Two days later, before dawn fully claimed the sky, Spiral Island woke up to the sound of boots and engines.
Nearly ten thousand soldiers – from the Spiral Crown, America, Russia, India, and China – stood in formation around the Spiral Kingdom. They surrounded it completely, sealing every road, every coast, and every possible escape. Steel glinted in the early light.
Guns were loaded.
Blades were sharpened.
Bombs, spears, arrows – ancient and modern instruments of death stood side by side.
They waited for a single command.
Fahad's command.
Fahad stood above them, draped once again in his magical cloak. The fabric fluttered gently in the morning wind, but beneath it, his thoughts were restless.
"What if my magic fails me this time?"
The thought came uninvited – and refused to leave. Suddenly, Noah approached him swiftly. "They've arrived," she said. Fahad nodded, masking his tension behind a calm smile, and followed her toward the gathering forces.
Elsewhere, freedom came to Galib without ceremony.
No guards.
No chains.
Just an open path.
He didn't question it.
He walked fast, hunger for Fahad's presence driving him forward. He had stories to tell. Warnings.
A black car rolled to a stop beside him. Galib smirked. "Finally."
A man stepped out of the car. Galib became happy to see him.
Galib: "You? Get me to Fahad."
Man: "You are not allowed to see him."
That was all the warning Galib got.
A hood.
Cold metal on his wrist.
A violent shove.
As the car sped away, Galib's face got darkened, thinking what was happening.
At a safe distance, Tayeb, Rafi, Musa, and Rafiq watched as Fahad's army completely surrounded the Kingdom.
Tayeb: "There's no way to stand against this."
Rafi: "And we are still dreaming of winning without an army."
Musa (sign language): "Maybe Siddik has an army. Otherwise, he wouldn't declare war."
Rafiq: "Exactly. Siddik isn't stupid."
Rafi: "Oh really? Then where is his army? When will they arrive – after we're dead?"
Tayeb: "The Revenants are captive to him. No nation is willing to side with us. Kharan Kingdom, Merid Kingdom, and FROSTBANE's soldiers will be useless before this. So what exactly is he planning?"
Musa (sign language): "Maybe he has other plans like… bomb the area?"
Rafiq: "Musa, that's ridiculous."
Suddenly, Tayeb's phone rang.
Siddik.
Siddik: "Have you arrived?"
Tayeb: "Yes, and Fahad's soldiers too."
Siddik: "I know. Keep a safe distance and don't let them see you. I am almost there."
Tayeb: "Your army hasn't arrived yet. Are you bringing them with you?"
Siddik: "No. They're waiting like you."
The call ended.
Inside the prison cells…
Everyone grew tense as news of the war spread. Then Fahad entered, laughing.
Fahad: "Brother Hasan! Today you'll witness history. Siddik will fall – and Fahad will rise. I can't stop thinking about the news headlines tomorrow."
Hasan: "The war hasn't even started yet."
Fahad: "You think I need a war to defeat him?"
Fakhrul stepped forward.
Fakhrul: "You really think you can defeat him so easily?"
Fahad: "Any doubts, Mr. Fakhrul?"
Darwin's voice cut through the room.
Darwin: "You know what, Fahad? Your father made one mistake. He told you to fight against a ghost. You can't even imagine what he will do."
Fahad: "I'm here to inform you that your failed warrior is coming with his fellow Governors and friends only. No nation or kingdom dared to help him. Poor boy."
Darwin: "That's the thing, Fahad. Just wait for his arrival. Your soldiers will beg before him. Just mind it."
Fahad turned toward the exit.
Fahad: "Keep dreaming. I'll return with his head without the body."
He left.
Moments later, Siddik arrived.
No banners.
No armies.
Only Zaber and Arthur stood beside him.
Deep within the cave, Samia monitored everything through comms, her voice steady as she coordinated movements across unseen systems.
Siddik hugged Tayeb and met the others briefly.
Siddik: "So good to see you, Governors."
Rafi: "But where are our soldiers, Siddik?"
Siddik: "In this war, we don't need soldiers. We need patience."
Musa (sign language): "What's your plan?"
Siddik: "For now, a short meeting with Fahad."
Siddik mounted his horse and rode toward the kingdom. Fahad saw a guy approaching. Alone. Noah confirmed that it was Siddik. Siddik stooped in the middle of the battlefield. He gestured to Fahad to meet him alone. Noah hesitated, but Fahad went to meet him.
Fahad: "I feel pity seeing you like this, Siddik. I imagined you'd come with a large army. We will have a fight. But look how it'll end."
Siddik: "Fahad, weak people need support, not the strong. You know, even if I lose, I will win in one point. People will see Fahad feared Siddik. That's why he was waiting to kill one Siddik with thousands of soldiers. And I love this line."
Fahad: "Let people think whatever they do. Today the worthy king stands, and the fake falls."
Siddik: "You wanted a fight, and I brought you a war. Doesn't it feel like a deal with the devil?"
Fahad: "You remember? You once said that if you want peace, prepare for war. I was always ready to fight you, Siddik."
Siddik: "Fahad, I won't tell you to leave this island. You had the right to be here. But you lost when you shook hands with the Spiral Crown. In our family history, this is the first time we are facing our own bloodlines. So don't hesitate if you get the chance of finishing me."
Fahad: "You think I will hesitate? I have been waiting since my childhood to kill you with my own hands."
Siddik: "That's the spirit."
Fahad: "Siddik, let's see who has more courage."
They turned away.
Fahad raised his hand.
"Attack."
The soldiers charged.
Rafiq, Rafi, and others are waiting for Siddik's signal.
Siddik turned back for some steps. Then pulled out a small device and pressed a button.
The ground groaned around the whole kingdom. The ground didn't explode – answered. Cracks spread beneath the battlefield like veins. Then hands broke through the sand. Then soldiers.
The entire bodies – rising in perfect bows. Thousands of army – they were looking like humans, but they weren't.
No talks, no sounds.
Not undead, not alive.
Obedient.
They were clones.
Siddik's old project – Revenants 2.0.
Fahad's army stopped without any command. Fear spread faster than sound. Everyone on the battlefield was shocked. They were only thinking of one thing.
"What the hell is happening here? Who are they? Where did they come from?"
Siddik smiled and said only one word.
"Charge!!!"
The clone Revenants moved. The first shot rang out. The war began – not with a roar, with disbelief.
Noah watched Fahad's face.
For the first time –
He didn't look like a king.
Siddik: "Tayeb, send Zaber and Arthur to my position."
A brief pause.
"And you four – go to the cells. Bring them back. Now."
Tayeb: "On it, Siddik."
Zaber and Arthur broke from the smoke and moved forward to Siddik's position. Without another word, Tayeb, Musa, Rafi, and Rafiq turned away from the battlefield and headed toward the Spiral Castle.
From far beyond the ridge, Rehan approached.
And something dark followed in his wake.