Chapter: Chapter 165 epilogueThe morning arrived quietly, without fanfare. No notifications, no urgent messages, no scheduled meetings. Just the soft light filtering through the curtains and the distant sound of birds outside Zaid's window. He lay in bed for a long moment, staring at the ceiling, thinking about nothing and everything.Then he sat up, reached for his phone, and opened the camera.He didn't plan it. He didn't write a script or check his lighting or worry about how he looked. He just pressed "Go Live" and waited for the viewers to trickle in.The first few comments appeared—confused, curious, still waking up like the rest of the world."Is this real?""Zaid? Are you okay?""What's happening?"Zaid smiled at the screen, his hair a mess, his voice still rough from sleep."Hey, everyone. I know this is random. I didn't plan this. I just... woke up and wanted to talk."---He talked about the beginning. About the channel, the system, the debt. About the boy he used to be—scared, insecure, desperate to p
Last Updated: 2026-05-05
Chapter: Chapter 164 The Usual Late WalkThe night air was cool against Zaid's face as he walked through the empty streets, the city quiet around him. The festival had ended days ago, but its energy still lingered—the conversations, the connections, the sense that they had built something that would last. His phone buzzed with a message from Khamees."Can't sleep. Shawarma?""Same. Meet you there."The shawarma place was nearly empty at this hour—just the owner, Abu Tarek, wiping down the counter, and a single customer eating quietly in the corner. The smell of grilled meat and garlic wrapped around Zaid as he walked in, familiar and comforting.Khamees arrived a few minutes later, looking tired but not sad. They ordered their usual—two chicken shawarmas, extra garlic, extra pickles—and sat at the table by the window, the streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement."You look like you've been thinking," Zaid said."I'm always thinking.""About?"Khamees unwrapped his sandwich, took a bite, chewed. "My father."Zaid wai
Last Updated: 2026-05-05
Chapter: Chapter 163 Family DinnerThe phone rang on Thursday evening, just as Khamees was closing up the shop. He glanced at the screen, his mother's name and felt the familiar knot tighten in his chest. They had spoken since the argument, but the conversations were short, careful, like walking on ground that might crumble."Hello?""Khamees, habibi. Your uncle is coming to visit tomorrow. Your father's youngest brother. He's been traveling and wants to see everyone."Khamees's shoulders relaxed, just slightly. Uncle Jamal. His favorite. The one who had always encouraged him, who had sent messages of support when the shop opened, who had never once made him feel like a disappointment."I'll be there," Khamees said."Good. Come early. Your father wants to talk to you before dinner."The knot tightened again. "Talk about what?""I don't know. Just come."She hung up. Khamees stood in the empty shop, the mannequins watching him with their blank faces, and wondered what his father could possibly want now.---The next day
Last Updated: 2026-05-05
Chapter: Chapter 162 Proud ParentsThe afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the park. The festival had settled into a comfortable rhythm—vendors chatting with customers, children running between booths, the hum of happy voices filling the air. Zaid was helping the potter pack up his remaining bowls when he saw her.His mother was walking through the entrance, a canvas bag over her shoulder, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. She had been working at the hospital all morning and had texted him that she would come "if she could." Apparently, she could.Zaid excused himself and walked towards her, weaving through the crowd. "Mama. You made it.""Of course I made it. I wouldn't miss this." She looked around, her face soft with wonder. "Zaid, this is... incredible. Look at all these people.""All here for the vendors. For the small businesses. For the stories.""You built this.""We built this. Khamees, Bassam, Imran. Everyone."She pulled him into a hug, holding him tight. "I'm so proud of you.
