"Fuck… that beast really took it out of me," Kai muttered, slumped against a tree, struggling to keep his eyes open. His breath came out in ragged gasps, his chest heaving like his lungs were trying to claw their way free.
Every inch of his body screamed in agony, and his skin still sizzled in places where the acid had eaten through.
He wasn't sure how he was still conscious.
Wounds littered him - slashes, burns, bruises. Too many to count. His regeneration had slowed to a crawl, struggling to patch him back together. As for how much blood he'd lost in the fight? Way more than he thought his body could even hold.
The night air clung to his skin, sharp and cold, and when he looked up through an opening in the dense foliage, the moon had already climbed high into the sky.
'Deep into the night, huh…? Just how long were we going at it?'
He groaned again, his back scraping against the rough bark as he tried to reposition himself. "Damn it. I woke up past dusk, barely slept, and then that monster showed up. Now this shit. Hell of a day."
Kai's body felt like it weighed a thousand kilos. His limbs were jelly, his thoughts sluggish. And yet - he didn't let his guard down. His bloodstained fingers twitched slightly, ready to form a blade at any moment.
'Can't stay here. Not like this. If that thing comes back… or if something worse shows up-'
A branch snapped nearby.
His eyes flashed open. Muscles tensed. But it was nothing. Just the woods whispering their usual nonsense. Still, it was enough to get him moving. Slowly. Painfully.
With a grunt, Kai pushed himself upright. He staggered a few steps, leaning heavily on the tree before peeling himself off and limping in the direction he'd come from.
The forest was alive around him - rustling leaves, skittering claws, animal cries. Shadows moved between the trees, drawn in by the thick iron scent of blood caked on his skin. But none dared approach.
Kai's glowing red eyes swept through the dark like twin beacons, his presence drenched in bloodlust. Even in his broken state, the forest creatures recognised a predator.
'Thank god. If anything tried its luck right now... I'd be a goner.'
He continued onwards, and eventually, the trees began to thin. Light pollution from the distant town shimmered faintly through the canopy.
As he took in the view, relaxing momentarily and catching his breath, his stomach growled violently.
He looked down and let out a low, tired laugh. "Yeah… guess that's fair. Burn more energy, need more energy."
By the time he stumbled out of the woodland and into the outskirts of the district, he looked like something dragged out of a warzone. Bloodied rags clung to him. His skin was dirt-streaked, soaked in sweat, torn up and half-burned. But he kept walking, sticking to the shadows.
He crept through the quieter side roads, limping down alleyways and ducking behind dumpsters. Every step felt like he was dragging a corpse.
Eventually, he pushed open the side door of the fight club after fumbling with the key. It wasn't like he had anywhere else to go.
He then followed the sound of muffled voices and pushed open the door.
The lounge was dimly lit, bathed in a warm glow from a flickering wall lamp. Worn-out sofas, half-empty bottles, and the easy sprawl of Nadya, Isaac, and Amina painted a picture of calm. Laughter faded as they chatted, oblivious.
No Takeshi. Not surprising.
Kai stepped in.
The temperature shifted instantly.
Silence.
Three pairs of eyes locked onto him - then froze.
The smell hit them first: blood, sweat, acid. Then came the sight - burns, deep gashes, blackened patches of skin, and a stare that didn't quite look human anymore.
"..."
"..."
"You wouldn't believe the day I just had," Kai croaked, swaying slightly. His lips cracked into a grin, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Amina actually flinched. Isaac opened his mouth to speak, then just slowly closed it again. Nadya's expression was unreadable.
Kai was already fantasising about a shower, food, and collapsing into the nearest bed.
But then he noticed what they were watching on the TV.
A flickering news clip played.
A red-masked figure covered in a red sheen of blood stood among torn bodies and mangled flesh, phone cameras capturing the carnage before the figure disappeared in a blur.
A very familiar silhouette.
Kai blinked.
"Oh… ha… ha…" He took a cautious step back, lifting his hands. "Yeah, that… that definitely wasn't me."
The room was dead silent.
He glanced at Nadya. Her expression hadn't changed, but he could see the vein twitching in her temple.
'Ah, shit...'
-
Kai had obviously noticed the phones - townsfolk holding them up, recording and photographing the scene earlier. Dozens of eyes behind cracked screens, capturing him drenched in blood, the aftermath of facing the kid-turned-monster.
If he were in their positions, he would also misunderstand and be disturbed by him.
So he'd done the only thing he could think of - formed a crude mask of blood across his face before making a break for it.
It wouldn't do much to conceal him. Not with his unnatural red eyes and his unique mutant ability.
But it made him feel a little less exposed.
And now?
Well, now he was on Russian television.
"Blood Mutant or Monster? Children Massacred in a Lawless Zone."
The headline ran boldly across the screen as the reporter droned on. Footage played beneath - grainy, shaky, but damning. Him, standing in a field of blood, the monster's carcass slumped behind him. The mask made him look more like a demon than a saviour.
"If the Association had been present, those poor children would still be alive. This is the cost of lawlessness-"
Click.
Isaac shut the TV off with a sigh, reading the subtitles with a grim face. "Of course. They spin it their way. Every damn time."
Meanwhile, Kai's eyes flicked across the room. He didn't sit. Just scanned - windows, exits, cover. Already thinking about how fast he could get out if Nadya exploded on him, literally.
'Front door's too slow. Left hallway's probably clear. Maybe a wall run and jump out of that window, if I boost myself with a blood spike - no, not in my condition. If I can grab Isaac or Amina and use them as a hostage...' Kai was on edge and weighing all his options.
'And where the hell is Takeshi? If he drops in again, I'm done for.'
He took a careful step backward, preparing for the worst...