Chapter 24 – Reunion with the Shadows

"HARRY!!!" Vinícius's scream echoed through the rubble of the collapsed tunnel.

Rafael placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to offer comfort.

"He might still be alive…" he said, more to himself than to Vinícius. "He said he'd find another way out."

Vinícius remained kneeling on the ground, vacant expression, his eyes fixed on the buried entrance.

Then, the sound of slow clapping cut through the silence.

Both turned, alert. From the nearby darkness emerged Razor, Alexander, and a man in a dark suit with a cold, superior gaze.

Rafael immediately took a defensive stance. His Qi was nearly depleted, but his instincts were sharp. He had just come through a battle of life and death.

Vinícius gritted his teeth at the sight of the familiar faces.

"You again!? Get out of here!" he shouted, overwhelmed with rage.

Razor kept clapping, a mocking smile on his lips.

"What a shame… Looks like the brat died before I could get my revenge. Disappointing."

"He's not dead!" Vinícius growled.

Rafael gripped his shoulder and gently pulled him aside. The two aligned, fully aware of how desperate their situation was.

From the distant shadows, a pair of eyes silently watched the scene.

Razor stepped forward, taunting:

"Alexander, go play with your little old friend. This half-baked boxer is mine."

Alexander and Razor charged.

Rafael, though exhausted, didn't hesitate. Now at the First Level of the Qi Refinement Realm, his body had evolved. He moved with precision and speed. A clean punch to Razor's jaw, followed by a waist spin and a kick to the head, sent the enemy crashing face-first into the concrete.

Vinícius dashed toward Alexander and, without hesitation, joined both fists and struck the rival in the chest. The impact launched him back, spitting blood as he slammed into a wall.

The man in the suit, silent until now, watched with a curious expression.

"Two Silver Rank cultivators of the Inner Realm... Hm. I expected more," Bruno Kovach muttered.

In the blink of an eye, he vanished.

He reappeared next to Vinícius, who barely had time to react before being struck in the stomach. The blow slammed him into the wall violently, knocking the air from his lungs and nearly making him faint.

Bruno vanished again and appeared before Rafael. The young man tried to dodge and managed to avoid the first strike, but the second came like lightning — right into his rib. Rafael stumbled back, feeling a deep, shaking pain.

Bruno smiled, channeling Qi into his hand, which began to glow a bright, blood-red.

"Your body's tough… but is that all?" he mocked. "We only need one of you. The other... can die."

He charged with a flaming fist.

Rafael clenched his teeth, bracing for impact — but before the punch landed, a sudden light flared behind Bruno.

Someone had appeared out of nowhere, striking the man in the back.

Bruno spun around with incredible speed, ready to counter — but all he saw was golden dust scattering in the air, blinding him for a brief moment.

"Damn you...!" he growled.

When his vision cleared, Rafael and Vinícius were gone.

Bruno roared in fury:

"YOU WON'T ESCAPE, YOU MISERABLE BRATS!"

Two blocks away, a hooded figure ran through the shadows, panting. On one shoulder, he carried an unconscious Rafael. With the other arm, he held Vinícius, still semi-conscious.

It was the mysterious supernatural man who had appeared weeks ago. With determination in his eyes, he vanished once more into the night.