For days, the three trained without stopping.
Every morning started before sunrise.
Combat training.
Strength training.
Endurance training.
Strategy sessions.
Again and again.
Ayaan trained with Anshuman for hours.
Neither of them held back.
Bruises became normal.
Pain became normal.
Sara trained too.
Ayaan taught her combat techniques while Anshuman helped her improve her reactions and movement.
Slowly, all three became stronger.
Faster.
Sharper.
Then one morning, their watches vibrated.
A live location appeared.
Sam.
The room became silent.
Ayaan looked at the screen.
"Found you."
A few hours later, they arrived at an enormous industrial tower.
Machines covered every floor.
Pipes ran through the walls.
The entire building sounded alive.
Anshuman smiled.
"Looks welcoming."
Ayaan walked to the entrance.
Then—
BOOM!
He kicked the door open.
The metal doors flew inward.
The three entered.
The huge factory-like room stretched before them.
Machines worked endlessly.
Gears turned.
Sparks flew.
Then a familiar voice echoed from above.
"You three came once more."
The trio looked up.
Sam was standing on a platform high above them.
Looking down calmly.
Anshuman grinned.
"Yeah."
"We were missing you."
Sam laughed.
"I missed you too."
For a brief moment, the atmosphere felt strangely relaxed.
Then Sam's smile disappeared.
"Let's see how much you've improved."
He snapped his fingers.
"Come, boys."
Heavy footsteps echoed through the room.
Three massive men stepped forward.
Each looked over seven feet tall.
Their bodies were covered in armor.
One carried a giant metal hammer.
Another carried a steel rod thicker than a human arm.
The third held two massive metal batons.
Anshuman looked impressed.
"Now we're talking."
The giant men charged.
The floor shook beneath their feet.
Anshuman immediately rushed forward.
"Let's have fun!"
Sara moved with him.
The battle exploded.
The hammer giant swung first.
BOOOOM!
The hammer smashed into the floor.
Concrete shattered.
But Anshuman had already moved.
He jumped onto the giant's arm.
Then kicked him directly in the face.
The giant staggered.
"You're slower than you look!"
Meanwhile Sara fought the second giant.
The steel rod came crashing down.
She rolled aside.
The rod shattered a machine behind her.
Sara immediately counterattacked.
A precise strike landed on the giant's knee.
The giant growled.
The third giant rushed toward both of them.
Then—
BANG!
A powerful kick hit his side.
Ayaan.
He had briefly stepped into the fight.
The giant was pushed backward several steps.
But Ayaan didn't stay.
His eyes never left Sam.
The two stared at each other from opposite sides of the room.
Sam smiled.
"You've improved."
Ayaan began walking toward the stairs leading upward.
"So have you."
The machines around them roared.
The battles below intensified.
Anshuman was laughing while fighting.
Sara was holding her own.
The giants were struggling.
And above them...
Ayaan finally reached Sam's platform.
The two stood face-to-face once again.
Sam cracked his neck.
"So."
Ayaan clenched his fists.
"So."
For the first time since Japan...
Neither of them looked away.
The real fight was about to begin.
Ayaan and Sam immediately collided.
BOOM!
Their fists met in the center of the platform.
The impact echoed throughout the tower.
Below them, Anshuman and Sara could hear the fight continuing.
But neither side could afford to look away from their own battles.
Sam attacked first.
A quick combination of punches.
Ayaan blocked two.
Dodged one.
But then—
THUD!
Sam's kick landed directly on his side.
Ayaan was launched backward.
He crashed into a large moving industrial radiator system.
Metal gears were rotating rapidly inside it.
The machine was powerful enough to crush steel.
Ayaan grabbed onto the edge before falling completely inside.
The rotating parts passed inches away from him.
"Close."
Ayaan muttered.
He carefully shifted his weight and climbed back out.
But Sam was already there.
Waiting.
"Not bad."
Before Ayaan could react, Sam grabbed him by the shoulder.
Then by his arm.
And threw him directly toward the machine.
BOOOOM!
Ayaan hit the edge.
Half of his body slid toward the rotating metal blades.
The gears roared.
One mistake.
One second too slow.
And his arm would be gone.
Sam watched calmly.
Certain it was over.
