The gunfire echoed.
Sharp.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Guards dropped.
One after another.
Some hit.
Some barely missing.
Anthony ducked behind cover.
Marcus reloaded.
Leo fired back.
Maya stayed low.
Elena—calm as ever.
Then—
"STOP."
Mostang's voice cut through everything.
Another shot rang
He stepped forward.
"STOP SHOOTING!"
The guards hesitated.
Confused.
Mostang's jaw tightened.
"…Emma's orders."
Silence.
He raised his voice again.
"She doesn't want deaths."
A pause.
"…Not like this."
The guards slowly lowered their weapons.
Some still tense.
Some unsure.
Mostang exhaled sharply.
"…Everyone here has someone waiting for them."
His eyes locked onto the group.
"…A family."
Elena watched him.
Quiet.
Thinking.
Then.
She dropped her gun.
Clink.
Everyone looked at her.
"…He's right."
A small shrug.
"…This is getting messy."
Anthony frowned.
"…You serious?"
Elena didn't even look at him.
"…You wanna die from a random bullet?"
Silence.
Marcus clicked his tongue.
Then.
Dropped his weapon.
Leo followed.
Then Maya.
Then Anthony last.
The sound of guns hitting the ground.
One by one.
Mostang nodded once.
"…Good."
He turned slightly.
Gesturing.
"…You too."
The guards hesitated.
Then obeyed.
Slowly backing away.
Leaving the area.
Now.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Just them.
Standing across from each other.
Mostang stepped forward.
Cracking his knuckles.
"…Hand to hand."
A faint grin.
"…Let's see who really deserves to stand here."
Elena stepped up first.
Rolling her shoulders.
"…Don't go easy on me."
A smirk.
Mostang tilted his head slightly.
"…I wasn't planning to."
----
Mostang stood there.
Alone.
For a second.
"…Alright."
A slow crack of his neck.
Elena dashed forward.
Fast.
Low stance.
Aimed straight for him.
Then.
A hand.
From behind.
Her movement stopped instantly.
Kane.
His arm locked around her throat.
Tight.
Controlled.
"She has me."
His voice calm.
Cold.
Elena's eyes widened.
Just for a moment.
Mostang…
Smirked.
"…Good."
Anthony stepped forward immediately.
"…You think that's enough?"
Mostang didn't answer.
He just walked toward them.
Slow.
Relaxed.
Marcus and Leo split left and right.
Trying to flank.
Maya stayed back.
Watching.
Waiting.
Elena struggled.
But Kane tightened slightly.
Not to kill.
Just enough to control.
"Don't move."
He whispered.
Mostang suddenly.
Disappeared forward.
Anthony swung.
Mostang ducked.
Instant.
Punch.
Straight to Anthony's ribs.
A deep, heavy hit.
Anthony coughed.
Stepped back.
Leo came in from the side.
Kick to the head.
Mostang raised his arm.
Blocked.
Then grabbed Leo's leg.
And.
Slammed him down.
Marcus rushed.
Punch aimed at Mostang's jaw.
Mostang leaned back.
Barely dodged.
Then.
Elbow to Marcus's face.
Marcus stumbled.
Maya moved now.
Fast.
Precise.
Aimed for Mostang's blind spot.
But.
Kane.
Still holding Elena.
Lifted his leg.
Kicked Maya away mid-rush.
"…Stay out of it."
Elena gritted her teeth.
"…You—"
Kane tightened again.
"Focus on me."
Back to Mostang.
He stood there.
Surrounded.
Anthony recovering.
Leo getting up.
Marcus wiping blood.
Maya steady again.
Four.
Against one.
Mostang rolled his shoulders.
"…Finally."
A grin.
"…Now it's fun."
And.
They moved.
All at once.
Anthony from the front.
Marcus from the right.
Leo from the left.
Maya from behind.
Perfect timing.
Mostang's eyes sharpened.
He moved.
Blocked Anthony's punch.
Turned.
Elbow toward Marcus.
But Leo's kick landed first.
THUD.
Side of his head.
His balance broke.
Maya slipped in.
Fast.
Precise.
Hit.
Straight to his ribs.
Mostang grunted.
First real one.
Anthony didn't stop.
Another punch.
This time.
Connected.
Jaw snapped to the side.
Marcus followed.
Heavy blow to the stomach.
Mostang staggered back.
Tried to regain footing.
But Leo.
Again.
Kick to the chest.
Mostang was pushed back.
Steps breaking.
Breath uneven now.
Still standing.
Still looking at them.
"…Heh…"
A faint smirk.
