"Now will you explain your plan to me?"
"Yes, yes... give me a few seconds to finish orchestrating it, and I'll tell you."
"It's very strange to see you planning something... you don't seem like that kind of person."
"Boxing requires quick plans. If you're cornered, you have to find a way out of the predicament without breaking the rules."
"I repeat... you don't seem like that kind of person."
Gorgo snorted, clearly frustrated.
"Do you think it's necessary to kill the kid and the old man?"
"Definitely. With those two in the equation, our future plans won't work out."
His tone grew colder.
"If we kill the old man, the kid will want revenge."
"The kid... he didn't look like a bad guy..."
"The others you killed weren't either. And yet you eliminated them. Keep working... this is no time to question your morals."
"Yes, sir..."
"You've worked for me for six years. If you finish this job, I'll make sure you get a position within the corporation where you no longer have to get your hands dirty. You'll be well paid... and you'll retire at fifty with a fortune in your pockets.
"I don't care about the money. When this is over, I want to get the hell out of here with my money and find another way of life."
"You won't be able to." Once you enter this world... you never leave.
"Thanks for the support..."
"You're one of my best agents. Why would I want you to leave?"
(There was a brief silence.)
"It doesn't matter... if your plan succeeds and you hand over those lands to me... you'll be free."
"You can count on it."
A week passed. In total, it had been fourteen days since the confrontation between Gorgo and Max. The sun hung high in the sky, warm but bright, a strangely warm day for the beginning of winter.
Baldur was heading toward the city. His intention was to visit his friends Kawaki and Tao Pai in the hospital, bring them some food, and spend some time together. Before leaving, he had left Oliver and Gouten in a wooded area, with exercises assigned to continue practicing karate stances.
"How complicated this is without the master..." commented Gouten, scratching his forehead. There's no one to correct us. I don't know if we're doing it right or wrong anymore..."
"Maybe that's the idea," Oliver replied. "Maybe we have to figure it out on our own."
"Maybe..." Gouten nodded thoughtfully. "Let's keep training. I feel like we've made a lot of progress this week." I've been thinking about challenging Max to a duel.
"Okay... let's not get distracted," Oliver replied with a motivated smile.
At the same time, Max was in the main house, sitting at the table. He was focused on checking a device he had brought with him six years ago.
He glanced occasionally at the television, which was broadcasting a baseball game.
...
(one hour ago)
"I've noticed several factors that could hurt us in the future," said Do'cientos, his voice low but firm.
"Yes? What are they?" asked Gorgo, barely paying attention.
"There are three living witnesses who confronted you... It would be best to eliminate them. I don't want any loose ends that could get us into trouble later."
"Are you going to give me more work?" Gorgo replied, annoyed.
"No. I'll take care of it. I'll go with six men... and Noeredor will come too."
"So many men for three guys in the hospital?" Gorgo asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We're talking about guys who survived your damn blows," replied Do'cientos, slowly turning his head toward him.
"I see..." muttered Gorgo, scratching his jaw. "That's a good point."
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes... one hundred percent."
"Perfect. Let's get going then."...
Max turned his gaze back to the television just as the batter hit a perfect home run. However, the game was abruptly interrupted by a breaking news bulletin.
"Urgent news: an armed group has begun shooting indiscriminately in the city. Authorities are urging people to evacuate the area immediately to avoid casualties." No deaths have been reported so far... but that could change at any moment," announced the news anchor in a serious tone.
Max watched intently, but his eyes widened when he spotted a figure among the attackers: Gorgo. His jaw tightened, and without a second thought, he left the device on the table and ran out of the house.
When he reached the dirt road that connected to the city, he bent his legs and executed a huge jump, covering two kilometers in a single leap.
Thus began Gorgo's plan: meticulous, divided into four phases, and with a clear objective... victory.
<< ❶ Get Max's attention and lure him to the city, leaving Baldur alone in the dojo. >>
Max ran quickly to the area where the news mentioned the shooting. As he turned a corner, he came face to face with a man dressed in military gear and carrying a grenade launcher. Behind him were his companions.
The man quickly aimed his weapon and fired a burst at the young man.
"Move, you bastard! You're in my way!" Max shouted, catching the bullets in midair with his hand. When he reached him, he punched the man in the ribs, causing him to crash into a parked vehicle.
With the bullets caught in his hand, Max threw them at another of the men, causing him to cover himself with his arm, a serious mistake, as Max kicked him in the stomach, throwing him against one of his companions.
