A smile spread across Malika's face, her eyes still on the battleground below, anticipating the show about to be put on by Gabrielle.

  "For those of you who haven't seen her in action," Brittany began, her voice filled with a mix of both amusement and anticipation. "Gabrielle is a force to be reckoned with. She's like, practically a one-woman army. I just hope the mobsters are ready for the beating they're about to receive.”

  Malika chuckled at Brittany's remark, her eyes still on the battleground, anticipating the show put on by Gabrielle.

  "You can say that again," Malika replied, her voice filled with a mix of both amusement and anticipation. "Those mobsters won't knownehst hit 'em, facing a walking tank like Gabby."

  Speaking of, the mobsters took their eyes off of their dead man and looked up at Gabrielle, who stood tall as she looked around herself. She was surrounded by mobsters from all directions, but she had an idea just for the occasion.

  "I've a challenge for everyone," Gabrielle began, her voice leveled and free of apprehension, "I know you all have guns on you, so try and see if any of you can land a shot anywhere on my body. But be warned: I'm a swift one.”

  The mobsters smirked, their eyes filled with confidence. They had a clear advantage, surrounding Gabrielle and outnumbering her with numerous firearms present.

  A mobster spoke up, his voice filled with arrogance. "You're outnumbered, sweetheart, outgunned. You really think you can dodge all our fire?”

  Gabrielle met the mobster's gaze, her expression cool and unyielding. "I've dealt with worse odds. You underestimate me, and that's your downfall," she replied, her voice laced with determination.

  The mobster chuckled, his confidence only growing. "Cocky little thing, eh? Let's see if you can back up that talk.”

  Gabrielle flashed a rare smirk, her confidence unwavering. "You're on," she replied, her eyes scanning the mobsters as she coated her body with her aura using the Fortify technique.

  One mobster, filled with overconfidence, was the first to act. He raised his gun, aiming it directly at Gabrielle. "Let's see how fast you really are, sweetheart."

  And with that, he fired his shot, the rest of the mobsters following suit and unleashing a river of bullets at the muscular woman.

  The bullets fired in an onslaught, a flurry of metal hurtling towards Gabrielle like a metallic hailstorm. Despite the chaotic barrage, Gabrielle stood her ground, her focus unwavering as she assessed the incoming attack.

  With lightning-fast reflexes and enhanced speed, she swiftly avoided the hail of bullets, her body moving with incredible agility and precision. She darted and weaved between the flying projectiles, her steps calculated and fluid. As she bobbed and weaved through the bullet hell, she mowed down the mobsters one by one with her infamous punches.

  The mobsters were stunned, their confident smirks turning to looks of disbelief as their shots failed to hit their target. They stared in disbelief as Gabrielle dodged and evaded each bullet, their previous arrogance giving way to a growing sense of frustration and helplessness.

  "What the hell?! How the hell is she evading every single shot?!" One of the mobsters exclaimed incredulously.

  "She's killin' us!" another one hollered, squeezing the trigger of his machine gun with desperation. "Up the ante!”

  Seeing the desperation growing, Gabrielle decided to up the stakes further, the air of confidence around her thick enough to be cut with a knife. "Feeling confident yet?" she taunted as she continued to dodge the onslaught.

  The mobsters, growing more frantic and frustrated, began to release more bullets, desperation fueling their actions. They aimed more aggressively and fired more frequently, trying to match her pace.

  The rain of bullets intensified, the mobsters' desperation escalating as they unleashed a torrent of fire towards Gabrielle. She was surrounded by a barrage of gunfire, the bullets coming at her in higher numbers than before.

  Despite the increased challenge, Gabrielle's reflexes remained sharp as ever. She continued to dodge with incredible precision, her body moving in a blur as she evaded the bullets. Her speed and agility as she leaped around were unmatched, her evasions a graceful display of speed and finesse.

  The rain of bullets intensified, the mobsters' desperation escalating as they unleashed a torrent of fire towards Gabrielle. She was surrounded by a barrage of gunfire, the bullets moving even faster than before.

  Despite the increased challenge, Gabrielle's reflexes remained sharp as ever. She continued to dodge with incredible precision, her body moving in a blur as she evaded the bullets. Her speed and agility were unmatched, her movements a graceful display of speed and finesse.

  Many dodges and felled mobsters later, one shooter managed to finally hit Gabrielle, the bullet hitting her leg. Due to the defensive layer of aura on her body, the bullet bounced off of her with no damage done.

  "That's one..." Gabrielle whispered to herself, the lucky shot encouraging her to up her game even more.

  The mobsters, sensing a glimmer of hope at having landed a hit on Gabrielle, redoubled their efforts, their confidence buoyed by the fact that they had at least landed a shot.

  The intensity of their attack increased even further, the mobsters shooting with a renewed fervor. They aimed their firearms with renewed determination, their eyes narrowed as they sought to land another hit on the elusive Gabrielle.

