A New Follower And Enemy

[Diamond City – General Headquarters of the Hooler Forces]

(A soldier bursts into the war room, panting like he just ran a marathon with bricks in his pockets.)

Soldier: Sir! Bad news! Really bad! It’s worse than my in-laws visiting unannounced!

Shoan (2nd in Command): Speak clearly, Private Drama. What happened?

Soldier: Six of our elite soldiers were... annihilated! Out near Hadi City. Someone turned them into kebabs. One survivor... barely breathing.

Shoan: What?! Those were the best of the best! With high-tech weapons and top-tier training. You mean to tell me a bunch of cave people with bows and arrows defeated them?

Soldier: Not cave people, sir. Just... arrows. Precision shots. Like Robin Hood went rogue.

Shoan: Who’s in charge of that sector?

Soldier: Inspector Shaho Khan, sir.

Shoan: Well, call him now. And put it on speaker. I want to hear the excuses live.

(Ring... Ring... Click.)

Shoan: Khan! What’s going on out there? You letting soldiers play jungle safari while someone plays darts with their necks?

Shaho Khan: Sir! We’re still investigating. The survivor is unconscious, but based on early signs, this was a planned ambush. The attacker used... archery.

Shoan: Archery? Seriously? Do we need to issue shields and horses now? Should we knight our soldiers too?

Shaho Khan: I understand your frustration, sir. These were trained men. There must’ve been traps.

Shoan: The only trap here is your management skills. Fix this, Khan, or the next arrow might be your resignation letter. I want results—fast.

(Call ends with a dramatic beep.)

---

[Saint City – Hooler Base, Medical Bay]

Shaho Khan (fuming): Years of building fear and power, and in one day—poof—gone like my gym membership!

Soldier: Sir, James is still unconscious. Wounds are deep. He looks like he fought a bear... and lost.

Faiz (Adviser): Don’t worry. He’ll survive. Whoever did this wanted him alive—for a message. Let’s wait. He’ll talk.

(Just then, a nurse walks in, looking like she’s been dealing with man-children all day.)

Nurse: The patient’s awake. You may see him. But don’t overdo it. He needs rest, not a military press conference.

(They walk into the ICU. James is bandaged like a broken action figure.)

Shaho Khan: Speak, James. Who did this? Was it a rebel group? Or an elite squad?

James (weakly): Just... one man. He moved like a ghost. Fast. Precise. I couldn’t stop him. I failed you, sir. Please… end me.

Shaho Khan: No, James. Your punishment is to live and remember your failure every day. Now talk—tell us everything.

(James recounts the attack in detail.)

Faiz: Devil…? That’s what he called himself?

Shaho Khan: A man in a mask calling himself "Devil"? Sounds like a drama student with a vendetta.

Faiz: Don’t laugh. That name will spread fear. If we don’t crush this “Devil” now, people will start thinking he’s some kind of hero.

Shaho Khan: Then crush him. Take however many men you want. Tanks, drones, kitchen sinks—whatever it takes. But in two days, I want his head. Preferably gift-wrapped.

Faiz: Consider it done. This Devil won’t make it to Friday.

(Faiz walks out like he’s in an action movie trailer.)

James (thinking): The kids… he saved the kids. That must’ve been why he came. Maybe I should tell them.

(Pause.)

No. I’ll kill him myself. That will be my redemption.

Faiz: James. Are you hiding anything?

James: No, sir. Just... pain and trauma.

Faiz: Get well. We need soldiers who shoot arrows back, not just receive them.

---

[Saint City – Local Market]

(Buzzing with gossip, food, and people trying to sell overpriced apples.)

Vendor 1: Did you hear? Six Hooler soldiers, gone! Like roasted ducks!

Vendor 2: Serves them right! Always pushing people around. Guess they finally got pushed back.

(Devil, still masked and mysterious, walks into the crowd like a man with purpose—and vengeance.)

Devil: I heard there’s a Hooler base in this city. Do you know where it is?

Vendor 1: Umm... we don’t know anything, brother. We're just honest fruit sellers with weak knees.

(Akbar, a sharp-eyed, tough-looking man, steps forward.)

Akbar: Hey, stranger. What business do you have with that base?

Devil: I have a gift for them. Straight from Hell. Special delivery.

Akbar: Look, unless you start talking, no one here’s going to help you. This city’s scared of shadows.

Devil: I said what I needed to say. If you won’t help, I’ll find my own way.

(Devil starts to walk away. Akbar calls out.)

Akbar: Wait! Come with me. Let’s talk… off the streets.

(They head to Akbar’s house, a small but tidy place.)

Akbar: Want something to drink? Water, tea, vengeance?

Devil: I’m fine.

Akbar: You can take your mask off. No one’s watching.

Devil: I never take it off. It stays on until my mission’s over… or I’m dead.

Akbar: So... were you the one who wiped out those soldiers?

Devil: Yes.

Akbar (thinking): He said it so calmly… this guy’s either insane or legendary.

Akbar: I want to fight too. My brother was tortured by those monsters. They left him in the street like trash. I want revenge.

Devil: This path leads only to death.

Akbar: Then let’s walk it together. Show me your path. Introduce me to your leader.

Devil: There’s no one else. I am the leader. I am the war.

Akbar: Then count me in. I’ll fight beside you until my last breath.

Devil: Good. We move at dawn.

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To Be Continued...

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