FINAL WAR -II

CH-352 The Seventh Stage: Death.

AUTHOR POV.

Venice: the underground world. It was a kingdom forged for those who sought to rule the shadows, a sanctuary for the abandoned and the nameless. For decades, the scales of the underground had remained still and balanced. A place where every life held value, regardless of origin or past. In the underground, you didn't just survive, you gained a life an identity, and in return you pledged your absolute loyalty to the Lord and his system.

At the heart of this world sat the KGF, one of its oldest and most precious gems. A hightech, futuristic fortress, it held the reins of the entire underground and exerted an invisible influence over the normal world outside. The KGF was the palace from which the Lord of this world ruled, wielding power that no other could claim.

But today, the city and its fortress were burning to ashes. The kingdom was falling apart, brick by brick. A literal war had erupted within the facility, claiming countless lives and turning everything into dust. Yet, amidst the carnage, there were those still willing to fight. Fighting for their lives, their home, and their Lord. Their loyalty to the KGF remained unshaken, even as the walls crumbled around them.

No one could have imagined that a night of celebration and joy would turn so cruel. It began with a fire at the North shipyard factory, a distraction that slowly crept toward the KGF. Park Jimin had been ready to walk to that factory to end the night without a conflict, but the plan changed. The enemies had already surrounded his kingdom, their true objective all along was the total destruction of his world.

Jimin and his team initially believed Kylie was alone in the city with a small squad, someone they could easily neutralize. They had even captured her, but that victory was short lived. It wasn't just her alone. An entire FBI army had gathered to infiltrate the Lord's kingdom.

While she bent her knee before Jimin's men, a calculated move by her to distract the Lord. Until the real mission began. Agent Damian Beaufort led his team forward, utilizing fake identities provided by the IAF to slip past the gates. These identities allowed them deep into the system, but because they were shells, they triggered a catastrophic crash. A virus swept through the infrastructure, forcing the high-tech fortress to shut down.

Until this moment, no one had realized that the IAF was the silent hand helping the FBI breach the underground world. The IAF remained in the shadows, watching the chaos unfold and savoring the destruction alongside the FBI.

Park Jimin moved through Level 6, a floor that had been turned upside down. His priority was checking on Eren, who was stuck in the Cyber Unit trying to fix the system. Jimin was already covered in blood and grime, having slaughtered every threat that crossed his path.

As he entered Level 6, he surveyed the wreckage wires hung from the ceiling, spitting sparks into the air, and shattered glass carpeted the floor. Bodies of both his loyal men and FBI officers lay scattered across the floor, their blood panting the obsidian blue walls.

Slowing his pace, Jimin listened. The sound of distant footsteps echoed through the hallway. With his rifle raised and eyes darting with practiced precision, he moved forward, the crunch of glass beneath his boots the only sound he made. When the footsteps grew closer, he slid into a destroyed lab, melding into the darkness.

He lowered his gun and drew his dagger, ready for close quarters slaughter. As a group of FBI soldiers passed the hallway, Jimin surged from the shadows. He attacked the rear officer, slitting his throat in the blink of an eye. The man could only gurgle before slumping to the floor. The remaining five soldiers spun around, raising their rifles to shoot, but they were unprepared for a man who moved with the speed of light.

Jimin hurled his dagger, the blade finding its mark directly in the center of an officer's forehead. The man died instantly, blood blooming from the wound as he collapsed. The remaining four soldiers circled him, lowering their guns to engage in a fistfight, thinking numbers would prevail. They were wrong. Jimin was a master of breaking bones.