Last Updated: 2026-05-04
Chapter: Chapter 161 First DayThe morning of the festival arrived clear and bright, the sun rising over the park like a blessing. Zaid stood at the entrance, a clipboard in his hands, his heart pounding in his chest. Around him, volunteers scurried between booths, vendors arranged their displays, and the smell of fresh bread and coffee drifted from the food court.Khamees appeared beside him, two cups of tea in his hands. "You look like you're going to be sick.""I feel like I'm going to be sick.""Good. That means you care."Zaid took the tea, the warmth seeping through the paper cup. "What if no one comes?""Then we drink all the tea and eat all the food and have a very nice private festival.""You're not helping.""I'm not trying to help. I'm trying to keep you from spiraling."The first visitors arrived at 9 AM—a family with young children, the mother holding a phone, the father carrying a backpack. They stopped at the entrance, looking around with wide eyes."Is this the festival?" the mother asked. "The one
Last Updated: 2026-05-03
Chapter: Chapter 160 The FestivalThe idea came to Zaid in the middle of the night, as the best ideas often did.He had been lying awake, staring at the ceiling, thinking about Mr. Taymoor. Not with anger, he was tired of anger—but with something else. Something like understanding. Mr. Taymoor wasn't the problem. He was a symptom. A product of a system that rewarded attention over substance, spectacle over truth.And Zaid was done with that system.He sat up, reached for his phone, and called Khamees.It was 2 AM."What?" Khamees's voice was thick with sleep."I have an idea.""You have an idea at 2 AM?""The best ideas come at 2 AM."Khamees groaned. "This better be good.""It's better than good. It's important."---An hour later, they were sitting in Khamees's apartment, a pot of coffee between them, Zaid's notebook open on the table. Bassam had arrived too, summoned by a series of increasingly urgent texts. Imran was there because he never slept."Okay," Khamees said, rubbing his eyes. "Explain."Zaid took a breat
Last Updated: 2026-05-03
The Awakening Of The Last Knight.
In an alternative universe wars are taking place between humans and ghouls.
A thousand years ago, humans built a siege to keep the ghouls trapped inside and stop them from attacking human villages. Fifty years ago, the siege cracked, and ghouls flooded the human world, destroying many cities.
They disguise themselves as humans or animals when they infiltrate cities. Then, they reveal their true forms, attack, and burn everything to the ground.
Scientists built a barrier system to keep ghouls out, and governments trained warriors to use high-tech devices to fight them. The strongest group of warriors, who fought bravely for the last decade, are called the Knights of Askalan. They fought the battle that took place ten years ago, protecting their city from ghouls, and are now the heroes and protectors of the city.
Ali is a 21-year-old fresh graduate. On the day of his graduation, he was having fun with his friends and taking pictures during the ceremony when ghouls attacked from the sea. Somehow they broke the barrier.
His friends were killed while trying to escape. He went to check on his family, but two of his brothers had been killed while defending his mother and younger sister, and his father was injured. He tried to get them to safety amid the chaos, but they were trapped. So, he decided to sacrifice himself, leading the ghouls away from his family. The ghouls surrounded him and attacked one by one. Just as he thought he was finished, a system screen appeared, giving him a choice: start over the day with new armor or carry on and die.
