The streets echoed once again, but it wasn't the sound of outlaws fleeing the Semaphores, but rather the eruption of a conflict between them and the Erasers. Julekha Chandra, president of the tricolor agency, strolled through the streets of Buenos Aires in preparation for her upcoming candidacy. However, harmony shattered when an Eraser was attacked by a unionist, unleashing chaos in the streets.

Rozkiewicz, the interim president due to the suspension of the current leader for inappropriate behavior, declared a state of defense to end the conflict and protect the president. For this critical mission, Rozkiewicz handpicked the best agents: Maxi Esteeman, Nicolás Cabaña, Leandro Maidana, Reinhold Krauser, Moneda, Ruth, Catherine Arce, Isaurralde Fiore, and María Celeste Peón.

These individuals became essential for the president's protection. Maxi was the brute force, his metal casing making him invulnerable. Nicolás represented agility, moving swiftly and precisely to avoid any harm. Leandro specialized in deception, morphing into anyone and acting as an undercover agent. Krauser embodied fear and terror, with his unique strength and regeneration. Moneda acted as the inspector, alert to any danger in the environment. Ruth was the infantry, with her strength and endurance, ready for escape in critical situations. Arce played the role of medical assistance, capable of saving lives in any situation. Fiore, an explosives expert, handled sabotage. Lastly, Celeste, with her hawk eye and sniper rifle skills, added her unique touch to the team.

This group would be the main support for the president, observing everything from the balcony of a building. Krauser was the first to express his discontent.

"Is this the plan? To wait here and watch as our comrades are in danger?" he exclaimed.

"Calm down, Krauser. The idea is to wait until Desza makes his move," replied Rozkiewicz, his tone cold.

"Must be a joke," Fiore interjected.

Rozkiewicz turned coldly and replied, "No, it's not," before returning his gaze to the chaos in the streets. "The president is not in danger. Trust me."

"How much longer are we going to be sitting here?" Cabaña questioned.

"As long as necessary. Now sit down and observe," Rozkiewicz commanded.

"No, I won't. We could do something right now instead of just watching. We're here, observing the chaos," Cabaña retorted.

Celeste stomped her foot forcefully, the sound reverberating from her diamond boots. "Cabaña, relax. I won't tolerate disputes among friends. I believe in him, so I suggest you do the same."

Before Nicolás could say anything, Rozkiewicz lifted his chin, blades emerging from his sleeves. "The scoundrel is here," he announced.

From the rooftop descended Moneda, sniffing the air. "That scent is unmistakable. It's the smell of a creature already rotting."

Krauser clenched his fists. "Bastard," he growled, his white face displaying his dangerous teeth and eyes. "I won't rest until I gut you."

"Now, we need to move. And remember, don't you dare stray from the area," Rozkiewicz ordered.

"Understood," they all responded.

"Alright, it's time for their punishment. FOR HARAMBEE!"

After the battle cry, they all leaped from the balcony, which was about ten stories high. Upon hitting the ground, they scattered in different directions. Although they had no qualms about attacking the Erasers, they were still searching for Desza in the area. As Rozkiewicz had anticipated, he wouldn't be alone; his lackeys would also be present. That's why he enlisted the help of five important individuals: Sofia Ibarra de Zapirón, Frederick Fliipoff, Walter Dussek, Agostina Cantero Amana, and Natalia Anastasia. These people were the reason Rozkiewicz didn't dare defend Chandra. Disguised as bodyguards, they managed to extract the president without the Erasers realizing, leaving the impression that she was still there, wounded.

As the group sprinted, attacking any possible Erasers, Celeste ascended one of the many buildings in the city of Buenos Aires to identify the Witnesses. It was obvious they would target the area where Julekha Chandra supposedly was. As a sniper, she possessed a special gift: she could pinpoint her target amidst the crowd. Her body triggered a chemical reaction, filling her eyes with various hues, constantly shifting and enabling her to identify her prey. While scanning for her target, she caught a noise from behind. Celeste swiftly turned and spotted a person dangerously close with a knife. She drew her second weapon, a dagger, and hurled it. However, her attacker's reflexes were remarkable, almost as good as hers. The abrupt movement caused their hood to fall, revealing their face. Indeed, it was Dockly.

"Who are you, idiot?" she demanded.

Dockly opted to introduce himself with two Eagle guns he had retrieved from his clothes and began firing. Yet, Celeste dodged the bullets and took refuge behind a nearby wall.

"There's nowhere to run, miss. You better surrender now," Dockly taunted.

"NEVER!" she yelled, drawing her other weapons.

