The metallic tang of blood was thick in the air, a scent I was becoming far too familiar with. Friedrich Colson lay in a broken heap on the floor, his face a ruined mess, his arrogant sneers silenced by the brutal rhythm of my kicks. The red haze of my rage was slowly starting to fade, leaving behind a cold, sharp clarity. I stood over him, my chest heaving, not with exhaustion, but with a strange, exhilarating sense of ecstasy. The years of his torment, the memory of his smug face as he'd destroyed my life—I had paid him back, at least in part. The sound of his screams was a symphony to my ears.
I finally took my foot off his face, the crunch of bone beneath my shoe a sickeningly satisfying sound. "Someone tie him up!" I shouted, my voice raw. My gaze swept across the chaotic hallway. "The fight's not over yet!"
My team, my inner circle, was already engaged in their own battles. The sounds of combat echoed off the lockers—the sharp crack of Jack's baseball bat, the vicious whistle of Padro's chain, the fluid, deadly movements of Isabel and Tiffany as they carved through the mob. This was it. This was the first true test of The Hunter's Guild.
On the other side of the hallway, Jack and Padro stood face-to-face with a beast. Charles Patrick, his face still bruised from our last encounter, was radiating pure, unrestrained fury.
"Hey, Padro, you ready for this?" Jack asked, his knuckles white as he gripped his baseball bat.
"Born ready, Jack," Padro shot back, the bicycle chain wrapped around his fist glinting under the flickering fluorescent lights.
Charles let out a low grunt, a sound more animal than human. "How are you doing, cowards? Finally grew a pair? Or are you just going to strike from the back again?" He was talking about Jack hitting him with the metal rod during our last fight.
Jack just spat on the floor. "What do you think about yourself, you motherfucker?"
A cruel laugh escaped Charles's lips. "You can say anything you want. Today is the last day of your pathetic little Hunter's Guild."
"It's your mistake to think that," Padro said, swinging his chain in a lazy, menacing arc.
Jack added a layer of his own arrogance, a new confidence that had been forged in our recent battles. "Are you sure about that? Look at you. Someone seems to have forgotten their last beating."
That was the spark that lit the fuse. The mention of his public humiliation sent Charles into a rage. With a roar, he charged, moving with an intense speed that was terrifying for a man his size. He was a mad bull, and Padro was his first target. A single, powerful punch sent Padro flying, his head smacking against the lockers with a sickening thud before he slumped to the ground.
Charles then turned his full attention to Jack. He was a boxing champion, and he moved like one. Jabs, hooks, and uppercuts flew in a relentless barrage. Jack was purely on the defensive. He was using his newly acquired [Swordsman I] skill, but it was a strange sight—a baseball bat moving with the subconscious grace and precision of a katana. He blocked and parried, the wood of the bat groaning under the force of Charles's blows. But fighting a trained boxer was no joke, and this was Jack's first real, head-on fight.
In an instant, Charles found an opening. A straight right connected squarely with Jack's nose. There was a wet crunch, and blood exploded from his nostrils. Jack staggered back, his vision swimming. Charles grinned, a triumphant, bloody smile. He was about to deliver the final blow.
But he'd forgotten about Padro.
From behind, Padro launched himself onto Charles's back, wrapping the bicycle chain around his thick neck. He pulled with all his might, his feet scrabbling for purchase on the floor as he choked the life out of the bigger man. "Jack! It's time!" he yelled, his voice strained.
A jolt went through Jack. His passive skill, [One Last Push], flooded his body with a final, desperate surge of adrenaline. The pain in his nose vanished, replaced by a white-hot focus. He stood up, his eyes clear. Charles was still struggling, his hands clawing at the chain around his throat, completely entangled with Padro.
Jack lifted his bat. He swung it with every ounce of strength he had left, putting his whole body into the blow. The bat connected with the side of Charles's head. The sound was a dull, heavy thud that seemed to silence the entire hallway. Charles's eyes rolled back into his head, and he collapsed, out cold.
Jack and Padro fell to the floor beside him, gasping for air. They quickly tied him up with his own belt.
"Thanks, buddy," Jack said, clutching his bleeding nose.
"It was all you, Jack," Padro replied, touching a hand to the back of his own head, which was now bleeding freely. "That last hit was amazing. But man, I need a rest. My head is killing me."
"Yeah," Jack agreed. "My nose, too."
Other guild members rushed over, helping the two injured warriors to their feet and leading them to a safer spot.
Meanwhile, the queens of the guild were holding their own court. Isabel, Tiffany, and Ken stood before a sea of at least fifty thugs, a motley crew armed with brass knuckles, bats, and metal rods.
