The night air was heavy, thick with the stench of exhaust and garbage. The three men fanned out, hemming Rafael in. The alley was narrow, boxed in by rusting sheet metal and dripping neon signs.
"HydraCorp pays good for accidents," one of them sneered, twirling a knife in his hand.
Rafael's grip tightened on the rusted pipe. His palms were slick with sweat, but the Codex blazed in his vision, overlaying the alley with glowing lines and angles.
"Threat Analysis: 3 opponents. Optimal strategy: Disrupt formation. Exploit environment. Survival probability: 62%."
He exhaled sharply. Sixty-two percent… better than zero.
The first man lunged. The Codex highlighted the weak points in glowing red—the wrist, the temple, the knee. Rafael sidestepped, swinging the pipe down hard. The clang of metal on bone echoed as the attacker's knife clattered to the ground.
The second rushed in, swinging wide. Rafael ducked instinctively, the blade whistling past his ear. His knee shot forward, guided by Codex prompts, slamming into the man's gut. The thug doubled over, choking.
The third hung back, pulling something from his jacket—a handgun.
Rafael's blood turned to ice.
The Codex's voice cut through his panic:
"Cover available: Left side trash bin. Distance to hostile: 4.3 meters. Probability of successful disarm if rushed: 41%."
Not great odds. But if he hesitated, he'd be dead.
Rafael dove left as the muzzle flared. The bullet sparked off metal, shards stinging his cheek. Heart pounding, he surged forward, pipe raised.
He swung with everything he had. The gun went skittering into the darkness. The thug staggered back, snarling, before Rafael slammed the pipe across his jaw. The man collapsed, motionless.
Silence. The alley reeked of sweat, smoke, and blood.
Rafael stood panting, pipe trembling in his hands. Two men groaned on the ground. The third lay still.
His stomach churned. He had never fought like that in his life. The Codex's cold precision had guided his every move, but the raw violence… that was his.
"Threat neutralized. Survival confirmed. Recommend: Immediate evacuation. Hostile reinforcements possible."
Rafael dropped the pipe, his hands shaking. He turned and staggered out of the alley, blending into the neon-lit streets as if nothing had happened.
By the time he reached the warehouse, his crew saw the blood on his shirt and the wild look in his eyes.
Maria grabbed his arm. "What happened?!"
Rafael steadied himself. "HydraCorp sent more than lawyers this time." His voice was low, firm. "They want me gone. But I'm still here."
The Codex pulsed faintly in his vision:
"You survived tonight. But this is escalation. HydraCorp will not stop. Prepare accordingly."
Rafael looked at his loyal team, their faces filled with worry and anger. He clenched his fists.
"They thought they could scare me into silence. Instead, they've given me a reason to fight harder. If HydraCorp wants war in the shadows…" His eyes burned with resolve.
"…then we'll drag them into the light."