Chapter Five
The team returns to the organisation's headquarters after suffering a severe loss in equipment and devices. Everyone is disheartened; the first defeat in life is always difficult and painful. Eva tells them that they have lost a battle, but not the war, and that they will hold an urgent meeting with Gabriel and Eva to brief Captain Avery on the situation and decide what the next step will be. "We won't let despair take over us after this speech," she assures them.
Eva enters the meeting room with Rose and Gabriel. She looks at Gabriel with surprise.
Eva: "What happened? Everything seemed to be going smoothly. What was that fierce snowstorm that threw you out?"
Gabriel: "If I tell you, you'll think I'm mad. But wait, how did you see those raging winds that threw me out? Weren't they part of my hallucination?"
Eva responds angrily: "It doesn't seem like it, my fellar . Now, stop the nonsense and tell me what in the hell did you see out there?"
Gabriel's eyes are cold. He falls silent, staring at the ground as though detached from time and place. He seems to be trapped in a dark dimension, alone, disconnected from them in this problem.
Rose, trying to comfort him: "Gabriel, dear, whatever you saw, we will believe you. Don't you trust me?"
Gabriel responds coldly: "I saw two beings that looked like Seraphim and Cherubim. I saw another creature, with a cluster of gigantic wings, and a massive eye in the centre. The one who threw me was a demonic skeleton, like a undead, or a lich, like the ones we see in fantasy stories And believe me, despite the simplicity of its design, it was him the most feral and scary and terrifying thing there ."
Rose and Eva are stunned by his words, staring at him in disbelief. Eva replies with a tone of astonishment.
Eva: "This is strange, my boy. Since when have you been hallucinating?"
Gabriel: "Actually, not for long."
Eva: "Look, we don't know if your hallucinations are real or not, but what we do know is that those fierce winds that threw you out were real. This leads us to two possibilities: either they are using highly advanced technology that I've never heard of before, or those entities you spoke of are real."
Rose, trying to make sense of it: "Aren't they, essentially, a demonic cult? Maybe they're using black magic?"
Eva: "Although I'm not a believer in black magic, it's a very plausible possibility."
Gabriel thinks about something he had read once, trying to remember, but it eludes him. He struggles to recall the details.
Gabriel: "Look, I know I suffer from mental issues, but I've never hallucinated like this before. This makes me think… I once read in some mythology about a demonic entity that controls the mind, but I can't remember its name."
Eva: "It doesn't control the mind, genius. I know the name too, but I just can't remember it. It's strange. It causes deadly hallucinations and nightmares to its enemies. Maybe you've been cast out by the darkness, and you're not mad after all."
Rose: "What now?"
Eva: "We'll prepare an alternative plan. Do you remember that journalist you told me about? Maybe we can send her all the documents and scandals we have on Mikhail Chvinyshkov. But I believe he can easily slip through the law. I'll discuss it with Captain Avery and we'll decide on the next steps. We might even carry out another assassination, but that will take time. Let's wait and see."
Both Rose and Gabriel respond: "Understood, Leader. We'll stay in touch."
Before they leave, Eva tells Rose not to act on her own with the journalist and to wait for orders.
Eva then speaks to the team, informing them that they will attempt to take down Chvinyshkov again in a month. After that, the group departs the room.
As they head out, Rose quietly follows Gabriel, trying to be discreet, but he notices her.
Gabriel: "Why are you following me, stalker?"
Rose: "I'm worried about you. The attacks from that killer, Hossed Arwah, Wellington, are increasing. You need someone who knows how to fight to save you from him."
Gabriel, smiling: "It's always nice to have someone who cares about you."
Gabriel and Rose return to Gabriel's apartment, seeking respite after the long, bizarre, and exhausting day. They settle in, grabbing a bowl of popcorn, and put on a film to unwind. However, Gabriel soon notices a certain sadness lingering in Rose's expression.
Gabriel: "Hey, are you upset because we didn't manage to take him down?"
Rose: "A little."
