Elena helped an elderly woman through the main entrance, steadying her as she stumbled toward the ambulances outside.

  "You're safe now," Elena said gently.

  The woman nodded, clutching Elena's hand. "Thank you."

  Elena turned back toward the mall. Most of the crowd had evacuated, but there could still be stragglers. Injured. Trapped.

  She moved quickly, scanning the corridors.

  Then she saw him.

  A man collapsed on the staircase near the south exit. Camera strap around his neck. Not moving.

  Elena sprinted over, dropping to one knee. "Hey. Can you hear me?"

  She checked his pulse. Steady. No visible wounds.

  The man's eyes fluttered open. Confused. Disoriented.

  Then recognition flickered across his face.

  "You're... from last night. The sky bar."

  Elena blinked. "You took our photo."

  He nodded weakly. "Joseph. My name's Joseph."

  "Elena." She glanced at his camera. "What happened?"

  "Explosion. Crowd panicked. I got pushed. Don't remember hitting the ground."

  Elena slipped an arm under his shoulder. "Come on. I'll help you to the exit."

  "Thank you, Elena."

  They moved slowly toward the entrance, Joseph leaning heavily on her.

  They were five meters from the door when the second explosion hit.

  The blast tore through the entrance.

  Fire. Smoke. Shattered glass.

  Elena and Joseph were thrown backward, slamming into the tiled floor.

  Elena's ears rang. Vision blurred.

  She forced herself up, coughing, tasting blood.

  "Joseph?"

  He groaned beside her. Alive. Conscious.

  Elena grabbed his arm. "We need to move. Now."

  Ming moved quickly through the corridors, Cookie trotting beside him, alert and focused. His earpiece crackled with updates—Ethan securing the Princess, Elena assisting evacuations, the chaos beginning to stabilize.

  But something felt wrong.

  He reached the center atrium.

  Ma Chao stood near the restrained Mayor. Motionless. Too still.

  Ming's instincts screamed.

  "Ma Chao. Report."

  No response.

  Ming's hand drifted toward his sidearm. "Ma Chao."

  Then Ma Chao turned.

  Fast. Impossibly fast.

  His spear flashed toward Ming's throat.

  Ming's body froze. Too close. Too sudden.

  Cookie barked.

  The sound tore through the air—desperate, furious, protective.

  The border collie launched herself between them.

  The spear punched through her side.

  Blood sprayed.

  Cookie collapsed, whimpering, crimson spreading across the floor.

  "Cookie!"

  Ming's voice cracked.

  Fury burned through him, white-hot and blinding.

  But Ming forced it down. Controlled it.

  Think. Stay rational.

  He raised his pistol and fired twice—calculated shots aimed to create distance, not to kill.

  CRACK. CRACK.

  Ma Chao twisted, spear spinning. The bullets ricocheted off the metal shaft, sparking.

  The distance widened. Five meters. Enough.

  Ming dropped to his knees beside Cookie, hands immediately pressing against the wound. Blood soaked through his fingers.

  "Stay with me. Stay with me."

  He activated his earpiece. "Ethan. I need you at the center atrium. Now."

  He looked up at Ma Chao, voice cold. Controlled.

  "Why? Why did you betray us?"

  Ma Chao didn't answer. Instead, he looked upward. "Are you satisfied now? I helped the Mayor. You better keep your promise."

  A figure appeared on the upper floor.

  Merlin.

  He smiled. "Of course. Now finish him."

  Ma Chao's grip tightened on his spear. He looked at Ming. "I'm sorry. Don't hold a grudge."

  He stepped forward.

  In the south wing, the sharp, frantic bark cut through the noise like a knife.

  A young man skidded to a halt mid-stride.

  He had only just arrived at the south wing of the mall a short while ago—barely enough time to get his bearings before the chaos had swallowed everything whole.

  That bark.

  He knew that sound. He had heard it in drills, in training exercises, in quiet afternoons on the estate grounds. That particular pitch, that desperate urgency—it meant only one thing.

  Something was very wrong.

  He didn't hesitate.

  He turned and ran.

  His boots hammered against the marble floor as he sprinted through the corridor, vaulting clean over an overturned serving cart without breaking stride. The south wing blurred past him in streaks of light and noise, none of it mattering.

  He ran harder.

  Then a voice rang out from above.

  Young. Energetic. Furious.

  "Zhao Yun has arrived! Big brother, are you alright?"

