2026-07-06 15:54:19CHAPTER 8: THE LOCKING SIRENS
A heavy metallic roar sounded from behind the walls of Room 304 the moment Colter Burke pulled the iron lever under the desk. Five-centimeter-thick steel bars slid down from the outer ceiling, permanently sealing every window and emergency exit on the third floor. This total lockdown didn’t just trap Colter and Duncan Briggs inside the room — it also trapped the remaining members of the outside faction’s assault team in the main corridor.
Duncan Briggs staggered back after his chest slammed into the edge of the overturned desk. The silenced pistol in his hand flew loose, but the lawyer’s assistant quickly rolled across the concrete floor and grabbed it again before Colter could get to his feet.
“You think those iron bars are going to save you, Colter?” Duncan hissed, wiping a bit of blood from the corner of his mouth. He aimed the pistol back at Colter, who was still lying prone near the wall. “This locking system also trapped you in here with me. There’s no way out for you.”
“I’m not trying to escape, Mr. Briggs,” Colter answered, trying to steady his heavy breathing while glancing at the satellite transmitter suitcase still blinking on the fallen desk. “I’m just making sure you can’t carry that suitcase out of this building before dawn.”
Duncan didn’t waste time arguing. He pulled the trigger twice. Two muffled gunshots buried themselves in the concrete floor, only inches from Colter’s feet as he rolled behind an iron filing cabinet in the corner of the room. White cement fragments flew through the air, making the already dim room feel even more suffocating.
Outside the room, the sharp crack of Ines Mercer’s assault rifle echoed down the main corridor, followed by warning shouts from the outside faction members who realized their escape route to the emergency stairs was sealed off by Colter’s grandfather’s steel bars. The third floor had now become a giant death trap for everyone inside.
Colter grabbed a heavy iron desk lamp within reach behind the filing cabinet. He knew hiding behind this thin metal cabinet wouldn’t protect him forever from Duncan’s 9mm bullets. He had to make the first move before Duncan circled around the cabinet to flank him.
“Henderson’s law firm will never let you live after what you did to their system tonight, Briggs,” Colter shouted, trying to distract Duncan with his voice.
“Henderson is finished the second that Interpol data went out, Colter! That firm will be too busy cleaning their own name, while I’ll be on a private island in the Pacific with all of Harlan Montgomery’s money!” Duncan replied. The sound of his leather shoes crept closer from the right side of the filing cabinet, slow and deliberate.
The moment the tip of Duncan’s shoe came into view, Colter hurled the iron desk lamp at the man’s chest with all his strength. Startled, Duncan instinctively raised his left hand to block it, throwing his aim slightly upward.
Colter used that one-second opening to charge Duncan, slamming his full body weight into the middle-aged man’s waist until they both crashed to the dusty concrete floor of Room 304.
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CHAPTER 53: The Hunt in the Smoke Fog
CHAPTER 53: The Hunt in the Smoke FogThe central district’s four-way intersection had turned into a circle of hell on earth. Thick black smoke from the burning remains of The Iron Vanguard’s armored vehicles rolled with the night wind, blanketing asphalt wet with blood and diesel. Bursts of automatic gunfire chased each other nonstop, punctuated by the hysterical screams of Purge militiamen who kept pushing forward through the rain of heavy-caliber bullets from the remnants of mechanized tactical vehicles.In the middle of the chaos that blinded the eyes and deafened the ears, Colter Burke moved like a shadowy silhouette slipping behind the walls of destroyed shop houses. His black cloak lined with kevlar armor blended perfectly with the dense carbon aerosol fog. Every step was measured, avoiding the reach of tank spotlights and random molotovs exploding around him.Dut-dut-dut! Three Iron Vanguard operators separated from the main line were lying prone behind a concrete road barri
CHAPTER 52: Three-Way Clash
CHAPTER 52: Three-Way ClashThin ash rain — the effect of The Purge burning used tires in the northern district — began to fall and coat the cracked asphalt of Sector Three’s streets. On the concrete rooftop of Sanctuary Apartment, Floor 4, Colter Burke stood in his black cloak, fluttering softly in the night wind that smelled of sulfur. Beside him, Ines Mercer peered through the passive optical scope of her .50 caliber sniper rifle, monitoring movement at the central district’s four-way intersection one kilometer from their position.“They’ve taken your bait, Colt,” Ines whispered, her voice almost drowned out by the static roar from the monitor speakers. “The Iron Vanguard’s light mechanized infantry under General Vespera’s command just entered the main perimeter road from the east. They’re bringing three tracked armored vehicles.”Through the communicator in Colt’s ear, Tamsin Cole’s voice came in with a report from the cyber control room below. “The fake data chip we leaked worked
CHAPTER 51: The Crack in the Borderline
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CHAPTER 50: THE NORTH AXIS ESCAPE
CHAPTER 50: THE NORTH AXIS ESCAPEThe spotlights from a Eurocopter EC135 patrol helicopter belonging to the Corporate Law Enforcement Division spun wildly above the back garden of Justice Pendleton’s residence, turning the pre-dawn darkness into a blinding silver glare. The massive roar of the rotor blades created high air pressure that tore leaves from the trees, triggering security alarms across the entire Upper District elite complex."They've locked down the airspace, Colt!" Ines Mercer shouted over the thunder of the helicopter engines. She was prone beneath the window frame of the office, her HK416 assault rifle aimed at the garden gate where shadows of tactical forces were approaching."Retreat through the garden’s underground water utility tunnel!" Colter Burke ordered. He tucked the wet-sealed Emergency Status Quo Injunction from the Supreme Court into a waterproof pocket inside his tactical vest. "Your Honor, you must stay inside. They wouldn’t dare lay a hand on a Supreme J
CHAPTER 49: SILENT MISSION IN THE OUTER DISTRICT
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