The next morning, Kade left South City for North City immediately after receiving a call from Zia informing him that Jonathan had escaped, and his expression remained calm throughout the journey, though his eyes carried a quiet intensity that hinted at the storm beneath the surface.Not long after, he arrived at the headquarters of the Azure organization, where he was received at the entrance by both Zia and Reign, their expressions serious, the weight of the situation clearly reflected in their posture. Without wasting time on formalities, Zia led him through the secured corridors of the facility, her pace brisk as they descended deeper into the restricted levels until they reached the prison sector—the very place Jonathan had been held.The moment they stepped into the containment area, the damage was impossible to ignore. The reinforced glass chamber lay shattered, fragments scattered across the floor, while the security systems flickered faintly, still recovering from whatever for

Kade bent down and picked up a small stone from the plateau, turning it once between his fingers as if measuring its weight before walking a precise distance away and placing it carefully on the ground about thirty meters ahead, the placement deliberate rather than casual, as though even this simple act carried intention, then he straightened and looked at Reign and said.“Hit it,” his voice calm but exact, making it clear without needing to repeat himself that he didn’t mean the surrounding ground or the general area but the stone itself and nothing else, so Reign stepped forward, drew in Aether, and executed the technique cleanly, the familiar surge of power flowing through him as the attack tore across the plateau with overwhelming force, striking the target dead-on—yet the result was the same as before, the stone was obliterated along with nearly six square meters of rock around it, cracks spidering outward as fragments of stone scattered and dust rose into the air, and Reign exha

Somewhere in South City, far from the polished lights of the upper districts, in a dim warehouse that looked gritty and smelled like dried blood, a group of men stood in a loose circle, their attention fixed on a heavy black sack hanging from a rusted hook like a punching bag, swaying slightly from repeated impact, while low muffled groans leaked out from within it, barely human anymore.At the center of it all stood a man in his early thirties—tall, broad-shouldered, bald, his skin marked with thick, dark tattoos that crawled across his arms and neck like scars given form. He wore nothing but a worn singlet and dark trousers, his presence alone enough to keep everyone around him quiet.This was Darius Vex, leader of the Crimson Syndicate.He held a cigarette between his fingers, taking one last slow drag as the tip burned bright in the dim light before he flicked it to the ground and crushed it under his foot without even looking down. Then he stretched out his hand casually, and one

That evening at Bright Star Hotel, Victor Crane sat in his office behind a wide glass desk, the city lights stretching endlessly beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, his posture relaxed but focused as he reviewed reports and signed off on documents, because running one of the biggest hotels in the city wasn’t just about reputation, it demanded constant attention, precision, and control, and despite everything happening in the underground world, he still handled his legitimate empire with the same discipline.A soft knock came at the door before one of his staff stepped in, slightly tense. “Boss… Darius Vex is here to see you.”Victor’s pen paused mid-signature.His eyes lifted slowly.“Darius?” he repeated, a faint frown forming on his face, confusion mixed with irritation because that wasn’t a name that showed up casually, especially not in his territory.After a brief pause, he leaned back slightly in his chair. “Let him in.”Moments later, the door opened again, and Dari

Michael felt it—the weight of what was coming pressing down on his chest—but he didn’t argue, didn’t hesitate, because fear or not, his loyalty was already decided, and he gave a firm nod. “Alright,” he said. “I trust you.”Victor didn’t waste another second. “Mobilize everyone,” he ordered, his tone sharp and commanding now, every trace of hesitation gone. “Every single man. No exceptions. Recall those on external assignments, shut down minor operations, I want all Iron Wolves present.” He paused briefly, then added, “And we’re not fighting here.”Michael frowned slightly. “The hotel?”Victor shook his head. “This place is my business, not a battlefield. I’m not letting Darius turn it into rubble.” His eyes narrowed as he thought for a second. “There’s an abandoned field on the outskirts—old industrial land, no civilians, no structures worth protecting. That’s where we’ll meet them.”“You want to… invite them?” Michael asked, slightly surprised.Victor’s lips curved into a faint, col