  A figure vaulted over the railing, landing in the atrium with a metallic clang. Silver spear. Eyes blazing.

  Something loosened in Ming's chest—just slightly.

  He had always believed in preparation. In contingencies. In never placing all his trust in a single plan when the world had a habit of unraveling them. He had reached out to Zhao Yun quietly, days ago, as a precaution he hoped he would never need.

  I will always try to prepare a contingency plan, he had told himself then.

  Thankfully, it worked.

  Ming's voice was sharp. "Ma Chao betrayed us! He stabbed Cookie! Stop him!"

  Zhao Yun's expression darkened. "Understood."

  Merlin's voice echoed down. "Ma Chao. Kill the boy first."

  Ma Chao lunged.

  Zhao Yun met him mid-strike.

  Spear clashed against spear.

  The impact exploded outward.

  The air itself seemed to compress, then snap back like a whip.

  Chairs tumbled. Tables overturned. Glass shattered in cascading waves.

  Ma Chao attacked like a storm—relentless, brutal, no room to breathe. His spear was a blur of silver death, each strike designed to kill.

  Zhao Yun moved like water—fluid, graceful, impossibly fast. He dodged, parried, countered with surgical precision.

  But he was being pushed back.

  Ma Chao's spear swept low.

  Zhao Yun leapt, twisted mid-air, landed three steps back. Drag marks scored the floor beneath his boots.

  He blocked the next thrust, but the force sent a jolt of pain through his arm.

  His bangs whipped back from the sheer wind of the strikes.

  This isn't just skill. This is killing intent from a warlord's past life.

  Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

  Zhao Yun's voice was calm. "A duel again after a thousand years. It can be considered fate."

  Ma Chao roared. "Enough! I'll kill anyone who stands in my way!"

  His aura flared—dark red, violent.

  "Legacy Art: Bloodrage Onslaught!"

  Ma Chao's speed doubled. His strikes came faster, harder, each one strong enough to crack stone.

  Zhao Yun had no time to speak. Only react.

  Spear tips collided. Sparks flew.

  They fought from the atrium to the stairwell, smashing through walls, leaving trails of destruction.

  Dust billowed. Metal screeched.

  Zhao Yun's back hit a pillar. Nowhere left to retreat.

  He exhaled.

  Then surged forward.

  "Legacy Art: Skypiercing Dragonstrike!"

  His spear blazed with light—a fully charged thrust aimed straight at Ma Chao's core.

  Ma Chao blocked, but the force launched him backward, crashing through debris.

  For a moment, both warriors stood still, breathing hard.

  Then they clashed again.

  Ethan arrived at the atrium, Princess close behind him.

  "Ming!"

  The Mayor turned, eyes wild. He raised his gun.

  Ethan and the Princess dove behind a pillar.

  Bullets sparked off concrete.

  Ming's voice crackled through the earpiece. "Ethan—why is the Princess with you?"

  Ethan opened his mouth to explain—

  The Princess grabbed his earpiece. "Don't blame Ethan. I insisted."

  The Mayor's voice echoed across the atrium. "Jeanne! Come out!"

  Ethan leaned out, fired twice.

  The Mayor ducked behind cover, returned fire.

  Stalemate.

  Then the Mayor stood, aiming his gun at Ming.

  "If you don't come out, I'll shoot him right now."

  Ming was still kneeling beside Cookie, both hands pressed against her wound. He tried to speak—

  The Mayor fired.

  The bullet grazed Ming's cheek. Blood streaked down his face.

  "Say another word and you won't be lucky next time."

  Ethan's jaw clenched. Fury burned in his chest.

  The Princess touched his arm. "You go help them. I'll confront the Mayor."

  "It's too dangerous. He'll shoot you."

  "I'm Awakened, Ethan. Remember?" Her voice was steady. Certain. "I'm Jeanne d'Arc. Please. Believe in me."

  Ethan stared at her.

  Then nodded.

  "Go."

  The Princess stepped out from cover.

  The Mayor's eyes lit up. "Finally."

  He gestured with the gun. "Walk closer. I'm not a good shot from here."

  Jeanne walked forward. Slowly. Deliberately.

  Each step brought her closer to the barrel.

  The Mayor grinned. "Finally, I can stop being Mayor of this shit city and become Prime Minister! I must thank you, Jeanne d'Arc."

  The gun was inches from her face now.

  "Any last words?"

