《Elion Hayes Book One: The Beast Rings》 Chapter One Elion Hayes was one second away from getting his face ripped off. No exaggeration. No dramatic overstatement. Just a cold, horrifying reality. A seven-foot-tall monkey-like creature loomed over him, showing its sharp teeth and bringing its claws down toward his head. Its glowing yellow eyes focused on his throat, and it smelled like a mix of rotten animals and smoke. Elion barely had time to think, let alone scream. To his right, Jordan Walker¡ªhis best friend and partner in terrible life choices¡ªwas swinging a metal pipe like his life depended on it. Which, fun fact, it did. To his left, Ronan Cross, the cowboy who they just met, was busy reloading his revolver one-handed, completely unfazed by the horror show happening around him. ¡°Ronan!¡± Elion yelled, desperately backpedaling. The cowboy snapped the chamber shut, spun the revolver, and fired in one clean motion. BANG. The beast-man¡¯s head snapped backward. Its body collapsed into the alley like a dropped bag of bricks. Elion exhaled sharply, heart hammering. ¡°Little close, don¡¯t you think?¡± Ronan tipped his hat. ¡°Still breathing, aren¡¯t you?¡± Elion didn¡¯t have time to argue because two more beast-men were already charging. They were too human to be animals, too monstrous to be men. They moved wrong¡ªtoo fast, too smooth like their bones weren¡¯t connected right. Their heads twitched unnaturally, sniffing the air, their too-wide grins stretching like they knew something Elion didn¡¯t. Bodies hunched like apes, fur rippling over twisted muscles. Their fingers ended in black claws sharp enough to carve through concrete. And their faces¡ªSun Wukong¡¯s nightmare cousins¡ªwere frozen in eerie, too-wide grins. Elion had exactly one second to remember everything Ronan had taught them less than an hour ago. Rule One: Don¡¯t let them touch you. Poison claws. Bad. Rule Two: Their reflexes are insane. Swing too early, you miss. Swing too late, you die. Rule Three: If all else fails¡ªpray. Because right now? Everything else was failing. Elion wondered how did his life take such a turn. Six hours ago, his life was perfectly normal. *** New Orleans was never quiet. At night, the city feels alive. Cars honk, neon lights buzz, and street performers sing jazz for tourists. The tourists pretend to enjoy the music before moving on to the next bar. Elion Hayes barely noticed any of it. He walked out of Good Books¡ªa bookstore and pulled up the hood of his sweatshirt. The air smelled like rain and fried shrimp, heavy with humidity that stuck to his skin. His backpack hung over one shoulder and felt too light for the weight he was carrying. Above the Mississippi, the sky threw its usual overdramatic tantrum¡ªgold bleeding into purple, clouds streaked like someone had taken a paintbrush to the horizon. People always said sunsets in New Orleans were magic. Elion didn¡¯t even glance at it. Sunsets were like opportunities¡ªbeautiful for some, constantly slipping away for others. And for him? Life felt like an endless game of catch-up. He fixed his bag strap and blended into the crowd on the sidewalk. He moved with the rhythm of the city. He never rushed or slowed down; he was always at pace with the surrounding chaos. It helped that he looked like someone worth noticing. At five foot ten, with a lean but defined build, he had the kind of athletic frame that made people assume he worked out¡ªwhich was only half true. His life kept him in shape whether he liked it or not. His sharp jawline and high cheekbones could have made him conventionally good-looking, but he didn¡¯t have the time¡ªor the patience¡ªto care. His black curls were always messy, always falling into his deep brown eyes, making him look like he¡¯d either just rolled out of bed or had been running on zero sleep for days. Some people could effortlessly own that ¡°reckless and charming¡± look. Elion? He just looked exhausted. Not that he cared. He had bigger things to worry about. Some guy in a suit nearly shoulder-checked him into next week, sprinting across the crosswalk like his entire life depended on catching a bus. Elion barely reacted. New Orleans had two speeds: fast and ¡°good luck.¡± A cyclist shot past so close he could have reached out and stolen the guy¡¯s backpack. A woman with AirPods power-walked through him, yelling at someone named Gary about a ¡°colossal failure in the spreadsheets.¡± A guy balancing three iced coffees with absolutely zero spatial awareness was on a direct collision course. Elion dodged them all without breaking stride. This was how life worked. No pauses. No space to breathe. Just keep moving, or you¡¯ll get flattened. His reflection flashed in a shop window. The black hoodie. The tired posture. The restless eyes that never stopped moving. He looked the same as always. But sometimes, when he really stopped and stared, it felt like he was looking at a stranger. Didn¡¯t recognize that guy. Didn¡¯t want to. Then his phone buzzed in his pocket. Just like that, everything changed. A feeling tightened in his chest before he even checked the screen. Because deep down, he already knew¡ªthis wasn¡¯t good news. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Elion barely pulled his phone out of his pocket before the buzzing stopped. The screen lit up. Six unread messages. A few were from his Mom. His stomach tightened. Mom never texted this much unless something was wrong. He swiped open the notifications, scanned the messages, and then played the first one. It was a voice message. MOM (Voice Message): ¡°Elion, I need you to talk to Liam when you get home.¡± Elion paused mid-step. Liam? He immediately tapped play. His mother¡¯s voice came through, soft but tight with frustration. MOM (Voice Message): ¡°He got into another fight. You know how he is. I tried talking to him, but he was not listening. I need your help to handle this before it gets worse.¡± Elion sighed. Liam had been picking fights for as long as he could throw a punch. Most of the time, it was just stupid posturing, a bad habit. But sometimes? It was worse. Still, this wasn¡¯t an emergency. His Mom would¡¯ve called if it were. He typed out a reply. ELION: I¡¯ll talk to him when I get home. A few seconds later, another message popped up. MOM (Voice Message): Okay. Can you grab some groceries first? The usual. And get extra eggs this time¡ªyour brother keeps inhaling them like they don¡¯t cost money. Elion smirked, shaking his head. At least she sounded calmer now. ELION: Got it. That was enough for now. Liam¡¯s fight could wait. Elion needed a place to clear his head and maybe... take a break from his responsibilities for a few hours. His plate was full at the moment. He took a deep breath, trying his best to forget everything. He put his phone in his pocket and kept walking, letting the busy city lead him. He walked without thinking as his mind wandered, troubled by worries he could not shake off. Then¡ªBEEEEP! ¡°Hey! Watch it, kid!¡± A grey car zoomed past, the tires slicing through the evening air like a blade. Elion stopped dead, heart hammering. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± he blurted, raising a hand in apology¡ªnot that the driver stuck around to care. He sighed and kept walking, that familiar exhaustion settling into his bones. Working wasn¡¯t the issue. He could handle long shifts, rude customers, and even late-night inventory restocks. The real problem? No matter how much effort he put in, he was just getting by. No savings. No progress. Just an endless cycle of study, work, sleep, repeat. As he turned onto one of the streets, a familiar voice cut through the evening air. ¡°Elion! Hold up, man!¡± He turned to see Jordan jogging toward him, looking effortlessly put together¡ªlike he hadn¡¯t just sprinted down the block. Before he could react, Jordan fell into step beside him¡ªall effortless movement and stupid confidence. Jordan Walker had that kind of energy that made people look twice. He walked through the city confidently, taking long strides. His shoulders were relaxed, and his hands were in his pockets as if he had all the time in the world. Elion was sharp and quiet, while Jordan was laid-back but always kept up with everyone. He was taller by an inch or two, built like an athlete who made everything look effortless. His hoodie was only half-zipped over a fitted shirt, the sleeves pushed up as if he had just rolled them up without thinking. Jordan¡¯s golden-blonde hair practically reflected the streetlights, like he¡¯d been personally blessed by the sun. He never had to put in much effort¡ªhis life seemed like a series of great moments. A few loose strands of hair framed his sharp face¡ªhe had high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and eyes that always looked playful. Well, to cut it short, Jordan wasn¡¯t just cool. He was the guy who could talk his way into anything¡ªand out of everything. ¡°Hey,¡± Elion said, managing a small smile as Jordan caught up. Jordan ran a hand through his hair like he was in a shampoo ad. ¡°I thought you went home already,¡± he said, still catching his breath. ¡°I checked the bookstore, but you weren¡¯t there.¡± ¡°I left on time,¡± Elion explained. ¡°On my way to grab some groceries for my mom.¡± Jordan tilted his head. ¡°Groceries, huh? Mind if I tag along? I was about to grab a coffee, but priorities.¡± Elion shrugged. ¡°Sure. Just don¡¯t slow me down.¡± Jordan grinned. ¡°Please. I should be saying that to you.¡± As they walked, the usual noise of the city faded, replaced by something different¡ªa low, buzzing energy, like the moment before a storm hit. Up ahead, a soccer court¡ªwell-known as The Cage by the locals¡ªloomed under the streetlights. Elion¡¯s eyes were fixated on the court. It had been years. It wasn¡¯t just any soccer court. This was the spot. No refs, no soft turf, no mercy. Just rusted fences, cracked pavement, and bragging rights that lasted until the next game. Normally, the place would be alive¡ªshouts, scuffed sneakers, the rhythmic thud-thud-thud of a ball bouncing between players. But tonight? Dead silent. Instead of a match, a group of guys stood in a circle, talking in hushed voices, their expressions tense. The way they kept glancing around told Elion this wasn¡¯t about who gets to play goalkeeper. Jordan noticed, too. ¡°Huh. The Cage is never this quiet.¡± Elion nodded. ¡°Yeah. Either they lost the ball¡­ or short of players.¡± Before they could walk past, someone spotted them. "Yo, Jordan!" A figure broke away from the group¡ªRaymond Ortega. Built like a tank and pretty fast for his size, he was known for making sure you felt it when he tackled you. He jogged over, grinning like Jordan had just saved his life. ¡°Dude, perfect timing. We¡¯re short two players. You in?¡± Jordan smirked. ¡°Man, I haven¡¯t stretched in, like, a week.¡± Ray laughed before scoffing. ¡°You don¡¯t need to stretch even after if it¡¯s a year. You¡¯re Jordan.¡± He then looked around and said, ¡°We still need a player.¡± Jordan shrugged, clearly accepting this as a fact. Then he nudged his head toward Elion. ¡°What about him?¡± Raymond turned, giving Elion a quick once-over before looking back at Jordan. ¡°Uh¡­ who¡¯s your friend? Is he good?