Malachi moved through the narrow underground path with slow steps. The concrete walls were rough and damp, but he only focused on the route before him. He carried a small pack of explosives and held a communicator in his left hand. “Ramesh, I am inside the first tunnel,” he whispered. “Confirm the route again.”Colonel Ramesh’s voice came through with a firm tone. “Move straight for twenty meters. You will see a fork. Take the right path. That leads closer to the core of Vikran’s base.”“Understood,” Malachi replied. He kept moving, studying each corner and shadow. He wanted to reach Vikran without alerting all the guards at once. He stopped at the fork and looked down both directions. “Ramesh, I see movement ahead.”“Stay low and observe,” Ramesh said.Malachi crouched and peeked around the right corner. Two armed guards walked toward each other, talking in low voices. Malachi listened closely. One of them said, “Lord Vikran said no one enters the lower chambers without his approval.

Malachi slowly opened his eyes as he heard distant sounds of metal being lifted. Then heavy boots moved across the ruins. His chest felt tight, and his breathing was slow. He tried to move but stopped when pain shot through his side. He lay still as dust fell around him. A faint voice echoed from above.“We found someone here. Move the beam,” a rescuer shouted.Another responded, “Careful. He might be alive.”Colonel Ramesh arrived near the collapsed section of the underground base. He looked around as workers cleared debris. Tara stood beside him with a worried expression. Katherine followed them closely, holding her arm as if she was still shaken.Ramesh pointed at the rescuers. “He is under this section. I am sure of it.”Tara stepped forward. “How deep?”“One more level,” a rescuer replied.Katherine whispered, “Please let him be alive.”Tara looked at her. “You sound scared.”“I should be,” Katherine said. “He saved this city.”Ramesh raised his voice. “Clear that stone. Move eve

Malachi stepped out of the military rehabilitation center and stretched his arms slowly. His body was stronger than before. He walked toward the training field and began the routine he had created for himself. He lifted light weights, jogged a short distance, and practiced slow combat movements.A soldier passing by stopped.“Sir, should you be doing that already?” he asked.“I need to move,” Malachi said. “My body will catch up.”The soldier nodded and continued on his way.Malachi shifted his stance and exhaled. He felt someone watching him. He scanned the area, looking at the guard towers and the trees near the fence. Nothing looked out of place.Tara approached him from behind.“You are pushing yourself again,” she said.“I am just stretching,” Malachi replied.“You do not have to pretend,” she said. “You still feel pain. I can see it.”“It will pass,” Malachi said.Tara crossed her arms.“You should rest for one more week.”“I cannot,” Malachi said.Tara sighed.“You never change

Tara sat in front of the computer. She fixed her eyes on the loading bar. The government database was taking longer than usual to respond. She sighed and looked up at Malachi, who stood behind her with his arms crossed.“I ran the query five times,” she said. “Every record tied to Marek Dusan is gone. His personnel file, mission history and field assignments were all wiped clean.”Malachi frowned. “That’s impossible. You can’t erase a soldier from the system without approval from the highest level.”“Exactly,” Tara replied. “This wasn’t done by accident. Someone wanted Marek erased permanently.”Ramesh entered the room holding a sealed envelope. “You can stop searching,” he said. “I’ve spoken to the intelligence bureau. The file you’re looking for is under a classified program. Omega Mission.”Malachi’s eyes narrowed. “Omega Mission. That name hasn’t been spoken in years.”Ramesh dropped the envelope on the table. “That operation never existed officially. The government erased it to p

The night was silent when Malachi and two field agents surrounded the old warehouse on the west end of Afas. The building looked abandoned, but the thermal scanner on Malachi’s wrist showed faint movement inside. He signaled the others to hold their positions.“Two guards by the entrance,” one agent whispered.“I see them,” Malachi said quietly. “No gunfire unless necessary.”He moved along the side of the building and slipped through a broken window. The air smelled of oil and dust. Crates lined the walls, and faint light came from a room in the back. He heard voices.“Shipment goes tonight,” a deep voice said. “Marek wants the trucks moving before sunrise.”Malachi moved closer, keeping low. The man speaking turned slightly, and Malachi saw his face under the flickering bulb — Korev.Malachi stepped forward and raised his gun. “Don’t move.”Korev froze, then slowly lifted his hands. “You must be the famous Malachi,” he said. “Marek said you’d come.”“Turn around,” Malachi ordered.K