Park had his foot down on the pedal and was speeding across the highway. He looked back in his rearview mirror and could see smoke in the distance from the cars. It was quite amazing that he only realized now how empty the highway was, and it all could be put down to the One Gang’s power.
"Keep moving," Gary said. "They are doing what they need to do; we can’t let them falter. We can’t hesitate, and they are strong, so keep going."
Park knew fully well how much Gary cared about his people, so for him to say these words, it had to be hurting him inside.
"You're right, and we have to look at what is ahead," Park added. "Harvor is going to have the strongest in his group surrounding Xin and around him. We still have the White Rose on our side that is helping us as well.
"We have more people helping us out this time around; we are going to win this fight."
Gary agreed. There was more than him involved in this, and the situation had become bigger than just getting his vengeance for what happened to Jayden. Harvor had gone too far now.
Kai turned his head back for a moment; he couldn't see far beyond the piled-up cars, but there was a big smile on his face.
"Alright, come on, let’s deal with this, so we can watch Gary’s fight to this whole event."
"Right, so let’s just clean up this whole area, fairly quickly." Olivia moved her whip and slashed it out, hitting the ground in front of many of the Altered, halting them.
The powerful whip had even destroyed some of the ground before it returned to Olivia. The transformed One Gang members were hesitant to step forward, even some of the AFC fighters who were professionals.
Eventually, one of the Altereds jumped forward, and Olivia snapped her hand fast, and the whip went out hitting the Altered right in the stomach. It ripped part of the skin, causing blood to fall on the floor, and then they were chucked back into the air off in the distance.
Now even more of the One Gang members were hesitant to move forward.
"If you guys aren’t going to attack, then I’m going to go forward!" Olivia claimed, as she spun her body and swung it, hitting the concrete a few times. The momentum was building up, and then she swung it out with the aim to hit several others.
Until a small hand reached out and grabbed onto the whip. It didn’t rip through the person’s skin; it didn’t even make a loud bang at the end as it was silenced.
"Berry!" the One Gang members shouted.
They could see a small girl with pigtails on top of her head, holding onto the whip. She held it tight and wasn’t even transformed.
"Who's that?" Marie asked. "How is she able to hold onto that?"
"That is one of the Zodiacs," Kai answered. "And it seems like there’s more than just her. With them and this army of Altered, I’m hoping we can make it to the arena in one piece."
"Don’t talk like that, please," Marie smirked.
Olivia managed to control the whip, wiggling it out of Berry’s hand, and it had returned to Olivia, who didn’t have the best look on her face.
Coming by Berry’s side were two more who had a different air around their bodies—a man with black spiky hair and another short-haired fighter. These were Pinner and Lena.
"Two more of the Zodiacs join the party," Kai said. "Well, at least this will make things easier for Gary. Things still the same as before, let’s make it back for Gary’s fight!"
---
Park continued to go ahead on the highway, which was still empty, and then right up ahead he saw something come into his sight. Quickly he spun the steering wheel of the car and slammed on the brake. The car was skidding and nearly tipped over as it hit the side.
Now that they had stopped, Park and Gary looked out the window and could see the reason why the car had stopped.
"A blockade, right before entering the city. They closed the whole road, a few hours before the competition. This is madness! What are they doing? How can they even do this?" Park shouted, hitting his wheel.
Although it was the route from Slough to the arena, so they had to have only stopped a particular route of people from coming, and since it was early morning, not many would have traveled early to the arena.
All of this was meticulously planned and set up, knowing full well how the Howlers would act and move. They were dealing with an opponent that wasn’t underestimating them like the Phoenix gang.
"Gary!" Park shouted as he kicked the door and it flew off its hinge, breaking. He then stood up and walked out of the car. "You are getting to that arena on time no matter what. Harvor won’t use this as an excuse. Get going, get there on foot and run!"
Gary opened the door and stood out of the car. He couldn’t believe what was happening and leaving with so many people behind, all of the problems that were caused.
"Fine," Gary said as he got into his fighting stance, and then he pushed off the floor and sped right toward the row of cars. He then flung his hand and a large energy claw came out.
It hit two of the One Gang members, splitting and cutting their bodies. It pushed and moved the cars, and Gary then leapt over the cars and continued to run.
He ran and ran ahead toward the arena, with a name on the tip of his tongue.
"HARVOR, HARVOR, HARVOOOR!" Gary screamed at the top of his lungs.