Gula tore through the streets, wrecking everything in their way. Their monstrous forms ripped into anything that moved.
Then, the Aston Martin slammed forward, ploughing through a bunch of them with pinpoint accuracy. The beasts burst apart on impact, crumbling like brittle stone.
Rory, Scarlett, and Captain Smyth stepped out in sync, facing the remaining Gula as they turned toward them.
"Let's wrap this up," Captain Smyth said, taking a slow drag from his pipe.
Rory cracked his knuckles, energy radiating from his hands as the massive creatures charged at him.
"Kalo: Hallowed Rugger."
A rugby ball materialized in his grip, humming with raw power. With a firm grip, he shot forward like a bullet, ramming straight into the Gula. Each impact sent them exploding into dust, obliterated by his sheer force.
Across the battlefield, Scarlett brought her hands together, her expression focused.
"Kalo: Blissful Capture."
A high-end DSLR camera appeared in her grasp. She aimed, snapped a shot of the incoming horde, and studied the photo.
Clasping her hands once again, she uttered, "Kalo: Monopod."
A sleek, modified monopod formed in her hands, its tip razor-sharp. With practiced movements, she spun and struck, cutting through the Gula with lethal precision. Every swing landed perfectly, tearing through them with ease.
Meanwhile, Captain Smyth barely looked concerned. He exhaled another puff of smoke, watching the chaos unfold. As the beasts got close, he clasped his hands.
"Kalo: White Chip."
A white poker chip appeared between his fingers. He flicked it, and as it spun through the air, a strange force gripped the Gula. Their movements slowed, as if caught in an invisible web.
"Kalo: Hand In His Name," he said as he clasped his hands again.
Five playing cards hovered around him, each glowing with a gold energy. He glanced at them, muttering to himself.
"3 clubs, 4 diamonds, 5 spades, 6 hearts, 7 diamonds. Ugh, straight." He rolled his eyes before sending them flying.
The cards sliced through the air like blades, striking down the trapped creatures one by one.
From across the street, Kimberley, Alko, Ren, and Udo stood frozen, watching the fight unfold.
As Squad Smyth pulled back, tension hung thick in the air, pressing down on the bystanders.
Alko's voice wavered, caught between confusion and concern. "Who the…?"
Kimberley cut in, her tone sharp. "Squad Smyth. They run this city."
Alko nodded slowly, still processing. "Oh… they're strong, I can't lie. Think they'll be a problem?"
Kimberley didn't flinch. "Not unless they get in our way."
Even with the fight over, Squad Smyth kept things light, throwing casual banter back and forth. But then, Seamus raised a hand.
"Shh."
Scarlett and Rory stopped mid-sentence, their senses sharpening.
A distant scream rang out.
Alko tensed. "Did you hear that?"
Kimberley's eyes stayed locked on the scene ahead. "Looks like we're not done here."
Scarlett, Rory, and Captain Smyth were already moving toward the sound. Alko, Kimberley, Ren, and Udo followed, urgency pushing them forward.
They reached the source, a young girl. Cornered by a snarling Gula, tears streaked her face as she sobbed.
"Mummy! Help! Please!"
Scarlett and Rory stepped forward, ready to strike.
Captain Smyth stopped them.
He tapped his earpiece. "Annie. Talk to me."
A brief pause. Then Annie's voice came through, steady but grim. "Her parents are in debt, Captain."
Captain Smyth exhaled. "Understood. Stand down."
Scarlett's lips curled into a smirk. "Ooo, sticking to your principles, huh?"
His voice was firm. "There are two routes you can take: acknowledge us and be saved, or ignore us and put yourself and your family at risk. This falls on her parents."
The onlookers watched with widened eyes as Squad Smyth turned and walked away.
Alko's desperation was evident in his plea. "They're leaving...?"
Kimberley's voice carried an intriguing mixture of curiosity and understanding. "Interesting..."
Ren's concern escalated, and he implored Kimberley for action. "Kim! We gotta do something. The kid's gonna get chewed up!"
But Kimberley's confidence remained steadfast "Not yet."
Ren's confusion turned to frustration. "What? Kim!"
"Trust me," She turned to Ren, her eyes sharp.
Meanwhile, Udo's gaze remained fixed on the unfolding scene, his curiosity piqued by the events playing out before him.
As the menacing Gula seized the child, a sense of dread hung heavy in the air. However, a man sprinted across the ground, hands clasped.
"Kalo: Beautiful Game."
The beast's monstrous jaws were poised to close around the child, but there was an intervention.
A familiar ball clattered through the beast's skull, its lifeless body crumpling to the ground.
The turn of events caught Squad Smyth's attention, halting in their tracks.
Kimberley's voice carried a mix of recognition and satisfaction. "There he is..."
Emerging from the shadows, Kenny Grieves stepped into view, a white plastic bag held casually in his hand.
"Is that..." Scarlett's voice was laced with astonishment.
Rory confirmed her suspicions with a curt response. "Yep. The guy who's been messing with our business..."
Captain Smyth, calmly smoked out of his pipe as he addressed him with a tone of curiosity. "So you're the fella who's been trying to play the hero lately, huh?"
"So what if I am?" Kenny's tone was defiant.
Captain Smyth smirked, unshaken by Kenny's bravado. "So what, aye? Going against the culture we've installed in this city? That's a death sentence."
Kenny's challenge was clear, his voice unwavering. "Yeah? Well, what are you waiting for? Come kill me."
Scarlett and Rory moved in tandem, positioning themselves on either side of Kenny, forming an ominous trio that closed in on him.
Alko's incredulous voice echoed the sentiment of the group. "They're attacking him...?"
"I've heard stories" Kimberley replied as her hand shuffled through her waist bag.
Udo gazed at Kenny with a slight glimmer in his eye. An image of a younger Bowen flashed in his mind. He was on the ground as his cherished foster brother fended off Yohan and his friends.
Meanwhile, Kimberley was busy coordinating their strategy, pulling out a few flashballs.
"Alko on my signal you-" she turned to Alko to share her plan, but there was an unusual absence...
"Where's Udo?"
Back at the scene, Captain Smyth had clasped his hands...
"Kalo: Hand in his Name," he chanted, prompting a set of five playing cards to appear before him: an ace of hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades and a king of hearts.
"Oh?" his eyebrows raised.
"A Full House! Not bad kid..." his voice carrying a note of approval.
Kenny's eyes narrowed in confusion, "What are you talking about?"
"The strength and speed of my cards depend on the ranking of my poker hand, which in turn is handed to me based on the strength of my opponent" he continued to explain, a hint of awe in his voice, "Full House is good kid, about 3 ranks from the top!"
"Anyway..." the praise was over, "Goodbye, Kenny".
He stretched his hand, and the sharp-edged cards zapped towards Kenny. Yet, just as the cards were mere millimetres away from their target, a figure crashed down in a dramatic entrance, enveloping the scene in a cloud of dust.
Captain Smyth's voice reflected his surprise. "What the..." he muttered.
As the dust cleared, a goggle-eyed Kenny was now sitting on the floor, while an unfamiliar figure stood before him.
The figure held the five razor-sharp cards between his fingers with an air of mastery. It was none other than...
Udo, a mask covering his identity.