Marcus finally revealed the truth to Alexander. He told him about his origin, his family, and the path that led him to become an outlaw. Then came the offer: a heist. Marcus explained that he, his sister Elena, and his mother Natalie planned to loot the notorious Iron Spurs gang. They were searching for trustworthy allies—and Marcus believed Alexander had potential.
Alexander hesitated. "I'm not skilled in combat… or guns," he admitted.
Marcus smiled faintly. "That's why you'll be trained."
With that, Alexander's horse was tied to Marcus' cart, and they rode to the secluded Whispering Pines. There, he finally met Natalie Roger—a woman in her 50s, yet stronger and faster than many young outlaws. Marcus introduced them. "She trained me," he said. "Now it's your turn."
Alexander's first thought was skepticism. An old woman training him? But destiny has a way of bending disbelief, and he agreed.
In the basement of their home, Elena was practicing with knives on an old scarecrow. Alexander, however, struggled with the basics, feeling disappointed and clumsy under Natalie's watchful eye.
Beginner
Marcus soon realized that Natalie was pushing Alexander too hard, expecting expert-level skills too soon. He intervened, starting from the basics.
First came stamina and reflexes. Marcus would attack Alexander from unpredictable angles, forcing him to react instantly to every threat. Then came strength and durability. Alexander's fists met harder and harder surfaces each day, bruising and tiring him—but building muscle and resilience.
A month passed. Alexander was mid-training when he noticed familiar faces approaching. The debt collectors had arrived. Marcus and Natalie were ready.
The men demanded payment, but Natalie stepped forward. The sight of her silenced them—some whispered in awe, "She is The Lilith." Intimidated, they left without another word.
Elena, however, handed Alexander $3,000, whispering, "You must return this favor one day." Alexander felt a mix of gratitude and responsibility. The Rogers were helping him beyond reason, and he knew one day he'd have to repay them.
Intermediate
Now that Alexander could hold his own in combat, it was time for gunfight training. Marcus led him to a hidden room in the farmhouse, filled with revolvers, shotguns, and snipers. At first, Alexander underestimated the difficulty, but his skills in chemistry, mechanics, and self-surgery helped him grasp firearm mechanics quickly. Within a day, he could dismantle and reassemble any gun with precision.
Next came accuracy training. Marcus placed a large wooden target; Alexander fired. Over time, the targets became smaller, almost impossibly tiny. Each miss tested his patience and perseverance.
Logan watched from a distance, fascinated. Alexander's persistence inspired him to learn as well. Weeks later, in a moment of calm determination, Alexander hit a near-impossible target. Marcus clapped him on the back. "Remember these code symbols," he said, "They'll save your life when it matters most."
Advanced
Natalie prepared an outlaw suit for Alexander. Marcus explained their mission: strike the Black Vultures' base where Alexander had almost blinded a man. A shiver ran down his spine, but he accepted his fate.
From an observation point, the plan was simple: Marcus and Elena would disarm the enemies; Alexander would neutralize key targets with precision shots.
The fight began. Alexander froze after his first shot. Elena, noticing his hesitation, called out, "Remember your training! I was scared too, the first time!" Her words hit hard.
Reinvigorated, Alexander fired continuously, reloading his revolver in under ten seconds. Within ten minutes, 25 goons lay defeated, the air thick with smoke and the smell of gunpowder.
The loot totaled $10,000, divided equally: $3,333.33 each. Alexander used his share to pay off the remainder of his debt, finally freeing himself from that burden.