The thirteen Umbra Shades rookies gathered in the dim briefing room, the tension buzzing beneath their skin like static electricity. Azure — the calm, commanding presence of the Glooms — stood before them.
He scanned the group, voice low but razor-sharp.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVMN0Zt6F7
“Alright rookies. Before we dive into who you are — what you think about the mafia?”
Veer smirked immediately.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyhZlVrqxh
“Mafia? Just a bunch of power-hungry thugs. No honor, just bullets and bad deals.”
Ishaan chuckled, “Yeah, violent criminals with too many guns and terrible tempers.”
Avni crossed her arms, “Organized, ruthless. They rule by fear and loyalty, but sometimes they keep peace in the chaos.”
Raiden’s voice was quiet but certain, “They’re like a shadow government — hidden, but everywhere.”
Azure nodded slowly, then fixed them with a sharp gaze.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzm3nWYEuBi
“And who do you think is the true mafia?”
Lev shrugged, “The bosses pulling all the strings, the ones no one ever sees.”
Elior smirked, “Or maybe the system itself — corrupted laws, dirty politicians.”
Sayaka’s eyes narrowed, “The real power is behind the scenes. The ones who control the puppets.”
Azure’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqqryG9k2b
“You’re close. A true mafia never drags ordinary people into its wars. It protects the good by destroying the evil — but it does so by being evil itself. It’s like Satan fighting Satan. A balance maintained through darkness. The real mafia isn’t just crime families. It’s a force of nature. Sometimes necessary, sometimes cruel.”
A heavy silence fell over the group.
Then Azure’s tone shifted, sharper, commanding.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK54QHBMPkx
“Now, did you all choose your nicknames? You’ll carry these like armor. Choose carefully.”
The room buzzed with whispers and light jabs.
Ishaan grinned.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlEXVHqfOo
“Bro, this is Money Heist all over again. I’m Money.”
Veer jumped in, grinning wide.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnt29KFSfKm
“I’m Berlin, the man with style.”
Lev rolled his eyes and smacked both of them on the back of the head.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a9XcdWO00
“Enough nonsense. We need a real theme.”
Vance suggested, “Animals. Everyone picks an animal.”
Elior argued, “Colors. Everyone a color.”
Avni smirked, “Greek gods and goddesses?”
Voices rose into chaotic debate, each claiming their favorite.
“Stop the fucking fighting,” Azure snapped, stepping forward.
“The theme will be mythical creatures. Each name represents what you are.”
He laid out the thirteen names clearly, his voice steady and cold:186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGU8Mlzj9t
Phoenix, Griffin, Hydra, Chimera, Kraken, Basilisk, Wyvern, Leviathan, Nymph, Sphinx, Cerberus, Valkyrie, Pegasus.
The rookies exchanged looks, the weight of their new identities settling in.
The assignments fell naturally:
Ishaan — Phoenix, fiery, rebirth, unstoppable.
Veer — Griffin, proud and fierce protector.
Luce — Hydra, many heads, hard to kill.
Erik — Kraken, overwhelming force.
Avni — Valkyrie, fierce chooser of fate.
Sayaka — Cerberus, loyal guardian.
Raiden — Wyvern, swift and deadly.
Lev — Leviathan, power from the deep.
Saira — Nymph, mysterious and graceful.
Dev — Sphinx, stoic, keeper of secrets.
Elior — Chimera, unpredictable fusion.
Vance — Basilisk, deadly gaze.
Sol — Pegasus, soaring spirit.
As the names sank in, the door opened. Amber — stepped in, elegant and ruthless. Veer whispered to Ishaan,186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQ35uOXN50
“Dude… she looks like Luce’s female version.”
Luce hushed them, “No names.”
Dev raised a hand, “Azure, can we use our real names in the dorms when we’re not Shades?”
Azure nodded, “Once you clear Shades and become Glooms. Not before.”
Avni, Sayaka, and Saira all nodded in agreement. Elior grinned, “Sounds just like Luce.”
Private Moment: Luce and Sayaka
Later, Luce lay resting his head on Sayaka’s shoulder, exhaustion finally catching up. The room was quiet except for their slow breaths.
Ishaan, ever the restless one, nudged Azure quietly. “You said we can’t reveal our real names, but you can, right?”
Veer grinned, “Yeah, spill the beans, man. One by one, please.”
Azure’s cold eyes flicked to them. “Alright, but only here.”
Luce stirred, sensing the change in mood, eyes half-opening.
Azure cleared his throat.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xhzEKSlLD
“I am Damien Valgrave.”
The words hit the room like a bomb.
Dev and Saira both whispered, “What the fuck?”
Vance, squeezed between Sol and Elior, froze stiff.
Luce stared hard, eyes flicking between Raiden and Lev, thinking, Sponsors.
Sayaka, who rarely spoke, finally asked quietly, “That means your father is Adrian Valgrave?”
Azure nodded solemnly. “Yes. And I am your commanding officer — off mission, I oversee all Shades.”
Amber stepped forward, voice cool and precise. “I am Isolde Valgrave, Damien’s twin.”
The Shades around the room exchanged shocked looks.
Azure added, “She is the on-screen commanding officer. She is the one who will lead the missions.”
Ishaan, unable to hold back, blurted out, “Is this family hair color and eye color, or what?”
Raiden smacked Ishaan lightly. Avni and Saira whispered, “They’re exactly like Luce, bro.”
Veer piped up, “Are you anything to do with Moretti?”
Sayaka smacked Veer hard, “Shut up!”
Azure and Amber together smirked at luce and said ,"Maybe"
Everyone Froze.
Luce couldn’t handle their teasing and turned away, the seed of doubt planted deep in his heart.
Azure’s voice cut through the tension.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0K7eXJ3hp
“Get some rest. Twelve hours left before the mission.”
The rookies settled into uneasy silence, the weight of secrets and shadows pressing down — but the test was only just beginning.
ns216.73.216.33da2
and then Add to home screen.