The woman reaches the furious crowd, rage swirling around her like smoke.

  The massive woman, Satan’s Soul adjusts her massive machine gun. “Hey, agent!” she calls, her voice booming over the noise.

  “Yes.”

  “What took you so long?”

  “I was here before you arrived,” the agent replies. “Watching from ten kilometers out.”

  Satan grins. “Good!. Let’s burn this place down.”

  A guard spots them from afar and bolts inside the gate.

  A chubby captain sits within, chewing a sandwich.

  The guard collapses to a knee. “Captain! Enemies at the entrance.”

  “How many?”

  “Eight, sir.”

  The captain wipes his mouth. “Men!” he roars. “Charge. Leave none alive.”

  The gate yawns open. Guards pour out, weapons raised. “Go tell the Commander enemies are here!” the captain orders.

  “Men!” Satan raises her machine gun like a toy. “Show them what you’re made of.”

  The squad advances in a professional “V” formation, mowing down everything in their path.

  Bullets tear through flesh. Guards fold and fall.

  “Hah! No real mercenaries here,” Satan laughs. “This’ll be easy. Joa!” she calls. “I’m going in. The Chuppah’s deeper inside. You and the agent clean up here.”

  Antar Joa glares, eyes burning. “Don’t order me, garbage.”

  Satan shrugs. “Fine. Do whatever. The mission’s mine.” She strides forward, the massive gun resting on her shoulder.

  Stolen story; please report.

  The agent turns to Antar. “Orders?”

  “We go straight. Leave the Chuppah to her. The boss wants us to watch her back.” They vanish into the chaos.

  A guard charges Satan with a sword.

  Her fist punches straight through his stomach; he drops.

  More come, but her punch crashes them to the ground like paper.

  She grabs one by the collar, lifting him like a doll. “Where’s the Chuppah?” she growls.

  “P-prince’s throne room… fifth floor…”

  “Thanks.” She crushes his skull and walks on.

  Another squad rolls cannons into position. “Fire!”

  BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

  Satan runs through the explosions untouched.

  Cannonballs whistle past, but she reaches the line in seconds.

  One hand grabs the captain by the throat, lifting him high.

  His eyes bulge, the sandwich slipping from his fingers as understanding finally hits.

  “So you’re the leader?”

  She squeezes.

  His neck breaks.

  She turns the machine gun on the rest. Bodies dance, then fall.

  “Got no time to waste!"

  She charges forward, machine gun blazing, carving a path of corpses as she draws near the castle door.

  Meanwhile, the Sneaky Birds and the New sage reinforcements reach the ruins.

  Lewa (New Sage soldier), the stealth sniper with an M40, finds her perch on a ruined tower. “Perfect spot. I’ll cover from here.”

  Jude(New Sage second sniper.) cocks an ear to the distance.

  “Fighting’s already started. Let’s move.”

  The team gathers round. Jude gestures toward the dark spires of the city.

  “Nightshade Keep—a city of shadows,” Jude says. “Moon Black, take the Vanguard. Hit the front hard and draw their eyes. Uddin, take the rest and slip in behind. Find that Chuppah. Follow together, don’t break formation.”

  He cocks his sniper, eyes scanning the heights. “I’ll find a perch and keep the sky clear for you. Move!”

  They split. Boots hammer stone.

  They enter the city.

  Moon Black raises a fist. “Use the fight as cover. Straight to the castle.” They leap fences and slip through alleys—ghosts in the smoke.

  At the back entrance, Moon Black slices the lock.

  They flood in.

  Two female guards charge.

  Moon Black’s blade flashes.

  One loses a hand.

  Screams.

  Collapses.

  The second turns to run, but a New Sage riflewoman Momo, doesn’t let her reach the corner.

  Her shot is a sharp crack in the hallway.

  The bullet stops the guard mid-stride.

  More guards swarm.

  Momo drops to a knee.

  Headshots.

  One.

  Two.

  Three.

  Scarface head-butts a man into unconsciousness.

  “Move!” Moon Black snarls.

  They storm upstairs, kicking doors and searching rooms until they reach the fifth floor.

  Uddin boots the final door.

  They freeze.

  Satan sits on the prince’s throne, boots on the armrest.

  The glowing Chuppah rests in her lap like a toy.

  She smiles—slow and hungry.

  “Oh… another gang at the party?” she says. “How generous. I was getting bored.”

  She stands.

  Moon Black’s sword is already out, her eyes burning.

  She rushes toward Satan.

  Uddin shouts, “Moon Black… don’t!”

  “Too late,” she says.

  Satan just smiles wider.