CRIS' POV

Mr. Fonancier trembled, yet a smile remained fixed on his face as he watched Viper's actions. Was he aware that others could see him?

"I didn't expect Viper to strike alone," Torres weakly commented behind me, lowering his voice so only I could hear.

"He didn't become king for nothing," I replied, refocusing on the screen where Viper effortlessly beheaded those who resisted him with his boomerang.

"What's our move? Why are we still watching this? He's entrenched in the Alliance Mafia, isn't he?" Ice questioned sharply.

What's your plan, Ice? Are you thinking of ambushing Viper?

"He's cornered by the Elders; we strike him while he's unaware," Ice decided, his jaw set with determination.

They left swiftly, leaving me to ponder.

Too bad. Viper probably expects this move from you.

"You seem calm. Care to share what's on your mind?" Mr. Fonancier suddenly appeared before me, his earlier smile widening.

"What do you want?" I asked cautiously.

He leaned closer, playfully tousling my hair. "Watch how wild he becomes," he whispered, then turned away.

Who was he referring to? Ice or Viper?

VIPER'S POV

"Just follow the red line; it'll lead you to their coordination," Zues instructed.

"Thanks, Zues. Your help is invaluable," I replied, lips twitching.

"Don't mock me, Viper. You can find them without my guidance," he retorted, polishing my boomerang meticulously. I admired its shine, reflecting my determined gaze.

"Are you being overcautious again?" He caught my hesitation. "This blade is sharper than you think; a touch could leave a deep wound."

"Ah, it's my specialty," I grinned, tossing it towards Zues. It grazed his cheek, drawing blood.

"Will you see her first?" he inquired, wiping the blood away.

"Hmm, I should inform her of my plans first. Yes, I'll visit her," I decided.

Without another word, Zues dressed as a teacher, preparing to depart for the Caribbean.

"I'll drive you," he offered.

"No need. I'll take Venom's new car," I smirked, watching him bow and leave.

---

"Lord Viper, why didn't you inform us of your arrival?" they stammered as I passed, heading straight to her room.

Did they believe I was oblivious to their scheming? They were not aiding Hyra; they were making it worse.

I retrieved a syringe, injecting Hyra's arm. This elixir, obtained from hidden reserves in other Alliance Mafia branches, would speed her recovery. Zues was unaware of my secret caches.

Minutes passed as I watched over her, contemplating. I gently kissed her lips; though she didn't respond, it felt right.

"Soon, you'll kiss me back," I whispered, pressing another kiss to her forehead before departing for my next destination.

Alliance Mafia, you've chosen the wrong side. I once planned to ally with you, but now, I will reduce you all to ashes.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Viper sped towards his destination, effortlessly reaching the facility nestled deep within the forest. He stood nearby, surveying the area with a cold, calculating gaze before landing silently on the ground.

"No witnesses for my perfect landing," he muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips as he approached the Alliance Mafia's heavily guarded gate.

"Alert! Intruder approaching!" Five armed guards snapped to attention, training their guns on him.

"HALT! Who are you and what's your business here? This area is restricted; leave at once!" one of the guards barked.

Viper feigned confusion, looking around innocently. "Oh, I seem to have lost my way. Can you point me to Mr. Floyd?"

The guards remained wary, fingers on triggers.

"Why do you seek Mr. Floyd?" another guard asked cautiously.

With a nonchalant air, Viper lit a cigarette. "I'm here to kill him."

In a blur of motion, the guards lay headless on the ground, struck down by Viper's deadly precision.

"Phew," he exhaled smoke, flicking away the cigarette, and strolled through the breached gate.

*ALARMS BLARE*

As Viper entered, alarms blared throughout the facility. More armed men converged on him, weapons trained, but he remained composed, confronting his enemies alone.

"Why is there an intruder?" a bewildered guard questioned.

"I know him! He's responsible for annihilating five of our branches," another exclaimed.

"It took you five minutes to recognize me," Viper grinned coldly, discarding his cigarette. "Shall we begin?"

"Take him down and bring me his head!" commanded a voice over the intercom.

---

"Look at him, calm and collected amidst overwhelming odds," Zues remarked, watching Viper's movements on screen with a mix of awe and apprehension. He glanced at Venom, whose eyes glittered with fascination. "Aren't you concerned about what he might do?"

"I'm captivated by his ruthlessness," Venom replied, fixated on Viper's lethal efficiency. "His combat is like a deadly dance."

Zues nodded silently, equally mesmerized by Viper's relentless assault on the Alliance Mafia.

