Shadow Sovereign

London Airport.

Rain hammered against the boarding stairs. Victor Williams was about to board his private jet when his footsteps halted.

Victor had finished his operations in Europe and was about to leave this rainy city.

Rainwater poured down his collar. Victor tugged at it.

An alarm sounded.

"Warning. Alert."

A man in black ran over and knelt in the puddles on one knee.

"What is it." Victor didn't turn around.

"Boss, the dark web core server has been hijacked. An anonymous livestream has broken through The Umbral Covenant's firewall." Chase's hands trembled as he held up a tablet.

"Who dares challenge The Umbral Covenant." Victor lowered his eyelids.

Lightning illuminated the grim reaper tattoo on Victor's neck.

"Can't trace the source. They're using physical signal blocking and broadcasting live on the underground network." Chase's voice shook.

"Show me the feed." Victor reached out his hand.

"Boss, the content..." Chase hesitated.

"Give it to me."

The screen flickered, showing a surgical light.

"Let me go, you're bad people."

A girl's cries came from the tablet.

On the operating table, a girl not even four years old had her limbs strapped down with leather belts. The girl twisted her body. Tears and sweat soaked the sheets.

"Find the location." Victor stared at the screen.

"Reverse tracking now."

Inside the jet, twelve hackers typed frantically.

On screen, a doctor in sterile clothing picked up surgical scissors. The doctor cut open the girl's hospital gown.

"No, please, don't touch me." The girl kicked her legs. The straps cut bloody marks into her ankles.

"How's the bone marrow purity." An elderly voice came from off-screen.

"Your Grace the Duke, the girl is a mutant, the perfect vessel to extend your life." The lead surgeon bowed toward the camera.

"Begin the live extraction. Draw out the bone marrow and transfer it to me."

"Prepare extraction needle number one. Cell activity is higher without anesthesia. You three hold the girl down."

"Go away. Mommy. Mommy help me."

The girl thrashed around. A bodyguard reached out and tore off the red string around her neck.

A ruby necklace slipped from her collar and fell into a metal tray.

Victor's eyes widened, staring at the necklace.

"Pause. Zoom in."

Chase swiped the screen. "Boss, zoomed in."

The ruby's edge was set with small diamonds, with the letter E engraved on the back.

Five years ago, Victor had carved this stone with his combat knife and given it to his wife Elena.

The surrounding soldiers all lowered their heads, prostrating in the muddy water. Heavy breathing mixed with the sound of rain.

"Boss, facial bone structure comparison complete. She's most likely Elena's daughter." Chase looked up.

"She's my daughter." Victor clenched his fist.

"Three minutes. I want the operating room coordinates."

"Boss, they've set up satellite camouflage. Breaking through will cause partial network collapse." The intelligence officer said.

"Collapse it." Victor took the tablet. "Dig out this location."

"Initiating secure network protocol. Full-spectrum attack. Firewall breached. Address locked."

"Where."

"London suburbs, the Caldea Villa."

"The Caldea family." Chase's mouth fell open. "They have armed personnel."

Victor walked toward the helicopter. "Notify the others, we move."

"Boss, the Caldea Villa has guards stationed there. Unauthorized flight will draw anti-aircraft missiles."

"Connect me to air defense command." Victor stepped into the cabin and grabbed a headset.

A voice came through the headset. "This is air defense command. Unregistered aircraft shut down engines immediately. Identify yourself."

"This is Victor."

The sound of something heavy hitting the floor came through the receiver.

"Victor. The Umbral Covenant's..."

"I need a flight path from London Airport to the Caldea Villa." Victor fastened his seatbelt. "If any radar locks onto this helicopter, I will take over London."

"You're declaring war. You can't handle the consequences." The commander's voice rose.

"I am declaring war." Victor yanked out the communication line. "Take off."

The helicopter engine roared. The rotors spun, scattering the rain.

"Boss, the livestream is changing." Chase handed over a backup tablet.

The helicopter lifted off. Victor looked at the screen.

In the feed, a gurney crashed through the operating room door. A bloodstained woman ran into the room.

Hair stuck to the woman's face. She gripped medical scissors in her hand.

"Let go of my daughter." The woman shouted.

Victor held his breath.

Despite the blood covering her face, Victor recognized it. It was his wife Elena, missing for five years.

"Grab that woman." The elderly voice rang out.

Bodyguards moved forward. The lead one kicked Elena in the stomach. Elena fell to the ground.

"Don't touch Lily. Take my blood." Elena crawled toward the operating table. Her fingers left blood trails on the floor tiles.

"Mommy." Lily called out. White foam spilled from the corner of her mouth.

"Your blood is useless now." The lead surgeon stepped back.

"Hold her down. Break her arms and legs. Don't delay the extraction."

Two bodyguards pulled out tactical batons. They raised the metal rods, aiming at Elena's knees.

Chase stepped backward, his back against the cabin wall.

Victor's right hand gripped the cabin handle. The metal tube deformed under pressure.

"Speed up." Victor looked ahead.

"Boss, the engine's overloading, the aircraft will break apart." The pilot wiped away sweat.

"Push it to the limit." Victor repeated.

The helicopter engine roared, diving toward the suburbs.

On screen, the doctor picked up the extraction needle.

"Bear with it." The needle tip aimed at the gap between Lily's vertebrae.

Two batons fell, swinging toward Elena's legs.

"No. Please."

"Prepare for drop. Approaching castle airspace." The pilot said.

"Open the door." Victor pushed open the cabin door. Wind and rain poured into the cabin.

Victor carried no weapons. No safety line attached to his body.

The castle's shadow appeared below the helicopter.

Strange sounds came from outside the operating room window.

A searchlight beam pierced through the floor-to-ceiling window, illuminating the operating room.

Machine gun barrels warmed up and began rotating.

Victor stood at the edge of the high-altitude cabin door. Wind whipped his black coat.

"Send the order." Victor's voice transmitted through the military channel.

"Clear the castle. Leave no one alive."