CASTLE OF DANIEL DE DIEGO — NORTH

  Princess Catalina sits upon her throne.

  Ten figures stand opposite her, aligned in rigid formation beneath the dim glow of the castle hall.

  Catalina’s brows narrow.

  “The elite has not yet returned. They’re taking too long.”

  One figure steps forward. Black braids glint faintly in the low light.

  “My princess… if you permit us, we will hunt down the Alligator and bring Princess Paloma back.”

  Catalina’s fingers tighten around the armrest of her throne. She says nothing.

  A woman with two long, narrow swords strapped across her back turns and begins to walk away, yellow eyes glowing faintly.

  A boy among the group snaps his gaze toward her.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” His voice is cold.

  “Princess Catalina hasn’t spoken,” the woman replies calmly, her footsteps steady. “I’m going to fulfil the mission myself.”

  She strides away.

  The boy’s eyes harden. He closes distance–POOF

  His form solidifies besides her, his hand clamps around her wrist.

  She stops.

  “I respect you,” she says, yellow eyes burning brighter. “But don’t stop me when I’ve chosen my resolve.”

  His grip tightens.

  The air thickens.

  A massive blade tears down from above.

  The boy weaves aside as the weapon slams into the ground, the impact ripping through the hall. Wind howls. A pillar cracks.

  Another strike follows. He dodges again.

  Both figures leap.

  Midair, the boy thrusts out his palm.

  The woman’s blade crashes into it.

  Energy detonates outward.

  They are thrown apart, landing inches from each other as the ground shudders beneath their feet.

  They advance again—steps heavy, pressure rising—

  Catalina exhales sharply. She lifts one finger–signaling

  A massive man appears between them, his skin etched with tattoos.

  In a single motion, he grabs both fighters by the temples and slams them into the ground.

  Stone fractures.

  Silence.

  They lie unconscious.

  “Incompetent fools,” the man mutters. “Fighting in front of the princess.”

  The doors burst open.

  Fury’s Edge strides in, flanked by two elites.

  Catalina glares.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  The tension sharpens.

  Fury’s Edge and his Elites kneel.

  “My princess… Centre City is far stronger than we anticipated.”

  Catalina leans forward.

  “Where are your crew?”

  “Dead. Only us remain.”

  Her voice drops.

  “My sister?”

  “No sign. We searched thoroughly. I came requesting reinforcements.”

  Catalina gestures.

  The tattooed man steps forward and kneels.

  “My princess.”

  “Go to Centre City,” Catalina commands. “Bring my sister home. Kill the Alligator and his crew.”

  “Yes, my princess.”

  He rises and turns away.

  Catalina’s gaze shifts to Fury’s Edge.

  “You’ll go with him. Finish what you started. Bring my sister back.”

  Fury’s Edge and his elites rise and follow.

  The hall falls silent once more.

  ---

  MERCURY'S RESISTANCE–CENTRE CITY

  The Alligator sits beside Ellen’s unconscious body. Worry and grief shadow his eyes.

  Paloma rushes in.

  “Boss. I found nothing.”

  The Alligator turns sharply.

  “Nothing?”

  “The area was clean. Even Maxwell’s body is gone.”

  The words cut deep.

  A sharp hiss escapes the Alligator’s teeth.

  He turns to Nina.

  “Still hurting over Johnny leaving?”

  Nina wipes her eyes, forcing herself steady.

  “He’s been alone his whole life. No family. He refused us so he wouldn’t lose anyone again.”

  The Alligator nods.

  “He’s rejecting a family because he doesn’t want to bury another one.” His hand rests on her shoulder. “But we’ll protect him anyway. Johnny’s one of us.”

  Nina looks up, stunned.

  “Really?”

  “Of course.” His expression hardens. “Now help me track the woman who took K.B. and Maxwell.”

  Nina straightens and moves.

  “I’m coming.”

  Paloma steps after her.

