Voss's heart pounded, and he instinctively pulled Aqua behind him. These thugs were clearly prepared. Not only were there more of them than last time, but they also had two towering, tattooed enforcers with them, radiating raw menace.
"Yo, yo, yo… look who it is," the bald thug sneered as he stepped forward.
"What a small world."
The two enforcers stood like stone pillars behind the gang, their blank expressions and crackling joints making the air feel heavier.
"Boss, that's them!" the lanky thug pointed at Tom and Jerry. "Those two freaks stripped us bare!"
"And made us run naked through the streets!" the fat one added, face red with fury. "If we don't get payback, we'll never live it down in Hell's Kitchen!"
Aqua gripped Voss's sleeve tightly, whispering, "Who are they? They look terrifying."
"Thugs we ran into a few days ago," Voss muttered. "Tom and Jerry gave them a beating."
Tom and Jerry, seeing their old "friends," weren't the least bit nervous. The two exchanged glances, their eyes sparkling with mischief and anticipation.
"You brats got lucky last time," the bald thug snarled, pulling a pistol from his coat. "This time, I came prepared."
Voss's eyes narrowed. Damn it—they brought guns.
The others brandished their weapons too: knives, clubs, even a taser. The enforcers flexed their knuckles, making the sound of breaking bones echo in the night.
"Let's see if you can strip us now!" the lanky thug spat.
Pedestrians scattered, some already dialing the police. But help was still far away.
Voss's knees trembled, but he stepped forward anyway, shielding Tom, Jerry, and Aqua. He knew they had strange abilities, but against real bullets? He wasn't sure.
"How much do you want?" Voss forced his voice steady. "I'll give you money—just don't hurt my friends."
"Money?" the bald thug barked a laugh. "What I want is respect!"
"Exactly!" the fat one growled. "We lost face out there. That debt's gotta be paid!"
Aqua bit her lip, debating whether to unleash her divine magic—but remembering Voss's warning, she held back.
"Do it!" the bald thug ordered.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunfire erupted, making pedestrians scream as they ran.
But something impossible happened.
Though the bullets were fired directly at them, every single shot swerved off course—clanging into lampposts, vanishing into the sky, or burying into manhole covers. Not one even grazed Voss or the others.
"What the hell?!" the bald thug shouted. "I was aiming right at them!"
He squeezed the trigger again. The bullets went just as wild.
Voss blinked in disbelief. He checked himself, then Tom, Jerry, and Aqua—completely unharmed.
"Is this… my ability?" Voss thought, pulse racing. "Master of Outlines?"
Tom and Jerry relaxed instantly, their fear melting into smug amusement.
Tom licked his paw and made a mocking "go on" gesture. Jerry flopped onto his back with his hands behind his head, grinning as if daring them to try again.
Aqua, emboldened, peeked out from behind Voss and stuck her tongue out at the thugs.
"What's happening?!" the lanky thug shrieked. "Bullets don't just curve!"
"It's witchcraft!" the fat one cried. "They're using sorcery!"
The bald thug's face twitched, but he forced himself to bark, "Don't panic! It's just some trick!"
Still, every shot bent away like the world itself was protecting Voss.
The enforcers exchanged wary glances.
"Boss, these people aren't normal," one muttered.
"Screw it, we'll crush them with our fists!" the other growled.
They lunged at Voss. Their punches—aimed squarely at his head—mysteriously veered off course, hitting only air.
"This can't be happening!" one roared. "I never miss!"
Voss didn't even flinch. The attacks simply couldn't touch him.
"Hahaha!" Aqua burst out laughing. "You mortals are pathetic! Can't even land a hit on my servant!"
"Aqua!" Voss snapped, face paling. "Don't say nonsense like that!"
But Aqua was already strutting forward, hands on her hips, chin high.
"I am the goddess of water!" she declared smugly. "And you dare lay hands on my companions?"
Tom smacked his forehead with a paw, exasperated. Jerry made a throat-cutting gesture, trying to shut her up.
"G-Goddess?!" the lanky one stammered. "That explains it! No wonder the bullets didn't work!"
"We picked the wrong fight," the fat thug said, shaking.
The bald thug gritted his teeth, unwilling to back down. "Don't listen to her crap! There's no such thing as gods—it's just some kind of tech!"
"Then explain the bullets!" one of the enforcers shot back.
"I…" The bald thug faltered.
Police sirens wailed in the distance.
"The cops are coming!" the lanky thug panicked. "Boss, let's run!"
"No! If we leave now, we're finished on the streets!" the bald thug snarled.
He whipped out a submachine gun, his face twisted in rage.
"I don't care what kind of trick this is—I'll shred you!"
Da-da-da-da!
A rain of bullets lit up the night—only to curve harmlessly away, tearing apart street signs and walls but never touching Voss or the others.
By now, Voss had calmed completely. His strange ability made him untouchable.
Tom and Jerry openly mocked the shooters, dodging lazily while making goofy faces. Aqua twirled around in the hail of gunfire, giggling.
"This is incredible!" she cried. "Even stronger than my divine barrier!"
The sirens grew closer. The thugs' bravado finally cracked.
"Boss, we gotta go!" the fat one begged.
The bald thug's hands shook as he stared at the countless bullet casings and his unharmed enemies. Finally, he spat, "Retreat! You win this time!"
The gang scattered, dragging their enforcers away.
Moments later, police cars screeched in. Officers poured out, baffled at the bullet holes riddling the street—and at Voss and his companions, standing unharmed in the middle of it all.
"What the hell happened here?" one officer asked.
"Some thugs opened fire," Voss said evenly, glancing at the wreckage. "But their aim wasn't very good."
The cops exchanged doubtful looks, but with no casualties and the suspects gone, there wasn't much they could do.
"Any injuries?" another asked.
"No, we're fine," Voss replied.
The police took a brief report and left.
As the cruisers pulled away, Aqua latched onto Voss's arm, eyes sparkling.
"That was amazing! How did you do it? The bullets were like they were enchanted!"
"I… don't know," Voss admitted, rubbing his head. "Maybe just dumb luck."
Tom and Jerry traded glances. To them, physics breaking was nothing new.
"Let's go home," Voss sighed, checking the time. "We've had enough excitement for one night."
The four of them headed off into the glowing New York night, leaving behind a street riddled with bullet holes—and a cold case the NYPD would never be able to explain.