"Yeah… you could say that."
Eric gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. He still couldn't figure Bradley out, and until he did, he wasn't about to reveal anything important.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think we have anything more to discuss. Please leave."
Bradley stood up as he said it, his tone no longer polite—cold, firm, final.
Eric let out a quiet breath. "Mr. Bradley, you might want to hear me out before making a decision."
"No need." Bradley didn't even hesitate. "I'm sorry you came all this way for nothing."
That was it.
No room for negotiation. No second chances.
Eric glanced at Leon, and without another word, both of them turned toward the door. Sometimes, walking away was the only option—especially when the other side refused to see reason.
Creak—
The door opened.
And the atmosphere instantly changed.
A large man stood there, blocking the way. Black trench coat, rough features, an unshaven jaw. His presence felt heavy… suffocating… like something dangerous had just walked into the room.
Eric's eyes narrowed.
Sabretooth.
"Well, that's disappointing. Didn't go as planned, huh?" he said with a crooked grin, eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Victor…" Bradley's face tightened. He knew exactly what kind of man—no, what kind of monster—stood in front of him.
"Aw, don't look so tense," Sabretooth mocked. "Aren't you happy to see an old friend?"
Eric stepped forward slightly, his voice low. "Move."
Sabretooth didn't budge. Instead, he raised a finger, wagging it slowly. "No, no… don't rush things. I actually came here to apologize."
Eric's gaze sharpened. "Apologize?"
A chuckle escaped Sabretooth's lips—low, rough, almost amused at something only he understood.
Then—
SNIKT.
Claws slid out, gleaming under the light.
"For making sure… none of you walk out alive."
BANG!
The door slammed shut behind him.
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then—
A notification flashed in Leon's vision.
[New Mission Generated]
Objective: Eliminate Sabretooth
Reward: 7000 Desire Points
Leon's lips curved ever so slightly.
Finally.
Another mission.
Another chance to grow stronger.
Excitement flickered in his eyes—sharp, eager, almost hungry.
Let's see what you've got… Sabretooth.
And just like that—
The room exploded into motion.
CLANG—CLANG—CLANG!
Every piece of metal began to tremble, then rise. Chairs, cutlery, fragments of appliances—everything lifted into the air, vibrating violently under Eric's control.
The air grew heavy, charged, dangerous—like a storm about to break.
Then it did.
WHOOSH—WHOOSH—WHOOSH!
A storm of steel tore through the room, fast, relentless, overwhelming, leaving no space to breathe, no moment to react.
Sabretooth didn't dodge.
He charged.
"HAHA—!"
Claws tore through the incoming barrage. Metal shattered, splintered, exploded apart as he forced his way forward, step by step, unstoppable, brutal, savage—like a beast that refused to fall.
Impact after impact slammed into him.
Still—
He kept moving.
Eric's eyes hardened.
More.
Faster.
He pushed harder, sending everything he could—
And then—
SHNK! SHNK! SHNK!
Knives drove deep into Sabretooth's abdomen.
For a split second—
Eric thought it was over.
But then—
ROOOOOAAARRR!!
A monstrous roar erupted.
Sabretooth didn't slow down.
Didn't stop.
Didn't care.
Blood spilled, blades lodged in his body—
And yet he lunged forward like nothing mattered.
In the blink of an eye—
He was already there.
Right in front of Eric.
Claws raised.
Death descending.
Eric's pupils shrank.
Too fast—
Too sudden—
Too—
BOOM!!
A shockwave blasted through the room.
The attack stopped.
Just like that.
Leon stood there, one hand gripping Sabretooth's arm, completely still—completely unfazed.
The floor beneath them cracked from the sheer force of impact.
Sabretooth's grin faltered.
Just slightly.
Leon tilted his head. "Too slow."
And then—
He moved.
A single step.
A simple motion.
But the result—
BAM!!!
A kick slammed into Sabretooth's chest.
The sound was sickening—bones breaking, air bursting, impact echoing through the entire building.
Sabretooth's body flew backward—
CRAAASH—BOOOOM!!
He smashed through the wall, debris exploding outward in a violent shockwave.
Dust filled the air.
Silence followed.
"Eric, I'll handle this."
Leon's voice was calm, almost casual—like this wasn't even a fight to him.
Eric frowned. "Wait—"
But Leon was already gone.
Not fast—
Not quick—
Gone.
Like he had never been there to begin with.
A blur appeared across the room.
Then—
Leon stood in front of Zero.
"So… have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
A faint glow gathered around his leg.
Zero's instincts screamed.
Danger.
Death.
But his body couldn't keep up.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't—
BOOOOOM!!!
The kick landed.
His head slammed into the ground with overwhelming force, the floor cracking beneath him as shockwaves rippled outward.
And just like that—
He went still.
Unconscious. Maybe worse.
Leon exhaled lightly. "...Too fragile."
Behind him—
A sound.
Cough… cough…
Sabretooth.
Still alive.
Slowly, painfully, he rose from the rubble. His chest was crushed inward, breathing ragged, blood dripping—but his eyes?
Still burning.
Still feral.
"DIE!!"
He lunged again—faster this time, more desperate, more vicious, throwing everything he had left into one final strike.
Claws tore through the air—
Aimed straight for Leon.
And yet—
They hit nothing.
Sabretooth's vision blurred.
Leon vanished.
A chill ran down his spine.
Instinct screamed—
Behind you.
Too late.
Leon was already there.
Standing quietly.
Waiting.
A fist clenched.
No wasted movement.
No dramatic buildup.
Just—
CRACK!!!
The punch landed.
And everything broke.
The sound echoed—deep, violent, final.
Sabretooth's body shot forward like a missile—
BOOOOOOM!!!
Blasting through the wall, tearing apart everything in its path before crashing onto the street outside.
He skidded across the pavement, leaving a trail of destruction behind him, before finally coming to a stop.
This time—
He didn't get up.
Inside the room—
No one spoke.
No one moved.
All eyes were on Leon.
Shock.
Silence.
Disbelief.
This wasn't normal.
This wasn't strength.
This was something else entirely.
Something overwhelming… something absolute… something terrifying.
And Leon?
He just stood there quietly—
Like none of it mattered.
---
To be continued…
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