Tlen wakes up in a sea with red water in the middle of a dark desert, he gets up calmly.
Ahead, there's a tunnel locked off with bars, and within it sits Huracán, the skeletal specter chained inside, his eyes burning green fire.
"Huracán…" Tlen mutters, walking toward him.
The specter's voice is low and mocking, "Didn't I tell you not to die?"
Tlen looks around the dark desert, There is nothing but stars and blood-colored water, "Am I dead?" he asks quietly.
"No. But you are dancing in places where death is very close. Don't forget our pact, Tlen."
Tlen exhales, his tone steady. "I'm not forgetting our pact. I use your power whenever I want, for the price of 1 year off my life per use. But are you sure this isn't your full power already?"
"Don't make me laugh… I could easily kill everyone in that room if you paid for my full power." Huracán replies,
Tlen lays himself down in the sea, water soaking into his clothes as he stares up at the stars. "You're trying to bait me, and it won't work, Huracán."
"Very well. At the end of your days, I will be reborn anyway, don't you dare die." The words echo. The stars blink out.
Tlen jolts awake, tied up beside Ari, Hazu, and Monita. His eyes widen at the sight, Tanya, bruised and shaking, holding Prince hostage with a massive handgun pressed to his temple.
Mari takes a careful step forward, her tone calm but sharp.
"Don't do anything stupid."
Tanya shoves the gun harder against Prince's head, her eyes wild.
"Which one of you knows healing techniques? Heal my friends this instant!"
Mari glances toward Jane. With a subtle nod, she signals her.
"Don't try anything stupid!" Tanya barks again, her knuckles white around the gun.
Jane crouches down beside Ari, green light starts glowing faintly around her hands. Her focus sharpens, movements precise, as she begins knitting flesh and bone back together with practiced ease.
Mari keeps her voice calm. "She's doing what you're asking. Release him now."
Tanya laughs, unhinged,
"I'm in control here. You're gonna do everything I say."
Mela doesn't move, but her eyes narrow slightly. She channels her mana into their brain link, her voice brushing into Mari and Zodiak's minds.
'We have no choice, Mari. Prince is done for anyway.'
Zodiak's voice follows, steady and low. 'Mela is right. Jovi already told us how to handle situations like this.'
Mari doesn't answer immediately. Her eyes flick to Jane, who's still silently healing the wounded with care. Mari's thoughts cut into the link, her mental tone sharp.
'It's not that. We've already grieved Prince, but Saint and Jane haven't. Even though Saint isn't with us anymore, the worst thing we can do now is add more chaos when we should be lying low after the auction.'
She watches Jane's hands glow over Ari's chest, closing every wound. 'Imagine if Saint were to learn what's happening right now…'
Mela breathes out softly through the link. 'You're right. Better not to tell Jane about any of this.'
Zodiak relaxes his stance slightly, though his eyes stay locked on Tanya's every twitch.
After minutes pass. Jane finishes her healing, she gets up and wipes sweat from her brow.
"All done," she says, her voice steady but slightly tired.
The injured stir awake in confusion. Ari groans as he sits up. Hazu clenches his jaw in frustration. Tlen keeps quiet, his hands still stuffed in his pockets in that carelessly while bound. Monita clutches Dori Dori to her chest quietly.
Tanya grins, baring her teeth. "Now, untie them safely!"
Mari closes her eyes. The shadow-bounds around their arm fade away.
They carefully get up without struggle, slowly they make their way toward Tanya,
Ari curses under his breath, his fists trembling. 'How the hell did she pull this off…'
Hazu lowers his gaze, shame twisting in his gut. 'Another failure. Another loss…'
Tlen sighs, brushing his wrists. 'Another day I managed not to die…'
Monita doesn't say a word, only hugs Dori Dori tighter.
Once they're all gathered behind Tanya, she grinds her teeth again, voice cracking crazily,
"Matter of fact, hey green haired girl, we're bringing you in too!" Tanya yells,
Ari and Hazu's eyes snap wide. 'What?!'
Mari's brow furrows, but she holds back Mela, who instinctively steps forward. Instead, Mari's gaze locks with Jane's.
"I understand," Jane says quietly. She doesn't resist. Her steps are steady as she walks toward Tanya.
Suddenly, Hazu's stomach twists. His vision pulses, his eyes burning as if something inside them is tearing open. He grips his face and crouches, what he saw strained his eyes too much,
"What's wrong, Hazu?" Ari asks, kneeling down beside him.
