The battle had reached its peak.

  Ra and Silas were no longer just fighting—they were clashing like titans, each blow shaking the ground beneath them.

  Their movements were too fast for the untrained eye to follow—a blur of fists, kicks, and counterattacks. Every strike was met with equal force, neither backing down, neither slowing.

  The street around them had become a warzone.

  Bruisers lay scattered, bodies slumped over in pain or unconsciousness, while Orion, Kannie, Gabriel, Tsuki, and Nerpheus fought their own brutal battles just beyond.

  But all eyes were drawn to Ra and Silas—the two warriors standing above the rest, their fists and feet clashing like thunder against steel.

  Then, for the first time since their fight began—

  They stopped.

  Both breathing hard.

  Both bloodied.

  Both still standing.

  Ra’s chest rose and fell, his body aching, his veins pulsing with a power he still didn’t fully understand.

  Silas wiped blood from his lips, his grin never fading.

  The silence between them lasted only a few seconds—but in a fight like this, those seconds were a lifetime.

  Then, Ra spoke.

  A Question in the Storm

  “…Why do you follow him?” Ra asked, his voice steady despite the exhaustion.

  Silas tilted his head, still grinning. “Who?”

  “Jace,” Ra said. “Why do you follow someone like that?”

  Silas snorted, rolling his shoulders. “And why do you follow your friends?”

  Ra frowned but didn’t answer.

  Silas took a deep breath. His grin faded slightly, replaced with something darker—something real.

  And then—

  A memory.

  The Old Business District slums, years ago.

  A cold night, the air thick with the smell of filth and rot.

  A young Silas, barely more than a skeleton, sat curled up in an alleyway, his arms wrapped around his empty stomach.

  He hadn’t eaten in three days.

  His ribs jutting out, his fingers numb from the cold, his body weak.

  He had nothing.

  No home.

  No family.

  Just the emptiness of hunger and the cold bite of the streets.

  And that night, for the first time in his life, he thought—

  Maybe I won’t wake up tomorrow.

  Then—

  Footsteps.

  He was too tired to look up.

  Didn’t care anymore.

  If someone was going to beat him, rob him, or kill him—let them.

  But instead—

  Something warm landed in front of him.

  Food.

  Half a loaf of bread. Some dried meat. A small, bruised apple.

  Silas blinked, his weak hands reaching for the food hesitantly.

  He looked up.

  A boy stood over him, arms crossed, smirking.

  He was around the same age, but his clothes weren’t as torn. He had a fire in his eyes, something most slum kids didn’t have.

  The boy squatted down, watching Silas with a lazy grin.

  "Go ahead," the boy said. "Eat."

  Silas didn’t hesitate.

  He tore into the food, stuffing his face, barely stopping to breathe.

  The boy sat down beside him, leaning against the alley wall.

  "You looked like you were about to die," he said casually. "Thought I’d keep you around a little longer."

  Silas paused, blinking up at him.

  “…Why?”

  The boy smirked, shrugging.

  "Because out here, you don’t survive alone."

  Silas swallowed, staring at him.

  “…Who are you?”

  The boy wiped his nose and smirked.

  “Name’s Jace.”

  A moment of silence passed as Silas processed the words.

  Then, Jace reached into his pocket, tossing something at Silas.

  A small, rusty dagger.

  Silas caught it awkwardly, his hands still weak.

  Jace leaned forward, his smirk fading slightly.

  “This place,” Jace gestured around them, to the slums, to the streets, “it’s never gonna be kind to you.”

  Silas stared at the dagger in his hands.

  Jace grinned again, but this time it was sharp. Dangerous.

  “But if you stick with me, you’ll never have to be alone. You fight with me, and I’ll fight for you. Always.”

  Silas looked up at him.

  Something inside him stirred.

  A spark of something he never had before.

  Hope.

  A reason.

  From that night forward, Silas followed Jace.

  Because Jace was the first person who ever gave a damn about him.

  The memory faded.

  Silas exhaled, rolling his shoulders again.

  “Loyalty hat’s why,” he muttered.

  Ra watched him carefully, his fists still clenched.

  Silas smirked again.

  “Loyalty, kid. That’s why I follow Jace.”

  Ra's green dragon-like eyes burned, his stare sharp.

