After careful planning, they moved silently.

  The docks on the outskirts of Tokyo were still shrouded in a thin mist when the NOX AEGIS arrived. There was no media attention. No official escort. Just five shadows walking steadily toward an unmarked black speedboat.

  ALPHA stands at the front.

  The EAGLE carries a tactical gear bag.

  The WOLF was silent with a frozen stare.

  HAMMER checks the last ammunition.

  GHOST ensures active encrypted communication.

  Without another word, they set off. The speedboat's engine roared, cutting through the night sea toward the island they had marked as Obsidian's lair.

  The sea wind hit their faces hard.

  Nobody spoke.

  Only one goal: Hana.

  But in the middle of the journey—

  The spotlight suddenly came on from the right.

  A giant shadow emerged from the mist.

  Silhouette of a warship.

  Their speed boat automatically slowed down.

  The logo on the ship's hull was clearly visible under the harsh white light.

  They all know the symbol.

  Their own military vessels.

  The deck door opened slowly. Fully armed troops stood in rows above.

  Arga lifted his face, his eyes narrowed.

  “Since when has the navy moved without our notice?” his voice was low.

  Mahendra shook his head slowly. "I didn't receive any network notification. No official orders came in."

  Arman stared straight at the ship.

  “If they try to stop us,” he said coldly, “then our opponent isn’t just Obsidian.”

  Reza turned around quickly. “We can’t possibly fight against our own team.”

  Fikri tightened his gloves. "Maybe our information will leak."

  The spotlight locked on them.

  Then a deep voice came from the ship's loudspeaker:

  “NOX AEGIS. Board the ship. Now.”

  The silence was tense.

  The speed boat docked slowly.

  The steel ladder was lowered.

  They glanced at each other briefly.

  There is no fear.

  Just be careful.

  They climbed one by one onto the ship's deck.

  And there—

  The General was already standing.

  Firm. Calm. His gaze was sharp but not hostile.

  Something they didn't expect happened.

  The General saluted first.

  They responded reflexively, albeit confused.

  Alpha took a step forward.

  “With all due respect, General. What is the meaning of this?” His voice was controlled, but clearly under pressure.

  The General looked at each of their faces one by one.

  “I know what happened,” he said quietly. “I know about Hana. I know about the attack in Los Angeles. And I know you’re heading to the island tonight.”

  Arga immediately took a half step forward. "If you know, then you also know Obsidian can't be allowed to breathe again."

  Mahendra added, “Every minute we are delayed, they strengthen their defense.”

  The General stared sharply.

  “And any emotional step without coordination could destroy this country.”

  The atmosphere was tense.

  Alpha spoke again, this time louder.

  "With respect, this is no longer just an operation. They attacked a family. They kidnapped the Prime Minister's future wife. This is a declaration of war."

  The General smiled faintly.

  "That's precisely why you shouldn't move alone."

  The wolf clenched his fists. “We didn’t ask for permission.”

  Elang interrupted, his voice cold. “We already have a location. We already have an entry route. We don’t need a full fleet for one island.”

  The General stepped closer.

  “Do you think I’m in the way?” he asked quietly.

  No one answered.

  Their gazes were clearly accusing.

  The General took a short breath.

  “Shut up. Follow me.”

  His tone was not threatening.

  But an order that cannot be refused.

  He turned and walked towards the ship's command room.

  NOX AEGIS looked at each other.

  Confusion.

  Anger.

  And a little bit of suspicion.

  But they still followed.

  Because something in the General's gaze just now said one thing clearly—

  He didn't come to stop them.

  He came for something much bigger.

  The five of them followed the General without a word.

  The command room door opened.

  And for the first time that night—they were silent.

  Inside the warship's hangar, five hundred elite troops were already standing in order, fully equipped with combat gear: tactical helmets, ballistic vests, and the latest generation of military-grade weapons.

  Not an ordinary troop.

  Division of choice.

  Future NOX candidates.

  The General turned to the five of them, a faint smile etched on his face.

  “Ha… do you guys think you’ll go to a party without your fellow comrades?”

  No one answered.

  Several troops in the front row stamped their feet in unison.

  The General continued, his voice echoing through the hangar.

  “Remember this. If Obsidian touches any of you… then it’s the entire squad’s problem. You’re not moving as five men tonight. You’re moving as a family.”

