Within the dimly lit room, a sense of tension hung heavy in the air. A figure could be seen sitting on a chair commanding attention with his imposing presence. He wasn't fit, he wasn't tall and he wasn't handsome to say the least. His large frame overwhelmed the crooked wooden chair as it squeaked when the man adjusted himself. A glimmering gold chain adorned his neck complementary to his slicked back jet-black hair exuding his confidence to the others in the room.
The man spoke, his raspy voice filled the room, the pitch just loud enough to hear but his drooped head making it seem as though he were mumbling to himself.
"Unyielding fist... I need ya' to do somethin' for me."
The man's voice cut through the dimly lit room like a blade whilst the flickering light of the smoldering cigar perched between the mob boss's fingers formed dancing shadows across the table.
Alexander's eyes darted around the room like a boomerang analyzing each individual in the room through his periphery. There were 7 men, all donning the same casual black and white suit adorned with the same rose-red tie as the mob boss. They stood as silent sentinels and as still as golems, causing an aura of an ominous harmony of power.
He himself wore a ink-black leather jacket, his color faded sky-blue jeans matched his calm demeanor. His tight black shirt only highlighted his brawn.
'Only 7 guys?'
Alexander's eyebrow arched in confusion.
The man leant back, his belly protruding forward through his unbuttoned suit and tucked in shirt.
There was a grim look etched on his face, Alexander had put a lot of money in his pocket considering all the gambling money he'd gained him. It was a mutual relationship, the man could launder all the money he wanted and Alexander could... well do whatever the hell it is he liked to do, maybe fight? But now that the cops were on his tail, his work behind the scenes will have to be scraped and all the betting wasn't worth shit when everybody and their mothers bet on the unyielding fist.
"You're gonna lose, and you're gonna stay quiet."
The man declared, finally revealing his intentions.
"Quick to the point, huh Jim?"
Alexander's lips curved into a cheeky grin, a mischievous glint could be seen in his eyes as he leaned forward in his chair, brimming with audacity that bordered on insolence.
"What? D'you want some tea?
Jim said sarcastically, he wore a fake smile that Alexander instantly saw through.
"Actually... I do"
Alexander retorted, snapping back with a hint of amusement.
"Then somebody get my pal Alex here some tea! What're you waiting for!"
Jim wildly waved his arms like there was a mosquito he was trying to get rid of. A lone figure among Jim's men, devoid of any audible presence, acknowledged his order with a subtle nod and left the room like he wasn't there to begin with.
The room was left silent, Alexander sat still with a smug grin. His composed demeanor belied the intensity in his closed eyes and the firmness of his crossed arms. Jim glared daggers at Alexander practically burning a hole through Alexander's head.
Jim relaxed, the air around him altering like a light switch as he parroted Alexander's demeanor, crossing his own arms.
"Who is the closest person to you?"
Jim said as Alexander opened his eyes in a slight confusion, he didn't know why he was being asked this question but it didn't seem to be a trap in any way.
"What?"
'Small talk? From Jim, no way.'
Alexander responded, his voice laced with a tinge of skepticism as single brow arched up.
"I mean who do you trust the most?"
"Why?"
"Just curious..."
Jim responded his large chin tilting upward, causing his rolls of flesh to stretch and straighten.
"Hmm, I guess you."
Alexander wanted to laugh, he knew how ironic that was, he lost most of the people he truly cared about and Jim was probably the person he knew best. Even though he knew he could be killed by him the second he felt he wasn't useful anymore.
"Right... So as your closest friend, lose this time."
Jim said as his finger tapped the table with his index finger.
Alexander was about to chuckle.
-Click
'What was that!? A gun?!'
Alexander contemplated, the barrel rested on the back of his head.
He knew how many people there were in the room and he knew they were all armed, and Alexander also knew that no matter how proficient he was in martial arts and no matter how hard he tempered each part of his body, he was nothing in front of weapons.
All he could do was stay silent like a sheep ready for slaughter... Or to avoid.
Jim looked Alexander up and down, as if he knew what would happen next.
With a sudden, swift motion, Alexander's head weaved to the right, his body seemingly reacting on its own. With excellent precision and accuracy Alexander executed a backhanded maneuver, swiftly redirecting the trajectory of the gun with impeccable precision.
As the gun slipped from the man's grasp, a tense determination etched across his face, he clenched his teeth and pulled the trigger in a desperate attempt to regain control only resulting in the bullet shooting upwards piercing through the concrete ceiling in a loud boom.
Small bits of dirt and rocks dropped down as the bullet was left stuck in its once smooth surface.
The gun slipped into the ground as the man was left in a perfect disarmed position, but as Alexander became aware of his surroundings once more, he realised the chilling reality.
Every other underling had their gun pointed square at Alexander from all positions, a sweat trickled down Alexander's neck as he loosened his grip on the man.
He was perfectly content with throwing his life away, it didn't mean much anyways. But the bitter taste of helplessness, the sensation clawed at his insides, rendering him vulnerable. The weight of his pride collided with the suffocating reality of his situation threatening to consume him entirely.
Alexander's lips curled upwards as he simultaneously lifted his hands up.
Jim waved his finger and all the guns were lifted off Alexander.
Jim slipped a gun from underneath his own suit,
-Bang
Within an instant the man that had been disarmed dropped to the floor, the bullet flew straight through his head like a knife cutting through butter. The blood trickled out of his head and soaked the flooring.
