A split second, they both vanished into the dim light.
Waves of force burst from their collision—each strike flaring with tension.
No matter how many times Alex tried to hit him, he couldn't land a single blow.
"Damn it! He's moving with insane speed! My attacks... they're useless!"
"I'm reaching my limit—he's insanely strong!"
For nearly an hour, Alex fought relentlessly, but he could barely stand.
His breath ragged, his knees shaking—he froze in place.
The old man stopped too, standing before him.
"What's wrong? Giving up on the challenge?"
He stepped forward.
Suddenly, intense fumes began to pour from Alex's body.
His nerves lit up like glowing lines beneath his skin.
He opened his eyes—sharp, unblinking—and firmly reloaded his gun with a fresh magazine.
In an instant, they both vanished again.
The old man was stunned.
"What...? I can't keep up!"
Before he could react, Alex pinned him to the ground, firing in all directions with ferocious speed—each shot creating shockwaves.
Alex raised his baton to strike, full force.
But the old man caught it with a smile.
Alex grinned back. No hesitation.
The old man shoved Alex backward, but Alex tossed a flash grenade, followed by a shot straight at his armor.
BOOM—
The blast forced the old man back, laughter echoing from his cracked lips.
"How long has it been since I've seen such a bright kid... Using taijutsu and tactics to fight like this?"
"I've been waiting for someone like you, kid!"
Alex slowly closed his eyes... released the gun... letting it float mid-air.
The old man prepared to finish it.
But just then—
Slicing pain tore through his forearm and cheek.
A blinding white light exploded, followed by a deafening echo.
The old man couldn't see.
He couldn't hear.
But he could sense one thing—
Alex, lying unconscious on the ground.
He walked to him slowly... knelt down... and poured a healing elixir into his mouth.
Then he looked up at the camera and spoke:
"Such a fine kid. Please… look after him well. A genius with a pure heart. I can see the light in him."
With that, he stood... and walked away, fading into the shadows.
Ben burst into the room moments later, out of breath.
"ALEX?!"
While carrying Alex to the room, Ben fought through waves of enemies, bullets tearing into his body. Every nerve screamed, every muscle strained—but he didn't stop. Blades slashed across him, yet he pressed on. With sheer force of will, he gunned down attackers and pushed through the carnage. Finally, he reached the room, laid Alex down near the wall, and wrapped his wounds with bandages. Spying an elixir in a pouch, Ben drank it without hesitation.
Gwen and Athina hovered nearby, pale and shaken. Worry clung to them like smoke.
Ben picked up the walkie-talkie, voice trembling.
"Pops! You're listening, right? Right now! What happened to Alex? Just… tell me he's fine!"
Silence.
Then, a calm voice crackled through.
"He's a fine kid. Just let him rest. He'll be okay."
Ben sank to the floor, back to the wall, gun aimed at the door. Gwen and Athina dozed off beside Alex.
Three hours passed.
Alex stirred. His vision cleared slowly as he blinked at the ceiling. Then he spotted Ben—bloodied, bruised, barely upright.
"Hey," Alex said, walking over. "Get some sleep, okay?"
Ben raised his head and smirked.
"Idiot. Can't be careful, can you?"
Alex laughed.
"Pretty sure the guy I fought was a captain. His instincts were unreal."
"Did you win?" Ben asked, already knowing the answer.
"We made a bet," Alex replied, grin widening. "If I could land even one cut on him, he wouldn't show up again. And… I won."
Ben chuckled, and finally closed his eyes to rest.
Later, Alex skimmed the walkie-talkie manual and fine-tuned the system, upgrading it into a perfect communication channel.
As he glanced at Ben, his expression darkened. Blood seeped through Ben's bandages, deep cuts marring his skin.
Alex moved silently to Athina and gently shook her awake. She gasped at the sight of him, but he quickly covered her mouth.
"Shh. Listen—I'm heading out. If anything happens, use the walkie. Everything's ready."
Without another word, Alex slipped out.
He checked the cameras. Danger was coming—forty armed men and two figures watching his every move. Alex smirked and reloaded his gun.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunfire erupted. Bullets cut through the air like hornets. But Alex didn't flinch—he moved with fluid grace, taking cover and returning fire with calm, deadly precision.
His technique activated—energy wrapped around him like living armor. Then—
He vanished.
In an instant, he reappeared among the enemy ranks, too fast to follow. Dodging bullets, striking with surgical force. Shock rippled through the crowd.
In his mind, only one thought echoed:
"I have to make it. Even if my blood spills. Even if my heart explodes. I hate being weak."
Another wave surged through him:
"This fury… this fire… this power! I have to march forward. I have to be strong!"
The ignition was complete. He became a storm.
Enemies fell one after another—crushed, stunned, breathless. Then he saw them: the two watchers. Calm. Smiling.
"AHARAAA! AHARAAAAAAAAAA!"
Alex roared from the pit of his soul.
"I'm weak! I couldn't protect my family! I'm useless! I need to protect them!"
One of the men mocked,
"Brute strength and a stick? You're not even aiming for the head."
Blood dripped from Alex's jaw. His armor was dented. His chest heaved with exhaustion, yet his eyes blazed.
"I don't do this because I enjoy it. I do it because I have to. I make sure they live… because I want to move forward with a clear heart."
There was pride in his voice. Spirit in his stance. Enough to shake the men watching him.
Guns dropped. Elemental energy crackled in the air.
Alex smirked.
"Since you've chosen your path... I choose mine."
He brought his hands to his head, closed his eyes—
Golden fire burst to life.
His fists ignited with spirit. His will became flame.
Back in the room—
Ben jolted awake to Alex's scream.
Gwen and Athina sprang up, dread tightening in their chests. They rushed toward the hallway.
And then they saw him.
Alex stood in a hallway soaked in blood. His hands blazed with golden fire. His face was stained red. His clothes, soaked. His body, trembling.
But the enemies? Still breathing. Barely. But alive.
Tears streamed down Alex's face.
Gwen started toward him, but Ben held her back.
"Let him be."
Far away...
Xander and Sam sat in silence, eyes locked on the monitor.
Tears streamed down Sam's face. He took a long swig from a bottle.
"I'm scared for him… I just want revenge. Let me end them all."
Xander turned, grabbing Sam by the collar and slamming him into the wall.
"You think revenge will fix this? I killed half the Dark Forces. I watched her die in my arms. I'm living in hell. You think killing helps? If it brought her back, she'd be here a thousand times already!"