Litzo marched toward the fight, his heavy boots echoing against the pavement as his men followed closely behind. He could feel the dark energy pulsing through his veins, a gift from Atlas Pendragon Holtwood—the warlock who had turned him into something more than human. His strength, honed from years as a soldier, had become something terrifying after Holtwood's rituals. Litzo was no longer just a man. He was a weapon, capable of facing even the strongest mutants.
As he approached the scene, he saw Logan—a man he had heard whispers about. A mutant with claws that could tear through steel, a beast who fought with the ferocity of a wild animal. And there was the soldier, Bill, clearly struggling against his PTSD, but still standing firm. Litzo sneered. "A mutant and a soldier... you're no match for me."
As Bill watched Logan face off against Litzo, a wave of realization washed over him. "Mutant?" he thought, his mind racing back to his time in the U.S. Army during the 1940s. He had heard rumors of mutants—people born with extraordinary abilities, some even fought alongside regular soldiers in secret missions. But seeing it now, in person, was something else entirely.
Bill glanced at Logan's extended claws, gleaming under the streetlights, blood dripping from the tips after the brutal fight with Litzo's men. "At first, I thought they were just knuckle blades, something he strapped on to fight... but no... they're a part of him. This guy is the real deal. Like the ones I heard stories about during the war. My old friend... he was one too."
Bill's thoughts flickered back to his old comrade, a fellow soldier with the ability to manipulate fire. They had served in the same platoon, fighting in the darkest corners of Europe. But back then, the world wasn't ready for people like that, so they had to keep their powers hidden. Bill hadn't thought about mutants in years. He had buried that part of his past, much like everything else from his time as a soldier. But now, seeing Logan, memories began flooding back.
"Focus, Bill.." he reminded himself, shaking off the distraction as he watched Logan confront Litzo. The tension in the air was thick. Litzo was no ordinary opponent either. There was something sinister about him—his movements were too sharp, too fast for a normal human. The dark energy swirling around Litzo was palpable, and Bill could feel it, a cold, creeping sensation crawling up his spine.
Logan stood his ground, his voice a low growl. "You got a death wish, bub?" His instincts told him Litzo wasn't like the regular thugs he had cut down moments ago. This one was different.
Litzo sneered, clearly unphased by Logan's claws. "Death? I've already seen it, mutant. Now, I deliver it." His voice was laced with venom, a reflection of the dark power that now controlled him, gifted to him by Atlas Pendragon Holtwood.
Bill tightened his grip on his weapon. He knew he had to be ready. Whatever happened next, this fight was far from over. He couldn't afford to let his mind wander, not with someone like Litzo involved. "Focus," he thought again, forcing himself to stay in the moment.
Without warning, Logan lunged forward, his claws slicing through the air with deadly precision. But Litzo was faster than a normal human—far faster than Logan expected. He sidestepped, grabbing Logan's wrist in midair and twisting it with bone-crushing strength. Logan growled in pain but slashed upward with his other hand, aiming for Litzo's chest. Litzo let go, narrowly avoiding the blow as he backflipped away, something no normal soldier could do.
"Nice try," Litzo mocked, his voice dripping with confidence. "But I'm not like the others. Lord gave me more than just strength—he gave me the power to end men like you."
Logan charged again, slashing and swiping with rapid strikes, but Litzo was quick, weaving in and out of his attacks. With a roar, Litzo swung his fist, connecting with Logan's jaw. The force was tremendous, sending Logan stumbling back. But Logan wasn't done. He wiped the blood from his lip and smirked. "That all you got?"
Suddenly, Logan leaped high, bringing his claws down in a vicious arc aimed at Litzo's head. But Litzo was ready. With a burst of strength, he caught Logan's arm mid-strike and slammed him into the ground with a thunderous crash. The pavement cracked beneath Logan's body, but before Litzo could follow up, Logan spun around, slashing Litzo's side with his claws.
Blood sprayed as Litzo staggered back, clutching his side. But instead of faltering, he laughed. "Good. It's been a while since someone made me bleed." He straightened up, the wound already starting to close thanks to the dark magic coursing through him.
Logan's eyes widened in surprise. "You're healing..."
"Like I said, Lord gave me power. I'm more than human now."
As the two clashed again, the sound of metal on bone echoed through the street. Litzo's strikes were brutal, each punch fueled by the vengeance that had shaped him into a monster. But Logan was relentless, his mutant healing factor allowing him to push through the pain as they exchanged blows.
Meanwhile, Bill watched in awe as the two titans battled. He had seen combat before, but this was different. Logan fought like a wild animal, and Litzo was a soldier turned into something far worse. But as more of Litzo's men began to surround him, Bill knew he couldn't just stand there.
"I've got to help," Bill muttered, shaking off the memories of his past. He grabbed a nearby weapon from one of the fallen thugs and charged into the fray, taking out the remaining men with swift, calculated strikes.
But Litzo and Logan's fight was far from over. Litzo lunged at Logan again, his fists glowing with dark energy as he delivered a crushing blow to Logan's chest. Logan coughed, blood spilling from his mouth, but his claws found their mark, stabbing deep into Litzo's shoulder.
Litzo howled in rage, grabbing Logan by the throat and lifting him off the ground. "I'll crush you!" he snarled.
But Logan, ever defiant, grinned. "You can try." With a roar, Logan drove his claws deep into Litzo's chest, aiming for his heart. Litzo staggered, but the dark magic kept him standing, his eyes burning with fury.
As the fight reached its climax, it became clear that neither man was willing to back down. Litzo, the Soldier of Vengeance, and Logan, the indestructible mutant, were locked in a brutal, bloody struggle for dominance. But with each passing moment, it became clear—this battle would only end when one of them fell.
..........
