THE DEVIL HERSELF
Chapter 33

#000 RUSSIA 000

Lord Ace paced back and forth in his dark, opulent room, the mask he always wore glinting ominously in the dim light. He tried calling Bruce once more, but the call went unanswered. His frustration boiled over, and he smashed a nearby vase, the shattering sound echoing through the room.

"Damn it, Bruce, where are you?" he growled.

Through the huge speakers in the room, his voice boomed, "Zenith, have you found anything?"

Zenith, the computer wizard of the Clan, responded calmly through the speakers, "Lord Ace, I've tracked Bruce to a flight that landed in Italy today. However, I haven't been able to gather any more information about his whereabouts since then."

"Italy?" Lord Ace's voice was a mixture of surprise and fury. "That means she might have seen him by now."

He slammed his fist onto his desk, the force reverberating through the room. "You are asking for war," he muttered fiercely, his eyes burning with rage as he glared at his phone.

#000 TORTURE ROOM ~~~ ITALY 000

Bruce awoke to replace himself tied tightly to a chair in a dimly lit, cold room. The air was thick with tension, and the metallic scent of blood lingered. He struggled against his restraints, but they were too tight.

Scarlet stepped into the room, her eyes cold and calculating. She circled Bruce like a predator, her presence exuding power and control.

"Do you know why you're here, Bruce?" she asked, her voice calm but laced with venom.

Bruce looked up at her, defiance flickering in his eyes. "I can guess."

Scarlet leaned in closer, her face inches from his. "You're here because of everything you did to my family," she hissed. "You killed my father, shot my mother and brother, bombed our house, and pushed me off a cliff, thinking I would die. I'm Ariana Keys"

Bruce's eyes widened slightly, but he kept silent.

Scarlet continued, her voice dripping with anger, "The Hunters Clan has always wanted to dominate Italy. You started by harvesting people's organs and selling them to rich billionaires. Then, you framed my clan, the Scarlet Scorpion Evo X, for your crimes. That's why I want to take you down."

Bruce's defiance wavered, and fear began to creep into his expression.

"You will give me all the information I need," Scarlet said, her voice unwavering. "Including the names of the two guards who helped you kill my family."

Bruce clenched his jaw. "I can't tell you. I took a blood oath."

Scarlet's eyes narrowed. "You don't have a choice."

She signaled to Diego, who stepped forward with a set of torture tools. Bruce's eyes widened in terror as Diego began his gruesome work. The sound of screams echoed through the dimly lit room, a chilling symphony that sent shivers down the spines of even the most hardened souls. Diego's face was a bloody mess, his eyes gleaming with a malevolent intensity that made him look like a devil incarnate.

Bruce's pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears as Diego methodically cut off his fingers, one by one. Each amputation was accompanied by a drop of acid, the searing pain making Bruce's screams reach new heights of desperation. His mind raced with regret, thinking of all the mistakes he had made in life, all the chances he had taken that had led him to this moment.

As the fingers fell, one by one, Bruce's cries grew hoarse, his voice barely audible over the sound of his own suffering. Diego's face remained impassive, his focus solely on the task at hand. The air was thick with the stench of burning flesh, the acid eating away at Bruce's digits like a hungry beast.

When the fingers were gone, Diego moved on to the toes, each one meeting the same fate as its counterparts above. Bruce's body shook with sobs, his eyes rolled back in his head as he begged for death to come and end his agony. But Diego was far from finished. He continued his torture, each new wound a reminder to Bruce of his failures, his weaknesses. The pain was a constant companion, a burning fire that threatened to consume him whole. And through it all, Diego's face remained a bloody mask, a testament to the horrors he had unleashed upon Bruce's body. His eyes gleamed with a fierce intensity, a warning to anyone who dared cross him.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Diego finished his work. Bruce's body lay broken and battered, a shell of its former self. The screams had stopped, replaced by a dull moan, a sound that seemed to come from a place beyond pain. Bruce's resistance broke. "Alright! Alright!" he gasped. "I'll tell you!"

Diego stepped back, his chest heaving with exertion, his face still a bloody mess. He gazed upon Bruce's ruined form, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. This was revenge, pure and simple. This was what happened when you crossed the wrong people.

And with that, Diego turned and walked away, leaving Bruce to his misery, and the main devil to deal with.

Scarlet leaned in closer. "Start talking."

