The world was different now. Everyone could feel it even if they couldn’t explain it. Something had shifted. Quietly, beneath the surface, the rules of power were being rewritten.Benjamin stood at the edge of a high-rise balcony in an unnamed city. The wind blew against his coat, and his eyes scanned the horizon. Neon lights blinked from distant towers. Sirens echoed far off. People below moved about their lives, unaware of how close they had come to disaster—or how much had changed since.The confrontation with the Architect had left scars. Not just on him, but on the systems that held the world together. In finance, certain powerhouses had fallen overnight. Whole networks had collapsed. Technology firms that once seemed untouchable had crumbled. In politics, strange resignations were happening in clusters. It was like someone had pulled a string, and the web was falling apart.Only a few knew the truth. Benjamin and his team were part of them. He’d survived. Barely. The power of t

The night air was calm, and the soft glow of streetlights lined the quiet road where Benjamin stood waiting. He checked his watch once, then again, not out of impatience, but habit. His coat was buttoned up neatly, and for once, he wasn’t carrying a folder, briefcase, or anything work-related. Tonight was different.Emily arrived five minutes later, her steps light but hesitant. She wore a simple navy-blue dress and carried a small handbag. Her hair was pinned back, nothing fancy. Just her. She noticed Benjamin immediately and gave him a small smile.“You’re early,” she said.“I always am,” Benjamin replied with a half-smile.They walked into the quiet restaurant, a cozy, warm place with soft music playing in the background and candles on each table. The hostess led them to a small table in the corner. It wasn’t anything extravagant, and that’s what made it perfect.After they sat down and placed their orders, silence lingered for a few moments. Not the awkward kind, but the kind whe

The attack came without warning. One moment, everything was calm. Timothy Williams was in his office, reviewing some documents, as the late afternoon sunlight spilled across his desk, when the first explosion rattled the building.The sound wasn’t deafening, but it was enough to make the glass tremble in its frames. He froze for half a second, his mind trying to make sense of it. Maybe construction work nearby? But the second blast ripped away any chance of that excuse. The floor shook, the alarms began to wail, and his assistant burst in with panic written all over her face.“Sir, we need to evacuate now!” she shouted.Timothy didn’t argue. He grabbed his phone and his jacket, following her toward the emergency stairs. The building’s security guards were already shouting orders, but it was chaos, people pushing, papers flying, the air filling with dust.Down in the street, it was even worse. Several black SUVs had blocked off the road. Masked men with rifles were moving in formation

Benjamin Moore stood by the wide glass window of the penthouse, staring out at the city lights. It was late, but the streets still glowed like veins of gold in the dark. The hum of the traffic below was distant, muted by the thick walls. Inside, the air was tense. Everyone knew what they were about to do. And everyone knew there would be no going back.The new faction had been making moves, quietly, strategically. Their influence was spreading in places most people didn’t even notice. But Benjamin noticed. He always noticed. And now, it was time to respond.Amanda sat at the round table, scrolling through her tablet, double-checking the files they had compiled. “We’ve got everything,” she said, her voice steady but sharp. “Every bank transfer, every secret deal, every shady meeting they thought was hidden.”Darius leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “The question is, how loud do you want to make this? Once it’s out there, you can’t pull it back.”Benjamin turned slowly, his expres

The air smelled like dust, smoke, and fear. Benjamin stood at the edge of the ruined street, staring at the enemy’s fortifications in the distance. The new faction had been tightening their grip on the city for weeks now, cutting off supplies, spreading propaganda, and making it harder for his people to hold their ground.This battle was crucial. Lose here, and everything he’d worked for in the last year would start crumbling.He could hear the low rumble of machinery in the distance. Armored trucks, heavy weapons, and men ready to fight for the faction’s leader. The man who had become Benjamin’s newest rival. The man who, in a strange way, reminded him of himself.Benjamin adjusted his jacket and took a deep breath. His men were waiting for his signal. They trusted him to lead them through this.“Once we breach that wall,” his second-in-command, Mason, said, “it’s going to be chaos. They’re well-prepared.”Benjamin nodded. “That’s why we can’t give them time to think.”He was about