CHAPTER 6: RESCUE AND GUILT

The Ritual of Blood

In the dark depths of the forest, Akira and Denzuo were tied to separate trees, bruised and unconscious. The moonlight flickered through the branches above. Laughter echoed in the night.

The two strangers—Yuuji and Riku—tightened the last knots on the ropes.

"Jackpot," Yuuji smirked, brushing dust off his hands. "Didn't expect it to be this easy."

Riku chuckled darkly. "Two dumb school boys… and here we are, making our way into the gang with a gift."

"They'll love this. Blood on our fists, two bodies for the master. That's how we earn respect," Yuuji added, slipping brass knuckles onto his hand.

"Funny," Riku said, spinning a set of metal rings around his fingers. "We haven't even met the boss yet, and we're already getting our hands dirty."

Akira groaned. His head rolled forward. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open.

"Wh… what…?" he mumbled, trying to focus. "Where… am I…?"

Denzuo stirred beside him. "Ugh… my head… hurts like hell…"

Akira's blurry gaze focused on the two figures standing before him. "Who are you…?"

Denzuo blinked at them. "W-What the hell is this? Why are we tied up?!"

The strangers only grinned.

Then—CRACK.

A brass-knuckled punch smashed into Akira's face. Blood sprayed from his lip.

"AKIRA!" Denzuo screamed, struggling violently against the ropes. "NO! STOP! WHAT THE HELL?!"

Riku turned and drove a brutal punch into Denzuo's stomach.

"Shut up already," he growled.

Akira, spitting blood, managed to lift his head. "W-Why… are you doing this?! What did we do?!"

Yuuji just laughed. "You trusted the wrong people. That's what you did."

More blows followed—fists colliding with ribs, cheeks, shoulders. Blood splattered onto the forest floor.

Akira's voice faded. "P-Please… stop…"

Denzuo's vision began to blur again. "Damn it… I can't… see…"

Suddenly, **a high-pitched scream** echoed across the forest. Akira's head weakly turned.

He saw a blur.

Then—silence.

Shadows Strike

Yuuji gasped, grabbing his hip as blood spurted from a sudden gunshot wound. Riku fell to the ground, howling as a slash tore through his abdomen.

They hadn't even seen them coming.

Brixton sheathed his knife as he landed silently from a branch above. Shaun lowered his smoking gun with cold precision.

Bryan leaned casually against a nearby tree, arms crossed.

"Nice," he said, clapping slowly. "That was fast. Didn't even give 'em time to blink."

Brixton scoffed. "They were mice. Easy prey."

Shaun smirked but said nothing, already moving to untie the boys.

Bryan stepped toward the whimpering strangers, crouching down. "Talk."

One of them groaned. "We… we're just new… we don't know anything…"

"The name," Bryan snapped. "Of the gang. Who sent you?"

"B-Blood Pawn," one stammered. "That's all we know, I swear…"

Bryan stood, sighing. "Great. Looks like I've got homework."

Return to Black X Headquarters

The boys were rushed to a secured room inside the Black X hideout. A man with a white coat and a hard stare followed quickly behind.

Dr. Xiao, a half-Chinese immigrant and former underground medic, now served as the unofficial doctor of Black X.

Bryan, Shaun, and Brixton, still smeared with blood, headed straight to the boss's quarters.

Zedd waited inside, his fingers steepled under his chin.

"Report."

Bryan stepped forward. "They were about to be executed in the woods. We took them down before the final blow."

Shaun added, "Too close. Akira was barely conscious."

"The attackers were part of a gang calling themselves Blood Pawn," Bryan said. "A new name. Didn't seem like they even met their boss yet. Just wannabes proving themselves."

Zedd's eyes narrowed. "Blood Pawn… Never heard of it."

He stood slowly, voice cold and commanding. "Find out everything about them. Origins. Base. Members. Alliances. I want that name erased before it spreads."

Shaun and Brixton saluted. "Yes, Boss."

"We'll change first," Brixton added, looking down at the blood on his shirt.

Zedd nodded, dismissing them.

Bryan remained standing awkwardly, unsure if he was dismissed or not.

Zedd (without turning around): "Bryan. You got something else to say?"

Bryan (nodding): "Yeah. It's about Akira."

Zedd turned slightly, one brow raised.

Zedd: "Go on."

Bryan: "I'm convinced. He's got nothing to do with Ground Zero. Not even close. Maybe his brother—Izumi—was involved back then, but Akira? No way. He's clean."

Zedd: "How sure are you?"

Bryan (firmly): "C'mon. What kind of brother drags his own blood into the underworld? Izumi may have been a lot of things, but he wouldn't do that. And you should've seen Akira and his friend after that beating... If they were linked to Ground Zero, their people would've swarmed that forest before we even got there. You know how fast they move. Well—not faster than us, but still." (he added with a weak chuckle)

Zedd didn't laugh. He stared into the distance, Bryan's words settling in.

It confirmed what he already suspected—Akira wasn't part of this mess. He was just an unfortunate bystander, tangled in shadows he never chose. A bitter pinch of guilt pulled at Zedd's chest. How many times had he doubted the kid? Watched him like prey, searched his background like he was a threat?

Zedd brought a hand to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Zedd (quietly): "You're right."

Bryan (half-joking): "Besides, I'm done spying on the poor guy. It's been messing with my studies. And seriously? You always stick me with the most boring assignments!" (he pouted, arms crossed)

Zedd gave him a look.

Bryan (leaning in with a grin): "Sooo... mission accomplished?"

Zedd: "Fine."

Bryan (stretching like he'd just been freed from prison): "Finally! Back to the squad! My buddies Shaun and Brix! My usual ten hours of sleep!" (he beamed like a kid who'd just convinced his mom to buy candy)

Zeddn(waving him off): "Do whatever you want."

Bryan (cheerfully): "Thanks, Boss! I'm out!"

Zedd let out a long, quiet sigh once Bryan was gone—half in relief, half in something heavier.

Doctor's Report

Several hours passed.

Dr. Xiao stepped out of the recovery room, removing his gloves. He walked straight to Zedd, who was waiting outside.

"They'll live," he said. "But they need serious rest. No heavy movement for at least two weeks. Bruised ribs, fractures, internal swelling… lucky they were brought in alive."

He offered a rare smirk. "I did my job. No need to worry, kid."

Zedd nodded. "Good."

"Also," Xiao added, glancing over his clipboard, "you might want to keep them under watch. If that gang went this far for some initiation ritual, there's more coming."

Zedd's voice turned sharp. "I already have guards posted. No one comes near that door unless I say so."

He looked down the hallway toward the room.

"And when they wake up... I want to be the first to know."