, seeking any advantage that would help her prevail and survive.
Over the years, she had amassed considerable power but had also learned to disguise her true strength. She knew she had to appear as just another chosen one, without standing out too much to avoid suspicion. Along with Yassir, they had developed a plan to escape the reincarnation ritual and claim their freedom. Capturing the Apophis was the critical element of their plan, and her brother's recent failure had put everything at risk.
Yassmin had decided to take matters into her own hands. She could not tolerate any delays; her time was running out. That's why she took the initiative for the first time to travel to Argentina, where Ethan Blackwood, the man who had the Apophis, worked and lived.
Her determination was unwavering; she would not let anything stand in her way.
Upon arriving in Buenos Aires, Yassmin headed straight to the place where she knew she would find Ethan. Her contacts had provided detailed information about him, his company, and his recent activities.
Ethan, on the other hand, was continuing to improve his skills and working on his army of autonomous skeletons. He was focused in his laboratory when Sara notified him about the extravagant visit. He left what he was doing and went to the reception area of his company, where he found Yassmin and Yassir waiting for him.
She introduced herself with an elegance and authority that could not be ignored. She was a young woman with black hair cascading over her shoulders. Her violet eyes shone with an intensity that reflected her resolve and the power she carried within. Ethan had been mesmerized for a few seconds by her great beauty. Although it was the first time Ethan saw her, he instantly recognized that she had some kind of kinship with Yassir; their appearance and demeanor were similar, though she stood out even among the best-looking individuals.
"Good afternoon, I am Ethan Blackwood. I believe this is the first time I've seen both of you. What brings you to my company?" He knew that, in theory, his memory had been erased, so he decided to act as if he didn't know Yassir.
This worked wonders for him, as Yassir had suspected Ethan and the possibility that he had been deceived. But, noticing no hint of recognition, he dismissed this possibility and thought it was merely the work of the Apophis.
"Nice to meet you, Ethan Blackwood. I am Yassmin al-Rashid," she said, her voice firm and laden with elegance. "We have a serious matter to discuss with you. Can we go somewhere more private?"
Ethan observed her cautiously, aware that he was in the presence of extremely dangerous individuals. He suspected that they didn't have good intentions, but he couldn't resist too much either, so he led them to his private office.
"And what exactly is it that you want to talk about here, Miss Yassmin?" he asked, maintaining his composure.
"Ethan Blackwood, only child, your parents died four years ago due to the pandemic. With only your ingenuity and creativity, you founded your current company, Blackwood Industries, practically from scratch. I can even tell you about the origin of your name and about the deceased, Mr. Blackwood III. I know everything about you, but I'm only interested in one small thing…" Yassmin spoke with a certain playfulness.
"Tell me what you want," Ethan responded, completely serious.
Yassmin smiled coldly, her eyes fixed on Ethan's.
"I'm here for the Apophis, and I won't leave without it."
The tension in the air was palpable, and they both knew that a confrontation was inevitable. Ethan prepared himself mentally, knowing that the true test of his skills and luck was about to begin.