Peter lay on the thin prison cot, concrete walls pressing in. Anti-spiritual sigils glowed faintly, suppressing Seifros to 60%. "What happens to my uncle and aunt? Julia will hunt them. Nothing I can do."
Dortmund maximum security wing...
Namie moved like a shadow through corridors, black tactical gear blending with darkness. She struck from behind—chop to neck—two guards crumpled silently. Snatching keys, she sprinted toward Peter's cell block.
Steel door clanged open. "Namie?!" Peter shot up, eyes wide.
"You letting Black Mask hunt your family?" she hissed, unlocking his cuffs.
"No. But Seifros is at 60%. I can fight to the exit, then hunt Black Mask myself. Bernard's gone rogue."
Meanwhile, Bernard's garage...
Bernard stared into the mirror, pulling on a crimson mask—sleek, angular, glowing faintly with Portuguese spiritual runes. Over it: matte-black tactical armor, etched with anti-demon sigils. Twin pistols holstered.
He became Detektiv Rot.
Dortmund Mafia Hideout - Midnight Raid
Detektiv Rot's bike screeched to a halt outside the derelict warehouse. Dortmund's mafia ran spiritual artifact smuggling—Black Mask's backers. Red mask glowing, he kicked in the steel door, pistols blazing.
Gunfire echoed. Thugs dropped. Explosives rigged to spiritual amplifiers. BOOM. The hideout erupted in crimson flames, collapsing into rubble.
From the smoke, Black Mask emerged unscathed, white spiritual blade drawn. "We don't recruit masked heroes."
"I'm here to end you, Black Mask." Rot holstered his guns, spiritual runes pulsing on his armor.
"Someone called for help?" Black Mask sneered, rage flashing. Memories hit—Peter's "death" on Dortmund streets, blood pooling.
Rot stepped closer. "Peter's alive. You're wasting time in this dump."
"Who are you?" Black Mask's voice cracked.
"I'm Bloody Vengeance. The one you should fear."
Black Mask whispered, "Bastard."
Rot turned away. "Not killing you today. Cross my path? You're done."
Engine roared. Detektiv Rot vanished into the night. Black Mask punched scorched concrete.
END OF VOLUME 1
Detektiv Schwarz - Volume 1: Complete
Peter imprisoned, facing the death penalty. Namie on the run with him. Bernard reborn as Detektiv Rot. Black Mask furious, hunting revenge. Julia Alois commanding from the shadows.
The battle for Germany's soul has just begun.
Next chapter: Volume 2
Release: Wednesday
End of Volume 1. Thanks for following along! Want ideas for Volume 2 or a saga summary so far?