Then—
The machine suddenly stopped moving.
The sound of grinding metal echoed through the room.
Sam's eyes widened.
Ayaan had planted both hands against the rotating mechanism.
His muscles strained.
The metal groaned.
Sparks flew everywhere.
The enormous industrial machine was actually slowing down.
Then stopping.
Sam stared.
For the first time in the fight—
He looked surprised.
"What...?"
Ayaan gritted his teeth.
The pressure on his arms was immense.
The machine trembled.
Metal began bending.
Then—
CRACK!
A section of the mechanism broke.
Ayaan immediately released it.
The moment he let go, the machine violently started moving again.
Ayaan used the momentum.
He pushed off.
Jumped clear of the radiator.
A spinning metal blade sliced through the air where his hand had been moments earlier.
If he had reacted even slightly slower...
His hand would've been destroyed.
Ayaan landed on the platform and took several deep breaths.
Sam was still looking at the damaged machine.
Then back at Ayaan.
The confidence on his face had faded slightly.
"You got stronger."
Ayaan rolled his shoulders.
"You noticed."
Sam smiled.
But this time it wasn't arrogance.
It was excitement.
"Good."
He stepped forward.
"Now this is becoming interesting."
The machines roared around them.
Below, Anshuman and Sara continued their battles.
Above, Ayaan and Sam prepared to clash again.
And this time...
Sam was no longer underestimating him.
Ayaan and Sam stared at each other across the platform.
Neither moved.
Neither blinked.
The noise of the machines below faded into the background.
Then—
BOOM!
The platform cracked beneath their feet as both rushed forward.
Their fists collided.
A shockwave blasted across the room.
Sam threw a punch.
Ayaan slipped to the side.
Countered with an elbow.
Sam blocked.
Then drove his knee into Ayaan's stomach.
THUD!
Ayaan stumbled backward.
But before Sam could follow up—
Ayaan grabbed a loose metal pipe and swung it.
CRASH!
The pipe shattered against Sam's guard.
Metal fragments flew everywhere.
Sam smiled.
Then punched Ayaan directly in the chest.
The force launched Ayaan across the platform.
Ayaan rolled.
Immediately stood up.
Sam was already there.
BOOM!
Another punch.
BOOM!
A kick.
BOOM!
An elbow.
Ayaan blocked some.
Took others.
His arms felt numb.
Sam wasn't giving him a second to breathe.
Then suddenly—
Sam grabbed Ayaan by the collar.
"Look down."
Ayaan's eyes widened.
They were standing near the edge of the platform.
Hundreds of feet above the factory floor.
Then Sam threw him.
WHOOSH!
Ayaan flew off the platform.
The wind rushed past him.
The ground far below looked deadly.
Anshuman looked up.
"AYAAN!"
Sara's eyes widened.
For a moment it looked over.
Then—
GRAB!
Ayaan caught a lower metal beam with one hand.
His body swung violently beneath it.
The beam groaned under the sudden weight.
Ayaan hung there.
Far above the ground.
Far below the platform.
Sam walked to the edge.
Looking down.
"Stay down."
Ayaan looked up.
"No."
Then he began climbing.
Hand.
After hand.
After hand.
Sam waited.
Watching.
Ayaan finally reached the platform.
Pulled himself over the edge.
And stood up.
His breathing was heavier now.
His knuckles were bleeding.
His clothes were torn.
Sam smiled.
"Good."
The next second—
Sam attacked again.
This time Ayaan didn't retreat.
The two exchanged punches at full speed.
Punch.
Block.
Kick.
Counter.
Elbow.
Dodge.
Neither side gave ground.
The floor beneath them cracked further.
Ayaan landed a clean punch.
THUD!
Sam took two steps backward.
The first clean hit of the fight.
Sam touched his cheek.
Then looked at the blood on his hand.
For the first time—
He stopped smiling.
Ayaan stepped forward.
"Not laughing now?"
Sam's eyes sharpened.
The air around him seemed to change.
"Careful."
His voice became colder.
"You're making me take this seriously."
Below them, Anshuman had finally defeated one of the giants.
Sara had brought another to his knees.
Both looked upward.
The fight above had become something else entirely.
Ayaan rushed forward.
Sam rushed forward.
The two collided again.
