The Underground never slept.
Artyom Sokolov stood at the edge of the high platform, staring down at the vast hidden empire beneath him. Men moved in perfect coordination. Screens flickered with data from across the world. Every movement, every decision… controlled from here.
From his father.
From Andrei Morozov.
"You're quiet," Andrei said behind him.
Artyom didn't turn immediately.
"I'm thinking," he replied.
"About what?"
Artyom's eyes remained fixed on the underground city.
"That this place… feels more real than the life I lived before."
Andrei stepped beside him, his presence calm yet overwhelming.
"Because this is the truth," he said. "Everything else was just a cage."
Before Artyom could respond—
Footsteps echoed.
Heavy. Controlled. Familiar.
Artyom turned.
At the entrance of the platform stood Viktor Volkov.
Behind him, the rest of the Volkov family followed—Mikhail, Dmitri, Nikola, and Yelena.
Even without speaking, their presence changed the atmosphere.
Power had arrived.
Viktor's gaze locked onto Artyom instantly.
For a moment, nothing else existed.
Then Viktor spoke.
"So this is where you disappeared to."
His voice was calm, but something beneath it was sharp.
Andrei stepped slightly forward.
"You came faster than I expected, Volkov."
"I don't like being left out of things that concern me," Viktor replied.
His eyes never left Artyom.
Artyom crossed his arms.
"I'm not something that concerns you."
A faint smirk touched Viktor's lips.
"That's where you're wrong."
The tension between them tightened.
Before it could escalate—
Mikhail let out a low whistle, looking around.
"This place is insane," he said. "You built all this alone?"
Dmitri's sharp eyes were already scanning the systems, the guards, the structure.
"Not alone," he said quietly. "But efficiently."
Nikola said nothing.
He simply watched.
Especially Artyom.
Yelena stepped forward slightly, her gaze sharp and assessing.
"So this is the rare omega everyone is chasing," she said.
There was no softness in her voice.
Only calculation.
Artyom met her gaze without hesitation.
"And you're the one who judges before knowing anything."
For a brief second—
Yelena smiled.
"Interesting."
Then—
Another presence entered.
Heavier.
Colder.
More commanding than the rest.
Roman Volkov.
The entire platform seemed to shift as he stepped forward.
His eyes landed on Artyom.
Slow. Measuring. Unforgiving.
"So," Roman said.
"This is the omega the Syndicate is willing to start a war for."
Silence followed.
Then Andrei spoke.
"They already have."
Everyone's attention shifted.
"The Neon Syndicate made its move," Andrei continued. "They sent Viktor Dragunov."
Mikhail's expression darkened.
"That hunter?"
Dmitri frowned slightly.
"That means they're serious."
Viktor didn't react much.
If anything, he looked more focused.
"Good," he said.
Roman glanced at him.
"Good?"
Viktor's gaze returned to Artyom.
"It means they're done hiding."
The air grew heavier.
This wasn't just tension anymore.
It was the beginning of something bigger.
Artyom felt it too.
Everything was moving now.
No more secrets.
No more running.
"Three sides," Artyom said quietly. "Sokolov. Volkov. Morozov."
He looked between them.
"And the Syndicate above all of it."
Andrei's voice was calm.
"Not above."
Roman's voice followed, colder.
"For now."
Artyom clenched his fists slightly.
War.
Not a possibility anymore.
A certainty.
Viktor stepped closer to him.
Not too close.
But enough.
"You're at the center of this," Viktor said.
"I didn't ask for it," Artyom replied.
Viktor's eyes darkened slightly.
"No one ever does."
For a moment, their gazes locked again.
Unspoken tension.
Unavoidable.
Then—
An alarm suddenly rang through the Underground.
Sharp. Urgent.
Red lights flickered across the walls.
Everyone turned.
Dmitri immediately moved to one of the screens.
His expression changed.
"They found us."
Mikhail stepped forward.
"Who?"
Dmitri's voice was low.
"The Neon Syndicate."
The screen showed movement above ground.
Black vehicles.
Armed forces.
Surrounding the mountain.
Roman's expression turned cold.
"So it begins."
Andrei's eyes hardened.
"They're faster than I expected."
Artyom's heart was steady.
No fear.
Only clarity.
Viktor looked at him one last time.
"Stay behind me."
Artyom shook his head.
"No."
Silence.
"I'm done staying behind," he said.
Something shifted in Viktor's expression.
Not anger.
Approval.
The alarm continued to echo.
The Underground prepared for war.
And under the neon-lit world above…
The first real battle was about to begin.