  Gabrielle could sense the mobsters' growing determination and redoubled focus, their shots coming in even harder now. She pushed herself harder, her body moving with even more ferocity and speed. Despite the increased difficulty, she managed to dodge the barrage of shots still.

  However, Gabrielle couldn't keep up the grueling pace for long. The constant dodging was wearing her down, taxing her body and pushing her stamina to the maximum. The game had to end, so she began to get more reckless in her elimination of the mob, taking them out in larger swaths.

  The mobsters, sensing Gabrielle's increasing wear, pressed their offensive even harder, seeing an opportunity to capitalize on her exhaustion. The intensity of their fire became almost overwhelming, a relentless onslaught of gunfire coming from all directions.

  Gabrielle pushed herself to the limit, her body moving like a whirlwind of destruction as she dodged the relentless hail of bullets. Despite her growing exhaustion, she refused to give in, refusing to slow down until the threat was neutralized.

  Then came another successful bullet strike, this time on her left thigh. She nodded to herself after the bullet hit her, telling herself: "Hm, that's two…”

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  The mobsters, now certain that they had a chance to deal damage to Gabrielle, increased their fire even more, determined to wear her down and hit her harder. They fired their weapons with a newfound sense of confidence, their aim becoming more precise and focused.

  Gabrielle fought on, her body moving faster than ever, her reflexes honed by years of experience. But even she had her limits, and the constant barrage of bullets and her own growing fatigue were pushing her to her breaking point.

  "Ugh, this is more annoying than I expected," Gabrielle mumbled to herself in the middle of her dodging spree, powering herself up with her aura before leaping at the crowd with her fist in front of herself, wiping out a swarm of mobsters in a straight line.

  The number of mobsters was starting to dwindle rapidly as Gabrielle's relentless onslaught continued, her body moving with a ferocity that bordered on primal. Despite her growing weariness, she refused to falter, knowing that the end was in sight.

  "That's it..." Gabrielle whispered to herself, her heart pounding with a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration. "Almost there…”

  The number of mobsters was starting to dwindle rapidly as Gabrielle's relentless onslaught continued, her body moving with a ferocity that bordered on primal. Despite her growing weariness, she refused to falter, knowing that the end was in sight.

  "That's it..." Gabrielle whispered to herself, her heart pounding with a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration. "Almost there..."

  As Gabrielle tore through the waves of mobsters, the other Cabal members were either watching from their spot, or watching Vilho set down the mahjong pieces. Danemon sat down before him, watching him organize the game.

  "So, how do you play mahjong, Vilho?" Danemon asked.

  Vilho meticulously set up the game pieces, his hands moving with a practiced ease. His eyes focused on the task as he responded to Danemon's query. "It's quite simple, really," he began, his voice cool and collected. "Mahjong is a game of skill, strategy, and a bit of luck."

  Danemon observed Vilho's nimble fingers, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "And how long have you been playing it?" he inquired, leaning against the nearest tree lazily.

  Vilho gave a small shrug as he arranged the tiles into neat rows, his focus never wavering. "Most of my life, I suppose," he replied casually. "I learned as a child and have been playing sporadically ever since."

  Danemon nodded, the corner of his lips lifting into a slight smile. "Oh, and here I was thinking you were all serious and business-like all the time. Turns out our reliable member has a playful side after all.”

  Vilho allowed a hint of a smirk to tug at the corner of his lips, still focused on sorting the tiles. "I may be serious most of the time, Danemon," he said, a hint of amusement coloring his voice, "but even the most disciplined individuals get to unwind occasionally. Besides, you're one to talk, you're quite serious yourself."

  "Just like my Void Magic ability, my personality depends on the weather," Danemon countered, looking up at the cloudless night sky.

  With the tiles sorted and arranged, Vilho leaned back, his gaze flicking towards Danemon. "Now, would you like a demonstration, or shall I explain the rules in detail first?”

  Danemon crossed his arms, his gaze shifting from the night sky back to Vilho. "Why not both?" he proposed, a teasing glint in his eyes. "First, the demonstration to get a feel for the game, and then an explanation afterwards to clear up any confusion."

  Vilho nodded, accepting the request. "Very well," he said, gesturing towards the setup tiles. "Watch closely as I start laying down the tiles, and you'll get an idea of the rules.”

  As Vilho began laying down the mahjong tiles in an array, Danemon's gaze followed the tiles as they were set down, his curiosity piqued. With a calm demeanor, Vilho began to explain the mechanics of the game, occasionally demonstrating with precise finger movements.

  "Mahjong involves creating specific patterns of tiles, known as melds," he began, his voice calm and explanatory. "The number of tiles in each pattern varies, and certain combinations hold more value than others.”

  Danemon listened intently, absorbing the information Vilho provided. He leaned forward, his elbow resting on his knee and his chin propped on his hand, fully engaged in the explanation.