---

"BOOOM!"

Explosions rocked the facility, bodies torn apart as chaos erupted.

"My pulse quickens," Viper murmured, feeling the rush of adrenaline as he surveyed the carnage.

Meanwhile, Mr. Floyd trembled, gripped by the stark fear of imminent death.

---

"He's stalling," Venom observed, adjusting the computer to better monitor Viper's actions.

"He's waiting for reinforcements," Zues noted, then turned to Venom. "Did the Elites suspect anything when you disappeared during the operation?"

"I made sure the traitorous masks were eliminated," Venom replied tersely, his focus returning to Viper's relentless advance.

---

"I surrender!" Mr. Floyd and his cronies knelt, realizing the futility of resistance against Viper's overwhelming superiority.

"You dared harm my comrades, and now you beg for mercy?" Viper's voice dripped with contempt, his eyes icy with malice. "Your life won't atone for what you did to her."

"Gulp!" Venom swallowed hard, feeling the suffocating aura of death emanating from Viper. It wasn't directed at him, but it weighed heavily nonetheless.

Zues noticed Venom's pallor and handed him water. "Save your gratitude. Focus on the fight," he smirked, returning to the screen.

"How long until I exterminate everyone, including you?" Viper's voice was calm, ominous as he approached Mr. Floyd, gripping his hair. "You have ten seconds."

He tossed Mr. Floyd aside, counting down with chilling precision.

"10... 9... 8..."

Mr. Floyd's heart raced, fear consuming him.

"7... 6... Why won't you answer?" Viper's voice hardened with impatience.

"Five... Four... Three..."

"Two!" Mr. Floyd gasped.

"Wrong," Viper sneered. With a snap of his fingers, an explosion engulfed Mr. Floyd and his cronies.

"Die! Die! Die!" Viper laughed as he watched the flames consume his enemies, reveling in their demise.

---

"Blurpppppp!" Venom rushed to the bathroom, retching at the brutality he witnessed.

"Demon, wake up. I can't take much more of this," Venom muttered to himself before returning to Zues.

"You're almost late. His expected guest is arriving soon," Zues remarked with a dark grin.

STANLEY'S POV

"What the heck!"

We were all stunned by what lay before us—a raging fire consuming the entire Alliance Mafia facility.

"Let's go in, he must still be here."

Master led the charge, and we followed closely behind. Thick smoke obscured our vision, but the signs of a fierce battle were evident everywhere we looked.

There were no scattered bodies, but bloodstains led towards the center of the facility, where the smell became increasingly unbearable.

"Do you smell that?" Jared wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"The closer we get to the center, the stronger it gets," Joshua commented, covering his nose.

"I think this is the last door," Cyrus said, stepping forward and smashing the door down with force.

"Ah, you're late," came a voice. A man emerged, dragging corpses and tossing them into a burning pyre, including the leader of the Alliance Mafia. Limbs were mismatched among the bodies, evidence of brutal dismemberment.

He had gathered all the corpses in the facility into one place and watched them burn, a chilling smile playing on his lips.

On the other side lay people who had been skinned alive, unrecognizable in their agony.

Who could commit such atrocities?

"VIPERRRRR!"

- WHOOSH -

Master charged at Viper suddenly.

No, Master, attacking now was too risky.

Murderous intent radiated from Viper, terrifying in its intensity.

- Blam! Blam! Blam! Blam! -

Viper launched a relentless assault, each strike delivering a powerful blow that cut through the air.

At this rate, Master didn't stand a chance.

"See it? See the difference in our skill?" Viper taunted Master.

"Don't underestimate us. This facility is just the right size to become your grave."

Master and Viper locked eyes fiercely, neither willing to back down. It was dangerous; Master was serious, while Viper seemed to toy with him.

- Ting! -

Coins falling?

"Oops! Looks like it's my turn," Jarvis exclaimed, shrugging off his jacket and lunging at Viper with a straight kick. But Viper effortlessly evaded it. How? The attack had been lightning-fast.

"Wow!" [Clap! Clap! Clap!]

Viper applauded Jarvis mockingly, a slight smirk on his lips. "Your feeble attacks won't harm me." In an instant, Viper's expression turned deadly serious.

He turned his back on Master and struck at Jarvis. Caught off guard, Jarvis failed to dodge Viper's spinning kick. Without pause, Viper followed up with a kick to Jarvis's back.

"Youuuuu!"

Cyrus swung his katana at Viper, who deftly blocked the attack with a stick.

