The wind over the cliffs howled like an omen of death. Beneath that dying sky, the banners of FROSTBANE fluttered – dark blue, torn at the edge, soaked with the rain. Thousands of soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder, faces hidden under iron masks, their hearts beating in unison. The world was waiting for this war.
In each of their headquarters, Tayeb, Rafiq, Musa, and Rafi were connected to the commanders through comm devices. The frequency hummed softly – the sound of war breathing before its first scream.
Tayeb's gloved hand hovered over the transmitter. "All squads hold position," he said coldly. "Wait for my signal."
The soldiers gripped their weapons. Their lips moved as one.
A chant – low, grim, and carried by the storm:
"For Siddik. For Spiral Island."
Rafiq's voice came through the static. "Tayeb… the time's now. Give the order."
Tayeb exhaled. The storm cracked with lightning over the horizon. He whispered, "May our soul burn brighter than their empire."
Then, louder – a roar that echoed across the battlefield:
"FROSTBANE – MARCH!"
The ground trembled. Hundreds of cannons fired at once. Fireballs streaked through the dark sky. The waves crashed crimson against the cliffs of Spiral Island as the soldiers charged. War had returned to the world.
Inside the black marble palace, King Fahad stood on his tower balcony. The night sky reflected in his eyes – cold, endless, merciless.
A guard came running into Fahad's room. Fahad and Galib were both in the same room.
Guard: "King, a large number of soldiers broke through the northern gate of Spiral Island, and they are attacking our towers one by one."
Galib: "Then fight them, you idiots!"
Guard: "We are nothing in front of them. Because we are newly trained and inexperienced. You have to do something; otherwise, we will lose all of our army."
Fahad: "Give me my swords."
Galib: "No, Fahad. It's not good for you to fight them. Because you are also a newly trained person and have never fought a war."
Fahad: "I don't need to. I am a King, father. People should know why they will have to serve me."
Galib: "Fahad, try to understand. This isn't evolution – it's annihilation! I'll send Noah, but please stay here."
Fahad: "I am a storm, Father. And storms don't sit in one place; they destroy everything in their way."
He stepped past him, his armor glowing faintly with crimson runes. Galib whispered, "You'll die out there! Siddik has summoned his soldiers, and no ordinary men serve him."
Without looking back, Fahad replied, "Then I will go. I want to show him how a single mistake by our grandfather made us who we are."
Fahad and Noah descended upon the battlefield like a curse. The soldiers stopped, even the dying paused – because they felt his presence before they saw him. Fahad raised his hand. The air thickened. He whispered one word – and reality obeyed.
The sky turned black, and thunder started to crack. The ground split open, bleeding fire. From the ashes rose a crimson mist that crawled into the armor of the living.
At first, the soldiers screamed. Then they started killing each other. Blades tore through flesh, brothers tore out throats, friends burned friends alive. Their cries became laughter – broken, hollow, twisted.
Fahad watched as six hundred soldiers slaughtered themselves. He didn't flinch. Even he didn't blink. When the last one fell, the world was silent again – except for the crackle of burning flags.
He walked through the corpses until he found a shattered walkie-talkie, still buzzing faintly with static. He pressed the button, his voice low, cruel, and calm.
"Whoever you are… wherever you hide… I will find you. And I will show you how cruel I can be."
The signal went dead.
In the headquarters miles away, Tayeb, Rafi, Musa, and Rafiq stared at the transmitter. No one spoke. For the first time, they weren't sure if this war could be won.
The old prison was quiet, except for the rain striking the stones. The air smelled of rust and despair. Hasan sat in the corner with his family, while Darwin and the Revenants occupied the opposite cells.
Suddenly, Fahad came with a torn commander's jacket. He showed that to Hasan and grinned.
Fahad: "Look, brother."
Hasan: "What is this?"
Fahad: "Your brother thought his tiny soldiers could kill me. Look what I've done to them."
Hasan (smiled): "You're a foolish king, Fahad."
Fahad: "I am foolish?"
Hasan: "Yes. You're thinking he sent them to kill you. But no, he sent them to show you that a king had to leave the palace and fight his tiny soldiers."
Fahad looked down and was silent for a moment.
Hasan: "He showed you that a fake king needs to fight himself. But for a true king, the soldiers are ready to face anything."
Darwin shouted, "Fake king!"
The Revenants also shouted, "Fake king! Fake king!"
Fahad left the place without even a word.
Hasan looked at Darwin.
Hasan: "Was it really him?"
Darwin: "No, I am sure. Because he won't come like this, it's not his style."
Hridoy (chuckled bitterly): "Then he's gone. Either buried or watching us from some tower, enjoying the show."
Fakhrul: "Hridoy, enough."
Hridoy: "What, enough, Fakhrul? We've waited for five years. Five damn years, man! For what? For a ghost who forgot us? Or for obeying all his orders blindly?"
Zara: "Yes, Hridoy is right. What is the purpose we are here? Who is he? Why do we need to obey his every order?"
Darwin: "You don't know his past. You don't know his story. What he told was his peace side; he did not even tell you ten percent of his story."
Hridoy: "Oh, I know him. He lies, hides, and calls it strategy. I know men like him – all pride, no heart."
Darwin leaned forward, his voice like cold steel scraping the floor.
Darwin: "You know the man. You don't know the monster. The monster, who doesn't kill his enemies. He eats them."
The room felt silent. Even the rain paused.
Hridoy: "Then tell us. Tell us who he was before he became what he is."
Hayder: "Yes, Darwin. They have the right to know. They should know why they are here."
Darwin looked at the torchlight flickering on the stone walls. He whispered, "Then listen carefully. Because once you know his story, you'll never speak his name the same way again. The man you knew was hiding a history far darker than you can imagine. If he ever wears his old armor again… the world will remember why even the devils feared him."
That same night, Tayeb, Rafi, Musa, and Rafiq were summoned to the Kharan Kingdom. The grand hall was dim, lit only by torchlight. John Bolton, Mary Tyler, and Henry Michael awaited them at the round table, faces paled with dread.
Mary broke the silence.
Mary: "We thought we would win. At least half of the soldiers will die. His spells… they are so dangerous."
Bolton slammed his fist on the table.
Bolton: "He's already searching for us. He sent his father to hunt down the ones behind the attack. If our names surface… we're dead."
Michael: "So what do we do?"
Mary: "Governors, why are you all so silent?"
Rafi: "What's left to say?"
Tayeb turned from the window, his voice grim but steady.
Tayeb: "This time, we fight together. No shadows, no running. We fight from the end."
Bolton: "And if we die?"
Rafiq: "Then at least we die for something."
Rafi: "Better than living as ghosts."
Musa (sign language): "We show them our inner demons. We show them what we can do, what we can become when it comes to our ego."
Michael: "Then let me be the monster they fear."
A sudden thunder crashed outside. The torches flickered.
One figure appeared at the door – a dark silhouette against the lightning. The figure spoke coldly, "No one knows the outcome of our choices. We must act, even if regret follows."
The soldiers standing outside the hall dropped their weapons and knelt to the ground.
Michael: "Hey! Who's there? Show your face."
The figure stepped into the hall. He slowly removed his mask – revealing the face that haunted the legends. Everyone in the hall stood from their chair and looked at him in shock.