The Red Hands caught up just as Thomas and his crew found Mira's brother. Darius led the group, arms crossed, his expression calm but sharp. Felix's bladed tail scraped across a stone, the screeching sound cutting through the air. Behind them, Ethan glared at Thomas, nostrils flaring, fists tightening with barely contained rage.
Tobias stepped forward with the Fog Repeller in hand. The weapon's glowing core pulsed faintly as he aimed it straight at them. "Let's make this easy. You've been a thorn in our side long enough. Surrender now, and maybe we won't break every bone in your body."
Thomas's jaw clenched, his scowl deepening. "Yeah, I'm gonna have to pass on that."
The street went still, tension thick in the air.
Thomas stepped out of the Hammer, signaling Mira to stay put. He walked calmly toward a wrecked car nearby, placing one hand on the metal as the Pink Fog around him swirled. His body shifted instantly, runes glowing to life as his Oni form returned.
Without hesitation, he tore the car door free and hurled it toward the Red Hands. It spun through the air with a loud whine, heading straight for Tobias and the Fog Repeller.
Before they could react, Thomas charged. His massive frame slammed into Felix, sending the snake man stumbling back. Felix's Glint form was a Naga, half human and half snake, with a bladed tail that could slice through stone. His lower body was a coil of muscle, and he could spit acid or venom strong enough to melt it. But Thomas didn't care. He was done running.
Iris jumps into the air. Her Sentinel armor looked heavy, but she moved with speed and precision. Iris leaped and spun, driving a powerful kick into Ethan, the Minotaur.
Nevin stayed close behind Iris and Bryan, his Wisp form flickering faintly in the fog as he moved in to support when needed. Bryan, in his Winged Tiger form, roared overhead, wings slicing through the mist as he dove toward Tobias. But before he could reach him, several Red Hands members rushed in, forming a barrier to protect their him. Bryan's claws met them instead, his momentum throwing the group into disarray.
The fight was brutal, but Thomas's crew had learned from their last encounter. They stayed close to the Red Hands, using them as cover so Tobias couldn't get a clear shot with the Fog Repeller. The plan worked at first.
But once the rest of the Red Hands joined in, everything fell apart. The fight turned chaotic, with enemies attacking from every side. Claws, fangs, and weapons clashed in the mist, and their plan to stay behind cover fell apart. There was no formation anymore, only quick reactions and survival.
Tobias saw his opening. He raised the Fog Repeller, its glowing core pulsing brighter as he took aim at Thomas.
Tobias hadn't transformed. The weapon in his hands, likely the reason. He couldn't fight hand to hand with Glints, so he stayed at the rear, guarded by his men. From there, he was free to hunt targets safely from behind.
Tobias lifted the Fog Repeller, ready to fire.
Before he could pull the trigger, a burst of light shot through the mist and struck his hand. The blast wasn't strong, but it was enough to make him flinch and reactively throw the weapon from his hand only for a faint figure to leap from the fog and snatch it midair.
"I'll be taking this," Nevin said with a grin, the pale glow of his Wisp form flickering around him.
Bryan moved in to cover his retreat, roaring as he kept the Red Hands busy. Nevin didn't look back. Earlier, he had seen Tobias aiming for Thomas but knew he couldn't reach him in time, not with the Red Hands guarding him. So, he tried something risky.
His "skipping stages" theory.
Nevin had trained to manipulate fog energy, trying to form it into projectiles. It never worked. Most of the time, it just fizzled out before hitting anything. But this time, luck or instinct kicked in. The fog compressed and formed a small sphere of light that flew forward and hit Tobias in the hand.
Against a Glint, it would have only stung. But Tobias was still human, and the impact made him lose his grip on the weapon.
Tobias growled through his teeth. "You little!"
But it was already too late. Nevin was gone, sprinting back through the fog while Bryan held the line. Iris stepped in next, blocking anyone who tried to chase.
The fight continued to rage around them, but the shift was clear. Without the Fog Repeller, the Red Hands were losing ground fast. Thomas had already sent two of their men crashing into a wall, Bryan tore through another group with a single sweep of his claws, and Iris moved like a streak of light, kicking back anyone who tried to close in.