  Arga stared at the sea of soldiers before him.

  Mahendra slowly smiled a little.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Arman straightened his shoulders.

  Reza and Fikri looked at each other.

  The General pointed to the line.

  “Five hundred personnel. One hundred for each squad leader. And tonight… you lead.”

  The atmosphere changed.

  It's no longer a personal revenge mission.

  This is a full military operation.

  Arman stepped forward.

  "The formation is divided into five sectors: land, air, surface sea, deep sea, and heavy infiltration."

  He looked at the ground troops.

  “You are with me.”

  One hundred soldiers took one step forward.

  "We'll use Garuda-9 Vortex attack helicopters . We'll descend directly onto the mainland. A full-scale attack. Destroy the outer defenses. No hesitation. No retreat."

  One of the young commanders asked sternly, “Firing rules, Commander?”

  Arman answered without hesitation.

  “Armed targets—neutralize. Surrendered targets—bind. But if they’re hiding bombs or triggers… you know the consequences.”

  One hundred voices answered in unison.

  "READY!"

  Mahendra stepped to the other side.

  “The air team is coming with me.”

  One hundred advanced remote and cyber specialist personnel.

  Night Specter X-12 stealth fighter . We'll control the skies. Hackers will activate radar jammers. Airborne snipers will prepare armor-piercing rounds. All Obsidian communications will be disabled within the first five minutes."

  A technician asked, “What if they have a quantum firewall?”

  Mahendra smiled faintly.

  “Let me talk to their system.”

  A faint laugh was heard from the troops.

  Arga is next.

  “Surface marine team.”

  A hundred soldiers with stealth gear and melee weapons moved.

  the Shadow Barracuda , an invisible speedboat . We'll approach silently. We'll enter from the shadow port side. Close-range weapons active. No shooting unless necessary. We'll move like shadows."

  One of the soldiers asked, “Primary target?”

  Arga answered with cold eyes.

  “Obsidian Field Commander. I want him alive. The rest… you are free.”

  The atmosphere is getting hotter.

  Reza stepped forward.

  “The deep sea team is with me.”

  One hundred combat divers stood.

  Abyss Phantom mini- submarine . We'll enter underwater. We'll blow up the pier's support pillars and shut off the main power supply. If the alarm goes off prematurely... we'll improvise."

  Fikri was the last to advance.

  “The heavy weapons team is coming with me.”

  A hundred heavy weapons specialist soldiers stepped forward.

  "We'll guard the upper sea lanes with the light battleship Iron Leviathan . Rockets ready. Artillery ready. If they have 2,000 troops, as our intelligence suggests... then we'll make sure half of them don't even have a chance to raise their weapons."

  The General stood in the center, looking down at the entire army.

  “Intel says around two thousand Obsidian troops are ready to die on the island.”

  A moment of silence.

  Then Arman said slowly but clearly.

  “If they are ready to die… we are ready to live and win.”

  Loud cheers echoed inside the hangar.

  Arga raised his voice.

  “This is not a political mission. This is not a covert operation. This is war.”

  Mahendra added, “And we didn’t come to negotiate.”

  Reza said loudly, “Nothing moves on its own.”

  Fikri continued, "No one was left behind."

  Arman looked at the entire army.

  “We’re leaving now. Primary goal: rescue Hana. Final goal: destroy the Obsidian Legion completely.”

  Five hundred troops stamped their feet in unison.

  “FOR NOX AEGIS!”

  The engines of the combat vehicles began to rev up.

  Open hangar beams.

  The Garuda-9 helicopter spun hard.

  Night Specter X-12 taxied to the ship's landing strip.

  Shadow Barracuda is released into the ocean.

  The Abyss Phantom dived slowly.

  Iron Leviathan moves as a heavy guard.

  On the deck of the warship, the General watched them leave with a proud look.

  And that night—

  The sea is a witness.

  That the greatest war between NOX AEGIS and Obsidian Legion… has officially begun.

  The two-hour journey in the dark finally ended as the silhouette of the island appeared on the horizon.

  From the air, ELANG monitored the area through the cockpit of an X-12 Night Specter. The thermal imager showed hotspots scattered along the coastline.

  It opens an encrypted communication channel.

  "All squad leaders, stand by. Remember protocol. No real names will be used. We are just combat identities."