  Silas chuckled, shaking his head. “You’d kill for your friends, wouldn’t you?”

  Ra didn’t answer immediately.

  “…Yeah,” he admitted after a moment.

  Silas’ grin widened. “Then you understand.”

  His body glowed faintly, his muscles bulging, his body enforcement magic raging once more.

  Ra rolled his shoulders, his own green aura flickering, his instincts sharper than ever before.

  Both stepped forward.

  Silas cracked his knuckles. “Let’s end this.”

  Ra nodded. “Yeah.”

  They moved at the same time.

  Two blurs of power.

  Silas’ fist burned with magic, his muscles swelling with strength—

  Ra’s own energy surged, his entire body pulsing with something raw and untamed.

  Both warriors lunged—

  And then—

  Ra threw everything into one final punch.

  His fist met Silas’ chest.

  For a second—

  Nothing happened.

  Then—

  A shockwave exploded from the impact.

  Silas’ eyes widened in shock.

  His feet lifted off the ground.

  And then—

  BLOOD.

  Silas coughed violently, his body jerking as Ra’s fist buried deep into his chest.

  His muscles spasmed, his strength fading instantly.

  Ra’s golden-green eyes burned, his breath heavy.

  Silas gasped, blood dripping down his chin.

  And then—he laughed.

  A weak, broken laugh.

  “Heh…”

  He looked down at Ra, grinning even as blood filled his mouth.

  “You’re strong, kid…” he coughed.

  Then, his eyes darkened.

  “But more are coming.”

  Ra’s expression remained hard, his fist still buried in Silas’ chest.

  Silas’ body shuddered.

  “…I was just the beginning.”

  Then—

  He collapsed.

  Dead.

  Ra staggered back, breathing hard, his body covered in blood and sweat.

  His green aura flickered, then faded.

  The battlefield had gone quiet.

  All green bruisers where defeated

  Ra wiped the blood from his knuckles, his green dragon eyes still glowing faintly.

  Silas' final words echoed in his head.

  "More are coming. I was just the beginning."

  Ra clenched his fists.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  The aftermath of the battle left the street drenched in silence, broken only by the ragged breaths of those still standing. Ra exhaled sharply, his green dragon eyes narrowed into slits, his fists still clenched from the fight’s intensity. The bruisers were annihilated—cut down, decapitated, their skulls caved in, bodies torn apart in a violent display of retribution. Every last one of them was completely and utterly destroyed.

  Bodies lay sprawled across the street, some slumped against broken walls, others crushed beneath the rubble that had collapsed from the sheer force of the battle. The air was thick with the scent of blood, sweat, and shattered stone. Ra rolled his shoulders, his muscles burning from exertion, his veins still thrumming with the raw, untamed power within him.

  Orion wiped blood from his cheek, his dark brown skin streaked with crimson, adjusting the dagger strapped to his belt, his sharp eyes scanning the area. Gabriel hovered slightly above the ground, his usual smirk still in place, clearly unbothered by the fight, while Nerpheus stood nearby, his water whip coiling loosely around his arm, still dripping with remnants of his last attack. Tsuki adjusted his grip on his dagger, its edge still glistening with fresh blood.

  Tara stood at the back, her body tense, scanning the area with cautious eyes but keeping her distance from the main fight. She had taken cover when the battle broke out, avoiding direct confrontation. "We need to move," she muttered, pushing a lock of dark hair from her face. "Jace’s men will come looking. We can’t be here when they arrive."

  "We’re not in any shape for another fight," Orion agreed. He looked toward Ra, who was still breathing heavily but otherwise unfazed. "We need to find somewhere to lay low."

  Orion turned to the others. "We go to the old hideout near the docks. It’s hidden behind a wall. No one’s been there for years.

  The group followed Orion without hesitation.

  As Orion and his group finally left the battleground, slipping into the shadows of the Old Business District, he felt it.

  A presence.

  Eyes on him.

  He stopped in his tracks, golden eyes narrowing, scanning the rooftops. The others barely noticed, too focused on getting to safety. But Orion remained still for a heartbeat longer, his instincts whispering danger, or perhaps… curiosity.

  Then—

  Nothing.

  The rooftops where the three had stood were empty.

  He shook his head, brushing off the feeling before turning back to his group. “Let’s keep moving.”

