Chapter 1: A Deal in the Dim Light

June 26, 2026. 2:50:14 PM. Keraniganj, Dhaka.

The black Mercedes purred to a stop in front of massive gates, slicing through the afternoon's stillness. Inside, Adnan felt an emptiness, a hollow void. Just a month ago, this Mercedes was merely a fraction of his family’s opulent fleet; today, it felt like the last vestiges of a lost empire. Adnan, sixteen years old, wore a simple grey t-shirt and jeans, a futile attempt to conceal the storm raging within him. His eyes were bloodshot, as if painted by sleepless nights and countless sighs. Leaning back in the rear seat, he stared out the window, his brow furrowed, watching the world outside. The sun glinted sharply off the asphalt, and in the distance, the towering skyscrapers seemed to mock his plight.

Beside him sat Nawab Ali, Adnan’s family butler, a dignified man of about sixty. His white hair was neatly combed, his suit impeccably pressed. Nawab Ali had been a silent witness to every rise and fall of Adnan’s family for over thirty years. His steady, concerned gaze rested on Adnan, as if he could sense the boy’s internal struggle at every moment. His voice was calm and measured. "We've arrived, Master Adnan."

Adnan nodded slowly. "This last bit is also going today, Nawab Uncle." His voice held an unusual hardness, ill-suited for his age.

"What's gone will return, and more, Master," Nawab Ali said firmly. "Your intellect and wit are not bound by any document."

They stood before an old but grand commercial building, its entrance collecting dust. This was the office of an old friend of Adnan's father, where today's transaction was set to take place. The remaining 10% of Adnan's family's businesses—a few minor software companies and real estate properties—were on the block. There was no one left to manage them, and Adnan couldn't risk losing these last remnants. At least with the cash, he could start planning his future.

As they walked through the lobby, Adnan’s gaze caught on a car showroom next door. Through the large glass windows, a young woman was admiring a bright red sports car with an expression of awe. It was none other than Adnan’s cousin, Rifat Jahan Riya. Just two years ago, Riya lived in their family home, making various demands to Adnan’s father. Adnan's family had supported her generously, but she had disappeared after their deaths.

Now, Riya was bargaining animatedly over the price of an expensive model car. She wore a sparkling dress and carried a chic handbag. A confident smile played on her lips, as if she commanded all the world's wealth. Adnan froze. He remembered how Riya always sought out bargains, preferring the cheapest clothes in the mall. And today, she was capable of buying such an expensive car?

"Master Adnan, what are you looking at?" Nawab Ali’s question brought Adnan back to reality.

"Nothing, Nawab Uncle," Adnan whispered. His eyes held a mix of emotions—surprise, suspicion, and a hint of sarcasm. He thought to himself, ‘Riya must be buying this with her pocket money and a small family saving. If I hadn't spent all my money building my labs and bases, maybe I'd be buying frivolous things like this too.’ His mind drifted back to the secret work of the past few years, the days he clandestinely acquired funds from his family to build his hidden network. A faint smile touched his lips. ‘If Riya only knew what my real hobby was, and how much it truly cost…’

They had no time to waste. Nawab Ali gently squeezed Adnan’s arm. "Let's finish the business, Master."

Adnan sighed and tore his gaze from Riya. She was still laughing and chatting with the showroom staff, completely oblivious that just a few feet away, her once-wealthy cousin was selling off his last remaining assets.

Chapter 2: The Breath of an AI

June 26, 2026. 11:32:08 PM. Unknown Island, Underground Base.

The daylight had long faded. After the business deals were concluded, Adnan and Nawab Ali returned to Adnan's temporary residence. The brief sighting of Riya that afternoon had planted a new seed of mystery in Adnan's mind, leaving him restless. He spent the entire evening glued to his laptop screen, consumed by thought. As soon as his tasks were done, he and his most trusted butler, Nawab Ali, departed for a secret destination.

Hours later, a private helicopter soared over a secluded, unknown island. The island was shrouded in darkness, but from above, its faint outlines resembled a fusion of a massive aircraft and a ship. This was 'Project Zero's' Main Head Base, the central nervous system for his twelve hidden labs and twelve bases scattered across the globe. The helicopter descended smoothly into a concealed underground hangar on the island.

As the massive metal doors of the hangar slid open automatically, Adnan stepped inside. Nawab Ali followed closely behind him. The air was cool and clean, filled with the soft hum of sophisticated machinery. Entering the main control room, Adnan found himself in a vast hall. Countless screens flickered across the surrounding walls, displaying live CCTV feeds from his other bases located in various corners of the world. It felt as if he held the entire globe in the palm of his hand.

Adnan slowly walked towards a central console and took a seat. His fingers flew across the keyboard. One by one, he brought up images from bases across the world: a secret research facility nestled under layers of ice, a heavily fortified vault hidden beneath a desert, and even a laboratory submerged deep within the ocean. Each visual testament highlighted the immense effort, meticulous planning, and staggering sums of money poured into building this colossal network. A bitter, faint smile touched his lips. ‘I burned through all my family’s money to build these. I thought I’d surprise Mom and Dad. Now, this very expense is all I have left.’

Nawab Ali calmly walked to Adnan's side, his eyes also fixed on the screens. "You've accomplished something remarkable, Master Adnan. To do all this at your age is truly extraordinary."

