RAVASNA — EDGE OF THE MAIN TOWER, 3:48 AM
Steel beams creaked gently under the night wind.
Broxtler climbed slowly, silently, every movement precise.
Magnetic gloves clung tightly to the vertical wall of the Command Tower — the heart of Mussolina's power.
Inside his helmet, a countdown flickered:
> [ BREACH ENTRY POINT: 02:17 ]
He synchronized a mini EMP blast with the city's backup energy flux.
As predicted, the current dipped—under three seconds. But enough.
The vent hatch slid open automatically.
And Broxtler vanished into the throat of the steel beast.
✦ ✧ ✦ ✧
RAVASNA — COMMAND TOWER HALLWAY, 4:06 AM
Two elite guards stood in silence.
Then—silent lightning.
Smoke spread. A magnetic pulse surged.
Before they could raise their rifles, Broxtler was behind them.
> "Not even worth a warning."
He scanned the biometric locks—almost all were fakes. Decoys.
But one wall, marked with a large emblem, concealed a hidden door.
He placed his palm against it.
Nothing.
Then suddenly—it opened.
He stepped inside. It sealed shut behind him.
✦ ✧ ✦ ✧
THE INVISIBLE ROOM — 4:08 AM
Dim red lights. No windows.
All surveillance shut down.
And at the center... Angela Markef was waiting.
No armor. No visible weapons. Just her, and a softly glowing green tablet.
"Welcome, shadow," she said calmly.
"We knew you'd find this place."
Broxtler said nothing. His eyes scanned the room.
Angela lifted the tablet slightly.
"If you make a move... the collar on her neck tightens."
She tapped the screen.
A hologram flared to life—Shyblance, seated, a faint red collar visible.
Breathing steady. Eyes locked on Broxtler.
Angela stepped forward.
"I don't want you dead. Not yet. Benito wants to break you slowly.
Me? I just want to understand."
"Understand what?" Broxtler's voice was ice.
Her gaze sharpened.
"What turns a man into a myth.
And how deep pain has to go to make someone stop being human."
His right hand twitched.
But he held back.
"Where is she?" he growled.
Angela gave a faint smile.
"Close enough… that if you kill me, she dies too."
✦ ✧ ✦ ✧
OTHER SIDE — SECRET CELL, 4:14 AM
Shyblance felt something.
The air changed. Her instincts tightened.
Then—click. The door opened.
Not Angela.
Benito Mussolina.
"Good morning," he said, flatly.
"You."
"Don't look so shocked. I prefer to meet my enemies face-to-face.
Especially the ones that matter."
He sat across from her.
"You're impressively stubborn. That's rare. Even Netanyavu fears me."
Shyblance remained silent.
Benito smirked.
"Let's play a game. Three questions.
Lie once — you lose your tongue.
Lie twice — someone dies.
Lie three times… I drop your head at his feet."
Shyblance stared him down.
"What if I don't play?"
He leaned in.
"Then I'll play alone."
✦ ✧ ✦ ✧
THE INVISIBLE ROOM — 4:19 AM
Broxtler still stared at Angela.
Two choices:
Attack — and risk the trap.
Retreat — and lose the trail.
Then his helmet flashed.
Shyblance's heart rate — spiked.
Something was happening.
Angela saw the hesitation.
"You care. That's your weakness."
Broxtler replied,
"No. That's my reason."
And like lightning—he struck.
Flash. Smoke. Silenced fire.
Angela screamed, hurling the tablet into the air. It shattered.
The collar signal flickered wildly.
But Broxtler wasn't aiming at her.
He shot the control panel behind her.
> CRACK!
Lights out. Darkness swallowed the room.
And in that chaos—
Broxtler disappeared.
✦ ✧ ✦ ✧
COMMAND TOWER — UNDERGROUND, UNKNOWN LOCATION, 4:24 AM
Sirens finally howled.
Benito's communicator buzzed.
"Sir, he breached the upper chamber!"
Benito stood.
"Let him come."
He looked back at Shyblance, smirked, and walked away.
"Let's see if he's still a shadow… once he starts bleeding."
✦ ✧ ✦ ✧
COMMAND TOWER — LOWER CORRIDOR, 4:28 AM
Emergency red lights pulsed along concrete walls.
Flickering like a terrified heartbeat.
Boots slammed the floor.
Two full units swept the hallway, rifles ready.
"The shadow breached the perimeter. Hold defensive—"
Too late.
> SHRAAAK!
From above—Broxtler dove like lightning, smashing the first helmet with his knee.
The second guard turned—just in time to see red eyes glow…
Then—crack.
A metal gauntlet crunched bone.
Blood splattered across the wall.
No sound. No mercy.
Broxtler grabbed their weapons.
He didn't need bullets—he needed a path.
✦ ✧ ✦ ✧
UNDERGROUND TRANSIT ROOM — 4:31 AM
Sirens screamed now.
Four guards in full armor stood firm at the corridor's end.
They knew Broxtler was coming.
And he came.
Slow, deliberate footsteps.
One panicked. Opened fire first.
> BRRRATTT!
Bullets danced off metal walls—Broxtler slid through them like a ghost.
He tossed a smoke grenade ahead—
Then reappeared behind them.
> THOK!
CRACK!
ZZZZT!
One arm snapped.
Another got stabbed with a vibrating magnetic blade.
The last two tried to run—
But razor cables snapped around their legs, flung them back into steel.
> "Don't stand between me and my reason for breathing."
✦ ✧ ✦ ✧
FINAL SECURITY CHAMBER — 4:36 AM
A thick steel door.
Three guards posted at a retinal scanner.
Broxtler emerged from the smoke.
Short fire-gun in one hand. Electric spear in the other.
He walked like death made flesh.
One guard raised a hand.
"Wait! We can—"
> BOOM!
His head vanished.
The second raised a shield—Broxtler leapt and speared it straight through, launching the guard into the wall.
The third froze.
Broxtler grabbed him, slammed his cheek into the wall, and whispered:
> "You live… if you stay quiet."
The man froze. Not a breath.
Broxtler placed a forged scanner to the panel.
Click.
> DOOR OPENED.
✦ ✧ ✦ ✧
HIGH-SECURITY HOLDING CELL — 4:38 AM
Shyblance still sat.
Wounds on her arms. Breathing ragged.
But her eyes — fierce.
As the door slid open, helmet light cut through the dark...
She knew.
> "...Broxtler."
> "Sorry I'm late."
Shyblance stood slowly. Blood drying on her lip.
She smiled faintly.
"You always come… after the explosions."
> "I like the drama," Broxtler said.
He cut the collar off with a magnetic disruptor.
Sparks. Then silence.
But before they could speak—
> BOOM!!
The floor shook.
The ceiling cracked above.
A voice thundered:
> "Broxtler… at last."
Netanyavu descended with heavy armor and twin plasma blades.
Angela Markef followed with an energy bow and eyes full of winter.
They were surrounded.
Shyblance breathed in.
"We fight… or we die here."
Broxtler looked at them both.
> "Dying… is not an option."
And the fire ignited.
✦ ✧ ✦ ✧