¡± Elion blinked. Well, that was expected. It had been years since he last played here or since he participated in high school soccer tournaments, but he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d been wiped from history. Faces changed. Players came and went. He got it. But they had played a few times before. At least, remember him. ¡°Elion,¡± he said flatly. Hoping that could trigger Raymond¡¯s memory. Raymond squinted like he was trying to connect to a memory that didn¡¯t exist. ¡°Elion?¡± He tested the name, then shook his head. ¡°Sorry, man. Doesn¡¯t ring a bell.¡± The other guys in the group started whispering, trying to place him. "Nah. Sorry, man. Never heard of you." The words hit harder than they should¡¯ve. Never heard of you? Elion started to feel like he was in a movie where everyone forgot a character. Like everyone¡¯s memory about him had been wiped. Jordan, meanwhile, just stood there, grinning. Elion side-eyed him. ¡°Something funny?¡± Jordan¡¯s smirk widened. ¡°Nope. Just waiting.¡± Raymond exhaled through his nose. ¡°Look, no offense, but we really need players who can actually hold their own. No rookies.¡± One of the guys muttered, ¡°Especially tonight.¡± Elion caught that but let it slide. What¡¯s so special about tonight? Before he could ask, Jordan clapped him on the shoulder. ¡°Rookies? Bro, if you think I have a shot at going pro, you should¡¯ve seen this guy back in the day.¡± Silence. A few players exchanged looks. Others raised their eyebrows, now giving Elion a little more attention. Raymond arched an eyebrow. ¡°For real?¡± Jordan nodded, still completely unfazed. ¡°For real.¡± Elion flexed his fingers. It had been a while, but muscle memory was a stubborn thing. His body still remembered the game, even if these guys didn¡¯t remember him. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll see,¡± he said. In soccer, he had his share of pride and confidence. Ray studied him for a beat, then shrugged. ¡°Alright. If Jordan¡¯s vouching for you, you get a shot. But if you suck, you¡¯re off the court in five minutes.¡± Elion smirked. ¡°Fair enough.¡± As they walked toward the court, Elion felt it¡ªthe weight of doubt. Nobody remembered him. Nobody expected anything. But they were about to. Oh, they were about to. ¡°You okay with this?¡± Jordan asked. ¡°Will your Mom be waiting for the groceries?¡± ¡°No problem. Those are for tomorrow,¡± Elion replied as he pulled the red bib over his head, the fabric smelling like it had been marinated in sweat for the past year. He wrinkled his nose. "Man, when was the last time they washed these?" Jordan, already in his bib, grinned. "Pretty sure these things are self-cleaning¡ªyou know, in a ¡®let the next person¡¯s sweat cancel out the last guy¡¯s¡¯ kind of way.¡± ¡°Fantastic,¡± Elion muttered, adjusting the straps. Despite being street soccer, the setup was weirdly organized. Normally, The Cage ran 3-on-3 or 5-on-5¡ªfast-paced, high-energy, nonstop chaos. But tonight? 9-a-side. Which was practically a full team, at least by The Cage¡¯s standards. The court was big enough to handle it, sure, but it was rare for Elion to see this many people playing at once. He glanced at the opponents in their white bibs. A few familiar faces jumped out¡ªguys he hadn¡¯t seen in years. Some were former players from his old days here, others just regulars at The Cage. Interesting. Jordan jogged up beside him, rolling his shoulders. "You look like you''re thinking too hard." Elion nodded toward the other team. "Recognize any of them?" Jordan followed his gaze, his eyes scanning the white bibs. Then, he let out a low whistle. ¡°Oh yeah. Couple of real ballers over there. That guy¡ª¡± he nodded toward a lanky dude adjusting his shin guards¡ª ¡°is Marcus. Crazy footwork. And that dude? Malik. I swear he has a sixth sense for interceptions. If he¡¯s marking you, good luck getting a clean pass off.¡± Elion hummed. "Yeah, I remember Marcus. I played against him years ago." Jordan raised an eyebrow. "Do you remember how that went?" Elion smirked. "Let¡¯s just say I left him with trust issues." Jordan laughed. "Man, I cannot wait for this." Elion laughed. Same here. He cannot wait, too. Chapter Two They continued warming up¡ªlight jogging, quick stretches, a few passes between them. The rest of the players did the same; some cracked jokes, others focused, and others lost in their own pre-game rituals. ¡°Dear God, let us win tonight.¡± Some of the players were praying. Well, that was weird. Wasn¡¯t it just street soccer? Play for fun? Still, Elion continued his warm-up. He stretched his legs, rolling his shoulders as he took his spot¡ªright winger. He was trying to get back the feeling of playing. Jordan, of course, was a striker because where else would he be? The guy was built for scoring goals, and he knew it. The others jogged onto the court, passing the ball around as they warmed up. The air buzzed with anticipation, but something still felt... off. Elion nudged Jordan. ¡°Alright, be real with me¡ªwhy is everyone acting weird?¡± Jordan grinned, casually juggling the ball between his feet. With a grin, he said, "There must be bets involved. That''s the only possible explanation.¡± Elion stopped mid-stretch. ¡°Bets? Money?¡± Jordan smirked. ¡°Big game, big stakes. Wouldn¡¯t be the first time.¡± Elion frowned. ¡°You must be kidding... Things have changed a lot, huh?¡± Jordan laughed as he tossed the ball into the air and easily trapped it with his right foot. ¡°Don''t be silly, Elion. We were kids back then. Now? We¡¯re adults. Life changes people.¡± Elion sighed. He hated when Jordan said things that actually made sense. After about ten more minutes, Raymond clapped his hands from midfield, calling everyone in. "Alright! You all know the rules¡ªno refs, no whining, no mercy.¡± Elion leaned toward Jordan. "Is that, like, his catchphrase?" Jordan grinned. "Oh yeah. Guy loves saying that." Raymond continued. ¡°One rolling sub per team. Match is first to three goals or twenty minutes¡ªwhichever comes first. Play clean, play hard, and don¡¯t embarrass yourselves.¡± Jordan elbowed Elion. "Try not to embarrass yourself, rookie." Elion smirked. "Funny. I was just about to say the same to you." The teams moved into position. Elion flexed his fingers, rolling his neck. His pulse was steady, his body remembering the old rhythm, the way the game felt before everything else in life got complicated. Malik was onto him. Elion could see that on Malik¡¯s face, one could read, ¡®Where have I seen this face?¡¯ Well, it was too obvious. Some people were squinting at him, like their brains were running on low battery, trying to process where they¡¯d seen his face before. He knew that look. The I-know-this-guy-but-where-from look. Which, honestly, was fair. Elion used to play here all the time, but he¡¯d never been the type to socialize much. No pre-game banter, no post-match celebrations. He¡¯d just show up, play, and leave¡ªmostly because Jordan had dragged him along. Back then, Jordan had been the loud, charismatic one who made friends with literally everyone. Elion? He was just the dude standing next to him, nodding occasionally like an NPC in the background. So yeah. People sort of recognized him. But actually, remembering him? That was a whole different challenge. Still, Elion chose to ignore him. He was trying his best to get his sense of the game as quickly as possible. Raymond placed the ball at the center. "Three." Jordan bounced on his heels, eyes locked on the ball. "Two." The other team tensed. Marcus flashed Elion a cocky smirk from across the court. It seemed like he remembered Elion. "One." The match began. Elion took his first step, and suddenly, it felt like he had never left. The ball was passed from Jordan to Raymond. Raymond held the ball at midfield, eyes scanning the court for an opening. ¡°Move it, you snails! Find open spaces!¡± He was shouting at his teammates with the ball still on his feet, eyes looking around. Finding a free teammate seemed like a trouble for him. ¡°Over here, dumbass! I¡¯m free!¡± ¡°Me! Me!¡± The opposing team, too, moved quickly into position, marking players closely and pressing hard. They were not just here to play; they aimed to win. Well, of course. If what Jordan told Elion was true, they must win. ¡°Where did I meet you?¡± Malik asked as he had locked onto Elion like a heat-seeking missile, shadowing his every move. ¡°No idea,¡± Elion replied. He was not really into talking right now. He felt his pride had hurt so much tonight when everyone forgot about him. His mood was bad. Raymond knew Malik¡¯s reputation; the guy was ruthless when it came to marking. Seeing Elion stuck under his pressure, Raymond sighed and decided against passing to him. "Well, another rookie, it seems." Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Elion noticed how Raymond was looking at him. ''He thinks I can¡¯t handle it,'' Elion thought. That was when Elion did something that nobody noticed. Meanwhile, on Raymond''s mind, if Malik had Elion locked down, then it would be a wasted play. Just as he turned to find another option, something caught his eye. Elion was free. Elion did not shout or wave his hand. He simply made eye contact with Raymond. That was more than enough to convey his intention of where he wanted the ball to be passed. "How on earth..." Raymond blinked, momentarily thrown off. Just seconds ago, Malik had been glued to him, yet now he was looking around, confused, his hands out as if trying to figure out where Elion had disappeared. Jordan, watching from the center, grinned and muttered under his breath, ¡°Now you guys won¡¯t forget Elion anymore.¡± Without hesitation, Raymond launched the ball toward Elion with a powerful, direct pass. Marcus, one of the white-team strikers, laughed. ¡°What the hell, Ray? You trying to send the ball out of bounds?¡± Several players on the opponent¡¯s side smirked, already assuming possession. The ball was moving too fast, carrying too much force and a bit high for one to stop. To them, it was an obvious mistake¡ªthere was no way Elion could control it before it went out. That was when Elion stunned everyone. He didn¡¯t even think¡ªhis body just moved. With perfect timing, he jumped backward, twisting his body in mid-air. As he spun, he extended his right foot and, with the outer edge, stopped the ball dead. The trap was perfect. Some people called it a soft-tofu trap. There was no wild bounce, no struggle for control¡ªjust an instant, clean trap. ¡°Who¡­ the heck is he¡­¡± ¡°This is unfair. They must have called a pro.¡± Gasps rippled through the crowd. Raymond, who had assumed his pass had been wasted, stood frozen, unable to believe what he had just witnessed. That was when he felt something had triggered his memory. ¡°Wait a minute... Elion¡­ That Elion?!¡± Even Jordan, who had expected Elion to do something, raised an eyebrow in approval. "Whoa. Awesome as always, Elion." Elion just landed when Malik, furious at being outplayed, lunged at him with a full-force slide tackle. But Elion was already moving. He jumped over Malik¡¯s legs in one quick move as if Malik wasn¡¯t there at all. Once his feet hit the ground, he took off running. Elion sprinted down the right flank, moving at a pace no one had expected. One defender ran to block him, but Elion faked left and then quickly cut right, causing the player to stumble the wrong way. Another defender approached from the front, trying to steal the ball, but Elion spun past him smoothly, leaving him reaching for nothing. The sudden shift in momentum sent a jolt of urgency through the white team. ¡°Stop him!