The impact shattered the remaining railing around the platform.
Metal pieces rained toward the factory floor.
Machines exploded from stray hits.
Sparks filled the air.
Neither of them was willing to back down.
Neither of them wanted to lose.
And as the tower shook around them...
The battle only became more intense.
The tower shook with every clash.
Sparks rained from broken machines.
Metal beams groaned.
Below, the battle between Anshuman, Sara, and the giant guards was reaching its end.
But everyone's attention was slowly being drawn upward.
To the platform.
To Ayaan and Sam.
Both were breathing heavily now.
Gone was the calm smile Sam had worn when the fight began.
Gone was the confidence that he could defeat them without effort.
Ayaan stood across from him.
Bruised.
Exhausted.
But his eyes never left Sam.
For a moment, neither moved.
The wind from the broken windows swept through the tower.
Pieces of paper drifted through the air.
The city lights shone far below.
Sam laughed.
A tired laugh.
"You've gotten stronger."
Ayaan didn't answer.
Sam stepped forward.
"I'll admit it."
Another step.
"You're the strongest opponent I've faced in years."
Then suddenly—
BOOM!
Sam charged.
The floor cracked beneath his feet.
Ayaan rushed forward as well.
Their fists collided.
A shockwave blasted through the platform.
Sam attacked relentlessly.
Punch.
Kick.
Elbow.
Knee.
Ayaan blocked.
Countered.
Adapted.
Days ago he would've been overwhelmed.
Now he was reading Sam's movements.
Predicting them.
For the first time in the battle—
Ayaan wasn't reacting.
He was controlling the pace.
Sam noticed.
His attacks became more aggressive.
More desperate.
Ayaan slipped under a punch.
THUD!
A body shot.
Sam staggered.
Ayaan followed immediately.
BANG!
A punch to the jaw.
Sam stepped back.
BANG!
Another hit.
The entire platform trembled.
Below, Anshuman looked up.
"He's pushing him back..."
Sara stared in disbelief.
Sam had been untouchable.
Now he was retreating.
Sam wiped blood from his mouth.
For the first time...
There was uncertainty in his eyes.
Ayaan slowly walked forward.
The same way Sam had once walked toward him.
The same confidence.
The same pressure.
Sam threw another punch.
Ayaan blocked it.
Then grabbed his arm.
And threw him across the platform.
CRASH!
Sam smashed through a metal control panel.
Sparks exploded everywhere.
The entire tower flickered.
Sam slowly stood.
Breathing hard.
Ayaan continued walking toward him.
No words.
No taunts.
Just determination.
For the first time, Sam felt something he hadn't felt in years.
Doubt.
He remembered the first fight.
How easily he had defeated them.
How he had laughed at them.
How he believed they could never reach him.
Now—
Ayaan was standing right in front of him.
Sam rushed forward one last time.
A desperate attack.
Ayaan saw it coming.
He sidestepped.
And landed a clean punch.
BOOOOOOM!
Sam flew backward.
His body crashed through the platform railing.
For a moment he hung over the edge.
The city hundreds of feet below him.
The entire tower became silent.
Sam grabbed the broken railing with one hand.
Barely stopping himself from falling.
Ayaan stood at the edge.
Looking down at him.
The tables had turned.
Days ago, Sam had thrown Ayaan off a platform.
Now Sam was the one hanging over the void.
Sam looked up.
Ayaan looked down.
For the first time since they met...
Sam realized something.
He wasn't fighting the same Ayaan anymore.
And for the first time in the entire battle...
Sam knew he might actually lose.
Sam looked up at Ayaan standing above him.
For the first time in years...
He was losing.
His hand slowly reached into his jacket.
Ayaan noticed.
"Sam..."
But Sam had already pulled out a small injector.
Filled with a dark blue liquid.
Anshuman's eyes widened.
"What is that?"
Sam smiled.
A dangerous smile.
"My insurance."
CLICK.
The injector pierced his neck.
The liquid entered his body.
For a few seconds...
Nothing happened.
Then Sam screamed.
AAAAAAARGH!!
Veins spread across his body.
His muscles expanded.
The floor beneath him cracked.
Ayaan immediately jumped backward.
"Something's wrong."
The entire tower began shaking.