  They moved quickly, slipping through the battered streets of the Old Business District. It was still noon, the sun bearing down on them mercilessly, but the fight had drained them. They needed cover. They needed time.

  Orion led them through narrow alleyways, past broken-down buildings and abandoned storefronts. The city was eerily quiet, but they knew better than to trust the silence. Danger lurked around every corner, hidden in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.

  After what felt like an eternity, they reached the hideout. It was exactly as Orion had described—hidden behind a crumbling wall, concealed by stacks of old crates and tattered cloth that had long since faded from the elements. A small, rusted door stood partially ajar, just large enough for them to slip inside.

  One by one, they entered the hideout. Inside, the air was stale, but it was safe. The walls were lined with old supplies—broken weapons, empty crates, a few scattered blankets. Dust covered every surface, untouched for years.

  The three figures, now hidden in the maze of rooftops, moved swiftly, trailing Orion and his group from above. Their movements were silent, their presence barely detectable. The cloaked man, chuckled under his breath.

  “I haven’t seen kids with a backbone like that in years,” he said, his voice brimming with amusement.

  The wizard-hatted woman nodded. “They have potential.” Her violet eyes gleamed with interest. “But if they should die, we were entertained for the time being here.” She chuckled.

  the youngest of the three, said nothing.

  He simply watched.

  His gaze flickered between Orion and the others, his mind calculating, analyzing. He had no need for words.

  He simply observed.

  Kannie and Tara immediately moved toward Tsuki and Nerpheus, checking their wounds from the battle with the bruisers. Tsuki winced as he clutched his ribs, the pain from being kicked into the cart still lingering, while Nerpheus rubbed his arm, feeling the bruises forming from the brutal blows he had taken. "I’ll be fine," Tsuki muttered, but Kannie wasn’t convinced. "Let me wrap that up, or it’ll get worse," she said firmly.

  Nerpheus gave Tara a tired grin. "I took a few hits, but I’ve had worse," he said. She frowned but nodded, handing him a strip of cloth to bandage a bruised shoulder. "Just don’t push yourself too hard," she muttered.

  Meanwhile, Orion kept watch near the entrance, his white dreadlocked hair catching the dim light, golden eyes scanning the surroundings, his mind already calculating their next move. Inside, the air was stale, but it was safe. The walls were lined with old supplies—broken weapons, empty crates, a few scattered blankets. Dust covered every surface, untouched for years.

  Ra slumped against the wall, his head tilted back as he exhaled slowly. Within moments, his eyes fluttered shut, and he drifted into sleep, exhaustion finally overtaking him. His green slit-pupil eyes dimmed as his breathing steadied, his body finally allowing itself the rest it had been denied throughout the fight.

  "We’ll stay here until it’s dark," Orion said, stretching his arms. "Then we move again."

  Gabriel grinned. "Great, more chances to make some new enemies. I was starting to get bored."

  They settled in, catching their breath, tending to wounds. The sun outside continued its slow descent, the light shifting from harsh midday to the golden hues of late afternoon.

  Outside, the three observers remained unseen, perched on the edge of a nearby rooftop, their attention locked on the hideout’s entrance.

  The broad man grinned beneath his hood. “Let’s see what they do next.”

  And the young woman smirked. “Let’s see how far they can go.”

  The young boy silent as ever, simply nodded.

  The game had only just begun.

  Tara broke the silence inside the hideout, glancing at Orion. “What’s the plan?”

  Orion exhaled sharply, running a hand through his white dreadlocked hair. “We go back to the hideout and move to a different slum, out of Jace’s territory.”

  For the first time, Orion didn’t have a solid plan. Normally, he always had an answer, always led with confidence. But now, uncertainty loomed over him like a heavy fog. The group relied on him—he was their leader. He couldn’t afford to show doubt. If he faltered, the group would fall apart.

  And yet, in his heart, he blamed himself for the situation they were in.

  He should have just killed Jace that day.

  If he had, someone else would have gladly taken his place, and that would be the end of it.

  He remembered his own words, spoken long ago: Every choice you make in life has consequences.

  As night fell, the group moved cautiously through the district, navigating the labyrinthine alleys with precision. The streets were quieter now, the echoes of battle lingering like ghosts. But as they turned a corner, they spotted an old beggar woman walking toward them, humming a slow, eerie tune.

