I rushed toward Saka and found him lying on the ground, wounded and covered in blood.
I couldn't understand what happened, and when I got closer… I realized he had faced 27 people.
He took down seventeen of them, and the rest surrounded him, all armed.
My expression changed, and I told myself:
"Why didn't I kill them? Saka should've been the one to save the girls. I wish I had faced them instead of him."
I could no longer see anything clearly—only Saka.
I grabbed my dislocated shoulder and forced it back into place with my own hand.
As I walked slowly toward Saka, I sensed two people behind me, but I didn't react.
All that mattered to me was reaching him.
They struck my shoulders and head—I bled—but still, all I wanted was to check if Saka was alive.
Saka turned his head toward me, coughing blood, and said:
"Tai… you must… live."
When he said that, I started looking around.
Two cars were blocking the street, trapping us inside, and their number had shrunk to 10.
Both my shoulders were numb—I couldn't move my arms.
One of them approached from behind to finish me.
I turned and kicked his leg with everything I had.
He fell, screaming:
"He broke my leg!"
Then I kicked him in the face.
After he said those words, the rest rushed me at once.
I couldn't hear anything anymore.
A ringing pain filled my ears.
My head was bleeding, and my vision was blurry.
I heard my inner voice—clearer than ever—say:
"Tai… are you on the verge of death?
No… you are not.
You haven't avenged yourself yet."
After those words… my senses sharpened.
Instead of hearing, I felt them.
I was bleeding… my shoulders dislocated… my head dripping blood down half my face…
But something inside me woke up.
I no longer heard their voices clearly.
I only saw their movements…
My body sensed them before they even came close.
The first one rushed forward, swinging an iron bat.
I ducked quickly, then kicked his stomach with such force that he gagged and dropped to his knees.
I didn't give him a moment—raised my leg and struck his face brutally…
I heard bones breaking under my foot.
He fell face-first, and I lifted my leg again… and kicked his neck.
They didn't stop.
The second one attacked with a rusty cleaver.
Its edge flashed before my eyes as it swung down.
I bent back as far as I could—feeling the blade slicing the air right in front of my face.
I grabbed his wrist with every bit of strength left in me, struck his arm with my knee until his grip broke… then drove my elbow into his face until he collapsed.
The remaining ones surrounded me—eight starving dogs.
Two of them raised their guns at me.
I didn't have time to think.
I leaped sideways… the bullets grazed my shoulder, burning my flesh.
I bit my lip from the pain, but pushed forward.
I grabbed one attacker's leg and pulled him toward me before he shot again, slammed his head into the ground until he went limp.
But the other one pointed his gun at me, and as he pulled the trigger,
I lifted the unconscious man as a shield.
The bullet pierced him, and I felt his body tremble before going still.
I screamed as I forced my dislocated shoulder back using my other arm…
Pressed with everything I had until the bone snapped back in place with a disgusting sound.
A roar tore from my throat, but it gave me back my arm.
One more rushed from behind swinging his bat.
I didn't have time—
I raised my bare hand, catching the weapon mid-strike.
My fingers tore under the force, but I held it.
Without hesitation, I ripped the bat from his grip and punched him in the face with all the rage inside me.
I heard his skull crack under my fist… then brought the bat down on his head.
Once…
Twice…
Until he stopped moving.
Only three were left.
My heart thundering like war drums, body trembling, but my eyes blazing.
I stepped forward without fear.
Struck the first in the chest with the bat until he sank into the ground.
Broke the second's arm, then delivered the final blow to his temple—he fell without a sound.
The last one backed away in terror, but I didn't let him escape.
I threw the bat aside, grabbed his throat with both hands, and stared into his eyes as he choked between my fingers.
He screamed and tried to fight back, but his hands slowly weakened… until he went still.
I stood there, breathing heavily… my entire body torn open, blood dripping everywhere.
I looked around—their bodies scattered across the alley—while I could barely remain standing.
Step…
Another step…
Then my body collapsed to the ground.
My breathing grew heavy… agony tearing me apart… but a faint smile crept onto my face.
I survived…
I felt people lifting me, treating my wounds.
I woke up inside a strange room—looked like a hospital.
The sky outside was dark—I must've woken at night.
Then I realized I was looking for Saka.
I didn't care about my injuries.
My body screamed at me not to move, to stay still—but I forced myself up.
I had to see if Saka was okay.
I left the room searching for him, found a nurse, and asked her…
And I wish…
I never had.
(End of Chapter 15)