Chapter 4 — The Warehouse Gang
High atop a crumbling rooftop, Razan watched the gang members moving inside an abandoned warehouse below. The air smelled of rust, old blood, and smoke that had long settled in the cracks of the walls. Beside him, Loona was crouched silently, her wolf ears twitching as she observed the scene.
"Loona, you stay here," Razan said calmly. "I'll go down and take care of them. When I'm done, I'll signal you to come down. Got it?"
She crossed her arms, tail swishing impatiently.
"Alright. I'm not going descend before then. I know exactly how weak I am… I'm not ready to die."
Razan nodded, a faint smirk forming.
"Then I'll go."
He leaped from the rooftop, vanishing into the shadows below.
Inside the Warehouse
The gang leader—a muscular tiger hybrid with a scar running across his face—was counting a pile of cash while his subordinates loitered nearby, weapons resting loosely in their hands. The warehouse smelled of oil, sweat, and stale blood, a mix of decay and danger.
"Jeffy!" the leader roared, slamming his fist down on the rickety table. "Where the hell are Joe and Carlos? They should've been here by now!"
The subordinate with a bull's head swallowed hard, sweat dripping down his temple.
"Boss… I… I don't know. They left a while ago and haven't returned."
The table shattered under the leader's next punch, splintering into sharp fragments that cut the floor.
"I BET THEY'RE HIGH AGAIN!" he snarled, pacing like a caged beast. "When I find those idiots, I'll rip every single bone from their bodies!"
Before he could finish, a deafening BOOOOOOM! shook the warehouse.
The ceiling exploded, sending debris and dust raining down on the gang. Wood splintered, metal beams groaned, and the thugs screamed, tumbling across the floor.
"What the hell was that?!" the leader bellowed, scrambling to his feet and brushing off chunks of plaster.
A childish voice rang out through the chaos, calm and mocking:
"Sorry about that. Even though I'm here to kill you, blowing up the ceiling like that was a bit impolite of me."
The leader's eyes widened in rage as he finally saw Razan standing in the smoke, completely unbothered.
"Who do you think you're talking to??!" he roared.
Razan tilted his head, bored.
"Some losers who only control an alley because, if a big fish shows up, you all turn into food. Am I wrong?"
The subordinates shifted nervously, unease growing with every word. Rage consumed the tiger leader.
"KILL HIM! NOW!" he screamed.
Weapons were raised, and a barrage of bullets tore through the air toward Razan. Sparks flew as some struck metal beams, while others shredded wooden crates around him.
But Razan didn't flinch.
"Seriously?" he muttered. "I may be only at 20% of my model, but I'm still a dragon. Do you REALLY think bullets can kill me?"
He sighed and stretched lazily.
"Fine. Let's finish this quickly. I want to sleep."
In an instant, his body shifted. Black wings erupted from his back, claws sharpened into obsidian blades, and his eyes burned with predatory light. The half-dragon form emerged, radiating power and danger.
With a roar that shook the warehouse, he charged.
The Massacre
Razan moved with impossible speed, a blur of black and silver. He dodged the first wave of bullets, claws slicing through guns, sending shards of metal flying. The subordinates barely had time to react before he was on them.
One by one, they were shredded with surgical precision. The air filled with the metallic scent of blood and the acrid dust of splintering wood. Their screams echoed off the walls, a cacophony of terror.
The leader's roar of rage grew louder as he saw his men fall.
"I-it's impossible… this isn't a child… it's a MONSTER!" he stammered. "I need to run! I must—"
He spun toward the exit, heart racing.
But Razan's black claw struck from behind, piercing his chest. The air hissed as energy seared the flesh and crushed his heart.
"Sorry," Razan whispered into his ear. "But letting an enemy who saw my face live isn't my style. Especially while I'm weak. So… die."
With a snap of draconic energy, the tiger leader turned to ashes, scattering like smoke in the air.
Razan stepped back, wings folding neatly, and his body returned to its human form. Dust and blood covered him, but he felt no strain. Calmly, he wiped his hands and signaled to Loona.
After the Battle
Some time later, Razan was relaxing on an improvised chair while Loona carefully counted the recovered money. The dim warehouse light glinted off the piles of cash, revealing a small fortune.
"Ten thousand… twenty thousand… thirty… fifty thousand," she muttered, impressed. "With this, we could live comfortably for a long time."
She eyed Razan suspiciously.
"You… really going to split this fifty-fifty with me?"
Razan said nothing. He stood, picked up half the cash, placed it in a small bag, and pushed it toward her.
Loona froze, caught off guard.
She couldn't understand this boy. He was incredibly powerful, yet there was no reason for him to be honest. Why was he being kind? Why did he seem… to trust her?
Noticing her confusion, Razan shrugged.
"There's no deep reason. You saved me when I was weak. So I want to help you. Simple as that."
Loona looked away, unsure how to respond.
"Shall we?" Razan yawned, stretching. "I need you to take me to a hotel. I just want to sleep."
She exhaled sharply, returning to her usual grumpy demeanor.
"Fine. I'll take you. But don't boss me around. And… let's go quickly. This way."
Razan smiled faintly.
Well… at least she didn't run away after getting the money. That was progress.