Bruce's breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled to speak. "The two guards... their names are Jackson Michaelson and Leo Anderson. They were the ones who helped me kill your family." Scarlet's eyes flashed with a dangerous glint. "Where can I replace them?"

"They're part of the Hunter's Clan's elite guards," Bruce continued, his voice trembling. "They operate from our main base in Russia. But I can't tell you more... the blood oath..." Scarlet nodded, understanding the significance of the blood oath. "You've told me enough for now. But don't think this means you're off the hook."

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Bruce looked at her with a mixture of fear and desperation. "What are you going to do with me?"

"You're still useful to me," Scarlet replied coldly. "For now, you'll stay here. We have more work to do."

Scarlet turned to leave, but Bruce called out, "Wait! You need to know... Lord Ace will come for you. He won't stop until he's destroyed you."

Scarlet paused, then looked back at him. "Let him come. I'm ready for him."

# 000 MAIN HALL 000

Scarlet gathered her core team: Rachel, Diego, Dracula, Arizona, Piper, Lucky, Chance, Lotus and the rest. They huddled around a large table covered with maps and documents.

"We've got the names of the guards who helped kill my family," Scarlet began, her voice steady. "Jackson Michaelson and Leo Anderson. They're based in Russia, part of the Hunter's Clan's elite." Rachel nodded. "We need to plan our next move carefully. Going after them directly could be a trap."

Diego agreed. "We should gather more intel before making any rash decisions."

Dracula, always the strategist, spoke up. "We have Bruce. He can be our leverage. If we play this right, we can draw out the rest of the Hunter's Clan and take them down."

Arizona looked at Scarlet, concern in her eyes. "Are you sure you want to continue this path, Scarlet? It's dangerous, and we're risking everything."

Scarlet met her gaze, determination burning in her eyes. "This isn't just about revenge anymore, Arizona. It's about justice. The Hunter's Clan has terrorized too many people for too long. We have to stop them."

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed Scarlet's words. Then, one by one, they nodded in agreement.

"Alright," Dracula said, a steely resolve in his voice. "Let's plan this carefully. We'll need to coordinate with our allies and gather as much information as possible."

"If my calculations is correct, then Chance has a very high IQ which we can use in hacking into any system and gather informations. Hunters Clan must have some useful informations in their data base but all we need to do is get it out" Tyler said.

"Am not the only hacker in the world but one of the best hackers. I have tried count less times to hack into their data base but it's strongly protected which means that there is another hacker as great as me" Chance explained. "I can try hacking the satellite dish to get more information but it's very dangerous because one mistake and we are all gone" he mumbled fearfully.

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! "But there's a way right?" Scarlet asked.

"Yes boss but it's risky"

"What's life without risk?" She asked staring at him directly. "We hacking it immediately after Scar's surgery. Get ready and if you're caught, then will fight for you" she assured him as the rest looked on while Piper swiped away her sweaty hands understanding the risk they are about to take.

#000 LORD ACE'S CHAMBERSOO

Back in Russia, Lord Ace's frustration grew as he continued to receive no word from Bruce. His patience was wearing thin, and his anger was palpable.

Zenith, monitoring the situation from her computer, suddenly spoke up. "Lord Ace, I have intercepted a message. It's from the Scarlet Scorpion Evo X Clan." "Play it," Lord Ace ordered.

The message played over the speakers, Scarlet's voice calm and composed. "Lord Ace, this is Scarlet. I have Bruce Springsteen and his family. If you want them back, you'll meet my demands. The Hunters Clan will pay for their crimes." Lord Ace's face contorted with rage. "That insolent woman! She dares to challenge me?"

Zenith looked at him, concern evident in her eyes. "What are we going to do, Lord Ace?"

"We prepare for war," he replied, his voice cold and deadly. "She has declared herself our enemy. It's time to show her the true power of the Hunters Clan."

#000 ITALY ~~~ SCARLETS ROOM

Scarlet stood on the balcony of the compound, looking out over the city. The weight of her responsibilities pressed heavily on her shoulders, but she remained resolute.

Rachel joined her, sensing the need for a quiet conversation. "You did well today, Scarlet. Bruce's information will be invaluable."

Scarlet sighed. "It's not enough, Rachel. We need to dismantle the Hunter's Clan completely. Only then will we be truly safe."

Rachel placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll get there. One step at a time. Remember, you're not alone in this."

Scarlet nodded, grateful for Rachel's support. "I know. And I appreciate all of you. This fight is bigger than any one of us. Together, we can take them down."