The two men rushed Carmen, clearly targeting her for being the smallest. But before they could react, she was already moving—sliding low and sweeping their legs out from under them.
As they hit the ground, Ren pulled two rings from his pocket and hurled them forward.
"MOB!" Bom yelled in panic. "Y-your PAACC—!"
"Yes, si—"
The rings detonated, erupting into a massive plume of dust and debris.
As the rubble settled, the figures came back into view. Mob stood firm, shielding his brother, Bom, who hung onto him in his stained white tank top.
"HAHAHA!" Bom laughed wildly. "You really think you kids can beat us? Us brothers have a bond! My offense and his defense make us unbreakable!"
"Kuh huh kuh," Mob cackled. "Looks like the little girl in the fox onesie is scared stiff."
Ren and Carmen turned.
Zee's cheerful energy was gone. Her face was twisted in terror as she dropped to her knees, curling into a fetal position. She whispered to herself, shaking, tears streaming down her face.
"Shit," Ren muttered. "Carmen—go comfort Zee. She needs you."
"I'm on it," Carmen said, sprinting toward her.
Zee was normally bright, loud, and energetic—but her past with her foster parents had left scars no one could see. Whenever someone overweight confronted her, it triggered intense breakdowns. No one knew the details except Koco—and he never spoke of it.
Ren turned back to the brothers.
"Alright," he said coldly. "No need to focus on them."
He cracked his neck.
"Your fight… is with me."
"You think your scrawny ass can take both of us?" Mob boomed.
"Let's go," Ren replied.
Ren pulled two rings and tossed them into the air. They exploded simultaneously, filling the area with smoke. At the same time, he activated all the rings on both hands.
The ring on his right hand glowed differently from his left—energy gathering at his fingertips as thin beams of light fired into the smoke with deadly precision.
Seconds passed.
Nothing.
The smoke began to clear.
They were gone.
"YYYYAAAAHHHHOOOO!"
Ren's eyes snapped upward.
Both men were falling straight down from above.
Ren dashed aside just in time as they slammed into the ground. Mob immediately hurled Bom forward—Bom's electric guitar raised and crackling with energy.
Ren charged Bom, leaping over him and firing lasers downward as he passed. The moment he landed, Mob's massive fist was already swinging toward him.
*Shit—I can't dodge. I have to block.
Ren raised his left hand just in time, absorbing the blow.
*That hurt, he thought grimly. *I can't take many more like that.
"Over here, boy!" Bom screeched.
He strummed his guitar violently. Instantly, ten electrified wires shot out from the instrument, surging toward Ren.
Ren threw a ring—three wires were blown apart midair. He sprinted forward, firing lasers backward to knock two more off course. He lunged, aiming to slam Bom into the ground—
—but Mob grabbed his foot.
With terrifying strength, Mob flung Ren upward, then leapt after him and smashed him in the gut. Ren crashed back down hard, coughing as pain tore through him.
*S-shit… I need a plan, Ren thought desperately.
*That's it.
He pulled two rings and hurled them at both men.
They flinched—expecting an explosion.
In that split second, their guard dropped.
Ren struck.
He launched upward and brought his heel straight down in a brutal axe kick, smashing into Mob's head. Before Mob could recover, Ren spun and delivered a perfect roundhouse kick, dropping him unconscious.
Bom froze.
Seeing his brother fall, panic overtook him.
"WAIT—WAIT!" Bom shouted. "Y-you wanted to know who told us you'd be here, right?! I-it was the wh—"
CRACK.
A sharp sound echoed.
Bom collapsed forward, motionless.
Ren's blood ran cold.
Behind him stood a man dressed entirely in white.
"CARMEN! ZEE! RUN!" Ren screamed.
"T—the White Reaper…"