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Chapter: Chapter 439 The ReckoningThe tunnel beneath the aqueduct was dark and cold, the walls slick with moisture, the air heavy with the smell of ancient stone and decay. Hazem led the way, his flashlight cutting through the darkness, his blade still wet with Ghoul blood. Ali followed close behind, the pendant glowing faintly in his hand, the map burned into his memory.They had been walking for what felt like hours. The tunnel twisted and turned, descending deeper into the earth, the temperature dropping with every step. The symbols on the walls were everywhere now—sanctuary, binding, awakening—carved into the stone by hands that had been dust for centuries."We're close," Ali said. "The chamber should be just ahead."Hazem stopped. "Do you feel that?""Feel what?""The air. It's changing." Hazem's hand tightened on his blade. "He's here."The tunnel opened into a vast chamber—natural, ancient, lit by a faint phosphorescent glow that seemed to come from the walls themselves. At the center of the chamber stood an al
Last Updated: 2026-06-22
Chapter: Chapter 438 The GauntletThe aqueduct was in sight. Hazem could see it through the haze of dust and shadow—ancient stone arches rising against the darkening sky, the entrance to the tunnel that would lead them beneath Al-Qasr. Ali ran beside him, the pendant clutched in his hand, his breath ragged but his legs still pumping.They were close. So close.And then the sky darkened.Not with clouds. With wings.Hazem looked up and felt his blood run cold. Dozens of them. Flying Ghouls—leathery wings, razor claws, eyes that burned with hunger. They descended from the cliffs above, screeching, their shadows swallowing the last of the fading light."They found us," Ali said."They were waiting for us."Hazem drew his blade, standing between Ali and the approaching swarm. "Keep running. Don't stop. I'll hold them.""You can't hold all of them!""I can try."The first Ghoul dove. Hazem swung his blade, catching it across the chest. It fell, screeching, but two more took its place. Then three more. Then a dozen.Ali ran
Last Updated: 2026-06-21
Chapter: Chapter 437 The Road to Al-QasrThe road to Al-Qasr stretched through the desert like a scar across the earth. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and red, casting long shadows across the dunes. Hazem drove, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. Ali sat beside him, the pendant in his hand, the ancient map displayed on his tablet."Twenty kilometers," Ali said. "The tunnel entrance is near the old aqueduct. If the map is accurate, we can get inside without being seen.""The map is accurate," Hazem replied. "It has to be."Ali looked at him. "You trust Antar?""I trust that he wants Labib dead as much as we do. That's enough for now."The road curved, winding through a narrow pass between two rocky outcroppings. Hazem slowed, his eyes scanning the terrain."We're close," he said. "The aqueduct should be just beyond this pass."And then the car stopped.Not because Hazem hit the brakes. Because something was standing in the middle of the road.Hazem's foot slammed on the pedal, but the car did
Last Updated: 2026-06-20
Chapter: Chapter 436 The Walls HoldThe safe house was burning.Flames licked at the eastern wall, casting dancing shadows across the courtyard. Marwan stood in the breach, his sword a blur of steel and fury, cutting down soldier after soldier. But there were too many. They kept coming. Wave after wave, relentless, unstoppable."Laith!" Marwan shouted over the chaos. "How many are left?"Laith appeared beside him, his face streaked with blood, his breathing ragged. "Too many. They're not stopping. They're not even slowing down.""They want the ghoul. They'll burn this place to the ground to get him.""Then we burn with it."Marwan almost smiled. Almost. "That's the spirit."---Inside the safe house, Hadi was coordinating the defense, his voice strained but steady. The wounded were being moved to the basement, the only place that still offered any protection. Haitham moved among them, binding wounds, offering quiet words of comfort."How much longer?" Hadi asked.Haitham didn't look up. "As long as we can hold.""That's
Last Updated: 2026-06-18
