The sound of impact thundered like a cannon blast. Kaien was hurled far, his body spinning in midair before slamming into the cold, unyielding concrete. The fall crushed the breath from his lungs, and a sharp tang of blood welled at the corner of his mouth.
But Kaien refused to stay down. Planting his hands on the ground, breathing heavily, he sprang up like a beast driven into a corner. Without warning, Kaien lunged straight at Rogan, fists clenched, the wind screaming past his ears as his strike tore through the air.
Yet Rogan's speed was even more terrifying.
A massive hand, like an iron vice, caught Kaien's wrist mid-air. In the blink of an eye, that arm spun him in a wide circle. Kaien's vision blurred into a whirl of colors—sky, ground, flickering lights—all blending into a wild, dizzying spiral.
BOOM!!!
He was hurled into an old, rusted shipping container. The steel rang sharply, denting deep as flakes of rust and paint chips rained down.
— "KAIENNNNN!!!" — Cindra's voice screamed, hoarse and trembling.
Aigris, standing at an angle on the far side of the container yard, burst into laughter. His voice was dry and echoing, as if mocking the entire world.
— "Well? You and your parents are nothing but fools. I gave you my blessing to survive in this rotten society, yet you chose to reject it… to embrace death. I… simply cannot understand."
Kaien's fists clenched tighter, blood seeping from his knuckles, but he didn't care. Each heartbeat pounded against his skull, the ringing in his ears drowning out all other sound.
He forced himself upright, breath heavy. His eyes burned red under the flickering light.
— "That's right… a caged bird like you could never understand the mind of an eagle. Rotten? You're the most rotten of them all."
The air went still.
One second… two seconds… three.
The silence stretched like a taut wire, ready to snap with the slightest pull. Aigris ground his teeth, veins bulging at his temple. Then he roared like a wild beast:
— "Rogan! If you bring me the heads of these two rats today, half my territory across the country will be yours!"
But Rogan only smiled crookedly. His eyes gleamed with a primal, almost sick hunger.
— "No need, sir… I'm not here for rewards. I'm here to fight. To erase. What I want… is blood."
Without another second's hesitation, he charged. Each of Rogan's steps crashed down like a sledgehammer, the ground trembling under his weight. Empty cans and bits of scrap leapt with every impact.
In a blink, the distance between him and Kaien vanished. Rogan's fist—a mass of muscle and centrifugal force—cut through the air with a whip-crack shriek.
But just before the blow connected, a sharp shove from the side sent Kaien tumbling away.
THUD!!!
The punch obliterated the container's corner. Steel tore apart into twisted ribbons, sparks and shards flying everywhere. The shockwave from the strike swept across the yard, sending debris skittering and wind howling past Cindra's ears.
She staggered, hair whipping in the gust, but her eyes never left Kaien—checking, hoping he was still whole.
Rogan slowly pulled his hand free from the mangled steel, the sound of metal grinding against flesh raising goosebumps. His gaze swept over the two of them like a predator savoring the sight of wounded prey. His smile curled—malicious, unhinged. He exhaled slowly, almost… disappointed that his prey still wasn't thrilling enough.
— "Come on… don't die too soon. Show me more… show me everything you've got."
Kaien tightened his fists. Seconds passed in silence. His breathing grew heavier. His eyes lowered, but deep inside, a fire blazed hotter. He glanced at Cindra.
— "Sorry, Cindra… but this will be our final battle before we get out of here."
Cindra said nothing—only gave a faint nod. Her hands gripped her twin blades so tightly the knuckles turned white. The cold steel reflected the flickering light above. In that moment, words were meaningless—only the fight remained. Fight… or die.
The air grew so tense it felt ready to shatter at the spark of a single strike. Rogan still stood there, relaxed… almost savoring his little game.
---
CUT TO
In another cordoned-off district, the war between government forces and rebels had turned the city into hell itself.
Machine gun fire shredded the sky, artillery roared in relentless salvos. Gunpowder smoke hung thick, reducing vision to mere meters. Flames danced atop burning buildings.
Bodies lay strewn across blood-slick streets, mingled with shattered concrete and twisted metal. Screams, cries for help, and the clash of steel merged into a brutal symphony of war.
---
BACK TO THE BATTLE
WHOOSH! — Kaien shot forward, as fast as a bullet. His leg spun, delivering a full-force kick to Rogan's ribs.
THUD! — Rogan's elbow rose to block, not a single step backward—like swatting away a breeze.
He smirked.
— "Fast… but too weak."
In the next instant, Rogan twisted, driving a straight punch at Kaien. The shockwave compressed the air itself. Kaien barely tilted his head, but the grazing blow still tore open his cheek, spraying blood.
From above, Cindra descended, twin blades whirling—a silver halo of death. Steel screamed as it sliced down, but Rogan caught one sword in his bare palm.
CLANG! — The sound of steel on flesh rang harshly, yet no blood was drawn.
— "Useless."
With a single heave, he flung Cindra into the steel floor.
CRASH! — The container's deck caved in, metallic dust billowing upward.
Kaien hadn't even closed in when another of Rogan's punches shot toward him like lightning.
THUMP! — All air in Kaien's lungs blasted out. His body whipped backward, skidding along the cold ground.
— "Still too weak!" Rogan bellowed, spinning into a sweeping kick. Cindra, barely on her feet, was caught full on—her body lifted and slammed into the rusted wall of a container.
BOOM! — The dent left behind was deep, steel plates loosening and clattering to the ground.
Kaien tried to rise, but a massive hand clamped around his head, grinding it against the steel floor and dragging him like helpless prey. The screech of metal against flesh mixed with the warm streak of blood trailing behind.
— "Stay still while I crush you."
Rogan hurled Kaien into the air, then swung a blow powerful enough to shatter reinforced concrete. Kaien caught it with both hands, but the force splintered bone, blood oozing from between his fingers.
Cindra charged in, blades flashing, every strike carrying her full strength. Rogan deflected each with one arm—every parry ringing heavy in the air—forcing her backward, her hands trembling.
Rogan chuckled, low and cruel, like a man toying with an idle pastime.
— "You two… aren't warriors. You're just prey that knows how to bite back."
And in this battle… it was clear they had never stood a chance to strike back.
---