Sam slowly stood up.
His body had changed.
He looked bigger.
Stronger.
More dangerous.
His eyes glowed faintly red.
He looked at his hands.
Then smiled.
"Now..."
He looked at Ayaan.
"Let's continue."
BOOOOM!
The platform exploded beneath his feet.
Before Ayaan could react—
Sam appeared in front of him.
A punch landed.
CRASH!!
Ayaan flew through three walls.
Anshuman rushed in.
Sam grabbed him by the neck.
And slammed him into the floor.
The concrete shattered.
Sara attacked from behind.
Sam turned.
One backhand sent her sliding across the platform.
The difference was terrifying.
Moments ago he had been losing.
Now he was overwhelming all three of them.
Ayaan stood again.
Blood ran down his face.
Anshuman struggled to breathe.
Sara could barely stand.
Yet Sam kept walking forward.
"Is this all?"
Another punch.
Another kick.
The three were pushed back again and again.
For the first time since arriving in Japan...
They felt helpless.
Then suddenly—
CRAAAAASH!!
The giant window behind Sam exploded.
Glass flew everywhere.
A figure jumped through the storm of shattered glass.
Everyone looked.
A long black coat.
Calm eyes.
Unshaken expression.
Mark.
He landed between Sam and the others.
The room became silent.
Sam's face immediately changed.
Anger.
Pure anger.
"Mark."
Mark slowly stood up.
"Long time no see, friend."
The word friend made Sam even angrier.
"You don't get to call me that."
BOOM!!
Sam charged.
The mutated strength shook the entire platform.
He threw a devastating punch.
Mark didn't move.
At the last moment—
He stepped slightly aside.
Sam missed.
Mark's fist moved.
THUD!!
One punch.
Directly to Sam's stomach.
The impact folded Sam over.
His eyes widened.
The entire platform shook.
Mark looked down at him.
Calmly.
"You really thought you became stronger than me?"
Sam staggered backward.
Mark walked forward.
Not rushed.
Not worried.
Just confident.
Then—
BOOM!!
Another punch.
Sam was launched across the room.
Machines exploded behind him.
Mark adjusted his sleeve.
"I know exactly what you were thinking."
Sam slowly stood.
Shocked.
Mark's eyes met his.
"You thought all these years made you stronger."
He took another step forward.
"And that one day..."
Another step.
"You would finally surpass me."
Sam clenched his fists.
Mark stopped.
Then said quietly:
"It was your imagination."
The room fell silent.
For the first time since the battle began...
Sam looked uncertain.
And for the first time in years...
He was facing the man who had once been his greatest rival.
The entire tower trembled.
Broken glass covered the floor.
Machines sparked around them.
Ayaan, Anshuman, and Sara stepped back, watching.
For the first time since arriving in Japan...
They weren't the ones fighting.
Mark and Sam stood facing each other.
The air itself felt heavy.
Sam wiped blood from his mouth.
Then laughed.
"Good."
His mutated body tensed.
Muscles tightened.
"I've waited years for this."
Mark loosened his tie.
"So have I."
For one second...
Everything became silent.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!
Both disappeared from sight.
Their fists collided in the center of the room.
A shockwave exploded outward.
Machines toppled over.
Windows shattered.
Metal beams bent.
Sam threw a powerful hook.
Mark ducked underneath it.
Then attacked from below.
THUD!!
His uppercut lifted Sam completely off the ground.
Sam flew upward.
But before Mark could follow—
Sam twisted in midair.
And kicked downward.
BOOM!!
Mark was driven into the floor.
Concrete shattered beneath him.
Sam landed aggressively.
Immediately charging again.
Punch.
Punch.
Elbow.
Kick.
Mark blocked them all.
Then suddenly grabbed Sam's arm.
WHOOSH!!
Using his momentum, Mark spun him around.
And launched him through a steel machine.
CRAAAAASH!!
Sparks exploded everywhere.
The machine collapsed.
Sam immediately burst through the wreckage.
He was smiling.
"That's more like it."
He sprinted forward.
The floor cracked beneath each step.
Mark met him halfway.
BOOM!!
Another collision.
This time Sam grabbed Mark's jacket.
And threw him.
Mark flew through the air.
Then grabbed a hanging chain.
