Episode 1: The Fall and the Rise

The City of Evernight

In the cold, rain-drenched alleys of Evernight City, a boy named Benjamin Crowne wandered alone. He had known nothing but pain since childhood. His parents died when he was just a boy—victims of a cruel world that never showed mercy. Even the adults who should have protected him did nothing but torment him. Bullies saw him as weak, teachers ignored his suffering, and the streets whispered nothing but despair.

Years of torment led him to one final moment.

The Edge of Despair

Standing at the edge of an abandoned skyscraper, the rain poured over him like the world itself was weeping. Lightning cracked in the distance, illuminating his trembling form. The wind howled, but it wasn’t enough to drown out the storm raging inside him.

Benjamin clenched his fists, looking up at the dark sky.

His voice, barely above a whisper, carried more pain than a thousand screams.

"Do I deserve to live...? God, tell me... do I deserve to live?"

A moment of silence. Nothing. No answer. Just the wind. Just the rain.

He took a deep breath, a final breath, before whispering his last words:

"The world doesn’t kill you with a blade. It kills you with silence."

And with that, he stepped forward.

The Rescue

Before the ground could claim him, before his life could slip into nothingness, two figures saw him fall.

A boy and a girl.

Their names: Ronan Vale and Selene Ashford.

Ronan’s instincts took over—his body moved faster than thought. With a burst of speed, he dove off the rooftop, arms outstretched, catching Benjamin mid-air just before the impact. The force of the rescue sent them both rolling onto the wet pavement.

Benjamin was unconscious.

Selene rushed to them. "Shit! Is he breathing?" she asked.

"Yeah," Ronan panted. "But he’s out cold. We need to take him back."

Without another word, they carried the boy through the storm, vanishing into the night.

The Awakening

Benjamin's eyes fluttered open to dim lights and the faint hum of machines. He was lying on a bed inside a cavernous hideout—a secret underground base. His body ached, but the pain was distant compared to the weight inside his soul.

Two strangers stood over him.

"You're awake," Ronan said, arms crossed. His voice was sharp, but not unkind.

Selene leaned forward. "What the fuck happened to you?"

Benjamin looked at them. His voice was quiet, but his words cut through the silence like a blade:

"I wasn’t trying to die. I was trying to see if the world would stop me… And it didn’t."

Silence.

Ronan and Selene exchanged a glance. They had seen broken people before, but Benjamin wasn’t just broken. He was shattered.

And sometimes, shattered things are remade into something unstoppable.

This was the night Benjamin Crowne died.

And the night something else was born.

Episode 2: The Line Between Hero and Villain

The Names Behind the Masks

Benjamin sat on the cold steel table of the underground hideout, arms crossed, eyes void of emotion. The two strangers who saved him from his fall stood in front of him. The boy spoke first.

"I’m Ronan Vale."

The girl smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Selene Ashford."

Benjamin stared at them, unimpressed. "Cool. And?"

Selene rolled her eyes. "And we’re not just some random people. We’re heroes."

Ronan and Selene exchanged a nod before stepping back. With a flick of their wrists, their suits activated—sleek, armored, and built for war.

Ronan became "Phantom"—a figure of shadows, his suit black with silver streaks, built for speed and stealth.

Selene transformed into "Nightflare"—a warrior wrapped in dark red and black, her gauntlets charged with energy.

They expected some kind of reaction from Benjamin. Shock. Awe. Anything.

Instead, he sighed. "Good for you."

Selene narrowed her eyes. "You don’t care?"

"Nope," Benjamin said, standing up. "Heroes don’t impress me."

Ronan crossed his arms. "So you’d rather be a villain?"

Selene clenched her fist. "If that’s the case, I’ll put you down right now."

Benjamin shook his head. "I don’t want to be a hero or a villain. Both are just masks for different kinds of lies."

Ronan and Selene exchanged a look.

"Too bad," Ronan said. "You don’t get a choice."

Selene tossed a bundle of clothing at him. "Suit up, loser. You’re going on patrol."

The Reluctant Fighter

The suit was basic—dark colors, a simple cape, and an unmistakable resemblance to an old hero’s first uniform. Benjamin hated it.

He didn’t even bother naming himself. When Selene asked, he shrugged. "I don’t name losers."

"Well, good thing you’re not gonna stay one," she shot back, dragging him out into the city.

The streets were alive with crime. And Benjamin? He was dead inside.

The Fight Against Blackout

His first real confrontation came faster than expected.