Gabriel, tossing another handful of popcorn into his mouth, speaks with a nonchalant confidence.
Gabriel: "Don't worry, we'll kick his arse soon enough."
Rose: "Oh, we definitely will. But actually, speaking of what you told me earlier... I came across something interesting online—a legend."
Gabriel raises an eyebrow as he munches on his popcorn.
Rose: "It's called the legend of 'The Nameless Devil.'"
She leans in slightly, her tone shifting into something more mysterious, as if sharing a dark secret.
Rose: "The legend says that the one who will eventually free the world will not be a hero, nor a saviour, but rather a monster. A murderer. A psychopath. A being so disturbed and ruthless that only he will be capable of defeating the Devil who secretly rules the world."
She pauses, gauging Gabriel's reaction before continuing.
Rose: "It also says that this Devil isn't just some malevolent entity or a tyrant—no, he is something far older than any known creature. A being that has existed since the dawn of time, perhaps even before it. Through some unfathomable means, he erased his name and story from every religion, every myth, every legend. In their place, he planted false names, fabricated demons, misleading tales—all to divert attention from his true existence. No one remembers his name, nor even his original form. He lurks in the shadows, unseen, orchestrating the fate of the world from his Dark Throne. He is the hidden hand that moves all things, and no one even realises it."
Gabriel listens intently, his amusement slowly fading.
Rose: "But the legend also says that the Devil's reign cannot last forever. There is an ancient law, one that might be woven into the very fabric of existence itself. Every one hundred thousand years, a child or a being is born—someone with intelligence surpassing all others. A creature whose destiny is to challenge the Devil, to try and overthrow him. But unlike the fairy tales of triumphant heroes, this one never succeeds. He fails. Every time. That is why the Devil still rules to this day."
Gabriel chuckles, shaking his head.
Gabriel: "Sounds more like a story about eternal failure than one about a hero."
Rose: "Precisely. This so-called 'hero' is not a hero at all, but a force of chaos, an anomaly. No one knows where he will appear, nor how fate chooses him. He could be a human… or something the world has never seen before. But one thing is certain—he will be the most intelligent being in existence, the master strategist, the unstable mind that carries the weight of the world's fate upon his shoulders."
A heavy silence lingers between them before Rose continues, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rose: "And yet… it is always the same outcome. Every one hundred thousand years, a new challenger rises, believing he will break the cycle of oppression. But in the end, he only meets defeat. The Devil has never tasted the bitterness of loss—not once. He is always far beyond his opponent's intellect. Perhaps the sheer difference in power is what ensures his victory. While the so-called 'hero' is merely a genius, the Devil is something… incomprehensible. It is said that he could destroy entire galaxies with the snap of his fingers. And yet, despite this vast difference, the challenger always comes close—so close—to defeating him… but never quite enough."
Rose falls silent, her words hanging in the air like a heavy cloud.
Rose: "So, tell me, is there any escape? Will there ever be an end to this endless cycle of loss? Or is the world doomed to an eternity of failed rebellion? No one knows. But one thing is certain—the Dark Throne awaits, the Devil watches… and the next challenger walks towards his inevitable, tragic fate."
Gabriel, smirking, leans back on the couch.
Gabriel: "What a miserable story. I wonder which drug-addled lunatic wrote it."
Rose glares at him, playfully shoving him.
Rose: "Hey! I actually liked it! It's entertaining. The strange thing is, it was deleted just seven minutes after being posted online. Maybe the page admins wanted to add some mystery by removing it so quickly."
She giggles at the thought.
Gabriel scoffs.
Gabriel: "A bunch of idiots, if you ask me. But I still don't see what this has to do with what happened to me at the base."
Rose's playful demeanour fades slightly as she leans in.
Rose: "Well, according to the legend, one of the Devil's abilities is to send hallucinations and deadly nightmares to his enemies. It also says that he has countless children and disciples… maybe you encountered some of them."
Gabriel snorts, shaking his head.