"Get the sand out of the way!" Max shouted, as he slammed a fourth man against a wall with a well-aimed hook.
The two remaining soldiers, terrified, emptied their magazines. Max barely raised his forearms to cover his eyes, and the bullets bounced off his skin without even leaving marks.
In the blink of an eye, he lunged at them, grabbed each one by the chest, and violently dragged them to the ground, leaving them unconscious.
After making sure none of them were dead, he let out a short breath. The shooting was over. Everyone was out of commission.
"That was quick..." said a familiar voice.
Max looked up. At the end of the street, standing next to the entrance to a dark alley, was Gorgo.
"You weren't hurt at all! What the hell are you?"
"The beginning of your end..." Max replied firmly, launching himself into the attack.
However, his advance was interrupted by a car suddenly flying straight toward him.
"This joke again?" Max snorted, and with a huge punch, he sent the vehicle back in the direction it came from... but Gorgo was no longer there.
Instantly, Max turned his gaze to the alley. He ran and stood in front of the entrance, ready for the counterattack. But he didn't see it coming: a trash can hit him from the side, causing him to stumble.
He quickly knocked the bin aside and focused on the front just in time to see Gorgo's fist speeding toward his face.
Max reacted instantly: he caught the fist in midair and, with great precision, launched a direct kick at the big man's face.
But something didn't feel right.
Gorgo didn't even flinch.
Max, on the other hand, felt a painful tingling sensation run through his leg. His foot began to go numb.
"What...?" he muttered, confused. For the first time in the fight, Max was surprised. His strength had had no effect.
At that moment, Gorgo managed to deliver a brutal blow to Max's chest. The impact was so powerful that the young man crashed through the window of a building, smashing into desks and chairs that flew through the air.
"What the hell happened?" Max muttered, standing up with a grimace of pain. He put his hand to his chest and frowned. "My blows are no longer having any effect..."
He looked through the broken glass onto the street. Gorgo watched him from below with a calm smile, as if everything was going exactly as he had planned.
"Of course..." Max reasoned. "It's been two weeks since the last fight... of course he would have prepared himself. I have no reason to hold back any longer..."
Meanwhile, Gorgo stood firm, like a mountain waiting for the storm to hit.
"Perfect..." he thought proudly. "My body has already adapted to the brat's restrained strength. Now he's going to fight with everything he's got... and my only task is to hold out."
<< ❷: Resist Max's attack. A single goal in mind... >>
Max threw himself into the fight with fury, landing three quick blows with full force. Each one felt like the impact of a rubber bullet. The fourth, without mercy, sent Gorgo flying into a concrete wall.
The big guy crashed hard, but he didn't fall. He moved aside just in time, dodging a kick that shattered the wall as if it were made of plastic.
<< After withstanding Max's four unrestrained attacks, something began to awaken inside Gorgo Garilla. A growing burning sensation emerged from within him, scorching his flesh, hardening his muscles. It wasn't pain. It was part of the training. A brutal internal workout, designed to force the body to evolve in the midst of combat. >>
Max took his foot off the wall just in time to block a devastating blow from Gorgo. The force was so great that it sent him flying an entire block away.
"Where did that strength come from?" he wondered, confused, as a drop of sweat trickled down his temple.
<< The internal burning subsided for a moment, but Gorgo Garilla was not satisfied. It wasn't enough. He wasn't going to move on to the next stage of the plan until he reached his limit. >>
He lunged at Max again. Max dodged him with a simple crouch, charged energy into his palms, and aimed straight for the big man's abdomen.
Gorgo clenched his teeth and closed his eyes, accepting the impact without defending himself. The explosion of energy threw him to the ground. He fell to his knees... and spat blood.
<< The burning sensation returned with renewed intensity. His body responded, but not without consequences: his internal organs had been hit by the shockwave. The outside was holding up... but inside, the battle was leaving its mark. >>
Quickly, Gorgo tried to land a blow, just enough to push Max away. He succeeded: the young man jumped back with an agile leap, staying on guard, clearly surprised.
He was no longer facing the same man who once avoided combat at the slightest hint of defeat. Gorgo was different. More determined. More steadfast.
As he got up, Gorgo noticed something disturbing: he felt no pain, but his body was sending him signals... something was not right inside him. However, the burning sensation—that strange fire that helped him resist—had disappeared again, giving him a respite.
And so, he was able to complete the second stage of his plan.
<< ❷: Resist the fight against Max. A single goal in mind: adapt, survive... and evolve in the face of the boy's full power. >>