windows. Sparks danced across the asphalt, throwing jagged shadows on the walls of the narrow street. Smoke and dust choked the air, the scent of burning rubber and gun oil filling every breath.
"Goddammit — these guys are insane!" Youri yelled, rolling behind an overturned car. His eyes blazed, fingers tight around the grip of his gun.
"Everyone, surround him! He can't escape!" Dimitri's guys shouted, voice slicing through the chaos like a blade.
Youri leapt from cover, bullets whizzing past, kicking up debris with every movement. He rolled to the side, sliding across the asphalt. A thug lunged, knife in hand — Youri grabbed it mid-swing, snapping it aside and elbowing the attacker's jaw with bone-shattering force.
"What the fuck? Where is he?!" one thug screamed, staggering back as glass exploded near his feet.
"Look up!" Youri barked, pivoting onto a car hood as three more attackers closed in. He fired with precision — one fell with a scream, another's arm smoldering as his gun went off in his hand, the third collapsing in a spray of sparks from a misfired grenade.
"Three down — twenty more to go," Youri muttered under his breath, teeth gritted, heart hammering.
An explosion rocked the street, throwing the thug off his feet and sending a fireball licking the walls. Smoke and flaming debris filled the night.
"What just happened?!" a thug yelled, staggering, coughing.
"Wrong place, wrong time," Youri muttered, voice calm but lethal, gun already tracking movement.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. "Gloria! Did you find them?" he barked.
"They're in a red vehicle, heading out of town. I'll send you the route," Gloria replied, voice tight with tension.
"Thanks, girl," he muttered, eyes narrowing. "Time to move."
The red car screeched around the corner. Dimitry's laugh was cold and metallic. "Who would have thought there are still idiots out there? He is outnumbered twenty to one — he won't last."
Inside the car, Leonora struggled, her wrists pressed against the cold metal of the seat. Dimitry's cybernetic arm gleamed, half human flesh, half steel, hydraulic pistons flexing as he tightened his grip. Sparks flickered where wires met torn metal.
"Listen, bitch — you're mine!" Dimitry growled, dragging her by the hair. "I Toy with them, give them false hope — that's part of the fun!"
Leonora's eyes blazed, chest heaving. "Part of the fun? You're scared — scared of killing me, because you know the empire won't forgive you!" Her voice cracked with anger, adrenaline, and fear.
Suddenly, the roar of an engine split the night. A motorbike appeared, tires screeching. The red car swerved violently, slamming into a lamppost. Metal groaned, glass exploded, and smoke poured into the night sky.
"Look who I found!" Youri shouted, kicking open the car door. His boots slammed against metal, his gaze burning with protective fury.
"Shut up. Get Anna and Roland out. Now," Leonora barked, voice sharp, unyielding.
Dimitry stumbled, his half-robotic arm whirring, hydraulics hissing. "You dare—" he growled, aiming the gun at Leonora.
Youri dove, seizing the barrel and yanking it sideways. Sparks flew as Dimitry screamed in pain. Blood splattered the dashboard.
"So — you were Dimitry, right?" Youri hissed, eyes blazing green. "you know its rude to play with your food."
"You could have killed her anytime until now," Youri added, voice low and lethal, forcing Dimitry to meet his gaze.
"A blade picked up by a child is sharper than in the hands of a man. He has no perception of consequence — and for that, week is the one who's consequences far outweigh the reason to pick up in the first place."
Dimitry's cybernetic eye twitched, fear flashing across half his metallic face.
As Youri points the gun at his head he says. "Hell doesn't discriminate, buddy. May you find peace in there."
The shot echoed. Dimitry collapsed, smoke rising from his head, leaving a stunned silence in the street.
Leonora staggered to her feet, hair matted, eyes wide with disbelief and relief. "Did he just…?" she whispered, voice trembling with awe and lingering fear.
Youri turned, a smirk of grim triumph on his face. "Yeah. Let's move. We've got a long night ahead," he said, voice still sharp with adrenaline, protective and commanding.
The roar of a powerful engine cut through the chaos of the neon-lit streets outside Lux. A sleek black car skidded to a halt, tires screeching against the asphalt. The door swung open with a metallic hiss, and she stepped out. Gloria. arrived, arms crossed, watching the wreckage. You owe me, she said, voice steady and fierce, a sharp edge of care underneath.
"Quick — get them in the car. Police are on the way," she commanded, eyes flashing.
"I'm coming," he said, lifting her effortlessly onto his shoulder. Every movement screamed urgency, strength, and protective rage.
Back at Lux, neon lights reflected off wet asphalt, a city recovering from chaos.
"I can't believe you killed him!" Gloria whispered, voice shaky, relief and shock mingling.
"His blade was dull," Youri muttered, half-smile, exhaustion lacing his tone.
"You still blabber that shit?" she asked, incredulous, shaking her head, finally letting herself laugh through the tension.
"The others seem alright. One needs rest," Gloria said, voice tired, controlled, yet relieved.
"Thanks, Gloria. We'll get out of here," Youri said, voice heavy with exhaustion, but triumphant.
"About my bill?" Gloria asked, teasing despite the chaos.
"Send it to the Kaelthorn estate. They'll take care of it," Youri replied, voice exhaling relief.