A man was robbing a bank, shoving stacks of cash into a duffel bag. He had broad shoulders, a towering frame, and an eerie calmness to his movements. His clothes were simple—a red and black striped button-up shirt, worn-out jeans.

Benjamin didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, pointing at the guy.

"Stop right there, idiot."

The man slowly turned, unbothered, his dark eyes locking onto Benjamin. He chuckled, cracking his knuckles.

"Do you know who you’re talking to?"

Before Benjamin could react, the man grabbed him by the collar and lifted him off the ground with one hand.

"I’m Blackout."

And then the beating began.

A Lesson in Pain

The first punch nearly knocked Benjamin out. The second cracked something in his ribs.

Blackout didn’t just beat him—he humiliated him.

Every hit was deliberate, controlled. He wasn’t just fighting; he was teaching Benjamin a lesson.

Minutes later, Benjamin lay on the ground, coughing up blood, barely able to move.

Blackout sat down next to him, resting his arms on his knees. He let out a sigh, looking at the night sky.

"You’re new to this, huh?" Blackout muttered. "Let me guess—forced into the mask, don’t know who you are, thinking maybe being a hero makes you worth something?"

Benjamin didn’t answer. He could barely breathe.

Blackout smirked. "You’re not ready for this. And if you keep pretending you are, you’ll die."

He reached down, gripping Benjamin’s mask. With a sharp tug, he tore half of it away, revealing part of his bruised face.

"Go home, kid."

And with that, Blackout walked away, leaving Benjamin broken, bleeding, and questioning everything.

Episode 3: The Reckoning

The Aftermath of Defeat

The rain was relentless, soaking the blood-stained pavement as Benjamin lay motionless. His body was broken, his mask torn. It was Selene who found him, half-conscious in the storm.

She didn’t say anything at first. Just knelt beside him, her expression unreadable. Then, with a sigh, she muttered:

"You really are an idiot, huh?"

She helped him up, supporting his weight as they disappeared into the night.

Two Years Later…

The city knew his name now.

Not Benjamin Crowne. Not the broken boy who once stood on the edge of a rooftop.

Now, they called him Darknight.

Over the past two years, he had carved his legend into the underworld of Evernight City. He wasn’t the same scared kid who got beaten half to death. He was sharper, faster, and colder.

His suit had evolved, too—a sleeker, more realistic version of a legendary hero’s old design. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t meant to be. It was built for war.

Tonight, that war led him to an alleyway where a drunk man was trying to attack a pregnant woman.

A mistake.

Darknight struck hard and fast, breaking the man’s wrist before slamming him into the wall. The woman ran, her sobs lost in the rain.

As he stood over the unconscious drunk, a familiar voice cut through the night.

"Been a while, Darknight."

Benjamin’s eyes flicked up.

There he was. William "Blackout" Grayson.

The same red-and-black striped button-up. The same calm, unnerving presence. But this time, there was something else—a hint of respect.

Benjamin smirked. "Hi, William."

Blackout chuckled. "You still mad about last time?"

Benjamin cracked his neck. "Not really. Just came to return the favor."

The Battle Begins

Blackout moved first.

A brutal right hook shot toward Benjamin’s face—fast, precise.

But this wasn’t two years ago.

Benjamin ducked, twisting around and slamming his elbow into Blackout’s ribs. The older fighter staggered back, grinning through the pain.

"Damn. You actually learned something."

Benjamin didn’t reply. He was already moving.

A sharp knee to the gut. A forearm across the jaw. Blackout stumbled, but he didn’t go down. He lunged, grabbing Benjamin’s cape and yanking him forward, throwing him into a dumpster.

The impact was rough, but Benjamin rolled with it, landing in a crouch.

Blackout wiped blood from his mouth. "Tell me something, kid. You really think you’re a hero?"

Benjamin exhaled, stepping forward. "I don’t care."

He rushed in.

This time, he was faster. Smarter. He dodged Blackout’s counterpunch, twisting behind him and landing a brutal kick to the back of the knee.

Blackout dropped.

Before he could recover, Benjamin grabbed his arm—and snapped it.

A sickening CRACK echoed through the alley.

Blackout screamed, collapsing onto his side. His left arm was ruined, twisted at an unnatural angle. Rain dripped from Benjamin’s mask as he looked down at his fallen opponent.

The Dark Moment

Blackout gasped, trying to crawl away. His breaths were sharp, pained.

Benjamin followed, his boots splashing in the puddles. Slowly. Deliberately.

"You know what’s funny?" he said, his voice eerily calm. "I used to have nightmares about you. About that night. About being helpless."

