Raizer, Jasper and their team managed to arrive at the base of the East Alley Gang. They couldn’t just jump in without any plan. After all, they weren’t familiar with the base. For all they knew, Naomi could be held anywhere. They needed to first scout out the place and find an opening in their security. But it was odd. The base was rather quiet. There wasn’t even a single guard patrolling.

“It’s weird.” Said Irene.

“What is it?” asked Raizer confused.

“There isn’t a single guard patrolling. Usually, this place would be guarded like a fortress. And it’s rather quiet too. Something is wrong. Did they expect us and decided to set a trap or what?”

Their thoughts were disturbed by loud bangs as light slightly glowed through the spaces of the wooden windows. The bangs were followed by screams of people.

“That sounds like a gun.” Irene muttered to herself.

“What does that mean then?” asked Jasper confused.

“It doesn’t matter. We should take this chance to sneak in.” said Raizer as he bolted towards the building. Jasper and the others followed right after.

***

Inside the base.

Naomi had her back against the wall as she kept firing her rifle. There were dead bodies everywhere on the ground riddled with bullets. Cole was hiding against the wall with some of his men waiting for her to run out of bullets.

“Damn. What’s with this woman? To think she would kill this many of the guards alone.” Said Cole frustrated. “Naomi. It would be wise of you to hand yourself over. It’s only a matter of time before you run out of bullets.” Shouted Cole.

There was no response. The only thing Cole could think of was that she probably ran out of bullets. Not only that but she was probably tired and injured. A few people managed to injure her by stabbing her in the gut.

Cole looked over at one of his men before ordering him to go check if either one of his theories were correct. The man then walked over, squatting so that he wouldn’t get shot at. Just after five steps, a bullet went through the man’s skull as he collapsed to the ground.

What the…? She managed to get him? How the hell is she such a good shot? Thought Cole puzzled.

“Now, now. Don’t stop just because of little ol me. Keep sending them this way Cole. I’ve got plenty of bullets for every single one of you.” Said Naomi panting heavily.

That was far from the truth. She only had a single round left. Not only that but her bleeding wasn’t stopping. Even after using her mana to stop her bleeding, she couldn’t stop it fully. She also knew that reinforcements were probably on their way considering the ruckus she had caused. And only four minutes were left till the bombs went off.

Cole thought of a plan. The plan was simple. If they all charged at her, then she would be overwhelmed. He just had to be behind everyone else as they sacrificed themselves for him.

“Listen up you, guys. It’s only a matter of time before the big boss arrives.” Everyone tensed up after hearing the word ‘big boss’. They all knew that their boss hated cowards more than anything and was ruthless to them.

“The plan is simple. We will rush at her all together and the ones remaining will take her down.” Everyone frowned at Cole’s plan but they knew that they couldn’t object. After all, Cole was close to the big boss so he was treated like the young master there.

The men shook their heads in agreeance as they all charged to where Naomi was hiding. A suicide charge, Naomi thought before jumping out from her hiding spot, riddling each one of them with bullets as they dropped one by one like flies.

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After a few of the guards were down on the ground, dead, the gun ran out of bullets. That was when Cole appeared out of nowhere kicking Naomi in the wounded part of her stomach as she was sent crashing against the wall.

“Dumb bitch.” Said Cole as he drew his sword. “You caused me a lot of trouble you know. Now, die.”

Cole swung his sword down at Naomi who covered her face bracing for the attack. That’s when Raizer blew apart the wooden window as he flew in the air with a devastating stomp. Cole managed to see the attack and halted himself, dodging the attack just barely. Raizer’s foot struck the wall leaving a crater on it.

Jasper then came charging in from the wall where Raizer had just entered from but unlike Raizer who came in by the window, Jasper literally broke through the wall to get in.

Cole, who wasn’t expecting Jasper’s unusual entrance was caught off guard as a fist came hurtling towards the side of his face. Jasper’s fist connected as he smashed Cole’s face against the wall. The wall crumbled as the unconscious Cole fell to the ground.

