"Ryuga, I can't run anymore,” Milea complained. Her chest still felt tight.
“Does your breathing hurt?” Ryuga panicked after seeing his cousin's pale face. He knew full well Milea was still sick. The shortness of breath caused by the poisonous gas made her weak and unable to run.
“I'll get help,” said Ryuga, who immediately called someone. 
Blood was pouring from Ryuga's temple, but he didn't care. His breathing was ragged, his left hand still tightly grasping the arm of Milea who was now breathlessly running by his side. Behind them, the roar of footsteps was getting closer, the sound of shouting and the whizzing of bullets echoed in the dark hallway they were passing through.
“Looks like we still have some running to do, Milea! Are you up to it?” asked Ryuga before pulling her faster.
Milea was still clutching around her chest, barely able to catch her breath. Her body was already very tired, her heart racing in panic from the pursuit of Lorenzo's men. However, she knew that they had no choice. If they were caught this time, Lorenzo would show no mercy.
Suddenly, from the intersection ahead, two burly men appeared carrying weapons. Ryuga immediately pulled Milea to the side, protecting her.
“Finish them!” One of the men shouted.
“I won't let you touch my cousin,” Ryuga said. Milea turned her head with an emotional look.
“Since when did you become so nice to me?” Milea sneered.
“Shut up! Right now, I'm your only protector. Got it?” 
Without hesitation, Ryuga pulled a gun from his waist and fired the first shot. The bullet travelled fast, hitting one of the men in the shoulder. However, the other immediately returned fire. Ryuga pushed Milea behind a wooden crate in the hallway, telling her to take cover from the hail of bullets.
“Ryuga! We're trapped!” Milea's voice trembled, fear evident on her face.
Ryuga growled. If they stayed here, sooner or later Lorenzo would find them. However, before he could think any further, the sound of an explosion rang out down the hall. Instantly, the enemy's attack came to a halt.
Ryuga cocked his head, seeing several armed men enter swiftly. Their black uniforms were enough to tell him who they were. They were Ryujin-kai guards.
One of the tall men with a sharp gaze stepped closer. “Are you alright, Ryuga?”
“You're just in time, Tetsuo,” Ryuga replied with a heavy sigh. Thankfully, reinforcements had arrived. 
Without wasting any more time, the Ryujin-kai troops took out Lorenzo's remaining men. Ryuga immediately pulled Milea out of the hiding place and rushed after Tetsuo to the prepared vehicle. They sped away before Lorenzo's troops arrived.
Milea sat in the corner of the room, her hands still shaking. Everything had happened so fast. Ryuga looked at her for a moment, then sighed softly. “We're safe now.”
Before Milea could answer, the door opened. An old man with a sharp gaze walked in. It was Milea's uncle, Peter aka Nakamura.
“Milea, from now on you are under my supervision,” Nakamura said in his trademark stern voice. “There is to be no outside communication. Including with your husband, Vincent.”
Milea gasped. “No! He must know that I'm safe!”
Nakamura smiled faintly. “That's not possible. The fewer people who know, the safer you will be,” he advised.
Elsewhere, Vincent received a mysterious message on his phone. It was only one sentence, but it meant so much to him. 
[Milea is fine. Don't look for her! She's safe with us.]
‘Why didn't he tell me where Milea was. You little brat!’ Vincent's eyes widened. His hands were clenched into fists.
‘Ryuga!’ muttered Vincent, full of anger. Even so, he was relieved that at least Milea was with her family. 
***
“You bastard! All because of you.” Vincent blamed and vented his emotions on Lorenzo. He punched Lorenzo in the face when he met the mafia boss at a bar. 
Heavy rain poured down on the city that night, soaking the black tarmac that was now filled with puddles. Vincent stood in the centre of the large, dimly lit room, his breathing heavy, his hands clenched into tight fists. Lorenzo sat on the floor with blood streaming from the corner of his lips, his eyes fixed on Vincent with a look of exhaustion.
“So, you're blaming me?” said Lorenzo as he endured the pain in the area of his face.
“That's not much. Don't awaken the demon inside me,” Vincent retorted.
“You're just like your father, Vin,” Lorenzo said hoarsely. “You think I'm the mastermind? You're dead wrong.”
Vincent looked at him sharply. “Who's controlling all this mess?”
A cold laugh sounded from the corner of the room. Vincent turned his head, and there, stood a woman in an elegant black dress, a sardonic smile adorning her face. Valeria Del Piero.
“You've always been smart, Vin. That's why Ryujin-kai wants you so badly,” Valeria complimented.
Valeria stepped forward, her high heels echoing on the marble floor. Behind her, several armed men stood guard, ready to squeeze the trigger at any moment if she gave the order.
“What do you want?” asked Vincent, his eyes not leaving her.
Valeria sighed as if bored. “What I want is almost there. The technology you created, the programme you developed years ago. It is the key to controlling communication networks and defence systems around the world.”
Vincent's heart skipped a beat. “It's not for use as a weapon!” he argued.
Valeria smiled sardonically. “Oh, Vin... You're so naive.”
From behind Valeria, an elderly man stepped in. His face was regal, his eyes piercing. Vincent was silent for a moment before recognising who he was.
“Nakamura...” Vincent muttered.
However, the man smiled. “My real name is Peter. I'm sure Milea never thought that her own uncle was involved in all this.”
Vincent's blood boiled. “You're... working with them?”
“It's more than just co-operation,” Nakamura replied. “It's about controlling the future. The Ryuujin-kai, the Japanese mafia, the technology you created... all of this is just part of a bigger plan.”
Vincent gripped his fist tightly. “I will not let you use my technology to destroy the world.”
Valeria leaned closer, her face inches from Vincent's. “So, what are you going to do? Fight us? Against the entire network we've built over the years?”
Vincent was silent for a moment. Then, a faint smile appeared on his face. “You think I came without a plan?”
Suddenly, the electricity in the room flickered. The large screen on the wall changed, displaying fast-moving codes. Valeria frowned. “What are you doing?”
Vincent held up the small device in his hand. “I just took back what was mine.”
Instantly, the alarm sounded. The security system collapsed, the Ryuujin-kai's communication signal was cut off.
Valeria growled. “Get him!” she ordered.
However, before her troops could move, a huge explosion rocked the building. Glass shattered, and flames began to rage. From outside, a black helicopter approached, the troops Vincent had prepared.
Vincent whispered softly, “I told you not to awaken the demon inside me.”
And with one swift movement, Vincent escaped into the chaos, preparing for the final battle against Valeria and the mastermind behind everything.