MERCURY'S HIDEOUT—CENTRE CITY.

  Yellow brick walls glow under chandelier light. The Alligator sits on his throne. Nina kneels before him.

  “Master. A group of fighters is in town. They’re killing human rights activists.”

  His eyes sharpen. “Confirmed?”

  “Yes. Bodies in their offices. Rumors say they’ve already taken a city.”

  His jaw tightens. “Silas’s men?”

  A beat.

  “Why activists? Trying to draw me out?”

  Paloma bursts in, breath uneven. “Master. I found Johnny.”

  Nina turns sharply. “Where?”

  “Silas won the bid. Hit New Sage. Clary was killed before I arrived.”

  Silence.

  The Alligator rises slowly. “Clary… is dead?”

  Paloma lowers her gaze. “Yes. Johnny’s going after Silas.”

  Nina stands immediately. “I’m going.”

  “Nina.” His voice stops her.

  She doesn’t turn. “Johnny’s why I joined Mercury. I won’t stay back.”

  The Alligator steps closer. Places a firm hand on her shoulder.

  “No leader sends their people alone.”

  Her voice softens. “Without Clary, we’ve lost leverage.”

  “Clary was our leverage,” he says quietly. “Now we may lose Johnny too.”

  Paloma steps forward. “Orders?”

  “Protect Johnny. That’s priority.” His eyes harden. “Something worse is coming.”

  Shion steps up. “Boss. I’m ready.”

  “All right. Ellen, Maxwell, Shion — secure the activists. Nina, Spike, Paloma — find Johnny.”

  They disperse.

  The Alligator turns to Terri.

  “K.B. needs to hurry. We’ll need him.”

  “Master… what about us?”

  “Get your people out of town.”

  Terri stiffens. “There is no normal life in this cursed world.”

  “Then carve one,” the Alligator says. “Head south. The activists there will cover you. Centre City is about to burn.”

  Terri hesitates.

  The Alligator’s voice turns iron.

  “That’s an order.”

  Terri nods and leaves with his men.

  The Alligator adjusts his coat.

  If Silas wants war… we’ll give him one.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  THE FOREST—CENTRE CITY.

  Nathan tears through the trees. Fire Crackers close in behind him.

  “Their crests,” he mutters. “Same as Holy Land.”

  Blades flash near his back. He twists. Barely misses steel.

  A vortex explodes into existence.

  Three bodies burst apart mid-charge.

  Wind howls.

  The rest stagger.

  A massive hand forms from the swirl and lunges at Nathan’s face.

  He leaps back. Kicks.

  Impact. Shockwave.

  He squints.

  “Satan’s Soul?”

  The wind thins.

  Satan steps forward, smiling. “Ooh. Nathan. It’s you.”

  The remaining Fire Crackers try to regroup.

  The vortex expands.

  Their bodies crumple.

  Silence.

  Nathan studies her. “When did you master reality swapping?”

  “Recently.” She shrugs. “Still rough. But if I go full force… I could level a city.”

  He frowns. “That’s Legend-class.”

  She smirks. “Signature move’s called Wind Force.”

  He nods once. “Once your move starts screaming in your head, you either master it… or it breaks you.”

  She grabs his arm. “How’d you control Orbit Flash?”

  His expression changes.

  “We don’t have time.”

  A beat.

  “Boss is dead.”

  Satan freezes.

  “…What?”

  “Silas’s crew. Same crest. Different uniforms.”

  His jaw tightens.

  “He told me to give One-biskae to Daisy. Then he detonated himself with them.”

  Wind stirs around Satan.

  “They’ll pay,” she says quietly.

  Nathan keeps moving. “We need Daisy.”

  She follows.

  DEEPER IN THE JUNGLE.

  Antar runs.

  Boots strike earth hard.

  She stops at a massive tree.

  Daisy stands there.

  Crying.

  Hands clutching bark.

  “Daisy,” Antar says softly. “What happened?”

  Daisy looks up. Eyes red.

