East side of Cardio City, Stone Maze area.
The towering stone walls cast deep, cool shadows as Asher and Noah sat in their partially hidden spot near the entrance. Dust motes danced in the slanted afternoon light filtering between the ancient blocks. The air smelled of dry earth and sun-baked rock.
Asher glanced at his phone screen, its glow reflecting in his eyes. "Around two more minutes until I can use 'Roll the Dice' again," he said, bouncing his knee with nervous excitement.
He'd already rolled five times—four, one, two, one, two—stacking his power to a humming 16x multiplier. His muscles felt coiled and electric beneath his skin.
Noah's gaze snapped past him, sharpening. "No time for waiting," he said, rising smoothly. "They're here."
Asher shot to his feet, adrenaline surging. "Alright, let's fight!" he said, raising his fists, the raw power thrumming through him making him feel invincible.
"Not now, stupid," Noah hissed, already moving backward into the maze's shadowed throat. "Let's go inside first. They're not the last we'll face today. Better not show our hand yet."
"Oh, right, sorry," Asher said with a sheepish grin, instantly following as they vanished deeper into the labyrinthine passages.
Outside, five Serpent's Slaughter members skidded to a halt where their prey had been moments before.
"Aren't Noah supposed to be strong or something?" one muttered, squinting into the gloom. "Why are they running?"
"How should I know?" another scoffed, hand resting on a holstered weapon. "Maybe that's just a lie?"
"Who cares!" Ethan snapped, pushing forward. "Let's catch them!"
They plunged into the maze, the towering stones swallowing them whole. Within seconds, they hit a fork—three narrow paths branching into darkness.
"What to do...? Split up?" one asked, hesitating.
"Isn't that dangerous?" another countered, eyeing the oppressive walls.
"I know, I'll stay here," Ethan said, planting himself at the junction. He tapped his temple. "I'll use shared vision with all of you. Split up. If one finds them, I'll shout for backup."
"Good idea!" they chorused, relief in their voices.
"Alright, keep your lines open," Ethan ordered, pulling out his phone. "And still, be careful."
"Of course, man," one replied, already dialing as the group fanned out into separate corridors.
Static crackled over the open group call. "How is it, Ethan?" a voice echoed from a speaker.
"Everything's good," Ethan confirmed, eyes glazing slightly as he processed multiple viewpoints. "I can see what you guys see perfectly."
"Great, then let's do this!"
Their confidence lasted three breaths.
A raw, guttural scream tore through the comms—cutting off mid-shriek.
"What happened?" a panicked voice demanded.
"Ethan, what happened?" another yelled.
Ethan's face went ashen. He clutched his head as if struck.
"Calm down!" he gasped. "I didn't quite catch it… Someone appeared behind Jonas, and then…" He swallowed hard. "He was falling. From the sky. Hit the ground. Hard. I… I think he's dead."
"What? Falling from the sky? How?"
"I don't know either!" Ethan cried, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Don't mess with us, Ethan! Tell us properly—what actually happened?"
"I told you already! Wait—" Ethan's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! What is that? Behind you!"
Joseph whipped around at Ethan's warning. Asher stood ten paces down the corridor, silhouetted against a patch of light.
He flicked his wrist.
"Careful!" Ethan's voice shrieked in Joseph's earpiece.
Joseph threw himself sideways, slamming into rough stone. The object Asher had thrown clattered harmlessly against the wall—a glowing, transparent die.
"Damn! Why one again!?" Asher groaned, stomping his foot like a frustrated child. "Why am I so unlucky today?"
"What the hell?" Joseph spat, pushing off the wall. "He's just playing dice? Is he messing with me?"
"Still, be careful!" Ethan urged, voice tight. "The others are coming back!"
"We're almost there!" voices crackled over the phone. Footsteps pounded in distant passages.
"I know already!" Joseph barked, never taking his eyes off Asher.
"Come on, stop talking to your pals," Asher taunted, cracking his knuckles. "It's supposed to be 1 v 1. And I'm pissed, so I'm going to vent my frustration on you."
"Shut up, broom hair!" Joseph snarled, palm snapping up.
Asher's playful smirk vanished. His eyes turned dangerously flat. "What...?" he whispered. "You dare to mock my hairstyle?"
A blur of steel flashed from Joseph's palm—a volley of knives slicing through the air. Asher crossed his arms defensively.
Three blades buried themselves in his forearm.
"That hurts," Asher admitted, glancing at the hilts protruding from his skin. Then he grinned savagely. "But my defense is 16x now. So this?" He yanked the knives out, blood welling briefly before the wounds seemed to seal. "Nothing."
"You freaking monster!" Joseph screamed, unleashing another barrage.
"How rude!" Asher ducked and weaved through the storm of blades, stone chips flying where they struck the walls. "What do you mean 'monster' when you shoot knives from your palm like a circus freak!"
He closed the distance in a blink. A brutal palm-strike snapped Joseph's head back. Dazed, Joseph barely registered Asher's hands clamping onto his temples.
A vicious twist. A sickening crack.
Back at the junction, Ethan screamed, clutching his skull as Joseph's vision winked out violently. "NO!"
"What? What happened? Ethan?" the other two asked. Panic rising.
Ethan panted, trembling. "Joseph… he's…"
Asher bent, plucked Joseph's phone from limp fingers, and held it to his mouth. His voice, cold and clear, cut through the static: "You guys are next."
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