Nefario, his memory restored and his rage burning, surged toward Li. With a growl, he launched himself into the air, aiming for Li's head with a devastating strike. But Li, moving with inhuman speed and precision, effortlessly dodged the attack, his body twisting and flowing like water to avoid the blow.
At the same moment, Cheng, his eyes locked on Masha, moved at full speed, his fist rocketing toward her head with all the power he could muster. But Masha was faster. She grabbed his arm mid-strike, twisting it at an unnatural angle.
There was a sickening crack as Cheng's arm was violently dislocated. His pained cry echoed in the air, but Masha didn't give him a chance to recover. Before he could even begin to heal, she slammed a powerful punch into his chest, sending him soaring through the air, crashing into the gate with a deafening thud.
She sent out a shockwave which blew them all out of the house, causing temporary confusion while their opponents attacked them again.
Rolin, eyes narrowing, watched Michael's muscles shift beneath his skin, bulging and twitching unnaturally as he prepared for the next assault. "C'mon, keep it together!" Rolin taunted, his voice laced with arrogance. "Moving your muscles won't stop me!" With a roar, Rolin threw a punch that could have leveled a building, his fist cutting through the air like a wrecking ball.
But Michael, despite the strain, met Rolin's blow head-on, his massive muscles braced for impact. The collision sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, the force of their clash creating a small crater beneath their feet. Sweat dripped from Michael's brow, but he stood firm, locking eyes with his opponent. It was clear this battle wouldn't be won through strength alone.
Li's voice suddenly cut through the tension, his tone sharp as he spoke into his communication device. "How long is that damn thing gonna take, Dmitri?"
"It's ready, sir," came Dmitri's voice, tinged with caution. "But it will probably take you out too."
Li's lips curled into a wicked smile. "I don't care. Just do it. We've secured the site. If it takes me out, so be it." His eyes glinted with cold determination.
Without warning, a surge of static electricity shot out from the Banpai building, blanketing the entire battlefield. The shockwave crackled through the air, radiating outward in a pulse that left everyone momentarily paralyzed. The power of every fighter was stripped away in an instant. It felt like the very essence of their abilities had been erased, leaving them as mere mortals once again.
Nefario, his body still coiled with fury, tried to summon his fire, but nothing happened. The flame within him, the power he had relied on for so long, was gone—extinguished as if it had never existed. His anger was palpable, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He had no power left to wield, only his raw strength and desperation.
Li, watching the chaos unfold, smirked knowingly. "Your abilities are gone," he said, his voice dripping with malicious satisfaction. "Now, it's time for the real fight."
The words hung in the air, and for a brief moment, there was an eerie silence. No one could rely on their powers anymore. It was no longer a battle of abilities—it was a battle of pure skill, instincts, and survival. With the playing field now leveled, every fighter would have to push their limits and confront their opponents in ways they had never imagined before. The true test had only just begun.
The battle was reaching its breaking point. The static shock from the Banpai building had stripped them of their abilities, leaving Nefario, Rolin, and Cheng vulnerable. The air was thick with the sound of battle cries and the clash of steel, but Nefario wasn't focused on the fighting anymore. He was focused on survival—and on how to end this.
"Get to the back! We're getting out of here," Nefario shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Rolin, who was currently fending off a group of Banpai soldiers, nodded curtly, his muscles still seething with the remnants of his lost strength. He made quick work of the attackers, his eyes scanning the area for Nefario.
Cheng was already halfway to the exit, his dislocated arm now hanging at his side, but the adrenaline kept him moving. Nefario's order was clear: escape, or die trying.
They met near an old fire escape on the edge of the compound. The metal stairs creaked beneath their feet as they climbed toward the rooftop, knowing that the higher they went, the less likely they were to be cornered.
Once they were clear of immediate danger, Nefario turned to face his companions, his face tense, but his eyes burning with the same cold resolve that had always defined him. He wiped the sweat off his brow, his breath coming in short bursts, before speaking.
"The only way to get them off our tail," Nefario said, his voice low and steady, "is to claim war on the Banpai."
Cheng raised an eyebrow. "What the hell are you talking about? You've lost your mind, Nefario."
Rolin shot a look at Nefario. "You're serious? You want to declare war on the Banpai right now?"
Nefario nodded grimly. "There's no other option. The Banpai runs everything. And Li? His pride won't let him ignore a challenge like that. The Crime War is the only way. It's an annual tradition among the underworld factions. Whoever wins claims supremacy."