Gabriel: "Well, I certainly didn't enjoy the experience. Now, tell me something more important—are you staying over tonight?"
Rose grins mischievously.
Rose: "Yup. Why? Are you going to stop me?"
Gabriel: "No, but seriously—quit watching me while I sleep, you little creep."
Rose giggles, playfully crossing her fingers behind her back.
Rose: "Of course, my dear sir."
Gabriel: "Hey, Rose, are you asleep?"
Rose: "What do you want at this hour?"
Gabriel: "The Devil… what does he look like?"
Rose: "He's just a shadow. He can take on the form of many creatures, but they are always nothing more than silhouettes."
Gabriel: " haa bullshit."
Rose: "Can I sleep now?"
Both of them fall into a deep sleep. Suddenly, Gabriel finds himself in a cabin in a frozen, desolate land. The ground beneath him is covered in ice, stretching endlessly into the darkness. A chilling wind howls through the cracks in the wooden walls. Then, cutting through the night, he hears it—a wolf's howl, louder and more guttural than anything a human ear should ever endure. It isn't a single voice but a chorus of monstrous cries, reverberating through the abyss.
Gripping an axe, Gabriel moves toward the door. His pulse pounds in his skull as he reaches for the handle. Slowly, he pulls it open.
Standing before him are three massive wolves—each one as large as three full-grown Russian wolves combined. Their fur is a deep, suffocating black, as though they were carved from living shadows. Their eyes burn with a blood-red glow, filled with a malevolent hunger that goes beyond mere predation. One of them rises onto its hind legs, its grotesque form resembling something more human than beast, while the other two remain crouched, muscles coiled, ready to pounce. Their fangs are long, jagged, and dripping with fresh blood.
Then, they charge.
Terror constricts Gabriel's chest as he lets out a scream—but in an instant, the wolves vanish. As if they were never there. As if they had never existed at all. The cabin, the frozen wasteland—everything around him disintegrates into nothingness.
He falls.
An abyss swallows him whole, dragging him downward through endless emptiness. Then—impact. The icy embrace of water engulfs him, freezing his lungs, pulling him deeper. But instead of drowning, he rises, his body breaking the surface. His back is bare, the cold biting into his exposed skin. Yet, somehow, he feels lighter, as if the air itself is lifting him.
A figure appears.
A woman—an angel—descends towards him. She is breathtaking, her beauty otherworldly, radiant. Her delicate hands reach out, fingertips grazing his trembling arms, his throat. She tries to pull him from the water—but before she does, she tilts her head slightly, her gaze locking onto his
A terrifying demonic shadow with bat wings and faceless devours the angel. Gabriel screams "Noooooo!" Then he wakes up. Rose says to him: "Gabriel, my dear, what happened to you? Calm down."
Gabriel says, panting: "It was another nightmare."
Rose replies sarcastically: "Should I sleep next to you, big boy, so those bad dreams don't come back again?"
Gabriel hugs Rose, tears in his eyes, and says: "Promise me you won't ever leave me."
Rose: "Of course, my spoiled boy, death will not separate us."
A month passes since these events, and Eva still hasn't contacted the group to update them on the situation. Rose calls Gabriel and tells him to meet her at the Lexi Café, sending him the location. Gabriel goes to meet her and finds her sitting at one of the tables, wearing black clothes, a hat, and sunglasses to hide her face. Gabriel sits down with her and says, "What's going on, James Bond?"
Rose: "It's Eva. It's been so long since we last heard from her. I've tried reaching out to her in every way, but she won't respond. Do you think she's been kidnapped?"
Gabriel: "How would they know about her?"
Rose: "Do you think they're that stupid? I bet they know all our members, including you and me."
Gabriel: "Honestly, there were men wearing clothes like the agents from those action movies following me, but I thought it was just one of my hallucinations. I was confused because they didn't feel demonic or sick like usual."
Rose: "No, those weren't hallucinations. They were following me too. Do you think I dressed like this for Halloween?"
Gabriel: "I thought it was Halloween."
