As the first man moved even closer, a sudden blur of motion disrupted the scene. Out of nowhere, the Hero leapt into action, crashing into the first man and knocking him to the ground. With swift precision, the Hero pinned him down, gripping him tightly so that he couldn't move.
"Run away!" the Hero shouted, his voice urgent and commanding.
The girl stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the sudden turn of events. Her gaze locked onto the Hero, who was holding the first man firmly against the ground. She seemed unable to process what was happening, her feet refusing to move.
"Go! Go now! Escape!" the Hero yelled again, desperation ringing in his tone as he struggled to keep the first man restrained.
Finally, she broke out of her trance and turned to run. But as she tried to make her escape, the second man caught up to her. Grabbing her by the hair, he yanked her backward with brutal force, making her cry out in pain. With a cruel sneer, he swung her around and threw her toward the Hero.
She stumbled and fell, landing awkwardly on top of the Hero, who was still holding the first man down. The impact caused both of them to collapse to the ground, leaving them vulnerable.
The first man, still clutching his katana, snarled angrily. Using the handle of the weapon, he struck the Hero hard on the head. "Are you trying to play hero, huh?" he spat, his tone dripping with contempt. "You think you can take me on?"
The blow was swift and forceful, making the Hero grimace in pain as his grip weakened. Dazed and unable to hold on any longer, the Hero released the first man, who quickly scrambled to his feet.
The Hero collapsed onto the ground, his strength fading as blood trickled from where the handle had struck him. The girl, too, was left sprawled nearby, her breaths shaky and uneven.
The two men stood tall now, towering over the fallen pair. Their expressions were filled with a mix of triumph and disdain as they looked down at the Hero and the girl, who were both cornered and vulnerable.
The first man glared down at the Hero with pure rage in his eyes. "Are you thinking you're some kind of hero? A hero in one of those random stories?" he sneered. "You're not a hero. You're just a fool who jumped in, trying to help and got yourself tangled in this mess." His tone was filled with venom as he berated the Hero.
Stepping closer, the man continued, "I hate people like you-always trying to do good for others." He spat the words, and then, with a sharp motion, he swung his leg and delivered a vicious kick to the Hero's face. "You guys are always losers," he added, his voice dripping with disdain as he struck him again.
The girl, still sitting on the ground where she had fallen, watched the scene unfold. Her face was pale, and her body trembled as she managed to cry out weakly, "Don't do that! Don't do that!"
The first man turned to her, his expression darkening further. "Do you want to get beaten like this too?" he asked menacingly, stepping toward her.
But the second man intervened, shaking his head. "Don't damage her. We need her alive, remember? She's worth more that way," he said, his tone nonchalant but firm.
Ignoring the warning, the first man delivered another harsh kick to the Hero's face. The Hero winced but remained silent, enduring the pain. However, as the first man prepared to strike again, the Hero's hand shot out, gripping his leg tightly. With a sudden, forceful tug, the Hero yanked the man off his feet, causing him to crash to the ground with a loud thud.
The Hero immediately lunged forward, trying to wrest the katana from the man's grasp. A fierce struggle ensued, but before the Hero could gain the upper hand, the second man stepped in. With a cruel smirk, he delivered a powerful kick to the Hero's side, sending him hurtling backward. The impact drove the Hero into the wall, where he slumped to the ground, dazed and in pain.
The second man let out a light laugh. "He's trying way too hard," he said mockingly, looking at the Hero as though he were a mere inconvenience. Glancing down at his shoes, he added, "And now my new shoes are scuffed. Look at what you've done, man."
The first man groaned as he got to his feet, brushing himself off. "He's going too far. I've had enough of this," he muttered, his tone colder now.
The second man shrugged casually. "Then just kill him. He's nothing but evidence now," he said, as if the Hero's life was of no importance.
The first man grinned darkly. "Not a problem. I've been waiting for an excuse to do this," he replied. His grip on the katana tightened as he raised it, the blade gleaming ominously in the dim light.