The Great Slum Brawl

"Huuuuuhhhhhh!!"

The synchronized shout of Joshua, Lancelot, Justin, and Luke pierced through the chaotic music of The Dance as they stared at their accidental dance partners in horror.

Lancelot didn't hesitate, his fist swung in a fiery arc, smashing into Luke's jaw and sending him stumbling into a crowd of dancers. Bodies knocked into bodies. Chaos erupted. Luke growled and lunged back at Lancelot, fists swinging.

Justin's eyes snapped to Joshua. "You son of a...!"

His fist slammed into Joshua's face, sending him crashing into more dancers. The ripple effect was instantaneous. Pushed, shoved, and enraged, the crowd ignited like a powder keg. Punches flew, chairs were overturned, and someone screamed in excitement rather than fear.

On stage, the band saw what was happening. With a wild grin, the drummer switched to a brutal, pounding rhythm.

Fight music.

Raphael pointed a trembling, accusing finger at Zain. "You're the one who scared Julia!"

A wooden bowl sailed through the air. Zain ducked. The bowl crashed into a burly vampire seated behind him.

The vampire stood slowly, his fangs bared.

"Whoa, whoa, wait...!" Zain started, but Raphael's fist cut him off. It cracked across Zain's jaw, sending him spinning.

The vampire roared and lunged for Raphael, only to get drop-kicked in the face by Jack.

"NOT TODAY, FANG BOY!" Jack bellowed, landing in a crouch. Bodies flew into motion. The bar exploded into its own mini warzone.

Jack climbed up on the bar counter, dual beer mugs in hand.

"LET'S GOOOOO! BAR BRAWWWWLLLLL!!!"

Before he could down his drink, a stranger speared him clean off the counter. They crashed into a table, wood splinters and beer flying everywhere.

Zain and Raphael rolled on the floor, slugging it out like two drunken warriors from an ancient legend. No blocks. No dodges. Just pure, gritty, bloody punches.

Raphael's fist.

Zain's jaw.

Zain's fist.

Raphael's nose.

Blood stained the floor like spilled wine.

On the dance floor, Joshua was held back by a mob of random brawlers as fists pummeled him. He snarled, muscles bulging, and exploded out of their grip, knocking them out with precision.

He turned and saw Justin doing the same.

They locked eyes.

And ran.

Their fists met faces, alternating strikes, no defense, just raw rage. Blood speckled the air around them like red mist. Neither yielded.

Lancelot and Luke mirrored them nearby, bruised, cut, and grinning like gladiators. A massive werewolf warrior, at least seven feet tall, barged into their fight. He lifted both by the necks, choking them mid-air.

Struggling for breath, the two enemies exchanged a glance… and a smile.

Together, they punched the giant square in the nose. Blood gushed, but the beast held on.

Their legs cocked back, then shot forward together.

WHAM!

Right in the crown jewels.

The werewolf dropped them, groaning in agony.

The two warriors didn't stop.

Crack! Leg kicks to the thighs.

CRACK! Hooks to both temples.

The beast dropped like a mountain.

Lancelot and Luke bumped shoulders, grinning.

Then went right back to punching each other.

Meanwhile, Jack was in his element, his eyes blazing with battle-lust, a grin plastered across his face.

He grabbed a mug and smashed it against a man's head.

He leap-kneed a werewolf and a vampire simultaneously, sending them both flying.

He landed on a table and drank two beers in victory.

"IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?!"

A dozen people swarmed him.

Jack laughed maniacally.

He low-kicked one, kneed another, blocked three punches, countered with thunderous hooks. A small mountain of unconscious bodies began forming around him.

"LET'S PARTYYYYY!!"

He shouted through laughter, taking on all challengers like a whirlwind of destruction.

Zain and Raphael, swollen and gasping, traded final haymakers. Their fists connected simultaneously.

THWACK.

They dropped together, unconscious, bloodied, and somehow smiling.

Joshua and Justin were locked in a violent embrace, one hand gripping each other's collars, the other delivering brutal elbows to the face. Blood sprayed with every impact.

Final elbow.

Double impact.

They both collapsed.

Lancelot and Luke were staggering now, their arms barely able to rise.

Then, simultaneous roundhouse kicks.

Their legs collided with each other's heads.

CRACK.

They dropped, mirror images, knocked clean out.

Only Jack remained standing, battered but still hungry. One last opponent approached, the towering werewolf warrior from before.

They locked eyes.

Jack charged.

He leapt, aiming a flying knee to the face.

The werewolf caught him in mid-air and locked him in a bear hug, crushing his ribs.

"Urghhh, damn, you're strong," Jack grunted.

He headbutted the werewolf. Once. Twice. Again and again until the werewolf's face was covered in blood. He dropped to one knee, dazed but not defeated.

Jack backed up. Then ran.

He leapt.

Flying knee, direct to the face.

The werewolf flew backward, crashing into the band's instruments. The music stopped. The band scattered in fear.

Silence fell.

Everyone was unconscious, except Jack.

He looked around the wrecked dance hall. Blood. Glass. Broken chairs. Knocked-out witches, vampires, humans, and werewolves scattered like confetti.

Then he spotted a fallen man's pack of cigarettes and a box of matches.

Jack lit one up, placing it between his lips like an action movie hero. He took a drag, exhaled…

And immediately started coughing.

"Koff koff, ugh. Smoking is crap... but damn, it looks cool."

He tossed the cigarette and matches aside.

Jack stood alone, victorious, amidst the wreckage. Then, with a grunt, he began gathering the unconscious bodies of his friends and enemies.

Justin over one shoulder.

Raphael over the other.

Zain and Luke dragging in each hand.

Joshua and Lancelot slung on top like sacks of potatoes.

Groaning under the weight, Jack trudged out of The Dance like a war-torn hero, dragging a trail of legends behind him.

The slum's greatest bar brawl was over.

And Jack was the last man standing.