Chapter 52: Lorna
The dark, surveillance-free alley.
The bearded thug dragged the silver-haired boy inside. His rough hand suddenly clamped down on the boy's throat, slamming his small body against the wall.
As the thug's grip shifted higher, the boy's feet lifted off the ground, kicking frantically in the air. His hands clawed at the man's fingers, but the strength gap between a grown brute and a thirteen-year-old boy was far too great.
"Hand it over, or I'll crush your neck!" the thug growled hoarsely.
"Y-you villain!" the silver-haired boy choked out.
"You're looking for death!" A fierce light flickered in the thug's eyes, and just as he prepared to leave the boy a painful memory, a shadow appeared at the alley entrance.
"Let him go!" The short-haired girl glared coldly, her voice carrying the authority of a police officer.
"Oh? Another girl…"
Seeing the girl's delicate features and youthful figure, lust welled in the thug's eyes. But before he could stare any longer, a black-haired boy entered the alley, deliberately stepping in front of the girl to block the thug's view.
"This is what you want, right? Here, take it, let him go." Facing the thug, Xi Nian raised the woman's handbag in his hand.
"Now that's more like it." The thug spat the words viciously, releasing his grip and letting the gasping silver-haired boy collapse to the ground.
"Xi Nian, why did you come too?" Gwen whispered softly behind him. Strangely, she felt no fear—only a sudden warmth.
"I couldn't let you face this kind of situation alone." Xi Nian turned slightly, giving her a reassuring glance.
"Hand it over!"
The thug lumbered closer, eyes sweeping the handbag only for a moment before darting back to Gwen behind Xi Nian.
"Take it." Xi Nian's face was calm as he held the bag at chest height.
Behind him, Gwen narrowed her eyes, her wrist twitching upward. Even if it meant exposing her secret, she wouldn't allow anyone to hurt Xi Nian.
The thug reached out instinctively for the bag. But just as his fingers were about to close, Xi Nian suddenly let go!
As the thug's attention followed the falling bag—
Xi Nian struck.
His leg shot out, slamming into the man's lower abdomen with all his strength.
Those days of training on Themyscira were finally paying off.
The blow landed hard. The thug grunted in pain, clutching his stomach as he staggered backward and collapsed.
Xi Nian never struck without finishing it. Before his opponent could recover, he stomped twice, crushing the thug's hands so badly he couldn't even make a fist.
After a moment's thought, Xi Nian delivered another savage kick to the man's gut, forcing bile up his throat.
Efficient. Brutal. Over in seconds.
Xi Nian crouched down, quickly searching the man's pockets to make sure he wasn't carrying a gun. Finding nothing, he stepped over the writhing thug and grabbed the silver-haired boy's hand. "Come on, we're leaving."
The boy's eyes sparkled with admiration. He nodded eagerly. "Got it, big bro!"
"Gwen, let's go."
Xi Nian took the boy's hand, scooped up the handbag, and started leading them out.
But before they could reach the alley entrance, they were forced back.
Outside stood more than a dozen men—dyed-hair youths and tattooed thugs—forming a human wall that crowded into the narrow passage.
"Well, well. Isn't that Jackson? What happened to you, getting wrecked by a bunch of kids?" one mocked, glancing at the groaning thug on the ground.
"That kid's vicious! Don't let him—ahhh!" Jackson's protest was cut short as Xi Nian stomped his hand again.
"Eleven of them?" Xi Nian muttered.
Shielding Gwen and the boy, he retreated until his back was to the wall. His eyes fell on a long wooden plank lying nearby. He bent down quickly, gripping it like a sword.
With a weapon in hand, he felt a little steadier. But even with Amazon sword training, in his current human body, fighting eleven hardened thugs was almost impossible.
Use the artifact? His gaze flicked to the silver bracelet on his wrist, sealed with a fragment of his aunt's divine power. It could end the fight instantly.
But using a divine relic against humans would almost certainly kill them.
Not unless there was no other choice.
The thugs pressed forward, oblivious to how close they already were to death.
Just as Gwen prepared to reveal her secret and strike with her powers—
Xi Nian suddenly whispered, "Gwen, kiss me."
"W-what?!" Gwen froze.
"Hurry. Or I'll kiss you." His voice was firm.
Even if Gwen was just an ordinary girl, any boost in strength was better than nothing.
"I-I…" Gwen's face flushed crimson. Just as she resolved to lean in—
The situation changed.
"The boss is here!" someone shouted.
Instantly, the eleven thugs—and even the bearded man writhing in bile—straightened against the walls, leaving a wide path open.
Their faces shifted into reverence as they bowed their heads toward the alley entrance. In unison, they shouted: "Boss!"
Boss?
Xi Nian frowned, exchanging a glance with Gwen and the boy. All three stared ahead—and froze.
A green-haired girl, no more than twelve or thirteen, strolled in with absolute confidence.
A girl? No—a little loli.
Her long green hair, natural or dyed, spilled over her shoulders. Her doll-like face was caked in heavy smoky makeup, making her look far older than her age. A tank top clung to her petite frame, with hot pants barely covering her hips, and colorful stockings on her slim legs.
The green-haired loli boss radiated an aura of dominance as she stepped before them.
"Boss, they—" Jackson tried to speak.
"Shut up." Her cold, crisp voice cut him down. Just one look from her froze the man twice her size into silence.
She didn't stop walking until she stood directly in front of Xi Nian.
Her large eyes, icy and indifferent, swept over the three of them. She paused briefly on the silver-haired boy, then shifted her gaze to Xi Nian, who stood protectively in front of them.
Then she raised her leg high, bracing it against the wall beside Xi Nian's arm in a domineering stance.
"You. What's your name?" she asked with a smirk.
"Xi Nian," he answered, meeting her eyes.
"Remember this."
Her grin widened. "I'm Lorna. I like you. Be my little brother."
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