Blackout groaned, dragging himself forward.

Benjamin kept walking.

"And now, look at you."

Blackout turned onto his back, his face pale with fear.

Benjamin stepped closer.

"Crawling."

Blackout trembled. "Kid… don’t do this."

Benjamin knelt beside him, tilting his head.

For a moment, flashes of the past surged through his mind—himself, broken and bleeding. Helpless. Crawling. Just like this.

The rage inside him boiled over.

"You’re gonna die."

Blackout’s eyes widened. "No—"

Benjamin raised his boot.

"I’m gonna kill you."

He stomped forward—but stopped.

His breath hitched.

The scene flashed again—not Blackout. Himself. Two years ago. The same fear. The same desperation.

For a split second, he saw himself in his enemy.

The thought made him sick.

So instead of finishing it, he kicked Blackout into the wall. Hard.

Blackout slumped down, groaning in pain. He was done.

Benjamin took a shaky breath, backing away.

Then, without another word, he disappeared into the night.

Episode 4: Shadows in the Dark

A New Mission

It started with a whisper. A name passed through the underground like a ghost—Project Revenant.

Benjamin—Darknight—had spent the last two years dismantling criminals, but this was different. This wasn’t a gang or a corrupt businessman.

This was something bigger.

Ronan and Selene had warned him not to dig too deep. “Some things aren’t meant to be touched,” Ronan had said. “Especially when government agencies are involved.”

But Benjamin never listened.

And that’s how he found himself perched on the rooftop of Solace Industries, one of the most secure corporate buildings in Evernight City.

Except it wasn’t just a corporation. It was a front for something much worse.

Breaking In

The security was top-tier—thermal sensors, biometric locks, motion-tracking drones.

Benjamin took a deep breath, calculating his next move. This isn’t a fight. It’s a puzzle.

With precise movements, he disabled the cameras, scaled the ventilation system, and bypassed the retinal scanners using a hacked keycard he had “borrowed” from a corrupt executive the night before.

He moved like a shadow, slipping past guards, avoiding alarms.

Until he reached Level X.

A hidden floor. A place that shouldn’t exist.

Inside, he found classified files, encrypted servers, and something far worse.

Project Revenant

A holographic screen flickered to life, revealing a man in a black suit. His voice was calm, authoritative.

"Phase One of Project Revenant is complete. We have successfully weaponized the serum. Subject-09 shows promising results. Enhanced strength, reflexes, and accelerated healing. The perfect soldier."

Benjamin narrowed his eyes. Super-soldiers?

The feed continued.

"The remaining test subjects will be eliminated by the end of the week. We cannot risk exposure. If Subject-09 resists… terminate him."

The video ended.

Benjamin clenched his fists. They were experimenting on people.

And someone—Subject-09—was about to be executed.

Before he could dig further, a red alert flashed across the screen.

"UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED."

Shit.

The Escape

The door burst open. Tactical agents stormed in—body armor, suppressed weapons, military precision.

Benjamin didn’t hesitate. He grabbed a smoke bomb, crushed it in his hand, and vanished into the haze.

Gunfire erupted, but he was already moving.

Sliding under desks. Vaulting over security rails. Using the chaos as his weapon.

One guard got too close. **Benjamin struck fast—**an elbow to the throat\, a sweep to the legs. The agent collapsed\, unconscious.

Another aimed a rifle. Too slow. Benjamin disarmed him, flipped the weapon, and used it to jam the door controls.

The lockdown activated.

He had seconds to escape.

Diving through the glass window, Benjamin freefell down the skyscraper, cape billowing behind him.

At the last second, he grappled onto a lower ledge, rolling onto the rooftop below.

Breathing hard, he looked back at the towering building.

He had what he came for.

Now, he had a war to start.

Episode 5: The Ghost in the System

After the Break-In

Benjamin sat in his hideout, staring at the stolen Project Revenant files. The flickering screen cast sharp shadows across his face.

Super-soldiers. Human experiments. Government executions.

This wasn’t just another criminal operation. This was bigger.

He was in deep.

The Meeting with Ronan and Selene

Ronan paced across the hideout, arms crossed. "You really broke into a classified black-site facility and thought they wouldn’t notice?"

Selene leaned against the wall, unimpressed. "You realize they’ll come after you now, right?"

Benjamin didn’t look up. He just muttered, "They already are."

He turned the screen toward them, showing the surveillance footage from earlier.

A group of operatives in black suits—faces hidden, movements precise—were already sweeping the city, hunting him.