¡± Marcus bellowed as he tore down the court to reinforce the defense. Elion wasn¡¯t stopping. He had no reason to. With every step, he left another opponent in the dust. The Cage had seen fast players before, but Elion wasn¡¯t just fast¡ªhe was precise, his movements fluid and controlled. There was no wasted energy, no unnecessary showboating. He knew exactly where he needed to be, and he got there effortlessly. By the time he neared the corner, the entire red team was watching in disbelief. Meanwhile, the white team was scrambling, desperate to shut him down. ¡°Quick! Just do anything! Something!¡± ¡°Tackle him!¡± Meanwhile, Jordan was already in position, his body tense and waiting. ¡°Come on. I¡¯m ready, Elion.¡± Elion smiled as he saw Jordan¡¯s position. He didn¡¯t hesitate. He swung his foot and sent a perfectly timed cross curling toward the center of the goal. The ball arced through the air, landing exactly where Jordan needed it. "Thanks for the delivery!" Jordan said, and without a second thought, he leaped, meeting the ball with a powerful header that slammed into the net. The impact was loud and final. The ball hit the back of the goal. The goalkeeper was helpless. 1-0. For a moment, everyone was silent. Then, the court erupted. ¡°Goallllll!¡± The red team cheered loudly, some still in shock from what they had just witnessed. Raymond ran a hand through his hair, showing both surprise and respect. On the white team¡¯s side, a few players were already arguing, clearly unsettled. ¡°Just break his leg! Why did you hesitate?!¡± ¡°How?! I can¡¯t even catch him.¡± Jordan brushed the dust off his bib, walking up to Elion with a smirk. ¡°Welcome back, man.¡± Elion let out a slow breath, rolling his shoulders as he glanced around. Every single player on the court was staring at him now. Someone on the red team finally broke the silence. ¡°You¡¯re that Elion, right?¡± His voice carried a mix of awe and excitement. Another guy smacked his teammate¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Dude. We¡¯re winning this. We¡¯ve got Elion Hayes.¡± ¡°Man, it¡¯s been years!¡± ¡°We¡¯re confirmed to win tonight, guys!¡± someone shouted. Elion just smiled. Yeah. They remembered him now. But the white team wasn¡¯t just going to roll over and die. From the second the ball was back in play, they came at him with everything they had. The smugness in Marcus¡¯s expression was gone¡ªreplaced with something colder, sharper. They weren¡¯t playing for fun anymore. They were playing to break him. And yet, it didn¡¯t matter. Malik, who had spent the first half of the match tailing him, got more aggressive¡ªpushing, pulling, trying to disrupt his rhythm. But Elion had already figured him out. He baited Malik into lunging for the ball, only to flick it between his legs, leaving him spinning in the dust. The crowd gasped. Someone actually shouted, ¡°Ankles! He took his ankles!¡± Elion didn¡¯t stop. He sprinted down the sideline, faking out two defenders before cutting inside and threading a perfect pass to Jordan. Jordan grinned. ¡°Oh, now we¡¯re really cooking.¡± Boom. Goal. 2-0. The white team was in trouble. Desperate, they started playing dirty¡ªthrowing elbows, clipping heels, shoving just hard enough that the ref-less game wouldn¡¯t stop them. But the red team wasn¡¯t intimidated. They were fired up. Elion took another hit to the ribs. He staggered but kept going. The ball rolled toward Raymond, who immediately launched it forward¡ªstraight into the chaos of the penalty box. Jordan, mid-stride, went airborne. The keeper dove. He managed to block it. The ball then moved toward Elion''s direction. ''A chance,'' he thought. He jumped high into the air. A perfectly timed bicycle kick. The moment his foot connected with the ball, time seemed to slow. The ball slammed into the net with a sickening thud. 3-0. Game over. Seventeen minutes after the game started, it ended. The red team had wrecked the opposition. Jordan had netted two goals, his striker instincts still sharp enough to slice through steel, while Elion had scored one and assisted two. Every time the white team thought they had their attack figured out, Elion and Jordan broke through like a wrecking crew with zero regard for their pride. The final whistle¡ªwell, Raymond¡¯s deafening ¡°GAME OVER!¡±¡ªrang through The Cage, and the red team exploded into cheers. "Dude, where have you been hiding?!" Raymond shouted, clapping Elion on the back so hard he nearly dislocated his soul. "You¡¯re much better now. You played like a pro!" Another teammate shook his head in disbelief. "Man, I swear you were possessed or something. That footwork? Straight-up wizardry." Elion smiled as he caught his breath. He had missed this feeling¡ªthe excitement, the teamwork, and the thrill of competing. He thought he was just filling in, but it turned out that tonight marked his official return. Well, for the summer break, at least. But not everyone was celebrating. Across the court, the white team wasn¡¯t just mad. They were furious. That was when it hit Elion. They had money on this match. The prayers before the game. The weird tension in their huddle. They were all way too into it for just a casual street game. Elion¡¯s stomach twisted. He had just wrecked someone¡¯s payday. ¡°I smell trouble,¡± Elion muttered. Jordan let out a low whistle beside him. ¡°Yeah¡­ they¡¯re not happy.¡± Elion glanced at the opposing players. Some were locked in heated, frustrated conversations, but a few? They were staring directly at him and Jordan. And not in a ¡°Wow, great game, man¡± kind of way. More like a ¡°We¡¯re debating whether to jump you in the parking lot¡± kind of way. Elion turned to Jordan. ¡°I believed we just make some enemies.¡± Jordan exhaled, wiping sweat off his forehead. ¡°Maybe. Probably.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Either way, not our problem. Game¡¯s over.¡± Elion frowned. ¡°Did we do the right thing?¡± Jordan¡¯s expression was unreadable for a second, but then he gave another shrug. ¡°I don¡¯t know. In the end, we played to win. That¡¯s on them for betting on it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s helpful,¡± Elion let out a slow breath, looking back at the white team. He had joined just to play, but somehow, he and Jordan had just decided the fate of a whole lot of money. And judging by the way the white team kept glaring at them¡ªthis wasn¡¯t over. Not even close. Chapter Three Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Chapter Four Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Chapter Five Elion had no idea how he ended up here. Less than an hour ago, he¡¯d been playing street soccer, buying groceries, and, oh yeah, surviving a street fight. But now? Now, he was in a club, Xylo Club. Not just any club. This place was overwhelming¡ªthe bright neon lights, loud music that shook his body, and a crowd of people who seemed to have never heard of responsibility or waking up early. The air smelled like sweat, expensive drinks, and disappointment. Meanwhile, Elion? He was sitting in a corner booth, sipping orange juice and still holding a grocery bag like some kind of lost time traveler. The weirdest part? No one else seemed to think this was weird, and to be honest, nobody cared. Raymond and the red team were dancing wildly on the floor, moving like tonight was the last night they had. People could mistake the shaking of the ground for an earthquake here. Still, nobody cares. Everyone was filled with energy. Across from him, Jordan smiled broadly or more like an idiot, enjoying his cola as if it were the best drink ever. "What the heck, dude? Who orders orange juice here?" Jordan said as he laughed and shook his head. ¡°Why? They have it here." Elion said, then glanced at Jordan¡¯s glass. ¡°And you¡­ aren¡¯t you the ¡®live a little¡¯ guy? How come you¡¯re drinking cola?¡± "You got me," Jordan smirked, taking another sip. ¡°Because I never drink alcohol.¡± Elion blinked. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Never have, never will. Gotta stay sharp.¡± Jordan shrugged and looked more serious as he leaned back in his chair. "Who knows what else could happen tonight?" That comment made Elion pause. What else might happen tonight? He glanced around the club, taking in the chaotic energy of the place. The flashing lights. The moving bodies. The sheer insanity of how his life had flipped upside down in the span of a single evening. For the longest time, his life had been a predictable loop. Wake up. Work. Study. More work. More stress. Repeat until emotionally numb. A never-ending cycle of responsibility, like a hamster wheel but with less fur and more existential dread. But now? Tonight had been... different. He had played the one true love of his life¡ªfootball (not that he had ever been in a romantic relationship, but hey, priorities). He had gotten into a full-blown street fight. He had kicked a metal rod straight into some guy¡¯s head (which, okay, not exactly his finest moment, but also, come on, that was some elite-level aim). For the first time in forever, his life didn¡¯t feel like a routine. It felt like chaos. And oddly enough? He kind of liked it. And somehow, it all felt¡­ different. Elion did not take it negatively. For the first time after so many years, he felt that his life was no longer dull. It was chaotic. Unpredictable. Maybe even dangerous. But it was alive. Elion stirred the juice in his glass and watched the ice cubes knock against each other. Now, he was replaying Jordan¡¯s words. What else? What else was waiting for him tonight? Could his life actually be turning into something better? Or was this just the beginning of something much bigger? Elion had no idea. But one thing was certain¡ªhe was about to find out. Elion was lost in thought, looking at nothing in particular. Then Jordan spoke, breaking the silence. ¡°What''s on your mind?¡± Elion blinked and smiled while leaning back in his seat. ¡°You know how dull my life has been all this time? It has always been about studying, working part-time, and getting by. But tonight¡­" He took a deep breath and looked around the club, where the neon lights reflected off his glass of orange juice. ¡°It just feels so much better.¡± Jordan grinned, swirling the ice in his cola. ¡°That¡¯s why I keep telling you, man. Enjoy your life. We¡¯re twenty. We should be out doing stuff like this.¡± Elion smirked. ¡°Stuff like this¡­¡± He rolled the words around in his head. Then, as if someone had flipped a switch in his brain, something clicked. His eyes sharpened. He leaned forward, lowering his voice. ¡°Speaking of which¡­ explain this. How did you fight those guys like some kung-fu master?¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Jordan¡¯s expression shifted. Well, he could not leave his usual grin, but it looked and felt different now. Before explaining, he took another sip of his cola. ¡°The truth is... I¡¯m not sure,¡± he said seriously. ¡°You already know that after high school, I worked at my parents¡¯ company for a while. After a few months, I saved enough money to travel the world.