Using it, he swung around.
And returned like a missile.
BANG!!
His knee slammed directly into Sam's face.
Sam slid backward across the platform.
Metal tore beneath his feet.
But he stopped himself.
Then laughed.
"You still hit hard."
Mark said nothing.
Sam attacked from above.
He jumped onto a steel beam.
Then launched himself downward.
A devastating axe kick.
Mark rolled away.
The beam shattered completely.
Metal pieces rained from above.
Sam landed.
Mark immediately attacked from below.
A sweeping kick.
Sam lost balance.
Then—
THUD!!
Mark's punch hit his ribs.
THUD!!
Another hit.
THUD!!
Another.
For a moment Sam was being overwhelmed.
Then his mutated strength exploded.
He roared.
And grabbed Mark by the neck.
Ayaan's eyes widened.
Sam lifted him.
Then threw him across the room.
CRAAAAASH!!
Mark smashed through multiple machines.
The entire tower shook.
Anshuman couldn't believe it.
"They're monsters."
Sara nodded silently.
Neither fighter seemed human anymore.
Mark slowly emerged from the wreckage.
A small cut appeared on his forehead.
The first visible damage.
Sam noticed.
And smiled.
Then rushed forward again.
This time both attacked simultaneously.
Neither blocked.
Neither dodged.
They simply punched.
BOOOOM!!
Both fists connected.
Both slid backward dozens of feet.
The entire platform cracked from the impact.
Steam burst from broken pipes.
Alarms echoed throughout the tower.
Mark stood.
Sam stood.
Breathing heavily.
For the first time in the fight...
Both were showing signs of exhaustion.
Sam looked at Mark.
Mark looked at Sam.
Years of anger.
Years of regret.
Years of rivalry.
Everything had led to this moment.
And neither of them was willing to fall first.
The fight continued for several more minutes.
Every punch shook the tower.
Every impact cracked concrete and bent steel.
But slowly...
The balance began shifting.
Mark was reading Sam's movements.
Predicting every attack.
Countering every strike.
Sam was getting slower.
His mutation had given him tremendous power.
But it was draining him.
Mark saw the opening.
Sam charged one final time.
Roaring with everything he had left.
Mark stepped forward.
BOOOOM!!
One devastating punch landed directly on Sam's chest.
The shockwave echoed through the tower.
Sam's eyes widened.
Then his body flew backward.
CRAAAAASH!!
He smashed through multiple machines before finally collapsing.
Silence.
The battle was over.
Sam tried standing.
His body refused.
Mark walked toward him.
For the first time since the fight began...
Sam had nothing left.
Mark looked down at his former friend.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Mark signaled agency agents who had arrived outside.
They secured Sam and placed restraints on him.
Ayaan slowly walked over.
He looked at Sam for a moment.
Remembering Emma.
Remembering everything.
Then he looked at Mark.
"Make sure he answers for what he's done."
Mark nodded.
"I'll handle it."
The agents took Sam away.
As the doors closed behind him, Sam looked back one last time.
Then disappeared from sight.
The mission was finally over.
Ayaan stretched his sore shoulders.
"Let's go."
Anshuman immediately agreed.
"Yeah, bro."
"My entire body hurts."
Sara tried taking a step.
Then stopped.
"Nope."
Ayaan looked at her.
"What happened?"
"I can't walk anymore."
Anshuman laughed.
"Training, fighting giants, fighting Sam..."
"Yeah, that sounds about right."
Ayaan crouched down.
"Get on."
Sara blinked.
"What?"
"My back."
Sara hesitated.
"You're hurt too."
Ayaan smiled.
"No worries."
"Just come."
After a moment, Sara finally climbed onto his back.
Anshuman immediately smirked.
"I'm not saying anything."
Sara rolled her eyes.
"Good."
The three slowly left the ruined tower.
The evening sun was beginning to set.
For the first time in weeks...
There were no enemies chasing them.
No missions.
No fights.
Just peace.
They returned to their apartment.
Collapsed onto couches and beds.
And slept longer than they had in a very long time.
Days passed.
Their injuries healed.
Life became quiet again.
But everyone knew one thing.
For agents like them...
Peace never lasted forever.
And somewhere out there...
Their next mission was already waiting.