7:35 PM — Outskirts of Metropore
Ten minutes after the Pink Beast's final roar, Athavan arrived at the scene with his tactical convoy. The aftermath was pure chaos.
Scorched ground.
Burning cars.
Twisted debris still smoking from explosion impacts.
Ghoul operatives lay dead across the shattered streets, their weapons scattered.
The air was choked with heat, fuel, and fury.
But Dhiviya nowhere to be found.
Athavan scanned the battlefield, jaw clenched, breath heavy.
Mathew approached, phone in hand, eyes strained.
"Sir… we just confirmed...
All the fake cars that flooded Metropore are now scattering.
Each vehicle is fleeing in a different direction.
Chances are they've already captured Madam."
Athavan's fists curled.
His eyes turned blood-red with rage.
Then Mathew's phone rang again.
He answered, voice hurried.
"Sir… update from bomb squad.
They've disarmed the device at Metropore Hospital.
Ten more locations confirmed.
That leaves fifteen remaining."
Athavan turned slowly, eyes blazing.
"Hit Chanda's location now!
If Dhiviya was captured, she'll be moved toward him.
Deploy our surveillance teams.
Flag every vehicle inbound to his zone.
And activate Death Trope.
Get those hostages out.
And finally..."
He paused.
Then growled.
"Let every Naraka base across Asia burn!"
7:40 PM — School Hostage Command Post
Under heavy security, three masked WOME operatives emerged from the school gates.
They walked past armed officers casually, then tossed a set of walkie-talkies toward them.
"Not bad," one of them sneered.
"Seems your government found the hospital bomb. And ten more."
He chuckled darkly.
"But are you sure there are only 25?
Moving forward, our commander will speak through this walkie.
Negotiations begin…
Since we've already secured one of our key target."
They turned and walked back into the compound.
One officer rushed forward, grabbed the walkie, and handed it to Joseph Fernandez at the mobile command post.
Joseph activated the device.
"Commander of Wolf of Middle East.
Identify yourself.
State your demands."
A deep, guttural laugh flooded the airwaves.
"HAHAAHAHAHA…"
Joseph slammed the table.
"Stop laughing.
This is a direct line.
Speak now."
The voice returned slower. Controlled. Deep and venomous.
"You can call me… Jabbar.
Let's keep this short."
"Demand One:
Release Raja Sekaran and his son.
Bring them here.
Demand Two:
Load all weapons, drugs, and black money seized by your government during the purge onto the cargo ship currently docked at Northin Port.
We've already taken control of the vessel.
Coordinates and specs will be shared soon.
Demand Three:
Provide safe passage for 600 people from here to Northin Port.
Here's how it works.
Our transport will lead.
A second vessel will follow.
Once we feel secure, we'll transfer hostages onto the second ship.
They'll return to shoreif we're satisfied.
But one mistake?
We'll burn you alive."
"We're already watching your prisons.
Your government warehouses.
Your every move is under surveillance.
And here's my ultimatum:
If we don't see execution within one hour,
We kill one student.
And toss the body out front."
"You want negotiations?
This is mine."
His voice sharpened—filled with twisted hunger.
"Tell your beloved commander:
If you don't act…
We'll let all 300 of our men play with his wife.
Like rabid dogs.
We'll tear her into ribbons.
Same goes for your female students…
Your precious female teachers.
My boys are hungry wolves.
And your school? A banquet.
I'm turning off the walkie now.
We'll communicate again...
Once we see signs of compliance.
Remember my warning."
Click.
The line went dead.
Joseph blinked.
Face pale.
Hands trembling.
"Hello? Hello?!"
Nothing.
No response.
He turned.
Slapped the call button.
Opened a line to Athavan and General Rahman. He gives brief information on Jabbar's demand.
"What your next move Athavan?" General Rahman's voice came through dry but edged with concern.
Athavan didn't flinch.
"Pretend we're playing along. Extract Raja Sekaran and his son from prison.
Meanwhile, I've already moved my soldiers to secure the hostages.
At 8PM, they'll breach and neutralize the WOME.
I need Raja Sekaran alive—he's my only shot at saving my wife.
Once they're on the road, I'll intercept.
Trust me on this, Old Man… Naraka ends tonight."
Before the General could reply, Athavan cut the line.
"Athavan—hey, boy!" the General barked into dead silence.
Joseph, replied over the call, rubbed his neck awkwardly.
"General… I think he already hung up."
Rahman exhaled through clenched teeth.
"What a rude bastard.
If any of this blows up, I'll tear him apart myself.
Until then follow his plan."
He slammed the receiver down.
8:00PM – Metropore City
The tension was symphonic. Every movement, every call, every footstep felt like part of an orchestra rehearsing its final piece before the explosion.
Bomb squads combed rooftops and subways for hidden payloads.
A prison truck loaded Raja Sekaran and his son destination: school perimeter.
Joseph Fendenaze stared down at his watch. 8:00PM.
"Damn it… 300 hostiles in there.
How the hell is Athavan planning to pull this off?" he muttered, sweat slipping from his palm as he clenched the timepiece.
Then.....
Everything went dark.
Power cut.
Grid collapse.
A 15KM radius swallowed by blackness.
From the shadows, 15 DLA operatives slipped into the school zone like a surgical tide. No wasted motion. No voices.
The night had begun.
8:05PM – Metropore Highway
The prison truck rumbled down a secure highway, flanked by two escort vehicles. Inside, Raja Sekaran sat unmoving. His son leaned forward, pale but unafraid.
Correctional officers remained alert until their world got rewritten in less than sixty seconds.
Out of the fog, three shadow-cloaked bikes swept forward. DLA units:
Spectre-9 – Dart and neurotranq specialist.
Karna – Driver override and infiltration tech.
Hawkline – Surveillance disruptor, blackout pioneer.
Behind them, Athavan watched from the lead assault jeep.
"All units: Engage.
Silent protocol.
No casualties.
Target van secured in 45."
First Escort: Disabled in ten seconds.
Spectre-9 twirled out of formation and two tranquilizer darts hit the driver and passenger. The van drifted, then collided harmlessly with a crash barrier.
Rear Escort: Jammed and smoked.
Karna triggered a signal scramble. The vehicle's electronics went blind.
He fired pulse rounds and disabled cleanly.
Driver slumped unconscious inside.
Central Van: Main hit.
Hawkline parachuted from a drone drop, landing silently atop the prison truck. Two correctional officers inside the front cab shouted but too late.
Needle darts pierced the seams.
Their bodies convulsed then slumped.
Athavan moved in like a shadow stitched from rage and ice.
He opened the truck's rear manually.
Inside, Raja Sekaran blinked slowly.
"You…" he murmured.
Athavan stepped in without ceremony.
"No time for regrets. Its time to face hell!."
Spectre-9 ensured GPS trackers were removed.
Karna masked the van signal, reassigning it to a phantom decoy route.
Athavan locked the doors again. Sat down inside.
Destination: the broken edge of Metropore City- Gang Garuda's Base. Chanda's Hide Out.