¡± Elion nodded. He knew all that except the part about traveling the world because they had a time when they lost contact for more than a year. Elion waited for Jordan to keep talking. Jordan lightly tapped his glass, looking like he was thinking about how much to share. ¡°Well¡­ some parts of this world are rough, Elion. Too rough. And unlucky me? I ended up in one of them.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Arang.¡± Elion felt his stomach twisted. Everyone knew about Arang. It was a country famous for its crime rate, gangs, and corruption. A place that tourists normally avoid. But, talking about normal to Jordan¡­ sounds impossible. ¡°You went to Arang?¡± Elion expressed his disbelief. ¡°Why would you go there?¡± Jordan grinned, but his smile was different this time. It was smaller and more thoughtful. ¡°Well, that was the cheapest I can afford and... guess what? That¡¯s where I found out I could fight.¡± Elion stared at him. ¡°Fight?¡± Jordan chuckled, swirling the ice in his drink like he had all the time in the world. ¡°Yeah, I almost died that day. Some guys decided to rob me. Probably thought I looked too good to be broke.¡± He smirked at his own joke. Elion just stared. He never knew how to respond to this particular brand of Jordan humor¡ªthe kind where near-death experiences got filed under mild inconvenience. Jordan leaned back, his expression turning more serious. ¡°But something weird happened at that moment. I don¡¯t know how to explain it, but¡­ something inside me just shifted. Like, a switch flipped.¡± Elion frowned. ¡°Shifted how?¡± Jordan took a sip of his cola, eyes distant. ¡°That¡¯s the thing. I have no idea.¡± Elion leaned in, intrigued now. Jordan spoke quietly but firmly. ¡°I can''t explain it well. It felt like my body moved on its own before I even thought about it. Instinct maybe. But it was too good, Elion. Too good. Like I¡¯d been training my whole life without realizing it.¡± Elion frowned. ¡°So what did you do?¡± Jordan let out a small laugh. ¡°I kicked their asses.¡± Elion blinked. Hard. ¡°You fought them?!¡± Jordan chuckled. ¡°What do you think I was supposed to do at that time? Let them take my stuff?¡± Elion opened his mouth but then closed it again. He wasn¡¯t sure how to respond to that. The worst could happen at Arang. They could kill Jordan before taking his things. But he believed Jordan never thought about this, and if he did, that was the reason he fought. Jordan stretched his arms as if this entire story wasn¡¯t completely insane. ¡°After that, I figured if I had a natural talent for it, I might as well get better at it. So I went to Thailand for half a year.¡± "Thailand?" Elion¡¯s eyes widened slightly. Thailand is one of the countries known for its martial arts. Many of the best fighters in the world train here. People trained there for years to master even the basics. ¡°And you just¡­ went?¡± Elion asked. Jordan chuckled. ¡°Why not? I believe that if I was gonna fight, I need to learn from the best." Elion could not believe what he heard. This was insane. This guy, whom he had known since high school¡ªthe one who used to skip morning practice because he was too lazy to get up¡ªhad spent six months training in one of the toughest martial arts countries in the world. Jordan saw the disbelief in Elion''s eyes and laughed loudly. ¡°Yeah. I know. It¡¯s crazy, right?¡± Elion didn¡¯t even know what to say. Crazy didn¡¯t even begin to cover it. And something told him Jordan¡¯s story wasn¡¯t over yet. True to Elion¡¯s gut feeling, the next thing Jordan said was even wilder than expected. Jordan leaned forward with a big grin. Again. Like an idiot. ¡°You know what? That was when I decided what I wanted to do with my life." ¡°Oh yeah? And what¡¯s that?¡± Jordan¡¯s grin turned sharp, his eyes glinting with something Elion rarely saw in him¡ªpure determination. ¡°I¡¯m gonna compete in the city¡¯s qualification for the Ring of Tarung.¡± Elion¡¯s brain stopped functioning for a full three seconds. ¡°The¡­ what now?¡± Jordan chuckled. ¡°The Ring of Tarung. You know... It¡¯s kinda like MMA but with its own twist. More brutal. Less rules. But more money.¡± Elion looked at him in shock. "Dude... I know that. But, are you being serious?" Jordan nodded. Multiple times. ¡°Dead serious.¡± He then added, ¡°They¡¯re holding the Neiva City qualifications next month. I¡¯m gonna get in, climb the ranks, win the New Orleans Tarung¡ªthen move up to the state and then national, and finally¡­¡± Elion already knew where this was going, but Jordan said it anyway¡ªhis voice brimming with excitement. ¡°The Grand Tarung.¡± Elion leaned back, fully processing the insanity of what Jordan had just declared. Jordan wasn¡¯t just planning to join some underground fight league. He was mapping out his path to the very top. ¡°You¡¯re serious,¡± Elion repeated, just to make sure reality hadn¡¯t glitched. Jordan smirked. ¡°What, you think I¡¯d train in Thailand for nothing? I¡¯m gonna make my way from the bottom up. That¡¯s way cooler than just jumping in halfway.¡± Elion ran a hand through his hair. ¡°This isn¡¯t some video game where you just ¡®grind your way to the top.¡¯ This is real. People get hurt. You get hurt.¡± Jordan shrugged, completely unfazed. ¡°I know. That¡¯s the fun part.¡± Elion wanted to argue, to remind Jordan that normal people don¡¯t just wake up and decide to fight their way to world championship status. But then he looked at him¡ªreally looked at him. Jordan was serious. He spoke with excitement, and his eyes showed that he was really looking forward to his plans. This was not just a random dream for him. Jordan wanted to conquer the world. Before Elion could respond, Jordan leaned in with a grin and nudged him playfully. ¡°I will win the world title before I turn twenty-five.¡± Elion shook his head and laughed softly. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ awesome.¡± He really meant it. Jordan smiled and took a napkin from the table. He wrote something on it with a pen¡ªa thing that was almost impossible for him to carry around¡ªfrom his pocket. ¡°Here.¡± He slid the napkin over to Elion with a wink. ¡°Keep my autograph now. It¡¯ll soar in price later.¡± Elion laughed out loud, shaking his head a few times. ¡°Unbelievable.¡± But as crazy as it seemed, Elion trusted him. Elion stared at the napkin in front of him, Jordan¡¯s messy signature scrawled across it like a future stock investment. It was stupid. It was ridiculous. And yet¡­ Jordan had a plan. A crazy, over-the-top, full-send plan to take over the world of fighting. And the wildest part? He believed in it¡ªevery single word. Meanwhile, Elion had nothing. For the first time in a long time, he understood something important. He had always tried to do what was right. He worked hard in school, had a part-time job, and helped with money at home. But for what? What was his actual goal? What did he want? He studied Computer Science with a major in Artificial Intelligence. It seemed impressive on paper. He even aced all of the subjects. But was it his dream? Was it something that made him feel alive the way Jordan¡¯s goal did for him? Elion didn¡¯t know. He had never really thought about it. He had just followed the path that made sense¡ªthe safe one. Work hard. Graduate. Get a good job. Make money. Repeat until retirement. That was what people expected him to do. He had convinced himself that this was what he wanted. But now, sitting in a club with a grocery bag in one hand and an orange juice in the other, Elion watched his best friend talk about taking over the world. He realized something very clear¡ªhe had never planned his life. He had never stopped to ask himself, ''What do I actually want?'' And for the first time, it bothered him. Watching Jordan¡ªseeing someone so sure, so fired up about what they wanted¡ªmade Elion feel like he had been standing still for years while everyone else had already started running. His entire life had been about surviving. But was that really enough? Was that all he wanted? Elion was still deep in thought, drowning in questions about his future, when the first scream ripped through the club. ¡°AAAAAH!¡± Then another. ¡°RUN!¡± Then, a whole chorus of them. "What''s happening?!" Elion asked as he looked around. Something was not right. His night was going to get crazier. Chapter Six The club sounded as if it had just endured a chaotic fireworks display. The glass crashed and broke loudly, and it was hard to tell if it was bottles, windows, or screens that went down. Everyone was screaming, trembling, and running. Their actions and expressions were like they were auditioning for a part in a disaster or a horror movie. The mood in the club changed suddenly. Panic took over the fun atmosphere as if someone had switched it from ¡°party¡± to ¡°run for your life.¡± ¡°AAAAAH!¡± Everyone was running for their lives and pushing toward the exits. The tables were knocked over. Drinks flew everywhere. Elion¡¯s heart raced as he tightened his grip around his glass of orange juice¡ªas if he was trying to save it from flying, too. Jordan sat up straight; he had completely forgotten about his cola. Elion noticed that Jordan''s eyes were wide with curiosity, not fear, as he looked around. ¡°What''s going on?¡± Jordan shouted to be heard above the loud noise by whoever could hear it. Elion was unsure how to respond because he sensed that something was wrong. Seriously wrong. Then, they spotted Raymond. For the first time, Raymond¡ªthe guy who usually jumped into fights without thinking¡ªwas completely still. He felt tense like a locked vault, with his fists clenched at his sides. He just stood there without moving. Even worse, it seemed like he wasn''t breathing at all. Raymond felt as helpless as a warrior who just realized he had forgotten his sword at home. Elion exchanged a glance with Jordan, and they both knew that whatever was coming was big. ¡°W-wh-what¡­ is that?¡± Raymond muttered in a tremble. That was enough to set off every alarm in Elion¡¯s head. If Raymond wasn¡¯t jumping in to break skulls, then this wasn¡¯t just some bar fight gone too far. This was something worse. Slowly, Elion and Jordan turned to follow Raymond¡¯s gaze, expecting¡ªhoping¡ªto see something that made sense. Maybe a gang fight, maybe some drunk guy waving a weapon around. Anything logical. But what they saw instead sent every nerve in Elion¡¯s body into overdrive. They saw it. Just a few feet away from Raymond. Too near. It stood in the center of the chaos, surrounded by overturned tables and still bodies. A large figure loomed over the panicked crowd, making the scene feel almost unreal. What they saw should¡¯ve been impossible. It should¡¯ve been something straight out of a nightmare. A bear. No¡ªsomething worse. A bear-man. It had a large, heavy body covered in thick, tangled fur. Its arms were strong and long, ending in clawed paws that dripped with fresh blood. But the worst part? The part that made Elion¡¯s skin crawl? The face. It wasn¡¯t a bear¡¯s face. It wasn¡¯t even animalistic. It was human. A man¡¯s face¡ªtwisted into a sick, delighted smile. His eyes held no fear, no hesitation. He wasn¡¯t rampaging. He wasn¡¯t lashing out wildly. He was enjoying himself. The realization hit like a freight train. The bodies on the ground? They weren¡¯t unconscious. They were dead. Elion struggled to breathe as his heart raced in his chest. His mind told him to run, but his legs would not move. Every survival instinct he had¡ªtold him he shouldn¡¯t be seeing this. That this was impossible. Seeing how brutally murdered the victims were, Elion could not help but almost vomit on the spot. Well, a few other people had already beaten him to that. Beside him, Jordan spoke quietly, clearly shocked. ¡°What... is that?