Reckoning

The moment Luca charged, The Hunter reacted with terrifying speed. He sidestepped effortlessly, delivering a bone-crushing punch to Luca's ribs. The impact sent him skidding backward, pain flaring through his body.

Rayna, Vaughn, and Julian were working fast, breaking down the support beams one by one, but time was running out. If they didn't bring the warehouse down soon, The Hunter would finish them.

Luca coughed, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His vision blurred, but he forced himself to stand. He wouldn't go down—not yet.

The Hunter tilted his head. "You're persistent, I'll give you that." He flexed his fingers, energy crackling between them. "But persistence doesn't win wars. Power does."

Luca barely had time to brace himself before another blast of energy hurtled toward him.

He leaped to the side, rolling across the debris-covered floor, his mind racing. He couldn't overpower The Hunter—but he could outlast him.

Rayna shouted from across the room. "Almost there!"

Luca just needed to buy them a little more time.

With a deep breath, he sprinted forward, feinting left before twisting right. He caught The Hunter off guard for a split second—just long enough to drive his knee into the villain's gut.

The Hunter staggered, but his retaliation was instant. His fist slammed into Luca's jaw, sending him sprawling.

Luca tasted blood.

"Time's up," The Hunter murmured, standing over him. He raised his hand, energy swirling into a deadly vortex.

Luca barely managed to smile. "Actually… I think it's your time that's up."

A deafening crack echoed through the warehouse.

The support beams gave way.

The entire structure groaned, metal twisting and wood splintering as the ceiling began to collapse.

Rayna and Vaughn sprinted toward Luca, grabbing him just as the first section of the roof caved in.

The Hunter's eyes widened. He turned—too late. The weight of the collapsing structure bore down on him, cutting off his furious roar.

Dust and debris exploded outward, blinding them as they ran for the exit.

Luca's legs nearly gave out, but Rayna held him upright.

They stumbled outside just as the entire warehouse collapsed in on itself, a massive cloud of dust rising into the night sky.

Silence followed.

Then—Rayna exhaled a shaky breath. "Tell me that worked."

Luca stared at the smoldering wreckage. His entire body ached, but for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to hope.

The Hunter was gone.

Or so they thought.