The IAD’s monster descended from the sky.

  Wind howled around her as she dropped toward the massive warship cutting through the Pacific. The ocean below churned violently, waves crashing against reinforced steel as if the sea itself sensed what was about to happen.

  At that exact moment—

  X-Cut’s forces arrived.

  Twenty-eight aircraft roared overhead, their engines screaming across the open sky. One by one, soldiers leapt from the ramps, black silhouettes slicing through the air as they fell toward the battlefield.

  And then—

  Arthur jumped.

  No hesitation.

  No fear.

  He tore through the sky like a falling blade.

  Both of them wore masks.

  No names.

  No faces.

  Only monsters meeting in the middle of the ocean.

  The IAD warship trembled as boots slammed onto its surface from every direction.

  Steel rang.

  Waves crashed.

  Guns clicked into place.

  And somewhere between the sky and the sea—

  Two final weapons had arrived.

  There were two ships.

  Arthur stood on one.

  She stood on the other.

  The Pacific raged between them, waves slamming against steel as both warships carved through the dark water.

  And on her deck—

  The slaughter began.

  X-Cut agents dropped from the sky, boots crashing against metal.

  She didn’t wait.

  Her twin swords flashed.

  The first agent barely raised his rifle before the blade tore through him.

  A second rushed forward—

  Too slow.

  Steel split through armor.

  Blood sprayed across the deck, swallowed instantly by rain and saltwater.

  More boots hit the surface.

  More guns lifted.

  She moved like a storm.

  Spinning.

  Cutting.

  Advancing.

  Every swing precise.

  Every step lethal.

  Bodies collapsed around her, sliding across the trembling steel as the ship rocked beneath the chaos.

  Gunfire erupted.

  Sparks exploded off metal.

  And in the middle of it all—

  She kept walking forward.

  Another X-Cut agent stepped in front of her.

  He wasn’t carrying a rifle.

  He carried a sword.

  The blade gleamed under the storm-lit sky.

  He didn’t hesitate.

  He lunged.

  Steel cut through the air, aiming to split her open—

  But she was already gone.

  She twisted to the side, the strike slicing through nothing but rain and wind.

  The blade passed inches from her mask.

  For a brief second—

  Steel met steel.

  Sparks burst between them.

  She slid back, steady.

  Calm.

  And beneath her mask, her voice slipped out—cold and amused.

  “You’re not bad… unlike the other fools.”

  Around them, bodies lay scattered across the trembling deck.

  The ocean roared.

  The ship shook.

  And the duel had begun.

  The X-Cut swordsman tightened his grip.

  His face was exposed, eyes sharp and focused.

  He stepped in again—

  Fast.

  Their blades collided.

  Steel shrieked across the deck.

  He forced her back half a step.

  Strong. Skilled.

  Then—

  A gunshot cracked through the air.

  The swordsman froze.

  A bullet tore through his chest from behind.

  His body jerked.

  His sword slipped from his fingers.

  Shock flickered across his face as he staggered forward—

  Then collapsed at her feet.

  Behind him, an IAD agent lowered his rifle.

  She didn’t look back.

  Didn’t react.

  She stepped over the body—

  And moved on.

  AT THE SAME TIME — ON THE OTHER SHIP.

  Arthur stood alone at the center of the deck.

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  Bodies lay behind him.

  Silent.

  Still.

  His mask hid everything.

  “Rey,” he spoke calmly into the comm.

  “What now? Is it time?”

  A brief pause.

  Then—

  He pulled the sticky explosive from his belt.

  He pressed it against the ship’s inner hull.

  Click.

  Armed.

  No hesitation.

  He turned toward the second ship.

  The gap between them wasn’t small.

  The ocean churned below.

  He sprinted.

  Boots pounding against metal—

  And launched himself into the air.

  For a split second—

  Nothing but wind and open sea beneath him.

  He landed hard on the other deck.

  Rolled.

  Rose.

  Behind him—

  Five X-Cut agents leapt across in perfect sync.

  They hit the deck one after another.

  Disciplined.

  Armed.

  Forming up around Arthur instantly.

  No words exchanged.

  They were ready.

  Arthur straightened.

  “Move.”

  And they advanced.

  A distant vibration ran through the metal beneath their boots.

  Arthur didn’t turn.

  He didn’t need to.

  Behind them—

  The explosive detonated.

  A violent blast tore through the first ship.

  Fire burst outward from its side.

  Steel warped.

  The shockwave rolled across the water.

  The deck beneath the ruined vessel split open.

  Flames swallowed the hull as thick smoke clawed into the sky.

  Then—

  The ship began to tilt.

  Slow at first.

  Then faster.

  Metal screamed as the structure gave in.

  Water rushed in through the torn breach.

  The ocean dragged it down without mercy.

  Arthur watched for half a second.

  Cold.

  Calculated.

  Mission step complete.

  Then he turned forward.

  “Keep moving.”

  The war wasn’t over.

  ON THE REMAINING SHIP.

  Arthur stepped forward.

  Around him, the X-Cut agents hesitated.

  Not because of him.