  The woman’s head lifted as she noticed them. “Lost, are we?” she asked in a raspy voice. “Do you need help?”

  Gabriel hovered slightly closer, his curiosity piqued. “Well, that depends. You wouldn’t happen to know a place that doesn’t have people trying to kill us, would you?” He grinned, but his usual cocky demeanor was met with a growing unease.

  Before he could say anything else, Nerpheus’ instincts screamed at him. Without hesitation, he lashed out his water whip, yanking Gabriel back just in time.

  A glint of steel flashed in the dim light.

  The beggar woman had moved with inhuman speed, a hidden blade barely missing Gabriel’s throat. A thin line of red appeared on his cheek.

  Gabriel stumbled backward mid-air, holding his neck. “Oh wow, almost got my throat slit! At least buy me dinner first, lady.”

  The woman straightened, her disguise dissolving in a faint shimmer of magic. The ragged cloak fell from her shoulders, revealing sleek, dark assassin’s garb beneath. Her youthful features, once hidden beneath the illusion of age, now surfaced—Renna was no old beggar, but a cunning young woman using transformation magic for her assassinations. Her once-hunched posture straightened into one of confidence and authority. Her lips curled into a slow, knowing smile.

  “Impressive,” she said, eyes scanning the group. “I was hoping to take at least one of you by surprise.”

  Orion’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”

  The woman smirked. “Renna.”

  Silence hung heavy in the air. She let the name settle, knowing its weight.

  Then she chuckled. “I should thank you, really. Killing Silas… that was a great favor. Jace has lost a significant amount of power because of it.”

  She stepped forward, her eyes gleaming. “Jace without Silas isn’t much. And that makes this the perfect time to strike.”

  Shadows shifted around them. Dozens of figures emerged from alleys, dropping from rooftops, surrounding Orion’s group with ruthless efficiency.

  Renna’s smile widened. She turned her gaze to Tara and Kannie. “But you two… you won’t die. Not yet.”

  She tilted her head. “I’ll bring you to Jace. And when the time is right, I will hold power over the Old Business District.”

  Kannie narrowed her eyes. “None of us are dying today, old bitch.”

  Renna’s smirk faltered. “You do know I’m only eighteen, right?”

  Kannie crossed her arms, ears twitching. “Then how the hell are you just now an old woman?!”

  Orion groaned. “Kannie…”

  Renna’s expression darkened. “I’m going to make those bunny ears into a prize.”

  Before anyone could react, Renna moved. She was fast—blindingly fast, vanishing in a blur. But Kannie was fast too. Her powerful rabbit legs launched her forward, keeping pace with the assassin, her ears twitching sharply as she anticipated each movement.

  The air cracked as they clashed. Renna’s twin daggers lashed out in a whirlwind of steel, slicing through the air with deadly precision. Kannie countered with rapid kicks, her movements a blur. One strike landed—sending Renna hurtling into a building with an explosive crash.

  Renna coughed, brushing dust off her sleeve, then smiled. “Not bad, bunny. Not bad at all.”

  Kannie grinned. “Oh, there’s more where that came from.”

  Meanwhile, as the impact sent debris flying, the lackeys made their move. Dozens of Renna’s men swarmed in from alleys and rooftops, descending upon Orion’s group. Their weapons gleamed under the moonlight, their faces filled with bloodlust.

  Orion stepped forward, daggers drawn, golden eyes burning. “We hold our ground!”

  Tsuki silently drew his dagger, his silver eyes cold as ice.

  Gabriel floated higher, sparks of electricity crackling around his hands. “Let’s make this fun.”

  Nerpheus uncoiled his water whip, letting it flow like a serpent in the air. “Stay close. We don’t let them separate us.”

  Ra rolled his shoulders, his dragon slit green eyes glowing faintly as he stepped forward. “Let’s finish this.” His tone was calm, but his fists clenched, ready to tear through anything in his path.

  Tara, realizing the danger, quickly took cover behind a stack of crates, her heart pounding. She was no fighter—her role had always been support, strategy. She gritted her teeth, her hands trembling slightly as she pressed herself against the cold stone wall. The best way she could help now was by surviving and waiting for the right moment.

  And just like that—chaos erupted.