Selene exhaled. "Great. So now we’re all targets."

Benjamin finally stood, adjusting his gloves. "No. Just me."

Ronan narrowed his eyes. "What are you gonna do?"

Benjamin’s response was cold. "I’m gonna hunt them first."

Infiltrating the Agents

Using stolen data, Benjamin tracked one of the agents to a high-rise apartment downtown. The man—Callum Raines—was a field operative for the secret agency.

Benjamin didn’t knock.

He crashed through the window, shattering glass as he landed on top of Raines, slamming his head into the table.

"Who do you work for?" Benjamin growled.

Raines coughed, dazed. "You have no idea what you’re messing with."

Benjamin twisted his arm. "Tell me about Project Revenant."

Raines chuckled despite the pain. "It doesn’t matter. You’re already dead."

A red laser dot appeared on Benjamin’s chest.

Sniper.

Without hesitation, he yanked Raines toward him, using the agent as cover. A suppressed bullet pierced Raines’ back, and he collapsed instantly.

The sniper had taken his own man out.

The Chase

Benjamin had seconds to react. He leaped from the window, rolling onto the fire escape, spotting the sniper on a nearby rooftop.

The assassin—dressed in all black—was already packing up.

Not happening.

Benjamin grappled across the alley, landing with precision. The sniper turned just in time for Benjamin to slam into them, knocking them down.

A hand-to-hand fight erupted—fast, brutal, calculated.

The sniper was skilled. They dodged, countered, and almost landed a knife strike to Benjamin’s ribs.

But he was faster.

A sharp kick sent the sniper stumbling. Benjamin grabbed their mask, ripping it off.

His eyes widened.

The sniper was a woman, mid-30s, cold, sharp eyes filled with hatred.

She smirked. "You really think you can stop this, Darknight?"

Benjamin held her at arm’s length. "I’ll find out soon enough."

Before he could get more answers, she suddenly bit down on something—

A cyanide capsule.

Her body collapsed, lifeless.

Benjamin exhaled, staring at her.

This wasn’t just a mission anymore.

This was war.

Episode 6: Threads of the Conspiracy

The Fallout

Benjamin sat in the shadows of his hideout, the sniper's mask clutched in his gloved hand. The woman's lifeless eyes haunted him. She chose death over talking. Whatever Project Revenant was, it wasn’t just a government operation—it was a fanatic’s cause.

Ronan entered, tossing a folder onto the table. "That’s all I could dig up on her. Name’s Lila Stroud. Ex-special forces. Discharged under... suspicious circumstances."

Selene joined them, her expression serious. "If people like her are involved, this isn’t just about experiments. This is about control."

Benjamin leaned back, staring at the folder. "Control of what?"

Selene shook her head. "The better question is: who’s pulling the strings?"

The Web Widens

The next lead came from the stolen data—a series of encrypted coordinates tied to “Facility Echo-9.”

Selene cracked the encryption, revealing the location. "It’s on the outskirts of the city. An abandoned factory."

Ronan frowned. "You’re walking into a trap."

Benjamin stood, his tone sharp. "I don’t care."

Selene grabbed his arm. "Then we’re coming with you."

Benjamin hesitated but finally nodded.

"Fine. But stay out of my way."

Facility Echo-9

The factory was cold and quiet, its windows shattered and walls crumbling.

But inside, it was anything but abandoned.

State-of-the-art equipment filled the floors, guarded by armed operatives. They moved in precision, their radios crackling with updates.

Benjamin, Ronan, and Selene infiltrated silently, taking out guards one by one.

As they reached the heart of the facility, they found rows of containment pods filled with people—some unconscious, others writhing in pain.

Selene scanned one of the pods. "They’re alive, but... barely. This is where they’re creating the super-soldiers."

Benjamin clenched his fists. "Not anymore."

The Confrontation

Suddenly, alarms blared.

A voice echoed over the intercom. "You shouldn’t have come here, Darknight."

The room flooded with agents. Leading them was a man in a sleek black combat suit, his presence commanding and cold.

Commander Aldric Kane.

"You must be the famous Darknight," Kane said, stepping forward. "I’ve heard about you. A child playing hero."

Benjamin stepped forward, his voice calm. "You’re behind this?"

Kane smirked. "Part of it. You’ve disrupted my operations enough. Now it ends."

The Battle

The fight erupted instantly.

Ronan and Selene took on the agents while Benjamin charged at Kane.

Kane was no ordinary fighter. Enhanced reflexes, brutal strength, and years of combat training made him a force to be reckoned with.

