Karl’s skull burst apart, blood and brain matter splattering across the wall in a grotesque spray.

  His body crumpled, collapsing limply to the ground.

  The six elite operatives who had been watching froze, then staggered back in unison. Terror widened their eyes.

  Their captain—one of Kunlun Corp’s three aces, “The Hound” Karl—had just been executed by a fugitive.

  Kane turned his gaze on them.

  The six exchanged a single glance, panic overtaking discipline. Weapons clattered to the floor as they abandoned them, fleeing into the shadows without hesitation.

  Kane didn’t pursue.

  His legs buckled, and he dropped to his knees.

  The Predator’s surface flared with frantic blue arcs, snapping violently before extinguishing altogether.

  His legs went numb.

  His right hand spasmed, index and middle fingers twitching uncontrollably.

  Kane sucked in ragged breaths, each exhale spraying sweat that dripped onto the ground, leaving tiny pits in the dust.

  He forced his gaze downward, toward his ruined leg.

  Beneath the shredded fabric, the veins had shifted from dark red to charred black, grotesque lines etched across his skin like burnt electrical wires.

  He knew the signs.

  This was neural overload.

  Push further, and his nervous system would burn out completely.

  Crag staggered upright, his massive frame swaying, and lurched toward Kane.

  “Kid…”

  Kane lifted his head.

  Crag’s chest, shoulders, and face were torn open, wounds leaking fresh blood.

  That stone-carved face, usually unyielding, now showed something rare—fatigue.

  Kane shook his head.

  “I’m fine.”

  He paused, breath hitching.

  “Just… can’t stand for now.”

  Crag was silent for several seconds, then crouched low.

  “I’ll carry you.”

  Kane didn’t refuse.

  He looked up at Crag, held his gaze for a moment, then said quietly:

  “Loot first.”

  Crag nodded and turned toward Karl’s corpse.

  The exoskeleton was wrecked, but its parts would still fetch a price.

  The weapons and armor abandoned by the six elites were another haul worth taking.

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  Crag began dismantling the exoskeleton, prying free the critical components—the shattered energy core, the hydraulic assemblies, the alloy blade launcher.

  Then his hand brushed against something in Karl’s chest rig.

  A metal box.

  Its surface bore the insignia of Kunlun Corp, edges locked with intricate mechanical seals.

  But what caught Crag’s attention most—

  Was the weight.

  It was unnaturally heavy.

  Even with his colossal strength, lifting the palm-sized box made him feel its density.

  Crag frowned, passing it to Kane.

  “Kid, this thing’s wrong.”

  Kane took it.

  The moment it touched his palm, he felt it too.

  The box weighed at least ten kilograms.

  Yet it was no larger than his hand.

  His eyes narrowed, focusing on the Kunlun insignia etched into its surface.

  “What the hell is inside this?”

  Kane tried to pry the box open.

  But the mechanism demanded both fingerprint and iris verification.

  His eyes narrowed as he noticed the faint ring of red indicator lights running along the edge.

  That was the mark of a self-destruct system.

  Force it, and whatever lay inside would be incinerated instantly.

  Kane stared at the box in silence for several seconds.

  “Why the hell would Karl carry this on him?”

  Crag’s brow furrowed, stone features tightening.

  “Do we open it?”

  Kane shook his head.

  “Not now. Kunlun’s reinforcements could arrive at any moment.”

  He shoved the box into his chest rig.

  “First, we get out.”

  Crag didn’t argue. He simply hoisted Kane onto his back, the two of them moving toward Exit Three.

  The exit loomed as a heavy steel door, its surface scarred with age.

  An old mechanical lock sat embedded in the frame.

  Kane pulled out the metal chip Felix had given him and slid it into the lock.

  The door groaned, gears grinding, before it slowly creaked open.

  Beyond lay a barren wasteland of rock and sand.

  The night wind swept in, carrying grit and the metallic tang of blood.

  Kane turned back, eyes cold, staring into the darkness of the Rat Run behind them.

  “Blackrock Town… I’ll be back.”

  Just as they were about to leave, the encrypted communicator in Kane’s chest vibrated.

  He pulled it free.

  A new message glowed on the screen.

  Sender: Felix.

  The content was a single line:

  “Kid, you’re sharper than I thought. If you want to take on Kunlun Corp, come find me at the Hunter’s Tavern when you’ve got time. Oh, and that box Karl carried—Kunlun’s willing to pay a million to buy it back.”

  Kane’s pupils tightened.

  A million.

  That number alone revealed the box’s worth.

  Crag’s voice rumbled low. “Kid… you going?”

  Kane slid the communicator away.

  “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

  He paused.

  “Felix has been testing me from the start.”

  Crag frowned.

  “What do you mean?”

  Kane leaned against Crag’s back, closing his eyes.

  “He deliberately steered me toward Exit Three, knowing Karl would be there.”

  “But he also gave me intel on Karl’s abilities—enough to prepare.”

  A cold smile tugged at Kane’s lips.

  “This wasn’t a trap. It was an exam.”

  “He wanted to see if I was worth investing in.”

  Crag was silent for a long moment.

  “So… you passed?”

  Kane’s eyes opened, sharp and steady.

  “Looks like it.”

  He paused again, voice dropping lower.

  “Seems Blackrock Town runs deeper than I thought.”

  Crag didn’t answer. He only lengthened his stride, carrying Kane across the barren wasteland.

  For two hours they trudged through the desolate expanse, sand and stone stretching endlessly beneath the cold night sky.

  At last, they stumbled upon an abandoned bunker.

  Its entrance hung half-open, darkness yawning inside like the mouth of a dead beast.

  Crag moved cautiously, massive frame slipping into the shadows. He scanned every corner, every crevice, until he was certain no danger lingered. Only then did he set Kane down.

  Kane pulled Karl’s metal box from his chest rig.

  His eyes fixed on the Kunlun Corp insignia etched into its surface.

  “What the hell is inside this?”

  Crag stepped closer, voice low. “Do we force it open?”

  Kane shook his head.

  “No. A box like this… if we break it, whatever’s inside will self-destruct.”

  He paused, breath steadying.

  “When we get back to Kyrie, he’ll figure it out.”

  Crag nodded, turning to clear the bunker, dragging debris aside with his massive hands.

  Kane leaned against the wall, closing his eyes.

  His mind replayed the night’s carnage.

  Karl was dead.

  One of Kunlun’s three aces, cut down by his hand.

  But the cost had been brutal.

  The Predator was crippled, his nervous system pushed to the brink.

  If Crag hadn’t held Karl down with his own blood and strength, Kane would never have had the chance to strike back.

  Kane opened his eyes, gaze settling on Crag as he worked.

  “Crag.”

  The giant stopped, turning his head.

  Kane was silent for several seconds.

  “From now on…”

  He hesitated, words heavy.

  “I’ll guard your back.”

  Crag blinked, stunned.

  Then, slowly, a smile cracked across his stone-hewn face.

  “You owe me more than that.”

  Kane’s lips curved into a faint smile of his own.

  “I know.”

  He closed his eyes again, voice dropping to a whisper.

  “That’s why… I’ll repay it.”

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