A few days later, the private jet landed on an isolated runway carved into the middle of a tropical island. Palm trees swayed gently under the ocean breeze while security personnel stood positioned at intervals along the perimeter. The engines powered down, and the cabin door opened with a soft hiss.
Alex stepped out first, sunglasses shielding his eyes from the sunlight as he scanned the island with quiet curiosity. Rachel followed behind him, dressed in her usual suit, while the wind tugged lightly at her hair. The heat wrapped around them instantly, but Alex barely noticed as he looked around the secluded landscape.
'I guess I should buy an island next,' He thought.
He turned toward her with a curious look. "So what's this surprise you dragged me all the way out here for?"
Rachel walked beside him down the stairs, her heels clicking softly against the metal while she glanced at him. "You remember asking me to set up an underground fighting arena so you could stretch your arms?"
Alex stopped halfway down the stairs, eyebrows rising slightly as realization hit him. "Yeah. Wait. You actually did it?"
Rachel's lips curved into a subtle smile as they stepped onto the runway. "Yeah, I did. But instead of professional fighters, I figured you'd enjoy something more meaningful."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Meaningful?"
Rachel gestured toward the waiting black SUV parked nearby while security opened the door. "The participants are pretty bad criminals. Human trafficking, blackmail, drugs, coercion, and all the unspeakable things they do to new talents trying to break into Hollywood. You can think of them as scums wasting oxygen."
Alex's expression hardened instantly, the relaxed curiosity fading into something colder. "And?"
Rachel met his gaze calmly as she slid into the SUV. "And the bastard who dared to target Max is inside."
Alex froze for a brief moment before stepping in after her. The door shut, and the car started moving across the paved road, cutting through dense greenery.
He leaned slightly forward, voice lower now. "You captured that DD fucker?"
Rachel nodded once. "Oh yeah. Him and six other big fish. The smaller ones already met a permanent end, buried deep enough that nobody will ever dig them up again. And thanks for having patience and not doing anything rash in anger."
Alex cracked his knuckles slowly. "You've no idea how hard it was to hold back after hearing that motherfucker was targeting Max. I almost flew out myself that night to kill that fucker."
Rachel leaned back against the seat, watching him. She said, "I know. That's why I asked you to wait. This way, you get everything at once."
A faint grin spread across Alex's face, though it carried no warmth. "Well then. I can't wait to fuck them up. By the way, you saved the victims, right?"
Rachel nodded, "Yes. Everyone alive... and those who didn't make it, I made sure to let their families know so that they can get closure. And left a little money for them to get their life back on track."
Alex took her hand and kissed her knuckles. "Thank you."
The SUV accelerated smoothly, moving deeper into the island as dense jungle gave way to a wide clearing. A massive structure slowly came into view, built from reinforced concrete and steel, rising in the middle of the island like a fortress. Guard towers stood at each corner while armed personnel patrolled the perimeter.
The vehicle rolled toward the main gate, which opened automatically as they approached. Inside, floodlights, cameras, and heavy security doors lined the entrance, giving the entire place a quiet, controlled tension.
The SUV finally came to a stop near the main building entrance.
Alex stepped out first, looking up at the structure. "You really went all out for this one."
Rachel walked beside him toward the entrance while the heavy doors opened. "You asked for a place to stretch your arms. I figured you deserved the best."
Inside, the sound of distant metal clanging echoed faintly from somewhere deeper within the facility. The air felt colder.
Alex rolled his shoulders slowly as they walked forward. "Yeah. I think I'm really going to enjoy this."
Rachel gave a side nod. "I thought you might."
..[Arena]..
The main arena opened before them as they stepped through the final reinforced doors. The space stretched wide and circular, built like an underground colosseum carved from steel and concrete. Bright overhead lights illuminated a massive cage positioned at the center, reinforced bars thick enough to hold wild animals. Twenty guards from the High Table stood around the perimeter, their posture disciplined and alert, hands resting near concealed weapons.
Inside the cage, six men sat on metal chairs arranged loosely in a half circle. They looked well-fed and unharmed. Their clothes were clean, their faces anxious, and their eyes constantly shifting toward the entrance as if they had been waiting for this exact moment.
Alex walked forward with Rachel beside him, his gaze fixed on the men without saying a single word. He recognized them immediately. DD sat closest to the front, his jaw tight and eyes wary. RK leaned back stiffly while trying to look confident. Harvey wiped sweat from his forehead. Bill shifted in his chair. Jef looked restless. Schneider avoided eye contact entirely.
Alex stopped just outside the cage. The silence stretched across the arena while every guard watched carefully.
Without speaking, Alex removed his coat and handed it to Rachel. He then took off his sunglasses and passed them to her as well. His expression remained calm, though his eyes carried something colder beneath the surface.
Rachel held his belongings and asked, "You need any weapons?"
Alex cracked his knuckles slowly while keeping his gaze locked on the six men. "Against those fuckers? Nah. I'm gonna take my time and kill them."