Their fists collided, each blow sending shockwaves through the air.

Kane taunted as they fought. "You think you can stop this? We’re building a future where heroes like you are obsolete. Humanity perfected."

Benjamin growled, blocking a vicious kick and countering with a strike to Kane’s ribs. "You’re not building a future. You’re building monsters."

Kane laughed, wiping blood from his lip. "You’re too late to stop us."

But Benjamin had learned. He exploited Kane’s overconfidence, delivering a brutal combo of strikes that left the commander reeling.

Finally, Benjamin swept Kane’s legs, slamming him into the ground.

"This ends now," Benjamin said, standing over him.

Kane smirked through the pain. "You think killing me will change anything? You’ve already lost."

Benjamin hesitated.

But instead of finishing Kane, he turned and disabled the facility’s main systems, shutting down the containment pods.

The Aftermath

The remaining operatives retreated as the facility collapsed around them.

Ronan and Selene joined Benjamin outside, watching the factory burn.

Selene asked, "Why didn’t you kill him?"

Benjamin stared at the flames. "Because he’s a piece of the puzzle. Killing him doesn’t end this. Finding who’s really in charge does."

As they disappeared into the night, Benjamin’s resolve hardened.

The fight wasn’t over. It was just beginning.

Episode 7: The Man in the Shadows

After the Fire

The ruins of Facility Echo-9 smoldered in the distance as Benjamin, Ronan, and Selene made their way back to the hideout. The mission had been a success—the lab was gone, the experiments shut down.

But Kane had escaped.

And his final words echoed in Benjamin’s mind.

"You’ve already lost."

Selene patched up Benjamin’s wounds, pressing an ice pack to his ribs. "We got lucky tonight. If we didn’t take down that lab, who knows how many more super-soldiers they would’ve made."

Benjamin stared at the flickering monitors. "There’s more. There’s always more."

Ronan scrolled through stolen files. "Kane wasn’t lying. Facility Echo-9 was just a small part of something bigger. There’s another site."

Benjamin narrowed his eyes. "Where?"

Ronan hesitated. "Not where. Who."

He turned the screen to show a name.

Nathaniel Graves.

A Ghost from the Past

Nathaniel Graves wasn’t a name from the underworld. He wasn’t a crime boss or a corrupt businessman.

He was a phantom.

No records. No pictures. Just whispers.

Selene frowned. "He’s the real power behind Project Revenant. If Kane was the enforcer, then Graves is the mastermind."

Benjamin clenched his fists. "Then we find him."

Hunting a Shadow

Their first lead was a black-market informant named Elias Voss.

Voss ran a high-stakes gambling den deep in Evernight City’s underground. He didn’t deal with cash—he dealt with secrets.

If anyone knew about Graves, it was him.

The Underground Club

Dressed in dark tactical gear, Benjamin entered the club, neon lights flickering over the smoke-filled room.

Voss sat in a private booth, surrounded by bodyguards, sipping a glass of whiskey.

Benjamin moved like a ghost, knocking out the first guard before anyone noticed.

By the time Voss looked up, Benjamin was already in his seat, his voice low. "We need to talk."

Voss smirked, unfazed. "Darknight. I was wondering when you'd show up."

Benjamin leaned forward. "Tell me about Nathaniel Graves."

Voss chuckled. "You’re not the first one looking for him. But I’ll tell you what I told the others—Graves doesn’t exist."

Benjamin grabbed Voss by the collar, slamming him into the table. "Wrong answer."

Voss coughed, raising his hands. "Alright, alright! Look—I don’t know where he is, but I know who does."

Selene’s voice came through Benjamin’s earpiece. "Multiple hostiles incoming."

Benjamin sighed. "Who?"

Voss smirked. "His personal assassin."

The Assassin Arrives

The doors burst open.

A figure stepped inside—tall, armored, and deadly. A masked assassin with twin blades, moving with inhuman speed.

The club emptied in seconds.

Voss paled. "Oh, shit."

Benjamin barely dodged the first strike as the assassin’s blade cut through the air.

The fight was brutal. The assassin moved like lightning, forcing Benjamin on the defensive. Every attack was precise, calculated.

Benjamin countered, landing a solid punch to the ribs, but the assassin barely flinched.

Then the assassin spoke—a woman's voice.

"You should’ve stayed in the shadows, Darknight."

Benjamin’s eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

The assassin hesitated for just a second.

Then she lunged again.

