The Night Training Ended…
The metallic scent of sweat and steel filled the underground gym.
Weapons lined the walls like silent judges—knives, guns, staffs—each one whispering a promise of pain.
Ryan stood in the center, tense.
Across from him, Alessandro watched like a predator.
"Choose your weapon."
The words were calm… but carried weight.
Ryan stepped forward slowly. His eyes scanned the racks, hesitation flickering for only a second—before it vanished.
His hand closed around a dagger.
Light. Sharp. Deadly.
Perfect.
Alessandro's lips curled slightly.
"Interesting choice."
Ryan tightened his grip. His pulse thudded in his ears.
"I'm ready."
A mistake.
Before the words fully left his mouth—
Alessandro moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
Steel clashed.
Ryan barely raised the dagger in time as Alessandro's strike came like lightning. The force sent a shock through his arm.
"Too slow."
Ryan staggered back, breath hitching.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Each strike was faster. Stronger. Merciless.
Ryan dodged, barely. Blocked, barely. Survived—barely.
Pain burned through his muscles. Sweat blurred his vision.
"Focus," Alessandro's cold voice cut through the chaos.
"Pain is necessary. Use it."
Ryan gritted his teeth.
Then he moved.
This time—faster.
Not enough.
Alessandro knocked the dagger from his hand. It clattered across the floor.
Ryan hit the ground hard.
Silence.
Only his ragged breathing remained.
Alessandro stood over him, shadow swallowing light.
"You hesitate," he said. "And hesitation gets you killed."
Ryan forced himself up, legs trembling—but his eyes burned.
"I won't fail."
A pause.
Then—
Alessandro chuckled.
Low. Dangerous.
"Good."
CRASH!
The gym doors burst open.
Men flooded in—armed, alert, deadly.
In seconds, the air changed.
From training…
To war.
Alessandro's expression turned to ice.
"What is this?"
A scarred man stepped forward, holding a folded note.
"A message."
Silence fell like a blade.
Alessandro took the note.
Read it.
And smiled.
But there was no warmth in it.
"They want revenge."
He handed it to Ryan.
Ryan's eyes scanned the words quickly.
Old warehouse. Midnight. Come alone… if you dare.
A trap.
Obviously.
Ryan looked up.
Alessandro was already walking away.
"Get ready," he said. "Your real training begins now."
Midnight.
The warehouse stood like a corpse—silent, abandoned, waiting.
Ryan's heartbeat echoed in his chest as they stepped inside.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Then—
A voice.
Mocking.
"So this is him?"
A man stepped forward, smirking.
"The new pet."
Ryan's jaw tightened.
Alessandro didn't even blink.
"Careful," he said calmly.
"He bites."
Laughter erupted.
"You brought a kid?" the man scoffed.
Alessandro leaned slightly toward Ryan, voice low.
"He's more dangerous than he looks."
Ryan felt it then.
Fear.
But something else too—
Excitement.
Then—
BANG!
Gunfire exploded.
Chaos.
Men shouted. Bullets tore through the air.
Ryan dropped instantly, instincts screaming. He grabbed Alessandro and pulled him down as shots ripped past them.
Wood splintered. Metal rang.
Death was everywhere.
Ryan's breath came fast—but his mind sharpened.
This wasn't training.
This was survival.
Alessandro glanced at him—eyes dark with approval.
"Stay alive, kid…"
A faint, dangerous smile followed.
"And you'll be rewarded