Chapter: Chapter 435 The Race Against DarknessThe underground warehouse hummed with urgency. Ali's fingers flew across the keyboard, lines of code scrolling across multiple screens. Behind him, Professor Riyad pored over ancient texts, comparing symbols, cross-referencing translations. Fadi coordinated with the safe house through a secure audio link, his voice calm but clipped. "The convoy is five minutes out," Fadi reported. "Hazem has positioned the defenders. Marwan is covering the eastern approach. Laith has the west. Haitham is inside with Antar." Ali didn't look up from his work. "And Hadi?" "Arguing with Hazem about letting the ghoul fight." "That sounds like Hadi." The pendant lay on a specialized scanner beside Ali's workstation, its surface glowing faintly under the ultraviolet light. The symbol on it—the ancient Ghoul word for "peace"—seemed to pulse with its own rhythm, as if it were alive. "Professor," Ali said, "the frequency patterns you're seeing. Do they match anything in the texts?" Riyad adjusted h
Last Updated: 2026-06-16
Chapter: Chapter 434 The General's SecretThe basement was cold, but Antar had stopped feeling cold centuries ago. He sat against the wall, his chains pooled in his lap, his dark eyes fixed on the single light bulb that flickered overhead. The sounds of the safe house filtered down through the concrete—footsteps, muffled voices, the occasional scrape of furniture. Life. Normal life . The kind of life he had been denied for so long that he had almost forgotten what it sounded like.The door opened. Hazem descended the stairs, a small plate in his hands. On it was a piece of raw meat—lamb, by the look of it, still glistening, still fresh from the butcher.Antar's nostrils flared. His mouth watered despite himself. He hadn't eaten in days. Not since they brought him here. He needed meat. Raw meat. Blood. The way his kind had always eaten."What is this?" Antar asked, his voice hoarse."Dinner." Hazem set the plate on the floor and sat on the crate across from him, keeping his distance. "I know Ghouls don't eat cooked food. Only
Last Updated: 2026-06-14
Chapter: Chapter 32 HomeThe bus ride was silent.Muneer sat by the window, watching the city scroll past. The same buildings. The same streets. The same gray sky. But everything felt different. Heavier.He had forty-five thousand dollars in an envelope. Almost enough, but not enough.He thought about the game. The basketball court. The clock ticking down. His hands sweating. The ball slipping. The second basket that didn't count. One basket. Ten seconds.He closed his eyes.The bus stopped. He got off. He walked to his mother's house.---His mother was in the kitchen.She looked up when he walked in. Her eyes widened. She crossed the room and wrapped her arms around him."You're home," she said. "You're home."He hugged her back. He didn't say anything."You look terrible," she said. "Have you been sleeping? Eating?""I'm fine, Mama.""You're not fine. I can see it in your eyes."She pulled back. She looked at his face. Her hand touched his cheek."What happened?""Nothing. I'm just tired."She didn't belie
Last Updated: 2026-05-06
Chapter: Chapter 31 The PanicMuneer's first shot missed.The ball hit the front of the rim with a sharp clank and bounced away, rolling across the floor. He stared at it for a moment, frozen. Then he grabbed another ball from the rack. His hands were sweating. The leather felt slick against his palms.He shot. The ball arced high, too high. It sailed over the backboard and bounced into the corner.Two misses. Zero baskets. Thirty seconds gone.From the bench, he could hear murmurs. Jihad shifted in his seat. Yusuf leaned forward, his hands clasped. Malik smiled. Aisha watched with cold, calculating eyes.Muneer grabbed another ball. He wiped his palms on his shirt. He looked at the hoop. It seemed farther away than it had a moment ago. The distance stretched between him and the rim like a canyon.He shot.The ball hit the backboard, then the rim, then bounced twice and fell away.Three misses.He could feel the panic rising in his chest. His breath came faster. His heart pounded against his ribs. The two-minute c
Last Updated: 2026-05-05
Chapter: Chapter 30 The Last ChanceThe arena had been transformed again.A basketball hoop stood at one end. A line was painted on the floor at the middle of the court. A rack of basketballs sat beside the line. The masked man stood at center court.The remaining players sat on benches along the wall. Muneer sat at the end. His foot still throbbed from the wrestling match. His hands were still raw. But he was still here. Still alive. Still breathing.Barely.The masked man raised his hand."Welcome to the final game," he said. "This is your last chance to earn money. Every player will have two minutes. From the middle of the court, you will shoot as many baskets as you can. Every basket is worth twenty thousand dollars."Murmurs rippled through the players. Twenty thousand dollars per basket."You may shoot as many times as you can within the time limit. There is no defense. There is no interference. Only you and the hoop."He stepped back."The order has been chosen at random. The first player is—"The screen lit up.