Rose: "This is no time for jokes. Look, if she's late, we'll just act on our own. I'll send all these documents to that reporter."
Gabriel: "We have to wait for the orders. Promise me you won't do anything on your own."
Rose: "Fine, whatever you say."
Gabriel: "Don't worry. It's only a matter of time." Rose leaves the café, but as she reaches the door, Gabriel calls after her: "Rose, be careful. Don't forget the promise you made to me."
She gestures with two fingers in a "V" shape and walks out. Three days later, Rose receives a call from Eva. Rose is surprised and thinks to herself, Why now of all times?
She answers the call: "Eva, where the hell have you been? I've been to the base several times and found no one."
Eva: "There's been an emergency procedure. I decided to evacuate the place with Ivory so we can plan our next move away from prying eyes. We just got information that the base was compromised."
Rose: "How?"
Eva: "Anyway, come to this location and bring the documents with you. We'll have a meeting, the three of us, with that reporter."
Eva hangs up and sends her the location. Rose feels uneasy and decides to bring a weapon with her. She calls Gabriel and tells him everything. She attaches a tracker to herself and gives the other one to Gabriel, telling him, "If anything happens, follow me there."
Gabriel reassures her, though he feels uneasy as well: "Don't worry, it's probably just a boring secret meeting. I doubt the Chevchenkovs know enough about us to impersonate Eva's voice. Just be cautious."
Rose kisses Gabriel on the lips, their first kiss, before leaving. "Don't worry," she says, "I'll be back and sleep with you so those nightmares don't come back again."
Gabriel: "Just be cautious, you fool."
Rose: "I love you."
Gabriel: "And I love you."
Rose arrives at the location and finds a large place, like an airport with hangars, but one she's never heard of before. It feels like a secret airport not listed in any government records. She sees a helicopter descending from the sky and landing at the airport. The reporter, along with several men, steps out of it and walks toward her.
Rose: "You imitated Eva's voice on the phone, didn't you? Maybe you've replicated her voice, but she doesn't speak like that. Where is she?"
The reporter smiles: "Why all this anger, Rose? We've known each other since childhood. You should be kinder to me."
Rose: "What the hell are you talking about, you bitch?"
The reporter laughs darkly: "Seems your memory is weakening, cousin. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Maria Chevchenkov. Now, let me ask you, why are you trying to betray the family, Rose Martin, or should I say Rose Chevchenkov?"
Rose: "Go to hell, you whore!"
Rose pulls a grenade from her pocket and throws it at Maria and her men. She hides behind one of the hangars, pulling out her weapon, and a fierce gunfight ensues between her and Maria's soldiers. Rose manages to take down nine of them. She emerges from behind the hangar and aims her gun at Maria's head, but the bullet passes through her skull as though it's nothing more than a shadow.
Out of ammunition, Rose is surrounded by four of Maria's men. They attempt to capture her, but she fights back fiercely, managing to take down three of them. However, one of them sneaks up from behind and presses a cloth with a sleeping agent to her face. Rose loses consciousness.
Maria: "Let her rest, cousin."
Meanwhile, Gabriel grows anxious as Rose hasn't called. He borrows a car from a friend and rushes to the location. Suddenly, he hears on the radio that the leaders of the Zero Phantom terrorist organisation, Eva Markos (the Chevchenkov family name not being mentioned) and their leader, Henry Ivory, have been captured. They were transferred earlier that morning to Skull Island Prison. Gabriel is shocked by the news. Full of anxiety and fear, he drives faster than ever.
When he arrives, the place is a scene of carnage. The air is thick with the smell of blood, gunfire, and chaos, as though a battle had just taken place. As he walks, he sees a burning fire and notices some strange words written in Greek: Δέν εἶσαι ἄξιος μας, Γαβριήλ (Den eisai axios mas, Gavriil), meaning "You are not worthy of us, Gabriel."