¡± The bear-man moved his head slightly. Then, as if things weren¡¯t already terrible enough, his smile grew wider. His eyes? Fixated on Raymond. And just like that¡ª It moved. Before anyone could react, the bear-man lunged. It¡ªor he¡ªwasn¡¯t insanely fast, but the way he moved was pure terror. No hesitation. No wasted motion. Just raw, overwhelming force, and¡­ his face was smiling creepily. And that was what made Raymond freeze. His usual confidence, his instinct to fight, completely shut down. He just stood there, wide-eyed, as the bear-man swung its massive paw straight at him. ¡°Move! You idiot!¡± Jordan moved first while his mouth cursing. Without thinking or a proper plan, he shot forward, his body reacting before his mind could catch up. He didn¡¯t have time to stop the attack entirely, but he managed to intercept the swing just enough to knock it off course. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Jordan¡¯s tackled the creature¡¯s body, redirecting the angle of its attack by a few inches. He felt pain right after. The bear-man was too tough. Still, it wasn¡¯t enough to ensure Raymond¡¯s safety. Even with Jordan¡¯s interference, the sheer momentum behind the attack was monstrous. The clawed paw still crashed into Raymond¡¯s shoulder with a sickening thud. Luckily, the claw missed, but not the paw. Raymond¡¯s body jerked violently from the impact, his feet leaving the ground for half a second before he was sent skidding backward, crashing into a table. Elion¡¯s breath caught. A sudden realization hit him. That was a partial hit. What would¡¯ve happened if Jordan hadn¡¯t deflected it? ¡°Raymond!¡± A few of his red-team teammates shouted. They quickly ran to him. Jordan, too. As of now, it seemed everyone from the red team was safe. ¡°You okay?¡± Asked one of them. Raymond wanted to curse as he grunted in pain. How is this considered okay? His body half-slumped against the broken table. His face twisted in agony as he clutched his shoulder, his fingers barely brushing against the damage. A few people helped him to get up. It was a suicide to stay here. They could be the next victims, anytime. Jordan crouched beside him, his usual laid-back expression replaced with one of genuine concern. ¡°Anything broken?¡± Jordan asked, though his tone already suggested he knew the answer. Raymond let out a bitter chuckle that turned into a pained hiss. ¡°Broken? I can feel my shoulder bone shattered to pieces.¡± Jordan¡¯s eyes widened slightly. Elion had already caught up to them, and he heard that. Shattered? He felt his stomach drop. He had moved closer without realizing it, but now that he was standing right there, the situation felt real. Too real. A single hit. That was all it took to turn Raymond¡ªone of the toughest guys they knew¡ªinto this. Elion¡¯s hands fumbled for his phone. He pulled it out and immediately dialed the police. His fingers felt awkward, but he managed to press the call button and turn on the speaker. Luckily, the bear-man was too busy dealing with the others. As soon as the dispatcher answered, Elion spoke fast. ¡°There¡¯s been an attack¡ªuh, a violent attack at Xylo Club,¡± Elion said, trying to keep his voice steady. ¡°We need officers now. People are dead, and¡ª¡± He glanced at the bear-man, who was still looming over the club like something out of a horror movie. ¡°¡ªthere¡¯s a suspect. He¡¯s still here. Very dangerous.¡± ¡°We have units nearby,¡± the dispatcher responded. ¡°They¡¯ll be there in minutes.¡± Elion exhaled, lowering the phone. ¡°Police are on their way,¡± he told Jordan and Raymond. ¡°In a few minutes.¡± Jordan scoffed. ¡°Yeah? And how many people are gonna die in a few minutes if we don¡¯t do something?¡± Elion swallowed hard. Jordan wasn¡¯t wrong. Screams still filled the club. People were trapped and trying to escape, but the bear-man was not in a hurry. He moved carefully, like a predator that knew its prey could not get away. The sick smile on his human face didn¡¯t waver like he was enjoying the terror. Jordan clenched his fists, standing up. ¡°I¡¯m stopping him.¡± But before Jordan could take a single step, Raymond grabbed his arm with his good hand and pulled him back. ¡°Don¡¯t be a fool, Jordan,¡± Raymond snapped. His voice was rough as he was bearing the pain. ¡°I¡¯m sturdier than you, and look what happened.¡± Jordan went still. He clenched his jaw and tightened his body as if he was trying to hold himself back. Elion¡¯s mind raced. They couldn¡¯t just sit here. But if even Raymond¡ªgot destroyed in one hit, then what were they supposed to do? His eyes darted around the club. There were still so many people left. Some were injured. Some were too scared to move. They were trapped. Elion took a deep breath. They needed a plan. And they needed it fast. Raymond was still on the ground, groaning in pain, while Jordan crouched beside him, checking his injury. The others from the red team? He did not see anyone that could go against the bear-man. People were screaming in the club and trying to escape. The chaos continued as they searched for any exit they could find. But the bear-man¡ªthe thing¡ªwasn¡¯t chasing after them. That was what made Elion pause. Despite Jordan landing a hit earlier, the monster hadn¡¯t focused on him at all. Instead, it swung wildly at those nearby, like a predator striking at whatever was closest. Its movements were terrifyingly strong but not smart. Elion¡¯s mind worked fast, analyzing everything. The beast wasn¡¯t moving like a trained fighter. It wasn¡¯t hunting¡ªit was reacting. That meant¡­ ¡°His vision¡¯s limited,¡± Elion muttered over the noise. Jordan and Raymond snapped their heads toward him. They looked back at the creature, watching its erratic movements, and suddenly, it clicked. It wasn¡¯t tracking Jordan when he dodged. It wasn¡¯t picking specific targets. It was attacking whatever was closest. Jordan narrowed his eyes. ¡°You might be right.¡± Raymond groaned, still clutching his shoulder. ¡°Doesn¡¯t change the fact that things can rip people apart like paper.¡± True. The sheer power behind its swings was no joke. It had already split tables open with its bare hands¡ªor paws, or whatever the hell those were. If it did land a clean hit, the fight was over. Elion clenched his fists. His logical brain screamed at him to run. There was no reason to stay. This wasn¡¯t his fight. But then, his gut told him something else. After what this thing had done¡ªafter seeing the bodies¡ªhow could he just leave? And if he was being honest with himself¡­ after his conversation with Jordan earlier, after realizing how dull his life had been¡ªhe was thrilled for danger like this. ¡®What the hell is wrong with me?'' Elion was confused. Still, he wasn¡¯t reckless. They needed to buy time. But for what? Elion wasn¡¯t sure. Maybe for the police to arrive. Maybe for the monster to run out of energy. He didn¡¯t know why, but something inside him told him that was the key. ¡°We need to stall him,¡± Elion said, determination setting in. Jordan looked at him, then at the creature, and smiled. "I was hoping you would say that." Before Elion could stop him, Jordan moved¡ªclosing the distance fast. ¡°Wait¡ªJordan!¡± Elion yelled. But Jordan wasn¡¯t listening. He was already too close. Elion knew exactly what was going through his best friend¡¯s mind. If Jordan wanted to make a name for himself in the world of Tarung, then this was the kind of fight he needed to take on. But this wasn¡¯t a normal fight. Elion couldn¡¯t just stand there. He needed to do something¡ªfast. He looked around the wrecked club, searching for anything useful. Then he saw it¡ªthe overturned fridge with a broken glass door and cans rolling across the floor. A slow smirk formed on his lips. ¡°Take Raymond and anyone you can save out of here,¡± Elion ordered. The red team nodded and moved hurriedly. Meanwhile, Jordan was baiting the bear-man, dodging its massive swings with terrifying precision. He ducked, rolled, and sidestepped, but Elion could see it¡ªJordan was barely keeping up. It was only a matter of time before he got hit. ''Not if I do something first.'' Elion took a deep breath and launched his first kick. The can soar through the air like a missile, slamming hard into the creature¡¯s paw just as it was about to strike Jordan. The beast recoiled slightly, more surprised than hurt. Elion didn¡¯t stop. Another can. Another kick. This one smacked into the beast¡¯s knee. Then another. Right in the ribs. The monster staggered, now turning around to find Elion instead of Jordan. Elion¡¯s smirk widened. ¡®That¡¯s right. Find me, dumbass.¡¯ Jordan noticed what he was doing and grinned. ¡°Damn, dude! You¡¯re insane!¡± But Elion wasn¡¯t done yet. He took a step back, lined up his next shot, and sent the final can straight into the monster¡¯s face. CRACK! The sound was sickening. A normal human couldn¡¯t take a blow like that without crumbling. Even with its monstrous strength, the creature stumbled, holding its face. Then Elion saw it. Something was changing. The beast was getting slower. Its massive arms twitched. Its muscles trembled. The fur was receding. Its body was shrinking. "What the hell is happening?" Jordan muttered in disbelief. The monster was gradually becoming human again. People who had been hiding looked out from their hiding spots, their eyes wide with fear. But then, another reality hit¡ªbodies were everywhere. Some of the survivors looked around at the carnage, and the moment the weight of it all sank in, several of them vomited or fainted on the spot. Elion exhaled, his heart still hammering. But it wasn¡¯t over yet. The man¡ªnow more human than a beast¡ªstaggered, his breath ragged. His body shook as if it couldn¡¯t handle the transformation. Then, in one last burst of desperation, he ran. Elion¡¯s instincts flared. "Let him go?" he asked Jordan. ¡°Oh, hell no,¡± Jordan muttered. Without hesitation, both of them bolted after him. They weren¡¯t letting him get away, not after everything that he had done. Chapter Seven Elion ran through the cold night air. Somehow, the situation made it hard for him to breathe. His lungs felt sharp, and his legs hurt. His chest felt tight, but he kept pushing himself harder. ¡®What are we thinking?¡¯ He wondered, even though the rational part of him knew that, who in their right mind was going after a bear-man? Still, Jordan was ahead, moving fast as if he was the predator. The bear-man seemed as if he was the one fleeing for his life. The bear-man was barely holding together. Its monstrous form had nearly collapsed in on itself, its hulking limbs shrinking, the fur peeling back to reveal raw, pale skin underneath. Every step was agony¡ªits body convulsed violently as bones cracked and twisted back into place. It was no longer fully a monster, but it wasn¡¯t fully human, either. And somehow, that made it more terrifying. Jordan wasn¡¯t slowing down. He was already ten steps ahead, vaulting over trash cans, dodging broken glass, eyes locked on their target like he wasn¡¯t even questioning if this was a good idea. Elion, however, was questioning everything. ¡°Jordan!