  The first wave of lackeys rushed forward, weapons swinging wildly. Orion ducked under a blade, his daggers flashing as he sliced into his attacker’s side before flipping backward to avoid a second strike.

  Tsuki, never one for hesitation, met his opponents head-on, moving like a ghost between them. His movements were surgical—every strike deadly. He caught a sword mid-swing, twisted the attacker’s arm, and drove his knee into their stomach, sending them crumpling to the ground.

  Gabriel, hovering above, raised both hands, grinning. “Zap time!”

  Lightning arced from his fingertips, striking multiple enemies at once. They convulsed before collapsing, smoke rising from their scorched armor.

  Nerpheus lashed his whip, wrapping it around the neck of one attacker and yanking him off his feet. He spun, deflecting a blade with a fluid motion before slamming another enemy into a wall with a crashing wave of water.

  Ra, on the other hand, was a brute force all on his own. He charged through enemies, his fists like wrecking balls. One punch sent a man crashing into two others, knocking them all unconscious instantly. Another grabbed a blade, but before he could swing, Ra’s foot connected with his chest, sending him flying into a wall with a sickening crunch.

  Tara stayed hidden, her breath steady but sharp, watching from her cover as the battle raged on. She had to trust in the others. And when the moment came, she’d be ready.

  In the middle of it all, Kannie and Renna’s battle intensified. Renna’s blades blurred as they slashed through the air, but Kannie dodged effortlessly, twisting and flipping in ways that defied logic.

  “You’re good,” Renna admitted, twirling her dagger. “But speed alone won’t save you.”

  Kannie smirked. “Who said it’s just speed?”

  She pivoted on one foot, launching a devastating kick that Renna barely dodged. The sheer force sent shockwaves rippling through the air.

  Renna grimaced. “You’re strong.”

  “I work out,” Kannie said, grinning.

  Renna narrowed her eyes. “But you’re still going to die.”

  The fight between Kannie and Renna reached a fever pitch.

  Kannie moved like a storm unleashed, her body twisting and flipping through the air with inhuman agility. Her powerful rabbit legs propelled her forward at blinding speeds, her massive leg muscles tensing and flexing with each movement. Every step she took sent cracks through the ground beneath her, the sheer force of her movement shaking the battlefield.

  Renna was fast—dangerously fast. Her daggers gleamed as they slashed through the air, each movement calculated, precise. A single scratch was enough. A single cut would be enough to slow Kannie down.

  But Kannie was relentless.

  She spun mid-air, delivering a roundhouse kick aimed straight for Renna’s temple. The assassin barely ducked in time, the wind from the force of the kick whipping past her face. Before she could react, Kannie flipped backward, her powerful legs firing off another strike. Renna blocked with her daggers, sparks flying as steel met pure brute force.

  Kannie landed, barely a second before launching herself forward again. She twisted in the air, her foot arcing in a brutal spinning kick aimed at Renna’s ribs. The impact cracked through the air, sending Renna skidding backward across the dirt, her boots leaving deep gouges in the stone street.

  Renna wiped a trickle of blood from her lips. “Tch. Annoying little rabbit.”

  Kannie grinned. “I get that a lot.”

  Without another word, Kannie exploded forward. She moved in bursts of speed that defied logic, her form flickering in and out of sight as she rebounded off walls, flipped over obstacles, and struck from impossible angles. Her kicks rained down like a hailstorm, each strike carrying the force to shatter stone.

  Renna weaved through them, barely avoiding the devastating blows. But then—

  SHNK.

  A dagger grazed Kannie’s leg. The pain was minor, but the effect was immediate. A slow burn spread through her veins, her limbs feeling heavier. Poison.

  Renna smirked, stepping back. “One cut. That’s all I needed.”

  Kannie staggered, her breath hitching as the poison coursed through her. Renna took her time, twirling a dagger in her fingers. “In two minutes, you’ll be dead,” she said with a smirk. “And I have the antidote. But I think I’ll just stay right here and watch you squirm.”

  Kannie inhaled sharply before exhaling with a grin. “So if I kill you in one minute, I’ll live?”

  Renna’s eyes flickered with unease, but before she could react—

  Kannie disappeared.

  Renna’s eyes widened. “What—”

  Before she could react, Kannie was everywhere at once.