  Because of her.

  She stood across the deck, twin swords resting at her sides.

  Steel stained.

  Bodies near her feet.

  Even trained soldiers kept their distance.

  Arthur saw it.

  The fear.

  She slowly lifted her head.

  Their eyes met through their masks.

  Silence stretched between them.

  The ocean roared below.

  Neither moved.

  Then—

  Arthur raised his gun.

  And fired.

  The shot cracked across the deck.

  The bullet tore through the air—

  But she moved.

  A single flash of steel.

  Clang.

  The bullet split in half.

  Fragments sparked against the metal floor.

  She lowered her blade slowly.

  Not impressed.

  Not shaken.

  Just watching him.

  And now—

  Everyone else stepped back.

  Because this wasn’t their fight anymore.

  Oh fuck… I’m doomed. Who the hell is she? I can tell she’s no ordinary IAD agent. How did she cut through them like that? Oh fuck… I’m dead as hell.

  She’s no joke…

  Arthur rose slowly.

  He pulled his daggers free.

  Then he charged.

  Steel clashed.

  She moved faster.

  One sharp slash—

  His daggers shattered apart.

  Metal fragments scattered across the deck.

  Arthur froze for half a second.

  Too fast.

  He dropped the broken handles.

  Switched to his gun instantly.

  Pulled back—

  An X-Cut agent roared and rushed her from the side.

  She turned to intercept.

  That was the opening.

  Arthur dashed forward.

  Leapt.

  Twisted behind her mid-air—

  And fired.

  The shot rang out—

  She didn’t have time to move.

  The bullet struck her hard.

  A clean shot to her butt.

  Her body jerked from the impact.

  Arthur landed roughly, boots scraping against the metal deck.

  Goddammit…

  I wasn’t aiming there.

  I was going for her head…

  If that doesn’t finish her…

  I’m the one who’s going to lose mine.

  She began walking toward him.

  Slow.

  Calm.

  Arthur steadied his breathing.

  He raised his gun.

  Perfect aim.

  Right at her head.

  He pulled the trigger—

  Click.

  Empty.

  “…Oh, come on. Not now.”

  She was already in front of him.

  Her leg snapped upward—

  A brutal kick to his crotch.

  Pain exploded through his body.

  Before he could recover—

  Her fist drove straight into his mask.

  Crack.

  Arthur flew backward and hit the deck hard.

  She clicked her tongue.

  “Tch. What a waste. ”

  Arthur clenched his jaws, shaking from the pain.

  One hand instinctively pressed against his crotch.

  He forced himself up.

  Slowly.

  Breathing heavy.

  Then—

  He stepped in and drove his fist straight into her stomach.

  Impact.

  Her eyes widened slightly.

  “Damn… I let my guard down,”

  She swung at him again.

  Arthur dodged the strike.

  But she caught his arm.

  Twisted it sharply.

  Pain shot through his shoulder.

  He reacted instantly—

  Spinning and smashing his foot into her jaw.

  A hard, clean counter.

  The fight didn’t stop.

  It was fast.

  Brutal.

  Relentless.

  And all of it—

  Was being watched.

  ON X-CUT

  Rey stood silently, arms crossed.

  Her eyes followed every movement on the screen.

  Arthur.

  And her.

  “Guess Arthur is going down,” Rey said calmly, taking a sip of her coffee.

  Nord exhaled.

  “Yeah… I guess so.”

  ON CANADA

  Leaders of multiple nations watched the clash unfold on large screens.

  No one spoke.

  The tension in the room was suffocating.

  ON SAN DIEGO — NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA

  A door burst open.

  Boots pounded against polished concrete.

  A young officer rushed down the corridor, breathing hard.

  He stopped in front of a senior commander.

  “Sir!”

  The commander turned, irritated.

  “What is it?”

  The officer swallowed.

  “A jet ski and a submarine have been stolen.”

  Silence.

  The room went still.

  The commander’s expression darkened.

  “Repeat that.”

  The officer’s voice trembled slightly.

  “A jet ski… and one of our submarines, sir. Both are gone.”

  The weight of those words hung heavy in the air.

  Because jet skis could be tracked.

  Submarines?

  They disappeared.

  AT THE SAME TIME — AT SEA

  Waves crashed violently against the hull.

  A jet ski cut through the dark water at high speed.

  A guy was piloting the stolen jet ski, eyes locked forward, wind tearing past his face.

  His phone was connected to his Bluetooth earbuds.

  He spoke softly over the call.

  “Nick… I hope we’re not late.”

  The engine roared beneath him.

  “And I hope we didn’t mishear the information Anna gave us.”

  He said that as he drove straight toward the IAD ships.

  Beneath the jet ski, deep under the dark water—

  A massive shadow moved.

  Something enormous.

  Something shaped like a submarine.

  ON THE SHIP

  Arthur was on top of her.

  He drove his fist toward her jaw—

  But she caught him mid-strike and hurled him across the deck.

  He crashed into the lifeless body of a dead X-Cut agent.

  The impact knocked the air out of him.

  A crack spread across her mask.

