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Chapter 16: Preparing for War
D arrived at an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city.
This place housed ALICE’s main body—her heart, mind, and core. It was also the first location D had ended up after returning from his travels. He had quietly asked the FB (Financial Bureau) to secure and maintain the facility, ensuring no one ever asked questions.
No one knew about this place.
Not his family.
Not even his wife.
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Meanwhile, Vincent and Valerie reached Charlie’s house. They were welcomed with open arms. Only the children knew the truth—that Vince and Val were his kids. Their instructions were simple: wait, observe, and slowly get acquainted with Charlie and Ashdon.
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While the Devil Quake and his family were preparing to reunite, another organization—having become aware of his return—began preparing their own forces.
A war was approaching.
Whether they wanted it or not.
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In a hidden location, six flat screens lit up one by one. At the Elder’s request, an Assembly—one that hadn’t been held in nearly fifteen years—was convened. Representatives gathered in their respective domains as the meeting went live.
“The agenda for this Assembly,” said one of the spokespersons, “is known only to the Elder from the European Division. I ask him now to reveal why this Assembly was called.”
As the Elder walked to the center of the room—a space barely large enough to hold fifteen people—the whispers grew louder.
Why now?
Why call an Assembly after so long?
The spokesperson asked everyone present—and everyone watching—to remain silent.
After a brief pause, the Elder spoke.
“The reason I called this Assembly…” He stopped, cleared his throat, and gathered his courage.
“…is to deliver unfortunate news.”
“He is back.”
The room erupted.
“Who is back?!”
With guilt and fear heavy in his voice, the Elder answered:
“DEVIL QUAKE is back.”
Silence followed—brief, absolute—before anger exploded throughout the Assembly.
The Leader of the American Domain slammed his hand down.
“That name—and that man—are forbidden. He is a curse to our millennium-old sacred organization!”
The Leader of the Asian Domain, far calmer, demanded proof.
When the evidence was presented, shock spread across the screens. One by one, they fell silent.
The younger members—those unfamiliar with the name—watched in confusion, unable to understand who this man was… or why the mere mention of him caused such fear.
After a long pause, the leaders spoke in unison.
“PREPARE FOR WAR.”
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Back to D.
After clearing multiple scans, passwords, and layered security locks, he entered the empty facility. The corridors echoed softly as he passed room after room until he reached a massive chamber.
At its center stood an enormous screen—larger than any known supercomputer. D approached the terminal and typed in a passcode. More security checks followed.
Finally, the system responded.
A device that had been dormant for over a decade began to stir.
From this point onward, everything was voice-commanded.
“Deactivate the Sleeping Beauty Protocol,” D said.
“And initiate ALICE’s awakening.”
It would take several hours for her to fully wake.
Once she did, an entire list of tasks awaited her.
After issuing the necessary commands, D left the facility and headed toward Charlie’s house.
She was going to be the hardest to convince.
D lived by one rule—one belief that shaped his entire life:
“No family member shall be left behind.”
It was more than a motto.
It was a promise born from a man who had always craved family.
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D to the Narrator:
“Can you please stop this pity party? Nobody cares, bro. Stop mentioning depressing stuff all the time.”
Narrator back to D:
“People in this era love drama and sad stories, man. You just don’t understand how much they appreciate a good narrator.”
D interrupts:
“Which is obviously not you.”
And thus, they continued bickering—for a while.
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