"Ben! I didn't want him to die like that..." Jura rasped, his voice thick with anguish as blood streamed down from the gash on his forehead, trickling past his nose. He staggered briefly but steadied himself, his breathing uneven. He tightened his grip on his elbow, priming his arm for another strike. Kai shifted his weight, lowering his stance. His arms moved fluidly, a striking contrast to the tight grip he maintained on his katana hilt. Sweat gleamed on his brow, sliding down his face, betraying the strain he refused to acknowledge. Jura's fist shot forward, his left leg snapping upward in a simultaneous kick. I barely intercepted the attack, my feet skidding across the ground. Kai unsheathed his sword. He lunged forward, swinging his blade, each slash aimed to overwhelm. I leaned back, dodging the blinding flurry of strikes, the wind of his blade slicing dangerously close. He stirred his fingers mid-swing.

Then, his blade came down at an awkward angle. I braced myself, my arm tensing. I caught the blade. The katana's edge embedded itself between the fibers of my reinforced muscle. A fleeting grin crossed Kai's face before I shifted my weight, swiping for his waist in a throw attempt. He twisted away, narrowly avoiding the counter. Still within range, I capitalized on the opening and drove a quick jab toward his face. He raised his arms in defense, his voice dripping with disdain. "A measly jab!?" My fist powered through his guard The force sent Kai hurtling backward, his body crashing into the wooden boards. Splinters flew in all directions as he crumpled momentarily before struggling to rise. Pain radiated through my right arm, the flesh threatening to tear away from its seams. Poison coursed through my veins, each heartbeat spreading it further, sapping my strength. The accumulated damage would kill anyone but me. I can’t keep this up. I’m running out of time. If I don’t finish this soon, it’s over.

Jura lunged back into the fray, his fist arcing upward in a fierce uppercut. I intercepted the strike with my palm. He followed immediately with a sharp left straight, but I caught it mid-flight, my fingers tightening. The fire in his eyes didn’t waver; if anything, it burned hotter. With a growl, Jura leaned into me, pushing forward with all his weight. Our muscles strained against each other in a raw contest of strength, veins bulging and teeth clenched. I gradually overpowered him, his form beginning to collapse. I heaved him forward, bending his spine at an unnatural angle. A sickening pop echoed between us. Jura groaned, his face contorted. He fought to push back, his heels digging furrows into the ground, but his strength faltered. My grip held firm, and he seemed moments away from folding in half when a sharp, searing pain erupted in my side. I glanced down. Kai’s fingers were pressed into my liver, his nails digging through the fabric of my shirt. My eyes narrowed. He… really tried that?

Kai let out a howl of pain as the strain of the strike rebounded on his hand. His desperate move gave Jura the momentum he needed. He found a wellspring of strength and began to rise, his body straightening from the hunch. I released him with a forceful shove to the side. Jura tumbled, his body rolling over, landing hard and motionless for a moment. Kai scrambled backward, clutching his throbbing hand. I was already closing the distance. My shadow loomed over him as I raised my fist, the blade of his katana still lodged in my muscle. "You're a gimmick." I snarled. My fist hammered into his neck with my full power. The impact sent his body flipping wildly. Now onto...

I grabbed the katana lodged in my arm, its blade slick with blood, and adjusted my grip. Holding it like a spear, I leaned back. With a sharp exhale, I hurled it through one of the jagged holes they had created in the structure. The weapon disappeared into the void, clattering somewhere out of sight. My chest heaved as I huffed, momentarily free of the cumbersome blade. The reprieve was fleeting. I whirled around, my eyes locking on Lilith. I dashed toward her, my fist cocked low at my hip, coiling with murderous intent. If I can kill her... this will all be worth it!

