Chapter 44: Ghosts in the System

The distorted voice crackled through the speakers, bouncing off the walls like a phantom whisper.

"Congratulations, Damien. You've just killed a king. But now—who replaces him?"

I spun, gun raised, scanning the dark corners of the room. No movement. No figures lurking in the shadows. But someone was watching. Someone expected this.

Ghost tensed beside me. "What the hell is this?"

I wasn't sure. But something felt off—deeply off.

The monitors flickered again, and then a new image appeared.

A live feed.

Bodies. Scattered across a dimly lit floor, some still twitching, others motionless. Blood smeared the ground, pooling around their lifeless forms.

Kross's men.

Only—I didn't do this.

Ghost cursed under his breath. "Damien, that's—"

The camera shifted. A silhouette stood in the middle of the carnage, their back turned to the lens.

Then they moved. Slowly. Methodically. Until the figure finally turned to face the screen.

And my blood ran cold.

A mask. Sleek, metallic, featureless except for two glowing white eyes.

I didn't recognize the face—because there wasn't one.

The voice came again, still distorted but eerily calm.

"You burned Kross's empire to the ground. You dismantled his operations, took his power, eliminated him. But power never disappears, Damien. It only moves. And now… it's mine."

Ghost shot me a look. "Who the hell is this guy?"

I shook my head. "No idea."

"You have two choices," the masked figure continued. "Walk away and pretend none of this ever happened. Or stay—and find out what real power looks like."

A soft click echoed in my earpiece.

A signal.

I only had seconds to react.

"Move!" I barked, grabbing Ghost and diving for cover.

The explosion ripped through the building.

Flames erupted from the walls as debris rained down. The monitors shattered, sparks flying as smoke filled the air.

I hit the ground hard, ears ringing. Through the haze, I saw Ghost scramble to his feet, coughing.

"Damien!" he shouted.

I forced myself up, heart hammering. My vision swam, but I could still make out the burning remains of the room.

And through the flames—a silhouette stood in the doorway.

The masked figure. Watching. Waiting.

Then—he disappeared.

Gone.

The fire was spreading fast. We had to get out.

Ghost grabbed my arm. "We need to go, now."

I hesitated. My fingers curled into fists. Whoever that was—this wasn't over.

Not by a long shot.

But for now, we had to survive.

With one last look at the flames devouring Kross's legacy, I turned and ran.

The past was dead.

But the future?

It had just begun.

To Be Continued…