"Did you think you could run from me, Harry?" Alexander sneered.
Harry raised an eyebrow, keeping calm and looking at the delinquents around him.
"Can't come alone, huh? Gotta bring your dogs with you?" he replied with disdain.
Harry lowered his voice, whispering to Vinícius:
"Don't use Qi against normal people. You can break a few bones, but no spells, understood? Remember the vest." He discreetly tapped under his shirt. "If things get tight, I'll cover you."
Vinícius nodded, and the two positioned themselves back to back, alert to Alexander's provocations.
"You're going to regret this," Alexander spat.
Without warning, Alexander shouted the order to attack.
Harry didn't wait. With a leap, he went straight at Alexander, landing a quick punch to the enemy's nose, who fell back with a broken nose.
The fight spread quickly. Harry and Vinícius moved with agility and technique, mixing kung fu moves from training with intuitive movements. Vinícius noticed the delinquents were slow and predictable and gained confidence.
He used precise strikes, blocking attacks and disarming opponents, while Harry dodged, counterattacked, and protected his friend.
The noise of the fight echoed through the streets, until a strong shout cut through the commotion:
"STOOOP!"
An imposing figure entered the scene with firm steps. It was Rafael, with his characteristic afro and an expression of authority.
He wasted no time: he charged at the delinquents with tremendous strength, knocking some down with powerful, swift blows. With his presence, the atmosphere changed.
Alexander, after recovering from the punch, still with his hand on his face, shouted:
"Boss! Help!"
Soon, heavy and confident footsteps echoed down the street. A muscular man emerged from the darkness, with a classic mohawk and a provocative smile. He stopped in the middle of the chaos and observed the scene.
"I'm Razor, leader of the Steel Fist gang. You beat up my guys and think you'll walk away unpunished?" He gave a hoarse laugh. "You coming one by one or all together?"
When he said that, an invisible pressure emanated from his body, making Harry, Vinícius, and Rafael uneasy. Alexander mocked in the background, excited by the arrival of reinforcements.
Rafael stepped forward, eyes narrowed.
"Leave him to me. No one messes with my companions."
Harry and Vinícius were touched by Rafael's camaraderie.
Rafael rushed forward, starting a flurry of punches and kicks with Razor. His kung fu was sharp, his blows quick and well-executed. But Razor just smiled, taking the hits as if he felt no pain.
"Is that all you got?" Razor mocked.
His fist glowed faintly, a bluish light emanating from it.
Harry's eyes widened.
"No! That's Qi!"
Rafael, unaware of the danger, defended with his arms. But the punch broke through his guard, hitting his chest with absurd force. Rafael flew backward, hitting the ground and spitting blood.
Even so, he got up, panting, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"You're strong..."
Harry, now certain Razor was a cultivator, stood in front of Rafael.
"Now it's my turn," said Harry with a powerful tone.
He charged at Razor, and the two exchanged punches, clashing fists. The impact created a shockwave. For a moment, it was a battle of strength. Razor's smile disappeared as he recoiled, his fist in pain.
"Impossible... I'm at the Silver level of the Internal Qi Realm. And you managed to overpower me?"
He focused and assumed a power stance. Veins bulged on his skin, his body pulsing with Qi. He attacked again, but Harry, more adapted to Qi combat, dodged, analyzing Razor's style.
"His Qi is unstable... seems weak, uncontrolled," he thought.
With a precise kung fu move, Harry struck Razor in the chest and sent him flying, making him spit blood, returning the blow he had dealt to Rafael.
Razor got up, spitting even more blood, looking furious.
"This isn't over, you worms!"
He retreated with the gang, most of them limping, bruised, or with swollen faces. They disappeared into the night's darkness.
Harry, Vinícius, and Rafael stood together, panting and still alert, ready for whatever came.
Rafael broke the silence first:
"What was that? How are he... and you... so strong?"
Harry and Vinícius exchanged looks, pondering whether Rafael was trustworthy enough to know the truth. Finally, Harry sighed.
"This isn't a good place to talk. Let's take care of your injuries first."
"I'm fine. He didn't hurt me that bad," Rafael replied with a half-smile, still panting.
Harry nodded, then looked at both of them.
"So let's go somewhere else to talk. What do you think?"
Rafael shrugged in agreement.
Vinícius, with a half-smile, thought:
"Is my house a secret base now? Seriously?"
And together, the three walked down the silent sidewalk, leaving the night behind.