The atmosphere inside the HUNTERS HQ was electric with tension. Soldiers ran from corridor to corridor, alarms flashing in crimson hues, and commanders shouted orders over communication devices. In the heart of the chaos, Fakhrul stood silent, clenching his fists. "Zara had vanished."
"She vanished," a scout reported breathlessly. "No signs of struggle. No alerts were triggered. But… we found something on the security feed."
Hridoy rushed over, and the scout handed him a tablet. The footage showed Zara quietly walking out of HQ through the east corridor, accompanied by a man wearing a black, sleek coat–eerily similar to Siddik's signature outfit. The figure never looked up. No face was visible.
"That coat… It's just like his," Nafisa whispered.
Fakhrul's jaw tightened. "Siddik."
"We can't be sure it's him," Hridoy argued. "It could be someone else dressed like him. Zara might've gone on her own."
Fakhrul's voice rose. "Stop defending him! He's targeting everyone who stands with us and in his way. It's always him!"
Nafisa tried to stay calm. "Let's not jump to conclusions, but… we can't ignore what we saw."
Fakhrul nodded sharply. "Gear up. We're heading to Spiral. We're bringing her back."
Meanwhile, on Spiral Island – a fortified city rising from the sea like a steel giant – Siddik sat inside the central chamber of the Tower of Command.
Around him were presidents, generals, chief judges – the last remnant of global authority. They'd come with something critical: the newly written Constitution for the Reformed World.
"We need your confirmation," one judge said. "This constitution defines how the new world works. All military movement, weapons development, territorial claims, everything will follow this."
Siddik read through the digital documents, line by line. It outlined:
No bio-weapons or viral experiments permitted without Island oversight. Any city or country failing to comply will lose its power grid access. Once the Governors are assigned, the Global leaders will report to them. Until then, they report to the Spiral Defense Council. Justice courts will operate under international oversight.
Siddik finally nodded. "Approved. But I'll assign the list of enforcers and leaders. Some of the old world deserves to return. Others don't; they are going to be arrested soon. Now let's talk about the protestors." Siddik turns to his generals. "Rafiq, convince the protestors. Tell them about the future. If they don't understand, finish them off." Tayeb said coldly, "This will be genocide, Siddik." Siddik smiled and said, "Peace is born from blood. Without bloodshed, there's no order. Isn't that right, leaders?" The world leaders say yes in fear.
Suddenly, an alarm blared through the walls. Spiral Island was under attack. Siddik remained calm. "Not again!" From his command center, he gave the order:
"All units, battle positions. Spare the monsters on my command. Defend Spiral Island."
Fakhrul's forces had arrived. Though they hadn't fired a single bullet, their ships hovered dangerously close to the perimeter.
Siddik walked out, flanked by Tayeb, Rafi, and Rafiq. Fakhrul, Hridoy, and Nafisa disembarked with a small group of elite HUNTERS. Neither side raised their weapons–yet.
"I want a private talk," Fakhrul said coldly.
Siddik nodded once. "Come, let's sit."
They entered Siddik's chamber–a vast, high-ceilinged room lined with relics and technological wonders.
Fakhrul wasted no time. "Where's she?"
Siddik raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me? Who the hell are you talking about?"
"You know damn well what I'm talking about!" Fakhrul barked, stepping forward and grabbing Siddik's collar.
Tayeb and Rafiq stepped forward, but Siddik raised a hand, calming them.
"I really don't know who you're talking about," Siddik says.
Fakhrul spares Siddik and shows him the tablet. Siddik carefully looked at the tablet that Zara was going out of the HQ with a man willingly.
"I really don't know where she is. And this is not my work," Siddik said flatly. "If I wanted to talk to her, I would've called her directly. If I wanted her dead, she wouldn't have made it out of HQ."
"Then how did she vanish from a secure location?" Nafisa asked coldly.
"You think I took her without a trace? This is Spiral Island. Nothing gets in or out without my knowledge–not even a mosquito. None of my men will dare to do this. And why would I hide her? What's the purpose?"
Fakhrul narrowed his eyes. "Then maybe you're lying. Maybe you're just better at hiding your sins now."
Siddik stared at him for a long moment. Then he said, "Ask me a thousand times. My answer will remain the same. But if you want, I can tell my men to help you find her."
Fakhrul leaned in. "You have 48 hours. If Zara isn't found, Spiral will pay the price."
Siddik looked at him calmly. "Understood. But you'll regret this war."
The HUNTERS turned and left.
As they exited, one of Siddik's soldiers rushed in. "Sir–Grok is gone. Guards were found dead. Cell broken."
Siddik's eyes narrowed. He walked to the cell himself, inspecting the bloodstained floors, broken lock, and burn marks.
"Someone powerful did this," Tayeb murmured.
"Yes, Siddik replied. "Whoever did this also took Zara. He knew if he mimicked my style and took Zara on camera, they'd come straight to me. And in this moment, he will free Grok and take him away."
"How can you be so sure?" Rafi asked.
"Look at the X mark on the wall. I saw the same mark on that guy too. And X stands for only one man." Siddik takes a long breath. "We're surrounded. Either the HUNTERS attack or Elian strikes first. Maybe both."
He turned to Tayeb and Rafi. "Publish the new constitution as fast as you can. Make sure every world leader gets it in 12 hours."
Then to Rafiq: "Stay here and manage everything till I come back. Zara and I are both in real danger. I am going to save her."
As the sun set over Spiral Island, Siddik walked into a dim chamber, picked up a secure communicator, and made a single encrypted call.
The voice on the other end answered without saying a word.
Siddik said coldly: "Vacation's over. Time to go to war."
Elsewhere, under the cover of night, a transport ship hovered over the ruins of an old prison outpost. Inside, a dark figure stared at Grok's chained form.
"I owe you everything," The figure whispered. It was Mike, Grok's adopted son. "It's time to burn this empire down."
He released Grok. The chains fell. Grok smiled–not with joy, but with purpose.
"Where's she?" Grok asked.
"Unconscious. Lying on the bed," said Mike.
"Good. Now go and bring me the half-cold body of Siddik. I will finish him with my own hands and end his chapter."
Mike orders his army to attack Spiral Island.