Got it! Jonah maintaining his facade as a hero adds a layer of deception and makes his eventual reveal even more impactful. It builds tension and keeps the audience guessing until the critical moment. Let me revise Chapter 6 accordingly to remove Jonah
The air within the tunnels beneath Europa City was thick with moisture and decay. Damian's boots echoed on the damp stone floor as he pressed forward, the dim glow of his dark purple and black aura lighting the way. The words of The Ancient Myth still lingered in his mind, each syllable laced with a sinister truth he couldn't ignore.
"Seek the fractured alliance; betrayal brews where bonds were forged."
The warning clawed at his thoughts. Jonah's betrayal had cut deep, but the notion that there was more to it than simple survival ignited a burning need for answers. What had Jonah gained by aligning with the rogue faction, and why had he stolen the device that siphoned the Obsidian Heart's power?
Damian reached the end of the tunnel, emerging into an abandoned metro station. Here, the remnants of pre-cataclysm life clung to existence: torn posters, rusted benches, and shattered vending machines. His eyes scanned the area, focusing on a faint heat signature ahead.
Two figures stood near a flickering fire barrel, their shadows dancing ominously against the cracked walls. Damian stepped closer, his aura receding into near invisibility to mask his presence.
"I heard Jonah's planning something big," one of the figures whispered, his voice low and gravelly. "He's been working closely with the guilds, but I don't trust him. Too eager, if you ask me."
The second figure, a woman with a dagger strapped to her thigh, leaned in. "Eager or not, we need him. Without A-Rank hunters, we're finished. Besides, he's already promised to lead the charge against Kzaroth's forces."
Damian froze. Jonah, leading the charge? The man who had betrayed him and stolen the device was now the city's celebrated hero? His mind reeled at the implications, and rage bubbled beneath his calm exterior.
Before he could eavesdrop further, the ground trembled violently, and a guttural roar reverberated through the tunnels. The two figures scrambled, drawing weapons, but it was too late. A hulking, reptilian creature burst through the wall, its scales shimmering like molten silver. It stood over ten feet tall, with jagged claws and glowing red eyes.
Damian felt his heart quicken. This wasn't just any monster—it was one of Kzaroth's elite enforcers, a creature bred to decimate entire battalions.
The two rogues charged the beast, their weapons glowing with enchanted runes, but the Voidborn swatted them aside like flies. Their screams echoed briefly before the creature's claws silenced them.
Damian didn't wait. He surged forward, his aura blazing as he unleashed a destructive blast of energy. The attack struck the Voidborn's chest, sending it skidding backward. The creature roared, turning its burning gaze on him.
"You're a persistent pest, aren't you?" it hissed, its voice guttural and dripping with malice.
Damian smirked, raising his hand for another strike. "And you're uglier than I expected."
The Voidborn lunged, faster than Damian anticipated. Its claws raked across his shoulder, sending him crashing into the metro's debris-strewn floor. Pain seared through him, but he gritted his teeth and retaliated with a concentrated beam of energy, carving a deep gash across the creature's side.
The battle raged, each clash of power shaking the station's foundation. But Damian's stamina waned, and the Voidborn seemed to grow stronger, feeding off the chaos around it.
"You cannot defeat me," it growled. "Kzaroth has foreseen your struggle and deemed you unworthy."
Damian's mind raced. If this thing was a mere pawn, what kind of power did Kzaroth wield? And how far was Jonah willing to go to aid these monsters?
With one final surge of effort, Damian unleashed a desperate wave of destruction, collapsing part of the ceiling onto the Voidborn. Dust and rubble filled the air, masking his escape as he stumbled back into the tunnels.
He needed answers, and he knew where to find them. If Jonah planned to target Europa's central dome, the rogue would need allies—and Damian knew exactly which factions to interrogate.
Damian emerged from the tunnels into the outskirts of Europa. To his surprise, massive holographic billboards lit up the sky, showing the city's heroes rallying against Kzaroth's impending invasion.
Among them stood Jonah, his pristine armor gleaming in the artificial light. His voice echoed through the streets, addressing the crowd gathered outside the dome.
"We will not let these monsters destroy our home!" Jonah declared, his expression resolute. "Under my command, Europa's hunters will rise to this challenge and defeat the Voidborn once and for all!"
Damian's eyes narrowed as the crowd erupted into cheers. Jonah played the hero well, but Damian could see the cracks in his performance—subtle hesitations, fleeting glances toward the horizon as if expecting something—or someone.
The Ancient Myth's voice whispered again, cold and unforgiving:
"He is the wolf in sheep's clothing. The truth lies beneath the mask."
Damian's resolve hardened. He would expose Jonah's deception, even if it meant tearing apart the fragile hope the city clung to.