"Fine... I'll come with you," Ren muttered, raising his hands in a mock surrender.
But as Ren took a step forward, a shadow lunged from the darkness. A man in a blood-stained sweater, eyes wild and a jagged knife gripped in his hand, charged straight for Ren's chest. The blade gleamed under the dim streetlights—a silent promise of death.
Before the cold steel could pierce Ren's skin, a hand blurred through the air.
CATCH!
Dante, the shopkeeper, caught the attacker's wrist mid-air with bone-crushing force. He didn't just stop him; he hoisted the man up like he was made of paper. Without a word, Dante delivered a brutal punch—a "dose of medicine" that echoed through the alley. He grabbed the man by the collar, the attacker's own knife inches from his shoulder, ready to end it.
"Hold on!" Ren shouted, his voice cracking. "Just kick him and let's go. I don't want more blood on my hands today. I have enough to deal with."
Dante grunted, a flicker of respect in his eyes. "Suit yourself. Run!"
They sprinted.
For hours, they navigated the concrete labyrinth of the city. Above them, a brilliant moon hung like a jagged diamond floating in a sea of ink. By the time they reached the industrial district, the air was thick with the smell of rust and grease. Ren's lungs were burning, every breath a struggle.
"Where... where are we going?" Ren wheezed, clutching his knees.
"Shut up and open that shutter," Dante commanded, pointing to a weathered iron door.
As the heavy metal groaned open, a deep, gravelly voice vibrated from the shadows of the garage. "Who the hell did you bring here, Dante?"
"Just a cocky brat I found struggling in the streets," Dante replied, his tone indifferent.
"I am not just a cocky brat!" Ren snapped, though his legs were trembling.
A mountain of a man stepped into the light. He was a monster in human skin—muscles rippling under a tight T-shirt, his presence suffocating. Without a warning, the giant started running. He was a blur of raw power, a massive fist aimed directly at Ren's skull. "Not a brat? Then show me your guts!"
Ren's world narrowed. The fear vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp focus. He locked eyes with the monster.
Twist.
Ren's consciousness slammed into the man's mind. For a split second, the giant's body wasn't his own. Ren seized the neural pathways, forcing the massive arm to jerk sideways.
Instead of crushing Ren's head, the man's own fist collided with his own jaw.
CRACK.
Ren snapped back into his body, gasping for air. The giant stumbled, blood dripping from his nose, his eyes wide with shock. He had never felt his own body betray him like that.
Dante stood frozen, his eyes narrowed at Ren. The silence in the garage was heavy.
"You really do have it," Dante whispered, his voice dark. "Now, kid, you have two paths: Join us and survive... or stay in our way and be destroyed."
[TO BE CONTINUED...]