Zodiak catches the shift immediately, speaking into the link. 'She's gonna do it. He's seeing it, that boy has a future sight ability.'
Jane keeps moving, silent and composed. Tanya tenses, sensing something wrong in the air. Jane brushes past her, then suddenly lunges for Tanya's wrist.
Tanya pulls back at the last second, instincts saving her by a thread. But it's too late, the rest of the group is already in motion. Mari and Zodiak blitz forward, securing Prince between them.
'What the—?!' Ari can't even track their movements.
Jane slams Tanya down, tackling her to the ground. Tanya's eyes widen midair.
"Metal Style: Breaking the Law!!"
The gun shoots with a surge of mana, the bullet ripping out faster than the eye can follow. It slams into the back of Prince's head. His skull jerks forward violently.
"Prince!!" Jane screams, fury exploding from her throat as she crashes down on Tanya.
Mela's hands fly to her mouth. Mari and Zodiak whip their heads around at the same time.
"There's no blood?!" Mari gasps, eyes locked on Prince.
A timer appears and starts glowing red on the side of Tanya's gun.
'99:59:49'
Jane doesn't care. Her fists start pounding into Tanya's face, each blow fueled with raw rage. Bone cracks. Blood splatters. Tanya's head bounces against the floor with every hit.
"What did you do!?" Jane roars, every word punctuated by another strike. Her knuckles are already smeared red, but she doesn't stop. Tanya's eyes roll, her lips torn open, her nose broken.
Mari's heart pounds as the warehouse fills with the sound of fists on flesh, the timer on the gun ticking down.
…
Back in Entoria, under the soft glow of city lights, the streets are alive, Zara is keeping her arm under Saint's, helping him down the crowded street. His head is tilted slightly as if in pain, but his eyes remain calm, watching her reactions,
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have let you fight…" Zara murmurs, guilt heavy in her voice.
Saint shakes his head slowly, lips curling into a faint smile. "No, it's my fault. I wanted to charm you…" His words are light, acting injured,
Her cheeks flush faintly at his confession. "Oh… there was no… um…" Her words stumble over each other. She tries to mask her flustered state by looking around.
Her eyes catch on a warmly lit restaurant just ahead, "Let's get you patched up in there," she says quickly, shifting her focus. She lifts him a little more firmly, guiding him toward the entrance.
Saint glances at her from the corner of his eye.
…
Back underground, the fight club roars with lingering excitement, the octagon is empty now. In the corner, Kunst is wiping sweat from his brow, still rattled by the strange battle he just had, his hands still aching in pain.
Viola approaches with her usual bubbly tone, her steps light and playful.
"Heyyyy! I saw your fight… can I take a picture with you? The lighting is bad here though… join me somewhere private?" She leans forward just slightly, eyes glimmering.
Kunst stiffens for a moment, then straightens his broad frame. Even through the mask, his excitement leaks out. "Sure babe… I actually own a private room here…" His laugh comes out low and eager.
Viola clasps her hands together. "Really? Show me, show me!"
He leads her down a quiet corridor, the noise of the crowd fading behind them. The walls grow older, stained with mold, once inside he flicks a switch, lighting a small, forgotten room with yellow light.
"What's wrong, babe?" Kunst presses closer, his size towering over her, voice raspy with anticipation.
Viola giggles, taking his hand, leading him deeper into the shadows of the room. She tilts her head, her voice playful. "Nothing's wrong…"
Then, a bag drops over his head, rough fabric tightening around his face. His knees snap sideways with a brutal crack, forcing him into the chair behind him. Pain explodes through his legs, his scream muffled by the sack.
"Good work, Viola," Shinsei's calm voice cuts through, steady as ever.
Viola drops onto the bed nearby, legs swinging, a mischievous grin on her face. Kunst thrashes against the chair, the sound of his agony echoing in the small room.
"The boss sends his regards," Shinsei says coldly, his words cutting sharper than the pain.
Kunst's muffled shouts shake the room. He strains against the chair, but his legs are ruined.
"Let's go, Viola." Shinsei's voice carries no emotion.
She skips to his side, the glee still dancing in her steps. Together, they leave the broken fighter slumped in the chair.
The hallway outside is crowded, the noise of the underground alive again. Viola walks close, glancing up at Shinsei curiously.
"Did Saint really ask us to do that?"
Shinsei doesn't hesitate. His eyes stay forward, cold and sharp. "No. But I won't let anyone harm the boss. Ever."
The words are final. Viola stays quiet, trailing beside him as they blend back into the crowd, leaving Kunst's muffled screams behind.
…