Shira didn't waste any more time.
She reached into her utility belt and pulled out a slim, black communicator—no larger than a coin, but more powerful than most tech I'd seen.
"Take it," she said, pressing it into my palm. "It's synced to every vigilante under Dark Red. One signal, and they'll come."
I stared at it for a beat.
A single call.
And they'd all come running.
I closed my fingers around the device and stood.
"I need them," I said. "Now."
She nodded. "Then call them."
Twenty Minutes Later – Underground Briefing Room, VA HQ
The door hissed open as the last of the vigilantes stepped inside.
They came quickly—loyal, battle-worn, and ready. Each one in uniform. Each one older than the last time I saw them. Scarred by war. Shaped by it.
Simon Takami—Stormz—led Team Star in, rainwater still dripping off his jacket. His sharp white eyes locked onto me with unreadable intensity.
Kyu Akai—Night Angel—arrived right behind him, adjusting the yellow strap of her blade harness. She smiled softly when our eyes met.
Kyto Ein—Reaper—said nothing, as usual. Just leaned against the wall, arms crossed, those black eyes cold and calculating.
Lexi Kyri, Avis Isle, Takai Miko, Jiax Hyu… all filed in with purpose. Their presence filled the room with quiet energy. A storm waiting for a command.
And finally, the door closed.
"Welcome back," Simon said first, voice steady. "You look like hell."
"Thanks," I muttered. "Feels about right."
They chuckled, the tension cutting slightly.
"We missed you, Phantom," Kyu added.
"Missed me or missed the chaos?" I asked.
"Both," she smirked.
I stepped toward the round table in the center, placing a hologram chip into the panel. A map of Japan flickered to life—highlighting Nomu attack zones, evacuation routes, confirmed losses. The red zones were spreading like blood across the screen.
"I didn't call you here just to say hi," I began. "I found something. A way to end the Nomu."
They all leaned in.
"It's not a weapon," I continued. "Not in the way you're thinking. It's a toxin. A biological disruptor created from the same process the Nomu underwent during development."
Kyu blinked. "Wait, you mean… you reverse-engineered the process?"
"Not exactly," I said, hesitating. "My friend Zane told me about how the scientists detoxed and broke down bodies to rebuild them stronger. We took that and flipped it. Ryah helped recreate a toxic version—one that forces destabilization. It targets the Nomu's enhancements… and starts destroying them from the inside out."
Simon raised a hand. "Hold on. Has this been tested?"
I looked around the room.
And nodded.
"On me."
The silence was deafening.
Lexi's eyes widened. Kyto didn't react. Kyu's hands curled into fists.
"You what?" Avis asked, her voice razor-sharp.
"I tested it on myself," I repeated calmly. "I had to make sure it worked. There was no time. And we had to be certain it wouldn't kill on contact."
Reaper finally spoke, voice low. "And it didn't?"
"Almost," I admitted. "But Ryah had the antidote ready. It worked. My body processed the damage, rebuilt. And the formula was refined."
They all stared at me—half disbelief, half… weirdly unsurprised.
"You're crazy," Takai muttered.
"But you survived," Jiax said. "And it works?"
I nodded again. "It does."
"What's the plan?" Simon asked, serious now.
I tapped the map.
"We isolate the Nomu. Lure them out one at a time. Corner them. Inject the serum directly into their systems—arm, neck, whatever's exposed. We'll need stealth, precision, speed."
"And what if we miss?" Lexi asked.
"Then we try again," I said. "Until they fall."
Kyu looked at me carefully. "You're willing to risk your life for this. Again."
I met her gaze. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes. But this time… I'm not doing it alone."
They all looked at one another. Shared nods passed around the room like a silent oath.
Then Simon turned to me, arms crossed. "You're our leader, Phantom. Always have been. Lead us into hell, we'll follow."
I clenched my fist.
The shadows were moving again.
And this time, they moved with me.