Pending Death

"So... you finally found your brother. Impressive. Congratulations, Jix."

"Thank you, sir."

"But now it's time to get back to your post. The army needs you more than ever. Don't let this reunion distract you from your duty."

Jix stood still, her face a mask of discipline and loyalty. But inside, fury raged. The urge to strike this man—to knock his teeth out—was burning hotter with every word. She despised him with every fiber of her being.

This man was her superior. A high-ranking official of the Human Union's General Government and commander of the Special Forces.

His name alone sparked fear.

Baguro. The Black Bull.

Others called him The Armed Demon.

Ruthless and merciless, he had taken more lives than an entire battalion. His brutality had paved his way to the top of the military hierarchy. He would stop at nothing to achieve his goals—and none of those goals had anything to do with honor.

"Sir, if that's all, request permission to withdraw."

"Wait. Before you go, I've got a mission for you. Nothing too complicated—for someone like you."

"Understood, sir."

"If you fail, you'll disgrace your entire unit. So don't screw it up."

"I won't. I never do."

"Good. Remember this: the weak have no place here."

With a heart heavy as lead, Jix—the Blood Valkyrie—set off on one of the darkest missions of her life.

In the shadow of war, while armies slaughtered each other across scorched fields, the people struggled to survive.

The dead piled up.

The screams rose.

But no one was listening.

The Mixed War, where men and women fought side by side, had only worsened the body count. Amid the chaos, a small group had emerged.

Tiny at first, but growing fast.

Their leader?

A man who still dared to dream of peace.

Pedro Wilton.

But his rebellion—small as it was—was about to cost him everything.

Jix's mission: eliminate him. Extinguish hope before it turned to wildfire.

In this government, anything that caused trouble… got erased.

After meeting with Baguro, Jix returned to Red Light City, headquarters of the Daylight Division. She arrived with thirty handpicked operatives, elite soldiers trained for silence.

Their goal: infiltration.

Bill:

"How many men does it take to bring down a wall? Just asking..."

Jix:

"None. We're not destroying anything. This mission stays quiet. We stay invisible."

Rod:

"So how do we get in, then?"

Jix:

"I'll handle it myself."

Diana:

"And how exactly are you planning to do that?"

Jix:

"Don't worry. I already have a plan."

Bill:

"Okay. But first, we need to find him."

They were more than a team.

They were family. A unit bound not by orders—but by war.

Jix:

"Nill, got anything?"

Nill:

"He's not on any official registry. But I found his name in the refugee archives."

Nikki:

"And?"

Nill:

"Pedro Wilton. 38. Two daughters—12 and 15. Rejected from the army due to a heart condition."

Jix:

"A sick man… a father… What a mess. Anything else?"

Nill:

"Yes. He was declared dead last year. Heart failure."

Bill:

"Dead? You serious?"

Jix:

"You're joking, right?"

Nill:

"Officially, yes. But he recently tried to enter the Western Shelter in the Greater South."

Rod:

"And what if he really is dead?"

Nill:

"Highly unlikely."

Bill:

"Estimated time to reach it?"

Nill:

"Fourteen hours, if we move fast."

Jix:

"Then we move. Bill, Nikki, Rod—you're with me. Diana, take the speed-vehicle. Head to Shelter 37, Sector Seven. Once we're in position, we'll have ten hours to find him—and eliminate him."

A covert mission had just begun.

To be continued...At the Heart of Shadows...