  Merlin's voice echoed from above, impatient. "John II of Luxembourg! Kill her right now!"

  Jeanne's body moved.

  Not her choice.

  Pure instinct.

  Muscle memory from a life long dead.

  Her fist slammed into the Mayor's jaw with the force of a warhammer.

  The impact sent him flying backward, crashing into a pillar. He crumpled. Unconscious.

  Jeanne stared at her hand.

  Trembling.

  Then a strange feeling washed over her.

  Delight.

  Like she'd finally gotten revenge on someone who betrayed her five hundred years ago.

  Ethan ran to Ming. "You okay?"

  Ming nodded, still pressing down on Cookie's wound. "She's stable. For now."

  Ethan looked at the dog. Her breathing was shallow. Eyes half-closed.

  "We need to get her out of here."

  Ming's voice was tight. "Not until we secure the area."

  Above them, the clash of spears echoed.

  Zhao Yun and Ma Chao were still fighting.

  Ming's gaze flicked to Merlin, still watching from the upper floor.

  Merlin watched from the upper floor, eyes cold.

  He saw Jeanne's fist connect. Saw the Mayor—John II of Luxembourg—crumple unconscious against the pillar.

  Shouldn't have said his name.

  Merlin activated his earpiece.

  "How's your side?"

  A voice crackled through—calm, professional. "Plan's a success. Everything went exactly as you predicted. I'm getting curious how far you can actually see with that prophecy of yours."

  Merlin's jaw tightened. "Shut up, Hasan. I'm not in the mood."

  He cut the call.

  Then he looked down at Zhao Yun and Ma Chao, still locked in combat below.

  "Change of plan. We're retreating."

  Ma Chao broke off mid-strike, breathing hard. Zhao Yun didn't pursue.

  Merlin's gaze swept over Ethan, Jeanne, Ming, and the others.

  He smiled.

  "I have a small gift for you all. Take it as a token of appreciation—for showing me something interesting."

  His hand moved inside his coat.

  Pressed a switch.

  The bombs detonated simultaneously.

  BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

  Fire erupted throughout the mall—south wing, east wing, structural pillars, support beams. Everything ignited at once.

  Flames roared upward, consuming everything in their path.

  Smoke billowed. The ceiling groaned.

  Ma Chao sprinted to Merlin, grabbed him, and hoisted him onto his back. Without hesitation, he hurled his spear upward.

  The weapon shattered the glass roof.

  Ma Chao leapt through the opening, disappearing into the smoke and sky.

  Jeanne stood frozen.

  The flames surrounded her. The heat. The roar.

  Her vision blurred.

  Flames. Everywhere. Burning. Screaming.

  The stake. The ropes. The fire climbing her legs, her body—

  Her breath caught. She couldn't move.

  "Jeanne!"

  Ethan grabbed her shoulders, shaking her. "Jeanne, snap out of it! We have to go!"

  Her eyes were wide. Unfocused.

  "Jeanne!"

  She blinked. Saw him. Saw now.

  Not then.

  She nodded, trembling. "I—I'm okay."

  "Can you run?"

  "Yes."

  Ethan grabbed her hand. "Then run!"

  Zhao Yun was already beside Ming, slinging Cookie carefully over his shoulder. "I've got her. Move!"

  Ming rose, unsteady but determined. "Exit. Now."

  The ceiling cracked above them. A beam collapsed, smashing into the floor where they'd been standing seconds earlier.

  Ethan and Jeanne sprinted through the inferno, dodging falling debris, leaping over burning wreckage.

  The heat was unbearable. Smoke choked the air.

  Ahead—the main entrance. Light. Air.

  They burst through.

  Outside, they stumbled onto the pavement, gasping.

  Behind them, the mall collapsed.

  The structure folded in on itself with a deafening roar—metal shrieking, glass shattering, flames shooting skyward in a massive plume.

  Debris scattered across the street.

  The building that had stood for decades was gone.

  Reduced to rubble and ash.

  Ethan collapsed to his knees, coughing. Jeanne sat beside him, staring at the ruins.

  Zhao Yun set Cookie down gently. Ming was already beside her, checking her pulse.

  "She's alive," Ming said quietly. "But she needs surgery. Now."

  Sirens wailed in the distance. Ambulances. Fire trucks.

  Ethan looked at Jeanne. "You okay?"

  She didn't answer immediately.

  Then she nodded. "I... I think so."

  Her hands were still trembling.