  “Stay back.”

  Antar raises her hands slowly. “I’m here to help.”

  Daisy retreats.

  Leaves tremble.

  Antar senses it.

  Too late.

  Six men burst from the brush.

  One junior captain leading them. He steps forward. Dreadlocks. Firecracker crest gleaming.

  “I can tell you’re a fighter,” he says, eyes locked on Antar.

  “Lady Sonia will love your head.”

  Steel rises.

  Antar draws her blade.

  “Daisy. Run.”

  Daisy straightens.

  “I’m done running.”

  They charge.

  Antar cuts once.

  Two drop.

  Daisy blurs — dodges a grab. Evades another.

  The junior captain’s blade spins toward Antar’s face.

  The air screams.

  Her eyes lock onto the rotation.

  It’s alive.

  She steps in.

  Catches the blade with her bare hand.

  Hollam’s eyes widen.

  “You read me?”

  Daisy launches upward. Knee crushes a skull.

  Another punch sends her into a tree. She collapses.

  Antar slams a punch into the junior captain's stomach. Drives him into the ground. Shockwave ripples.

  Another Firecracker rushes Daisy.

  Antar moves.

  Too late.

  The sword pierces her stomach.

  Steel through flesh.

  At the same instant—

  Her blade flashes.

  Two Firecrackers fall.

  Antar drops to her knees.

  Daisy crawls to her.

  “Antar… no…”

  Blood seeps between Antar’s fingers.

  She smiles faintly.

  “Hey.”

  Daisy’s hands shake against the wound.

  “Don’t talk. We’ll get help—”

  “No.” Antar exhales slowly. “Listen.”

  Silence settles between them.

  “You’re loved.”

  Daisy breaks. “It’s my fault. Everyone—”

  “No.”

  Antar cups her face weakly.

  “Not your fault.”

  Her breathing grows shallow.

  “Blame the world… not yourself.”

  Tears slide down Daisy’s cheeks.

  “Jager loves you. In his broken way.”

  “I hate him,” Daisy whispers.

  “That’s okay.” A faint chuckle. “But he’s still your father.”

  Her eyes soften.

  “You were so beautiful… as a child.”

  Daisy leans closer.

  “I’m sorry you had to see this world.”

  Her grip loosens.

  “Survive… okay?”

  A long pause.

  “Fight for what’s right.”

  Her hand slips from Daisy’s cheek.

  Her head tilts.

  Stillness.

  Daisy’s sob shatters the jungle.

  Footsteps.

  Salion materializes.

  Her gaze falls on Antar.

  Her jaw tightens.

  “Who did zis?”

  Daisy points.

  Hollam stirs.

  Salion steps forward.

  One punch.

  His body slams into the earth.

  The ground trembles.

  Nathan and Satan arrive.

  Satan sees Antar.

  She punches a tree.

  The trunk cracks.

  Salion kneels beside her fallen friend.

  “Farewell… old friend.”

  Satan’s voice trembles.

  “Salion… the boss is dead.”

  Salion’s head snaps up.

  “Show me proof.”

  Nathan steps forward.

  “I’m the proof.”

  Silence.

  “He detonated himself. Took them with him.”

  Satan swallows.

  “Where’s One-biskae?”

  “Hidden. I’ll retrieve it.”

  Daisy stands slowly.

  Walks away.

  Nathan follows. “Daisy wait—”

  “I’m looking for Uddin," Daisy says.

  Satan appears in front of her.

  “You need One-biskae.”

  Daisy’s eyes blaze.

  “I’m not walking with you predators.”

  Satan’s hand flashes.

  Impact.

  Daisy collapses unconscious.

  Nathan glares. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “She wouldn’t listen,” Satan replies. “She’s a kid.”

  Salion stands, Antar in her arms.

  “I agree.”

  Nathan lifts Daisy onto his back.

  “Mami Shallow will train her.”

  He looks at the others.

  “Our fortress is gone. If you want… come with us.”

  The jungle stands silent.