The first explosion shattered the stillness, followed by a cascade of smaller detonations. Flames lit up the eastern gate as Kael’s team launched their assault.The sound of gunfire erupted, drawing Syndicate guards out in droves.“Keep them busy!” Kael shouted over the noise, firing from behind cover.Guards swarmed the area, returning fire as chaos consumed the fortress entrance. Kael’s team moved with precision, their tactics honed by countless battles.“They’re bringing out reinforcements!” one of Kael’s men called out, ducking as a barrage of bullets struck their cover.Kael grinned, adrenaline surging. “Good. Let them come. The more they focus on us, the less they’ll notice the real threat.”Meanwhile, James, Winter, and Emily swam silently through the underwater tunnel. The passage was dark and narrow, the walls slick with algae. Each movement felt like a battle against the suffocating pressure of the water and the weight of what lay ahead.Winter’s voice came through James’s e

The fight began with a sudden charge from Victor, who moved faster than James anticipated. Victor’s punches were precise, each strike aimed to exploit weaknesses in James’s stance.“You’re slipping, Radcliffe,” Victor taunted as he landed a blow to James’s side. “The great ‘God of War’ isn’t as sharp as he used to be.”James gritted his teeth, countering with a hard elbow to Victor’s jaw. “You talk too much.”Victor stumbled but recovered quickly, his grin never fading. “And you hit like a man carrying too many regrets.”The electrified walls hummed ominously, forcing James to keep his movements precise. A misstep could be fatal.Victor lunged again, this time aiming for James’s legs. James sidestepped, using Victor’s momentum against him and sending him sprawling to the ground.“You’re out of your depth, Victor,” James said, breathing heavily.Victor wiped blood from his lip, laughing. “Oh, I’m just getting started.”The fight raged on, both men landing punishing blows. James’s knuck

The dimly lit control room was a stark contrast to the chaos elsewhere in the fortress.Monitors lined the walls, showing live feeds of every corridor, room, and entry point.Winter slipped inside, her sharp eyes scanning the displays.“This is it,” she muttered, sliding her tablet onto the nearest console. “Time to level the playing field.”Her earpiece crackled to life. “Winter, what’s your status?” James’s voice was steady but urgent.“I’ve found the control room,” Winter replied, her fingers flying across the keyboard. “I’m disabling the lockdown now. Give me two minutes.”Kael chimed in. “Better make it quick. I’ve got Black Vipers breathing down my neck.”“Working on it,” Winter said, her tone clipped.The interface was complicated, layers of encryption designed to keep intruders out. Winter’s brow furrowed as she bypassed each firewall. “Zhao didn’t skimp on security,” she muttered.“Can you do it?” James asked.“I’m Winter,” she replied with a smirk. “Of course I can.”As the

The Viper laughed, his tone mocking. “You’re running out of time. Zhao’s final move is already in place. If you get too close, he’ll bring the entire fortress down—with you in it.”James froze for a split second, the weight of the words sinking in. “What are you talking about?”“A bomb,” the Viper sneered. “Big enough to wipe this place—and everyone in it—off the map. You think you’re close to winning? You’re already losing.”Kael, overhearing the exchange, yelled, “James, he’s bluffing! Keep going!”The Viper turned his head slightly toward Kael. “You think so? Then why is Zhao already watching you scramble like rats in his maze?”James gritted his teeth, delivering a devastating punch that knocked the Viper unconscious. He turned to Kael, his voice sharp. “We need to move. Now.”“What about them?” Kael asked, gesturing to the two remaining Vipers.James reloaded his weapon, his eyes cold. “We finish them.”The fight intensified. James and Kael worked as a seamless unit, their moveme

The room was a storm of tension, the monitor behind Zhao still flashing the frozen countdown.Winter worked feverishly at her tablet, her brow furrowed in concentration.Emily stood firm beside her, pistol raised and eyes locked on Zhao, who sat slumped against the wall, blood trickling from his mouth but his expression still smug.“Well done,” Zhao drawled, his voice hoarse but mocking. “You’ve stopped the timer—for now. But do you really think you’ve won? Kill me, Radcliffe, and you’ll never know if the bomb is truly disarmed.”James’s fists clenched at his sides, his voice cold. “You’re done, Zhao. It’s over.”Zhao laughed, the sound cutting through the tension like a blade. “Over? You think this ends with me in cuffs? Even now, my network is watching. My associates will ensure my legacy survives.”James took a step closer, his voice low and dangerous. “Your legacy is over. Your Syndicate is crumbling. And you’re going to watch it happen.”Emily, sensing the rising tension, stepped