Chapter 11: “Ashes and Bloodlines” Location: Crimson League Server Core – 12:09 AM Fire licked the walls as sparks rained from the ceiling. Every console blinked red — the system overloaded by Jaxon’s data dump. Scarlet stood with a dagger in one hand, blood soaking her white coat from a shoulder wound. Her eyes blazed with betrayal and fury. “You were never supposed to survive the Vault,” she hissed. “I ordered the purge myself. And yet here you are — walking death.” Jaxon didn’t speak. He lowered into a fighting stance, one blade in hand, eyes locked on hers. Scarlet lunged first, slicing for his throat. He ducked, twisted, elbowed her in the ribs — but she countered, slashing across his arm. Blood sprayed. “You owe me your legend,” she spat. “I broke you. I reforged you.” “No,” Jaxon growled, blocking her next strike and slammi

Chapter 13: “The Countdown” Location: Crimson HQ Rooftop – 7:10 AM Jaxon knelt beside S2, blood running down his arm. His pulse throbbed against his ribs as the warning lights on S2’s chest blinked faster. Overload Imminent. Detonation in 60 seconds. Ivy stumbled forward, eyes wide. “What’s happening?!” “They rigged him,” Jaxon growled, tearing open S2’s armor. “He’s a walking bomb.” S2’s eyes fluttered open — just barely. “I… remember you. Ghost Monarch… brother…” “Don’t speak,” Jaxon said, pulling wires and trying to trace the core. “You’re going to live. I swear it.” “No,” S2 rasped. “They made me a weapon. Only one way to stop it.” He raised his trembling hand — placing a cracked data key in Jaxon’s palm. “Find… the child… she… she knows…” “Who?” Jaxon shouted. “Who are you talking about?!” But it

Chapter 15: The Flame Remembers Location: Holding Site Delta – Lower Levels Fire licked the edges of the metal walls as alarms shrieked across the ruined corridors. Jaxon crouched low in front of Mira, shielding her with his body. Ivy stood just behind, gun drawn, scanning the shadows for movement. “I triggered something,” Mira said softly. Her voice was calm, too calm. “They’re coming.” “We know,” Jaxon replied, pressing his hand to the floor. “They dropped a whole hit squad.” “Not for me,” Mira whispered. “For you.” Over the comms, Zhao’s voice crackled in Jaxon’s ear. “Thirty hostiles inside the compound. Another twenty en route. You’ve got seven minutes before they seal the exits.” Jaxon stood. “We’re moving. Ivy—watch Mira. Mira, stay close to me.” Mira didn’t flinch, but when she followed, her bare feet left soot where they stepped. —

Chapter 17: Death Has No Shadow The blacked-out SUV screeched to a halt outside a dilapidated factory on the riverbank. It was 2:14 a.m. and the moon glared down like a watchful eye. The building was abandoned—at least, that’s what they wanted people to think. Jaxon Lin stepped out, dressed in tactical black. His shirt clung to his sculpted form, soaked slightly from the night mist, and a combat knife was strapped to his thigh. Twin pistols holstered on either side. He was no longer the weak, ridiculed son-in-law. Tonight, the Ghost Monarch returned. Inside the building, forty armed men waited. Red Fang had expected him. And that was fine. Because Jaxon had come to paint the walls with fear. He moved like a whisper through the side alley, disabling a sentry with a pressure point jab. No sound. The man dropped like dead weight. Jaxon dragged him into the shadows an