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3 AM: The Deadly Betrayal
The icy wind howled through the abandoned shipping yard, carrying the salty sting of the sea. Aaron stood motionless, his boots pressing against the damp concrete, the flickering streetlamp above him casting eerie shadows.
His heartbeat remained steady, his finger resting lightly on the trigger.
Tonight would be anything but quiet.
Thirty minutes ago, a new directive from the Dark Alliance sent shockwaves through the underworld:
[Global Kill Order Issued!]
[Target: Aaron]
[Bounty: $3 Billion]
[Updated Rules: Real-time location tracking enabled. Instant payout upon confirmation.]
Three billion.
This wasn’t just a fortune—it was an all-out global manhunt.
Mercenaries, hackers, terrorist cells—hell, even those who once stood by his side—could turn against him for that kind of money.
Aaron’s terminal buzzed frantically, flashing warning alerts:
[9 active tracking signals detected.]
[4 drones locking onto coordinates.]
[Attempted smart contract breach detected.]
His eyes darkened. Without hesitation, he flicked his wrist and hurled an EMP grenade.
“Boom—!”
A burst of electromagnetic disruption filled the air, sending all four drones plummeting like dead birds.
But before he could take a breath, a cold gun barrel pressed against the back of his skull.
"You can't run forever."
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The voice was familiar—too familiar.
Aaron didn’t need to turn around. He already knew.
Carter.
Once a trusted ally, now standing with a gun to his head, wearing the hunter’s mask for the Dark Alliance.
Carter's voice was calm, almost regretful. "Hand over your private key. Maybe I'll let you live."
Aaron slowly raised his hands, his pulse steady.
So, the inevitable betrayal had arrived.
His voice was barely a whisper. "Would you really pull the trigger?"
Carter chuckled darkly. "You’re worth $3 billion, Aaron. You know what that means? Not just wealth—power. A ticket to a whole new world."
Aaron exhaled, a twinge of sorrow flickering in his eyes.
A brother-in-arms, now reduced to nothing more than a pawn of greed.
Was this the true law of survival in the blockchain age?
But sadness had no place in a battlefield.
Aaron chose action.
Bang!
Aaron jerked sideways, the bullet slicing past his ear, leaving a thin trail of blood.
In the same instant, he pivoted—a brutal roundhouse kick slamming into Carter’s wrist!
The gun flew from his grip, spinning through the air.
But Carter was no amateur—he immediately unsheathed a tactical knife and lunged!
The blade gleamed, aimed straight for Aaron’s gut!
Aaron growled, twisting backward, barely evading the strike. He kicked off the ground, a powerful counterstrike to Carter’s knee!
Crack!
Carter staggered, his face twisting in pain.
Aaron didn’t hesitate. He surged forward, grabbing Carter’s wrist, delivering a bone-crushing punch to his face!
Bam!
Blood splattered against the metal container behind them.
Carter slumped, panting, wiping the blood from his lips. His gaze flickered with something unreadable.
"You're… stronger than I thought."
Aaron leveled his pistol at Carter’s forehead, his voice ice-cold. "Why betray me?"
A pause.
Then Carter… laughed.
"I just chose the easiest way to survive."
For a brief moment, something twisted deep in Aaron’s chest.
But only for a moment.
He lowered the gun.
"Get lost."
Carter blinked. Then, with a grim, bitter smile, he stumbled to his feet and disappeared into the shadows.
The night wind howled as Aaron stood alone, his resolve solidified.
The Dark Alliance wouldn’t stop.
The bounty wouldn’t disappear.
The hunt wouldn’t end.
There was only one choice left—destroy them first.
His fingers danced over his terminal, bringing up a new smart contract:
[Smart Contract Execution]
[Target: Dark Alliance Headquarters]
[Action: Financial disruption, distributed attacks]
[Status: Preparing…]
This time, he wasn’t the prey.
This time, he was the hunter.
