[April 15th, 2024]
Vito's jaw tightened as realization struck.The kid hadn't been unconscious at all.
All this time, Rey had been playing possum, waiting for the perfect moment. Vito prided himself on his instincts, and yet, the boy had tricked him like an amateur.
Jonny staggered back, voice shaking."W-Why can't you just finish him, Vito? Beat him!"
Vito exhaled through his nose, sharp and annoyed."I could. But business has been dry, brat. I don't move my hands for free. You want me in? Pay me."
Jonny's face twisted. He had already paid once. His wallet bled again."Fine. Ten thousand more… just do it!"
Vito's lips curled into a thin smile."Thirty total. That'll do. Boys—crush him."
The henchmen surged forward. But the scene was nothing like before.
This time, Rey didn't stumble or cower.He met the first thug with a clean punch to the gut, folding him in half. The man dropped with a choked cry, rolling on the ground in agony.
Another swung at him with a steel rod. Rey caught it mid-swing, fingers clamped like iron. A grin stretched across his battered face.
"So, it was you last time… My back still remembers the sting."
He wrenched the rod free, bent it into a U-shape as if it were taffy, and shoved it back into the thug's chest. A stunned heartbeat later, his fist shattered the man's nose, spraying blood.
The rest froze. Fear rippled through the gang.Strength like this wasn't human. It was the kind of power only a cultivator could wield.
Rey didn't give them time to breathe. He grabbed one by the arm, swung him overhead like a ragdoll, and slammed him into the pavement with a bone-rattling crack. The others tried to scatter.
But one punch—always one punch—was all it took to end each fight.
Inside Rey's head, Aiden's dry voice cut in."Kid, this isn't an anime. Stop dragging it out. End it before something goes wrong."
Rey smirked but obeyed. He braced low, then blitzed through the goons like a storm, dropping them one by one. Each strike landed with hammer-like precision.
Minutes later, the street was littered with groaning bodies.
Then—A sudden blow smashed into Rey's face. His vision blurred as his body was hurled back across the pavement.
He wiped blood from his lip, steadying himself.Vito was standing there, fists glowing faintly with energy, eyes burning with fury.
"You'll pay for laying hands on my men!"
Rey stiffened. The aura was different—he could feel the pressure.
"Careful," Aiden warned. "Initiate 3rd Realm. Stronger than Jacob."
Rey clenched his bat, sweat prickling his skin."Stronger, huh? Guess I'll have to hit harder."
They charged. Rey swung the bat down with all his might.
Vito caught it in one hand. His sneer widened—until he saw Rey's other fist already rocketing forward.
CRACK!
The punch exploded against his face, shattering the ground beneath them. The shockwave sent Vito flying across the street like a broken doll, slamming into the side of a car. Metal groaned, glass cracked, and Vito slumped, limp and bloodied.
Silence fell.
Jonny's knees buckled. His pants darkened, the stench of urine spreading as tears welled in his eyes.
Rey wiped the blood from his mouth, expression cold, and crouched in front of him."Now… what should I do with you?"
He raised the dagger slowly, letting the metal gleam under the streetlight. Jonny's breath hitched, his body trembling like a trapped rabbit.
"Touch my family," Rey's voice was ice, "and I'll break your arms, your legs, and toss you home as a gift to your parents. Remember this pain, Jonny. If you ever think of me again, you'll taste it before you even finish the thought."
Jonny's head bobbed desperately, tears streaking his face. He would've kissed Rey's shoes if it meant walking away alive.
Satisfied, Rey stepped back. "Now get out of my sight."
Jonny scrambled up, stumbling down the street in soaked pants, disappearing into the night.
The remaining thugs dragged Vito into a car and sped off without looking back.
Rey stood there, shoulders rising and falling, his chest still burning with anger. He stared at the dagger in his hand, then let it drop.
"…Tch. Not worth it."
By the time he reached home, it was already past seven. Sweat clung to him, his stomach gnawed with hunger. He rang the bell.
The door opened, and his little sister, Emmy, beamed at him."Brother!"
Her joy was enough to soften the edge of his exhaustion. He forced a smile, stepped inside, and closed the door on the night's chaos.
Tomorrow would bring its own storms.
-To Be Continued-