"Looks like we're outnumbered," Isabel said, her voice laced with an irritated calm.
Tiffany, ever the pragmatist, added, "We'll need weapons. It will be tough otherwise."
As if on cue, Ken produced a handful of metal rods from inside his jacket, offering them to the girls. "Miladies, these are for you. Don't worry, I will protect and support both of you. If anything happens to either of you, His Majesty will be very upset."
For a second, they both just stared at him, trying to process his bizarre, formal declaration.
"What do you mean by that?" Tiffany asked, her eyebrow raised.
"I will protect my queens with my life on the line," he said, his voice ringing with a fierce, unwavering determination.
Tiffany's face flushed slightly, a mixture of annoyance and something else she couldn't quite place. "Are you some kind of idiot? Who the hell wants to be the queen of that arrogant person?"
Isabel, however, cut through the banter. "I think we don't have the luxury for a little chat right now."
And with that, the battle began. It was a whirlwind of controlled chaos. Ken was a blur, seamlessly switching between the fluid acrobatics of [Gymnast], the powerful throws of [Judo Expert], and the unpredictable, dance-like kicks of [Capoeira I (Novice)]. He moved through the crowd like a phantom, a whirlwind of motion that left a trail of groaning bodies in his wake.
Isabel was a force of nature. She was a master, moving with a grace and lethality that was breathtaking to watch. She used her skills in perfect harmony: the swift, elegant slashes of [Expert in Tachi], the hard, direct strikes of [Expert in Karate], and the fluid, powerful forms of [Expert in Kungfu]. She knocked out her enemies with an ease that was almost terrifying.
And Tiffany was no less impressive. Her skill, [Continuum Combat], was a brutal and efficient fusion of fighting styles. She moved with a purpose, every strike precise, every block perfect. There was no wasted motion, just a relentless, overwhelming assault.
Together, with their incredible coordination and ruthless tactics, the three of them dismantled the mob. Within an hour, the hallway was littered with the unconscious bodies of their fifty attackers.
After the fight, a new, unspoken respect had formed between the two girls. Isabel extended a hand to Tiffany. "I really like your fighting style, Miss Watson."
Tiffany looked at her hand for a moment, then took it, a firm shake passing between them. "Yeah. You're not any less skillful and tactical. You can just call me Tiffany."
"Okay, Tiffany," Isabel replied with a warm smile.
From a few feet away, Ken shouted, his voice full of awe. "OMG! A historic treaty between the queens!"
Isabel shot him a glare. "I am Adam's sister."
Tiffany added, her voice dripping with ice, "And I hate him." She then turned to Isabel, a wicked glint in her eye. "Isabel, it looks like someone really needs a beating."
And with that, the two of them started chasing a terrified Ken down the hallway, their laughter echoing off the lockers.
I watched the scene unfold, a genuine smile spreading across my face. Jack and Padro were injured, but they were victorious. Ken was being playfully tormented by Isabel and Tiffany, who seemed to have formed a surprising friendship. This was our victory. The Hunter's Guild's first victory.
"This is our victory!" I roared, and the remaining guild members roared back in agreement. "Yes, Leader!"
I walked over to the girls. "Are you both okay?"
"Totally fine," Isabel said, still grinning.
"I am also okay," Tiffany added, her usual coldness softened by the thrill of the fight.
"Tiffany is a great fighter," Isabel said, giving her new friend a nod of respect.
"Mention not," Tiffany replied, a hint of a smile on her own lips.
It looked like my guild was finally starting to come together. I turned my attention to Jack and Padro, who were now being patched up by some of the other members. I listened to their story, my chest swelling with pride. They had done well. Ken then gave me a breathless, minute-by-minute account of his own battle, his eyes shining with adoration. I was overjoyed.
"It's time to return," I announced. "Let's head back to the guild room."
While the main battle raged in the west wing, a quieter, more sinister scene was playing out in the abandoned building. Qasim paced nervously in the small meeting room, his hands trembling. He was scared, but he had a responsibility. He had promised the leader he would protect Anna.
Anna watched him, her own fear a cold knot in her stomach. "Qasim, we're okay," she said, trying to sound braver than she felt. "You should try to relax."
"Anna, I'm fine. You don't need to worry," he replied, though his voice was shaky.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. A man and a woman stepped inside. It was Lina and Joey.
"Who the hell are you?!" Qasim shouted, his fear momentarily forgotten as he charged toward them. But he couldn't fight. He was strong, but the fear paralyzed him. He tried to protect Anna, but Joey, with a cruel laugh, easily swatted him aside.
Lina's eyes, cold and merciless, landed on Anna. She strode forward and grabbed a handful of Anna's hair, yanking her head back. Anna cried out in pain. "Ahhh! Let me go!"
