Hearing Jessica’s gentle words and quiet encouragement grounded him. Something in her voice brought him back. The storm inside began to calm.
His heart, which had been pounding like a drum moments ago, gradually returned to a steady rhythm.
The pressure in his chest began to be lightened itself.
He looked down at his hands, still stained with traces of blood, but now they were held tightly in Jessica’s grasp.
Her warmth reached through the cold that had settled over him, "Thank you," he said softly, his voice sincere.
His eyes that was once sharp and hardened from the fight grew softer.
He had nearly lost himself in that moment. The weight of taking a life, even in self-defense, wasn’t something easy to carry.
It wasn’t something you could just brush off. Not unless you were a psychopath. Since life wasn’t supposed to be .
From the ground, the tattooed man spat some saliva to the side.
"You kids sure are getting lovey-dovey right in front of me," he said, his voice rough but still laced with venom.
"Kid, I’ll give you credit for this since you’ve got talent. But if you end up dying here and now, then maybe that’s just fate."
"Men, go wrap this up," the tattooed man ordered.
"Use everything you’ve got. I don’t care what it takes, just take him down."
He paused, eyes shifting toward Jessica, and a twisted grin formed on his face.
"But be careful not to hurt the girl. She can be rated as high-quality goods."
Hearing that, Jessica’s stomach turned as wave of disgust washed over her. These men weren’t shaken by the sight of their own downed comrades at all.
They didn’t even mourn and flinch from it. They just smiled, carrying a coldness as if life meant nothing. It’s as if this was just another routine job.
All nine of the men rushed toward him, their steps heavy and full of intent. Some carried knives, others wielded brass knuckles fitted with sharp blades at the tip.
If those weapons landed, it wouldn’t just be bruises or broken bones. It would tear through flesh, rip muscle, and leave lasting damage.
Seeing the wave of danger closing in, Jeff reached out and pulled Jessica’s hand, drawing her close behind him.
He smiled not out of arrogance, but to reassure her. Jessica, who had once trembled with fear, now felt calm.
The terror that had clung to her since this nightmare began had vanished. All that remained was concern.
A great concern for Jeff because now, every one of those nine men was armed and ready to kill.
Jeff then faced this rushing man, first he dropped the knife in his hand since he doesn’t want to add more body counts in his hand.
One is enough for today, but that didn’t mean he would go easy on them.
If they wanted a fight, he would make sure they remembered it. Not with death, but with pain and the kind of lesson that would stay in their bones.
His eyes narrowed as the first five men charged straight towards him, their weapons raised high, ready to kill.
The first man came in fast, his knife raised high for a powerful overhead strike, aiming to bring Jeff down in a single blow.
Jeff didn’t flinch from it nor retreat, he’s eyes showed no fear and only calmness.
So instead of retreating he stepped forward by lowering his stance like Jakol.
Then with his right foot angled and planted he swayed under the blade and launched a palm strike upward in the man’s chin.
The impact snapped the man’s head back so violently, his neck cracked a bit creating a sickening sound as his eyes rolled out and with his legs giving up.
Because of that devastating strike the man collapsed instantly, both arms twitching as blood drooled from his open mouth. Google seaʀᴄh 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝔫𝔢𝔱
It was knocked out cold with just a single blow. Even though he decided to not kill but of course he would not show any mercy.
Since they had planned to kill him so he will help them engraved this to their minds.
The he heard a roar it was from the second one that is coming from his left side with a pair of brass knuckles glinting menacingly.
The man swung low, aiming for his ribs. Jeff who had gotten used from Jakol’s attack that always target his ribs his body reacted instinctively.
With a twist of his body in a serpentine grace thus letting the punch slide past him. Using that momentum, he pivoted behind the man and wrapped one arm around his neck in a tight choke.
With the help of his other hand, he grabbed the man’s wrist and yanked it down as he applies pressure.
