Lionhead raised his hand halfway, the signal seconds from coming down.
Adam tilted his head. "Go on. Raise it fully. I want to see who dies first."
Lionhead dropped his hand—
And chaos exploded.
The northerners surged forward like bulls.
Adam didn't step back. He stepped in.
The first northerner aimed a shotgun at him. Adam slapped the barrel to the side and shot him in the neck before the man even realized he'd been disarmed.
Another charged with a machete. Adam caught the man's wrist, twisted hard, and stabbed the man with his own blade three times in the stomach, then once in the throat just for good measure.
The northerner fell.
Adam didn't look at him again.
Gunfire cracked all around them as the Red Bandits and Lionhead's men collided.
Rebecca moved through the fight like she wasn't touching the ground. Her first kill was quick—a jump, a spin, and her blade opened a man's throat before he even saw her.
Blood sprayed across her arm.
She didn't flinch.
She flowed straight into the next attacker, sliding behind him, wrapping her chain around his neck, and pulling till his spine made a sharp crack. She stepped over his body, eyes locked on Lionhead with cold hatred.
Adam snapped a man's elbow backward, shot him twice in the chest, and kicked him aside. He grinned like he was enjoying himself.
He was enjoying himself.
Another northerner swung a heavy pipe at Adam's head. Adam ducked, slid forward, and jammed a knife into the man's groin. The scream was short. Adam slit his throat to shut him up.
"Next," Adam whispered.
Three northerners rushed him at once.
Adam moved through them like he'd memorized their movements before they even made them. Shot to the first man's knee, elbow to the next man's jaw, gun pressed under the third man's chin—
Bang.
The brain splattered.
Rebecca stepped into his line, covered in blood, dragging her sword through another man's chest like she was cutting fruit. She didn't blink. She didn't smile. She didn't breathe fast. She killed like she was born doing it.
Two men tried to grab her from behind.
She turned with a low crouch, sliced one across the belly, stabbed the other under the rib, pulled her blade out, and kept moving. Heads rolled. Arms dropped. Bodies collapsed behind her like someone was shutting off light switches.
Lionhead watched, jaw tight.
"She's grown," he muttered.
Adam shot two more men, ducked a machete aimed at his head, headbutted the wielder, and stabbed him behind the ear.
Rebecca met him halfway through the chaos.
"You good?" Adam asked, wiping blood off his cheek with his thumb.
"Not enough bodies yet," she said.
Adam smirked. "I like that."
They moved again.
Lionhead roared, "Kill them! Now!"
His regular boys rushed forward—but panic showed in their faces. Adam saw it. Rebecca saw it.
The Bandits tore into them.
Adam's second in command shot one man, slammed another to the ground, and finished him with a stomp.
The others followed suit, firing nonstop.
But Lionhead wasn't watching them.
He pointed at his masked killers. "Go."
The shadows vanished instantly.
Adam only heard the faint scrape behind him.
He turned—but too late. One masked killer grabbed him from the back, blade slicing across his shoulder. Another aimed for his neck.
Rebecca intercepted. She blocked with her forearm, took a shallow cut, and stabbed the killer in the stomach before spinning and cutting his throat. His mask fell off with the motion.
The second masked killer dodged Rebecca's follow-up and kicked her back. She slid but didn't fall.
Adam turned toward the one behind him and shot him in the eye.
The third masked killer landed a punch in Adam's ribs strong enough to rattle bone.
Adam smiled.
"You hit harder than your boss."
The masked killer kicked again.
Adam caught his leg, twisted it till it snapped, and used the man's own momentum to slam him headfirst into the ground.
The masked killer didn't get up.
Rebecca returned at Adam's side. "You alright?"
"I'm having fun."
She rolled her eyes and moved toward another group shooting at them.
Adam shot two men running toward Rebecca. "You're welcome."
Rebecca answered by beheading a man that got too close. "I didn't ask."
"Ungrateful," Adam murmured.
The fight grew louder. Rougher. Bodies everywhere.
Lionhead waded into the chaos himself. He grabbed one of Adam's men and crushed his windpipe with one hand. Another Bandit rushed him with a gun. Lionhead swung the dead man's body like a shield, took the bullets, then threw the corpse aside and punched the shooter so hard the man's jaw broke before he hit the ground.
Lionhead ripped a gun from another attacker and fired straight into the crowd, hitting two Bandits clean in the chest.
