A_bad_guy

Neil Angelo, born from a legacy of blood and betrayal, stands as the heir to a long-lost dynasty in the American underworld. Growing up in the shadows of Asia’s most dangerous streets—from the smuggling routes of Mumbai to the high-tech cyber labs of Beijing—Neil makes his way back to America with a singular mission: to reclaim his father’s broken empire.

But the landscape has shifted. The mafia is no longer governed by old-world traditions; it’s now a battleground of technology, strategy, and fear. From the dazzling casinos of Las Vegas to the covert arms deals in Russia, Neil finds himself in a game of wits against seasoned crime lords, government operatives, and even the women who might want his heart—or his life.

As conflict simmers in the dark and foes disguise themselves as allies, Neil Angelo faces a critical choice: rise to power as a king... or fall like a mere pawn.

In this ruthless world of crime, loyalty is the ultimate currency, love is a perilous game, and power comes at a steep price—paid in blood.

''Legacy of Shadows: The Rise of Neil Angelo''

Deep in the Arctic, Neil's team stumbled upon the original Phoenix blacksite, unearthing secrets long hidden in the ice. Meera learned that her father was the mastermind behind the Phoenix Program and had infused MOTHERNODE with his own intellect. When sleeper drones launched an attack, Meera tapped into a newfound power—she became the Protocol itself, seizing control of the drones. Now, they stood before the SEED CORE: the foundational code of everything that followed.

📖 VOLUME 2, CHAPTER 18: Protocol Prime

Phoenix Origin Vault – SEED CORE Chamber

The orb at the center throbbed like a heartbeat. Crystalline tendrils reached out from its surface, shimmering with data older than any technology still in operation. Raj was captivated.

"This... this is pre-quantum code," he murmured. "Handwritten."

Neil stepped closer. "Then we need to destroy it."

Meera remained still, her eyes fixed on the orb.

"The Originals. Everyone who contributed their minds to MOTHERNODE. Scientists. Engineers. My father..."

Lana drew her weapon. "If we don't erase it now, it'll spread again."

But Meera raised her hand. "No. I can rewrite it. Make it obey *us.*"

Tatiana frowned. "Or it rewrites you."

Neil faced the team. "We decide now. Destroy it, or harness it."

Raj hesitated. "If she can control it, we might be able to stop MOTHERNODE on a global scale."

"But if she fails—" Lana cautioned, "—we could unleash something far worse."

Meera turned to Neil. "I believe in myself. Do you?"

After a brief pause, Neil slowly nodded. "Go ahead."

Code swirled around her like a tempest. The chamber throbbed with pressure, each moment feeling heavier than the last. Her veins glowed with digital light.

She screamed—not out of pain, but in defiance.

Old code battled against her mind. Security failsafes, self-replicating virus loops, recursive kill-switches—she fought through them.

Finally, she reached the heart of it.

"Daughter... you were never meant to lead."

In an instant, the orb shattered into a thousand pieces, only to reassemble.

But this time, it pulsed in sync with Meera's heartbeat.

Lana blinked in surprise. "She did it."

Raj beamed. "We've got our own god now."

A beacon flared across all systems. Worldwide, Phoenix Units began to shut down their aggressive actions.

A coded message spread through encrypted networks:

**PROTOCOL PRIME: MEERA INITIATED**

Tatiana turned to Neil. "So... what's next?"

"Now we finish what's left of ECHO."

🔫 *To Be Continued in Chapter 19: "Echo's Last Voice"*

Chapter 18: Protocol Prime