¡± Elion gasped. ¡°Are you serious right now?! We don¡¯t even know what that thing is!¡± Jordan barely slowed. ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s why we can¡¯t let him go!¡± Elion swore under his breath. Of course. Jordan would do this¡ªchase the impossible or weird things. Rush into danger without a second thought. It didn¡¯t matter that they had just watched a literal bear-man tear through a club full of people. That it had killed people. That it wasn¡¯t supposed to exist. And yet¡ªhere they were. The bear-man stumbled forward, breathing heavily until it reached the end of an alley¡ªit was basically a dead end. A towering brick wall cut off any escape. That was when it stopped. Elion barely managed to halt before crashing into Jordan¡¯s back. ¡°Why did you stop?¡± he whispered, pulse hammering. Jordan answered calmly, ¡°Dead end.¡± Elion looked ahead and just noticed the dead end. ¡°What should we do now?¡± Jordan did not answer. He was too focused on the creature in front of them. The bear-man stood a few feet away, breathing hard. He was covered in sweat, and his muscles shook as if he was struggling. He tightened his fists and moved his fingers nervously. He took a deep breath and slowly turned to face them. Elion saw his eyes first. Not the eyes of a monster. Not the crazed, bloodthirsty look of the thing that had just torn through Xylo Club. Just a man. A man who was afraid. Elion¡¯s stomach twisted. What he was seeing now was not something that he had expected. ¡°H..help¡­ me.¡± The bear-man''s voice was too rough. Imagine it as someone who has been shouting for a long time. Jordan paused and lowered his fists a bit. ¡°What?¡± he asked, stepping forward. He could not feel the same danger coming from the man anymore. The man flinched. His fingers clawed at his own throat as if he was trying to rip something out. And that¡¯s when Elion saw it¡ªa ring. A thick black ring wrapped around the man¡¯s trembling finger, veins of cracked darkness running through its surface. And from those cracks¡ªblack smoke leaked out. "What''s that..." Elion¡¯s breath hitched. That wasn¡¯t normal smoke. It moved. It curled and coiled in the air like something alive. ¡°Help¡­ me¡­ I don¡¯t¡ª¡° The man shuddered violently, stepping forward, his body twisting, arms spasming. It was like he was being pulled. The man¡¯s muscles locked, his head jerking unnaturally like something was forcing his movements. His eyes widened, flickering between them. His lips trembled. He said in a weak voice, ¡°Run¡­ Run¡­ I... Can''t...¡± Jordan had very little time to react when the man ran at him. "Wait¡ª" Jordan wanted to speak, but he needed to avoid the first strike. He twisted his body just in time, but the second hit him¡ªa brutal elbow to the ribs. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. He gasped and stepped back while holding his side. The man moved erratically as if he didn¡¯t want to attack but couldn¡¯t control himself. Elion¡¯s pulse hammered. Jordan blocked two more wild, desperate strikes before a fist slammed into his jaw. Jordan reeled sideways, crashing against the alley wall. "Jordan!" Elion shouted in panic. The man closed the distance quickly and grabbed Jordan by the throat. Jordan gasped, struggling. The man looked shocked, his eyes wide. ¡°Help¡­ me¡­,¡± he said, his grip getting stronger. His whole body convulsed, veins darkening, the black smoke from the ring spiraling faster. He didn¡¯t want to kill Jordan. But something inside him did. Elion had to move¡ªnow. But before he could¡ª BANG. A gunshot split the night. Everyone was stunned. The bullet hit the man before he fell backward. He landed on the ground, gasping and holding his shoulder. Black smoke poured out of the ring quickly, moving like it was in pain. "Is the police here?" Elion turned sharply. A man stood at the entrance of the alley, mostly in the shadows. He was still and held a revolver at his side. His long, dark cloak moved in the breeze. He stood firmly in his boots as if he planned to stay. Based on his attire? Definitely not a cop. The brim of his worn cowboy hat shadowed his face, but Elion could only see his eyes¡ªcold, calculating, and completely unbothered. Well, this wasn''t just a random guy with a gun. Anyone would share the same thought that this man looked like a hunter. Elion¡¯s brain scrambled to make sense of what he was seeing tonight. A half-dead were-bear (because what else could you call that thing?), a cowboy hunter, and Jordan, standing way too close to the guy with the gun. Yeah. This night had officially gone off the rails. ''Okay. Think,¡¯ Ethan¡¯s mind raced. If one wrong move is made, anyone in this alley could end up dead. And knowing his luck, that anyone would absolutely include him. The cowboy looked dangerously casual, as if killing bear-man or any kind of beast-men was just part of his nine-to-five. And¡­ the black smoke still curling from the ring made Elion¡¯s stomach churn. Whatever the hell had just happened¡ªit wasn¡¯t over. But priority number one? Prevent Jordan from saying something incredibly stupid, or he might anger the cowboy. Elion turned slightly, already anticipating disaster. Jordan coughed, still gripping his throat. ¡°What the hell¡ª¡± Yep. Called it. The man on the ground groaned, trembling, struggling to get up. The cowboy sighed. ¡°What a mess.¡± His voice was slow and careful as if he had plenty of time. Jordan sat up, anger flashing in his eyes. ¡°You¡ªwhat the hell is wrong with you?!¡± He walked closer to the cowboy and continued his rage. ¡°He needed help! He wasn¡¯t trying to kill us¡ªhe was fighting something!¡± The cowboy didn¡¯t react. Instead, he raised the gun again. ¡°Wait! Wait! Don¡¯t shoot!¡± Elion barely had time to process before¡ª BANG. The bullet struck the man¡¯s forehead. Blood splashed. It was crazy to see this scene. His body jerked once. Then¡ªcollapsed. Silence. Elion felt like vomiting¡ªagain. Even though he had seen too much killing tonight, he couldn¡¯t get used to it yet. Well, it was the opposite for Jordan. He was raging. Jordan¡¯s fists clenched. ¡°You¡ª¡± The cowboy finally looked at them. ¡°He was already gone.¡± Jordan¡¯s breathing sharpened, furious. ¡°You don¡¯t know that!¡± The cowboy didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he stepped forward, kneeling beside the now-lifeless body. Elion barely registered the movement before he saw the black ring crack further. More smoke poured out¡ªthick, unnatural. And instead of fading... it moved. It drifted toward the cowboy. Elion¡¯s breath hitched. The cowboy wore the same ring. But unlike the dead man¡¯s, his was pristine. Golden black. And as the black smoke reached it, the ring absorbed it. The tendrils sank into the surface like ink dissolving in water. The dead¡¯s man ring? Lesser smoke coming out from it. Elion¡¯s stomach turned. The cowboy picked up the dead man¡¯s ring, tossing it into his sack. A metallic rustling noise followed. Elion¡¯s mind whirled. Based on the sound, the sack wasn¡¯t just carrying one ring. Or ten. It was full of them. Jordan¡¯s voice was low, dangerous. ¡°What are you?¡± The cowboy dusted off his coat. ¡°A cleaner.¡± Jordan¡¯s fists shook. ¡°That¡¯s what you call this? Cleaning up?¡± The cowboy shrugged. ¡°You boys saw too much. This¡­ will be a trouble.¡± Jordan took a step forward, trembling. ¡°You just executed a guy..." He raised his voice as he said, "And you think we¡¯re gonna pretend we didn¡¯t see that?!¡± The cowboy sighed, adjusting his hat. ¡°I think you¡¯ll try... For your own good.¡± Elion swallowed hard. His entire body screamed at him to leave. He wanted to tell Jordan to walk away. But something inside him knew¡ªit was already too late. The cowboy lifted his sack over his shoulder, the metallic rings inside shifting. He looked at them one last time. ¡°Be careful, boys. You¡¯re not ready for what¡ª¡± The cowboy barely turned before the brick wall behind them exploded. The force sent chunks of debris flying, brick and mortar crumbling like wet sand. Dust filled the alley, and from within the wreckage, something huge emerged. Elion barely had time to process it before he saw it. A large, bull-headed figure stands at least seven feet tall, with strong muscles. Steam came out from its nostrils. Its hooves clicked on the pavement, and its thick skin shone in the dim light of the alley. Elion believed this wasn¡¯t just a mindless beast after everything that had happened tonight and how near-impossible it was for a bull to be roaming in the city. It was definitely a guy. Well, a bull-man guy. Because, of course, after a bear-man and a cowboy, the universe had to throw in a Minotaur-looking nightmare just to really mess with them. Elion groaned internally. ''Oh, fantastic. My night just keeps getting better.'' It wore something¡ªtattered, battle-worn pants like it had once been human. Chains hung loosely from its massive wrists, clinking as it snorted, then lowered its head. And then, without warning, it charged. Not at Elion. Not at Jordan. But, at the cowboy. The impact was devastating. The cowboy barely had time to shift before the bull-man¡¯s horned skull slammed into his chest, sending him skidding backward. His boots dragged against the pavement, his long coat billowing as he fought to stay upright. But the real problem? His sack. He lost hold of it; it fell through the air and hit the ground with a loud bang. That was when Elion could see it. Rings. Everywhere. The alley was suddenly filled with dozens¡ªno, hundreds¡ªof rings of different colors scattering across the pavement. Some rolled away into the shadows, others clinked against broken brick, their eerie glow flickering in the dim alley light. Elion''s breath caught in his throat. Jordan took a step forward, eyes locked¡ªnot on the rings, not even on the bull-man. But... on the cowboy. Elion swallowed hard. ''Great. Just great.'' He had no idea what was happening anymore, but one thing was clear¡ª Jordan wasn¡¯t just watching. He was waiting. Chapter Eight The alley was a mess. A complete mess. One could see broken bricks, shattered pavement, and the aftermath of absolute chaos. The cowboy¡ªwho had just been some mysterious guy with a gun a moment ago¡ªwas now dodging the bull-man¡¯s attacks with almost unnatural precision. Each dodge sent the bull-man¡¯s fists slamming into the walls and pavement, leaving craters in solid stone. The ground shook beneath them, and Elion was half-convinced that the entire block was going to come crashing down. ''Please don''t let that happen,'' Elion prayed silently. It would be too much of a mess if that really happened. Jordan, on the other hand? He wasn¡¯t just watching. He was analyzing. Elion knew that expression on Jordan¡¯s face all too well. It was the same look he had when studying a pro player¡¯s movement in a high-stakes soccer match. The gears in his head were turning, processing every move, every counter, every mistake. Elion clenched his fists. He knew well what Jordan was thinking. Jordan wanted to know how to fight these beast-men, how to deal with them, and how to... win. For what purpose? ''Don''t tell me he wants to go beast hunting.'' That was the only thing that Elion could think of. It was insane¡ªthis whole night had been insane¡ªbut Elion was wondering. ''Where the heck is the police?!'' Jordan was thrilled. "This... is crazy," he said with a smile. A really excited smile. This was everything he had ever wanted to experience in life. The impossible. The supernatural. The kind of stuff people only read about in books or watched in movies. Elion, meanwhile? Maybe he would be okay without the part where their lives were on the line. The bull-man let out a loud snort. He lowered his head, and that was not a good sign. He was ready for another charge. But something about him felt... different. Unlike the bear-man, this one wasn¡¯t just blindly attacking. His movements were controlled. Calculated. Each strike wasn¡¯t random¡ªit was targeted. Elion¡¯s blood ran cold as he asked, ¡°He¡¯s able to think?