The world was imploding in real time, and Max and his team watched in horror as news feeds and security briefings poured in from every corner of the globe. Computer screens flashed with emergency bulletins: banks collapsing, government networks going dark, entire cities teetering on the edge of anarchy as the financial collapse spiraled.“How bad is it?” Max paced the dimly lit war room, his tone urgent and clipped.Molly stared at her laptop, eyes wide. “Worse than anything we’ve seen. Banks are freezing all assets, nuclear submarines lost contact with command, and some countries’ power grids have already failed.”Elliot leaned against the wall, arms folded, voice grim. “So, this is it. The endgame.”Max stopped pacing, fists clenched. “We’re not letting Graves win. We stop Omega Protocol or we die trying.”Emily looked up from a stack of frantic communiqués. “World leaders are panicking. Some are blaming each other, others are calling for a global state of emergency.”Red Fang snort

The ancient skyline of Rome lay before them as they descended. Even from the air, Max could see chaos unfolding: streets clogged with protestors, fires flickering in the distance, sirens echoing off centuries-old buildings. The world’s financial collapse had reached Europe, and the city was on the brink.Emily leaned over the seat, peering through the helicopter’s window. “Max, look down there. It’s anarchy. We might not even make it through those streets.”Max tightened his grip on the harness. “We have to. The bunker’s somewhere under the Vatican catacombs.”Elliot snorted. “If Graves wanted to pick the perfect stage for a final showdown, he chose well. The Council’s been burying secrets down there for centuries.”Red Fang checked his gear, a grim smile on his face. “Then let’s rip those secrets out of the ground.”Max’s thoughts whirled as the helicopter touched down on a half-abandoned rooftop. He couldn’t ignore the tension building in his chest. Graves has been planning this lon

They found Graves sitting in the center of a vast, ancient chamber deep beneath the Vatican—a grand table of carved stone stood before him, illuminated by flickering torchlight. The centuries-old walls bore the weight of history, every inch etched with secrets long hidden.Graves lifted his gaze as Max and his team approached, arms tense and weapons at the ready. The Council’s leader looked remarkably calm, even relaxed, as he poured himself a drink from a crystal decanter. His lips curved into a faint, mocking smile.“You made it,” he said, voice echoing through the cavernous hall. “Before you kill me, let’s talk.”Red Fang snorted, stepping forward with his weapon raised. “I’m done talking.”Graves arched an eyebrow, swirling the liquor in his glass. “Are you? Because if you shoot me now, you’ll never know the final truth of Omega Protocol.”Elliot exhaled slowly, eyes flicking to Max. “We came here to stop you, not to hear more of your speeches.”Max’s heart pounded. He remembered

The cold weight of the gun in Max’s hand felt heavier than ever. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, drowning out everything else. The choice before him was a devil’s bargain—kill Graves and inherit a poisoned throne, or let him live and become a puppet to the same cycle of tyranny.But then, Max saw something else.The core.A towering monolith of tech, embedded into the ancient stone walls of the Vatican’s hidden bunker. Wires pulsed like veins of a mechanical god, feeding into Omega Protocol, the system that had brought the world to its knees.This wasn’t a throne. It was a leash.And Max was done playing their game.He raised his gun—not at Graves, but at the control core.Graves’ smirk wavered. “What do you think you’re doing?”Max’s finger tensed on the trigger. For the first time, Graves looked nervous.“You idiot—if you destroy that, you’ll—”BANG.The bullet tore through the control core, striking dead center. The screen fractured, sparks erupting as the entire system scream

Ethan stood in the center of the Elliot estate’s private war room, surrounded by his closest allies—Lisa, Harris, and his top executives. The air was thick with tension.A traitor was among them.Ethan’s gaze swept across the room. Every face. Every movement. Every breath.“Someone in this circle has been feeding The Serpent information,” he said, voice calm but laced with ice. “I don’t need confessions. I don’t need excuses. I need the truth.”Silence.Lisa leaned forward, arms crossed. “Here’s how this works. We’re running full background checks on every one of you—emails, bank records, calls. If there’s even a whisper of betrayal, we’ll find it.”Harris cracked his knuckles. “And when we do?” He smiled coldly. “Let’s just say I’ve been itching to make an example out of someone.”One of the executives, Mason, shifted uncomfortably. “Come on, Ethan. We’ve been with you for years. You really think one of us would—”Ethan’s eyes snapped to him.Mason shut up.Lisa exhaled sharply. “The