Chapter 13 – "The Birth of the Eternal Skies"
The morning was cold, and the fog still clung to the alleys as Adam and Gyro made their way from the cave toward the city. The night's rain had left puddles and mud in the narrow streets. Gyro walked silently behind Adam, his head lowered but his eyes steady. He remembered what Adam had said last night by the fire: "Tomorrow we move toward the leader. Tomorrow, the real fight begins."
They reached the edge of the market, blending in with merchants and passersby. Adam walked with calm steps, his eyes scanning everything. Gyro trailed behind like a shadow. When they reached the stone building described by the bartender earlier, they stopped. It was a broad place with thick walls, narrow windows, a heavy door guarded by three men, and the sound of more voices from inside.
Adam muttered, "Begin."
Gyro took a deep breath, nodded, and opened a very small portal behind the guards. No sound this time—he had trained hard to make it silent. The air shimmered slightly as he focused.
Adam moved immediately. He slipped through the opened portal and slammed his fist into the nose of the first guard, knocking him out. The second tried to shout, but Gyro opened another portal behind him, pushed a rod from the corner through it, and struck the back of his head, sending him to the ground. The third drew a dagger and lunged at Adam, but Adam grabbed his wrist with his deceptively normal-looking but internally reinforced steel hand. He squeezed until a faint crack was heard, then punched him in the chest, knocking him down.
They pushed the door open and entered a wider inner hall. Four more men were gambling near an oil lamp. One of them shouted instantly, "They're in!!"
They scrambled, drawing their knives.
Adam moved forward directly. The first lunged at him, but Adam ducked and delivered a crushing punch to his gut, making him vomit and writhe. The second came from the right; Adam elbowed him in the jaw and dropped him.
The third tried to stab Adam in the back, but Gyro opened a narrow portal right behind Adam, causing the attacker's knife to pass through and stab his own ally in the shoulder in a foolish accident.
Adam didn't hesitate. He choked one of them unconscious with his arm. The fourth threw a chair at him, but Adam smashed it with his fist and struck the man down with another blow.
They advanced further and entered a wide inner chamber lit by torch flames on the walls. In the center sat the gang leader on a massive wooden crate, his large sword resting across his knees. Bald, heavily built, with a black tattoo coiling around his neck. He looked at them and smirked.
"So, you've finally come. I expected one of you would dare one day. My guard is always tight, but you made it in. Impressive."
Adam didn't respond. He stared at him like a hunter studying prey.
The leader stood slowly, gripping his sword.
"I thought my men would be enough, but you're persistent. I'll cut off your head and hang it on the door as a warning."
He lunged suddenly, the sword glinting in the firelight. Adam moved quickly to the side, dodging the first strike. The sword tore into the wooden floor, sending sparks flying.
Adam spun and punched him on the side of the head with a dull crack. The leader staggered but didn't fall. He roared and swung horizontally again.
Adam raised his arm to block. Sparks flew as the blade struck his iron-hard bones, but they didn't break. He pushed the leader back, disrupting his stance.
Adam capitalized on it, punching him in the gut. The leader spat blood but gave a bloody smirk.
"Strong… but I'm stronger!"
He unleashed a flurry of attacks, the sword slicing the air, sparks flashing each time it struck Adam's arm. Gyro opened a portal near Adam's shoulder, redirecting one strike into a column behind them instead. The leader cursed and shouted, "What the hell is this?!"
Gyro opened another portal, diverting yet another attack off target.
Adam seized the moment, grabbed the leader's wrist with one hand, squeezed until it slackened, then smashed his fist into the man's jaw, sending blood flying.
The gang leader staggered back a meter, panting, eyes wild.
He stepped back again and suddenly pulled a small metal cylinder from his pocket. He yanked the pin and screamed:
"You'll die with me!!"
And threw it at Adam.
Adam's eyes widened. He sprinted toward the leader himself, kicked the grenade high into the air. It exploded at the room's entrance, flames bursting out and smoke flooding in. Shrapnel flew—some slashing Adam's arm, others embedding in the leader's shoulder. Blood flowed.
The leader staggered in pain, cornered now, fire behind him.
Adam approached slowly, limping slightly from a shard in his thigh. His fist was bloodied, but steady.
The leader gasped. He knew he'd lost.
He screamed through the blood: "No… I won't tell you where the treasure is!"
Adam's voice was low, cold: "Tell me. Or I'll let rats eat your guts alive. I'll shove you into a bamboo tube and light a fire beneath you. I'll listen to your screams until I understand every word."
The gang leader actually trembled, gasped, closed his eyes.
"Under the eastern wall… a small pit… the iron box is there. The password is carved on it. Please kill me quickly."
Adam tightened his grip on the man's throat, stared into his eyes to make sure he wasn't lying. Then squeezed harder, ending his life in silence.
Adam wiped the blood from his face.
"Gyro. Eastern wall."
Gyro opened a small portal in the floor near the wall and pulled out the heavy iron box.
Adam broke its lock with his fist and found gold, coins, and jewels inside.
He nodded.
"Truth."
He looked at the corpse.
"Smarter than his men. But not smart enough."
The two stepped out of the partially burning building, their clothes stained with blood. People in the alleys moved aside silently, whispering:
"Karoq is dead." "The gang is finished."
Adam didn't look at them. He walked slowly, carrying the box, Gyro trailing behind him, panting.
By sunset, they reached a shabby tavern on the city's edge. Its old owner was wiping tables.
Adam placed the box in front of him.
"This is for you. In exchange for the tavern. Leave."
The old man looked at the gold, then at Adam, nodded fearfully, and dragged his feet out.
Adam turned to Gyro, wiping blood from his face with a rag.
"It's called 'The Eternal Skies' now."
Gyro smiled despite his exhaustion.
Adam stepped outside into the street, his voice deep:
"Poor folk! Orphans! The weak! If you want food and shelter, come in. This is your first night. Here is safety, here is food, here is sleep. Tomorrow, we talk about work."
People hesitated, but hunger pushed them. Barefoot children ran in first, followed by an old woman, a wounded young man crawling inside.
Adam held the door open, motioned them in.
He sat at a wooden table, watching them fill the space.
His voice was calm, yet firm:
"My will is the will of this organization. And its will is yours. Those who serve this purpose rise with me. Those w
ho betray it fall. No slavery here. No charity. Only a pact. These Eternal Skies begin tonight."
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End of Chapter 13