Alphonse Capone lay on the cold, rain-soaked ground, gasping for breath. His once pristine suit was torn and bloodied, his face swollen and bruised from the brutal fight. The vigilante known as Angel, Thomas Halloway, had left his mark—both physically and psychologically. Capone's empire, his power, all of it shattered in a single night. The man who had once ruled the underworld with an iron fist was now a shadow of his former self, defeated and humiliated.
"Why didn't he finish me?" Alphonse murmured to himself, the taste of blood bitter in his mouth. Thomas Halloway, in all his righteousness, had chosen to spare his life. He had stood over Capone, gun gleaming in the moonlight, and for a moment, Alphonse had been sure it was the end. But instead of delivering the final blow, Angel had simply said, "Your reign of terror ends tonight"
Now, lying alone in a filthy alley, Alphonse could feel the weight of those words. He was finished. His criminal empire was crumbling, his allies abandoning him, and the police closing in. Despair began to creep in as the rain pelted his battered body. "Is this how it ends?" he thought bitterly. "The great Alphonse Capone, left to rot in the gutter?"
But then, through the haze of pain and regret, something changed. The air around him grew heavier, and an unnatural stillness settled over the alley. The sound of rain seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the quiet thrum of power—an almost palpable presence. Alphonse, though barely able to move, forced himself to look up.
A figure stood at the mouth of the alley, tall and imposing. He wore a black, tailored suit with an elegance that seemed out of place in this decrepit corner of the city. His hair was slicked back, and his eyes glowed with a strange, almost otherworldly light. This man was not like any other Alphonse had encountered before. He exuded a confidence that bordered on inhuman.
"Alphonse Capone," the man spoke, his voice smooth and deep, carrying a strange, commanding weight. "You've been given a second chance."
Capone's eyes narrowed. "Who... who are you?" he croaked, his throat dry and voice hoarse.
The man stepped forward, his polished shoes echoing in the silence. "I am Atlas Pendragon Holtwood," he said, his gaze piercing. "And I have a proposition for you."
Capone forced a bitter laugh, though it quickly turned into a painful cough. "What... what could you possibly offer me? I'm finished. My empire's gone. That vigilante destroyed everything I built!"
Atlas smiled faintly, almost as if amused by Capone's despair. "You think small, Capone. That's always been your problem. You've ruled the streets, yes, but I offer you the opportunity to rule something far greater. I can help you rebuild—not just your empire, but yourself. You could rise again, stronger than ever before."
Capone glared at him, suspicion filling his mind. "Why would you help me? What's in it for you?"
Atlas's smile widened slightly. "What's in it for me? Opportunity. The world is changing, Capone. The old ways are dying, but I see potential in you. A man like you, ruthless but driven, can be molded into something more... something new. Under my guidance, you'll no longer be bound by the petty rules of this city's underworld. I'll give you the tools to take power on a grander scale—one that even Thomas Halloway cannot touch."
Capone's mind raced, the pain momentarily forgotten. The man standing before him was clearly no ordinary figure. He radiated an aura of power, something far beyond anything Capone had encountered in his criminal dealings. And yet, here he was, offering him a way out, a chance to rebuild. "And if I refuse?" Capone asked, still wary.
Atlas's eyes darkened, the glow intensifying. "Refuse, and you'll remain in this gutter until the police find you—or worse. Your enemies will feast on what's left of your legacy. But if you accept, you'll have the opportunity to rise again, and those who have wronged you will kneel before you."
Capone's mind was torn. He had always been a man who valued control, power, and loyalty. But now, in his weakest moment, those things had abandoned him. This Atlas was offering him the chance to reclaim it all, to become something greater. The weight of the decision pressed down on him like the rain pouring from the heavens.
After what felt like an eternity, Alphonse finally spoke, his voice steadier than it had been in hours. "What do you want me to do?"
That is the day Alphonse Capone had been reborn. And with Atlas Pendragon Holtwood's help, he would rise higher than ever before.
The end of Extra Chapter