Cheng scoffed. "Are you telling me we're going to challenge the Banpai—the Banpai—to a fight for control of the world's criminal empire?"
"Yes," Nefario said, meeting his gaze. "We can't keep running, Cheng. We've tried that, and it's getting us nowhere. If we force Li to accept the war, we force him to acknowledge our power. We force him to back off."
Rolin, still adjusting to the fact that they had just lost all their abilities, shook his head in disbelief. "You know what you're asking, right? If we lose, the entire criminal world will turn on us. We'll be marked for death."
"I know," Nefario replied, "but we've got no other choice. We can't keep running forever. If we win, we gain control. If we lose… then we die, and it'll be over. But we'll never be free unless we make a stand."
Rolin rubbed his jaw, thinking it through. "So, you're telling me that if we challenge Li, he'll have no choice but to accept? That's how this 'Crime War' works?"
"Exactly. It's a battle that has rules. It's not just a fight for territory; it's the ultimate test of power. And Li's pride won't let him walk away from it. If we force him into it, we're giving ourselves a shot."
Cheng took a deep breath. "Fine. But we'll need allies. The Banpai's forces are too strong. We can't win this alone."
Nefario's lips curled into a tight smile. "Don't worry. I know just where to go."
---
A few hours later, the trio stood in front of Li, his presence as commanding as ever, the tension between them electric. Masha stood at his side, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. The sounds of the battle had died down, and the air was heavy with anticipation.
Li's eyes locked on Nefario as he spoke, his voice cold and dangerous. "You've got a lot of nerve showing up after everything you've done."
"We didn't come here to beg for mercy," Nefario said flatly. "We came to challenge you. We challenge the Banpai to the Crime War."
Li's expression shifted to one of thinly veiled amusement. "You've lost your mind. You think you can take on the might of the Banpai? We are the largest crime syndicate in the world. We control everything—everything. You've got nothing."
Nefario stepped forward, his voice unwavering. "You've got nothing either, Li, not if you lose your pride. If we challenge you, you'll either accept the fight or look weak in front of every faction you control. Your pride won't let you walk away from this."
Rolin's voice cut in. "We're giving you a chance to prove your strength, Li. If you back down, you risk losing everything you've built."
Li's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in them. He took a step toward Nefario, his voice a low growl. "I could crush you right here, right now. You're making a mistake."
Nefario stood tall, refusing to back down. "The mistake would be ignoring us. You'll have to accept, because the Crime War is a tradition. You can't avoid it, and you know it."
Li was silent for a long moment. His pride clashed with the reality of the situation, and finally, he spoke, his voice laced with venom. "Fine. You want your war? You'll have it. But don't think I'm going to go easy on you. If you lose, you won't just die—you'll wish you had."
"We'll be ready," Nefario said with a fierce look in his eyes. "We'll take you on with everything we've got."
Li's lips curled into a tight smile, but it wasn't one of amusement—it was one of calculated malice. "You've got three months. After that, the war begins. Get your team together, Nefario. You're going to need it."
With that, Li turned away, walking out with Masha in tow, leaving Nefario, Rolin, and Cheng alone. The weight of the next three months pressed down on them, but there was no turning back now.
---
As the three men stood in the aftermath, Nefario turned to his companions, his eyes steely with determination. "There's someone I need to speak to before we get started. Someone who can help us."
Rolin raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"Adam," Nefario said quietly. "My brother."
Cheng's face twisted in confusion. "Your brother? You never told us you had one."
"I kept him out of it," Nefario replied. "After everything that happened, I thought he'd hate me. But he's still alive. He's been hiding in Italy for years. And he's the only one I know who can help us. He's tactical, smart, and ruthless when it counts. If we can convince him, he'll be a valuable asset."
Rolin looked at Nefario for a long moment before speaking. "You think he'll help us after everything?"
Nefario's face hardened. "I don't know. But we have to try. He doesn't hold a grudge against me anymore. He's pragmatic. If we explain the stakes, he'll understand."
"We leave now," Cheng said, his voice steady. "We don't have time to waste."
Nefario nodded. "We'll fly to Italy, find Adam, and convince him to join us. If we don't, we'll never make it through the war."
With the weight of their decision hanging in the air, the trio made their way to the airport. They had three months to assemble a team, gather allies, and prepare for the fight of their lives. And Adam—Nefario's estranged brother—was their first step.
As the plane took off, the horizon stretched ahead of them, and Nefario knew that, for better or worse, their fate was about to change.