Ahmed returned to his room, removed his bracelet, and hid it in the closet. He trained for another day but made no progress—except for moving a pile of sand using air. 

The next day, after a long session, he finally reached the system without help. This time, the system was a large white room with the same person on a throne and the broken cage nearby. 

- "Will you tell me what that gem is?" 

- "It’s the Devil’s Gear." 

- "What kind of name is that? Why associate it with the devil? That thing saved my life before." 

- "I can’t tell you about forbidden history. If you want to know, you’ll have to research it yourself." 

- "Forbidden history? Damn it all. Every time I try to uncover the truth, life gives me bigger puzzles. All I wanted was to know why that ship sank and killed my mother." 

- "You must look into the past to uncover the present’s secrets. You think you’re at the beginning of your problems, but you don’t realize the end began with that ship’s sinking. Beware of the Devil’s Gear but keep it safe. Make sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands." 

Ahmed woke up and continued training with Youssef before returning to the hotel exhausted. His father called, saying he’d arrived and was on his way to the hotel. Ahmed quickly changed out of his torn training clothes. 

But he returned seconds later and said, "There’s something important I need to tell you. I wasn’t planning to, but now I have to." 

Maryam: "You’re telling us now, right before your dad arrives? You have an important meeting—tell us later." 

Ahmed: "I need to tell you now because it’s more dangerous than I thought." 

Youssef: "Let’s hear it. We don’t know what kind of disaster he’s hiding." 

Maryam: "Fine, make it quick." 

Ahmed: "Come to my room, then." 

They all went to his room, where Ahmed took the bracelet from the closet and placed it on a small table. 

Ahmed: "My secret is this." 

Ali: "Make it short. This chapter is already too long." 

Ahmed: "My mother gave me this bracelet in my first year of school. It seemed ordinary, but like everything in my life, it wasn’t. It protected me from all kinds of harm. She said it was passed down from our ancestors and that it was my turn to wear it. A few days later, that spaceship crashed. I survived, along with my father, because we were close to him—my mother threw me onto his chair, knowing my immunity would shield him too. But I wasn’t big enough to protect both of them." 

Maryam: "What do you mean it protected you? How?" 

Ahmed: "I can’t explain exactly. The bracelet stopped working after I got the King’s Gear. But it used to create a thin barrier between me and anything harmful." 

Youssef: "Why did it stop working?" 

Ahmed: "The system said the bracelet interferes with our connection, so I took it off to train. He also said the black gem in it is another type of Gear—the Devil’s Gear." 

Ali: "We’ve never heard of such a thing." 

Ahmed: "I’m surprised you didn’t recognize it. Aren’t you the experts?" 

Maryam: "How would we know? It doesn’t look like our Gears at all. It doesn’t even glow." 

Youssef picked up the bracelet, smiling slyly: "We didn’t recognize it, but I know someone who will the moment they see it." 

Maryam quickly pushed all three away from the table. The moment she did, giant black spikes erupted from the ground, destroying a large part of the hotel. 

Youssef emerged from the rubble, eyes glowing red with anger: "So you came as soon as we revealed your secret." 

************

A man dressed in black with intricate patterns stood outside the hotel, clearly responsible for the destruction, as the black spikes emerged from beneath his feet. 

Youssef (angrily): "I knew we wouldn’t meet you by accident, you bastard. But why wait until now?... Omar?" 

Omar (smirking): "If your memory were better, people wouldn’t have gotten hurt. You’re the bastard here." 

Youssef (mockingly): "Why aren’t you wearing your mask now? The rabbit mask would’ve made me pity you a little." 

Omar: "That mask... I was in a hurry and needed something to hide my identity. But I don’t need it anymore. I’ve been given permission to act as I please." 

Youssef: "Oh? Who gave you permission?" 

Omar (defiantly): "Force it out of me, and I’ll tell you." 

The two prepared to fight, but before they could move, Ali emerged from the rubble. He looked at Youssef and shouted, "What’s going on?!" 

Youssef pointed at Omar and said, "As you can see, we need Plan B." 

Ali stared at Omar in shock, his face twisting in discomfort. 

Omar (smirking): "You seem really bothered by the truth. Surprised?" 

