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Kai stepped off the main road and onto a gravel path, his heart pounding steadily against his ribs. The location was just as they had described—secluded, hidden from prying eyes, and unsettlingly quiet. He could see the group waiting for him, their silhouettes illuminated by the dull glow of a distant streetlight. He counted five of them on bikes, their tattooed arms flexing as they leaned against their rides. They looked just like the gangsters he’d fought before—rough, muscular, and oozing a sense of violence.

But one figure stood out.

The man wore a black formal suit, with a tie knotted perfectly at his throat. His slim frame was almost elegant, contrasting starkly with his disheveled, messy purple hair that didn't fit the rest of his appearance. A long scar ran from his eyebrow down to his cheek, and his lips were curved into a perpetual grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes, which were nearly shut as if he found everything amusing.

Kai’s fists clenched as he approached, feeling the weight of his steel knuckles concealed in his pocket. He forced a smirk onto his face, masking the fear curling in his gut. "You guys must be Julian's minions, right?" he called out, feigning bravado. "Your disguises aren’t exactly subtle."

The purple-haired man tilted his head, and his grin widened. "You’re quite the joker, aren’t you?" His voice was smooth, almost musical, but with an edge that sent a chill down Kai’s spine. "But let’s not waste time with formalities. I am Alexios Varyn."

Kai felt his breath hitch. The name felt off—too refined, too polished for someone who surrounded himself with thugs. He hid his discomfort, though, keeping his expression neutral. "I’m here, as you asked. Alone. No cops, no backup." He narrowed his eyes. "I kept my end of the deal. Now, where's my brother?"

Alexios chuckled softly, the sound grating against Kai’s nerves. "Ah, yes. Family, always the first concern, isn’t it?" He gestured with a sweep of his hand. "Let me introduce you to these boys here. They’re from the Shadowhawk gang. You’ve met them before, I believe? Quite recently, in fact."

Kai’s eyes darted to the five men. It was clear now—the tattoos, the ripped clothes, the way they held themselves. They were Shadowhawks, the same gang he had fought off before landing himself in the hospital. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay calm. "And you?" Kai asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "You’re not from the Shadowhawks."

Alexios’s grin stretched even farther. "Very perceptive, Kai. No, I’m not with those little street rats." He straightened his tie, eyes still nearly shut, but his voice now carrying a dangerous edge. "I serve someone far greater, far more powerful. I serve the supreme one known as Hades of The Infernal Void."

The name "Hades" sent a jolt through Kai's system. He had heard whispers—rumors of a criminal empire that operated in the shadows, a force that even the most ruthless gangs feared. Kai’s mouth went dry, but he kept his gaze locked on Alexios, refusing to let him see his fear. "Why are you here, then?" he demanded. "Why involve yourself with Julian’s mess?"

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Alexios’s grin remained fixed, as if carved into his face. "You see, Julian is but a small part of the grander scheme," he explained, his tone almost condescending. "I’m here to deliver a message. Stay away from him. If you don’t…" He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper that sent shivers down Kai’s spine, "your family will pay the price."

Kai’s pulse quickened. "So, that’s it? Threaten me and expect me to back down?" He was trying to sound defiant, but he could hear the tremor in his voice. This man’s presence, his aura, was unlike anything Kai had encountered. It was as if every instinct in his body was screaming at him to run.

Alexios straightened up, his grin never fading. "There is one way to avoid such an unfortunate end," he said, clasping his hands behind his back. "Join us, Kai. Pledge yourself to the Infernal Void, serve our supreme leader, and all of this…" He gestured vaguely around them, "will be but a memory."

Kai blinked in disbelief. "You want me to join you?" He couldn’t help the incredulous laugh that escaped him. "Why would someone like Hades care about me?"

Alexios’s grin widened—impossibly so. "Our supreme one has taken an interest in you," he replied, his tone now eerily sincere. "Your strength, your defiance, your spirit. Hades sees potential in you, Kai."

Kai shook his head, trying to clear the fog of fear clouding his mind. "No," he said firmly. "I’m not joining your organization. Now, where’s my brother?"

For a moment, Alexios’s eyes seemed to crack open, just a sliver, revealing a glint of something cold and deadly. "Your brother," he repeated, his tone almost mocking. "Ah, yes. As promised, he’s been released. He’s safe and sound, far from here."

Relief flooded through Kai, but it was short-lived as he felt the air shift. He took a step back, only to find himself surrounded. The five figures in black and red colors advanced, their boots scuffing the pavement. Shadows concealed their faces, but their eyes burned with malicious intent.

Gripping their aluminum bats, the Shadowhawk gang members surrounded Kai, forming a tight semicircle. One cracked his knuckles, the tendons in his neck standing out as he bared his teeth in a predatory grin. Another twirled his bat, the dull thud of wood against palm echoing in the alley.

Alexios stepped back, clasping his hands behind his back, still grinning that awful, manic grin. "If you will not join us, then you are a threat. And all threats to the supreme one must be…" He paused, his voice rising in pitch as his hair seemed to move with an unseen wind, "removed from existence!"

The gangsters lunged forward, and Kai’s muscles tensed. In one swift motion, he slipped the steel knuckles onto his hands and took a stance. "Bring it," he muttered, feeling the cool metal against his skin, knowing that every second would count.

Alexios watched, eyes still nearly shut, grinning as his hair whipped wildly in the wind. "Show me, Kai," he whispered, his voice dripping with excitement. "Show me why the supreme one is interested in you!"

Kai’s heart pounded in his chest, but his eyes remained focused, furious, and unyielding. He felt the weight of the vest under his clothes, knowing it was his only edge in this battle.

And then they charged.

Kai steeled himself, his brass-knuckle-clad fists glinting ominously in the muted illumination. He was prepared to battle against seemingly insurmountable odds, undaunted by the challenge that lay before him.