  One by one the answers came in.

  “ALPHA is ready.”

  “WOLF ready.”

  “GHOST is ready.”

  “The hammer is ready.”

  ELANG enlarges the image of the north coast.

  “Tight security. Guard posts every hundred meters. Lookout tower on the east side. Teams WOLF, GHOST, and HAMMER—circle the island. Do not touch the main line until I give the signal.”

  THE WOLF answered briefly, “Shadows move.”

  GHOST, calm as usual, “The underwater is locked.”

  PALU just said, “Ready to be destroyed.”

  Garuda-9 Vortex helicopter hovered low over the western side of the island. A quick rope was dropped.

  ALPHA goes down first.

  The ground team followed silently.

  They crept between the rocks and thick undergrowth. Two Obsidian guards stood facing the sea, automatic weapons hanging casually.

  ALPHA makes a hand signal.

  Two soldiers spread out to the left and right.

  One second.

  Two seconds.

  The attacks were carried out simultaneously.

  One hand covered the first guard's mouth, the tactical knife went right through the gap in the protective vest.

  The second guard only had time to turn his head before an elbow struck his throat and a carbon fiber cable wrapped around his neck.

  Without sound.

  The body was dragged behind rocks.

  ALPHA whispered on the radio, “West zone clear. Move to the inside point.”

  On the other side of the island, SERWOLA and his team glided in the Shadow Barracuda. The engines were turned off fifty meters from shore.

  They swam closer.

  Three guards patrolled carrying dim flashlights.

  WOLF gestures with two fingers.

  Two of his men emerged from behind the sand like sea ghosts.

  Melee attack.

  Curved knife.

  Fast, precise movements.

  One guard fell before the flashlight even hit the ground.

  The WOLF held one of the bodies so that it wouldn't make any noise when it fell.

  He whispered coldly, “There are no witnesses.”

  In the southern waters, GHOST emerged from the deep sea with his army.

  They had already cut the dockside power supply with underwater micro explosives.

  Two guards stood on a steel platform.

  GHOST gives code.

  His men fired silent tranquilizer darts.

  The two guards staggered and fell.

  The GHOST climbed up, pressing the communication, “The dock is down. Power is out. No alarms.”

  On the east side, PALU and its heavy weapons team moved from behind the mangrove forest.

  They found an automatic weapons post with four Obsidian personnel.

  PALU did not choose the silent method this time.

  He raised a suppressed assault weapon.

  “Front contact. Three seconds.”

  A muffled shot rang out quickly.

  One two three four.

  Everyone fell before they could pull the trigger.

  PALU snorted, “The eastern route is clear.”

  EAGLES from the air monitor all movements.

  "All teams, outer perimeter clear. Split up into sectors. We're entering phase two."

  The teams move to their respective points.

  ELANG then gave orders to his air troops.

  "Air team, land in the middle of the forest. Find the highest elevation. Install a full-spectrum jammer. I don't want any signals getting through. Even if your mother calls to buy milk, nothing can get through."

  Some of the soldiers chuckled softly.

  ELANG continued in a sharp tone.

  “If there’s a signal leak and it’s because you guys were careless… you better go home and put on a diaper.”

  One of the air squad leaders answered firmly.

  “Leak negative, EAGLE. We are activating the Sky Veil Disruptor system . All satellite, short-wave, and microwave frequencies will be disabled within a fifteen-kilometer radius.”

  The eagle nodded.

  “You have three minutes.”

  In the middle of the forest, the airborne troops landed silently.

  They climbed a small cliff to the highest point of the island.

  Jammer device installed.

  The antenna is pointed at the sky.

  The system is turned on.

  The green indicator light turns blue.

  The island is now isolated.

  No incoming communication.

  There is no outgoing communication.

  Across the perimeter, five sectors have been moving neatly.

  Two thousand Obsidian troops might be ready to die.

  But that night—

  The island is no longer completely theirs.

  The clock shows 08.00 in the morning.

  Inside the island's main complex, the Obsidian Legion's server room is filled with the blue light of hundreds of monitors flashing non-stop.

  VALEN had just taken a sip of his black coffee when his eyes narrowed.

  One guard point on the west side… gone.

  Then another one in the south.

  Then two at once in the east.

  The normally stable green line turns dead gray.

  His hands froze on the keyboard.

