Xin had been so focused on trying to free her brother and on her brother’s fight in general that she hadn’t even paid attention to who had him held. The fact was, they were some of the best fighters in the AFC. The One Gang was rather secretive to most of the world. Only those that looked into matters deeply even knew that Harvor was the head of a gang in the first place.
Because of this, who was part of their members was also hidden. It was expected that some of the fighters in the AFC would be under Harvor, but it wasn’t as if everyone was. Plenty of people like Jayden and Xin herself had no relation to the organization or the gang. At least, that’s how it started.
Stanley, one of the Zodiacs, was in charge of picking those that had caught his attention in the AFC and bringing them to their side before anyone else could get their hands on them. This was why the One Gang was filled with so many talented fighters, and those called the Zodiacs weren’t anything to laugh at.
‘It’s the first time my electrical powers seem to have completely no effect on someone... and two top-tier fighters—can I do this?’
As Xin was still being held back by a large foot that looked like it was part of a chicken, she saw Gary’s whole body being flung back into the air. It flew until he hit the back of the cage. Chasing right after was a blur, but she knew it was none other than Harvor.
Throwing a punch out, Gary had moved his head, and Harvor’s hand had gone right through the cage, its power so strong the wind vibrated the seats in the distance.
“It’s going to get a bit hot!” Gary said as he swung his hands filled with flames, hitting Harvor in the sides. The blows were heavy, but Harvor had mostly blocked them as he moved back into the ring.
“More, more—bring out more of your power!” Harvor claimed. “I knew when you became a King, the two of us would face each other someday!”
Blocking two hits, Harvor lifted his leg and kicked Gary right in the chin, sending his head flying back, but Gary continued to fight without getting startled.
“Me and you are not the same, just because we hold the same made-up title!” Gary rushed and locked hands with Harvor as the two were in a battle of pure strength.
“Really? Anyone who has become a King has done so because of one reason—because they had great ambition. It doesn’t matter what that ambition is or the reason for it. To help people, to get richer, to prove their power. After all, at any point, you could abdicate your throne.”
“You don’t want any of this, then give it up. Let someone else take over. I’m sure whatever it was you initially wanted to achieve had been achieved long ago, so why are you here in front of me? Because you, as a King, believe you can do as you like, right? Right?”
Gary right now wanted to use his full transformation and attempt to deal with Harvor. However, full transformation would only give him a slight boost in all of his stats. With their fight being so even right now, maybe it would give Gary the upper edge, but then what?
The worry in the back of Gary’s mind continued to linger. Harvor had yet to transform any of his body. If Gary couldn’t best him partially transformed, then when Harvor really transformed, what were they to do? How would he defeat or even get out of the situation they were in?
Gary hated to admit it, but during his fight with Harvor, he was conserving his energy—his energy so they could get out of there and escape because Gary wasn’t so sure he could beat this monster in front of him.
Xin, having watched Gary getting hit heavily and still fighting, had the opposite effect on her.
“I can’t run away when he’s fighting, even though it has nothing to do with him!” A single yellow feathered wing stuck out from Xin’s back. As she pushed off from her feet, it had given her a boost. The sudden strength had come as a surprise to Roy, and he had fallen over on his back.
Quickly, he twirled his legs and lifted himself off the floor. He was ready to attack Xin but was unable to see her. Before he knew it, an electrified fist had slammed him right across his face, sending him sliding on the canvas floor again.
Roy never expected someone so low-ranked to get the upper hand on him in the situation they were in.
“If that crazy bitch thinks she can do what she wants, she’s wrong!” JJ said as he looked at Xin and his body started to transform. By the side of his head, a strange swamp-like mass began to appear, and his eyes were beginning to bulge, until a stinging pain was felt through his back.
When looking down, he could see a bloody claw right through his stomach and white-colored fur.
“Don’t call my sister a bitch.” Jayden said, pulling out his hand and kicking JJ’s body onto the floor. In all of the chaos, the two men that were meant to be holding Jayden steady had let go of him.
Although Jayden was badly hurt, seeing his sister, seeing Gary both fighting, he summoned what strength he had to change back into his Altered form. Right after the attack, Jayden’s body had returned to normal, no longer in his Altered state. He fell to his knees, but Xin was right there by his side.
“Jayden!”
“The big brother is meant to look after his sister, you shouldn’t have come.”
Roy, getting back up from his hit, was stunned to see JJ lying there on the ground, most likely dead. On the side, Stanley’s jaw could be seen clenched even on the outside. Everything was going wrong, but that’s when footsteps could be heard from behind.
Casually walking onto the stage, several white and purple tracksuited men were present.
“Took you long enough!” Stanley said. “Look at what’s happened because all of you were so slow. Get in there now!”
Stanley had ordered all of them. Now all of the Zodiacs were present in the fighting hall.
*****