[Location: Old Sector 9 - Abandoned Metro Station]
[Time: 09:00 AM]
[Status: Under Construction]
[Current Funds: 3.6 Billion Credits]
Ryan stood in the center of the damp, echoing metro station. Water dripped from the cracked ceiling into rusty puddles. Rats scurried in the shadows.
It looked like a garbage dump.
But to Ryan, with 3.6 Billion Credits in his pocket, it looked like a blank canvas.
He pulled up his Guild Management Interface. It projected a massive 3D hologram of the station into the air.
[Base Level: 1 (Ruins)]
[Upgrade Available: Fortress of Shadows.]
[Cost: 1 Billion Credits.]
"Do it," Ryan ordered. "And add the Deluxe Package."
[Transaction Confirmed.]
RUMBLE...
The ground began to shake. Not violently like an earthquake, but rhythmically, like a heartbeat.
The rusty tracks on the floor glowed purple.
WHOOSH.
The rust evaporated. The metal transformed into polished Black Steel.
The cracked concrete walls dissolved and reformed into Obsidian Bricks infused with mana.
The ceiling expanded upwards, carving out more space from the underground rock, creating a massive dome.
Kelly (The Lich) watched, nodding in approval. "Impressive. This architecture reminds me of the Netherworld. But less screaming."
Violet was running around with a measuring tape. "I need a lab! With ventilation! And a blast shield in case my experiments explode!"
Grog was staring at the new floor. "So shiny. Grog can see Grog's nose."
Ryan walked through the hologram, placing rooms like he was playing a strategy game.
[Zone 1: The Barracks]
Capacity: 1,000 Soldiers.
Features: Auto-Cleaning, Regenerative Beds (Heals injuries while sleeping).
[Zone 2: The Treasury]
Security: Laser grids, magic sensors, and a pit of acid.
"Perfect for my money," Ryan nodded.
[Zone 3: The War Room]
A massive round table with holographic maps of the entire continent.
[Zone 4: The Dungeon Core]
Ryan placed the [Staff of the Lich King] (Wait, no, he sold that). He placed a Mana Generator in the center to power the shields.
Finally, the Throne Room.
Ryan spent an extra 50 Million on a throne made of black dragon scales (synthetic) and velvet cushions.
"Comfort is key for a ruler," he justified.
Within an hour, the ruined station was gone.
In its place stood Fortress Fear. An underground citadel that could withstand a nuclear bomb.
[Base Upgrade Complete.]
[Defensive Rating: S-Rank.]
[Special Feature: 'The Silent Void'.]
Effect: Sound cannot escape the base. Magical detection from outside is blocked.
"Perfect," Ryan sat on his throne. "Now, we need an army."
He opened his laptop and logged into the Dark Web Hunter Forum.
He created a new post.
[Hiring: The Suicide Squad Guild]
[Looking For: Outcasts, Criminals, Weirdos, and People who hate the Government.]
[Benefits: 100k Salary, Dental, Free Housing, and Protection from the Law.]
[Requirement: Must survive the interview.]
Within seconds, the post went viral.
"Is this real?"
"100k salary? I'm in!"
"It's Ryan! The guy who scammed Dracula! This is legit!"
Applications started flooding in.
Ryan smirked. "We're going to have a lot of resumes to read."
But peace never lasts long for a Necromancer.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
The security alarms blared red.
[WARNING: Intruder Detected at Outer Perimeter.]
[Signature: High-Frequency Sound Waves.]
BOOOOOOM!
A massive shockwave hit the blast doors of the fortress. The obsidian walls vibrated. Dust fell from the ceiling.
It wasn't a physical attack. It was a Sonic Boom.
A voice, amplified by magic to deafening levels, penetrated the soundproof barrier.
"KNOCK! KNOCK! LITTLE NECROMANCER!"
Ryan stood up, his eyes narrowing. "Who is shouting at my door? I just installed the soundproofing."
He waved his hand, bringing up the external camera feed.
Standing outside the main blast doors was a man.
He wore a suit made of speakers. He had a mohawk made of green fire. And he was holding a guitar that looked like a battle-axe.
Behind him stood an army of 50 Banshees—ghosts known for their lethal screams.
[System Scan]
[Enemy: The Noise Marine (General of Lord No. 5).]
[Ability: Sonic Destruction / Rhythm Magic.]
[Personality: Annoying.]
"Lord No. 5," Ryan muttered. "The Conductor. He sent his band."
The Noise Marine strummed his guitar.
SCREEEEEEECH!
A literal wave of sound hit the gate. Cracks appeared on the S-Rank steel doors.
"COME OUT AND PLAY! OR WE BRING THE HOUSE DOWN!"
Violet covered her ears. "My beakers are shattering!"
Grog roared. "Loud man hurt Grog's ears!"
Ryan looked at Nero (Dragon).
"Nero, do you like Rock and Roll?"
Nero hissed and hid under the throne. He liked silence.
"Me neither."
Ryan tapped his Pandora watch.
"Pandora... Form Change: Sound Cannon."
The watch transformed into a massive, shoulder-mounted speaker system with glowing blue rings.
Ryan walked to the intercom.
"Open the main gate."
"But Boss!" Felix cried. "He'll blast us!"
"Open it."
The blast doors hissed and slid open.
The Noise Marine grinned, strumming a power chord. "Finally! Prepare to face the music of deat—"
Ryan stepped out, aiming his cannon.
"Sorry," Ryan said calmly. "I prefer lofi beats."
THUMP.
He fired a Negative Sound Wave.
It wasn't a loud noise. It was the absence of noise. A pulse of absolute silence.
The white wave collided with the Marine's sound wave.
The two forces cancelled each other out.
The air rippled.
The sound died instantly.
The Banshees opened their mouths to scream, but no sound came out. They panicked. A Banshee without a voice is powerless. They clutched their throats, terrified.
"Kelly! Grog! Cleanup on Aisle 1!" Ryan ordered.
Kelly (The Lich) floated forward, raising his staff.
[Spell: Flash Freeze]
A blizzard engulfed the silent Banshees. Frozen in mid-scream, they turned into ice statues.
Grog charged forward with his new hammer.
SMASH. CRASH. SMASH.
He shattered the ice statues one by one. "Quiet! Grog likes quiet!"
The Noise Marine stared at his guitar. He strummed it frantically. Pluck. Pluck.
No sound.
"My music! You stole my music!"
Ryan walked up to him, the Sound Cannon humming on his shoulder.
"Your album sucks," Ryan critiqued. "Too much treble. Not enough bass."
He switched the cannon to [Concussive Blast].
Point blank range.
BOOM!
The blast hit the Marine in the chest. He flew backward, crashing into the tunnel wall, his speaker-suit sparking and exploding.
He slid down the wall, unconscious.
Ryan stood over the defeated General.
"Tell your Boss," Ryan shouted into the silence. "If he wants to make noise in my city, he better pay the entry fee."
He turned back to his fortress.
The new "Suicide Squad" recruits were watching from the shadows of the tunnel, their jaws on the floor.
They had just watched their new Boss silence an army with one shot.
Ryan looked at them and smiled.
"Welcome to the Guild. Orientation is at 2 PM. Don't be late."