Vigilance Corps

Leo begins to steel his resolve as he prepares to face off against indomitable foes, desperate to serve justice within this lawless dimension. His heart pounding with determination, his body tensing up with anticipation, and his mind focused with confidence. As he leaves for Germany, Leo could sense hostility among everyone, as the whole country believed him to lay dead deep underground. With enemies revolving around his existence, Leo had to find a safe path leading him straight to his destination. He reaches towards his phone and frantically dials for Akane, hoping she can provide him with a way out of this dangerous situation. As he eagerly anticipates Akane's response, Leo had already devised his exit from the States.

Everything Leo needed was now in his possession: a forged passport and a plane ticket to Paris, where he would meet Akane. He packed up everything and headed for the airport.

During his time on the flight, Leo's mind was constantly orchestrating attack patterns, strategies, and possible threats from his upcoming battle. As he landed in Paris, Akane was before him, waiting reluctantly for his arrival. As they exchanged greetings, she noticed the determined look in Leo's eyes. She wondered if this confidence was foolishness as she briefed him about his route to Germany. "You'll meet a contact named Klaus at the border," Akane said, concern evident in her voice. "He'll take you directly to Stuttgart by train. Once that happens, you're on your own. "Does he have the stuff I asked for?" Leo asked with a hint of excitement. Akane signalled, indicating that the conversation should be kept quiet. Akane nodded and whispered, "Yes, he does." Leo left with abundant esteem and anticipation. With his AirPods plugged in, Leo stepped out into the bustling city streets, his favourite music playing in his ears. He felt a surge of energy as he immersed himself in the vibrant atmosphere.

All this came crashing down as he noticed a familiar face in the crowd. Alec Fernandes stood just about 12 feet away, his eyes locked on him with an expression of sheer shock. His confidence plummeted to the ground, leaving him feeling exposed and vulnerable. He felt something brush against his back, sending a shiver down his spine. As he turned around, he was warned in a foreign language. "Halt den Mund und beweg dich, wie ich sage," said the voice threatening him with a gun pointed at his back. Leo began to assess the situation: Alec Fernandes wasn't there anymore; a mysterious man was threatening him in German, while others enjoyed the sights in Paris. He knew straight away that the man was none other than Fernandes himself. But when did he move? Leo continued as the man directed him, until they reached a back alley with a door indicating in French, "Accès réservé au personnel." The man removed the gun from Leo's back and pointed it at his head. He threw a deadly punch, which swung at Leo's face, knocking him unconscious. As Leo woke up, he found Alec Fernandes once again before him.

With music still playing in his ears, Leo read Fernandes' lips to process his words. His hands were chained, and his legs were tied. Leo knew that he had the strength to break away from the shackles, but he waited for the right moment.

"Leo Martinez." Fernandes spoke in a carefree manner, "Age 23, died on the 26th of August 2021, in a shootout between an unknown group of individuals. Manhattan's most wanted criminal, with a bounty of twenty three million dollars. How do you still breathe?" Although Fernandes' voice was inaudible, it still sent chills down Leo's spine. "Fake death." Leo replied in German. "Who do you work for, Martinez?" Fernandes wasn't carefree anymore; his expression changed completely, which implicated his seriousness. "In the past few months, we found you digging up information about Arcane and its origins. I admit that it was impressive that you weren't stupid enough to go for Petrov, like the others. This proves that you must work for some organisation that is into illegal businesses and knows how Arcane operates. So Martinez, who do you work for?".

"NOVA," Leo said, utterly self-assured and confident, a far cry from the uncertainty and dread he had experienced up to that point. "National Organisation of Vigilance Associates." The name struck Fernandes with such force that it caused him to hold himself still from the shock. "NOVA? That group was massacred four years ago by the Aries. It still exists?" Fernandes was shaken with utter disbelief. He reached for his phone as he attempted to dial a number.

Leo seized his chance as he broke free of the chains, tearing them apart. He took out the knife hidden beneath his sleeve and stabbed Fernandes in the gut. Leo's muscles tensed as he lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. The steel met flesh with a sickening thud as Alec Fernandes staggered back, clutching his gut in agony. With a guttural grunt, Fernandes dropped to his knees, his breath coming in ragged gasps as blood seeped through his fingers. But despite the searing pain, Fernandes refused to yield. With a defiant roar, he pushed himself upright, his eyes blazing with primal fury. Leo braced himself for the onslaught, his senses honed to a razor's edge as he prepared to face his relentless adversary.

The air crackled with tension as the two men circled each other, each searching for an opening in the other's defences. Then, in a blur of motion, Fernandes launched himself forward, his fists flying with blinding speed. Leo met each blow with calculated precision, blocking and dodging with the reflexes of a seasoned warrior. A vicious exchange ensued, with the sound of flesh meeting flesh reverberating through the air as Leo and Fernandes traded blows with unrelenting ferocity. Leo's movements were fluid and graceful, his strikes landing with deadly accuracy as he sought to gain the upper hand.

But Fernandes was no ordinary opponent. With a savage roar, he unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks, each one infused with a natural strength that seemed to defy human limits. Leo fought with all his might, his body aching with exertion as he struggled to keep pace with Fernandes' relentless assault. Then, in a moment of desperation, Leo saw his opening. With a swift feint, he sidestepped Fernandes' attack and delivered a devastating blow to his opponent's jaw. Fernandes staggered back, his eyes glazed with pain, but still he refused to relent.

With a primal roar, Fernandes charged forward once more, his movements fueled by sheer determination. Leo met him head-on, their bodies colliding with bone-jarring force as they grappled in a deadly dance of combat.

For what seemed like an eternity, the two men fought with a ferocity born of desperation and survival. Each blow landed with bone-crunching impact, and each kick and knee slide were a testament to their unyielding resolve. But in the end, it was Leo who emerged victorious. With a final, decisive blow, he delivered a crushing blow to Fernandes' temple, sending him crashing to the ground in a heap. As the echoes of their battle faded into the night, Leo stood victorious, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he surveyed the aftermath of their brutal confrontation. Blood rushed through his feet as Fernandes lay dead, bleeding an ocean.

Leo struggled his way to Fernandes' body as he reached for the dead man's phone. He noticed right away that Fernandes was seeking to call a man named João Rafael. He saw a photograph portraying Rafael's face. Short silver hair with pitch black eyes resembling an empty abyss.

With adrenaline from the battle still coursing through his veins, Leo quickly scrolled through Fernandes' phone to find any other clues about their mysterious relationship. What other secrets could be hidden in those messages and contacts?

Leo had to choose when the sirens shattered the silence of the evening. He sterilised the knife with alcohol before discarding it and covering up the aftermath of the exchange by hiding Fernandes' body in a container. With another victory under his belt, Leo left the scene with his thoughts fixed on future confrontations and new encounters as he started formulating new strategies.