While Celeste's path was blocked by her foe, Rozkiewicz, indirectly accompanied by Krauser and Nicolás, discovered Desza's whereabouts. He stood amidst the crowd, his diabolical smile on display with his unsheathed machete.

"Son of a bitch," Krauser muttered as he headed toward him.

"WAIT, YOU IDIOT!" Rozkiewicz shouted.

But his cries didn't halt the eager Krauser.

"You damn fool," he then glanced at Nico, "Go ahead and follow him. It's probably a trap."

"As you say, Rozki."

Nico darted after him.

"When this is over, I'm going to kill him."

Running after him, Rozkiewicz realized he was right; it was a trap. In the distance, he could sense other people, at least two of them. Amidst the crowd, he could make out Joel and Jørgen.

"Fools, I knew it. It's a trap."

While Rozkiewicz attempted to approach his comrades, Krauser transformed into the same thing as that night.

"Oh, I'm glad you've recovered from your mortal wounds," Desza remarked.

"DESZA!" Krauser roared.

"Come to daddy."

As Krauser drew near, Desza fled, sparking Krauser's fury and his determined pursuit.

"COME BACK!"

Amidst the crowd, Desza's psychotic laughter echoed.

"CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!" he taunted while laughing.

At that moment, Nicolás appeared to stop his friend, who was blinded by rage. Suddenly, Johan emerged and thrust his sword into Nicolás' abdomen.

"You... traitor," Nicolás gasped.

"I'm not a traitor, I'm a mercenary, and I work for those who pay me enough," Johan retorted, withdrawing his sword. "It's nothing personal, just business."

Nicolás knelt on the asphalt, his hands covering the bleeding from his mortal wound.

"Why? They tried to kill you. You had a contract with us."

"The contract expired, Cabaña. They paid me much more than you could ever afford."

"You filthy traitor. I knew it wasn't a good idea to deal with people like you," Nicolás spat, blood staining his lips.

Johan approached, his sword at Nicolás' throat. "I'm sorry, I quite liked you, but that's life," he said with a smirk.

"Rot in hell," Nicolás whispered.

Johan laughed, and as he was about to slit his throat, Maxi appeared and struck him in the waist, pulling him away from Nicolás, who smiled and passed out. Amidst the throng of people, Krauser and Rozkiewicz emerged.

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"CABAÑA!" President Rozkiewicz yelled as he carried his unconscious friend's body.

"We need to get him to healer Escanciano quickly," Krauser decreed.

"Get the dwarf out of here, I'll deal with the traitor," Johan announced, rising and sheathing his sword, then pressing a button on his wrist to produce two axes from his forearm.

"We'll desecrate filthy blacks, just like your precious Harambee," he declared.

Rozkiewicz placed Cabaña's body in Krauser's arms and stepped forward.

"Take back what you've said this instant," he demanded.

"I won't," Johan retorted.

"Remember, Johan, it was a black woman who saved us from the tyranny of the Circuits. Her name was Ndereba Harambee, the same person you dared to betray."

Johan struggled to maintain his smile in the face of such a crude speech from a dark-skinned individual.

"Blacks don't deserve to be part of humanity," he insisted.

"Esteeman..."

"Go, Krauser, you have an injured comrade in your arms," he glanced back at him, "You're not one to leave a wounded teammate to pursue your goal, are you?"

"No," Krauser replied, then he covered Cabaña's wound with his tentacles, "Alright, I'll be back. Until then, I temporarily withdraw from the mission."

"That's the spirit," Maxi said proudly.

"What about you, Rozkiewicz?" Krauser inquired.

"The mission stands. I won't let Desza achieve his goal. I'll go after him, even if it means risking my life. That's what Barreto would do."

"Sure, but Barreto wouldn't chase after a madman with a machete alone."

"But I will," Rozkiewicz smiled.

With that said, he surged into the crowd, while Krauser raced back at full speed to save his comrade.

"I won't allow it," Johan declared to Rozkiewicz, drawing his sword and advancing. But Maxi, transforming his skin into steel, struck Johan again.

"Black and the re..."

"Will you keep saying that or fight?" Maxi interrupted.

"THANKS, BLACK!" Rozkiewicz shouted as he retreated and disappeared into the crowd.

"Alright, now it's just you and me," Johan stated.

"We'll fight fast," Maxi replied.

"Why?"

"I don't want it to get dark; it'll be tough to fight a shadow."

"How amusing."