Alexander's face was covered in pellets of blood as if he had took a shower with red-dyed water.
"Do it for me Alex,"
Jim snarled, as both men's smiles vanished.
"'Cause I'm your friend."
---
'What's with all the memories!?'
Deno thought, clenching his fist as the rage from his past conjured up within him again.
'No, this is a new life... New people, new environments, new experiences, he doesn't have to live with the same helpless feeling, he can grow past the limitations of the human body.'
The mere notion of transcending his limitations ignited an exhilarating fire within him. It was the prospect of leaving behind the suffocating clutches of helplessness, that one thing he held in contempt. The very idea of being confined within the confines of a constraining body, trapped within the boundaries of a confining cage, stirred an overwhelming torrent of emotions within his mind. Anguish swirled with a seething anger, fueling a growing inferno deep within his core.
Illyas made his way into the sea of outer disciples every step he took made Deno's heart grow tighter but then, within the corner of his eyes, he saw Ally standing beside him, Jeremy on the floor and the other kids guarding him.
They definitely couldn't do anything but just because of them, he seemed to relax.
"Haah"
Taking a deep sigh Deno's brows twitched as he clicked his tongue.
'Hey Adriana, make sure to remember that guy's face.'
Deno mumbled under his breath.
'Heh, I'm really impressed, Alexander,'
Adriana said slyly,
'I didn't know you could hold yourself back like that. If I had bet on it, I would've lost a fortune.'
Deno's brow twitched, Adriana's comment, although sounded like a compliment still somehow pissed him off.
After fighting those disciples in the cafeteria, Deno had realized that his strength was absurdly lacking.
He had forgotten the feeling of losing, and losing to a kid was definitely what he'd call a wake up call.
Deno felt a hand grab his shoulder, it was rough, calloused but it gripped him gently, making it clear there was no intention to harm him. The hand seemed to belong to a giant as it covered Deno's entire shoulder.
"Heh, I really thought you were going to throw yourself at the kid."
Martin said with a big grin still holding onto Deno's shoulder.
"So did I."
Deno retorted.
"Then what? Get yourself killed?"
Jeremy's words cut through the air, sharp and swift, filled with concern.
"I knew you were daring, but there's a line between bravery and recklessness,"
Mearna countered, her voice laced with a mix of worry and exasperation.
"Yeah Illyas could have taken us all on and we still wouldn't have stood a chance,"
Alena chimed in, her tone tinged with a hint of realism.
"Nah, I'm pretty sure we could have taken him down,"
Chase interjected confidently.
Mearna's frustration peaked, and she couldn't help but facepalm.
"Are you insane?"
she exclaimed, her disbelief palpable.
Ally, unable to contain her concern, seized Deno and shook him with fervor.
"You're not hurt, right?"
Her actions revealed a level of care that bordered on maternal, causing a collective sweat to trickle down everyone's brow. The intensity with which Ally shook Deno left them wondering just how deeply her affection and protectiveness ran.
"Wait what was that he took from you?"
Jeremy asked, it must've been pretty valuable if he was so adamant on getting it.
"Don't worry about it, it wouldn't have helped much anyways."
Deno said sighing, his dantian's potential was so low as made specially evident by Adriana, that it wouldn't have had any effects on him.
'Are you insane Alexander?! It would have also greatly boosted your dantian's absorbance of the dao energy through my technique!'
Joining in from within Deno's consciousness, Adriana gave Deno a frightful shock as Deno felt a chill go down his spine.
'Seriously?! I thought it wouldn't do anything!'
Deno snapped back, his heart racing.
'Mhm, you could have saved at least a decade of your life with that.'
Adriana said.
Deno's eyes widened as the group glared at him weirdly. He was acting strange after that one specific sentence, was the realisation of having lost it struck him?
Deno began to tremble but quickly composed himself by shutting his eyes and taking a deep breath,
'Well, just remember his face! I'll get it back lat-'
Just as Deno was about to finish his sentence, he was abruptly cut of by crackling in the corner of his mind, like fireworks going off.
'What are you laughing about? A decade may not be a long time for you but its a crazy portion of mine!'
'Rahahaha! I'm kidding, with your dantian, even a mystic level potion wouldn't have much effect.'
Adriana roared with amusement, if she had a body she would have fallen onto her scaley back struggling to breath.
Deno was speechless, as he grit his teeth in a blind fury.
'What the hell is wrong with you!'
He finally managed to utter, his voice tinged with incredulity and outrage.
'HAHAHAHA! You should have seen your face!'
Adriana, unable to contain herself, erupted into laughter that seemed to fill Deno's consciousness, leaving him even more bewildered. It was a laugh so infectious and uncontrollable that she struggled to catch her breath. She had never seen him so scared before.
'Heh.'
Deno managed to muster, his own laughter escaping his lips subconsciously, as if in response to Adriana's contagious amusement.
Silently mimicking her reaction, he unfolded his arms, allowing the folds of his robes to cascade beneath them, revealing a grin that showcased his pearly white teeth.
'Alright, alright,'
Deno conceded, his tone tinged with amusement.
'I didn't know Adriana the Merciless would resort to such juvenile tactics.'
'Ahem! It was worth it.'
Adriana responded, satisfied. How many times had he won their bickering exchanges, it simply wasn't acceptable.