A short gasp escaped the man’s lips before Jeff gave the limb a sudden twist. The man’s leg buckled, his eyes rolled back from the pain, and he collapsed limply like a sack of rice.
As this happened, the next man was already closing in, the knife in his hand raised and within striking range.
Jeff glanced at him, seeing no form or strategy in the attack. The man held the sharp knife with both hands, charging forward while screaming like a wild animal.
As the blade came down, Jeff sidestepped so precisely that even the fabric of his clothes came within inches of the passing edge.
After that, he drove his fist into the man’s throat. The knife fell with a sharp clang as the man choked violently from the impact.
He stumbled backward, but Jeff didn’t hesitate. Without a moment’s pause or mercy, he stepped in and slammed his knee into the man’s nose.
The cartilage cracked with a loud snap, and the man spun back from the force.
The man clutched his face while screaming, before collapsing to the ground in a mess of blood and sobs.
Who could withstand a fist that radiated pure power? With kinetic energy surging through his body, he had become someone as strong rather someone stronger than a special forces.
"Don’t let him catch his breath!" another voice shouted.
Seeing them rush in, the fourth and fifth attackers came almost at the same time, but Jeff focused on the fourth first.
The man tried a deceptive feint, but who was he kidding? With Jeff’s eyes that is glowing golden he saw through it instantly.
As the slash came from the right, Jeff caught his wrist mid-motion with ease.
Without delay, he unleashed a barrage of punches into the man’s torso one to the stomach, another to the ribs, and a third straight into the sternum.
The man collapsed to his knees, coughing violently. The fifth attacker froze for a brief moment, horrified by how effortlessly the young man had handled everything from the very start.
Fear gripped him, and he instinctively tried to back away. But the moment Jeff saw that hesitation, he lunged forward.
He grabbed the man’s shirt, pulling him close.
The attacker stared into Jeff’s young face that radiates calmness and complete emotionless. It was like looking at a machine, more like a robot programmed to feel nothing.
"Please, let me g..."
A bone-crunching sound echoed as the man didn’t even finish what he was about to say.
Because Jeff’s knee had already done the job. With brutal precision, it shattered the man’s nose in a spray of blood before flipping him over his shoulder.
The man crashed to the ground hard, it was dazed and breathless, unable to even scream.
Watching how the kid handled everything so smoothly sent a wave of fear through the others. Even the man with the tattoo began to frown.
It was all too easy. Every move the kid made, every strike he delivered, dropped a man instantly.
And it had all happened in under half a minute. Even he, a seasoned mercenary, couldn’t knock someone out that fast.
"You three, stop dawdling and kill the boy already!" he shouted loudly.
The three, whose legs trembled like they were staring down by a wolf, swallowed hard as they each gritted their teeth.
Even with the evidence right in front of them, they clung to the desperate hope that no one could keep fighting like that for long.
Though they hesitated at first, they forced themselves forward. The first one broke into a sprint, trying to psych himself up with a loud shout as he gripped his knife tightly.
His footwork was messy since it was too wide and too rushed. It was clear he was afraid of what was coming.
As he lunged clumsily while stabbing forward.
But Jeff easily dodged the thrust with a simple sidestep, leaning his upper body just enough.
Then, without wasting a moment, he drove a punishing sidekick straight into the man’s knee.
A loud snap echoed as the leg buckled inward unnaturally, forcing the attacker to scream and collapse to the ground.
Jeff pivoted smoothly and smashed his elbow into the man’s temple, silencing him instantly.
"You freaking idiot, is that how you hold a knife, let alone stab someone with it?" the man growled loudly.
1st: Special thanks to ’Essos👑’ – the GOAT of the month, for both the rewarding gifts and golden tickets! Much love, brotha!
2nd: Big thanks to ’Pat_funding👑’ for the unwavering support since the very start of my journey and for the golden tickets and gifts!
3rd: Special shoutout to ’Devon1234👑’ – The same GOAT of this month, for all the amazing gifts! You’re absolutely RAD!