On the other side of the city, the atmosphere was far from the peaceful morning Hansen and Alyssa had enjoyed.Ferdinan was driving alone, cruising along a not-so-busy main road. He had just left a small meeting with his internal team—a meeting discussing suspicious transaction traces from a shell company trying to infiltrate Harmono Group’s business network.He glanced at the phone screen on the passenger seat. There was one unopened message from an unknown number: "You're getting too curious, Mr. Ferdinan."Ferdinan frowned. But before he could read more—CRASH!!!A large truck suddenly slammed into the left side of his car at high speed. The impact sent Ferdinan’s vehicle spiraling, flipping twice in the air before slamming down onto the asphalt and landing upside down.The windshield shattered. The sound of horns and car alarms blared in unison.Blood trickled from Ferdinan's temple. His body was pinned by the seatbelt, gasping for breath inside the now-crumpled cabin.But what wa

In an underground room lined with soundproof metal walls, the scent of expensive incense hung in the air. A crystal chandelier swayed gently from the ceiling, casting a dim light over the shadowed faces seated in a circle.A man in a black suit stood at the center, his body tense as he faced the figure seated in the main chair. That figure wore a charcoal-colored suit and a glossy black mask that revealed only two glowing red eyes.“I’m sorry, sir…” the man’s voice trembled. “The backup base at the Northern Port… destroyed. None of the assassins we sent… made it back.”Silence.One second.Two seconds.Three—CRASH!A crystal glass shattered against the wall. The masked figure slowly stood, radiating pressure.“Who did this?” The voice was low, but it carried the heat of restrained fury.“Initial reports… the Mamba Gang was involved. Alongside someone named Hansen. He—”“Hansen?” The voice turned cold. “He single-handedly defeated our elite mercenaries. He’s worth watching.”Another f

Two nights had passed since that meeting.Yet Seraphina’s shadow still lingered in Hansen’s mind. Her words, the way she said “your woman,” and especially: *“meet me beneath the Red Tower”—*it all echoed like the curse of a memory.In his apartment, Hansen sat still at the edge of his bed. His eyes stared at his phone, lit up with messages from Chelsea, Alyssa, and even Elara—all asking the same thing.“What’s wrong, Han? You haven’t shown up in two days.”“We’re all looking for you. You know Kira is getting anxious again,” said Elara.“If this is about the curse, I can help.”But Hansen hadn’t replied to a single one. He was mapping things out in his mind. The dots from Seraphina’s information were connecting: mixed blood, the vampire throne, and Kira.Kira.*****Elsewhere in the city, deep in the basement of an old library now locked up by the government, an old man in a gray robe stared at a half-burned painting.The painting depicted a woman with blood-red hair, and glowing viole

Hansen followed Seraphina’s light footsteps, descending the spiral staircase hidden behind the blood-red altar. The sound of rushing wind and a distant rumble grew louder, blending with the pounding of his heart.“This place… it’s been here since the ancient war era?” Hansen asked, his eyes scanning the walls etched with glowing blue carvings.Seraphina nodded. “This is the heart of the Red Tower—the place where seals and truths too dangerous for the world are kept.”They entered a wide chamber, its walls covered in ancient writings and luminous symbols. At the center pulsed a crimson cube of energy—beating slowly like a heart from the past.“You know about Lilith and her blood, but this…” Seraphina gestured to the cube. “This is the ‘Primordial Vessel,’ the source of the power flowing within Kira. Right now, she is only a half-vessel. If completed… that power could reopen the gates of hell.”Hansen stepped closer, feeling a surge of energy that raised the hairs on his neck.“The Thir

"I don't care," Hansen hissed, his eyes blazing like embers. "If I have to destroy myself to bring Kira back, then so be it."Seraphina stepped forward, her gaze piercing. "You're not stupid, Hansen. Don't act like you're invincible. This isn't just a rescue mission. This is the battlefield of the old world. You know what could happen if you enter without a stabilizer."Hansen let out a heavy sigh, but the resolve in his eyes didn't waver. "I've already lost too much. I'm not going to lose Kira too."Seraphina's voice softened, but remained firm. "And if you die, Kira still won’t be saved. You know those interdimensional paths don’t just tear the body—they tear the soul. Only someone with a strong emotional or blood bond to the target can survive long enough inside. You might almost find her... and still lose her."Silence hung in the air for a few seconds.Hansen still gripped the Compass. Then, he injected his energy into it and disappeared, shooting off in a streak of blue light to