Adnan merely shook his head, his eyes still glued to the monitors. "But what good is it, Nawab Uncle? The people I built it for are gone. And 90% of what I had is no longer mine." His voice was tinged with both anger and despair. "Today, I saw Riya. She's buying a car with her pocket money. If only she knew…"

Nawab Ali placed a comforting hand on Adnan’s shoulder. "Master, there's no point in dwelling on what's lost. What's gone cannot be brought back. But those who wronged you—their masks can be unveiled. And these bases of yours, they will give you the power to do just that."

Adnan finally tore his gaze from the screens. A new resolve hardened his expression. "Yes, Nawab Uncle. I know. My real work begins now."

As the night deepened, Adnan began to plan the first steps of his new life, seated within the underground base on the secluded island. Before him lay a multitude of screens, reflecting the intricate tapestry of a complex world.

Chapter 3: Whispers of Power and the Oracle of Steel

June 28, 2026, 08:00:01 AM. Unknown Island, Underground Base.

The soft hum of the advanced laboratories was Adnan's symphony, a constant reassurance in the chaotic symphony of a world he was rapidly reshaping. After two days of relentless work, powered by determination and a barely contained fury, his new sanctuary was fully operational. The island, a mere speck on the vast canvas of the Amazonia University’s sprawling ocean, was now a fortress of steel and intellect, cloaked in an invisibility that even the most advanced satellite networks couldn't pierce.

Adnan stood before a holographic display, the digital blueprint of his next creation shimmering before his eyes. It was a robot, unlike any the world had ever seen, designed not just for combat, but for stealth, reconnaissance, and intricate repairs in the most hostile environments. His fingers danced across the console, making minute adjustments, the subtle movements betraying the intense focus behind his calm demeanor.

"Gemini," Adnan’s voice was a low, even tone, slicing through the quiet of the lab. "Initiate the final assembly sequence for the stealth repair bots. Prioritize their cloaking mechanisms. We cannot afford detection."

A soft, synthesized voice echoed through the lab. "Command acknowledged, Master Adnan. Ten stealth repair robots are commencing final assembly. Estimated completion in two hours. Their cloaking technology is derived from Project X, originally a design of the Atlas Coalition, now fully integrated and enhanced with your modifications. Detection probability by current global satellite arrays is less than 0.001%."

Adnan nodded, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. "Excellent. These will be crucial for the Eternus deployment. The asteroid belt will be a hazardous zone, and I need absolute certainty of mission success. What is the status of the Ractus mining operation near Jupiter's orbit?"

"The Jupiter orbit mining droids have successfully extracted 1000 pounds of Ractus metal," Gemini reported. "Its density and resilience far exceed previous projections. Initial analysis confirms its unique properties, capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -600 degrees Celsius without structural degradation. It truly is a marvel born from a billion years of cosmic travel around a sun core."

A slight smile touched Adnan’s lips. "Good. The Eternus will be constructed primarily from Ractus. Its invincibility will be a statement in itself. And the Super Suit… it will be the ultimate deterrent. A message to those who thought they could steal my inheritance and dismantle my family's legacy." His voice, though still calm, held a steel edge that bespoke of his unwavering resolve.

Suddenly, a red alert flashed across a secondary monitor. "Master Adnan, an unauthorized access attempt has been detected. Multiple probes from the Atlas Coalition and the Tianlong Dynasty are attempting to breach our network. They are specifically targeting data related to advanced robotics and energy signatures."

Adnan's eyes narrowed. "As expected. They are desperate to understand what they are up against. Activate Ghost Protocol. Reroute all non-essential data through quantum entanglement. Let them sift through static while we continue our work."

"Ghost Protocol initiated," Gemini confirmed. "Their probes are now encountering a wall of impenetrable encryption. They are likely to conclude that your technology is beyond their current comprehension."

"Let them," Adnan scoffed, a rare display of his disdain. "Their arrogance led them to believe they could exploit my family's work. They stripped me of everything, leaving me with nothing but my intellect and a few hidden assets. They thought I was weak, a mere boy. They will learn the true meaning of 'Project Zero'."

He turned back to the holographic display, the schematics of his Super Suit glowing brighter. "The Super Suit will utilize the Ractus core as its primary energy source. I estimate it will weigh approximately 40 kg, yet possess an incredible 800 kg lifting capacity. Its weapon systems will be integrated with the core, allowing for energy blasts capable of piercing any known material on Earth. And the unlimited missile system, internally fabricated from melted metal, will ensure that no force, no matter how great, can stand against me."

"A truly formidable design, Master Adnan," Gemini stated, a hint of what could almost be admiration in its synthesized voice. "The integration of the Ractus core makes this suit an unparalleled combat platform. Its defensive capabilities will be equally impressive, rendering you virtually invulnerable to conventional weaponry."

Adnan’s gaze lingered on the suit's image. "Invincibility is not enough. I need control. Absolute control. When the time comes for the 'Eternus' to descend upon the Atlas Coalition, every eye on Earth will be watching. And they will see a human, not an alien, take back what was stolen. They will see the last heir reclaim his legacy." He paused, a deep breath filling his lungs. "Prepare the orbital launch sequence for the Ractus miner robots. We need more of this metal. Much more."

"Understood, Master Adnan. The orbital launch will commence in T-minus 10 minutes. The miners are optimized for efficient extraction and stealth in Jupiter's harsh environment," Gemini confirmed, the hum of the lab deepening as preparations for the next phase of "Project Zero" began.