Ali (calmly): "Why would I be bothered by your truth? You’re not my cousin. I only knew you for a few days. I’m just annoyed by the unfairness." 

Omar frowned. "What do you mean?" 

Ali (mockingly): "Isn’t it obvious? I’ve been a superhero for years and still don’t have a custom outfit. Meanwhile, the villain shows up with a cool, unique suit. I’m stuck fighting in my pajamas because of budget cuts." 

Omar scoffed. "This is a military uniform, you idiot. Nothing special." 

Ali (indignant): "Then why is it so tight? Is it an army of gymnasts?" 

Youssef (sternly): "Enough. You can leave now." 

Ali: "Are you sure? I can stall longer—he’s responding." 

Youssef: "Yes, I’m ready. And I can’t stand your nonsense anymore." 

Omar (angrily): "Where do you think you’re going? You won’t leave here alive before I die." 

Youssef (defiantly): "As you wish." 

Youssef clapped his hands, and Ali jumped back as all the nearby cars exploded. Youssef directed the flames straight at Omar. 

Omar dodged, but Youssef chased him through the fire, focusing his power into his fists and smashing him into the ground with enough force to crater it. 

Omar, dazed, thought to himself: *What’s happening? This is impossible. He shouldn’t be able to control heat without touching it. How did those cars explode? Ali mentioned stalling... I get it! * 

*Youssef knew he needed fire to gain the upper hand, so he used our conversation to heat the air around me without me noticing. Ali must’ve sensed it when he suddenly appeared and stalled to buy Youssef more time.* 

Youssef descended to finish Omar, but black spikes erupted from the ground again, blocking his strike. Omar seized the chance to stand. 

Omar (angrily): "Seems I underestimated you." 

Meanwhile, Ali searched for the others and found Maryam trapped in the spikes, severely injured and struggling to free herself. 

Ali: "Can’t you control them?" 

Maryam (weakly): "No... this material doesn’t respond to me." 

Ali focused his power into his hand. "Then I’ll break them. Hold still—this’ll hurt." 

He shattered the spikes and propped Maryam against a broken wall. Yellow energy lines spread from his chest, covering his head, and his eyes turned completely yellow, even the whites. 

Ali: "The situation’s critical. Most people have fled, but many are trapped in the rubble. Can you help them escape safely?" 

Maryam: "Give me a few minutes." 

Ali: "Good. I’ll go help Ahmed." 

Ahmed lay on the ground, clutching his mother’s bracelet, his head crushed under debris. Ali cleared the rubble, giving Ahmed time to regenerate. When he stirred, Ali helped him up. 

Ahmed (weakly): "What... happened?" 

Ali (smirking): "You set a record—dying twice in three days. Anyway, the Rabbit Mask guy attacked us. Youssef’s fighting him, and we need to help." 

Ahmed (dazed): "W-what?!" 

Ali: "You’ll be even more shocked when you learn that the spike guy is—" 

Before he could finish, Youssef’s foot materialized out of nowhere, smashing Ali’s face and sending him crashing through the hotel. Ahmed stood frozen beside Youssef, utterly confused. 

Youssef (to Ahmed): "Get away from here. It’s dangerous." 

Ahmed: "But... why?! What’s happening?" 

Youssef: "You really don’t get it, do you, idiot? He’s a traitor." 

Ahmed (stunned): "What are you talking about?" 

Ali stood up, disoriented. "Betrayal isn’t your style, Youssef. What’s going on?" 

Youssef: "Still pretending? Seems you’ve realized you can’t win this fight." 

Ali thought to himself: *Has he lost his mind? Did Omar do something to him? This is bad.* 

Omar approached Ahmed and smiled. "Good to see you, my friend." 

Ahmed stared, bewildered. *How is Omar back? Where was he all this time?* 

Ali shouted: "Ahmed, get away from him—NOW!" 

But it was too late. Omar focused his power into his arm and punched through Ahmed’s chest, gripping his heart. 

Omar: "You should’ve died earlier. Just die quietly." 

Ali lunged to stop him, but Youssef intercepted. 

As Omar crushed Ahmed’s heart to extract the King’s Gear, a figure descended from the sky, severing Omar’s arm and swiftly returning Ahmed’s heart to his chest. 

