Steve, Jacob, and John froze, staring in disbelief at Einar. He was standing on his feet, challenging them even after taking blows so fierce that anyone else would have been dead. Blood dripped from his face, and his left eye was nearly swollen shut, dark bruises forming a halo around it.
"Hey, you idiot! Stop pretending to be strong, or you'll regret it. You can barely even stand, and this yard isn't worth dying for!" Steve yelled, his anger boiling over.
Einar's calm, low voice sliced through the tension. "Oh? Now you're worried about me? Doesn't matter. I'll end you all here, and I won't show mercy to a single one of you."
His words alone sent a chill down their spines.
Steve and John stepped forward, while Jacob circled behind, attempting to trap Einar in a pincer move. Perfect plan… or so they thought.
"Let's finish this quickly," John said. The others nodded.
Jacob struck first, swinging his fist at Einar's face. Einar easily dodged and countered with a powerful kick to Jacob's stomach. A scream of agony tore from Jacob's throat as he dropped to his knees, blood pouring from his mouth before he collapsed completely. The sound echoed across the yard.
John and Steve froze in shock. Fear crawled up their spines just from hearing the cries. John rushed to Jacob's side, while Steve advanced toward Einar, who remained standing beside the fallen man. His single, piercing eye bore into them silently, radiating a terrifying aura.
John raised his hands to show he meant no harm. "I'm just—"
Einar ignored him.
"Since you've surrendered, I won't hurt you."
Then his gaze shifted to Steve, who had come up behind John.
"And you… are you going to surrender or not?"
Steve froze, then spat out through gritted teeth, "You must be kidding! I'll make you regret humiliating me, you fool!" He drew a pocketknife and lunged at Einar.
But Einar dodged every strike with uncanny precision, as if he knew exactly where Steve would move next.
"How… How is this possible!? He's playing with me like I'm a child!" Steve's mind screamed as he swung wildly.
Finally, Einar struck. A powerful kick smashed into Steve's knife hand, sending the weapon clattering to the ground. Steve cursed and clutched his hand, but before he could recover, Einar unleashed a storm of punches. Each hit found its mark, leaving Steve no chance to block, move, or even breathe.
Blood streamed from Steve's mouth and nose. His final thought echoed in his mind: This isn't real… He couldn't even stand a moment ago! Where is this strength coming from!?
Then he collapsed, unconscious.
Einar's gaze shifted to John, kneeling beside Jacob, eyes wide with terror. The moment Einar stood in front of him, John felt his body freeze, every nerve paralyzed with fear. Sweat drenched his skin.
Einar stood calmly, eyes fixed on John, the only one he hadn't struck.
"Take them away. I don't want to see any of you here again. Tell your gang they can't take this yard. Forget it. And as for you fools—if I see you again, I won't be so merciful."
John didn't speak. He placed a trembling arm around Jacob, while Steve carried the unconscious man away.
Einar stayed standing, though he knew exhaustion would soon claim him. His muscles burned, and pain spread across his body, but he repeated silently to himself: Just a little longer… until they leave. Then I can rest. If they had delayed even a bit, I wouldn't have had to fight like this. I would have taught them a lesson without so much as a scratch. But training… it's killed me. Still… my anger prevailed in the end.
As John and the others disappeared, Einar began to head toward the yard's exit. Then a slow clap echoed from above.
He looked up in surprise to see a man sitting on the wall, applauding him.
"Dean…?!" Einar muttered in shock.