"A katana against a stick? What the hell?" Joshua gasped, moving to aid Cyrus. But Viper anticipated his move, leaping out of reach with lightning reflexes.

I couldn't believe how fast he was. What kind of training did he undergo?

Could I face him alone?

"I'm still having fun, but I've got places to be," Viper lamented theatrically.

"You're not going anywhere!" I heard Master growl.

"What will you do? Stop me? You can't handle me, can you?" Viper grinned broadly at Master.

Our eyes met briefly.

What the...!

I recognized the person behind that mask, freezing in shock. He called me Thunder.

"Stanley, you're shaking." It was only then I realized my whole body trembled. Jared supported me as I nearly collapsed.

Should I reveal who's behind that mask? But that person is the reason I'm still alive.

"You're boring me," Viper said dismissively before disappearing into the darkness.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

"Master, there are no survivors," Zeke reported after searching for any remaining personnel.

"We need to leave before this place collapses," Nathan advised calmly, earning looks of confusion from the group.

They marveled at Nathan's composure amidst the chaos.

Ice, however, was annoyed. "Why didn't you help us catch Viper?" he demanded, frustrated that Nathan had only observed during the battle.

Nathan preferred strategy over direct combat, understanding that challenging Viper now would be futile.

"I used my head before acting," Nathan sighed, facing Ice. "He single-handedly decimated the Alliance Mafia. We were outmatched as soon as he took control."

Nathan suspected Viper had rigged the facility with more explosives. One misstep could trigger them all.

"Tch!" Ice clicked his tongue, hurrying to leave the area.

---

"Viper passed through Area A without resistance. Half the guards were taken out when they tried to stop him," a guard informed Ice when queried about Viper's escape.

"He got away, huh," Ice muttered.

"He killed so many people effortlessly? And did you see his demeanor while doing it? He smiled throughout," Joshua marveled incredulously.

"The White Monarchy is truly dangerous," Carl commented grimly. "We need to stop them soon."

"But where's Demon? Why is Viper the only one attacking?" Jarvis quipped, half-joking.

"Aren't you glad she's not here? If she were, things would be worse," Brizon retorted, causing Jarvis to bristle.

"Why do you seem to know so much about her? Are you a fan, or perhaps you know more about her?" Jarvis confronted Brizon, leaning in aggressively.

"Heh, you have quite the imagination," Brizon grinned, brushing off Jarvis's hostility. "Save your wild theories for someone else."

"You two, enough!" Jared stepped between them, trying to defuse the tension.

"You think you're more helpful?" Jarvis shot back.

"What? Want a fight?" Jared moved to strike Jarvis, but Brizon intervened.

The siblings glared at Brizon, who ignored their hostility and approached Stanley.

"I believe there's no traitor among the Masks, am I right, Stanley?"

Stanley nodded, lacking energy to argue. Meanwhile, Brizon smirked knowingly, feeling superior due to knowledge the others lacked.

"Let's call it a day. I need to visit Hyra-"

"What? Visiting her even with a Marasigan?" Kevin's outcry didn't faze Ice, who knew explaining would be futile.

---

"Brother! Why are you leaving already? You just got here!" Mary exclaimed, her voice straining.

"Why are you even here? Didn't I arrange a place for you?" Ice deflected, inspecting his clothes.

"Why is there blood on your clothes? Did you cause the Alliance Mafia explosion?"

Ice frowned, approaching Mary and stroking her hair, a silent gesture to stop her questions. He didn't want her involved in the Mafia's affairs.

"Okay, I won't ask about the Mafia anymore," Mary pouted.

"Good girl," Ice said, continuing to stroke her hair.

"But can you tell me where you're going?" she asked with puppy eyes.

Rolling his eyes, Ice hesitated to tell Mary, knowing how she'd react. "I'm visiting someone important."

"Why are you blushing?" Mary whispered suspiciously, but Ice didn't respond. "Buy me takoyaki when you're back," she demanded playfully.

"Okay."

As Ice left, he paused at Hyra's unit, hearing commotion inside.

He tried the doorknob, finding it locked.

"Maybe she's not cleaning again, attracting rats," Ice sighed, moving on.

Unbeknownst to him, two figures were inside Hyra's unit.

---

"Did you see that? They did nothing against Viper! Damn!" Venom cursed, visibly upset.

"They played right into Viper's hands. Everything went according to his plan," Zues noted, despite having consumed eight cups of coffee.

"Wait, Zues, isn't Viper coming? Aren't we meeting him?"

"He'll be late by a few hours. He's meeting someone from the First District."