Darius's eyes narrowed as he scanned the field. The Red Hands' formation was broken, their advantage gone. If they stayed any longer, they would be wiped out.
He clenched his jaw, frustration flashing in his eyes. "Enough," he ordered, raising his hand. "Fall back!"
The Red Hands hesitated. Tobias didn't move, still frozen in rage, and Ethan refused to retreat, continuing to swing wildly at Iris. Darius's command went unheard.
Bryan spotted the opening. He yanked a length of rebar from a cracked wall and hurled it with all his strength. The metal rod struck Tobias in the chest, the impact sending him crashing into the rubble. He didn't get back up.
Ethan staggered back as he fought Iris, breathing hard. Blood dripped from his arm. Hearing Darius's command, he turned to confirm it and saw Tobias just in time to watch him fall lifeless into the rubble. Shock crossed his face, quickly replaced by rage.
When he looked forward again, Iris was gone. Thomas stood a few meters ahead, watching him. Ethan clenched his fists, lowering his stance, though his tone had shifted. "This isn't over," he spat, preparing to retreat.
Moments earlier, Iris had been watching him closely. The instant Ethan turned toward Tobias, she moved. She leapt forward, twisting through the air in a tight arc, landing behind him just as he turned to face forward again.
Thomas grinned. "No, it really is."
Ethan frowned in confusion just as Iris's voice came from behind him. "It's over."
Her blade pierced through his stomach in one clean strike. Ethan gasped, eyes wide, the strength leaving his body as he stumbled forward and collapsed.
Felix cursed, panic flashing across his face. Two of their officers were dead in seconds. "Fall back! Now!"
He, Darius and others vanished into the fog, leaving the bodies of their fallen behind.
Thomas exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "That went better."
Bryan motioned for Nevin to hand over the Fog Repeller. Nevin's Wisp form had already faded a few seconds after he first grabbed the device. When Bryan took it from him, his own transformation vanished the same way, the effect kicking in after only a few seconds of contact.
Bryan inspected the weapon closely. Cracks lined its casing, and parts of the frame were already bent out of shape. From the power it showed when it was first used, he could tell it would not survive another shot. When he checked the chamber, only one round remained, a single white meteor fragment. One more use, and the weapon would break for good.
Nevin narrowed his eyes. "That's why it works in the Pink Fog. It's powered by a white fragment."
It finally made sense. That was how the Red Hands managed to use it even with the fog disabling most technology.
Mira had been watching quietly from the vehicle. Seeing the Red Hands retreat, her voice broke the silence. "Can we go get my brother now?" she asked, looking toward the Fade still standing in front of the house, completely unmoved by the noise of the fight.
The creature Mira called her brother did not look human anymore. He was a Fade, every movement unnatural and jerking, but Mira knew him. She recognized the way he had once moved, the small habit he kept even now. There was no doubt in her mind.
The Hammer rolled forward until it stopped a safe distance away. Everyone stayed inside. Bryan and Nevin had lost their transformations when they touched the Fog Repeller and would need time to shift again. Thomas called Iris back to the truck so she could secure Mira in the passenger seat.
Mira pressed both hands against the window and shouted, "Dale!"
No answer. She tried again, voice thinning. "Dale! Dale! Dale!"
The Fade twitched, then started moving. His steps were unsteady, his body jerking with the unnatural rhythms of something no longer human. He walked straight toward them, drawn by Mira's voice. He stopped exactly at the edge of the Hammer's safe zone radius and snarled, head tilting toward Mira.
Silence filled the vehicle. Everyone knew what had to be done, but no one moved. Mira's brother was already a Fade, yet she was still hoping. No one wanted to be the one to kill him while she watched.
Bryan froze for a second, thinking. The Fog Repeller had stripped Thomas of his form once. Maybe it could do the same to a Fade, remove the transformation instead of killing him. It was a long shot, but it was something. "I will shoot him with this. We have one shot left. I hope this thing works."
Thomas did not answer right away. He watched Dale, watched Mira, and felt the weight of the moment press down.
Outside, the Fade stood motionless, growling low as it watched them. Inside the Hammer, everyone waited, watching Bryan as he aimed the Fog Repeller.