Neon flickered to life as Harbor surrendered to night, the gym a beacon of clanging iron and camaraderie. Alex pored over the journal by lantern light—Vinny's words grew weirder: The fang bites first. Blood wakes slow. Metaphor for debts? Rico sparred with Scarface, laughter echoing, while Mrs. Patel's samosas fueled the crew. For a moment, it felt... right.Glass shattered. Black-clad figures swarmed through windows—six Vipers, Razor at the fore, jagged scar twisting his grin. Switchblades gleamed; one brandished a chain. "Kane! Harbor's snake territory now. Burn it down!"Chaos erupted. Scarface charged, taking a slash to the arm but flooring a Viper with a haymaker. Rico dove behind weights, hurling dumbbells like grenades. "Boss! Flank 'em!"Alex grabbed the nearest tool—a fire extinguisher. No guns, no glory—just survival. He blasted foam into Razor's eyes, blinding him mid-lunge. "Out! Now!" A Viper swung a chain; Alex ducked, tripping him into the ring ropes. Instinct surged—unnatural speed? He chalked it to adrenaline, slamming the foe with a precise extinguisher bash.Rico yelled, "Behind!" Alex spun, wrench in hand, parrying a blade. The journal tumbled open; a page glowed faintly? Blood wakes. Razor recovered, roaring: "You're dead, pretender!" Chain whipped—Alex caught it mid-air, yanking Razor into a headlock. "This ends. No more tags, no raids. Work it off here, like them."Razor spat. "Join the Vipers? Never!" But his crew faltered, bruised and foaming. Sirens wailed distant—Harbor cops, slow as ever.Lena Voss burst in then, phone recording. "Police scanner tipped me. Kane—defending or dominating?" Her eyes widened at the scene: Alex pinning Razor, unscathed amid wreckage."Defending," Alex grunted, releasing the leader. "Take your snakes and slither." Vipers fled, Razor shooting glares: "This ain't over, Shadow."Crew cheered as cops arrived—bribed or blind, they shrugged. "Settle your own, Kane." Lena cornered Alex amid cleanup. "That speed... not normal. Who are you?""Just lucky." But his hand tingled where the journal touched. Blood called.Across town, Razor dialed: "Draven. Kane's tougher than Vinny. Send backup."End of Chapter 5
