Obsidian Protocol
Location: Tavara – Kane Family Estate, Secure Vault
Thunder rolled above as Damien descended into the sublevels beneath the estate. The vault doors hissed open, revealing a chamber few had entered—an ancient sanctuary encoded with biometric locks and guarded by encrypted AI. It wasn't just a vault. It was the birthplace of the forgotten.
Rows of black cases lined the walls, each marked with the sigil of the chained sun—the symbol of the Obsidian Protocol. Nora followed closely, her breath shallow. The air was thick with history and restrained fury.
"What exactly is the Obsidian Protocol?" she asked.
Damien paused. "It was my father's last defense strategy. Activated only if every other system failed. A clandestine unit comprised of retired war legends, master tacticians, and outcast innovators… those who were deemed too dangerous, too uncontrollable, or too powerful to exist freely."
He opened one of the cases. Inside lay a matte-black dossier titled:
> "Kuro Reign – Exiled Strategist, Last Known Location: Myanji Archipelago."
Another case contained encrypted files on:
> "Dr. Vena Drahl – Biochemical Weapons Specialist, War Criminal Turned Ally."
Nora scanned the profiles, her pulse quickening. "These people... they're ghosts. Legends we only heard about in blacksite intelligence briefings."
"They're more than that," Damien murmured. "They're the only ones who can help us turn the tide."
He turned to Raven, who stood by the biometric console. "Send out Phase One activation codes. Use triple encryption. Only voice and pulse recognition should respond."
Raven nodded and began transmitting.
---
Location: Unknown – Myanji Archipelago
Far out in the storm-ridden seas, a remote island flared with red alarms. Inside an abandoned observatory, a man with silver hair looked up from a chessboard. His lone opponent—a mechanical raven—tipped over.
A voice came through the intercom, robotic and familiar.
> "Obsidian Protocol. Phase One. Phoenix has risen. This is Damien Kane."
The man smiled.
> "Checkmate."
---
Location: A Floating Bunker – Biolock Facility, Arctic Perimeter
Dr. Vena Drahl stood over a suspended cryo-chamber. She wore a white coat, her arms tattooed with bio-formulas. The silence shattered when her retinal implant glowed crimson.
> "Obsidian Protocol. Phoenix has risen."
She chuckled darkly. "And here I thought I was retired."
---
Location: Council of Titans – Dova Heights
Lady Xian stared at a glowing datapad.
"Obsidian Protocol… he's really going through with it," she muttered.
Lord Ravich scowled. "If he unites those exiled forces, the balance will tip."
Lady Xian didn't respond immediately. Then she looked up.
> "Then we must awaken our relics."
---
Location: Tavara – Kane Estate, Later That Night
Nora stood at the balcony, watching the moonlight bathe the city. Damien joined her, his jaw tense.
"Everything's moving faster now," she whispered.
Damien nodded. "This war is no longer about boardrooms and stock exchanges. It's about history, control, and blood."
He looked at her with unwavering eyes.
> "I need you to trust me with your secrets, Nora. All of them."
She hesitated.
Then, slowly, she reached into her blouse and pulled out an insignia—a crimson cloak over a golden dagger.
Damien's eyes widened.
"You really are one of them," he said softly.
She nodded.
> "Scarlet Cloister. Code name: Nightshade."