Lizbeth_Williams

In a decaying city where the powerful prey on the powerless, *Liam Carter*—a broke janitor with nothing but a mop and a mountain of debt—discovers a tattered journal in the trash. Its pages, scrawled by a homeless man named *Old Joe*, hold brutal truths: *“Fear is fuel. Pain is a teacher. And even the weakest can burn empires.”*  

When Liam’s younger sister *Mia*—chronically ill and running out of time—becomes collateral in a corrupt politician’s scheme, he has two choices: die quietly or fight dirtier. Armed with guerrilla tactics from Old Joe’s journal and a **survival instinct** sharpened by desperation, Liam wages war against the **Iron Fist Gang**, their billionaire puppeteers, and the broken system that wants him dead.  

But survival has a cost. Every victory leaves scars. Every ally—a cynical nurse, a retired boxer, a hacker teen—demands loyalty Liam isn’t sure he can give. And as he rises from janitor to folk hero, Liam must answer the question haunting Old Joe’s journal:  
“Will you be a spark… or the wildfire that consumes everything?”

From Dust to Dawn

The Broker—Liam's estranged brother—steps out of the helicopter, his tailored suit a stark contrast to Liam's bloodied hoodie.

The Broker (smirking): "Hello, little brother. Did you miss me?"

Liam (staggering): "You're supposed to be dead."

The Broker (cold): "And you're supposed to be a janitor. Guess we're full of surprises."

The Broker reveals his plan: to use Liam's Eclipse Core to control the Veil and reshape reality.

Liam (snarling): "You're not a god. You're just a thief."

The Broker's guards open fire. Liam activates Survival Focus, dodging bullets as he drags Rook and Zee to safety.

The Broker's voice echoes through the ruins: "You can't run forever, Liam. The Veil is you."

Chapter 17: The Broker’s Gambit