One of the guards stepped forward and unlocked the heavy cage door. The metal groaned as it swung open. Alex rolled his shoulders once, then walked inside.
The six men recognized him instantly. Panic flashed across their faces as they realized who stood before them. The most powerful man in Hollywood now stood inside a cage with them, calm and silent, like he had all the time in the world.
DD leaned forward, clearly about to speak, while RK shifted as if preparing to negotiate. Harvey opened his mouth, desperation already forming.
Alex raised his hand calmly, stopping them before a single word came out.
"I don't give a fuck about anything you gotta say," he said quietly, his voice echoing through the arena. He looked at each of them one by one, his gaze slow and deliberate. "You want your freedom? Kill me and they will let you all leave."
The six men froze, confusion and disbelief mixing with fear.
Alex took a step forward, his expression calm while his eyes sharpened. "One versus six. Fight to the death. Winner lives and the losers die... Let's see what you motherfucking bastards can do."
Outside the cage, Rachel watched silently, her expression composed while the guards shifted slightly, tension building across the arena.
Inside the cage, the six men exchanged glances. Fear lingered in their eyes, though desperation slowly replaced hesitation.
Alex flexed his fingers slowly, then tilted his head slightly while staring at them.
"Come on," he muttered calmly. "You love to prey on people weaker than you. Now try your luck with me. I promise, none of them will stop you bastards."
DD rushed first, his chair clattering behind him as he lunged forward with a wild punch aimed straight at Alex's jaw. Bill followed half a second later, swinging from the side while the rest of them scrambled to surround him.
"Fuck him up!" DD shouted, his voice cracking with desperation as they closed in together.
Alex did not move immediately. His eyes tracked each of them calmly, shoulders relaxed while the chaos unfolded around him. The moment DD's fist came within range, time slowed inside his head. He leaned slightly to the left, the punch slicing past his cheek by inches while Bill's swing came from the side.
Alex stepped back, pivoted on his heel, and let Bill's arm cut through empty air. RK charged from behind, grabbing for his shoulders while Harvey tried to tackle him low.
Alex hopped backward in a smooth motion, avoiding Harvey's grasp while RK stumbled forward off balance. The six men crashed into each other awkwardly, frustration already building.
"You slow bastards," Alex muttered calmly while circling them. "Is that all you got?"
Jef snarled and rushed forward again, throwing a sloppy kick. Alex caught the leg mid-air, twisted sharply, and shoved him forward into Schneider. Both men staggered, barely staying upright while DD charged again with a desperate roar.
DD swung wildly, throwing punch after punch while Bill tried to flank him. Alex leaned back, ducked low, stepped sideways, and slipped between them like water. Their fists cut through the air repeatedly while Alex's breathing remained steady.
"You bastards spent your lives preying on weak people," Alex said calmly while dodging another swing. "This is what happens when someone fights back."
Harvey lunged again, trying to grab Alex's waist. Alex planted his hand on Harvey's shoulder, vaulted slightly, and shoved him into RK. Both men crashed to the ground while Bill swung blindly in frustration.
Alex ducked under Bill's arm, spun behind him, and pushed him forward into DD. The two slammed into each other hard, nearly falling.
Outside the cage, Rachel watched silently while the guards exchanged glances. Even they could see the difference in skill. Alex moved with precision while the six men fought like panicked animals.
DD growled and wiped sweat from his forehead. "Stop rushing one by one. Together!"
They regrouped quickly, forming a loose circle around Alex while breathing heavily. This time they moved at once, six bodies closing in from all directions.
Alex exhaled slowly, his expression sharpening.
The first attack came from Bill, swinging high. Alex ducked and stepped forward, driving his shoulder into Bill's chest. Bill staggered backward, gasping for air, while RK lunged from the right.
Alex twisted, grabbed RK's wrist, and redirected him straight into Harvey. Both stumbled while DD tackled forward.
Alex sidestepped again, grabbed DD by the collar, and yanked him past. DD stumbled into the cage bars with a loud metallic clang.
Jef charged next, swinging wildly. Alex leaned aside and drove a sharp elbow into Jef's ribs. A dull crack echoed as Jef wheezed loudly and collapsed to one knee.
"That's one rib," Alex muttered calmly. "Lie there for a moment. I'll get to you in a sec."
Schneider hesitated, fear creeping into his eyes. Bill recovered and charged again with a shout, but Alex stopped dodging.
He stepped forward.
Bill's punch came fast, but Alex slipped inside the swing and drove a brutal body shot into Bill's stomach. Bill doubled over instantly, air leaving his lungs in a choked gasp. Alex followed with a short hook to the jaw. Bill's head snapped sideways before he dropped hard onto the floor.
"Shattered jaw," Alex said quietly.
DD roared and rushed him again, swinging with reckless fury. Alex blocked the punch with his forearm, then drove his knee upward into DD's ribs. The impact folded him slightly. Alex grabbed DD's head and slammed his face into the cage bars. Blood splattered instantly while DD collapsed backward.
