The air crackled with tension as Leo stood in front of Rael, heart pounding in his chest. Ashley's muffled cries echoed in his ears, but he couldn't let that distract him. Rael was his target now.
Rael's eyes gleamed with cold amusement, arms casually crossed, leaning against the wall. "You think you're different from Kieran, Leo? That you can just save everyone? What a joke."
"I'm not here for your games, Rael," Leo spat. "Let her go. You and I both know you don't need her for this."
Rael's smile grew sharper. "It's never been about what I need. It's about what I can take from you." He took a step forward, and Leo instinctively took one back, his pulse hammering in his throat. "You're brave. I'll give you that. But that bravery won't save her."
Leo clenched his fists. He couldn't let fear win. Not this time. Not when it was someone he cared about.
"I'll fight you, Rael. You've pushed me too far." He stepped forward, eyes burning with determination.
Rael chuckled. "You think you can fight me? I'm not your little high school rivalry. I'm not some thug you can bully into submission."
Rael's demeanor shifted in an instant. One moment he was a joker, the next a predator. The air between them seemed to thicken, and Leo could practically feel the weight of Rael's power pressing against him.
With a sudden motion, Rael lunged at him, and Leo barely dodged in time, the rush of air from Rael's strike sending a shiver down his spine.
Leo reacted instinctively, throwing a punch that grazed Rael's cheek. The satisfaction was short-lived. Rael backhanded Leo across the face, sending him stumbling.
Leo's vision blurred for a moment, pain searing through his jaw, but he shook it off. There was no room for weakness now. Not with Ashley's life hanging in the balance.
"Pathetic," Rael muttered, wiping a streak of blood from his lip. "I'll give you credit, though. You've got spirit. Too bad it won't be enough."
Leo's mind raced, looking for an opening. The fight wasn't about strength—it was about timing, precision, making Rael underestimate him. He had to outsmart him.
Rael lunged again, but this time, Leo was ready. He sidestepped just in time and, using Rael's momentum, threw him hard against the wall. The crack of impact echoed in the empty hall.
Rael grunted but quickly regained his footing, his eyes flashing with fury. "You think that hurt? You don't know what real pain feels like."
Leo met his gaze, breath ragged. "I'll find out. But first, you let her go."
Rael smiled darkly, and for a brief moment, the room seemed to shift.
"You're too late," Rael hissed, eyes glinting with something darker. "This game is just beginning."