  Vilho continued laying down the tiles as he spoke, demonstrating the melds with calculated, yet fluid movements. "A successful hand must contain one set of unique tiles, also known as a pung," he clarified before adding, "A pung consists of three identical tiles of the same suit.”

  Danemon watched closely, his attention captivated by the demonstration. He observed the arrangement of tiles and the way Vilho's fingers moved with precision and ease.

  Vilho continued to explain the game, elaborating further on the other melds within mahjong. "The second type of meld is called a kong," he began, his voice steady and clear. "A kong consists of four identical tiles of the same suit.”

  Danemon nodded in understanding, absorbing the information Vilho provided. He leaned back against the tree trunk, his arms crossed, a small smile playing on his lips. The mahjong lesson seemed to be going smoothly.

  Vilho, meanwhile, continued to illustrate the various melds, his fingers effortlessly placing the tiles in their respective positions. "And the last type of meld," he stated, his voice calm and confident, "is called a chow. A chow consists of three tiles that are consecutive in sequence, regardless of suit.”

  Danemon, now fully engrossed in the game, nodded in understanding once again. He observed Vilho's demonstration, admiring the way he effortlessly placed the tiles in the correct formation.

  Vilho continued his explanation, each word clearly pronounced, as if he had given this explanation countless times before. "In order to declare a winning hand, the winning meld must meet certain requirements," he explained, pausing for a moment before continuing. "For a pung and a chow, the three or four tiles, respectively, must be unique to the meld. A pung or a chow cannot overlap.”

  Danemon listened intently, his eyes darting back and forth between the tiles and Vilho, taking in the explanation. He could see the logic behind the rules, but he still had one question that lingered in his mind. He raised his hand slightly, silently requesting Vilho's attention.

  Vilho paused, his gaze shifting towards Danemon. "Do you have a question?" he inquired, his calm tone conveying a sense of patience.

  Danemon nodded, his smile still lingering on his lips. "Indeed, I do," he replied, his voice tinged with curiosity.

  Vilho shifted his attention, his expression steady and prepared to answer any question. "Go ahead," he encouraged, motioning for Danemon to voice his inquiry.

  "Correct me if I'm wrong," Danemon began, his tone slightly intrigued. "Each type of meld, regardless of how many tiles compose it, can stand alone, right?"

  Vilho nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze unwavering. "That's correct," he affirmed, his voice confident and assured. "A pung, a chow, and a kong can all stand alone and win the round independently from each other."

  "Ooh, Professor Vilho in the house!" Cassie said mockingly, making sure her breath was fanning Vilho's ear.

  Vilho let out an irritated sigh, his patience running thin as Cassie's teasing voice echoed in his ear. "It's called teaching, Cassie," he replied, a hint of annoyance in his tone as he gently swatted her away. "Go torment someone else."

  Cassie chuckled, sticking out her tongue playfully. "But it's so much more fun to see you get all worked up," she teased, her eyes glimmering with a mischievous glint.

  Vilho rolled his eyes, the corner of his mouth involuntarily twitching in annoyance. "Must you always find joy in my suffering?" he muttered, his tone slightly sarcastic.

  Cassie grinned, her amusement growing at Vilho's reaction. "Can you blame me? You're just so easy to tease," she retorted, her tone laced with amusement. "Besides, your reactions are priceless."

  Vilho let out a soft groan. "...Who decided to let a demon join our ranks...?”

  Cassie feigned offense, placing a hand over her heart dramatically. "Hey now, I heard that!" she exclaimed, her tone filled with mock hurt. "Quick, go back to being Professor Vilho, 'cause Racist Vilho isn't very nice!"

  Vilho shot her a glare, his irritation palpable. "Not racist," he retorted dryly. "It's your behavior driving me up the wall, not your belonging to the demon race.”

  Cassie smirked, mischief glimmering in her eyes. "Oh, please, you're just mad that a sexy li'l demon like me gets under your skin so easily," she retorted, her voice filled with playful arrogance.

  Vilho exhaled a weary sigh, his annoyance still evident. "You're insufferable," he muttered under his breath, his tone slightly gruff.

  Cassie chuckled, her smile widening. "Insufferably charming, you mean," she quipped, her voice filled with confidence. "After all, who can resist a charming demon like me?"

  Vilho rolled his eyes, his irritation reaching its peak. "More like infuriatingly irksome," he retorted dryly. "It's a wonder how anyone tolerates your presence."

  He then shook his head and focused back on his game. "Anyways, Danemon," he huffed out, giving Cassie a side-eye, "Let's begin mahjong.”

  Danemon nodded, watching the exchange between Vilho and Cassie with a hint of amusement. The dynamic between the two was indeed quite interesting, and he couldn't help but find it somewhat entertaining.

  However, as Vilho shifted the focus back to the game, Danemon nodded, understanding that the lesson should take precedence over their bantering.

  "Right," Danemon replied, keeping his amusement in check. "Please continue the lesson, Vilho.”