Even now.
They didn't give him time.
Maya again.
This time lower.
A clean strike.
Anthony and Marcus together.
Two hits. Same moment.
Mostang's guard cracked.
His body finally.
Gave in.
He dropped to one knee.
Breathing heavier.
Blood at the corner of his mouth.
Leo stepped forward.
"…You're done."
Mostang looked up.
Still smiling.
"…Took… all of you…"
A quiet chuckle.
"…Not bad."
But this time.
He didn't stand back up.
He was.
Overwhelmed.
Leo stepped in.
Cold.
Focused.
"This ends now."
He lifted his leg.
A clean, brutal kick aimed straight at Mostang's head.
Kane's voice tore through the air.
"NOOO—!!"
Too late.
Leo's leg was already descending.
But.
It stopped.
Mid-air.
Leo's eyes widened.
"…What—"
A hand.
Firm.
Unshaken.
Gripping his leg.
Liam.
Standing there.
Silent.
Breathing steady.
Eyes locked on Leo.
"…You're not touching him."
A pause.
Heavy.
Everyone froze.
Anthony frowned.
"…You again?"
Marcus clicked his tongue.
"Knew it…"
Maya's expression.
Conflicted.
Elena?
While fighting Kane.
She just smiled slightly.
"…So it's confirmed."
Leo tried to pull his leg back.
Didn't move.
Liam's grip tightened.
"…Let go."
Leo said.
Liam tilted his head slightly.
"…No."
And then.
He shoved Leo back.
Leo stumbled a few steps.
Regained balance.
Now fully serious.
Kane exhaled sharply.
"…Took you long enough."
Liam didn't respond.
His eyes shifted.
Quick glance at Mostang.
Then back to them.
A step forward.
"…If you want him."
A pause.
"…You go through me."
Silence.
Then Anthony cracked his neck.
Marcus smirked.
Leo wiped his mouth.
Maya whispered softly.
"…Liam…"
Elena chuckled.
"…Now this… is interesting."
And just like that.
The fight reset.
But this time.
Mostang pushed himself up slowly.
A bit shaky.
But still standing.
A hand appeared in front of him.
Liam.
"…Get up."
Mostang stared at it for a second.
Then.
Grabbed it.
Pulled himself up.
He rolled his shoulder.
Cracked his neck.
Spat a bit of blood to the side.
"…They're quite skilled."
Liam didn't even look surprised.
"…I know."
A short pause.
"…I already fought them."
Mostang glanced at him.
A small smirk forming.
"…And you still came back?"
Liam's eyes stayed locked on the group ahead.
Cold.
Focused.
"…Yeah."
Across them.
Anthony stepped forward slightly.
"…So you really switched sides."
Marcus added.
"For a girl."
Leo exhaled.
"…Pathetic."
Maya stayed silent.
Eyes stuck on Liam.
Elena tilted her head.
"…Or maybe…"
"…he just found something worth fighting for."
Liam didn't react.
Not to any of them.
Mostang stepped beside him now.
Fully ready.
"…You sure you can handle them again?"
Liam cracked his knuckles.
"…No."
A beat.
"…But I don't need to."
He glanced slightly.
"…We just need to hold them."
Mostang smirked wider.
"…Good enough."
Then.
Both stepped forward.
And the ground between them.
Became a battlefield again.
---
Kane and Elena were fighting.
Hand.
To
Hand.
Then.
Elena shoved kane.
Making them fall into sewers.
They hit the ground hard.
Dust rose.
The echo of impact traveled through the narrow space
A deep, hollow pit leading into the sewers below.
Kane groaned.
"…Tch…"
Pushing himself up.
Elena was already standing.
Breathing steady.
Eyes sharp even in the dim light.
Water dripped somewhere in the darkness.
A low, distant echo.
"…Guess it's just us now," Elena said quietly.
Kane wiped the dirt off his face.
"…Good."
A pause.
They stared at each other.
No distractions.
No backup.
Just fists.
Elena rushed first.
Fast.
Low step.
Straight punch.
Kane blocked.
But she twisted mid-motion.
Her elbow slamming toward his jaw.
He leaned back.
Barely avoiding it.
Then countered with a body shot.
It landed.
Elena slid back a step.
Exhaled.
"…Not bad."
Kane smirked slightly.
"…You're not either."
Then.
Both moved again.
Faster this time.
Punches colliding.
Blocks.
Counters.
Footsteps echoing through the underground space.
Elena ducked.
Swept his leg.
Kane fell.
But grabbed her wrist mid-fall.
