Pow.

Pow.

Pow.

Ross struck Zabi's face consecutively with brutal force, focus sharp and unwavering. Zabi crashed onto a patch of shattered glass near the car garage, the lone bulb above illuminating the two of them so brightly it felt like night had been erased. From a distance, it looked like a scene pulled straight from a horror movie.

Zabi's eyes filled with caution, his mouth hanging open like everything he was experiencing was a dream he had never meant to have.

"Zabi!"

The soldiers cried out in concern, rushing out of the house in haste—ironic, considering only hours earlier they had orchestrated countless deaths just to enter it.

They were unaware of the sight that awaited them.

Their commander was getting his ass handed to him.

"Should we intervene?"

They wondered among themselves, but doubt crept in. With the amount of power Ross Mutt had demonstrated so far, they were nothing compared to him.

Ants in a battle of elephants.

Vuu!

Zabi snapped his head to the right, narrowly dodging an extended punch meant to splatter his skull.

Phu!

The punch struck the grass instead, carving a shallow hole into the earth. Rocks and dirt scattered in every direction.

Ross regained his balance, pulling his torso upward slightly—but his eyes were locked onto something else entirely. He lunged forward, arms extended, grabbing Zabi's leg.

Like a toy figure, he wrenched it violently.

The sound was unmistakable.

Zabi's eyes twitched, pain exploding through him.

"Aaah!!"

Ross swung him up with one arm, veins bulging along his neck.

Vuu!

He hurled him toward the garage.

Phwa!!

Zabi crashed into the iron door with the force of a speeding car. The metal bent inward, trapping him in its grip.

Kichih!

One of the soldiers' earbuds hissed violently as a signal cut through.

"H—hey! Guys!"

Roy's panicked voice burst through. "Zabi's camcorder and earbud stopped working! What's wrong?!"

He was shouting from his rooftop, his voice echoing across the neighborhood, loud enough for everyone to hear. Yet none of it bothered him in the slightest.

Who could blame him?

The last thing he had seen before the feed cut was Ross moving like a ghost—just as he had when he caught the bullet and smashed Zabi's face.

"Sir…"

The soldier's voice trembled. "Believe it or not… Zabi is getting beaten by Ross."

His tone was so low it almost sounded mocking.

"What?!" Roy screamed. "You've gotta be kidding me! How is that even possible? He did that metal-melting thing earlier!"

He paused, frantic.

"Or does that only work on metals? Tell me—what is Ross fighting with?!"

"…His hands, sir."

Silence.

"You've gotta be fucking joking…" Roy muttered, everyone around him hearing every word.

The soldier finally understood why Zabi often ignored him. Sometimes Roy was unbearable.

Thud!!

Zabi forced himself free from the dented door.

Clack. Clack.

He cracked his neck from side to side.

"He's on his feet, sir," the soldier reported.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Roy cheered. "Clash him to the ground!"

The soldier winced as the shouting pierced his ears. His comrades exchanged sympathetic glances.

"You know he can't hear you, sir," the man said quietly.

"Doesn't matter, man," Roy replied. "Just keep me updated. I don't want to be late calling Veteran for backup."

But the soldier's attention had already drifted away.

Two men were walking toward each other.

Sparks danced in the air between them.

Zabi raised an arm toward the soldiers gathered near the damaged door.

"Don't shoot," he ordered. "This fight is mine."

Scratches marked his nose as blood slowly oozed free. Ross's gaze never wavered—pure bloodlust burned within it.

"You wanted to desecrate my face just because you lost yours," Zabi sneered. "Some of us actually like our faces."

He wiped the blood with his finger, rubbing it between his thumb.

"You must be mistaking me for someone who wants a conversation," Ross replied calmly.

"I know, I know," Zabi chuckled. "I killed your mother and shot your sister. You must want to tear me apart. The feeling's mutual."

He spread his arms slightly.

"But it's been a long time since I used my powers. And you're fighting with anger."

"So?" Ross snapped. "What's it to you?"

"People ruled by emotion think like dogs," Zabi said bluntly. "I want you at your fullest potential."

"Fuck it."

Ross dropped into a martial artist's stance.

"I don't care—as long as I avenge my parents!"

Pew!

He surged forward, fists striking from every angle, each blow carrying lethal intent. The exchange ignited the air, every movement precise—exactly like Medusaa's.

Even unconscious, he had memorized it all.

"He's skilled," Zabi noted, eyes tracking Ross's footwork. "Exactly what you'd expect from a martial artist."

Then—

"Fuck it," Zabi muttered.

He spotted an opening.

Not big.

Perfect.

Thud!

He slammed his foot down onto Ross's, pinning it in place.

"Shit—he got me!" Ross realized as Zabi spread his arms wide.

Pow! Pow! Pow!!!

Punches detonated against Ross's guard. He raised his arms together, blocking desperately as each impact shoved them closer to his face.

"Have to… do… something…"

Zabi drew his arm back—not retreating, but condensing power. A new ring appeared in his hair, glowing blue instead of gold. His fist burned with the same energy.

Blocking it would shatter Ross's arms.

Pew!!

The punch launched—death given form.

"Activate Katana!"

The blade appeared instantly. Earlier, Ross had reinforced its durability deep within his soul.

The odds were fair.

He raised it high, away from his body.

Phwa!!

It shattered on contact.

The katana disintegrated, fragments scattering as the impact hurled them apart. Ross's eyes widened.

The punch continued.

If it slammed into his face.

Skin or no skin—it would still hurt.

Yet—

"Hmh."

Ross smiled.

The katana had never been the plan.

Activate Special Skill: Time Freeze -15, 18% Glory left.

HALT!!!

Everything stopped.

Soldiers. Air. Sound.

Relief was supposed to come next,

But something went wrong.

Zabi didn't freeze.

He still smiled.

His punch crept forward, inch by inch, unstoppable.

"Advice for you," Zabi said calmly.

"Don't use the same move on me twice."

BOOOOM!!!

The punch landed.

The shockwave shattered the halt—reality snapping back everything into motion.

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