He moved like a beast in a frenzy, muscles thick and violent, killing anything that stepped into his reach.
Adam spotted him.
"Becky," he said. "Don't kill him yet. That one's yours."
Rebecca nodded.
She started toward Lionhead, but the northerners blocked her way—four left, all huge, all angry.
One swung a chain at her head. Rebecca ducked and slashed his thigh, then stabbed upward into his jaw. The chain dropped. He dropped with it.
Another tried to grab her. She slipped behind him, stabbed him through the back of the neck, and twisted. His body twitched and fell.
The last two came at her together.
Rebecca spun, using one corpse as cover, kicked the nearest man in the knee, made him drop, then sliced the other across the mouth. He screamed, clutching his face, and she finished him with a stab to the heart.
The last northerner pulled a long knife and rushed her.
Adam shot him in the head.
Rebecca frowned at Adam. "I had that."
"I know," Adam said. "I was bored."
She smacked the blood off her arm and ran toward Lionhead again.
Adam followed her.
Lionhead noticed them coming and grinned. "Finally!"
He ripped off his shirt like he was preparing for a proper death match.
Rebecca raised her blade. "This is for my family."
Lionhead spit on the ground. "Tell them I said hello!"
He charged.
Rebecca did too.
Their clash was brutal. Lionhead swung heavy fists, each one strong enough to break ribs. Rebecca dodged most, but one caught her shoulder hard. She flew back but flipped mid-air and landed steady.
Adam moved to help, but she yelled, "Don't interfere!"
Adam paused. He smiled. "Go finish him then."
Lionhead rushed at her again.
Rebecca spun and sliced across his bicep. Blood sprayed. Lionhead didn't even flinch. He grabbed her arm and threw her into a pile of broken bodies. She hit hard but rolled to her feet almost instantly.
"You've grown," Lionhead said. "But not enough."
Rebecca charged again, faster this time. She slid under Lionhead's punch, cut the back of his calves, and jumped up to slash his face. The blade grazed his cheek.
Lionhead roared and swung with both fists. Rebecca ducked under it and stabbed him in the ribs—deep this time.
Lionhead grabbed her hair and threw her again, harder.
Adam didn't move. He watched with a sick little smile. "Break him."
Rebecca stood again, wiping blood from her mouth.
Lionhead spat blood. "I killed your father. I killed your mother. I killed those two little rats you called brothers. I'll kill you too."
Rebecca's eyes shook.
Adam whispered from behind her, "Don't lose yourself."
She steadied.
Lionhead cracked his neck. "Come on then."
Rebecca ran forward, blade in both hands.
Lionhead took a stance, ready.
She jumped—
And something unexpected happened.
Lionhead stepped back and shouted, "Now!"
From the far right, two figures burst into the scene—huge silhouettes wearing reinforced armor, carrying heavy rifles with modified barrels and strange glowing marks.
Adam's eyes narrowed.
"That's new."
Lionhead laughed. "My own special weapon for you!"
The armored men opened fire—not small bullets. Heavy rounds. They hit the ground so hard Adam had to grab Rebecca and pull her out of the line of fire.
The blasts tore through Adam's men. Limbs flew. Bodies fell in pieces. Screams tore the air.
Lionhead grinned. "You thought I was dumb forever?"
Adam pushed Rebecca behind him. He was smiling—but it was the kind of smile that meant someone was going to suffer.
Rebecca whispered, "Those guns… what are they?"
Lionhead tapped his forehead. "Military tech. Bought from a friend in uniform."
Adam's smile widened. "You bribed the army?"
"No," Lionhead said. "I sold them a few things. And they gave me toys." He raised his hand again. "Fire!"
The armored men turned their guns toward Adam.
Adam whispered to Rebecca, "Stay down."
Lionhead screamed, "End him!"
The armored men fired—
And before the bullets reached Adam—
The ground shook.
A distant rumble echoed.
Everyone froze.
Lionhead frowned.
Adam's eyes narrowed.
A loud beeping sound came from the sky.
Rebecca whispered, "Adam… what is that?"
Adam didn't answer.
Lionhead looked up too.
A streak of light flashed across the air.
Adam muttered, "That's not possible."
Rebecca backed up, eyes wide. "Is that…?"
The streak grew brighter.
Lionhead's grin vanished.
Adam whispered, "Missile."
The entire place erupted in screams as everyone realized what was coming.