Chapter 22: The Midnight Guerrillas 🌃🔥
The black envelope was a declaration of war. STORM EDGE was no longer just a nuisance; they were a target. But instead of retreating, Jisong decided it was time to show the Four Great Crews that even a small storm can tear down a skyscraper.
1. The Strategy: Storm Gear 🧥🛡️
To survive the Shadow Syndicate's snipers and the Iron Fist's numbers, they needed to look—and act—like a unit. Yeonjun used the last of his untraceable cash to commission custom gear.
They donned heavy-duty, midnight-blue tactical jackets with a silver "STORM EDGE" emblem on the back. The jackets were lined with light Kevlar and woven with carbon fibers to help conduct Jisong's Aura.
Yeonjun: "We aren't just two guys and a 'Wall' anymore. We are a Crew. From tonight, we hit their supply lines. We hit their wallets. We make it too expensive for them to kill us."
2. The First Strike: The Iron Warehouse 🏗️⛓️
Their target was an Iron Fist smuggling hub at the Incheon Docks. It was where Han-Bin kept the high-grade combat stimulants he gave his fighters.
Do-Gyu: "I'll take the front gate. You two handle the internal security. Try not to get shot; it's bad for morale."
Do-Gyu walked straight toward the reinforced steel gates. When the guards opened fire, he didn't flinch. He used the "Aura Anchor" he taught Jisong. He stood like a mountain, his body glowing with a dull, earthy brown light. The bullets flattened against his skin as if hitting solid rock.
Do-Gyu: "My turn."
With a roar, he ripped the steel gates off their hinges and threw them into the warehouse like frisbees.
3. Aura Evolution: The Blue Dragon's Breath 🐉⚡
Inside, Jisong and Yeonjun were met by forty Iron Fist soldiers. This time, they were armed with electric batons and riot shields.
Jisong felt the pressure building in his chest. He remembered the feeling of being hunted by the sniper. He didn't just want to punch; he wanted to surge.
He channeled his Aura not just to his fists, but through his entire nervous system. His movements became so fast they left blue after-images in the air.
Jisong: "Aura Style: Blue Dragon's Coil!"
He spun in a whirlwind of strikes. Every time his fist connected, a discharge of blue static electricity bypassed the guards' riot shields, short-circuiting their nervous systems. He moved like a bolt of lightning, clearing the entire floor in less than sixty seconds.
4. The Shadow Appears 🌑🤺
As they reached the central office to secure the ledgers, the temperature in the room dropped. The lights flickered and died.
A tall, slender figure in a mask stood on the rafters above them. It was the sniper, but now he held two jagged obsidian daggers.
Sniper: "The Dragon has grown scales. But scales can be peeled."
The sniper dropped, moving with a silent, fluid grace that even Jisong's enhanced speed struggled to track. The daggers hissed through the air, cutting through the Kevlar of Jisong's new jacket.
Yeonjun: "Jisong, he's not using speed—he's using Aura Suppression! He's masking his presence!"
Before the sniper could deliver a killing blow, a smoke grenade detonated in the room. Through the haze, Min-Ah appeared, grabbing Jisong's arm.
Min-Ah: "Change of plans. The Shadow Syndicate didn't just send a sniper. They sent an Inquisitor. We need to move, now."
5. The Burning Dock ⚓🔥
They escaped the warehouse just as a massive explosion—set by Min-Ah—leveled the building. Behind them, the docks were a wall of fire.
As they drove away in a beat-up van, Jisong looked at his torn sleeve. The cut on his arm was glowing with a faint purple light.
Jisong: "He poisoned me, didn't he?"
Min-Ah (Solemnly): "Worse. He tagged you. Now, the Syndicate can find you anywhere in Seoul. The real game has finally begun."