Last Updated: 2026-05-04
Chapter: Chapter 29 The DesperationThe final arena was different. No chairs. No tables. No screens. Just a large circle painted on the concrete floor. Inside the circle, two wrestlers faced each other. Outside the circle, the remaining players sat on benches, watching. Muneer sat on a cold metal bench. Beside him sat the old man, Yusuf. Beside Yusuf sat the teenager, Jihad. Across the circle sat Aisha and two others. And the tall man. Malik. The one from the football game. The one who had tried to recruit Muneer. The one who had been dragged out of the puzzle game for sabotage. He was back. Somehow, he was still in the game. His eyes found Muneer. He smiled. It was not a kind smile. The masked man stood at the center of the circle. "Welcome to the final game," he said. "Romanian wrestling." A murmur went through the players. "The rules are simple. Two players enter the circle. They lock hands. The goal is to throw the opponent to the ground. The first to touch the ground with any part of the body other t
Last Updated: 2026-05-03
Chapter: Chapter 28 Whatever It TakesMuneer sat on the edge of his bed. The tablet glowed in his hands. His winnings were still $25,000. Half of what he needed. Half of what Layan's family owed. Two games remained. He had played safe. He had told the truth. He had helped his teammates. And where had it gotten him? Nowhere. He was still short. Still struggling. Still watching others advance while he stayed behind. He thought about the tall man. The one who had sabotaged the woman's puzzle. The one who had been dragged out by guards. He had lost. But he had tried to win. He had done whatever it took. Muneer set the tablet down. "I'll do whatever it takes," he said to the empty room. --- The next morning, the buzzer woke him. Return to the arena. The next game will begin. Muneer stood. He splashed water on his face. He looked at himself in the mirror. His eyes were hard. He walked to the door. --- The arena was different today. A large screen hung on the wall. In the center of the room, a wooden b
Last Updated: 2026-05-02
Chapter: Chapter 27 The PrivilegeThe hallway was quiet. Muneer walked alone, his footsteps echoing off the white walls. His body was tired, but his mind was racing. He had survived. He was still in the game. He reached his room. The door slid open. The small bed, the wooden chair, the table. The vault against the wall. On the table, a tablet. He picked it up. The screen glowed. Congratulations. You have won the second game. Your winnings: $20,000. Total winnings: $25,000. The final game will begin tomorrow. Rest well. Muneer stared at the screen. Twenty thousand dollars. Added to the five thousand from the football game. Twenty-five thousand total. Half of what he needed. Half of what Layan's family owed. He set the tablet down. He sat on the bed. He put his head in his hands. Halfway. He was only halfway. --- A knock on the door. Muneer looked up. The door slid open. A masked man stood in the hallway, holding a tray. "Dinner," he said. He set the tray on the table. Steak. Vegetab
Last Updated: 2026-04-28
Chapter: Chapter 105 Sharing The NewsThe morning after dinner with Ibtihal's family, Shihab sat alone in his quarters, the satellite phone in his hand. His heart was full, his mind racing with the joy of the previous night. But there was one more call he needed to make. One more conversation that would make everything real.He dialed the number and waited."Shihab?" His mother's voice came through, warm and curious. "You're calling early. Is everything alright?""Everything is perfect, Mama," Shihab said, a smile spreading across his face. "I have news. Big news."There was a pause, then a rustling sound. He could imagine her sitting up straighter, her eyes widening with anticipation. "Tell me.""I'm getting married," he said, the words feeling surreal on his tongue. "To Ibtihal. The engineer I told you about. I asked her father last night, and he said yes."Silence. Then a sound he hadn't heard in years—his mother's joyful cry, a sound of pure, unbridled happiness. He could hear her calling for Ayham in the background,
Last Updated: 2026-05-06
Chapter: Chapter 104 Meeting Her FamilyThe satellite phone felt heavy in Shihab's hand as he dialed the number Ibtihal had given him. His heart pounded, his palms were sweaty, and for a moment, he considered hanging up and pretending this conversation had never happened. But then he thought of Ibtihal's smile, the way she had looked at him when she handed him the paper, and he found the courage to press the call button.The line crackled, then connected. A man's voice, deep and warm, answered. "Hello?""Hello," Shihab said, his voice steadier than he felt. "My name is Shihab. I'm... I'm a friend of Ibtihal's. She gave me this number."There was a pause, then a low chuckle. "Ah, Shihab. I've heard a lot about you. My daughter speaks very highly of you.""She's very kind," Shihab said. "I was wondering if I could come to visit. To meet you. And your family."Another pause, longer this time. Then the man said, "We would like that very much. How about tomorrow evening? We'll have dinner."Shihab agreed, his heart soaring, and