RK hesitated now, fear replacing aggression. Harvey tried to run in from behind, but Alex sensed him. He stepped aside, grabbed Harvey's arm, and flipped him over his shoulder. Harvey crashed hard onto the floor, groaning in pain.
Jef tried to stand, but Alex kicked him back down with a sharp strike to the chest.
Schneider finally snapped and rushed forward with a desperate yell. Alex stepped in, grabbed his collar, and drove a straight punch into his nose. Blood sprayed as Schneider crumpled instantly.
The arena filled with heavy breathing and scattered groans.
Alex stood in the center, shoulders loose, eyes cold while the six men struggled to move.
"That's it?" Alex asked calmly while cracking his knuckles again. "You bastards ran entire criminal networks, but this is all you got?"
DD coughed up blood while trying to push himself up. Blood was dripping from his broken nose and forehead. "You... you're not human..."
Alex walked toward him slowly, calm and steady, while the others lay scattered around the cage.
"No," Alex replied quietly. "I'm just the worst person you could've pissed off."
Alex grabbed DD by the hair and slammed his face against the thick metal bars over and over again. The sound of bone cracking and flesh splitting echoed through the arena with each brutal impact. Blood sprayed across the cage floor in thick arcs. DD's body jerked violently with every hit, his arms flailing weakly at first, then going limp as the life drained out of him.
After the tenth slam, Alex released the handful of bloody hair. DD's ruined face slid down the bars, leaving a long red smear. He collapsed in a heap. Alex stepped back once, then brought his boot down hard on DD's head. The heel crushed the skull with a wet crunch. DD's body twitched once, then went completely still. A pool of blood slowly spread beneath what remained of his head.
Alex straightened up, breathing steady, and turned to the others. The five remaining men stared in horror, their faces pale and slick with sweat.
He moved toward Bill next.
Bill tried to crawl away, gasping for air from the earlier body shot. Alex caught him by the ankle and dragged him across the concrete floor. Bill clawed at the ground, leaving bloody fingernail marks, but it did nothing. Alex flipped him onto his back, straddled his chest, and started punching. Each fist landed with sickening force. Bill's nose shattered on the first hit. His cheekbone caved on the second. By the fifth punch, Bill's face was a swollen, unrecognizable mess. Alex kept going until the man's skull gave way under the repeated blows. Bill stopped moving long before Alex finished.
Harvey tried to scramble to his feet and run toward the cage door, but Alex was faster. He grabbed Harvey by the back of the neck and slammed him face-first into the floor. Harvey's front teeth cracked against the concrete. Alex pulled him up by the hair, then drove a knee into his throat. Harvey gurgled, clutching at his crushed windpipe. Alex didn't wait. He stomped down on Harvey's chest repeatedly, breaking ribs with every impact until the man stopped twitching.
RK and Jef tried to fight back together, charging at Alex in a last desperate attempt. RK swung a wild haymaker while Jef tried to tackle low. Alex sidestepped RK's punch, caught Jef mid-tackle, and used his momentum to slam him into RK. Both men crashed to the ground in a tangle. Alex dropped down and grabbed RK's head with both hands. He twisted sharply. A loud snap filled the arena as RK's neck broke. The body went limp instantly.
Jef screamed and tried to crawl away on all fours.
Alex walked over calmly, planted a foot on his lower back to pin him down, then grabbed Jef's right arm. He pulled upward with steady force until the shoulder joint popped out of place with a wet tearing sound. Jef howled in agony. Alex didn't stop. He moved to the other arm and did the same, dislocating both shoulders. Then he flipped Jef onto his back and drove his boot down on the man's throat, pressing harder and harder until the screaming turned into choking gasps, then silence.
Schneider had curled into a fetal position in the corner of the cage, sobbing and shaking. Alex walked over slowly, his boots leaving bloody footprints across the floor. He grabbed Schneider by the collar and hauled him upright. Schneider's eyes were wide with terror, tears mixing with snot and blood.
"Please... please don't," Schneider begged, his voice broken.
Alex looked at him for a long second, expression cold and empty.
"You fuckers targeted Max," he said quietly. "That's all I need to know to kill you and your entire generation."
He drove his fist straight into Schneider's solar plexus, folding the man in half. As Schneider doubled over, gasping, Alex grabbed his head and smashed it downward into his rising knee. The impact caved in Schneider's face. Alex let the body drop, then stomped on the back of Schneider's neck with full force. The final crunch echoed through the now-silent arena.
Alex stood in the center of the cage, surrounded by the broken bodies of the six men. Blood covered his hands and stained his clothes. His breathing remained calm and even, as if he had just finished a light workout.
[AN: Still on break. I felt kinda bad since some of you still gave me powerstones. So, 1 chapter for you all. Thanks for the stones by the way. Oh, I've started writing the Streamer in Modern Family ff beside Castle. Just dropped 1 chapter yesterday. Still don't have a release date for this one. I plan to release Castle, next month.]
---[MORE POWERSTONES💎💎💎]---
Support link: www.patr eon.com/UnknownMaster
[5 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers]
+ [Reborn in Castle: 20 chs]