  She became a blur of motion, flickering between spaces with insane agility. Her Lycanthrope instincts kicked in, her body moving beyond even what she thought possible. Renna’s daggers slashed wildly, trying to catch her, but they met nothing but air.

  And then—

  Kannie was beneath her.

  Renna barely had time to register what was happening before Kannie’s first kick struck her stomach, launching her upward.

  Then another.

  Then another.

  Each impact sent Renna higher and higher into the sky, the sheer force of the kicks sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Her body flailed, helpless against the relentless onslaught.

  One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

  By the final kick, Renna was so high she could see the entire district below her. Her breath caught, eyes wide with disbelief.

  And then—

  From above her, Kannie appeared once more.

  Descending.

  Leg raised.

  Her heel aimed directly at Renna’s throat.

  “Rabbit Guillotine!” Kannie roared.

  Renna gasped, but she couldn’t move. She couldn’t react.

  BOOOOOOOM!

  Kannie’s final strike crashed into Renna’s throat like a guillotine, sending her plummeting down like a meteor. The impact shook the entire street, sending a wave of dust and debris outward. The ground beneath them cracked and cratered, splintering from the sheer force.

  Silence.

  For a moment, nothing moved. Nothing made a sound.

  Then, Kannie stepped back, rolling her shoulders. “Told ya,” she muttered. “I’m keeping my bunny ears.”

  Renna lay in the crater, lifeless, her neck bent at an unnatural angle. She was dead.

  But the fight had taken its toll.

  Kannie staggered, her vision blurring as the poison continued to burn through her veins. Then, suddenly—she doubled over and vomited onto the cracked pavement. Her body trembled, sweat dripping from her forehead.

  Tara rushed forward, kneeling beside her. “Kannie!” she called, checking her pulse. “Damn it, you’re burning up.”

  Tara then turned toward Renna’s corpse, her hands moving quickly as she rifled through the assassin’s clothes. She knew Renna had the antidote. There had to be a vial somewhere. Her fingers pressed against the assassin’s belt, then inside the folds of her vest. Nothing. Then—

  Her fingers brushed against a small glass vial, tucked into a hidden pouch beneath Renna’s waist sash. Tara gritted her teeth and yanked it free.

  “Tch, she really did have it,” Tara muttered, shaking her head. “Always a liar ‘til the end.”

  Without wasting another second, she uncorked the vial and pressed it to Kannie’s lips. “Drink this.”

  Kannie groaned but obeyed, gulping down the bitter liquid. The relief was slow, but it came. The burning in her veins began to fade, her body relaxing slightly.

  Before she could fully recover, Ra stepped forward. Without a word, he crouched, lifted Kannie onto his back, and carried her with ease.

  Kannie, still weak, murmured, “I can walk.”

  Ra smirked. “Not today, you can’t.”

  —

  Gabriel hovered in the air, a wicked grin on his face as arcs of electricity crackled between his fingertips. Below him, at least seven bodies lay twitching on the ground, smoke rising from their scorched armor. “Oops,” he chuckled. “Didn’t mean to fry ‘em all at once.”

  Nerpheus stood among the carnage, his water whip dripping crimson. He flicked the weapon, sending droplets of blood splattering onto the already stained pavement. “They were sloppy,” he said simply, eyes scanning for any remaining threats.

  Tsuki stood over the last enemy standing, gripping his dagger. The man wobbled, struggling to remain upright, but his body was riddled with cuts—

  SLASH.

  Tsuki’s final strike ended it. The man collapsed, lifeless.

  Orion exhaled, wiping blood from his dagger. “That’s all of them.”

  Ra, carrying Kannie on his back, rolled his shoulders. “Not much of a challenge.”

  As the dust settled, Orion glanced at Renna’s lifeless body. There was no need to discuss it. She was dead.

  “Let’s move,” he ordered.

  With that, the group turned away, leaving the battlefield behind.

  As the dust settled and the group moved out, unaware of the eyes still watching them, three figures remained perched on the rooftops above.

  The man smirked, resting his arms on his knees. "They might actually take out this Jace if they keep going like this."

  The young woman chuckled, her violet eyes gleaming.

  The boy remained silent, watching intently, his mismatched eyes locked onto Orion and the others as they disappeared into the shadows.

  The game was far from over.