The lights suddenly flicker on, and Gabriel is faced with the most horrific sight of his life. He sees Rose, crucified on a golden cross, stabbed in the chest, precisely in the heart. Even in death, she is incredibly beautiful. Gabriel stands frozen in place, as if time has stopped. He gasps for breath, clutching his chest, tears streaming down his face. He picks up a gun from the ground and places it to his head, pulling the trigger—but the gun is empty. He throws the gun aside and collapses to the ground, crying out in agony.
Meanwhile, far away, in a corner of the galaxy, there is a flourishing garden, full of waterfalls, flowers, and green meadows, like paradise. Many animals—rabbits, butterflies, scorpions, cats, deer, and horses—roam freely. In this place, a shadowy figure, resembling a bride wearing a cloak and a crown with large bat wings, stands. Its face is featureless, save for black eyes, surrounded by many red, bloodshot rings that resemble chameleon eyes without skin. In its hand is a butterfly, and on the other, a crawling scorpion.
As the figure moves, all the animals seem to revere it as if they are seeking its approval. When the shadow turns to leave, the paradise around it transforms into a nightmare. The waterfalls flow with blood, the flowers become monstrous plants, and the rabbit turns into a giant, sharp-toothed, horned creature. Half of the butterflies turn into massive, black-winged ones that hum eerily like lost souls. The other half bear a skull-like mark on their backs.
The scorpion morphs into a giant, cracked, stone-covered creature, like something volcanic. The horse becomes a skeletal figure with a thin, pale layer of skin, and its eyes are empty, like holes, with shark-like teeth instead of a horse's.
Suddenly, the shadow looks back. Everything returns to normal, as though it had never been disturbed. The animals breathe a sigh of relief. The shadow leaves, flying into the vast space, heading towards the South Pole of Earth. During its journey, it changes shape into 80,000 different creatures, both terrestrial and non-terrestrial, at a terrifying speed.
Eventually, it settles on the form of a small child wearing a giant crown. We move to a secret base in the South Pole, hidden behind a holographic wall. Inside, a massive meeting room is where the seven rulers of the families that govern the world gather. The first ruler, Isaac Chevchenkov, head of the Chevchenkov family; the second, Arnold Valheim, head of the Valheim family; the third, Johann Ivremor, head of the Ivremor family; the fourth, Nicholas Morganstein, head of the Morganstein family; the fifth, Hubert Sterleris, head of the Sterleris family; the sixth, Ronald Drakonov, head of the Drakonov family; the seventh, Nathan Noxville, head of the Noxville family.
The rulers are in heated debate about Chevchenkov's actions. Hubert says: "What a fool Chevchenkov is! How could your brother allow this to happen while in a meeting with the princes? How dare he disturb them with such trivial matters of humans?"
Chevchenkov responds: "I've apologized many times, my colleagues. The Zero Phantom problem is over."
Ronald Drakonov: "That's not enough. The most important one is still free."
Johann: "Don't worry, Ronald. There's no evidence that the addict is the prophecy's child."
Nathan: "What do we do about America? They've already gotten rid of many of our pawns there."
Nicholas: "Simple, we'll just make new pawns to control them."
Isaac: "Either way, let's go to the throne room, and we'll know what to do."
One of the young men, apparently a son of the Morganstein family, asks: "Has the meeting ended? I'm getting sleepy." The rulers leave for a large room with no door, but access is through a dimensional rift. The ceiling is entirely glass, reflecting the sky with a massive eye in the centre, shooting beams of light, alongside a small crescent moon and a strange sun with a face.
The room contains a giant hourglass with wings fluttering above it, and a flying anchor. Two marble columns stand beside three giant candles, while two hands flip through pages, seemingly floating. At the centre of the room, a throne with a curved cross stands. On the arms of the throne are two skulls, and sitting upon the throne is the shadowy figure, which relaxes comfortably as the seven rulers kneel before it.
One of the rulers asks: "Master, what name would you like us to erase from history this time?"
The shadow responds with its terrifying voice: Gabriel Sunderland
End of Chapter