The moment was electrifying. Alex launched a brutal punch toward Mario, who barely managed to block it. Mario retaliated with his own strike, but Alex dodged with lightning-fast reflexes and countered instantly. Mario, however, stood his ground, blocking it yet again.
Neither of them could land a single solid hit.
Fists moved like a blur, dodges were razor-sharp, and counterattacks were relentless. It wasn't just a fight—it was a masterclass in combat, an unbreakable clash between two warriors who refused to fall.
---
[Meanwhile: A Desperate Race to the Hospital]
Butler and Eden rushed Layla to the hospital. Time was slipping away, and Eden's eyes were filled with concern. The only thing that mattered right now was getting her to safety.
---
[Back to the Battle: Chaos Unleashed]
As Alex and Mario's duel raged on, a shadow moved behind them. Snake, swift as ever, struck first—sending three fighters flying with a brutal punch.
And then came Rafael.
He exploded into action, taking down multiple opponents with devastating super kicks, his movements like a storm in the middle of the battlefield.
Alex was about to land another punch on Mario when suddenly—a hand grabbed his wrist from behind.
At the same moment, Mario tried to strike back, but before his fist could make contact—Rafael's monstrous punch crashed into him like a meteor!
Mario was sent flying, slamming into the ground with an impact that echoed through the battlefield.
---
[The Moment of Realization: Caught]
Snake, still burning with fury, shouted, "We spoke to James! The truce is back in place! So why the hell are you attacking us?!"
Alex, Rafael, and Snake turned toward Mario, ready to end him—
But then, Mario smirked.
And with a twisted grin, he uttered just one word—
"Caught."
Their blood ran cold.
They turned around—only to see that they were completely surrounded.
Evil Slayer's Second Tier Captain stood before them, flanked by 90 of their fiercest fighters. Sixty from before—and now, thirty more.
The Captain stepped forward, his gaze sharp and merciless. "It's been a while since I've had a good fight." He turned toward Mario. "Thanks for picking the best opponents for us."
Alex, Snake, and Rafael exchanged glances—each of them realizing the danger they were in.
The Captain smirked. "You three are the backbone of Hellfire. Rafael—the President, Snake—the Vice, and Alex—the First Tier Captain. If you fall today... Hellfire will be left without its leaders."
Then, cracking his knuckles, he added, "By the way, I'm Tom. And today—I'm here to bury you."
Mario's voice rang through the battlefield— "Let's teach them a lesson."
And with that, all hell broke loose.
The Evil Slayer gang members charged in like a relentless storm. Alex, Snake, and Rafael fought back with everything they had.
Rafael took on two entire chapters by himself—his fists breaking bones, his kicks knocking out opponents left and right.
But no matter how strong they were—the numbers were overwhelming.
---
[Meanwhile: The Hospital]
Back at the hospital, Butler and Eden stood outside the operation theatre, their hearts pounding. Every second felt like an eternity.
Then—finally—the doors opened.
Layla was wheeled out, bandaged and breathing through an oxygen mask.
Her fingers twitched. Her eyes, weak but determined, looked straight at Eden.
And then, with a whisper that carried all the weight of her last ounce of strength, she said—
"Save Alex."
[The Turning Point]
The battlefield was drenched in sweat and blood. Rafael, Snake, and Alex—three of Hellfire's strongest warriors—were still standing, but barely.
Their breaths were ragged. Their muscles screamed in agony. They had fought like demons, but even demons had limits.
Mario and Tom stood before them, both grinning.
Tom chuckled, cracking his knuckles. "That's it? Is this all you've got? I expected more from Hellfire's best."
Mario smirked, wiping the blood from his lip. "You three look exhausted. Perfect."
His eyes gleamed with malice as he turned to Tom. "No more games. Let's finish them."
Tom laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. "Hahahaha! Looks like your stamina has run dry."
Then his voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "And you know the best part? I saw the cops heading toward the other side of the city. They won't be back anytime soon. Their investigation will take hours."
He took a step forward, his grin widening. "Which means—we can kill you right here, wipe away all evidence, and disappear without a trace."
Mario chuckled darkly. "That's why James made you the 2nd Tier Captain, huh?"
Tom threw his head back and laughed. "HAHAHAHA! Exactly."
Just as they were about to strike—
A deafening shout echoed through the battlefield.
"RAFAEL!!"
Everyone turned.
A cloud of dust and roaring engines tore through the street.
And then— they arrived.
---
[Reinforcements: The Arrival of Hellfire's Warriors]
Charging into the battlefield were Hiroshi—the 2nd Tier Captain of Hellfire, Joshua—the 3rd Tier Captain, and Ryan—one of their most trusted warriors.
They weren't alone. Seventy battle-hardened Hellfire members stormed in behind them, armed and ready for war.
Ryan screeched his bike to a stop, his eyes burning with rage.
Hiroshi, standing at the front, raised his fist and roared— "RESCUE THE PRESIDENT FIRST!!"
And with that, chaos erupted.
Hellfire's warriors crashed into the Evil Slayer gang like an unstoppable tidal wave.
Tom's face twisted in frustration. "Shit! These jerks just had to show up now!"
Mario clenched his fists, cursing under his breath. "We need to retreat. Now."
They had no choice.
With a final scowl, Tom and Mario turned and vanished into the darkness.
---
[Aftermath: Regret and Reflection]
Hiroshi walked up to Rafael, slightly out of breath. "Sorry, boss. We got here a little late."
Rafael, exhausted but steady, shook his head. "It's nothing new. This has happened before."
But Alex...
Alex stood completely silent.
His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. His breath was uneven. His mind was racing.
It was because of him.
Because of him—Layla was fighting for her life.
Her weak, desperate voice echoed in his mind.
His stomach twisted. His chest felt heavy.
For the first time in his life, Alex felt powerless.
End of chapter 15