Loe's McCall device buzzed quietly, the discreet notification catching his attention. He exchanged a quick glance with Mark, who instantly understood. They had a system in place for moments like this. Loe stood up, offering a polite nod to Chris.
"I have to take this call, if you'll excuse me." Loe said, keeping his tone calm.
Chris, sitting across from them, gave a small smile, his curiosity evident. He had long suspected that Loe and Mark were up to something beyond the usual, but he never pried. He respected his friends too much for that. "Sure, no problem. I'll catch up with you in a bit," Chris replied, though his eyes lingered on Loe's retreating figure.
Mark, sensing the potential tension, quickly turned to Chris. "You remember high school, man? Those days with Michael Wilson?" He launched into a story, hoping to distract Chris with memories of their carefree teenage years.
Chris chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, yeah. Michael always had us doing the craziest things. Remember that time we broke into the old gym to play basketball after hours? We almost got expelled for that."
Mark laughed, keeping the conversation flowing naturally. "That was all Michael's idea. I still can't believe we didn't get caught sooner. He always knew how to talk his way out of trouble."
.........
As Loe exited the villa's grand living room, he tapped the side of his McCall device, bringing it to life. A soft hum filled his ear before Mindy's voice crackled through the connection.
"Loe, it's Mindy. We've got a problem. A big one."
Loe immediately straightened up, knowing Mindy wouldn't contact him unless it was serious. "What is it? Did you find something?"
Mindy's voice was urgent. "Vivian cracked the journal. Alphonse Capone has a secret hideout, but it's worse than we thought. They're experimenting on people, Loe. Turning them into... something else."
Loe felt a chill run down his spine. "Experiments? What kind of experiments? Are those what she said back then?"
"I don't have all the details yet, but from what Vivian's deciphered, they're working on some twisted version of enhancing human strength—taking people and turning them into living weapons. But it's not just about making stronger soldiers, Loe. They're... breaking them, warping their minds and bodies. It's sick." Mindy's voice wavered for a second, but she quickly regained her composure.
Loe clenched his fist. Alphonse Capone was always a dangerous man, but this was a whole new level of evil. "Where's the hideout?"
"We've got a location. It's in an abandoned underground facility beneath one of Capone's old warehouses, near the Chicago waterfront. Vivian's still working through the rest of the journal, but she's certain this place is where they're doing the experiments. We need to act fast, though. Capone's men are constantly guarding the place, and they've been moving in and out of there like clockwork. Whatever they're doing, they're gearing up for something big."
Loe's mind raced. He had to figure out a plan, and quickly. If Capone was building an army of enhanced killers, it was only a matter of time before things spiraled out of control.
"Mindy, tell Vivian to keep digging the journal. We need everything she can find. If we're going in there, I want to know exactly what we're up against." Loe's voice was firm, already shifting into his strategist mindset he learned from the street.
"Got it. I'll stay in touch. But Loe… be careful. Right now, we're in his way."
Loe's mind reeled at Mindy's revelation. He tightened his grip on the McCall device, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. "Are you crazy?" Loe snapped. "I told you to stay put, you duffos!
There was a pause, and Mindy sighed on the other end of the line. "I know, Loe. But Vivian insists she has to go. She knows the layout better than anyone—after all, she's Alphonse Capone's stepdaughter. She's been inside that hideout before, and she knows things we don't."
Loe paced in frustration, running his hand through his hair as he tried to process Mindy's words. His grip on the McCall device tightened, veins pulsing as he considered the gravity of the situation.
"She can't just walk into Capone's lair, Mindy. I don't care if she's his stepdaughter or if she knows the layout like the back of her hand. This isn't a game." Loe growled, his voice low and tense.
Mindy's sigh came through the line again, the exhaustion evident in her tone. "I know, Loe. But you know how Vivian is. Once she's made up her mind, there's no stopping her. Even Gustav tried, and we both know he rarely loses a battle of wills."
Loe cursed under his breath, pacing faster. "We're supposed to be the ones planning, keeping people safe—especially those with inside connections like her. She's too close to this."
Mindy hesitated for a second. "I've already tried reaching out with telepathy, but she's blocking me, Loe. She's got some kind of mental shield up I don't know.... I can't get through to her."
Loe stopped in his tracks, frustration giving way to a deeper concern. Vivian's ability to block Mindy's telepathy meant she was serious about this—more serious than they had realized.
"Fucking hell," Loe muttered, his mind racing. "If she's that determined, then we need to be there first. We can't let her walk into that hideout alone."
"Agreed," Mindy said quietly. "But we don't have much time. If she's already on the move, it's going to be hard to beat her there."
Loe clenched his fists, his thoughts spinning as he shifted into full-on mission mode. "We'll have to move fast. I'm calling Mark and the rest of the team. We go in, get Vivian out, and gather whatever intel we can. But no one goes in alone. Capone's playing dirty, and we can't afford any mistakes."
Mindy's voice was steady now, determined. "I'll coordinate from here and try to keep an eye on Vivian's movements, but just be careful. Capone's been waiting for a chance like this. He'll be expecting trouble."
Loe ended the call, his heart pounding in his chest as he made his way back to where Mark and Chris were still talking. His expression was grim, but his mind was already formulating the plan.
.............
Back in the living room, Mark kept Chris entertained. "You remember that time we got into a fight with the seniors after Michael pulled that prank at the pep rally?"
Chris laughed, shaking his head. "Man, that was chaos. I thought for sure we were all going to get suspended."
Mark grinned, keeping the conversation light, but his eyes flickered toward the door as Loe re-entered the room. Loe's expression was calm, but Mark could tell from the way he moved that something serious was happening.
Chris didn't notice the subtle exchange between his two friends, too caught up in reminiscing about their high school days. But both Loe and Mark knew that soon, they'd be facing something far more dangerous than they ever had before.
To be continue