Renzo stood tall, looking down at Jaxon, who barely held himself up.
"You know, you're a lot cooler in person, Black Mask." Renzo smirked. "Honestly, I wasn't sure that plan would work… but I guess it did anyway."
Jaxon's vision swam. His head pounded. Limbs weak. Breath hitched.
"Jaxon!"
Milo's voice crackled through the coms, urgent. "You need to get out of there—NOW!"
But Jaxon didn't move. He didn't listen. Somehow, he forced his feet against the concrete, slowly pushing himself upright.
"No, Jaxon, listen!" Milo's voice grew frantic. "That guy isn't just some street thug—that's Renzo! He's in Gotham's top 10. He's dangerous!"
Jaxon barely heard him. His knees wobbled. His stance unsteady.
Renzo's eyes narrowed. His head tilted in amusement. "Hold on a second…" He took a step forward, scrutinizing Jaxon. Then, suddenly—he laughed.
A deep, menacing laugh, bouncing off the alley walls.
"You're just a kid, aren't you?"
The laughter stopped, replaced by a mocking grin. "What, you thought you could be Gotham's Spider-Man?" His voice dripped with condescension. "Well, think again."
Renzo lunged.
His fist coiled tight—
Then—BOOM!
A brutal punch slammed into Jaxon's gut.
Jaxon's eyes shot wide open. A mist of air and spit burst from his lips as his body crumpled. Then, with one powerful thrust, Renzo sent him flying backward.
CRASH!
Jaxon's back slammed into the brick wall, cracks splintering outward from the impact. His body slumped forward, barely conscious.
Renzo exhaled, shaking his fist. "This is Gotham, kid." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a gun. Click. The barrel leveled at Jaxon's face.
"You chose the wrong city to play hero in. And now…"
Renzo's finger curled around the trigger.
"You're gonna die."
****
The Cabin House – Outside Gotham
Jaxon lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for air. His body was battered, bruised, and barely holding together.
Towering above him, Jack gripped his sword tightly, its blade gleaming under the pale moonlight. His cold, piercing gaze locked onto Jaxon.
"I... can't," Jaxon choked out, struggling through each word.
Jack's expression didn't waver. "Oh yeah?"
With a sharp swing, his blade cut through the earth, carving toward Jaxon in a deadly arc.
Thud!
Jaxon rematerialized in front of a tree, slamming against it. His back hit the bark hard, his arms clutching tightly at his gut.
Jack smirked. "Whenever you're facing an opponent, the best time to strike isn't when you're strong and agile." His voice was firm, deliberate. "It's when they think you've already lost."
Jaxon's breathing slowed as he absorbed Jack's words.
"That's when you summon everything inside you—every last ounce of will—and fight like hell." Jack planted his feet, raising his blade. "And then… you land the finishing blow."
Jaxon's eyes widened.
Jack's stance tightened.
"So come at me, kid." He beckoned with his free hand, his smirk unwavering. "With everything you've got."
Poo!
Renzo fired instantly.
Jaxon blurred to the side, a blue hue flashing from his eyes as the bullet streaked past his head. Before Renzo could react, Jaxon rematerialized in front of him, stance wide, fist coiled, neck outstretched—striking.
Renzo moved just as fast. His arm shot up, blocking the punch, his feet grinding against the pavement as he came to a screeching halt.
Shing!
Jaxon pulled out both blades from behind his back, the sharp metallic ring slicing through the air. The weapons spun effortlessly in his grip, catching the dim light as his gaze locked onto Renzo.
Renzo smirked, slipping his left hand behind his back. Slowly, he drew another gun, his grin widening as his eyes remained dead serious.
"He fought off the poison… but he won't last long."
Jaxon's fingers tightened around his blades, his smirk mirroring Renzo's.
"I gave that punch everything I had… and he's still standing like nothing happened."
Both of them, locked in their own thoughts, came to the same conclusion.
"This ain't gonna be easy."
****
Belmont Mansion – Sophie's Room
Sophie stood by the window of her spacious room, moonlight spilling in and stretching across the floor. A soft breeze slipped through, brushing against her skin, making her hair dance gently.
She wore a light singlet and snug shorts, most of her body exposed to the cool night air.
Yet, no matter how calm the night seemed, her mind wouldn't rest. Images of Jaxon kept flashing through her head, refusing to fade.
She let out a deep sigh. "He's so dumb," she muttered to herself.
Shaking her head, she turned away from the window and climbed into bed, pulling the massive sheets over her. Her head sank into the pillow, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.
But sleep didn't come.
"I wonder if he's already asleep…?"
****
Clang!
Jaxon's sword sliced through the air, but Renzo raised his gun just in time, the clash of metal ringing through the alley.
"What kind of gun is that?" Jaxon thought, pressing down harder.
With a fierce shove, Renzo forced distance between them, his gun snapping into position.
Poo!
Jaxon swung, slicing the bullet in half midair—a flash of sparks scattering. Another shot. Another deflection. But this time, his defense wavered.
Renzo smirked. "Gotcha."
The gun fired again. Instinct took over—Jaxon's legs split, dropping him beneath the bullet in a blur.
Renzo leaped, both guns aimed downward.
Poo!
Jaxon dodged, the bullet chipping away the concrete. His gaze locked onto Renzo. "He's fired. Now's my chance."
A sword shot from Jaxon's hand, tearing through the air. Midair, Renzo twisted at the last second, evading by a hair.
A shadow reappeared behind him—Jaxon. Blue light streaked past his face.
Renzo felt the presence. He grinned.
Jaxon thrust his blade forward.
Renzo's arm twisted from behind his side, gun aimed point-blank.
Tssshk! Poo!
Blade pierced. Bullet fired.
Both bodies plummeted, crashing into the concrete below.
Silence.
Then, Jaxon stirred, a firm palm pressing against the ground as he pushed himself up. His fingers reached into his suit, pulling out the bullet. He flicked it aside.
With a smirk, he pulled out a shattered gun from his belt. "Look at that—I had a gun all along."
Tossing it to the ground, he wrenched his sword free from Renzo's body, then turned, fading into the darkness.
"Hey, Milo. Call the cops."
And with that, he was gone.
****
Sophie lay on her bed, thoughts still lingering. "I bet
he's asleep by now."
She turned away from the ceiling, closing her eyes. Her hands rested gently against her cheeks as the night air whispered through the open window.