“Are you alright sis?” asked Raizer.

The injured remaining guards were shocked by the two people who just appeared and defeated Cole in a matter of seconds.

“Took you guys long enough.” Said Naomi as she let out a deep sigh of relief.

“You’re hurt. Here, have a potion big sister.” Said Jasper as he gave her a low-grade healing potion.

Naomi grabbed the potion and drank it in one gulp. Her wound healed but not completely, leaving a tiny wound. Since low-grade healing potions could only heal small wounds like scratches, her deep stab wound only healed barely.

“Okay, then. We should leave Raizer.” Said Jasper as he princess carried Naomi on his arms.

“Yeah, let’s go-“ before Raizer could finish his sentence, a punch to the liver blew him against the wall. He crashed hard as blood spewed out of his mouth, his eyes rolling back. Before Jasper could react, blood oozed out of his chest. He fell from the attack dropping Naomi to the ground.

“You guys really did a number on my people, jeez. Do you know how annoying it is to have to fight?” said a man as he stood holding an axe in his hand. It was the big boss of the East Alley Gang, Mike.

He was a guy with a well-built body. His hair was black and ragged and he had bags under his eyes.

“To think you would risk starting a war just because of one girl. Are you guys stupid?” said Mike with a look filled with annoyance. “Well, whether you attacked or not, we were going to start a war so I guess it doesn’t matter.”

He looked at Naomi who was on the floor next to him, still contemplating what had just happened.

“Holy smoke. You’re hot. No wonder these guys came for you. As much as I like women, I’m not really fond of the rebellious ones. Just be subservient like the bitch you are.” Mike then stretched his neck, followed by a snap sound. “That old geezer said there wouldn’t be any problem. Well, this works out for me I guess. I’ll just use this little incident as an excuse to start a war.” Said Mike as he grinned.

He then looked around and noticed Cole unconscious on the ground.

“Tsk, what a failure. To lie pathetically like that.” Mike turned and looked at Naomi again. “Now what should I do with you?” He sneered before continuing, “Killing you in front of your friends who sacrificed everything to save you should suffice, right.” He said as he clenched his hand on Naomi’s cheeks.

Naomi’s heart pounded through her chest. It was her first time feeling that fear. Even though she knew that she would die at any time whenever she did her missions, she wasn’t particularly scared. What made it different this time was the involvement of her beloved brothers.

She would rather die than let her family die.

“Then do it.” Said Naomi with bloodied teeth.

“Yeah, I don’t really like girls like you.” said Mike as he moved his hand from her cheeks to her neck. He then slowly squeezed the life out of her.

“Let her go, huff, huff.”

Mike was startled. He was sure that there was no one left standing. He turned his head only to find Raizer on his feet.

How the hell is this kid still standing right now? The punch I gave him was straight to his liver. With the power of that punch fused with mana, that should have caused excruciating pain resulting in him passing out almost instantly.

“I said… let her go!” shouted the bloodied Raizer as smoke started coming out of his body. His brown eyes slowly turned fiery red as sparks of embers emanated from him. The air around Raizer started to tremble. In Mike’s view, the air was shaking like in the desert.

What the hell is going on? Mike asked himself as he let go of Naomi.

Rage boiled from within Raizer’s body. His skin felt hot. His heart was pounding like a drum. His ears felt like they would explode from the heat he was feeling. All he felt like doing at that moment was scream. The eager to scream welled up inside of him until he let it out.

“Arggggggghhhhh!”

The devastating scream was followed by a wave of heat that scorched the walls as it blew towards Mike. Mike braced himself but was pushed back by the heat wave.

Hot! It’s fucking hot. What the hell is going here? Don’t tell me… is he awakening as a ‘gifted’?

Mike had a shocked look on his face. After all, it was a rare phenomenon to undergo an awakening to a ‘gifted’. He couldn’t believe that a nobody like Raizer was awakening those powers.

“If only you were on my side. Too bad. I’ll have to kill someone with so much potential.” Said Mike as he tossed his axe through the air, catching it again.