While Johan engaged in combat with Maxi, Leandro played his role as an infiltrator well, neutralizing the Erasers, assuming their appearances after knocking them unconscious with a blow to the neck. Fortunately, he didn't encounter anyone special, only facing off against inconsequential Erasers.

Arce focused on saving the wounded, aided by Cantero, who defied Rozkiewicz's orders to inflict harm and instead assisted both Semaphores and Erasers. Due to the respect she had earned through her powers, no one dared to bother her.

As chaos rapidly spread throughout the city, police officers and gendarmes began to arrive, but they didn't dare to intervene in the fight with powered individuals. It was clear they didn't want to get hurt, so they merely observed behind their shields. Their rifles were ready in case anyone approached to attack them, but there's always an idiot who acts without thinking. One of the officers fired a tear gas grenade into the fighting crowd. Unfortunately for him, the majority of the adults in the crowd rushed toward the police and gendarmerie. Even with their shields, they were ineffective against the powers of the crowd.

Rozkiewicz, who had lost track of Desza, felt the police and gendarmes joining the fray. He ran toward where his reinforcements were stationed, in a nearby hotel. They were on the roof, watching the chaos unfold.

Rozkiewicz leaped onto the roof but landed awkwardly, stumbling and falling in front of them.

"Nice way to land," Frederick remarked.

"Your girlfriend taught me," Rozkiewicz retorted.

"Enough! Don't argue. There are too many problems down there for us to fight among ourselves," Sofía intervened.

"Sorry, Sofí," Frederick apologized.

"Alright, what's the plan?" Sofía asked.

Rozkiewicz stood up and declared, "The Witnesses want to steal the Alfonsín key, a necklace that can open the sanctuary where Thanatos is imprisoned. We can't let it fall into their hands."

"Alright, the plan is to stop them, so let's do it," Frederick responded.

"I like your attitude, Sofí," Rozkiewicz complimented.

"It's time to end this," Sofía affirmed.

"Let's go!" Rozkiewicz urged.

As they dispersed into the streets, Desza, disguised as a Semaphore, who had overheard the conversation, grinned and muttered, "Fools."

He discarded his disguise and charged into the crowd, brandishing his machete, an object that caught the attention of all his followers, who ceased their activities and began to follow him. Everyone except Dockly, who was still locked in combat with a formidable opponent.

"How long are you going to keep fighting?" Dockly asked as he loaded his Winchester.

"Until one of us dies or we run out of bullets," his opponent replied.

"Great words," Dockly commented before emerging from cover and firing with precision.

This prompted Celeste to emerge from hiding and shoot at him with a red Magnum. The bullets tore huge holes in the walls as if a small meteor had crashed into them.

Dockly rolled on the ground and returned fire. He stood up, stowed his Winchester, and drew a sword. Celeste tried to shoot, but she was out of bullets. She tossed the gun aside and ran toward him. When she got close enough, Dockly swung his sword intending to decapitate her, but she sidestepped, causing his sword to hit the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Celeste stomped on the blade, pinning it to the ground and rendering it immovable. Then, she grabbed him by the waist and slammed him to the ground. As she stood over him, he grabbed her leg and threw her aside. Then he noticed his arm was glowing, a sign that Desza was summoning him.

"Sorry, princess, but it seems we'll have to leave this for later," Dockly said.

He then ran to the edge of the roof and jumped, deploying a small parachute to land safely.

Celeste stood up and aimed her rifle at him, firing at the parachute, but Dockly detached himself and landed on his feet, unharmed, before disappearing behind a building.

"Son of a...! I'll come after you later!" Celeste swore.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the conflict, Maxi easily overpowered Johan; his sword skills were no match for Maxi's hardened body.

"I'll come for your head," Johan threatened.

"I'll be waiting, Johan," Maxi replied calmly.

In a desperate attempt to strike him, Maxi grabbed Johan's arm, tossed him into the air, and hurled him against a building, which was three hundred meters away.

"SCORE! AND THE CROWD GOES WILD!"

Then, Maxi spotted a prominent machete amidst the crowd and sprinted toward it.

Slowly, a great storm was brewing; all signs pointed toward the key to Julekha Chandra. The danger weighed heavy in the hearts of the team; they were terrified. Desza had raided the tricolor agency and stolen the papers of magic to release Thanatos. Everyone raced to stop him. The more fear the guild members felt, the more satisfaction Desza experienced; the fear in their faces fueled his excitement, his machete claiming more and more lives. No one would be safe as long as Desza drew breath.

The path grew narrower as they approached, facing Julekha Chandra's refuge. And as he leaped from the crowd, the president's bodyguards quickly leaped to her defense. Among them were Frederick, Sofía, Walter, Krauser, Rozkiewicz, and Fiore. These were the only people available to help her; the rest were busy fighting.

