Time passed slowly inside the Crimson Syndicate base as the celebration continued, loud laughter and drunken voices filling the massive compound while music blasted through large speakers mounted around the area. Long tables had been arranged with expensive drinks, roasted meat, stacks of cash, and weapons scattered carelessly between plates like trophies of war. The Syndicate members were in high spirits after wiping out most of the Iron Wolves, convinced that South City now completely belonged to them.At the center of the celebration, Victor Crane remained chained to a raised metal platform like a captured animal being displayed before a crowd. Thick chains restrained both his wrists and ankles while dried blood covered almost every part of his body. His shirt had long been torn apart from the torture, exposing deep lashes and bruises across his chest and back. His head hung slightly low beneath the burning afternoon sun, his breathing weak but steady.Despite everything—He still

Darius’s expression darkened the moment Victor spoke, and without hesitation, he swung the blunt side of the massive execution blade straight into Victor’s head.Bang!Victor’s head snapped violently to the side as blood spilled down from his forehead, his chained body nearly collapsing from the impact before the restraints forcefully held him upright.“Shut your mouth,” Darius growled coldly before turning away from him completely.The atmosphere inside the hall had already changed.The celebration from earlier was gone, replaced by tension so thick it could almost be felt in the air. Crimson Syndicate members quickly rose from their seats with weapons in hand, their laughter disappearing as they stared toward the entrance with sharp, cautious eyes. For a moment, many of them genuinely believed the remaining Iron Wolves had arrived with reinforcements. Rifles were raised immediately while several men moved into battle formation, expecting dozens—maybe hundreds—of enemies to storm the

Kade looked at the men in front of him with the same dark expression, his eyes cold and emotionless as blood slowly dripped from the axe hanging loosely in his hand. Around him, the ruined base was filled with dust, smoke, broken pillars, and the groans of injured men trapped beneath debris, yet despite the destruction surrounding them, Kade stood perfectly calm like none of it mattered.Then he finally spoke.“You still don’t understand the situation,” he said quietly, his voice carrying across the ruined compound with terrifying clarity. “Your chances of leaving this place alive are zero.”The words sent a chill through several Syndicate members.Some of them had already begun stepping back unconsciously after seeing the bullets stop in midair. Others stared at Kade with pale faces, gripping their weapons tighter as fear slowly replaced the confidence they once had.But Darius refused to let fear spread.Even though sweat had begun forming along the side of his bald head, even thoug

Michael immediately rushed toward Victor the moment the chains broke apart, catching him before his unconscious body could fully collapse onto the blood-covered platform. His hands trembled slightly as he supported him, staring at the horrifying condition Victor had been reduced to. Bruises covered nearly every visible part of his body, dried blood stained his torn clothes, and several deep wounds still bled slowly from the torture he had endured.For a brief moment, guilt hit Michael harder than everything else that had happened that night.If only they had been stronger.If only they had been able to protect their leader.Kade looked at him calmly and said, “Watch over him.”Michael immediately nodded. “Yes.”Kade then turned away and began walking toward Lucan.The sound of his footsteps alone was enough to make Lucan panic.The personal messenger of the Sovereign no longer looked composed or elegant like before. His expensive clothes were stained with dust, his face pale from fear

The silence inside the throne hall didn’t last long.The moment Lucan finished delivering Kade’s message, the atmosphere around the Sovereign changed completely.His eyes slowly darkened.Then suddenly—BOOM.An invisible pressure exploded across the hall.The air itself felt heavier as a terrifying aura poured out from the Sovereign’s body like a collapsing mountain pressing down on everything nearby. The chandeliers above trembled violently while several guards instinctively lowered themselves to one knee, sweat forming on their foreheads from the overwhelming presence filling the room.Lucan’s breathing instantly became difficult.It felt like something enormous had wrapped around his entire body and was slowly crushing him alive.His face paled as he struggled to remain kneeling.The lion beside the throne slowly stood up now, its massive golden eyes locked directly onto Lucan while a low growl echoed through the hall. Saliva dripped slowly from its mouth as though it could alread