  Ethan placed a hand on her shoulder. "You did good in there."

  She looked at him. Eyes wet. "I remembered. Being burned. At the stake."

  Ethan's chest tightened. "I'm sorry."

  "Don't be." She wiped her eyes. "It was a long time ago."

  But her voice said otherwise.

  Ming stood, blood still streaking his face from the earlier graze. He looked at the ruins. At Cookie. At his team.

  Then he activated his earpiece.

  "General Marcus. Mission report."

  Marcus's voice was tight. "Go ahead."

  "Princess is secure. Few civilian casualties—the Mayor among them. Confirmed REAPER involvement. Merlin was on site. He escaped. Ma Chao has defected to REAPER. Zhao Yun performed admirably. Cookie is critically wounded. The mall is gone."

  Silence on the other end.

  Then: "Understood. Medical evac is en route. Good work, Ming."

  "Didn't feel like good work, sir."

  "It never does." Marcus paused. "But you all survived. In missions like this, that's already considered good work."

  The line went dead.

  Minutes later, Harvest's Medical Department dispatched a specialized transport.

  Paramedics moved quickly, carefully loading Cookie onto a stretcher. Ming climbed in beside her, hand resting on her head.

  Zhao Yun stood at the door. "I'll debrief with Marcus. You focus on her."

  Ming nodded. "Thank you, Zhao Yun."

  "Don't mention it, big brother."

  The doors closed.

  The transport pulled away.

  Ethan and Elena stood together on the curb, watching the smoke rise.

  "You okay?" Ethan asked.

  Elena nodded. "The man I helped—he's stable. He'll recover."

  "Good."

  Silence.

  Then Elena spoke quietly. "We almost died in there."

  "Yeah."

  "And we're going to do it again."

  "Yeah."

  Elena looked at him. "You're not scared?"

  Ethan thought about it. "I'm terrified. But... I'd rather be terrified and fighting than safe and useless."

  Elena almost smiled. "When did you get so brave?"

  "Learned from the best."

  She punched his shoulder. Lightly.

  He grinned.

  Jeanne approached them, flanked by two new bodyguards sent by the French government.

  Ethan straightened. "Jeanne, this is my sister, Elena. Elena, this is Jeanne—the one we were protecting."

  Elena nodded. "Nice to meet you."

  Jeanne smiled faintly. "Likewise." She looked between them. "I'm leaving now."

  Ethan nodded. "Stay safe."

  "You too." She hesitated. Then pulled out a small card. "If you ever need help. Or if you're ever in France. Call me."

  Ethan took it. "I will."

  Jeanne looked at Elena. "Thank you. For everything."

  Elena inclined her head. "Just doing our job."

  Jeanne smiled. Then turned and walked toward the waiting car.

  Ethan watched her go.

  Elena nudged him. "You like her."

  "What? No. I—"

  "You do."

  Ethan's face flushed. "Shut up."

  Elena smirked. First real smile in weeks.

  That night, back at Harvest HQ, Ethan sat alone in the armory.

  He stared at the Glock in his hands. The weight. The cold metal.

  He'd fired it today. At a living person.

  Missed. Thank god.

  But still.

  This is real now.

  A voice from the doorway. "Can't sleep?"

  Ethan looked up. Ming stood there, arm in a sling, bandage across his cheek.

  "How's Cookie?"

  "Surgery went well. She'll recover." Ming stepped inside. "You did good today."

  "Didn't feel like it."

  "It never does." Ming sat beside him. "But you kept your head. Followed the plan. Adapted when things went wrong. That's all we can ask."

  Ethan set the gun down. "Ma Chao betrayed us. Merlin got away. The mall's gone."

  "Yes."

  "So how is that good?"

  Ming met his eyes. "Because everyone on our team is alive. The Princess is safe. And we learned something."

  "What?"

  "That REAPER is escalating. Which means we're running out of time."

  Silence.

  Ethan nodded slowly. "Then we'd better be ready."

  Ming stood. "Get some rest. Training resumes tomorrow."

  He walked toward the door.

  "Ming?"

  He paused.

  "Thank you. For believing in me."

  Ming's expression softened. "You've earned it."

  Then he was gone.

  Ethan sat alone for a while longer.

  Then he stood, holstered the Glock, and walked back to his room.

  Tomorrow, the fight would continue.

  But tonight?

  Tonight, they'd survived.

  And that was enough.