The dawn slowly broke over the city that had just been partially destroyed.
The Direndra mansion stood with walls riddled with bullet marks, yet inside, the air was colder than the morning itself.
Alaska sat in his office, in front of the large wooden desk.
Before him the black drive Rico had given him last night.
His hand trembled slightly as he inserted it into the computer port.
Alana stood by his side, while Kenan and Kira waited behind.
The screen lit up. A file opened automatically.
PROJECT ECHO Phase Origin Direndra Bloodline
An old video appeared.
The year in the top left corner read 2012 ten years ago.
The Old Recording
The video showed a dark laboratory.
A voice echoed from behind the camera and Alaska froze instantly.
It was his father's voice.
"This project will create the perfect successor for the Direndra lineage."
"No weaknesses, no feelings."
In the video, two small children sat in iron chairs, wires attached to their heads.
Alaska recognized the faces himself and Aksa, his twin brother.
"But the second subject failed. Too emotional. Destroyed by compassion."
"The first subject will survive… he will become the new Direndra."
Alana covered her mouth, holding her breath.
"My God…" she whispered.
"They experimented… on you?"
Kenan stared at the video, tears welling up.
"So… Aksa didn't die because of the war. But because the experiment failed."
Alaska stared at the blank screen as the video ended.
"Not failed," he said softly.
"He was killed. Because he had a heart."
Rising Fury
Kira lowered her head, her face full of guilt.
"Rico was one of the scientists on that project. After Aksa died, he fled with all the data."
"And now he wants to expose everything to the world," Bumi said, his voice bitter.
"If the public finds out, Direndra will be completely destroyed."
Alaska stood, his face calm as stone.
"If he wants hell… I'll be the fire."
He walked to the weapons cabinet and unlocked the code.
The heavy metallic sound echoed as he pulled out a titanium coated pistol a weapon he had used only once before: when killing another mafia leader who had betrayed him.
"We strike back tonight."
Alana stared, shocked.
"You're serious about going to war now? You haven't even recovered!"
"Do you think I have time to heal, Alana?" His voice was low, trembling yet firm.
"Every second that passes, Rico spreads my family name to the outside world. I won't let that happen."
"You're not a monster, Alaska!" Alana stared sharply.
"If you follow your anger, you're no different from those who created you!"
Alaska paused. For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then he looked deeply into Alana's eyes.
"You don't understand, Alana. Hell isn't a place I fear… I built it myself."
Preparing for War
That afternoon, the backyard of the mansion transformed into a war base.
Logistic trucks arrived, weapons were distributed, and the Direndra forces prepared under Alaska and Kenan's direct command.
Kira stood by the table, showing a large digital map.
"Rico is at the south dock. But he's not alone there are 80 Rave members there."
"We only have 40," Kenan said.
"We don't need numbers," Alaska replied flatly.
"We have honor."
Everyone stared at him in silence.
His words may have sounded crazy but to them, it was an oath.
The Night Before the Storm
As night approached, Alana stood on Alaska's bedroom balcony.
She saw him sitting alone in the chair, staring at the sky expressionless.
In the dim light, his silhouette looked like someone who no longer knew which side was human, and which was monster.
Alana approached slowly.
"Are you scared?"
"I've never feared death," Alaska replied softly.
"The only thing I fear… is losing again."
"You won't lose me."
Alana held his hand.
"But you have to promise one thing."
"What?"
"Don't let your vengeance kill the good part of you."
Alaska remained silent for a long moment.
Then finally, he looked at Alana with a gaze unlike before a mixture of love, loss, and unextinguished rage.
"I promise…" he whispered.
"But if this world still chooses war, I'll be the last man standing in the midst of its fire."
Chapter End
The sound of helicopters began in the distance. Red lights flashed at the south dock.
Kenan activated his headset, Kira typed in the final coordinates, and Alaska pulled the trigger on his pistol.
"It's time for the Direndra to rise again."
That night, the city burned.
And amidst the raging flames hell created by humans was born.