"No, you're very precious," Lina sneered, her voice a venomous whisper. "You and your precious leader have made our lives very hard. All of you are going to pay for it." A sinister smile spread across her face.
"I'm so fired up to break the bones of that bastard Adam," Joey added, cracking his knuckles.
Qasim was helpless, his body trembling with a mixture of fear and shame. Anna was crying, the pain in her scalp sharp and agonizing as Lina dragged her across the room.
We opened the door to the guild room, our spirits high from our victory. The triumphant mood shattered in an instant.
I froze. The first thing I saw was Qasim, slumped against a wall, his face bruised and bleeding. The second thing I saw was Lina, her hand tangled in Anna's hair, a cruel smirk on her face.
"Well, well, look who's here," Lina cooed, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "Oh, my love, how are you doing? Everything fine?"
I didn't even look at her. My gaze was fixed on Qasim. He looked up at me, his eyes filled with a profound shame. "I'm sorry, leader," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I let you down."
My blood, which had just started to cool, instantly turned to ice. Then it began to boil. I gave a silent signal to Ken, a flick of my eyes toward Joey. Ken understood immediately and moved forward, intercepting Joey before he could even react.
I moved fast, a blur of motion. Without wasting a single second, I was in front of Lina. My hand shot out, and the sound of my palm connecting with her cheek was like a gunshot in the silent room. The force of the slap sent her stumbling back, her head smacking against the wall.
I rushed to Anna, gently helping her up. Lina was clutching her cheek, her head bleeding where it had hit the wall. "How dare you slap me?!" she shrieked, her voice filled with disbelief and rage. "I'll kill you! No one will save you!"
I turned back to her, my face a cold, hard mask. I grabbed her by the hair, pulling her face close to mine. I looked straight into her furious eyes. "You should be glad it was just a slap," I said, my voice dangerously low. "For the crimes you've committed, this is nothing, you slut."
I turned my gaze away from her, and I saw that Tiffany, Isabel, and Ken had already taken care of Joey. "Tie them up," I commanded.
But the problems never seemed to end. From the shadows of the hallway, a new figure emerged. He was tall, elegant, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. But his aura was ruthless, intimidating. A cold, palpable power radiated from him. I instantly glance at his stats.
Status:
Name: Hughes Jackson
Strength: 350
Agility: 323
Endurance: 300
Mentality: 340
Intelligence: 355
Mana: 0
Potential: SS+
Skills: [Mastery in Wrestling], [Mastery in Shooting], [Mastery in Kick-boxing]
Passive Skills: [Ruthless], [No Mercy]
Superpower: [None]
Just looking at his stats sent a chill down my spine. This was a monster. He was on a completely different level.
"Everyone, move away from him!" I shouted, my voice tight with urgency.
In that same moment, I attacked. I charged forward, putting all of my strength, all of my speed, into a single, desperate punch. He didn't even flinch. With one hand, he caught me by the neck, lifted me off the ground, and smashed my head against the wall. Once. Twice. Three times. The world exploded in a flash of white light, and I crumpled to the floor, my vision swimming.
Jack, seeing me go down, let out a roar and charged. But it was useless. Hughes dispatched him with a single, contemptuous backhand. Ken and Padro tried next, but they met the same fate. He was a mountain, immovable and unstoppable. Even Isabel and Tiffany, with all their skill, were knocked out with an ease that was terrifying.
He stood over us, looking down at our broken bodies with an air of bored indifference. "I am here to talk," he said, his voice calm and even. "The boss wants to talk with you."
I pushed myself up, my head throbbing. "And if I don't agree?" I gasped.
"Then your guild will be spared," he said, a cold smile touching his lips. "Otherwise, I will really have to start breaking bones. But if you come with us, we will let your guild be. As it is."
It was a choice, but it wasn't a choice at all. He could crush us all without breaking a sweat. I had to protect them.
"I agree," I said, my voice a hoarse whisper.
I was about to leave with him when Joey, who had recovered slightly, tried to attack one of my unconscious guild members. Hughes's head snapped in his direction, his gaze like ice. "When I am here, it means the war has ended," he said, his voice dangerously low. "Don't you dare attack. The boss said the fight is over. That means it's over."
Joey froze, his face pale with fear. Hughes turned back to me. "Let's go."
As I started to walk, Jack struggled to his feet. "I will come with you," he said, his voice firm despite the blood trickling from his mouth.
"No," I said.
"I'm not asking," he replied, his eyes blazing with a fierce loyalty. He wouldn't be dissuaded.
And so, the two of us, battered and bruised, followed the monster out of our sanctuary and into the lion's den.