“Die!” The sudden roar came from Benjamin.

  But instead of attacking Orion—he turned on Axel!

  With explosive speed, he struck Axel in the chest, sending him hurtling backward. Axel tumbled across the floor, rolling several times before coming to a stop right behind Orion.

  Benjamin, his body still glowing faintly from Axel’s healing, surged forward like a released coil.

  The Force within him flared. His muscles twisted unnaturally, his frame bending and flexing in ways no normal body should. He became fluid, boneless, his form snaking through the air.

  Then—he wrapped around Orion’s right arm like a constricting python. And with a violent surge of Force energy, he wrenched at the limb, trying to snap Orion’s other arm the same way he had broken the first one.

  Orion’s eyes flickered with something close to surprise. Benjamin had been dying just moments ago. So how the fuck did he still have this much strength?!

  Orion’s first instinct was pure brutality. With a sickening crack, he drove his right arm into the pillar beside him, using the impact to try and shake Benjamin loose—even as his already broken bone screamed in protest.

  But then, mid-motion, something clicked in his mind. Wait. Something’s wrong.

  Benjamin should have been at his limit. Orion had already confirmed his body was barely holding together. So how the fuck was he still moving like this?

  The thought had barely formed when he felt it—a whisper of wind slicing through the air behind him. His instincts flared. Too late.

  The so-called "Sam," who had moments ago been playing the role of the obedient underling, had suddenly moved. The dagger in his hand cut through Orion’s clothes and muscles like a blade through rotting wood. And then—

  "Schlkk!"

  The dagger sank into Orion’s waist, piercing deep into his abdomen. Axel felt the resistance immediately—Orion’s body was insanely tough. It was like trying to stab a truck tire.

  But Axel was no longer the weak, helpless boy of the past. With a Force value surpassing 270, his raw strength and energy output had nearly reached the peak of a first-level Awakener.

  And so— This time, the blade drove through. Flesh. Bone. Muscle. Tearing into Orion’s body and leaving a wound that would *not* heal easily.

  Orion’s entire frame tensed. His bloodshot eyes flared with fury. "You little damn—DIE!"

  With a single, monstrous swing, he ripped Benjamin off of him and sent him flying. His other arm—his good arm—coiled back and launched a devastating punch straight at Axel. This time, Axel had nowhere to dodge.

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  "BOOM!"

  The impact was like a cannon blast. Axel’s entire body shot backward at insane speed. He crashed into the iron door with an earsplitting clang, denting the metal before crumpling to the ground.

  "Axel!" Cassia's voice cracked. She barely had the strength to move, but she forced herself forward, scrambling across the floor to his side.

  Her vision blurred as she reached him—he was still, too still. Her hand clutched at his, pressing it against her chest as if that could keep him here.

  "Don’t die," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Please… I beg you…"

  Benjamin, still sprawled on the ground. Now, he understood. This wasn’t just some random gang recruit. This was Cassia’s classmate.

  A cough. "Khhh... Ahem…"

  Benjamin’s eyes snapped wide. Axel groaned, spat a mouthful of blood to the side, then rubbed his chest, wincing. "Shit. That punch was brutal." And then—unbelievably—he stood up. Brushed the dust off his clothes. And grinned.

  "Cassia," he said, voice light, "now’s really not the time to be crying, yeah?"

  Cassia’s face crumpled. "Axel… You’re— You’re okay—" She didn’t even finish. She just threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his torso.

  Benjamin, still lying there, just stared, dumbfounded. Is this kid made of fucking steel?!

  Orion’s pupils shrank. For the first time, a crack formed in his usually impenetrable composure. He had held back against Benjamin. Against Cassia.

  But against Axel—he hadn’t. That punch had been a full-force, rage-fueled attack. The kind of blow that could kill a bull. And yet— This guy is still standing?

  Axel exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. He was playing it off, but internally— Yeah. That had hurt like a bitch. The only reason he was still standing was because he had activated Healing on himself the instant the punch connected. Even then, the damage was real. His ribs were screaming. His internal organs felt like they’d been scrambled.

  But Orion didn’t completely outclass him in raw attack power. That was important. That meant things were still moving according to Axel’s plan.

  Slowly, he took a glance at Cassia. Then at Benjamin. Right now, the situation was clear. Everyone—except him—was seriously injured. Which meant that if Axel wanted to escape, he could only take one person with him. So running wasn’t an option. Not yet.

  Which meant—they had to stall for time. His mind worked quickly. Then, without a word, he pulled out his phone.

  Cassia, still clinging to him, frowned. "What are you doing?"

  Axel tilted the screen toward her. It was already on the interface he had set up in advance.

  "Recording my best angles," he said with a wink.

  Cassia blinked. "...What?"

  Orion, standing a few meters away, had been watching everything unfold—but the moment Axel lifted his phone, his eyes narrowed slightly.

  He saw it. But he didn’t move. Because at the end of the day—whatever that guy was doing… It wouldn’t matter.

  He just wanted to end this fight—kill this bastard in front of him, then wipe out the rest.

  As Cassia picked up the phone, angling the screen to capture both Axel and Orion, events were unfolding elsewhere in Dune.

  On the other side of the city, Storm and Drayke found themselves led into an underground gym.

  The place *reeked* of sweat and aggression. Thick-necked men with scarred knuckles lingered in the corners, their sharp eyes following the newcomers with thinly veiled hostility.

  Drayke shrank into himself instinctively, his nerves shot. He nudged Storm with a glance that practically screamed, What the hell did Axel get us into?!

  Storm, as always, remained unshaken—his face unreadable, his posture stiff but composed.

  They were ushered into a deep, windowless room, where six men in black stood like statues against the walls. In the center sat a thin, middle-aged man, his sharp gaze locking onto them the moment they stepped inside.

  Griffin.

  If Zane had been here, he would have recognized him instantly—leader of the Crimson Vipers and one of the most ruthless men in Dune’s underworld.

  Griffin's voice was clipped, impatient. "You said you're Tyler’s friends?"