[Ravenfall: Hydra(luce), Leviathan(lev), Phoenix(ishaan), Griffin(veer), Valkyrie(avni), Cerberus(sayaka), Kraken(erik), Wyvern(raiden), Nymph(saira), Sphinx(dev). Others: Amber(isolde), Azure(damien), Basilisk(Vance), Pegasus(Sol)]
The streets of Rome blurred past under flashing streetlights as three matte-black vans tore through the night. Inside the lead vehicle, Leviathan sat with arms crossed, jaw tight, refusing to look at Phoenix.
Phoenix, however, had clearly decided silence was not an option.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwL9sQJ89b
“I told you,” Ishaan said for the fifth time, “I didn’t choose to be her fake date, it just—”
“Oh yeah?” Lev snapped, still looking out the window. “So her father just accidentally thought you were her boyfriend?”
Griffin, lounging in the back seat with a smirk, decided to help. “Hey Leviathan, relax. Maybe Phoenix will invite you to the wedding. I’ll bring the cake.”
Phoenix glared. “You’re not helping.”
“Helping?” Veer raised his brows. “I’m thriving.”
In the second van, Valkyrie sat stiffly, staring at her phone like it was a loaded gun. Hydra sat opposite her, ignoring the drama completely while checking his comms. Avni’s eyes finally lifted to glare at Lev’s voice echoing through the radio. “Tell your boyfriend to stop whining,” she said flatly.
“My boyfriend?” Leviathan’s voice crackled over comms from the other van. “Oh, we’re doing this now?”
Hydra muttered without looking up, “This is why we usually don’t mix romance with missions.”
Amber, in the third van with Azure, Basilisk, and Pegasus, leaned forward with her head in her hands. “Do they even realize we’re not driving to prom?”
Azure shook his head slowly. “Nope. Either they’re S-class mafia heirs… or the worst kindergarten students I’ve ever met.”
The Intercept
They didn’t get far before Hydra’s voice cut through. “Convoy, heads up. We’ve got company—front and rear.”
The wail of sirens rose behind them. Up ahead, a barricade of Vatican Guard trucks and armored mercenaries slid into position, rifles gleaming under the streetlamps.
“Lovely,” Kraken muttered from shotgun seat in the second van.
Hydra’s tone went cold. “Switch to Delta route. We’re not stopping.”
The driver swerved hard, tires screeching, but the mercs moved to block again. A spray of bullets pinged off the side of the lead van.
“Alright, fun mode activated,” Griffin said, kicking open the side door with a grin and leaning out with a suppressed SMG. The street erupted with muzzle flashes.
In the van behind, Kraken and Cerberus took firing positions at the windows. But mid-burst, both men froze—just for a fraction of a second. On the far side of the barricade, half-hidden behind a security van, a figure moved. The build, the stance—familiar. Too familiar.
They locked eyes briefly, not speaking, then resumed firing like nothing happened.
Hydra’s Calculations
From his position in the lead van, Hydra saw the same silhouette. His stomach tightened.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZD3JusMte
Elior.
No—it couldn’t be. Elior was dead. But the way its like a man’s shoulders squared, the tilt of his head… it was like a ghost made flesh.
Is that Valken guy......?
Hydra’s focus snapped back to the fight as bullets ricocheted off the hood. “Move the Codex to van three—now!”
Wyvern passed the black case to Kraken, who leaned out and tossed it to Cerberus in the next vehicle with precision born of long practice.
Banter Under Fire
While the firefight raged, Leviathan’s simmering glare found Phoenix again.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYr1CWdill
“This is your fault.”
Phoenix’s jaw dropped. “We’re literally in a car chase and you still—”
“Boys,” Hydra interrupted sharply over comms, “if you’re done flirting, maybe aim your guns at the people trying to kill us.”
The entire channel went silent—except Griffin, who muttered, “Ouch.”
Exit in Chaos
Amber slammed a smoke grenade out the window, covering their retreat. The vans cut through an alley, bumping over cobblestones, and burst out onto a quieter road.
“Switch!” Hydra ordered.
The convoy pulled into an underground parking garage, engines idling for only seconds before a line of nondescript white delivery vans rolled out the other side. Ravenfall, Amber, Azure, Basilisk, and Pegasus were now just a group of catering staff heading toward the countryside.
The Plane
Two hours later, they were aboard the private jet again. The Codex sat locked in a case on the table, untouched.
Leviathan was still glaring at Phoenix from across the aisle. Avni sat between them like a human demilitarized zone, scrolling her phone with exaggerated calm.
Griffin stretched out in his seat, grin still intact. “You know, if I die tomorrow, I’ll die happy knowing I witnessed the most awkward love triangle in history.”
“I am not—” Phoenix started.
Amber held up a hand. “Don’t. Just… don’t. Some of us value our sanity.”
Azure sipped his coffee, looking between them. “Seriously, I’ve worked black ops with ex-war criminals who had better conflict resolution skills.”
Hydra said nothing, staring out the window. That silhouette in the street wouldn’t leave his mind. It wasn’t possible. And yet…
Elsewhere
In a dark room lined with humming machines, the golden-haired, hazel-eyed man stood before a strange device—a half-completed arch of silver alloy, its center shimmering like heat haze.
He pressed his palm against its surface and smiled like a predator. “Sleeping Gate… soon you’ll wake.”
He tilted his head, listening to some unheard response. His laughter echoed against the walls—sharp, unhinged.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoXI7VQrCw
“Project Vulture will be successful. And when it is… the world will remember me.”
and then Add to home screen.