The newcomer was tall, muscular, dressed in ancient Egyptian attire, with a small satchel at his waist and a golden falcon mask. His eyes glowed green. 

Omar (angrily): "Another ‘Promised One’? Fine. At least I got *this*." 

He raised his other hand, holding Ahmed’s bracelet. The black gem inside expanded, covering Omar’s body like armor. 

Omar: "So you’re the one they call ‘Horus’?" 

The masked man: "I’m called Sakhmat, but I’m honored you’d think so." 

Youssef and Ali were still fighting, but Ali broke free and stood beside Sakhmat, with Ahmed unconscious at their feet. 

The standoff was set; Sakhmat and Ali backed against each other, Ahmed between them, while Omar faced Sakhmat in his new armor, and Youssef squared off against Ali. 

Ali: "I won’t ask who you are or what’s happening. Just tell me—do you have a plan to get us out of this mess? My friend’s lost his mind." 

Sakhmat: "I have a plan, but you’ll need to hold off your friend for another minute." 

Ali: "Nice to meet you, ‘Flutter dumb’." 

They engaged their opponents while Maryam, still recovering, used her powers to locate and rescue trapped survivors. 

Omar: "How do you plan to stop me in a minute?" 

Sakhmat reached into his satchel and threw a handful of seeds at Omar. 

Omar (mockingly): "Trying to kill me with laughter?" 

Sakhmat pointed upward. "Your flaw is focusing on the seeds and not what’s above you." 

Omar looked up—but before he could react, a circular portal opened beneath him, swallowing him before snapping shut. 

Sakhmat: "Can’t believe you fell for a child’s trick." 

Youssef stopped fighting and cursed. "Damn it—where’d that sorcerer go?!" 

Ali punched Youssef’s head. "Thank God you’re sane again! You owe me an explanation. If not for our new friend, Ahmed, and maybe all of us, would be dead." 

He turned to Sakhmat. "Where did you send Omar?" 

Sakhmat: "We’ll discuss details later. Right now, we need to help the injured." 

He knelt beside Ahmed, placing a hand on his chest. The wounds healed instantly. 

Ahmed woke with a start, scrambling back. "What’s wrong with all of you?! I can’t trust anyone!" 

He stared at Sakhmat. "You... are you Horus? The one Maryam mentioned?" 

Sakhmat sighed. "As I said, *everything* later. We have wounded to tend to." 

Ali: "Your power’s incredible. Maryam’s probably rescued everyone by now—let’s regroup." 

Ahmed stayed behind, unmoving. 

Ali: "I know you don’t understand who’s a friend or enemy right now—neither do I. But trust me, staying with us is safer than being alone." 

Reluctantly, Ahmed followed. 

They found Maryam had indeed rescued all the survivors, laying them out neatly and calling for ambulances. When she saw Sakhmat, her eyes widened. 

Before she could speak, Sakhmat raised a hand. "No, I’m not Horus. I’ll explain everything—*later*. Understood?" 

Maryam nodded, and Sakhmat moved to heal the injured. 

Maryam (to the others): "What the hell happened in the last 15 minutes?!" 

Youssef: "All I know is I lost track of that bastard Omar." 

Maryam: "Omar? He caused all this?" 

Ali: "Short version: Omar attacked. Youssef fought him. I went to help you, then Ahmed. Then Youssef suddenly turned on me, thinking *I* was Omar. While we fought, Omar ripped out Ahmed’s heart. Then our falcon-masked friend here dropped from the sky, saved Ahmed, and banished Omar through a portal. The end." 

Maryam: "All that in 15 minutes?" 

Rain began to fall as they spoke. 

Ali: "Yep. That’s why our poor friend here has PTSD now. Pretty sure he’s had enough surprises for one day. Even the weather’s acting up—rain in summer?" 

He pointed to where Ahmed had been—but he was gone. 

Youssef: "He left while you were yapping. He’s sitting over there for some reason." 

Ali and Maryam found Ahmed kneeling beside a corpse. When they got closer, Maryam gasped, covering her mouth. 

Ali (sadly and softly): "This really isn’t your day." 

Ahmed began pounding the ground, screaming and crying hysterically.