When Desza arrived, all his minions followed suit. Many of them had scores to settle, evident in the confrontations between Walter and Joel or Rŭsseŭs and Sofía.

"Damned corpse, you shall not pass," Krauser growled.

"We all know that's not going to happen, Krauser. The outcome will be the same," Desza retorted.

"Curse you, scoundrel! Stop him!" Krauser ordered.

With those words, the team launched into action. Rŭsseŭs took it upon himself to keep Sofía away from the scene, while Walter and Joel resumed their unfinished fight. Meanwhile, Desza confronted his two insignificant nemeses, Krauser and Rozkiewicz, and the battle commenced.

Charges and bravado were two sides of the same coin. Fiore used explosives to fight Isabel, Frederick engaged in a second round with Dockly. His intelligence and invisibility aided him greatly in this bout.

Krauser attacked Desza ferociously, but to no avail. Desza's machete prowess made him formidable, cutting through his tentacles and striking him with the hilt or his fists, making him a champion. Rozkiewicz focused on defense. Though eager to kill him, he couldn't let rage consume him, or he'd surely die, losing his chance to catch him.

Desza swung his machete back and forth, but none of his thrusts connected with his enemies. Although Rozkiewicz knew that if that machete touched him, it would be the end, Krauser, on the other hand, let himself be cut by the tentacles as if it didn't matter, knowing they would regenerate. This continued for almost ten minutes until Maxi intervened and joined the fray. He leaped and delivered a blow to Desza's back; Desza stood and struck with his machete, but it did nothing; his machete broke, but didn't shatter. Then, Rozkiewicz kicked him in the chest, sending him flying. Once in the air, Krauser grabbed him with his tentacles and slammed him repeatedly to the ground.

All of his minions witnessed this brutal scene. Jørgen knocked out Frederick and charged toward his boss, cutting Krauser's tentacles and hoisting his unconscious boss's body. Using his feet, he overcame Rozkiewicz and Krauser. When he went for Maxi, he saw Desza spitting blood, and upon seeing this, he fled the scene, carrying Desza's body, and telepathically communicated with his friends on the way; the plan had failed.

Rŭsseŭs lost to Sofía's skill. She used tree roots and caught him off guard. As a consequence, his body endured painful blows against the asphalt, walls, and cars. Using his lava powers, he managed to break free and escape. Dockly had fled to assist Joel, jumping into the crowd and saving his life. He shot at Walter, but he suffered no damage due to the cactus, although he had to flee as he wouldn't withstand much more of those bullets.

When everyone gathered on the roof of a bus, they looked at all present.

"THIS ISN'T OVER! WE'LL BE BACK, AND THEN YOU'LL TREMBLE!" Jørgen shouted, full of rage.

And before anyone could react, they disappeared without a trace. Rozkiewicz raised his hand and ordered the area to be cleared; they had won, they had managed to stop Desza, but it wasn't time to celebrate. There were still problems in the streets.

Rozkiewicz transformed into a great serpent, visible to both sides, and raising his hand, he spoke with a sinister voice.

"It is enough. For now, we shall forgive your audacity to attack Julekha Chandra. Now, cease the fighting and depart."

As Rozkiewicz had said, everyone stopped and helped each other. They had forgotten why they had started fighting in the first place. The wounded were taken to the infirmary, and Chandra left dressed differently to avoid drawing attention. The rest stayed behind to rebuild the streets and apologize to the local police and gendarmes. Many accepted and returned to their duties (It was out of fear more than anything else; what could a few sticks, shields, and pellet guns do against an army of individuals with powers?).

Cabaña was saved from death thanks to Cantero's healing hands. Johan had disappeared, and Rozkiewicz had declared him a fugitive from Semáforos' justice for daring to violate the contract he had signed.

Sofía, Walter, and Cantero had officially joined the cause of capturing the Witnesses. Rozkiewicz's team swore to be part of the agency he had created himself, called the Cromgúla, an entity that would be the assembly of champions.

Rozkiewicz asked Candado Barret for help over the phone. He could now only count on him, and Candado gladly accepted. Not only that, but also his guild members (Anzor, Declan, Hammya, Clementina, Ana María Pucheta, Matlotsky, Lucia, Erika, Lucas, German, Tínbari, Viki, Pio, and Héctor), his friends, the Bailak (Kevin and Martina), the porcelain child (Andersson), and his follower to death (Carolina). It was time to rely on the heavy hitters for a heavy mission.