  “No…” he muttered softly.

  He started typing rapidly. Reopening the camera feed. Accessing the signal backup. Changing satellite paths.

  Empty.

  The perimeter guard signals were cut off one by one.

  Not a technical problem.

  This is elimination.

  Her face turned pale.

  “Nox…”

  His chair fell back as he stood up.

  He ran out of the server room, through the steel corridor towards ORION KAEL DRAVEN's private room.

  The steel door was locked.

  Valen pressed the emergency panel.

  “Leader! Wake up! This is an emergency!”

  No answer.

  He hit the door.

  “ORION!”

  The automatic door opened slowly.

  Dark room.

  Orion stood behind the curtain, tall, eyes red from being woken up.

  “What,” his voice was low, heavy, “makes you feel justified in disturbing my sleep?”

  Valen gasped.

  “Perimeter gone! Four dead spots! Camera blackout! This is no ordinary intrusion!”

  Orion walked closer slowly.

  His steps were calm.

  Too quiet.

  “And you just realized it now?”

  Valen swallowed hard.

  “The system was shut down from the outside. They used a full-spectrum jammer—”

  Before he could finish, a hard blow hit Valen's jaw.

  His body was thrown against the wall.

  Orion struck again.

  And again.

  Not with explosive emotion, but with brutal precision.

  Each blow was like a measured punishment.

  “This,” Orion whispered coldly, “is your duty.”

  The kick hit Valen's stomach.

  He fell down.

  Orion pulled her hair, forcing her to look at his face.

  “You sleep, while the enemy walks on my land?”

  Valen was trembling.

  “T-their signal was undetectable all night… they snuck in—”

  A small popping sound broke through the room.

  Orion fired a gun at Valen's leg.

  The bullet penetrated the thigh.

  Screams broke out.

  Blood flowed on the black marble floor.

  Orion put his gun back.

  “Now,” he said quietly, “start over.”

  Valen sobbed in pain.

  “Nox Aegis… is surrounding the island. They’ve entered the outer perimeter.”

  Orion kicked Valen in the face until his head hit the floor.

  “Because you didn't monitor.”

  He stood up straight, wiping the blood on his gloves.

  “Do you know what the difference is between you and a cockroach?”

  Valen was silent.

  “Cockroaches at least know how to survive.”

  Orion turned around, walking towards the door.

  Valen's blood left a red trail on the floor as he tried to crawl.

  “L-leader… don't let them reach the center…”

  Orion didn't look back.

  The door closes.

  Valen stared dimly at Orion's retreating figure.

  My vision started to blur.

  The sound of an internal alarm started to sound in the distance.

  And he fainted.

  In the main strategy room, MAGNUS AETHERION and SERAPHIN NOCTIS were already standing waiting, awakened by the sector alarm.

  Magnus, a large man with half-assed battle armor, asked curtly,

  "What happened?"

  Orion answered expressionlessly.

  “Perimeter breached.”

  Seraphin narrowed his eyes.

  “Nox?”

  Orion nodded slowly.

  "Yes. They come to the nest by themselves."

  Magnus smiled faintly.

  “You're brave too.”

  Seraphin added, "Where is Valen? Usually he would have screamed a warning."

  Orion walked past them.

  “He's a useless cockroach.”

  Magnus let out a short laugh.

  “You killed him?”

  "Not yet."

  Seraphin raised an eyebrow.

  “Too bad. We still need his head to penetrate their digital defenses.”

  Orion stopped in front of a large tactical screen that began to display moving red dots in the island's jungle.

  "Prepare two thousand troops. Close all entry points. Let them go deeper."

  Magnus asked, “Open war?”

  Orion smiled thinly, coldly.

  “No. We make them think they're leading the game.”

  Seraphin stared at the screen.

  “They have five commanders.”

  Orion answered quietly,

  “And we have this island.”

  He turned to Magnus.

  “You take the western sector. Destroy their land.”

  Then to Seraphin.

  “You handle the sea. Don't let a single one come back.”

  The alarm now blared louder.

  Orion stared at the screen with eyes full of hatred.

  “And leave one for me.”

  Magnus grinned.

  "Who?"

  Orion answered coldly,

  “Alpha.”

  In the dark hallway, Valen's blood was still flowing slowly on the floor.

  The real war… has just begun.