Hakan landed at a seaport unlike any other—an artificial island deep in the Pacific Ocean, forged from steel, reinforced alloys, and arcane architecture. Publicly, it was presented as an oceanic research facility. Privately, it was something far more critical: the true headquarters of the Vanguard Sentinels—the most powerful and secretive global defense force in existence.
As he stepped off the transport, three men were already waiting on the tarmac.
Marshall.
Tanaka.
Iqbal.
Each of them tied to Hakan in their own way—Marshall, the one whothis possible, Tanaka, representing Japan, where the Black Dragons head quarter is and Iqbal, from his homeland, Pakistan—the place that still beat in his blood.
"Welcome, Hakan," Marshall said, offering a handshake.
"Good to see you," Tanaka followed with a polite nod.
Iqbal added, "You've come a long way."
Hakan gave a slight bow of acknowledgment, his gaze steady. "So—what's the procedure?"
Marshall hesitated, glancing toward the looming structure behind them—the massive Vanguard headquarters stretching like a fortress across the horizon.
"Well…" he began, then went quiet for a moment. "The basic clearances are done. The real problem is… internal."
Hakan raised an eyebrow. "Internal?"
"The Vanguard Sentinels," Marshall continued, "they're not on your side."
"They don't trust you," Tanaka said, stepping in. "They believe giving you Grade Zero access could end… badly."
"In short," Iqbal added bluntly, "they think you might go rogue. And with Grade Zero access, you'd be the most dangerous threat alive."
Hakan said nothing.
But the look in his eyes made it clear:
He expected this.
And he was ready.
They walked through the heart of the facility—steel corridors lined with elite personnel, the hum of high-tech systems all around. Sleek jets flew overhead, and armed operatives moved in tight formation. Hakan didn't need to scan their power levels—he felt it. These people weren't just soldiers. They were built to counter rogue heroes.
And they could.
As they moved deeper into the base, their path was cut off by two figures approaching from the far side of the hangar.
One of them—tall, sharply dressed, eyes like ice—was Verrian Solace, the commanding leader of the Vanguard Sentinels. Beside him stood his second-in-command, Elian Meraxa, no less formidable in presence.
"Well, if it isn't the man who beat Luxarion," Verrian said, voice calm, with a touch of edge. A compliment—but a measured one.
"Appreciate you visiting us here, Mr. Hakan," he added, extending his hand.
Hakan stepped forward and shook it firmly. "Don't mention it."
Their eyes met—firm grip, polite words, but the tension beneath was palpable.
"All of you, this way," Elian said, motioning toward a sealed corridor.
They followed him to a large, clean-lined conference room. No windows. One long table.
At Hakan's seat lay a document.
A single page.
It was the clearance form. Grade Zero Access. All the signatures had been collected—the United Nations, the Hero Accord, even Marshall. Everything was in place.
All except for two names: Hakan and the Vanguard Sentinels.
Hakan took his seat without hesitation, eyes locked on Verrian across the table.
"I assume you'll be adding your signature, Verrian Solace," he said, calm but direct.
Verrian didn't respond right away.
Then he sat down—stone-faced, composed.
"I could," he said. "But let's be honest."
He placed his hands on the table.
"What's the guarantee that you won't go rogue?"
Hakan's expression didn't change.
Verrian continued. "This level of clearance… it's not just security. It's absolute access. It's saying—Hakan stands above all systems. And that... is not something we accept lightly."
"And why is that not acceptable?" Hakan asked evenly.
Verrian leaned forward, his voice cold now.
"Forget philosophy. Let's get to the point."
He stared across the table, unblinking.
"What's the proof that you won't become the threat we're supposed to stop?"
The room was dead silent.
No politicians.
No allies.
Just two men sitting across from each other—discussing the future of the world in a war of words.
"What makes you think I'll go rogue?" Hakan asked calmly, placing his hands flat on the table.
The conversation had just begun—but it was already charged.
What neither of them acknowledged aloud was that they were being watched.
Behind the wall of cameras, in a dark surveillance room, Marshall, Tanaka, Iqbal, Elian Meraxa, and a shadowy figure stood observing. The figure radiated a quiet but unmistakable power.
Verrian didn't hesitate. "What makes you think you won't?"
Hakan leaned back, adjusting his seat with a cool indifference.
"I'll ask you this," he said, eyes locked on Verrian. "If I wanted to go rogue... Japan would've fallen the day I stepped in."
Silence.
Even the surveillance room froze. Tanaka's jaw tightened. Marshall glanced sideways, sweat forming on his brow.
"Don't you think?" Hakan added, voice sharp.
Verrian narrowed his eyes. "Japan is still standing because of its heroes. Because of the Accord. And because of us—the Vanguard Sentinels."
Hakan's demeanor shifted. The warmth drained from his voice.
