"Let her go, Kurimaw," Carlos demanded, his voice calm despite the pain in his side. "If you harm another woman, I’ll make sure you regret it." The tension in the air was thick as the standoff reached its peak. Time seemed to slow, each moment dragging on as the villagers watched in fear, hoping their savior could outwit the two ruthless criminals.

"Bahaha! Are you an idiot!? There's no way I will release them!" Kurimaw stabbed the leg of one of the women

"You bastard-" Carlos said but his words were cut by Kurimaw.

"Don't you dare move! I told you; I will kill this girl and the other women! Or are you fine with sacrificing the lives of the people now after being imprisoned for a long time!? Bahahahahha!" A growl rumbles deep in Carlos' throat, the primal urge to defend the innocent threatening to overwhelm his senses. As Kurimaw's cruel laughter pierces the air, mingling with the cries of the terrified girls, something inside Carlos snaps.

Without hesitation, he charges forward, the short iron sword a blur of deadly intent as he launches a series of rapid strikes at Kurimaw. His movements are wild, reckless, and driven by the raw need to end this monstrous display of brutality once and for all.

Kalisto, seeing his comrade's impending doom, darts to intercept Carlos, but the enraged former prisoner brushes him aside with ease. The clash of steel echoes through the plaza, punctuated by the thuds of impact as Carlos and Kurimaw engage in a brutal, merciless dance of death.

"Tch! Kalisto, I'll leave him to you!" Kurimaw said with a menacing grin as he turned around and ran towards the women to kill them.

Time seemed to freeze as Kurimaw’s blade swung down toward the helpless girls, their terrified eyes locked on Carlos, pleading for salvation. In that instant, the world narrowed to a single, heart-stopping moment—the life-or-death struggle unfolding before him.

Carlos swung his sword at Kalisto with all his strength, the force of the blow sending Kalisto flying backward, crashing into a nearby wall. Without missing a beat, Carlos turned his focus to Kurimaw.

With a fierce roar, Carlos launched himself at Kurimaw, his sword gleaming in the dim light. Kurimaw barely had time to react as Carlos closed the distance, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Kurimaw raised his weapon to block, but the sheer force of Carlos’s strike knocked him off balance.

Carlos pressed the attack, his movements a blur of speed and power. Each swing of his sword was fueled by rage and desperation, driving Kurimaw back step by step. The girls scrambled to safety, their cries fading into the background as Carlos’s focus remained solely on stopping Kurimaw.

Kurimaw, now on the defensive, tried to counter, but Carlos was relentless. With a final, powerful strike, Carlos disarmed Kurimaw, sending his blade clattering to the ground. Kurimaw stumbled, his eyes wide with fear as Carlos stood over him, sword raised and ready to deliver justice.

The plaza fell silent, the tension thick as Carlos prepared to end the fight once and for all.

Then, out of nowhere, one of the bombs Kurimaw had planted was thrown straight into his face by a kid.

"Wait, what!?" Kurimaw shouted in shock, but it was too late—the bomb exploded. Kalisto, standing right beside him, was also caught in the blast, leaving both men injured and disoriented.

"Don’t worry, Carlos. The villagers are safe," Mixarnt said with a grin and a peace sign. Behind him stood the villagers, including the girls who had scattered earlier, all unharmed.

"Mixarnt!" Carlos exclaimed, relief washing over him as a wide smile spread across his face. Now, he could fight without holding back, knowing the villagers were safe.

Amid the wreckage of the destroyed homes, the two criminals emerged from the dust, coughing, wounded, and bruised but miraculously alive. Kurimaw’s reaction to the unexpected bomb attack said it all—a brief flash of fear and confusion, a sign of the terror that awaited anyone who underestimated the strength of those they had wronged.

Carlos watched as Mixarnt stood tall, surveying the crowd of villagers now gathering around their young protector. The children, their eyes filled with determination and mischief, formed a protective barrier. Even the girls who had been threatened moments earlier stood strong, united in their defiance against their oppressors.

With a grateful nod toward Mixarnt, Carlos stepped forward to address the crowd, his presence commanding despite his injuries. "This is the power of unity and resistance," he said, his voice firm and full of conviction. "When we stand together, we can overcome any challenge. Together, we’ll build a safer future!"

Kalisto and Kurimaw felt the pressure mounting.

"Damn it, let's run!" Kalisto shouted, and the two took off in a desperate sprint.

But Mixarnt was already on them.

"Enigma Enhancement—10%," he muttered. In an instant, he became a blur, moving like the wind. With his wooden sword in hand, he struck both fugitives down with precise, calculated blows—enough to incapacitate but not kill. He needed answers.

Kalisto and Kurimaw crashed to the ground, groaning in pain. Before they could react, Mixarnt loomed over them, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths. His sharp gaze locked onto them as he grabbed Kalisto by the hair, forcing him to meet his eyes.

"You two have done nothing but bring suffering to innocent people," Mixarnt said, his voice low and dangerous. "Now, you're going to answer for it."

Terror gripped them as Mixarnt tightened his hold—a silent promise that their crimes would not go unpunished.

Carlos and the villagers closed in.

"That's right! You won't get an easy death. You're going to tell us everything you know about Kaelzar's plan!" Carlos declared.

Kalisto and Kurimaw sneered.

"Just kill us," Kalisto spat. "We won’t talk, no matter what you do."

Carlos' jaw tightened at Kalisto’s smug defiance, his contemptuous smirk fueling the disgust boiling within him. He had seen men like this before—those who reveled in cruelty, who thrived on chaos. He knew their kind all too well.

The villagers murmured in agreement, their expressions hardened by the suffering they had endured. They had lost too much at the hands of monsters like Kalisto and Kurimaw. Justice was long overdue.

Carlos stepped forward, his sharp gaze never leaving the captured criminals.

"We’re not interested in your bravado," he said coldly. "We need information—everything you know about Kaelzar, his plans, his allies. And make no mistake… we will get it."

He glanced back at the villagers, his voice steady.

"Let’s give them a choice."