"So, you've come… Code Name: Rex," the man said.
Ron narrowed his eyes."Who are you? And how do you know that?"
"You're smarter than I expected. I never thought you'd be the one sent by him to retrieve his research," the man said, his back still turned to Ron.
"You can talk all you want," Ron said coldly. "But first, tell me who you are."
"You've forgotten me," the man replied calmly. "I don't blame you. After all, I was wearing a mask during our last encounter."
The man slowly turned around.
"My name is Kruex Zayden," he said."I am the leader of Eclipse."
Ron's eyes sharpened.
"So you're Kruex."He took a step forward.
"Now tell me… where are Dr. Thomas's research papers?"
Kruex burst out laughing.
"Hahaha."
Ron frowned.
"Is something funny?"
Kruex's smile vanished instantly.
"No."
"I can't give you that."
Ron stepped forward again.
"Then I'll take it by force."
Kruex tilted his head slightly.
"Do you really think you can defeat me?"
He looked directly at Ron.
"Rex… or Ron. Those papers allowed me to reach new heights."
His eyes gleamed.
"I am stronger than I have ever been."
Suddenly—
A sword slashed toward the back of Ron's head.
Ron instantly bent downward and drove the sole of his shoe into the attacker's stomach.
But the man jumped back.
Ron turned.
"Oh… so you're Rex?" the man said.
Ron squinted.
"You're that commander."
The man nodded.
"What's your name?" Ron asked.
"Vincent."
Ron smirked.
"Vincent? The guy who got destroyed by Carter?"
Vincent's face twitched.
"You certainly have quite the reputation," Ron continued mockingly.
A crack appeared in Vincent's composure.
With a roar, he rushed forward and thrust his sword toward Ron's throat.
Ron dodged effortlessly.
Then—
BAM!
Ron's kick slammed into Vincent's throat.
Vincent grabbed his neck in pain, but Ron was already moving.
Ron jumped, spun mid-air, and smashed the sole of his shoe into Vincent's right cheek.
BOOM.
Vincent flew across three rooms, smashing through walls.
Ron looked back toward Kruex.
But Kruex was gone.
A sudden impact struck Ron's chest.
BOOM.
Kruex had appeared behind him.
Ron blocked with both arms, but the sheer force launched him across three rooms as well.
Ron skidded across the floor before stopping himself.
Suddenly—
Vincent appeared again, throwing a right punch straight at Ron's face.
Ron reacted instantly.
He kicked Vincent's knuckles aside, then used his other leg to smash a kick into Vincent's face.
CRACK.
Vincent was sent flying across six rooms.
But Ron didn't stop.
He jumped high into the air, spinning multiple times before delivering a devastating kick.
Vincent's eyes widened.
BOOM.
Ron's kick slammed directly into Vincent's head.
The impact knocked him unconscious instantly, smashing him through every floor until he crashed into the basement.
Ron slowly turned toward Kruex.
Kruex smiled.
Then—
Both of them rushed forward.
They clashed.
Punches.Kicks.Dodges.Counters.
Their movements were so fast they blurred through the air as they exchanged brutal strikes.
Ron and Kruex were at each other.
Their fists collided.
BOOM.
The impact cracked the marble floor beneath them.
Kruex swung a vicious hook toward Ron's jaw.
Ron leaned back just enough for the punch to miss by inches, then drove a knee toward Kruex's ribs.
Kruex blocked with his forearm and countered instantly with a spinning kick.
CRACK.
Ron crossed his arms to block, but the force sent him sliding across the floor, carving deep grooves in the marble.
Kruex didn't give him a moment to recover.
He appeared in front of Ron again and unleashed a barrage of punches, each one strong enough to shatter concrete.
Ron blocked, parried, and slipped past them with razor-thin precision.
One punch grazed Ron's cheek.
Blood sprayed.
Ron smiled.
"You've improved."
Kruex's eyes sharpened.
"And you're still arrogant."
Kruex slammed his foot into the ground.
The floor exploded upward, sending shards of marble flying like bullets.
Ron dodged sideways as fragments tore through the walls behind him.
Kruex dashed through the dust and drove a punch straight toward Ron's chest.
Ron caught the fist.
The shockwave blew out every window in the room.
For a moment, both of them stood locked in place, muscles trembling under the pressure.
Then Ron twisted Kruex's arm and hurled him across the hall.
Kruex crashed through a pillar.
The pillar collapsed.
The ceiling above them began to crack.
Kruex stepped out of the rubble like nothing had happened.
He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Good," Kruex said quietly.
"This is exactly the fight I wanted."
He vanished.
Ron's instincts screamed.
Ron turned—
But Kruex was already behind him.
BOOM.
A brutal kick smashed into Ron's spine, sending him crashing through a wall into another room.
Ron rolled across the floor and instantly jumped back to his feet.
Kruex rushed toward him again.
Ron countered with a kick to Kruex's face, sending him flying into the next room.
Kruex lifted his head and glared at Ron, who was already advancing.
Then suddenly—
Ron felt a presence behind him.
He turned slightly.
It was Vincent.