The war room quieted to a reverent hush as Alex stepped to the head of the table. He let the silence hang, his gaze sweeping across the assembled leaders and the newly chosen members, including Maya Hansen, before he began.
"We live in a world that changes faster than any in history. Power shifts and threats evolve, and yet one truth remains—people need protectors. In the ancient era, those protectors were the heroes of their time. They were called knights. Today, we will become the Knights—Knights of Advent New Era. This name will carry forward the legacy of KANE, binding our mission to both history and the future."
Holographic crests flared into existence behind him—seven symbols rising like cold fire. At the center, a larger crest formed: a circular shield bisected by a broad sword, with a rising star set behind the blade. Above it, the single word KNIGHTS arched in block letters, the "K" styled with an extending, spear-like tail. It was designed to be seen at a distance and to read well on patches and the sides of armored vehicles.
He turned and tapped the central crest, and the image resolved into a full projection for the assembled leaders. The crest was both promise and warning—a shield to protect, a sword to strike.
"Light the Path. Shield the People," Alex declared. The motto carried the weight of purpose without pretension.
A murmur ran around the room; the phrase fit the tone he wanted—public service without the vanity of claiming to be saviors.
He gave each of the selected members a file and proceeded to read out the Orders and their leaders.
Davies would lead the Phoenix Order, the elite superhuman strike force composed of those who had undergone the transformation with the Phoenix Serum, their presence on the field marked by the emblem of a flaming sword.
Henderson would command the Storm Order, the vanguard unit of the Knights, their armor bearing lightning‑bolt sigils.
The Umbra Order, under Silas Kade—one of the individuals personally chosen by Richard—would specialize in infiltration and espionage, represented by a shadowed dagger.
Elias Grant would oversee the Nexus Order, dedicated to intelligence and analysis, symbolized by a webbed eye.
Gideon Hale—another senior and trusted member dating back to the time of Marcus Kane—would lead the Aegis Order, responsible for internal security, their men marked by a tower shield.
Marla Ren would head the Sentinel Order, tasked with civilian protection and disaster response, serving as the public face of the Knights, with an open gauntlet emblazoned on their chests.
Maya Hansen was appointed as the leader of the Nova Order, the only team with no military role, dedicated solely to research, technological innovation, and medical advancements, symbolized by an atomic orb.
Finally, Alex announced the title that would bind them: Richard Kane would serve as Chancellor—mediator, senior overseer, and the one who reports directly to Alex, the Director General.
Davies was still thinking about his newborn son's first smile that morning, and he was already getting promoted. 'My son is really my lucky charm.' Every leader carried their own thoughts.
"This is more than a rebrand," Alex said, his gaze locking with each leader in turn. "Each order has a purpose, clear limits, and accountability. Knights wear armor not to hide from light, but to cast longer shadows—so we must make our presence known to the world."
---
After the ceremony, Alex quietly instructed Henderson and Richard to stay behind for a private discussion.
"I heard you were in the Special Forces, Henderson." Alex said.
Henderson nodded.
Alex continued, "Every organization has a light side but also a dark side. I need a blade that leaves no trace."
Richard's eyes widened in shock, his voice low and strained. "Alex… do you realize this path will drown men in blood?"
Alex met his uncle's eyes. "Then we need to swim in blood. Heroes fall to threats they can't face in daylight. We are not the only ones following this path. To survive, extreme choices must be made."
Henderson stood up with one hand to his chest. "I'm ready for it, General. I thank you for the trust you have given me."
"Good," Alex said. "You can choose your team. I'll take their Oath personally. Your mission is urgent."
He handed Henderson a sealed envelope. Henderson's brow furrowed at its contents, but he remained silent. Before leaving, he turned to ask. "Is there a name to our group?"
Alex's smile was tinged with melancholy. "In the dark, names don't matter. Only deeds matter."
Henderson thought about it for a moment, then he nodded and left. Richard followed, deep in thought.
Alex watched them both. He felt the weight of what he'd asked and knew the cost. He had decided the public face and the private hand could not mirror each other; one served the people, the other removed the threats that the people could never be shown.
He was now more worried about earning SP as he is in urgent need of SP to purchase the Eternal Oath scroll but currently has just enough SP to afford only one.
---
The mountain air was thin and biting. Henderson's assassin team moved like cutouts against the white—five operatives in tight formation, two assassins riding as their ghost wing. Their target was a SHIELD transport winding through a pass carrying a prisoner - Ivan Vanko.
They closed in on the convoy carrying Vanko in seconds, Henderson and the others wearing masks and specialized devices to conceal their identities.
A grenade rolled under a transport vehicle, detonating and flipping it instantly. SHIELD agents scrambled to fight back, but the carefully planned ambush gave Henderson's team the upper hand. Following Alex's order to keep casualties minimal, they subdued rather than killing the agents.
Henderson unlocked the back, dragged Vanko out, and killed him with a single shot. He made it look like it was an execution. Before leaving, he planted a SHIELD tracker on the body of a Ten Rings operative, ensuring analysts would find it first.
The ambush was improvised on purpose. Ten Rings‑style weapons were used, and Hammer‑tech grenades were seeded in the blast to push investigators toward a false lead. The point was to kill the immediate trail and bury the truth beneath a plausible third‑party attack.
The team exfiltrated on snowmobiles; the murder looked like the work of mercenaries, and that was the plan.
The operation required precision and subtle deception. No one in the field celebrated. They didn't even use the rebirth potion for their injuries. They all knew how quickly a single misstep could undo them.
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