¡± ¡°Yeah. Seems like it.¡± Jordan must¡¯ve realized it, too. ¡°He¡¯s not the same as the bear-man,¡± he muttered. ¡°He¡¯s calculating his next move.¡± That was when the bull-man spoke. ¡°Ronan Cross..." He said in a rough voice, a voice that suited a bull-man. "You¡­ are not supposed to meddle with the Lord¡¯s plan.¡± Elion¡¯s brain short-circuited. ¡®Ronan Cross? Is it the cowboy''s name?¡¯ "So he has a name. Ronan, huh?" Jordan said as if he could do something just by knowing the other person''s name. Well, Elion did not really know if Jordan really could do something. As of now, he was full of surprises. Ronan barely reacted, casually rolling his shoulders as he dodged another pavement-cracking punch. ¡°Tch. Figures you¡¯d ruin the mystery,¡± he muttered. The bull-man snorted angrily, stepping forward. His hooves scraped against the pavement, and his massive arms tensed. ¡°You¡¯re making a mistake for going against the Lord,¡± he growled. ¡°You still have time to return to your world.¡± Ronan let out a slow, almost bored sigh. ¡°Lord?¡± he repeated mockingly. ¡°What a bullshit title.¡± Elion saw the shift in Ronan¡¯s stance. Up until now, the cowboy had just been dodging, keeping his movements minimal. But now? His ring¡ªthe same¡ªyet better kind of ring as the ones the bear-man and the bull-man had¡ªbegan to glow brightly. Too bright. It was the same black-gold hue from before, but now it pulsed with something dangerous. Ronan¡¯s lips curled into a lazy, mocking smirk. "He¡¯s no Lord," Ronan muttered, rolling his shoulders. "He¡¯s just using the wrong power at the wrong place. And you..." His ring flared. His voice dropped, colder than before. "You¡¯re just another fool who believed him." The bull-man snorted, nostrils flaring. His hooves scraped against the pavement, muscles coiling like a drawn bowstring. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Then they moved. One moment, they were standing still. The next, the alley exploded into chaos. Ronan dodged left just as the bull-man¡¯s fist came crashing down, sending cracks splintering across the pavement where he had stood a split second before. The cowboy twisted, his movements sharp and calculated, but the bull-man was already reacting, shifting his massive frame with shocking speed. The bull-man was faster than the bear-man and stronger. He was more in control. His horns shone under the dim alley lights as he charged forward. BOOM. Ronan had little time to react. He crossed his arms to block the impact, which caused him to skid backward, his boots scraping against the ground. The force hit him hard, but he steadied himself and absorbed the blow. "Over here, Elion!" Jordan shouted hurriedly for them to take cover. They then ducked behind a half-destroyed dumpster, watching the fight unfold. "What are we seeing? This is crazy," Elion whispered, feeling his heart race. "Yeah," Jordan laughed softly but winced as he touched his ribs. "And I think I have broken ribs, so that''s great." Elion glanced at him. "Wait, are you serious?" Jordan just grinned, even as his face twisted in pain. "What, you thought getting punched by a bear-man felt like a pillow fight?" Before Elion could respond, Ronan countered. This time, something strange happened to his right arm. It was similar to a gorilla¡¯s. ¡°He¡¯s the same?¡± Jordan blurted. Now, things were getting crazier. The cowboy, Ronan, could transform, too? Both Elion and Jordan now wondered whether they would make it out alive or not tonight. Ronan¡¯s gorilla-like arm¡ªor whatever it was¡ªswung forward with brutal force, catching the bull-man across the jaw. The bear-man staggered, hooves scraping against the broken pavement. But instead of stumbling, he grinned. "What¡¯s the matter, Ronan?" he sneered, cracking his neck. "Can¡¯t even deal with a low-level like me?" Ronan gritted his teeth. Something in those words hit deeper than it should have. Elion noticed the flicker in the cowboy¡¯s expression¡ªjust a moment of frustration buried quickly behind his usual bored demeanor. "If it wasn¡¯t for this world," Ronan muttered under his breath. "If it wasn¡¯t for that damn incident..." His fingers twitched. His stance shifted. Elion felt it before he saw it. Something changed. Ronan¡¯s ring pulsed brighter, hotter. Then he lunged. Now, both of his arms had changed into a gorilla¡¯s. They began moving faster. What had started as powerful, deliberate strikes turned into a storm of rapid blows. Each punch slammed into the bull-man like a wrecking ball. Elion could barely keep up with what he was seeing. The speed. The power. It was like watching a hurricane give form and fists. Jordan, despite his pain, whistled. "Man¡¯s got hands." Elion let out a breath. "No kidding." But the bull-man wasn¡¯t going down easy. Even as Ronan pummeled him with relentless force, he held his ground. His body absorbed the blows, muscles tightening, resisting the force behind them. And then he fought back. The bull-man let out a snarl and caught Ronan¡¯s wrist mid-strike. Ronan¡¯s eyes narrowed in that split second before a savage knee drove into Ronan¡¯s abdomen. The impact was so strong that it created shockwaves in the air. Ronan grunted as he was thrown backward, crashing into some debris. He groaned and sat up slowly, spitting blood onto the ground. "Okay," he said, wiping his mouth. "You''re really annoying me now." Elion and Jordan looked at each other when they heard that. Jordan grinned through the pain. "Think he¡¯s getting serious now?" Elion let out a nervous chuckle. "I really hope not. Because if this isn¡¯t serious, I don¡¯t wanna see what is." Ronan stood, rolling his shoulders. His ring flared one last time. "Playtime¡¯s over," he muttered. Then he dropped into a stance. His ring glowed brighter. The alley trembled. The air rippled. And this time, when Ronan moved¡ªhe didn¡¯t just punch. He destroyed. His gorilla-like arms slammed into the bull-man with such force that the shockwave alone sent dust and debris flying outward. BOOM! The bull-man froze¡ªhis massive body lifting off the ground, his feet leaving the pavement. His eyes went wide. Then, he was sent flying. Not stumbling. Not reeling. A flying bull. He crashed into the farthest wall with bone-crushing force, the impact shattering the bricks around him. For a moment, everything was quiet. Jordan and Elion gawked. How on earth could a human deliver such attacks? Jordan exhaled sharply. "That... was... insane." Elion barely managed to nod, his brain still processing what just happened. He looked at Jordan, who was looking at him, too. They exchanged glances and shared the same thoughts. What in the world were they watching? Ronan, meanwhile, cracked his knuckles, his usual lazy expression returning as he dusted off his cloak. That was when he turned, seemingly remembering something. He glanced at the alley floor¡ªwhere hundreds of rings lay scattered. His expression shifted. ¡°Damn it¡­ I forgot.¡± And right then¡ªthe rings trembled. Elion and Jordan could feel something was amiss. A weird pull in the air, like the moment before a storm hits. Their hearts skipped a beat. Jordan tensed, shoulders locking up as his fists curled. Despite the pain, he was ready for anything that was coming. The cowboy grimaced. ¡°Ah, hell.¡± Then¡ªthe rings started rising. One by one, like they had been yanked by invisible strings, they shot into the air¡ªspiraling upwards, scattering like fireworks launching into the sky. Elion and Jordan froze, watching dozens¡ªhundreds¡ªor more rings scatter toward who knew where. Elion felt a chill down his spine. ¡°That¡¯s not a good thing, right?¡± Jordan¡¯s voice was quiet. ¡°Not even a little.¡± Ronan sighed and rubbed his temple as he watched the last of the rings fade into the night. He then put his hands in his coat pockets and let out another sigh, treating it like just another day. ¡°What a bad day¡­¡± Elion¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°What happened?!¡± he raised his voice because he knew that the rings'' disappearance would spell more trouble. The cowboy turned back to them, completely unbothered. ¡°I think that¡¯s going to be a problem.¡± Elion gestured wildly at the now-empty ground where more than hundreds of potentially cursed rings had just flown off into the world. ¡°YOU THINK?!¡± Ronan shrugged. ¡°Not my fault. That¡¯s on you two.¡± Jordan blinked. ¡°Wait, how is that our fault?¡± Ronan pointed at Jordan. ¡°You chased them.¡± Then he pointed at Elion. ¡°You distracted me.¡± Elion clenched his jaw. ¡°Are you actually blaming us for¡ª¡± Ronan cut him off with a wave. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. They¡¯re gone. Someone¡¯s gonna find them. Then we¡¯ll have more of these idiots running around.¡± He gestured lazily toward the unconscious bull-man. Jordan¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°And what exactly are they?¡± Ronan gave him a long look. ¡°They¡¯re¡­. Uh. Never mind.¡± For a second, he almost answered. Then, just as quickly¡ªhe turned away. ¡°Too much for you to handle,¡± he said simply. Then, stepping over the rubble, he walked toward the bull-man¡¯s fallen body. Chapter Nine Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Chapter Ten Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Chapter Eleven This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Chapter Twelve Elion sat on a rock outside the cave. He held his phone up, trying to connect with civilization. It was a miracle that he had a signal out here, especially since it was so unreliable even in the city. Still, he wasn¡¯t about to question his luck. He had one shot at this. The signal was not strong enough to go online, especially to read about what happened at the club, but it was good enough for him to text his mother. He quickly typed out a message to his mother. Elion: [Mom, I¡¯m spending the night at Jordan¡¯s.] It was short, simple, and hopefully believable. It was also a little ridiculous. Twenty years old, and here he was, texting his mother like some high schooler, asking for permission to stay out. What was he even doing? A loud burst of laughter erupted behind him. Jordan. Of course. ¡°Oh, man. That¡¯s adorable.