---
Global — Emergency Broadcast
The tone had changed.
---
No longer about markets.
No longer about systems.
---
Now—
It was about people.
---
"Breaking News!"
---
"A high-profile assassination attempt has been reported—"
---
Screen shifted.
---
New York.
---
Police sirens.
Crowd panic.
---
"A senior political candidate connected to the current administration…"
---
"…has been critically injured."
---
Silence.
---
"This is no longer economic instability…"
---
"…this is targeted violence."
---
---
United States — Presidential Office
---
Will Smith stood still.
---
Completely still.
---
The TV played in the background.
---
Albert bin Siddiqui entered quickly.
---
"It has started."
---
Will didn't turn.
---
"…Yes."
---
A pause.
---
"He made it personal."
---
Albert's voice lowered—
---
"Do we respond?"
---
Silence.
---
Then—
Will turned slowly.
---
His eyes—
No longer calm.
---
"…We escalate."
---
---
Cut.
---
Unknown Location — The Opponent
---
The man stood in darkness.
---
Watching the news.
---
"…You understand now."
---
A pause.
---
"Systems are safe."
---
"But people…"
---
"…are fragile."
---
He moved his hand.
---
Another screen activated.
---
Target list.
---
Six names.
---
One by one—
Highlighted.
---
Will.
Abraham.
Matthew.
Lei.
Naya.
Wang.
---
"…Let's see…"
---
"…how you protect them."
---
---
Cut.
---
China — Lei Smith
---
Her office.
Quiet.
Controlled.
---
Wei bin Siddiqui rushed in.
---
"Security breach attempt detected."
---
Lei didn't move.
---
"…Location?"
---
"Internal surveillance override."
---
Silence.
---
"They tried to access your movement schedule."
---
Lei turned slowly.
---
"…He's hunting."
---
A pause.
---
"Good."
---
Wei frowned.
---
"…You're not concerned?"
---
Lei's voice dropped—
---
"…If he comes…"
---
"…he dies."
---
---
Cut.
---
Wall Street — Matthew Smith
---
Phones ringing.
---
Markets unstable again.
---
But this time—
Matthew ignored it.
---
Rafiq spoke—
---
"We received something."
---
Matthew looked up.
---
"…What?"
---
Rafiq hesitated.
---
"A message."
---
He handed over a tablet.
---
On screen—
A photo.
---
Matthew.
---
Taken from distance.
---
Recent.
---
Perfect angle.
---
Under it—
One line.
---
"Money can't buy time."
---
Silence.
---
Matthew smiled.
---
"…Interesting."
---
A pause.
---
"He's close."
---
---
Cut.
---
Military Base — Abraham
---
Training ground.
---
Gunshots.
Explosions.
---
Hassan approached.
---
"We intercepted communication."
---
Abraham turned.
---
"…Speak."
---
"They are planning a direct strike."
---
Silence.
---
"On you."
---
Abraham smirked slightly.
---
"…Finally."
---
---
Cut.
---
Cyber Network — Wang
---
Screens flickered violently.
---
Khalid shouted—
---
"He's inside again!"
---
Wang didn't panic.
---
Instead—
He watched.
---
Carefully.
---
"…No."
---
A pause.
---
"He's not inside."
---
Silence.
---
"He's watching from outside."
---
---
Cut.
---
Protection Unit — Naya
---
Rain poured.
---
Training continued.
---
Omar approached.
---
"We have intel."
---
Naya stopped.
---
"…What kind?"
---
"Assassination attempts."
---
Silence.
---
"Multiple targets."
---
Naya's eyes sharpened.
---
"…Let them come."
---
---
Cut.
---
John Smith — Unknown Location
---
Silence.
---
Cold.
---
Stillness.
---
John stood alone.
---
Listening.
---
Feeling.
---
The shift.
---
"…You crossed the line."
---
A pause.
---
"…Good."
---
His eyes opened.
---
Dark.
---
"…Because now…"
---
"…I don't hold back either."
---
---
Chessboard — Symbolic Scene
---
Pieces scattered.
---
No longer clean.
---
No longer controlled.
---
Now—
Messy.
---
Violent.
---
---
Move — The Strike
---
New York — Night
---
Matthew exited his building.
---
Security tight.
---
Cars waiting.
---
Then—
Gunshots.
---
Chaos.
---
Snipers.
---
Explosions.
---
Matthew dropped instantly.
---
Rafiq pulled him to cover.
---
"Move!"
---
More shots.
---
Professional.
---
Calculated.
---
Not random.
---
Perfect execution.
---
---
But then—
---
Another force entered.
---
Silent.
---
Precise.
---
Deadly.
---
Siddiqui operatives.
---
They moved faster.
---
Cleaner.
---
Every attacker—
Neutralized.
---
Within seconds.
---
Silence returned.
---
Matthew stood up slowly.
---
"…That was close."
---
Rafiq nodded.
---
"…Too close."
---
---
Cut.
---
China — Factory Route
---
Lei's convoy moved.
---
Suddenly—
Road blocked.
---
Explosion.
---
Ambush.
---
Attackers surrounded.
---
Wei shouted—
---
"DEFENSE!"
---
Gunfire erupted.
---
But—
---
Again—
---
Siddiqui unit moved.
---
Perfect coordination.
---
No hesitation.
---
Attack neutralized.
---
---
Lei stepped out.
---
Looked at the bodies.
---
"…Amateur."
---
A pause.
---
"He's testing limits."
---
---
Cut.
---
Military Zone — Abraham
---
Missile incoming alert.
---
"INCOMING!"
---
Abraham looked up.
---
Explosion.
---
Shockwave.
---
Dust everywhere.
---
Then—
---
He walked out.
---
Alive.
---
Unshaken.
---
"…You missed."
---
---
Cut.
---
Cyber — Wang
---
System overload.
---
Massive breach attempt.
---
Wang countered.
---
Fast.
---
Precise.
---
Then—
---
He stopped.
---
"…Found you."
---
---
Final Scene — John vs Opponent
---
Two spaces.
---
Two minds.
---
Same realization.
---
---
John spoke softly—
---
"…You targeted them."
---
A pause.
---
"…And failed."
---
---
The opponent replied—
---
"…No."
---
A pause.
---
"…I measured response time."
---
Silence.
---
"…And now…"
---
His voice darkened—
---
"…I know exactly…"
---
"…how fast you move."
---
---
John smiled.
---
Not calm.
---
Not cold.
---
Dangerous.
---
"…Then let me show you…"
---
A pause.
---
"…how fast I can end you."
---
---
Final Hook
---
All six Eagles received one message.
---
Same message.
---
Same time.
---
---
"ROUND 2 BEGINS."
---
---
Far away—
---
The opponent whispered—
---
"…This time…"
---
"…we remove one."
---
---
John's eyes darkened.
---
"…Try."
---
---
End of Chapter 15