Story 675: A Soldier’s Resolve

The air between them was thick with tension.

Sergeant Darius "Hellhound" Rook stood his ground atop the wreckage, his sniper rifle aimed at General Viktor "Bloodfang" Kruger. The muzzle still smoked from the last shot—a warning.

But Kruger didn’t take warnings.

He took lives.

Below, Eva "Black Widow" Morales coughed, trying to push herself up from the rubble. The bruises on her ribs throbbed with each breath. She wasn’t out of this fight yet—but she wouldn’t last long without backup.

Kruger rolled his shoulder, the wound from Rook’s bullet already closing. He turned his gaze up to his former right-hand man. Red eyes burning.

"You really want to do this, Rook?" His voice was low, edged with amusement. "You and I both know you don’t have the firepower to stop me."

Rook didn’t flinch. "Maybe not." He chambered another round. "But I can sure as hell slow you down."

Kruger grinned.

"Then let’s see you try."

The First Shot

Rook pulled the trigger.

BANG.