The Escape

Realizing he wouldn’t win in a straight fight, Benjamin used a smoke bomb, vanishing into the haze.

By the time the smoke cleared, he was already gone.

Voss wasn’t so lucky.

The assassin turned to him. "Where is Graves?"

Voss stammered. "I—I swear, I don’t know!"

The assassin’s blade flashed.

And Voss was dead.

Back at the Hideout

Benjamin, bruised and bleeding, returned to the hideout.

Ronan sighed. "Let me guess—lead went cold?"

Benjamin shook his head. "Not cold. Just... complicated."

Selene frowned. "What do you mean?"

Benjamin sat down, exhaling.

"The assassin... she knew me."

Silence filled the room.

Ronan crossed his arms. "So what now?"

Benjamin’s eyes burned with determination.

"Now we find out why."

Episode 8: The Fall of a King

Tracking Nathaniel Graves

After weeks of chasing shadows, Benjamin, Ronan, and Selene finally cornered Nathaniel Graves.

The answer came from an unlikely place—Graves’ own greed.

A corrupt politician had been siphoning money from one of Graves’ hidden accounts. In response, Graves was coming to handle it personally.

It was their only chance.

The Ambush

The meeting took place in a private penthouse at the top of an unfinished skyscraper. Graves arrived with a full security team, his personal assassin—the woman who fought Benjamin—at his side.

But Benjamin was already inside.

As Graves lit a cigar, his men suddenly dropped, one by one, taken out in the darkness.

Then Benjamin stepped into the light.

"You're not as untouchable as you think, Graves."

Graves chuckled, unfazed. "Darknight. I was wondering when you'd finally stop lurking."

The assassin moved to protect Graves, but Ronan and Selene appeared, weapons drawn.

"Not this time," Selene said.

The Battle

Graves sighed, removing his coat. "Alright then. Let’s get this over with."

Despite his age, Graves was deadly. He fought with brutal efficiency, mixing military precision with sheer ruthlessness.

Benjamin blocked a vicious punch, countering with a spinning kick.

Graves wiped blood from his lip. "You fight like a man with nothing to lose."

Benjamin’s voice was cold. "Because I don’t."

The assassin lunged at Ronan and Selene, but they held their own.

The fight was intense, but Benjamin began to overpower Graves, breaking through his defenses.

Finally, he slammed Graves against the window, pinning him.

Graves grinned, blood dripping from his mouth. "You think killing me will end this? You have no idea what’s coming."

Benjamin’s grip tightened. "Then tell me."

Graves just laughed. "You’ll see soon enough."

But before Benjamin could finish it—

The Shot

A sudden gunshot rang out.

Graves’ head snapped back, a bullet hole clean through his skull.

His lifeless body collapsed.

The room fell silent.

Benjamin turned sharply, searching for the shooter.

A figure stepped out of the shadows, clapping slowly.

The Man Who Laughs

He was tall, lanky, dressed in a blood-red suit with a grin that didn’t belong on a sane man’s face. His messy green-tinted hair, his pale skin, and his mad, unblinking eyes made him look almost like a twisted parody of a clown.

He grinned wider.

"Ah, Benjamin. You did all the work, and I get all the fun. How... tragic."

Benjamin’s eyes darkened. "Who the hell are you?"

The man bowed dramatically.

"Call me... Harlequin."

Selene whispered, "Who the hell is this freak?"

Harlequin stepped over Graves’ body, nudging it with his foot. "Tsk tsk. The great Nathaniel Graves, reduced to this? How disappointing."

Benjamin’s fists clenched. "Why did you kill him?"

Harlequin tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Oh, Benny-boy, do I need a reason?"

Then, his grin widened.

"But if you really want to know... I just wanted to see the look on your face."

A beat of silence.

Then he pulled out a detonator and waved it.

"Ta-ta, Darknight!"

Before Benjamin could react, Harlequin pressed the button.

The Explosion

The entire penthouse exploded.

The shockwave sent Benjamin flying as flames and shattered glass engulfed the room.

When he regained his vision, Harlequin was gone.

And Nathaniel Graves, the mastermind behind Project Revenant, was dead.

Aftermath

Ronan groaned, helping Selene up. "What the hell was that guy?"

Benjamin didn’t answer. He just stared at the flames.

Selene dusted herself off. "So… we just lost our only lead?"

Benjamin clenched his fists. No. Harlequin just gave them a new one.

Because now, it wasn’t just about Project Revenant.

Now, it was about him.

Harlequin had entered the game.

And Benjamin wasn’t going to let him win.