"Hey, you good-for-nothing donkeys! Don't you have a shred of shame ganging up on two innocent girls like that?" Ishaan sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.
Aaron smirked. "Careful, Ishaan. Donkeys don't deserve that insult—they've got more sense than these guys."
The thugs finally turned, glaring at the brothers with open disdain.
"Who the hell are you, bratty kids?" one growled. "This is our turf."
"Looks like some tourists wandered into the wrong street," another chuckled, cracking his knuckles. "Shame. But since you're here… let's have a little fun."
Aaron sighed. "Great. Walking clichés."
Ishaan's eyes lit up with excitement. "Finally. My hands are itching for some action."
"Enough chatter," Aaron said, his voice calm but firm. "Let's finish this."
The thugs lunged.
Aaron stepped forward, calmly placing himself between the girls and the attackers. His posture was loose, almost disinterested. Ishaan, by contrast, was already bouncing on his toes, his gaze locked onto the leader.
"Come on," Ishaan taunted, grinning. "I'm begging you."
The first thug swung. Ishaan moved in a flash—sidestepping, catching the man's wrist, and twisting hard. A dull pop cracked the air, followed by a sharp yelp. Before the thug could recover, Ishaan struck twice—once to the neck, once to the gut. The man collapsed with a strangled gasp.
Another came from behind. Ishaan ducked beneath the swing, spun low, and swept the attacker's legs out from under him. As the man crashed down, Ishaan drove a palm strike into his temple. Silent. Final.
Meanwhile, a third charged at Aaron.
Aaron didn't move until the last heartbeat. Then, with the smallest shift of his weight, he pivoted aside. The thug's momentum carried him helplessly forward. Aaron lifted one arm as if guiding a current, and the man slammed chest-first into the brick wall. The impact echoed. The thug slid down, groaning.
Another thug roared, swinging a broken pipe. Aaron tilted his head slightly, calculating. As the strike came, he trapped the pipe under his arm, twisted his hips, and redirected the man into a nearby trash heap. Aaron didn't even break stride.
Back in the center of the alley, the last thug rushed Ishaan. Ishaan caught the punch mid-swing, his grin widening. A sharp strike to the underside of the elbow made the man scream. Ishaan finished with a swift roundhouse to the knee, dropping him hard to the ground.
Silence fell over the alley. The thugs groaned where they lay, scattered across the wet concrete.
The younger girl peeked out from behind her sister. "Y-You… you beat them…"
Aaron turned slightly, his voice calm. "Are either of you hurt?"
The elder sister winced, leaning against the wall. "My ankle…"
Without hesitation, Aaron crouched and swept her into his arms. "Then we're not wasting time."
Ishaan grinned, offering his hand to the younger girl. "Come on, princess. Let's get out of here before round two shows up."
As the four of them hurried from the alley, Aaron spoke low, scanning the streets. "We'll talk later. For now, stay close."
Ishaan chuckled under his breath. "Man, bro… you really know how to make an introduction."