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Whispers rippled through the crowd as the two men stalked forward into the center of the fighting circle. Khalani’s green eyes flared when she recognized them. It was the same two prisoners who guarded the shower doors while she was attacked.

“Are you sure you want to fight us both?” one of the men laughed. “You can’t catch us unaware this time and we won’t hold back.”

The corner of Takeshi’s lips lifted, but his black eyes burned with a promise of violent retribution.

“That’s what I’m counting on.”

Khalani squeezed to the front of the crowd as the two men flanked him, moving in opposite directions. Takeshi remainedpreternaturally still, arms held loose by his side, waiting for the attack.

With a grunt, both men launched forward, simultaneously throwing punches at either side of Takeshi’s face.

He ducked so fast she barely caught the movement. He put one hand on the ground, swung his leg around, and knocked one guy off his feet.

At the same time, Takeshi twisted and punched the other man in the sternum, sending him stumbling back into the crowd, clutching his chest as if he’d been hit by a sledgehammer.

The first man shot back up, amusement completely wiped off his face. He held up his fists, dancing on his feet, and sprang forward. Takeshi dipped and dodged each punch aimed at him, anticipating every movement.

Takeshi moved like water, effortlessly and without restraint. His expression was a blank canvas, eerily calm as he faced his opponents, but the depth of fury in his eyes betrayed the thin control slipping away.

The other guy was still struggling to breathe as the prisoner fighting Takeshi was starting to labor in his movements. The wide punches grew increasingly desperate as none of the hits managed to meet their target.

Takeshi, on the other hand, didn’t slow. Didn’t lift his fists. Almost like he was toying with him. Making it last a little longer.

The prisoner growled when he realized the same thing and snarled, “I wish I was the one to fuck your little bitch in the showers.”

Khalani’s breath hitched.

Her gaze cut straight to Takeshi, whose cool demeanor shattered. He lowered his head, upper lip curling. His eyes didn’t flare with vengeance.

They were outlined in pure annihilation.

When the prisoner swung again, Takeshi caught his fist just inches from his face. The man barely had time to register the shock before Takeshi struck him directly in the jaw.

The prisoner’s head flew back, and in the next instant, Takeshi wrapped his arm around the prisoner’s elbow, bending his fingers back until they touched his forearm in the shape of a rainbow she’d once witnessed in Genesis.

With a loud crack, Takeshi snapped the man’s arm.

The man let out a terrible scream as he fell to the ground, cradling his elbow that was facing the wrong direction, tears streaming down his face.

Multiple prisoners around her covered their mouths, their faces scrunching in horror at the brutal sight.

But Khalani swallowed, refusing to look away.

Takeshi stepped over the man cowering beneath him, mumbling for mercy. Judging by the bloodthirsty expression on Takeshi’s face, there would be none.

But the second burly prisoner recovered and wrapped his arms around Takeshi, lifting him off his feet.

Takeshi threw his weight forward, flipping the man over his head, sending him crashing to the ground next to his wailing friend.

The man’s eyes widened just before Takeshi slammed his foot between his legs. The prisoner’s face went purple before he screamed.

But Takeshi wasn’t finished. He lowered himself to the ground, bracing his left hand on the prisoner’s shoulder and began to rain down punches with his right fist, each blow stronger than the last.

No one moved.

Everyone seemed frozen in awe. Khalani’s chest lifted in rapid breaths as splatters of blood flew onto Takeshi’s cold face.

“In another life, I think I would’ve simply enjoyed painting.”