"Oh, please," he said coldly. "What makes you think your heroes would last ten minutes against my dragons? Or against me? I beat Luxarion. And Ren? He's not exactly rushing to stop me, is he?"
The temperature in the room dropped.
In the observation chamber, Tanaka whispered, "He can't be serious…"
Even Elian was stunned.
But the shadowy figure standing beside them gave a small smile.
A faint, amused laugh escaped him.
"What do you think?" Elian asked, turning toward him.
Marshall faced the figure. "Well, what do you say, Mr. Karan Kumar?"
But back in the conference room, Verrian was already answering.
"You may believe you're unstoppable," he said, cool and measured. "And to some extent, that may be true. But have you heard of our Alpha Squad?"
Hakan's brow furrowed. "Alpha Squad?"
"Our most powerful offensive response team," Verrian explained. "Specifically designed to take down rogue heroes. It's made up of two individuals."
"And who exactly are they?" Hakan asked, voice laced with curiosity—and just a hint of interest.
Verrian leaned forward, lips curling into a small smile.
"The best combat healer alive—Tavina Merisol Darran. And the most formidable power in the Vanguard… Karan Kumar."
Hakan raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly can these two do against me?"
Verrian's smile widened.
"Karan Kumar has defeated two Seven Star heroes—alone."
Hakan's expression shifted.
"His ability?" Verrian continued. "He can copy his opponent's powers and abilities. Not mimic. Copy. Permanently. Adapt them. Enhance them."
He paused. "He's not just a countermeasure, Hakan. He's your equal—or worse—your mirror."
For the first time, something flickered in Hakan's eyes.
Not fear.
But interest.
"That guy…" Karan muttered in the surveillance room, eyes fixed on the screen as Hakan and Verrian stared each other down in the conference hall.
"There's something different about him," he added, voice low. "I just can't put my finger on it."
"Like what?" Elian asked beside him.
"There's only one way to find out," Karan said, already turning toward the door.
He grabbed his phone as he stepped into the corridor, tapping a contact.
"Tavina. Get ready."
"Alright," came the calm voice on the other end.
Back in the conference room
Hakan and Verrian still sat across from each other, locked in a slow-burning standoff.
"So maybe your guy is strong," Hakan said with a faint smirk. "Maybe the strongest you've got. But…"
He leaned forward, voice growing colder.
"That still doesn't guarantee victory against me."
But before he could continue, the doors swung open.
A man stepped in—medium height, lean build, light brown complexion. He wore a black suit, crisp and clean, with a white tie that contrasted sharply against his calm, unreadable expression.
It was Karan Kumar.
"Hakan Raihan," Karan said, a faint grin pulling at his lips—just enough to reveal the challenge beneath it.
"Sir Verrian," Karan added, walking forward, "if I may, I'd like to make a proposal."
Verrian nodded, surprised. "Go ahead."
Karan looked directly at Hakan. "You talk about strength like it's gospel. And no doubt—you're strong. But I propose a trial."
He paused. The air in the room thickened.
"You versus the Alpha Squad."
Everyone froze.
In the surveillance room, Marshall, Tanaka, Iqbal, and Elian stared at the screen, stunned.
"What the hell?" Marshall muttered. "He actually said it."
"He challenged Hakan Raihan," Tanaka added, voice tight.
"I thought it was a myth," Iqbal said under his breath. "But it's true… Karan has more authority than Verrian. He's the shadow leader of the Sentinels."
"Obviously," Elian muttered. "He's the strongest among them."
Back in the room
"What do you mean?" Verrian asked, visibly caught off guard.
Karan turned back to him without hesitation. "Let's be real. If Hakan wanted to go rogue, he would've done it already. With the dragons behind him, I doubt anyone could stop him—except maybe me… and Ren."
He returned his focus to Hakan.
"So here's the deal: You fight us. Alpha Squad. If, in combat, you prove that you have no intention of turning rogue—that you can hold power without being consumed by it—we'll sign the papers. You get your Grade Zero access."
The room went dead silent. No one dared to speak.
Hakan raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you expect to judge that in a fight?"
Karan's tone didn't waver. "Battle reveals a man's truth. What he does when he's about to lose… when death is close. Men show their real selves when there's nothing left but instinct."
He looked once again to Verrian. "So—do you accept my proposal, Sir?"
Verrian hesitated. Then nodded.
"Yes. The two of you may proceed."
With that, he stood and exited the room.
Now, only Hakan and Karan remained. The energy between them felt like it could crack the walls.
They stared at each other for a long moment.
Then Karan raised his arm and gestured. "This way, Seven Star."
Hakan smirked. "Don't cry when it ends badly."
"Oh, we'll see about that," Karan replied, grin returning.
Together, they walked side by side toward the combat arena.
Two giants.
One test.
No second chances.