¡± He laughed and clutched his stomach. ¡°You¡¯re in the woods, avoiding beast-men, working with a cowboy from another world¡ªand the first thing you do is text your mom?¡± He smiled and shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re a good boy.¡± Elion sighed, already regretting every life choice that had led him to this moment. "Look, I only have one mother. And after everything she¡¯s been through, the least I can do is remove one worry from her list." Jordan wiped a fake tear from his eye. "Wow. That¡¯s beautiful, man. I think I might cry." Elion chuckled. "You should cry. Because, unlike you, I actually have a functioning moral compass." Jordan held up a hand. "Hey, don¡¯t lump me into that." He then looked at the night sky and added, "I just think if my mom ever found out I was out in the middle of the woods with a cowboy and being chased by beast-men, she¡¯d just tell me not to be an idiot and go back home. No follow-up questions." Listening to the banter, Ronan¡ªwho had been silent for the past hour¡ªlet out a small chuckle. Both of them turned to him in surprise. Jordan raised an eyebrow. "Sorry? Anything funny?" Ronan shook his head and smiled. "Nothing. Just... you two. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve been around people who argue about dumb things like this." Jordan placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "Dumb? Excuse you, sir. This is the very foundation of human connection." Ronan shook his head again, still amused. *** Several hours later, the three of them settled down in the cave for the night. They built a fire that crackled softly and created long shadows on the damp rock walls. The temperature dropped, and while the cave wasn¡¯t exactly warm, it at least provided shelter. It was only now, in the flickering light of the fire, that Elion and Jordan got a proper look at Ronan. Up until now, they had been too busy fighting for their lives or questioning their life choices to actually pay attention to the guy. Ronan looked like he was in his early thirties¡ªmaybe. It was hard to tell. He had a rugged, sharp face that showed he had experienced a lot in life, but he acted like it didn¡¯t affect him. His jawline was strong, his skin had a light tan, and his sharp gray eyes looked wise as if they had seen too much. If he cleaned up, he could look like one of those mysterious drifters from action movies¡ªthey always sat in the corner of a bar and had a past that no one discussed. But then there was the cowboy hat. That stupid cowboy hat. Jordan squinted at him. "Okay, I gotta ask... What is with the cowboy thing?" Ronan, who had been quietly tending to his wound, glanced up. "What?" Jordan gestured vaguely at his entire existence. "The hat. The cloak. The whole ¡®I walked out of a Western movie and ended up in the apocalypse¡¯ look. It¡¯s a choice." Ronan smirked. "What''s a Western movie? And what''s the problem with the hat?" Elion, who had been holding back the urge to say something, finally gave in. "Well, he forgot that you''re not from here. In conclusion, what Jordan wanted to say was... it''s terrible." Jordan nodded in agreement. "If you want to give off the ¡®mysterious badass¡¯ vibe, you need to really commit to it." Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Ronan furrowed his brow as he listened to that. Jordan added, "Right now, you¡¯re wearing a cowboy hat with a modern combat outfit. It looks like you couldn¡¯t choose between being a soldier and a rancher, so you picked both." Ronan sighed and rubbed his nose. "Why do you care?" Jordan leaned back and stretched his arms. "If we¡¯re trusting you with our lives, we need to know if you can survive or if you just look good while dying." Ronan took a deep breath, clearly wishing he had not talked to these two."It¡¯s practical. Besides, you''ve seen me battling." Jordan raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. Sure. What¡¯s practical about it?" Ronan ignored him. Elion smirked. "He doesn¡¯t have an answer." Jordan nodded. "He totally doesn¡¯t." Ronan exhaled. "If it''s bothering you, I can take it off." Jordan waved him off. "Oh, no, please keep it. We love a good comedy element in our life-or-death situations." Ronan shook his head, clearly done with them both. But as much as they teased, Elion couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was a reason behind Ronan¡¯s strange mix of attire. He had seen those same glowing engravings on his gun, on his cloak and this combat attire, on the sack with the rings. Nothing about this guy was random. And if the cowboy hat was just another piece of the puzzle? Elion felt they would learn the truth soon. Then, he suddenly straightened up, his eyes wide as he realized something. ¡°Damn.¡± Jordan had just started to relax against the cave wall when he suddenly turned his head sharply. ¡°What? What happened?¡± His tone was instantly alert, muscles tensing. Elion¡¯s expression was grim. "I left my groceries." For a moment, there was only silence. Jordan blinked. Then blinked again. Then, he exploded. ¡°WHAT?! That¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about right now?! After all this?!¡± Elion nodded, his expression unshaken. ¡°Dude. I dropped it back there. You know what that means?¡± Jordan threw his hands in the air. ¡°Yes! It means your eggs and bread are gone forever.¡± Elion exhaled, running a hand through his hair. ¡°No, you idiot. If my bag is near the bodies of either the bear-man or the bull-man, and the cops find it, I¡¯m gonna be a suspect.¡± Jordan opened his mouth, ready to fire off another joke¡ªbut then paused. His brain finally processed what Elion just said. He frowned. Then, he thought about it a little harder. Then his face slowly dropped. ¡°Crap.¡± Jordan sat up properly, his face going pale. ¡°Yeah. That is a problem.¡± Elion nodded. ¡°I know, right? Imagine the headlines. ¡®Local man arrested for the brutal slaying of two unidentified victims. Found at the crime scene: an innocent-looking bag of groceries.¡¯ I¡¯ll be thrown in jail before I even get to explain that I had nothing to do with this.¡± Jordan let out a groan. ¡°Dude, that is suspicious. They¡¯d think you ran away from the crime scene.¡± Ronan had been watching their conversation closely. He finally sighed and said, ¡°You two are worried about the wrong thing.¡± Elion and Jordan turned toward him at the same time, both raising their eyebrows. ¡°Wrong? What do you mean by that?¡± Elion asked, now wary. Ronan¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°If the bag was just found by regular authorities, sure, that¡¯d be annoying. But if it was found by the wrong people?¡± He leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees. ¡°That would be a much bigger problem.¡± Elion and Jordan exchanged glances. Jordan narrowed his eyes. ¡°Define ¡®wrong people.¡¯¡± Ronan sighed. ¡°The beast-men.¡± The cave instantly felt colder. Elion¡¯s stomach twisted. ¡°...What?¡± Ronan ran a hand down his face, already regretting how complicated this was about to get. ¡°Between them, they can sample and pass scents to one another. If they get ahold of your bag, they can use your scent to track us. Easily.¡± Jordan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wait. You¡¯re saying they can literally hunt us down like bloodhounds?¡± Ronan nodded. ¡°Exactly.¡± Elion¡¯s heart sank. Jordan blinked. "Oh, that¡¯s much worse." Ronan focused intently. ¡°And if they do get your scent?¡± He exhaled. ¡°Then congratulations, boys. You might be trapped here.¡± Silence filled the cave. The weight of that realization crashed over them. Jordan let out a slow breath, shaking his head. ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying is... we¡¯re basically walking GPS signals for every freak out there?¡± Ronan smirked, but there was no amusement in his eyes. ¡°GPS? Pretty much.¡± Luckily, he understood what Jordan meant by GPS. He had studied a bit about the technology of this world before coming here. Elion groaned, rubbing his temples. First, the bear-man. Then the bull-man. Then, the cowboy-hunter. And now? This. Jordan exhaled sharply. ¡°Man, we are so screwed.¡± Elion nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± Ronan? He didn¡¯t say anything. But his expression alone told them everything. They weren¡¯t just screwed. They were hunted. *** The air was thick with the stench of blood and decay. The remains of the bear-man, and the bull-man were still lying in the ruined alleyway, but they were no longer alone. Scattered among the rubble and broken pavement were several fresh corpses¡ªpolice officers, their bodies twisted unnaturally, throats torn open. Their weapons were still in their hands, useless against the monsters that had torn them apart. Standing over them were three massive figures¡ªape-like beast-men. They had broad shoulders and thick fur covering their muscular bodies, but unlike the bear-man and the bull-man, their faces were more human, disturbingly so. Their sharp eyes shone in the moonlight. They looked amused and satisfied. One of the three was the largest and held a grocery bag in his clawed hand. He looked at the woman standing a few feet away. She had golden eyes and long hair that seemed to shine in the low light. It was Leo. She was different. Unlike the others, she wasn¡¯t covered in fur. Her body was mostly human in form¡ªtall, lean, and dangerously poised. The only clear sign of her beastly nature was her feline-like golden irises and the quiet but undeniable sense of authority she carried. The ape-man stepped forward, extending the bag toward her. ¡°We found this near the body.¡± His voice was gruff, but there was respect in his tone. ¡°It belonged to one of them.¡± Leo took the bag without a word. She lifted it slightly, her nose twitching as she brought it closer. At first, all she smelled was the mundane scent of groceries¡ªplastic, eggs, some packaged meat. Useless. But underneath that¡ª There it was. The scent of the one who carried it. Leo inhaled deeply, filtering out the useless odors until only the human¡¯s essence remained. The air around them grew still as she processed it. Memorized it. The ape-men waited patiently. They knew better than to interrupt her. Then, after a long moment, Leo¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. She turned her gaze toward the vast forest, far beyond the city¡ªmore than thirty kilometers away. ¡°They¡¯re over there.¡± Her voice was smooth and confident. Certain. The largest of the monkey-men narrowed his eyes, glancing in the same direction. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± Leo tilted her head, her smirk widening slightly. ¡°You dare to question me?¡± She tossed the grocery bag onto one of the police corpses without a second thought. Then, she looked at the beast-men around her. ¡°But Ronan isn¡¯t alone,¡± she murmured. ¡°There are more people with him.¡± The ape-men exchanged glances. "More people? Are they his allies from this world?" Leo took a breath and stretched her arms. Her face showed no clear feelings. ¡°Well, that makes things more fun, doesn¡¯t it?¡± And with that, they turned toward the forest. The hunt had officially begun.