Pulled her down with him.
Both crashed again.
No clean hits.
No clean control.
Just raw fighting.
They separated again.
Breathing heavier now.
Elena wiped a bit of blood from her lip.
Smiled faintly.
"…This is fun."
Kane cracked his neck.
"…Don't get comfortable."
Above them.
Faint sounds of fighting still echoed.
But down here.
It was personal.
They stood in the dim underground tunnel.
Water dripping.
Echoes bouncing off concrete walls.
The smell of rust and damp air thick around them.
Elena tilted her head slightly.
Watching Kane closely.
"…Why are you protecting her?"
Kane didn't answer immediately.
She stepped closer.
Voice colder now.
"She's nothing."
"A jerk."
Silence.
Kane's eyes shifted for a second.
Then stopped.
"…I grew up with her."
Elena narrowed her eyes.
Kane continued.
Slow.
Honest.
"She taught me things."
"We survived… a lot together."
A pause.
"…She's my big sister figure."
Elena's expression didn't change.
But her eyes did.
Just slightly.
"…So that's it."
She rolled her shoulders.
"You're fighting for feelings."
Kane exhaled.
"…Yeah."
A beat.
"…And you?"
Elena smirked faintly.
"I fight because I choose to."
Then.
She vanished forward.
Fast.
Kane reacted.
Blocked her punch.
But she followed instantly.
Knee to his ribs.
It landed.
He gritted his teeth.
Grabbed her leg.
Twisted.
She flipped.
Landed clean.
No hesitation.
Elena rushed again.
Punch.
Punch.
Elbow.
Kane blocked most.
Got hit once.
Staggered.
She pressed him.
No mercy.
"You'll lose like this."
Kane steadied himself.
"…Not today."
He stepped in.
Closer than before.
Took a hit.
Just to land one.
His punch connected with her side.
Elena's breath hitched slightly.
But she didn't stop.
She grabbed his collar.
Headbutt.
Kane stumbled back.
Vision shaking.
Both breathing heavier now.
Water dripped.
Time slowed.
Elena wiped her mouth again.
"…You're stubborn."
Kane smirked faintly.
"…Runs in the family."
They clashed again.
Fast.
Raw.
No pauses.
Punch.
Block.
Elbow.
Knee.
Both breathing heavier now.
Slower.
But still dangerous.
Kane stepped in.
Tried to grab her.
Elena slipped.
Her eyes flicked down.
For a split second.
A sharp rock.
Jagged.
Dirty.
She didn't hesitate.
Grabbed it.
Kane didn't notice.
He moved forward.
Boom.
A sudden thrust.
The rock drove into his side.
Not too deep.
But deep enough.
Kane froze.
Eyes wide.
"…gh–"
Elena pulled back.
Blood began to spread.
Kane staggered.
Steps uneven.
Then.
He dropped.
Knees first.
Then his hand hit the ground.
Cough.
"…kgh–"
Blood on his lips now.
His breathing broke.
Unstable.
Elena stood there.
Holding the rock.
Watching him.
"…You hesitated."
Kane coughed again.
Trying to stay up.
"…yeah…"
A weak laugh.
"…guess I did…"
His vision blurred.
But still.
He tried to stand.
His arm shaking.
Refusing.
To stay down.
Elena didn't stop.
Not for a second.
She kept punching Kane's face
While he was suffering from the pain.
Each hit snapping Kane's head back.
Blood.
Breath breaking.
Vision shaking.
"Hesitation leads you nowhere."
Elena said.
Another punch.
"That's why you're weak."
Kane tried to raise his arm.
Too slow.
Boom.
Hit again.
"And soon…"
She leaned closer.
Cold.
Cruel.
"I'll kill your 'big sister figure'."
A pause.
A smirk.
"Just like your real big sister died."
Silence.
Kane froze.
Eyes wide.
"…Mira…"
The name hit him harder than any punch.
A memory.
A voice.
A hand on his head.
Gone.
Something inside him.
Snapped.
"…you…"
His fingers twitched.
"…don't—"
His body shook.
"YOU DON'T SAY HER NAME—"
Suddenly.
He moved.
GRAB.
His hand locked onto Elena.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
"I WILL NOT LET YOU—!"
He surged up.
Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring the blood.
And slammed her down.
BOOM.
Her face driven into the ground.
Hard.
Dust scattered.
The impact echoing.
Kane stood over her.
Breathing like a beast.
Blood dripping.
Eyes burning.
"…don't…"
His voice cracked.
Low.
Dangerous.
"…talk about her…"
Water rushed around them.
