The underground parking garage of Khan Tower felt colder than the battlefield above.
Dim emergency lights flickered across the concrete floor. Long shadows stretched between the parked vehicles, and the heavy silence felt almost suffocating.
Ryan stood completely still.
His eyes were locked on the man standing in front of him.
The man who looked exactly like him.
Same sharp jawline.
Same cold gray eyes.
Only one difference.
The stranger's smile was darker.
Crueler.
"Hello, brother."
Ryan's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"…No."
Meherin looked between them, her heart pounding.
"Ryan…?"
Daniel slowly raised his weapon.
Victor, however, seemed strangely amused.
"Well," he muttered softly, "that explains a lot."
The Man From the Past
The man stepped forward calmly, removing the rest of his tactical helmet.
"My name," he said casually, "is Adrian Khan."
Ryan's fists clenched.
"You're dead."
Adrian smiled slightly.
"That's what Father wanted you to believe."
Meherin's mind raced.
Ryan had never mentioned a brother.
Ever.
Ryan's voice became cold and sharp.
"You died when we were children."
Adrian tilted his head.
"No."
"I was taken."
Those words sounded familiar.
Too familiar.
Meherin felt a chill run down her spine.
"…like me."
Adrian looked at her with curiosity.
"So you're the famous Meherin Rahman."
Ryan stepped in front of her immediately.
"Don't look at her."
Adrian chuckled.
"You always were protective."
A Childhood Secret
Ryan's voice became darker.
"What did they do to you?"
Adrian shrugged.
"They raised me."
Victor suddenly laughed.
"Oh… this is brilliant."
Ryan glared at him.
"You knew?"
Victor nodded slowly.
"I suspected."
Adrian continued calmly.
"The Founders took me after Father refused to cooperate with them."
Ryan whispered,
"So they turned you into one of them."
Adrian didn't deny it.
"They didn't turn me."
"They trained me."
Daniel muttered quietly,
"Elite Founder division…"
Ryan's jaw tightened.
"They made you their weapon."
Adrian's smile grew colder.
"And what did the world make you?"
Brother vs Brother
The tension between them grew heavier with every second.
Ryan took a step forward.
"You're working for the people who destroyed our family."
Adrian answered calmly,
"They gave me purpose."
Ryan's voice dropped dangerously low.
"They stole your life."
Adrian's eyes hardened.
"They gave me power."
The two brothers stared at each other.
Like two storms about to collide.
Meherin whispered to Daniel,
"This is bad…"
Daniel nodded.
"Very bad."
Victor, meanwhile, leaned against a car like he was watching entertainment.
"I've been waiting for this fight."
The Director's New Move
Suddenly Adrian raised his hand.
The Founder soldiers aimed their weapons instantly.
Ryan tensed.
Adrian spoke calmly.
"The Director sends her regards."
Meherin stepped forward.
"Tell her I'll destroy everything she built."
Adrian studied her carefully.
"So you're the new Consortium leader."
His gaze sharpened.
"You're the reason this war started."
Ryan snapped immediately.
"Don't blame her."
Adrian smirked.
"I'm not blaming her."
"I'm impressed."
Meherin frowned.
"Why?"
Adrian answered quietly,
"Because you survived the same test I did."
Her heart skipped.
"The kidnapping…"
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
"They were preparing us both."
The Real Plan
Victor suddenly spoke.
"Two heirs."
Ryan turned toward him.
"What?"
Victor shrugged.
"The Founders never planned for just one leader."
Adrian continued calmly.
"They were creating the perfect commanders."
Ryan's expression darkened.
"So this entire war…"
Adrian nodded slowly.
"…is part of the test."
Meherin felt her stomach twist.
"You're saying they wanted this?"
Adrian smiled.
"Conflict reveals strength."
Ryan's Decision
Ryan raised his weapon.
"I'm done playing their games."
Adrian looked disappointed.
"You're going to shoot your own brother?"
Ryan's voice was ice.
"You stopped being my brother the moment you joined them."
The soldiers tensed.
Adrian's smile faded.
"So be it."
He slowly removed his jacket.
"You always were the stubborn one."
The Fight Begins
Adrian moved first.
Faster than anyone expected.
Ryan barely blocked the strike.
Their fight exploded instantly.
Years of training collided with brutal force.
Punch.
Block.
Counter.
Both brothers moved like mirrors of each other.
Deadly.
Precise.
Unstoppable.
Meherin watched in horror.
"They're going to kill each other."
Victor murmured softly,
"Only one of them was meant to survive."
Meherin's Fear
Ryan and Adrian slammed into a car, the metal denting from the impact.
Ryan landed a brutal punch.
Adrian staggered.
Then Adrian smiled again.
"You've gotten stronger."
Ryan growled,
"I had motivation."
Adrian glanced briefly at Meherin.
"Ah."
"That explains it."
Ryan's rage exploded.
He attacked again.
Harder.
Faster.
But Adrian matched every move.
Because he had been trained by the same enemy.
🔥 Final Cliffhanger
Suddenly Adrian stepped back.
He raised his hand again.
The Founder soldiers immediately aimed their weapons—at Meherin.
Ryan froze.
"Don't."
Adrian's voice became calm again.
"This fight was never about us."
Meherin's heart pounded.
"What do you mean?"
Adrian looked directly at her.
"The Director wants to see something."
Ryan whispered dangerously,
"What?"
Adrian answered slowly—
"She wants to see if you're strong enough to watch him die."
Ryan's blood ran cold.
Adrian lifted his gun.
And pointed it straight at Ryan.
➜ Next Chapter Teaser (Chapter 29 – Blood of the Khan Family)
In Chapter 29:
Adrian reveals the final rule of the Founders' test
Ryan and his brother face a life-or-death decision
Meherin is forced to choose between love and power
Daniel's resistance group launches a surprise attack
And the battle against the Founders finally explodes into full war
📌 1️⃣
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📌 2️⃣
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