The morning sun rose over the city, but for the local elite, the day felt like an eclipse.News of the "Martial Alliance" massacre and the disappearance of the "Seven Ghost Slayers" had spread through the upper circles like wildfire. The name "Drake" was no longer spoken with a sneer; it was whispered with the kind of fear reserved for natural disasters.Inside the Vance Villa, Drake sat at the head of a long mahogany table. He was dressed in a dark silk robe, sipping tea with an elegance that made him look like an ancient emperor.The Blood General entered, bowing low. "Marshal, the High Council has frozen the Vance family’s bank accounts. They are trying to starve us out. Every business partner has pulled their contracts. By noon, the Vance Group will be officially bankrupt."Elena, sitting across from Drake, gripped her tea cup until her knuckles turned white. "It’s over, isn't it? Even if you can fight, we can't eat air, Drake. The Council controls the banks. They control the gold

The sky over the city was no longer blue. It was choked with the grey smoke of fallen satellites and the crackling energy of the High Council’s reach.Four streaks of fire slammed into the surrounding buildings, collapsing the rooftops. From the dust emerged four identical "Vanguard" units. Their mechanical eyes locked onto Drake simultaneously, creating a web of red targeting lasers on his chest."Calculated combat efficiency: Squad Alpha is 400% superior to Unit 01," the machines spoke in a haunting, synthesized unison.Drake stood in the center of the road, his black trench coat fluttering in the wind. Behind him, the Blood General was frantically ushering Elena into an armored bunker."Marshal! They are using a 'Phase-Shift' shield!" the General shouted. "Standard Qi attacks won't touch them!"Drake didn't respond. He reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a pair of white silk gloves. He put them on slowly, deliberately."Phase-shift?" Drake murmured. "They think that by vib

The Thunderbolt transport groaned as it touched down on the secret runway of Base 07, the hidden heart of the Northern Black Legion. This base was once Drake’s sanctuary, a place where his word was law.But as the ramp lowered, Drake didn't see the disciplined ranks of his loyal soldiers. Instead, the tarmac was lined with soldiers wearing flashy, gold-trimmed uniforms—the "Imperial Guard" of the High Council.A young man in a white officer’s coat stood at the front, picking his teeth with a silver toothpick. This was Captain Silas, the nephew of one of the High Council Elders."Well, well," Silas sneered as Drake walked down the ramp, supported slightly by the Blood General. "The 'Great Marshal' finally returns. You look more like a dying beggar than a God of War."The Blood General stepped forward, his hand on his holster. "Captain Silas! How dare you stand in the way of the Marshal? Where is the Black Legion?""The Black Legion?" Silas laughed, his soldiers joining in. "That group

The High Council Chamber was in total chaos."He destroyed the Golden Gate! With one strike!" a Councilman screamed, slamming his fist on the table. "That gate cost three hundred billion to build! Who is this monster?""He’s not a monster," First Elder Lucius said calmly, stepping out of the shadows. He swirled a glass of vintage red wine, his face devoid of fear. "He is the Asura. Did you really think a metal door would stop the man who conquered the Northern Hemisphere?""Lucius! This is no time for admiration!" another Elder shouted. "He is marching toward this tower! If he reaches us, he will slaughter every single one of us! We must deploy the Nuclear Guard!""No," Lucius said, taking a sip of wine. "If we use nukes in the Capital, we lose our legitimacy. The people will revolt. We need a hero to kill a villain."Lucius pressed a button on the remote control in his hand.The massive wall-screen in the chamber flickered. It showed a live feed from a high-tech laboratory deep benea

The sky above the Avenue of Kings turned black.It wasn't night; it was metal. Three thousand "Hunter-Killer" drones descended like a swarm of angry locusts. Each drone was equipped with a micro-gatling gun and a suicide charge."Target Lock: Drake," the drones buzzed in unison. "Sanction Level: Extreme."Drake stood in the middle of the street, shielding Elena with his good arm. His left shoulder was a ruin of blood and torn muscle. The fifty soldiers of the Black Legion formed a tight circle around him, raising their rusty shields."Marshal!" The Blood General shouted over the deafening hum of rotors. "There are too many! We can't block them all!""We don't need to block," Drake said, his eyes scanning the swarm for the command unit. "We just need to survive until—"Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!The sky erupted in fire. Bullets rained down like a monsoon of lead. The Black Legion soldiers gritted their teeth, their Qi barriers flickering under the relentless impact. The asphalt around them d