Cold. Dark. Rising.
Elena tried to push herself up.
But Kane was already there.
His hand on the back of her head.
Pressing.
At first.
It wasn't even a decision.
Just instinct.
Rage.
Pain.
Everything breaking at once.
"Don't…!"
He forced her down into the water.
She struggled.
Arms pushing.
Kicking.
Trying to breathe.
Her hand found his wound.
Pressed.
Hard.
Kane's body jerked.
A sharp breath escaped him.
She pressed deeper.
Trying to make him let go.
Trying to survive.
But Kane didn't.
His grip tightened.
"STOP—!"
Water splashed violently around them.
Echoing in the dark tunnel.
Seconds felt long.
Too long.
Her movements slowed.
Weaker.
Slower.
Until.
They stopped.
Silence.
Only the sound of water moving.
Kane stayed there.
Still pressing.
Still shaking.
Then slowly.
His grip loosened.
He stared.
Breathing heavily.
"…oh…"
His voice came out cracked
"..its done."
The anger was gone.
Only relief remained.
And the quiet weight of what just happened.
Kane staggered forward.
One step.
Then another.
The tunnel spun.
The sound of water echoed louder… then duller… then distant.
"…I need to…"
His hand pressed against the wall.
Trying to steady himself.
Trying to move.
"Emma…"
His vision blurred.
His legs gave out.
And just like that.
He collapsed.
Unconscious.
Left in the dim, cold tunnel.
Back above.
Mostang rolled his shoulder, wincing slightly as he stood straight.
Liam's hand was still extended.
Firm. Steady.
Mostang glanced at it… then took it.
Pulled himself up.
"They're… quiet skilled," Mostang muttered, catching his breath.
Liam gave a small nod.
"I know."
A pause.
Then.
"I already fought them."
In front of them.
Anthony, Marcus, Maya, and Leo stood ready.
No guns.
Just fists.
Tension thick in the air.
Mostang exhaled slowly.
"…this wasn't supposed to go like this."
Liam stepped slightly forward.
Calm.
Composed.
Eyes sharp.
"It never does."
A beat of silence.
Then Liam looked at Mostang.
"…you want help?"
Mostang smirked faintly.
"You already chose a side by standing here."
Liam's expression didn't change.
"…I'm choosing control."
Another pause.
Wind brushing through the open space.
Across from them.
Leo clenched his fists.
"Are we doing this or what?"
Maya stepped slightly forward.
"We end this. Now."
Mostang cracked his neck.
"…fine."
He glanced at Liam one more time.
Liam adjusted his stance.
Relaxed.
But ready.
Two sides.
No guns.
Just skill.
And this time.
No one was holding back.
----
Back.
To Joseph vs Emma.
There was no rhythm.
No clean technique.
No elegance.
Just.
Violence.
Joseph swung first.
A brutal hook.
Emma didn't block.
She stepped into it.
BOOM.
The impact snapped her head slightly.
But her fist was already moving.
CRACK.
Straight into Joseph's ribs.
He grunted.
But didn't fall.
Instead.
He grabbed her arm.
Twisted.
Emma's shoulder strained.
But she didn't react.
Didn't flinch.
Her knee drove up.
THUD.
Into his stomach.
Joseph coughed.
Still holding on.
He slammed his forehead into hers.
BAM.
A brief pause.
Blood.
From both.
Emma's eyes?
Still empty.
Cold.
Focused.
Joseph wiped his mouth.
"…you're insane."
Emma tilted her head slightly.
"…you're slow."
He rushed again.
Faster this time.
Wild.
Unpredictable.
A barrage of punches.
Left.
Right.
Elbow.
Emma blocked some.
Took others.
But every hit she took.
She gave one back.
Sharper.
Cleaner.
Deadlier.
CRACK.
She punched his jaw.
THUD.
He slammed her into a wall.
Concrete fractured behind her.
For a moment.
She was pinned.
Joseph leaned in.
"…stay down."
Silence.
Then.
Emma's hand slowly lifted.
Grabbing his wrist.
Tight.
"…no."
She twisted.
Slipped out.
And then.
A single step forward.
BOOM.
A punch straight into his chest.
Joseph stumbled back.
Air knocked out of him.
Emma walked toward him.
Slow.
Steady.
Like a Ghost
No hesitation.
No emotion.
Just.
Execution.
Joseph steadied himself.
Breathing heavy.
Smiling.
"…good."
He raised his fists again.
And Emma?
She stepped forward.
Again.
And the violence continued.
CHAPTER!!!. Ended.