Chapter 31: Zero Hour

The world suddenly trembled.

In Paris, a massive explosion shook the Eiffel Tower, sending debris and a plume of black smoke into the sky. In London, the sound of indiscriminate gunfire shattered the night's silence in Trafalgar Square, triggering mass panic. Moscow, Berlin, Hamburg, Denmark, Belgium—all major cities around the world became targets of a series of coordinated attacks. The Serpent was no longer in hiding. They were terrorizing the world with a series of precise bombings and shootings. Emergency news reports dominated all television channels. Giant screens on city streets showed horrifying footage from various countries, fueling confusion and accusations between nations. This was no longer an ordinary terrorist attack. It was intentional, global chaos.

Far from the turmoil, in a quiet hospital room in Tokyo, time seemed to stand still. Koyomi Masamune and Alena Fujimori sat by the bed, watching the figure who lay motionless. The monitor beside him displayed a monotonous line on the electrocardiogram, the only sign of life. Koyomi, with swollen eyes, held her brother's cold hand. Alena, who had not left since the beginning, could only look at Arata's face, a face that now looked peaceful after an incredible battle.

"When... when will my brother wake up?" Koyomi whispered, her voice trembling.

Alena looked at the monitor, then back at Koyomi. "I don't know," she replied softly. "But he will wake up. I'm sure of it."

Outside, the world was on fire, but in that room, there was only fragile hope and a quiet calm.

In a secret command room, Pierson and Natasha stared at a large monitor displaying news feeds from around the world. Data kept pouring in, showing the attacked cities, the number of casualties, and the worsening political instability.

"This is insane," Natasha muttered, her eyes sharp. "Collins... he did it."

Pierson nodded, his face pale. Before him, photos of Collins and mission reports were stacked. Among the pile lay a worn-out book he had found at Collins's house: "A World on Fire". He was reminded of Collins, the mentor he once respected.

"He doesn't just want to destroy the system," Pierson said, his voice hoarse. "He wants to make everyone blame each other. He wants to start a war, a third world war."

"The scenario is very clear," Natasha chimed in. "He's manipulating the media, making countries suspicious of each other. This isn't just terrorism, it's a very dangerous geopolitical strategy."

Suddenly, an alarm blared. The monitor screen displayed blinking red data. "Report! Attack in Tokyo! ARAAF! Target: U.S. Military Base!"

Pierson and Natasha exchanged glances. This time, they would not be caught off guard.

In the quiet streets of Tokyo, a special forces team was waiting. They already knew an attack was coming, thanks to the intelligence gathered after the battle in Kyoto. Dozens of terrorists from the ARAAF emerged from vans and began to fire indiscriminately. However, the special forces, hiding behind barricades, were ready.

BANG! BANG! Return fire erupted. Grenade explosions engulfed the terrorists' vehicles, sending them into pieces. A fierce battle ensued. The special forces moved with efficiency, taking down enemies one by one. This was no longer a one-on-one fight but a display of a well-trained team's strength. The terrorists, surprised by such organized resistance, could not do much. Finally, the entire terrorist force was neutralized.

Two weeks later...

In the same hospital room, Alena and Koyomi were still faithfully waiting. The world outside was now filled with tension, but in this room, calm still reigned. Koyomi was reading a book by the bed, while Alena slept on the sofa, exhausted.

Suddenly, Koyomi felt her brother's hand, which she was holding, move.

"Big brother...?" Koyomi whispered. She looked up, her tear-filled eyes wide with wonder.

Arata's eyes slowly opened. His gaze was still vacant, but he was trying to focus on his sister.

"Koyomi...?" his voice was hoarse, barely audible.

"BIG BROTHER!" Koyomi screamed, tears immediately streaming down her face. She immediately hugged him, kissing him repeatedly. Alena, who woke up from the sound, saw the scene and also shed tears of relief.

In the middle of that warm embrace, Arata felt his sister was alive and well. He knew, after two long weeks, he was finally back.