  “I’ll join—”

  “Wait.” the Alligator’s voice is firm. “You stay with the group.”

  Paloma frowns.

  “Why?”

  “Trust me. You’re safer out of sight.”

  The Alligator looks around.

  Ellen unconscious.

  Shion tense.

  Maxwell gone.

  Silas still winning.

  This is getting worse.

  The Alligator lowers himself into a chair.

  No more hesitation.

  I’ll handle this myself.

  No more looking back.

  We’re going forward.

  ---

  ANTARA'S TOWN–CENTRE CITY

  Johnny reaches Antara Town.

  A massive stone mansion looms ahead.

  Two guards step into his path.

  “What’s your business—”

  They collapse.

  Johnny keeps walking.

  His rhythm steady. Calm. Unbroken.

  Inside the compound, panic erupts.

  “A man’s walking into the yard!”

  “We’ll handle him ourselves—the boss isn’t available!”

  Men rush out.

  They freeze.

  They fall.

  Johnny reaches the iron gate and rips it down with a single punch.

  The crash sends shockwaves through the air.

  Inside, chaos spreads.

  A captain draws his sword.

  “Wake the second-in-command.”

  “But sir, the vice leader hates disturbances—”

  “This man is a threat. Wake him.”

  Bodies fall as Johnny advances. His tempo is too high. No one can read it.

  The doors explode open.

  Johnny steps inside.

  The captain lunges.

  Bullets glide through the air.

  The captain weaves, closing the distance.

  His sword swings—

  Johnny doesn’t move.

  The blade misses.

  Two bullets hover inches from the captain’s skull.

  The captain dodges the bullets.

  Johnny is suddenly in his face.

  The cold metal of Johnny's barrel presses against the captain’s temple.

  His eyes widen. “When—?”

  He never saw the step. Never felt the distance collapse.

  The trigger tightens—

  “Enough.”

  A hand snaps toward Johnny’s gun.

  In a blink, Johnny is gone—reappearing inches back.

  Fast.

  Calculating.

  A tall, slim man wearing massive glasses steps forward.

  “Johnny… what got into you?”

  Johnny’s lips curl.

  “Sunshine Igwe. Member of the Blue Whale now?”

  Sunshine nods.

  “Indeed. Not a bad crew.”

  “Where’s your leader?”

  “You could’ve booked an appointment,” Sunshine says.

  “Your boss knows where Silas is.”

  Sunshine’s gaze sharpens.

  “We’ve been friends for a long time. Don’t let grief swallow you.”

  “Then I’ll burn the entire Blue Whale.”

  Sunshine clenches his fist.

  “We have nothing to do with Silas.”

  Johnny chuckles softly.

  “Then you die.”

  He moves.

  In a flicker, Johnny closes the gap.

  Sunshine dissolves—reappearing as Johnny’s fist slams into his stomach. The impact thunders.

  Sunshine staggers back, coughing.

  “You’re operating on a higher frequency,” he admits. “Sharper rhythm. Stronger tactics.”

  They clash again.

  Bullets scream.

  Movements blur.

  Precision meets instinct.

  The dance halts.

  Both men stand, breathing steady.

  Unbroken.

  Sunshine lowers his gun.

  “Johnny. We don’t know where Silas is. Leave.”

  Johnny’s eyes burn.

  “Your boss does.”

  They move again.

  Sunshine closes in.

  His fist crashes into Johnny’s jaw.

  Johnny staggers—just long enough for the follow-up.

  Sunshine’s foot slams into his cheek, snapping his head sideways and sending him down hard.

  Sunshine steadies his breathing.

  “You lost track of my rhythm.”

  He raises his gun—

  Johnny vanishes.

  Silence.

  Sunshine exhales.

  “Grief will destroy you, Johnny.”

  The guards approach nervously.

  “What if he comes back?”

  “He won’t.” Sunshine turns away. “This was pointless.”

  As he walks off, a thought lingers.

  Why chase grief when it only leads to ruin?