  Arthur pushed himself up slowly.

  Both of them were wounded badly.

  Bleeding.

  Breathing hard.

  I’m not going to be defeated by her.

  I need to find out myself

  Arthur stepped toward her.

  Each step heavy.

  The steps of a tired fighter.

  She moved first.

  Her fist shot forward—

  It slammed straight into his mask.

  Arthur fell backward.

  But he stood up again.

  Slowly.

  This time—

  His mask cracked.

  Then shattered.

  It fell onto the ship’s deck with a hollow sound.

  She froze.

  Her eyes widened beneath her own cracked mask.

  Tears welled up as she whispered,

  “…Arthur.”

  He stared at her, confused.

  She slowly removed her mask.

  The moment he saw her face—

  A name escaped his lips without thought.

  “Iku.”

  Suddenly, fragments of memories flooded his mind.

  The two of them teasing each other.

  Laughing.

  Kissing.

  Sharing drinks.

  Iku getting drunk while he watched over her.

  And for the first time—

  The past didn’t feel empty.

  Arthur staggered back, confused.

  His head pounded violently.

  He didn’t understand why that name had slipped from his lips—

  Or why those memories felt so real.

  And in those memories…

  He looked slightly older.

  ON CANADA

  The leaders of multiple nations froze.

  They had just realized something terrifying.

  They had lost control of her.

  ON NEW YORK — X-CUT

  Rey stood frozen, frustration burning through her.

  Then she spoke into the mic, voice cold.

  “Kill the remaining Morgan.”

  The X-Cut assassins who had been waiting for the signal moved instantly.

  Assassin One grabbed Arthur from behind and slammed him onto the deck.

  Assassin Two drove a blade into his back and kicked him toward the edge of the ship.

  Assassin Three fired.

  The shot struck.

  Arthur’s body fell overboard—

  And vanished into the dark ocean below.

  “Iku screamed.

  “Nooooo!”

  Without hesitation, she leapt after him—

  Diving into the black water.

  ON X-CUT

  Rey turned sharply to Nord.

  Her voice was calm. Calculating.

  “Arthur can’t swim with his hand broken.”

  “And that bitch can’t swim with those wounds either. Not while trying to hold him.”

  She folded her arms.

  “So it’s checkmate.”

  ON CANADA

  The world leaders sighed in relief.

  The Leader of Korea spoke quietly,

  “Hmm. Your niece’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain.”

  “Now the remaining ship can reach San Diego.”

  “And the X-Cut leader is dead.”

  The Leader of Italy remained silent.

  No expression on his face.

  ON THE SHIP

  The remaining IAD forces arrested the last eight X-Cut agents.

  The deck was secured.

  Victory declared.

  With the battle decided, Rey exhaled slowly.

  She returned to her room.

  “I’ve taken the first step toward world domination,” she murmured.

  MIDNIGHT OCEAN BEACH — SAN DIEGO

  TIME: 3:55 A.M.

  Waves rolled gently onto the empty shore.

  Arthur and Iku were washed onto the sand.

  No one else was there.

  Just silence.

  Arthur remained unconscious.

  Iku slowly opened her eyes.

  Blurry vision.

  Cold sand.

  And a figure standing nearby.

  A guy.

  He looked down at her and smirked slightly.

  “Want a ride, missy?”

  Iku’s eyes widened in shock.

  “…Miles?”

  “Is that you?”

  Behind Miles—

  A submarine slowly ascended, breaking the surface of the water with a low rumble.

  The hatch opened.

  Nick emerged from the submarine, a cheerful grin on his face.

  He was a muscular young guy, completely unfazed.

  He called out,

  “Iku! Long time no see, huh?”

  Iku raised an eyebrow, half amused, half exasperated.

  “Still a pervert… are you?”

  TWO HOURS LATER — ON THE SUBMARINE

  The interior was quiet.

  A low mechanical hum echoed through the metal walls.

  Miles finished closing Arthur’s wounds and stepped back.

  Arthur lay unconscious on the medical table.

  Iku sat nearby, holding a sandwich she barely touched, her eyes fixed on him.

  “…Is he okay?” she asked anxiously.

  Miles shook his head.

  “Nope. Not really.”

  A brief pause.

  “But he won’t die.”

  Iku frowned.

  “Why? What happened?”

  Miles sighed.

  “I only closed the wounds. The bullets are still inside him.”

  Silence settled between them.

  Iku lowered her gaze.

  “…So we need Andy for this kind of thing.”

  Miles nodded.

  “Yeah.”

  He glanced at Arthur again, his voice quieter this time.

  “I guess he doesn’t remember us.”

  A small pause.

  “I hope he’ll recognize us when he wakes up.”

  Iku spoke quietly.

  “I was the first one… weren’t I?”

  Miles looked at her.

  “Yeah. You were.”

  She swallowed.

  “Who was the second… and the last?”

  Miles leaned back slightly.

  “Second was Nick. Last one was me, I guess. And after me… I don’t know if Arthur made any new friends.”

  The submarine continued moving.

  To Be Continued.