aOS v.2.8

The tension crackled in the air as Victor stood before Alex and Jin, flanked by ten of his men, each one sizing up the situation. The smug confidence that had defined Victor's demeanor moments ago had morphed into an icy glare aimed directly at Alex. Kofi's voice buzzed in Alex's ear, a sharp contrast to the seriousness of the moment.

"Time to show this prick what you've got!" Kofi cheered, his tone a mix of encouragement and mischief.

Jin leaned in close to Alex, his voice low but urgent. "Make it quick. We don't want to drag this out."

—---

The memories flooded back to Alex—the countless hours of training with Master Kenjiro. He remembered the sweat-soaked dojo, the relentless drills, and the harsh but valuable lessons. He could still hear the Master's voice echoing in his head. "Precision is your greatest ally."

Alex stood in the dojo, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he faced Jin. Kenjiro's voice rang in his ears, urging him to harness the speed he had been cultivating.

With lightning reflexes, Alex executed a series of rapid slaps, striking Jin four times in quick succession. Each slap connected before Jin even had a chance to react, leaving him momentarily stunned as the sting registered on his skin.

"What the—?" Jin exclaimed, blinking in disbelief as he turned to face Alex, who was now grinning at his friend's surprise. "When did you get so fast?"

"I've been practicing," Alex replied, his heart racing with excitement. It was all thanks to Kofi's assistance—his heightened reflexes. 

—---

Back to the present, the urgency of the moment brought Alex back to reality. He looked over at Kofi, who was bouncing with enthusiasm on his digital screen. "I don't need your help right now," he replied, determination hardening his voice while removing his AeroPodz from his ears.

Jin whispered just loud enough for Alex to hear, "Don't stain your hands with Victor's blood, got it?"

With a nod, Alex stepped forward casually closing the distance between himself and Victor. The room was thick with anticipation as Victor sneered, preparing for the punch he thought would land. But in a blink, Alex moved.

In a blur of motion, Victor found himself on the ground, the air knocked from his lungs as pain shot through him. 

Alex may have needed Kofi's superhuman reflex against Jin during their training, but that's just because Jin himself is superhuman. Alex has mastered the art of speed Master Kenjiro has drilled in his for the past 3 ye

The shock registered on the faces of his guards, their eyes wide as they struggled to comprehend how their boss had fallen so quickly.

"Didn't see that coming, did you?" Kofi shouted, a triumphant laugh echoing in Alex's ear.

The ten guards snapped back to reality, their expressions shifting from disbelief to anger. They charged toward Alex, ready to avenge their boss.

But Jin stepped in front of Alex, a fierce look on his face. "I'll take care of this, partner," he declared, raising his fists and taking a defensive stance.

Without a moment's hesitation, the guards lunged at Jin, who moved with a fluidity that left Alex in awe. He ducked and dodged, countering each attack with precision, his skills evident in every move.

Alex felt a surge of adrenaline, but he kept his focus on Victor, who was still writhing on the ground, trying to regain his composure. "You thought you could bully me, didn't you?" Alex taunted, stepping closer.

Victor glared up at him, the color draining from his face. "You think this is over?" he spat, struggling to push himself off the ground. "You have no idea who you're dealing with."

"Oh, I think I do," Alex shot back, his confidence growing with each passing second. "You're nothing but a coward hiding behind your goons."

Victor's eyes flared with rage, but before he could respond, Jin's voice cut through the chaos. "Focus, Alex! Don't let him get to you!"

With a deep breath, Alex focused on the fight ahead, ready to deliver the final blow that would put an end to Victor's reign of terror once and for all.

With Victor still reeling on the ground, Alex felt a surge of confidence. It was the perfect moment to reach out to Claire. He quickly pulled up his digital screen, hiding the display from prying eyes, and tapped into his contacts. As the call connected, he kept his brick phone raised to his ear, a façade that would throw off anyone watching.

The familiar sound of ringing filled his ear until Claire's voice broke through. "Alex? Is that you?"

"Claire, listen to me," Alex said, urgency threading through his tone. "I have information about Victor Devereux. If you want to nail him, I can give you the address where you can find him. The authorities need to pick him up now."

There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end. "Wait, what? You're serious? Where—"

But before she could finish her sentence, Alex cut the call short, ending it before she could respond. He lowered the brick phone with a smirk, feeling a rush of exhilaration.

"Let's see how Victor likes being on the other end of the law," he muttered to himself, glancing at Jin, who was still fending off the advancing guards.

As the chaos unfolded, a figure emerged from the shadows of the casino. A woman approached, her sophisticated beauty and poised demeanor turning heads as she moved gracefully through the crowd. Her designer outfit hugged her form perfectly, and her presence commanded attention.

"Mr. Alex Han and Mr. Jin Mazuka?" she inquired, her voice smooth yet authoritative.

Jin straightened, nodding slightly. "That's us," he replied, his tone calm but alert.

The woman smiled, a calculated glint in her eyes. "My boss wants to talk to you. If you'd come with me, I assure you it'll be worth your while."

Alex narrowed his eyes, sizing her up. "And who exactly is your boss?"

Jin cut in before she could answer. "I have a feeling I know who he is. We should go, Alex."

The woman's smile widened, revealing an air of confidence. "Let's just say my boss has a vested interest in your future," she replied, tilting her head slightly. "And he's not the type you want to refuse."

Alex exchanged a look with Jin, who nodded reassuringly. He trusted Jin's instincts—this was likely the man their Master wanted them to meet.

"Alright," Alex finally said, taking a step forward. "We'll hear what your boss has to say. But if this is a setup, you'll regret it."

The woman's expression remained calm, as if she had anticipated his response. "Good choice. Follow me."

With that, she turned on her heel, leading Alex and Jin deeper into the casino, toward an uncertain future—and perhaps the answers they both sought.