Last Updated: 2026-05-05
Chapter: Chapter 103 Don't Mess UpShihab walked the perimeter of the Safe Zone, his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes scanning the horizon. The morning sun was warm, the sky clear, the air fresh. It was one of those rare days when the world felt almost normal, almost peaceful. He had been taking more of these walks lately, stepping back from the constant demands of leadership, allowing himself to simply exist.The wall was strong. The fields were green. The children's center was buzzing with activity. Everything he had fought for, everything he had bled for, was here. And yet, something was missing. He couldn't quite name it, but it gnawed at the edges of his thoughts, a quiet ache that wouldn't go away."Shihab!" Karam's voice called out from behind him.He turned to find Karam and Jawad approaching, their faces relaxed, their steps unhurried. They had been his brothers in arms for so long, through battles and losses and moments of impossible hope. Now they walked toward him with an almost mischievous glint in
Last Updated: 2026-05-05
Chapter: Chapter 102 The Mysterious ComplexThe creature in the cage was unlike anything Ibtihal had studied before. Its dark skin seemed to absorb light, its red eyes tracked movement with an intelligence that was unsettling. It didn't thrash or hiss like the others. It watched. It waited. It studied them as much as they studied it.Ibtihal worked around the clock, her lab cluttered with beakers and vials, her whiteboard covered in new equations. The creature's blood was different—darker, thicker, laced with a protein she had never seen before. It was as if the pathogen had evolved, adapting to the counteragent, finding a new way to survive."This is bad," Ibtihal said, her voice hollow. She stood before the whiteboard, her marker frozen mid-equation. "The counteragent works by blocking the protein that triggers the transformation. But these new creatures—they don't have that protein. They have something else. Something the counteragent can't touch."Shihab stood in the doorway, his arms crossed, his expression grim. "Then we
Last Updated: 2026-05-05
Chapter: Chapter 101 Into The FutureThe northern road was a wound in the earth, cracked and overgrown, lined with the skeletons of trees that had died long before the fall. Shihab drove in silence, his eyes fixed on the horizon, his hands steady on the wheel. Beside him, Jawad scanned the tree line, his rifle ready, his finger on the trigger. In the back, Karam monitored the radio, while Ibtihal studied her tablet, her brow furrowed in concentration."The settlement is about twenty kilometers ahead," Ibtihal said, breaking the silence. "According to Rashid, the creatures attacked from the east, using the forest for cover. They came at night, when visibility was low.""Then we set our trap in the forest," Shihab said. "Find a clearing, somewhere we can control the approach. Use the counteragent as bait.""And if they don't take the bait?" Karam asked."Then we find another way."---The forest was dark, the trees pressing close, their branches interlocking overhead. Shihab led the team through the underbrush, their foots
Last Updated: 2026-05-04
Chapter: Chapter 100 The ReturnThe return to the Safe Zone was quiet, almost anticlimactic. The boat docked at the port, and the team drove through the ruins, the roads empty, the silence heavy. Shihab's mind was still on the island, on his mother's face, on Ayham's embrace. But as the walls of the Safe Zone appeared on the horizon, his focus shifted back to the present.The gates opened, and they drove through, past the guards, past the children playing in the courtyard, past the hospital where the wounded were recovering. The command post was waiting, its lights burning, its doors open.Jalal met them at the entrance, his expression grim. "We have a problem."Shihab's heart sank. "What kind of problem?""A group of survivors arrived this morning. They came from the north, from a settlement called Al-Mansour. They say a new kind of creature is attacking them—something we haven't seen before. Faster, smarter, more organized. They lost half their people before they could escape."Shihab exchanged a glance with Karam
Last Updated: 2026-05-03