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Blinded by resolve, I didn’t notice the man who had been standing guard vanish from his position. Before I could reach her, thick, iron-like arms coiled around my neck, cutting off my airflow. The sudden pressure shot panic through me as my vision began to blur. The voice of my unseen assailant rasped close to my ear, dripping with venom. "Rear naked choke, asshole. You have eight seconds." I gritted my teeth, clasping his hand with both of mine. The tendons in my arms bulged as I twisted his fingers. A sickening crack echoed in the air. "I'm still stronger, asshole." I said, my voice hoarse. He released the hold immediately, staggering back, cradling his shattered hand. Jura came charging in like a freight train, positioning himself as a shield for his comrade. His fist slammed into my stomach with enough force to shatter my bone. Pain exploded through my core, a white-hot agony that stole the last of my strength. My legs buckled as I gasped for air. It felt like trying to breathe through a straw. Adrenaline surged one final time, pushing me forward, but it wasn’t enough. The ground rushed up to meet me as I started to fall.

That end wouldn't fit me!

I twisted violently, my body whipping as I shook Jura and the other man off me. Jura flipped backward, and landed on his feet with cat-like agility. He didn't think for a moment. He broke into a sprint. I didn’t hesitate either. My body surged forward. Every ounce of my remaining strength funneled into one final attack. I bent my elbow, reinforcing my arm with every shred of power. The strain in my muscles felt like they would tear. Jura mirrored my intent, charging headlong toward me with his own attack primed. We collided in a thunderous impact. The sound of bone snapping was a given. My reinforced strike shattered his arm. His limb bent unnaturally. The force of the clash sent a shockwave through my body, my vision flickering. My eyes rolled back involuntarily. That's.. all I've got.

The Demon Buddha crumpled to the floor, his immense presence now reduced to a faint shadow of what it once was. His chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, the fight within him dimming to darkness. I clutched my broken arm. This wasn't worth it.. "Lilith..." I rasped, my voice barely above a whisper. “Does that mean I got the last hit?” Lilith’s lips curled into a mocking pout as she tilted her head. "No," she said. “he’s still alive, my dear. End him.” Her words carried a sharp edge, but it was the end him—delivered with icy finality—that sent a chill into us. Thane leaned against the wall, nursing his injuries. “I have to respect him, somewhat.” he admitted, even. “Outnumbered five to one, he still fought like hell. He killed Kai and Ben while poisoned. And that poison’s no joke—it’s top-notch. Yet somehow, he didn’t seem like he was fighting at half his strength.”

I stood over the Demon Buddha’s prone body, my face a mask. My boot stomped hard against the Demon Buddha’s chest. “I don’t give a fuck!” I snarled. “He lost. That’s all anyone will remember him by.” From above, a rope descended with a faint creak. Tarek, the one who came up with the poison idea, slid down, his movements eerily quiet. His boots met the ground, stepping with the grace of a hawk. “People will remember me by my knife.” Tarek said, his voice calm but chilling. He knelt beside the weapon, the steel glinting under the dim light. “My family’s special recipe...” he murmured, sliding the blade back into its sheath. Lilith chuckled darkly. “Get it done with already.” she said. I sneered. I raised my boot high, the sole poised for execution. “Goodbye, Demon Buddha.”

I drove my foot into the man pinning Caleb, the impact sending him hurtling out of the building. His body crashed through the weakened frame, splinters and dust erupting as he disappeared into the darkness outside. My feet hit the ground with a thud, and without missing a beat, I swung my arm in a wide arc. The force of my motion unleashed a gust of wind, powerful and sharp, that knocked the other two men off their feet. They tumbled backward, their stances broken, coughing as the air was forced from their lungs. The men scrambled to recover their eyes wide with fear and recognition. One of them managed to rasp out, "Lilith... is that him?!" Lilith stood still, refusing to answer. She didn’t need to. The look in her eyes confirmed everything they feared. The silence between us stretched thin, heavy with an unspoken promise of... violence. I let my killing intent seep. Their movements grew hesitant, their confidence replaced by primal fear. Slowly, deliberately, I curled my fingers into a spear hand. My voice came out seething with fury. "What have you done?!"