Just as the blast erupted, Sabir was forcefully propelled backward by its immense power. The projectile hurtled through the air, hurtling straight toward the man with the buzz cut. In a split second, a translucent barrier materialized, intercepting the incoming blast just before impact.

Crouched down amidst the chaos, another member of the leather-clad group spoke up confidently, "Ionic blast neutralized, sir," her voice tinged with smug satisfaction. Yet, to her surprise, the deflected blast began to rotate and pound against the protective barrier.

"Shell position!" the man shouted urgently, diving towards his comrades for cover. The blast spun with such force that it fragmented into four smaller projectiles, ricocheting wildly off the barrier like erratic bouncy balls. The fragments careened off in different directions, their trajectory suddenly unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

One of the fragments headed straight for Sabir, Max, and Samantha. Sabir’s eyes widened in terror as he realized the impending danger. Without a moment’s hesitation, he grabbed both Max and Samantha, forcing them to duck behind a nearby debris pile.

“Get down!” he yelled, his voice breaking with urgency. He watched helplessly as the blast drew nearer, convinced it was about to hit him directly.

Time seemed to slow as the crackling energy approached. Sabir’s pulse quickened, a cold dread seizing his chest. His body reacted before his mind could fully comprehend, muscles tightening as if his very instincts were trying to pull him away from the inevitable. He closed his eyes, bracing for the searing pain he was sure would follow, wondering for a fleeting second if this was it—if his life would end here, cut short by a stray blast. The air around him felt charged, a static hum filling his ears, drowning out all other sounds. He could almost feel the burn of the blast about to hit.

Suddenly, a loud thud resonated above him. Sabir's eyes flew open, breath still held in his throat. The blast had ricocheted off a metal beam just inches away, veering off in another direction and dissipating harmlessly into the night sky. He stared at the spot where the beam now shimmered faintly, his body trembling as the weight of what almost happened crashed over him.

"Are you okay?" Max asked, his voice shaky but filled with concern.

For a moment, Sabir couldn’t answer. His heart pounded violently in his chest, every beat reminding him how close he had come to being obliterated. His mind raced, replaying the scene over and over. The blast. The metal beam. Inches. Just inches. The eerie sense that had warned him was fading, leaving him with a profound realization of how close they had come to disaster.

Sabir nodded, though his hands were still trembling slightly. "Yeah," he managed, swallowing hard. He forced himself to breathe, to find calm in the aftermath. He had survived. Somehow. That was all that mattered. "I think so. That was too close."

Samantha looked at Sabir with wide eyes. “How did you know to duck?”

“I just... I just reacted,” Sabir replied, still trying to catch his breath. “It was like I could feel it coming.” He paused, collecting himself. “We need to get out of here. This place is too dangerous.”

The three of them quickly scrambled to their feet, scanning the area for a safer vantage point. The ongoing battle between the two groups raged on, with explosions and energy blasts lighting up the night.

“Come on, this way!” Sabir urged, leading them away from the immediate danger.

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They ducked into a narrow alley, finding temporary refuge behind a stack of crates. The sounds of battle faded, replaced by an eerie silence. The trio exchanged puzzled glances, wondering what had caused the sudden ceasefire.

“Let’s check,” Sabir said cautiously. He peered around the corner, eyes widening at the sight before him.

The once-chaotic battlefield was now eerily still. All eight combatants—four in camouflage and four in leather biker gear—were immobilized, completely wrapped in dark, shadowy tendrils that resembled ropes. They were suspended in mid-air, groaning in pain, their struggles futile against the inky restraints.

“Look at that,” Samantha whispered, pointing towards the center of the scene.

A handsome man stood there, clad in a black suit with a chest plate and shoulder guards that glinted menacingly in the dim light. His black hair cascaded down to his shoulders, and his eyes were as dark as the void itself. He exuded an aura of power and control, a stark contrast to the helpless figures ensnared in his shadowy web.

“Who is that?” Max breathed, his excitement tempered by a sense of foreboding.

“I don’t know,” Sabir replied, his voice hushed with awe and fear. “But I think we should stay hidden.”

The man in the black suit surveyed his captives with a cold, calculating gaze. With a flick of his wrist, the shadowy tendrils tightened, eliciting cries of pain from the restrained fighters.

One of the leather-clad bikers, struggling against the shadows, spat out defiantly, “If it isn't the government’s hound. Oh yeah, I’ve heard of you. You've killed hundreds of hunters who go rogue. Hell, I bet you’d kill members of the Seven Noble Families if you could, huh?”

The man in the black suit smirked, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer to the speaker. “You know, rumors have a way of exaggerating the truth,” he replied smoothly, his voice dripping with menace. “But in your case, they might be closer to reality than you think.”

The biker’s defiance wavered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of fear. “You think you’re so high and mighty, don’t you? Just another puppet for the government, enforcing their rules without question.”

The man’s smirk widened. “And you think you're a small time hunter, standing up to the big, bad system. When you're exactly like me, following orders to someone you call master.” He tightened the shadows again, drawing more pained cries from his captives.

He sighed deeply, his expression shifting from menace to weary resignation. “But today, I have no orders to kill you. Consider yourselves lucky.” With a flick of his wrist, the shadows loosened, releasing the captives. “Leave now, and don’t make any more trouble.”

He pointed to the charred remains of a corpse nearby. “Besides, the reason for your fight has long since gone.”

The group of fighters exchanged wary glances before scrambling to their feet and fleeing the scene, their spirits broken.

As the man in the black suit stood alone in the aftermath, Sabir, Max, and Samantha quietly began to sneak away, hoping to avoid his notice. They moved carefully, every step calculated to avoid detection.

Just as they thought they were in the clear, the man suddenly appeared in front of them, as if materializing from the shadows themselves. His presence was oppressive, an unspoken threat radiating from him that made their skin crawl.

They froze, turning to see the man standing there, his eyes dark and unyielding, like twin voids threatening to swallow them whole.

“Uh, we were just... leaving,” Max stammered, trying to sound casual, but failing miserably.

The man tilted his head slightly, a cold smirk playing at the corners of his lips. “You can leave soon, but first, I need some information. You see, I’m looking for a kid about your age. His name is Sabir Quinn. Do you know him?”

Max and Samantha exchanged nervous glances before their eyes darted to Sabir. The tension in the air was palpable, the silence heavy with unspoken words.

Samantha finally mustered the courage to speak. “What do you want with Sabir?”

The man’s smirk widened, his eyes glinting with a predatory intensity. “I just want to talk. So, do you know where he is?”

The silence stretched on, the air thick with anxiety. Then, Sabir took a step forward, his voice steady despite the fear bubbling inside him. He had no choice but to step up. One way or another this dangerous man was after him. He needed to make sure his friends were not dragged into this. “You’re looking right at him.”