*Oakridge Assembly Hall — Same Moment*
The black-uniformed guards spread out with mechanical precision. Their boots echoed against marble. No hesitation. No emotion. Students shrank back instinctively. Except one line of boys standing at the front. Aarvin. Riyan. Adrien. John. Four against an institution.
Lucien adjusted his cufflinks casually. "This assembly is over," he announced. "Return to your dorms. Any resistance will be treated as expulsion… or worse."
Riyan leaned toward Adrien. "Bro… he really said _or worse_ like we in some villain movie."
Adrien smirked. "Then let's give him a good scene."
John swallowed hard. His legs wanted to move back. But he remembered why he crossed sides. He stepped forward. A small step. But it shook something inside him.
Aarvin glanced at him — a brief nod of approval.
Lucien raised his hand. Guards lifted batons. Before they could advance—
A voice rang out from the crowd. "Stop."
It was Elena. Then another. "No more." Aiden. Noah. Mason. Caleb. Ethan. One by one, Aarvin's network stood. Dozens. Then hundreds. Students filling rows, standing like rising waves. The hall transformed from audience… to army.
Lucien's assistant whispered urgently. "Sir… numbers are against us."
Lucien's jaw tightened for the first time.
Aarvin climbed onto the first step of the stage. Not rushing. Not shouting. Just presence. "You built Oakridge on fear," Aarvin said. "You controlled silence. You erased people."
His voice carried clean and sharp. "But you forgot one thing." He pointed at the crowd. "You can't erase everyone."
A murmur of agreement rolled like thunder.
Lucien stepped down from the stage. Now they stood face to face. Two Crowes. Brothers by blood. Enemies by choice.
Lucien smiled — slow and cold. "You think rebellion is victory?"
"You have no idea what you've started."
Aarvin's eyes hardened. "Good. Then watch carefully."
Suddenly — loud sirens outside. Real police this time. Red-blue lights flashing through hall windows.
Lucien turned slightly toward the sound. His assistant leaned in. "Sir… external law enforcement arrived faster than expected."
Lucien exhaled once. Calculated. Controlled. He leaned close to Aarvin, voice low so only he could hear. "This round is yours, little brother." A pause. "But wars aren't won in one battle."
He raised his hand. Private guards retreated instantly, melting into side exits like trained shadows. Lucien walked toward the back door, unhurried. Not defeated. Just withdrawing.
John watched him go. "Is he… escaping?"
Adrien answered calmly. "No."
Riyan grinned. "He's planning."
Aarvin turned to the students. "Everyone leave peacefully. Give police no reason to turn on us." His authority now felt natural. Earned. Students began filing out, energized but disciplined.
John walked beside Aarvin. "I chose the right side, didn't I?"
Aarvin gave a faint smile. "This side isn't safe."
Adrien added, "But it's real."
Riyan slapped John's back. "Welcome to the brotherhood, bro."
John laughed nervously. Yet for the first time — He felt he belonged.
Outside, police lights washed Oakridge walls. Inside, Lucien Crowe disappeared into the shadows of the administrative wing. And somewhere deep in the building, a server terminal blinked alive.
*PROTOCOL 7 — ACTIVE*
*To be continued..