19 Years Later — January 14, 2035
Inside a heavily fortified military base of the United Sovereign States,a line of soldiers stood at attention, their faces carved from stone.
At the far end of the row stood Chris, his black hair slightly tousled, his piercing red eyes burning with silent intensity.Beside him were the members of his squad — young, sharp, and ready.And standing proud among them was Captain Samuel, a man whose sharp mustache and hardened, battle-scarred gaze spoke of countless wars survived.
The atmosphere was thick with tension, as if everyone knew — today would be a day remembered in history.
At the front stage, an old soldier slowly approached the podium.Though age had weathered his features, his eyes still burned like a lion stalking prey.He gripped the microphone with a steady hand and spoke, his voice hard as iron.
"Attention, soldiers!"
Immediately, the entire row snapped into a crisp salute.
The old man continued, his presence commanding the room.
"My name hardly needs an introduction... but for formality's sake, I'll say it: Brandon, codename Ace."
He paused for a heartbeat, letting the name settle over the crowd.
"I'm sure you're wondering why we've gathered you here today.Listen carefully — the terrorist armies have grown.They are stronger now, more organized than ever before.If we stand idle, they will succeed in their plans...and when they do, everything — everything we fight for — will come to an end."
His words echoed across the base, heavy like the calm before a coming storm.
Brandon Ace continued, his voice steady and commanding:
"Most countries around the world are mobilizing their forces,gathering their best and sending them on missions."
He paused, sweeping his sharp gaze across the soldiers.
Brandon Ace continued, his voice like a steel hammer:
"The Dominion of Alveria. New Corinthia. The Federation of Ostrelia."
He spoke each name slowly, like a list of warnings.
"These nations have already launched full-scale attacks against the terrorist organizations."He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
"But even with their combined might... they couldn't even scratch ten percent of their enemy's strength."
A murmur of unease rippled through the rows of soldiers.
Brandon's eyes narrowed, his voice growing darker.
"I want you all to understand — with this example alone — just how dangerous these organizations have become.They are not scattered rebels anymore.They are an army. Ruthless, disciplined, and ready for war."
Brandon's voice turned cold, slicing through the heavy air:
"And now... I will announce the teams assigned to global missions."
He let the silence stretch for a moment, his gaze like a blade across the soldiers.
"This is no drill.This is no exercise.From this moment forward — it's life or death."
He gripped the podium tighter, his knuckles whitening.
"There's no room for mistakes. No second chances.Only victory... or the end."
Brandon stepped back from the podium slightly, pulling a list from his pocket.
His voice rang out across the silent base:
"Captain Samuel — step forward with your squad."
Without hesitation, Captain Samuel barked a short command.His team, including Chris, moved in perfect unison, marching forward with heavy, determined steps.
The eyes of every soldier in the hall followed them, the air thick with respect... and dread.
Brandon watched them approach, his expression grim.
Captain Samuel stepped forward, his boots striking the ground with heavy, deliberate steps.
Following behind him were the members of his squad:
Chris, with his black hair and burning red eyes, his expression calm but dangerous.Aria, her sleek black hair tied tightly back, her gaze sharp as a blade.Noah, his hair tinged faintly red, a smirk playing at the edge of his lips, masking the seriousness in his eyes.And Tina, her hair cut short in a fierce wolf-style, her posture wild yet focused — like a predator ready to pounce.
They moved as one — a storm gathering before the battlefield.
Every eye in the hall was on them, knowing they were about to be thrown straight into the fire.
Brandon's voice grew more commanding as he continued, locking eyes with Captain Samuel:
"Captain Samuel, you're assigned to the Middle East."
Samuel snapped to attention and saluted. "Roger that, sir."
Brandon allowed a faint smile to flicker across his face, but it quickly vanished. His eyes narrowed, the weight of the mission settling on him.
"Listen carefully.While there are terrorist cells in the region, you need to keep your focus on a far more dangerous group — the Silver Claws."
The soldiers straightened, their attention fixed on the briefing. Brandon's tone darkened as he spoke, the gravity of his words clear.
"They're not your typical gang. In fact, they're almost on par with the terrorists in terms of threat level.But here's the twist — the Silver Claws aren't just causing chaos for profit. They're playing an anti-hero role, targeting terrorists, taking them down with brutal efficiency."
He paused, letting the weight of that sink in.
"Do not engage them. Do not attack them unless they give you no choice. But keep your eyes open and be wary. These men and women are united — almost like a family. They're loyal to each other to a fault."
Brandon's gaze turned colder, his voice lowering as he spoke of the gang's leader.
"Their leader... we have nothing on him.He rose to power in the last decade like wildfire. All we know? Silver hair. Blue eyes. That's it. Nothing else. It's like he doesn't exist in any records before that."
Brandon locked eyes with Samuel, his expression hardening.
"Keep your guard up, Captain. They're dangerous in ways you won't expect. And they won't hesitate to wipe anyone who stands in their way."