Morning sunlight spilled over Rebel Town like a blade cutting through fog.
But in U-Force's hall room, the air was heavier than steel.
Zain still sat on the sofa, bandages across his body, eyes hard enough to silence the world around him.
Alice leaned against the wall, arms crossed, smirking as if he was watching something dangerous being born.
Damiyan's fists clenched and unclenched, restless.
Cube, ever the observer, watched silently, his sharp gaze flicking between them all.
And Orion stood behind Zain, arms folded. Protector. Strategist. Brother.
For a long time, no one spoke.
Finally, Zain broke the silence.
"From today, no more half measures. We rise or we fall, but we do it together."
His voice was steady, carrying no doubt.
Alice smirked wider. "Finally. The old Zain would've said something about peace. This one—" he gestured at Zain's cold aura "—this one looks ready to tear the world apart."
Zain's gaze didn't shift. "Peace is the end. But war is the path."
Damiyan stepped forward, frustration in his tone. "Then let me fight Mahir next. I'm not afraid of him. I'm tired of waiting!"
Zain's eyes locked onto him like a blade to a throat.
"You want to fight Mahir? Then first, fight me."
Damiyan froze. The room fell dead silent.
Zain's aura pressed down like a storm, making even Alice's smirk falter. Cube raised an eyebrow but didn't move.
"Don't mistake anger for strength," Zain continued, voice calm but sharp as glass. "If you fight with rage, you'll die. That's not U-Force. That's suicide."
Damiyan gritted his teeth, lowering his head. "…Tch. Fine."
Zain leaned back again, closing his eyes for a moment, like a king dismissing his subjects.
The Next Day – College
The college courtyard was loud as always. Students filled the grounds, gossiping, laughing, shouting.
But when U-Force walked in—silence fell.
Zain at the center.
Alice, Damiyan, Cube, and Orion flanking him like shadows.
Zain's bandages were still visible, but his posture—straight, sharp, unshaken—radiated presence. His every step was measured, heavy, unyielding.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"That's Zain."
"Didn't Mahir crush him?"
"He doesn't look crushed now…"
"Why does it feel like he's stronger?"
Eyes followed their every movement. The courtyard, usually filled with chatter, became a stage where only U-Force mattered.
Then—the tension broke.
From across the courtyard, a group of WS members stepped forward. Not just any—Imanji, First Army Chief, flanked by Tastin and Rui.
The air thickened instantly.
Imanji smirked, voice carrying across the yard. "Well, well. Look who crawled back from the grave."
Students froze. A clash was coming.
Zain didn't stop walking. His gaze locked onto Imanji's, unblinking. When he spoke, his tone was quiet but everyone heard it.
"Graves are for the dead. Do I look dead to you?"
The courtyard erupted in gasps.
Imanji's smirk faltered for a second—but only a second. "You think walking back here makes you strong? Mahir already showed you your place. Crawl back before you break again."
Alice stepped forward, cracking his knuckles, voice sharp. "Careful, dog. Last time you saw Zain fight, he wasn't even serious."
Damiyan growled, ready to step up, but Zain raised a hand slightly—stopping them all without a word.
He stepped closer to Imanji until the space between them was thin enough for sparks to burn.
"I'll fight Mahir again," Zain said softly. "But not yet. Not until I decide the battlefield. Tell him that."
Imanji narrowed his eyes, searching Zain's expression. What he found there wasn't bluff. It wasn't weakness. It was something colder. More dangerous.
He scoffed, turning away. "Fine. Enjoy your little rise, Zain. When Mahir comes, not even your shadows will save you."
WS walked off. The tension slowly drained, but the whispers didn't stop.
"Zain just stood up to Imanji…"
"Is U-Force really growing that fast?"
"This war… it's going to explode."
---
Later That Day – Rooftop
The wind howled over the rooftop of Orion College.
Zain stood alone, fists in his pockets, staring out at Rebel Town's skyline.
Alice joined him, leaning on the railing. "You know… when I first met you, I thought you were just another idealist. Strong, but naïve. Now…" He smirked. "Now I see it. You're dangerous. That's why people are coming. They don't follow peace. They follow danger."
Zain didn't look at him. "Peace is still my goal. But to reach it, I'll have to walk through blood."
Alice chuckled. "Now you sound like me."
Behind them, Orion appeared, stepping into the wind. "Numbers are growing fast. If Alice is right, we're around thirteen hundred strong. But WS is still bigger. And Skull Fire…" His eyes darkened. "They're still untouchable."
Zain finally turned, his gaze sharp. "Then we make them touchable."
Alice raised an eyebrow. "You're really thinking about Skull Fire already?"
Zain's tone was ice. "If we only chase WS, Skull Fire will swallow us all eventually. I won't let U-Force be another footnote in their history."
Orion studied him quietly, then nodded. "Then we need strategy. Training. Unity. The next war won't be decided by fists alone."
Zain's lips curved into the faintest of smirks. "Good. Because I'm not planning to fight alone."
The rooftop fell silent, but it wasn't the silence of despair anymore. It was the silence of a storm gathering strength.
---
Night – U-Force Hideout
The hall room buzzed with new recruits—faces eager, restless, hungry.
Alice barked orders. Damiyan sparred with fresh fighters. Cube noted everything, his calm eyes missing nothing.
And in the center, Zain stood before them all.
His bandages still showed. His body was still healing.
But his voice—sharp, commanding, unshakable.
"Listen well. U-Force isn't a gang. It's not a name you wear. It's a promise."
Every eye locked onto him.
"A promise that no matter how far we fall, we rise. No matter how strong our enemies, we fight. And no matter how much blood is spilled—ours or theirs—we do not break."
His words thundered across the hall.
"WS thinks they own this city. Skull Fire thinks they own the world. Let them believe it. For now."
He raised his fist.
"Because when the silence breaks again—it'll be us."
The hall erupted in roars.
U-Force was no longer just surviving.
It was rising.
And at the center of it all—
Zain, scarred but unshaken, ready to lead them into the storm.
---
To Be Continued...