Episode 5 – Brothers in Shadow

Ronin slid into his stance, katana steady, his glowing red eyes locked forward.

The man smiled.

“My name is Volvok.”

Before Ronin could respond, the floor darkened. A shadow rippled across the ground, slithering like liquid.

Ronin’s eyes widened for only a moment—then sharpened again. He steadied his breathing, body low, waiting.

SHHHT!

From the wall, Volvok burst forward, blade flashing red.

CLANG!

Ronin’s katana rose to meet it. Sparks erupted, scattering light across the hall.

Steel screamed as the two locked blades, evenly matched—for now.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Their movements blurred, perfect counters trading back and forth. But Ronin felt it—the weight of Volvok’s strikes was building, rattling through his arms, numbing his shoulders.

“Tch—” His eyes narrowed. Shit. This guy’s stronger than Ja… What kind of monster is he?

He twisted, deflecting a savage blow, and pushed off to create distance. Volvok only smiled, stepping forward, blade humming like it was alive.

⸻

Back on the roof.

Arkham’s phone buzzed. He raised it lazily to his ear.

“Where are the boys?” a cold voice demanded.

Arkham smirked. “Oh, Vladimir… you should be watchin’ this. It’s amazin’ what this boy Ja can do.”

Vladimir’s voice was flat.

“And the vessel?”

Arkham’s eye flickered, like he’d forgotten why he was even there. “Yeah… yeah, that’s right. Let me see.”

He peered through his scope—and grinned. Ronin and Volvok were clashing, sparks flying in the moonlight.

“Well, Vlad… I’ll call you back in a jiffy. Things might be gettin’ outta hand.”

He hung up without hesitation, sliding the phone away.

“You know, Marsa,” Arkham muttered, smoke curling from his cigar. “I’ve always hated Vladimir. Could take him out whenever I wanted… but he pays good.”

Marsa tilted her head, lollipop between her lips.

“So… are you gonna bring him those boys?”

Arkham chuckled low. “Nah. These boys deserve a chance.”

But as he watched, a voice from long ago echoed in his mind:

“You’re strong, Arkham… You can be a beacon of hope. You can stop the war… and save the world.”

Arkham’s jaw tightened, his eye glowing faint.

⸻

Back in the hall below.

Ja grinned, feeling Ronin’s presence above.

Don’t worry, Ronin… I’ll be there soon.

Another gust of wind roared from Diag, but Ja slipped through effortlessly, weaving like water. His precise movements only stoked Mordo’s rage.

The brolic man roared, fists flying.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Walls shattered under each wild swing, debris crashing everywhere.

CRACK!

One chunk struck Diag, blood streaking her face.

Jonathan—the ice wielder—trembled in place, gripping his blade. His breath shuddered, fear crawling through him. He felt it. Not just Ja’s monstrous presence, but something else. Ronin.

“Mordo’s going ballistic,” Diag hissed. “You have to activate it, Jonathan.”

“I… I can’t! I’ll kill innocent people—maybe even you!”

Diag’s nails dug into his arm, blood dripping from her temple.

“Do it.”

Jonathan’s hands rose, crossing into an X. His whisper shook.

“First Wall… Ice of the Fallen Mountain.”

RUMBLE.

Frost spread across the floor, racing up the walls, reaching for Ja and Mordo both. The air turned suffocating cold.

Then—

SHHHK!

Something tore through the window at blinding speed.

THWACK!

Jonathan screamed, clutching his eye as blood poured down his face. The creeping frost shattered, his wall deactivating instantly.

Diag dropped to his side, panic rising—

But Ja was already there, a devious smile cutting across his lips as he lunged.

BOOM!

An ice blast exploded from Jonathan’s trembling hands, striking Ja square in the chest and blasting him through a wall. He crashed into another apartment, coughing, struggling for air.

THUMP. THUMP.

Ja pounded his chest twice, forcing breath back into his lungs, before pushing to his feet.

Jonathan groaned, hands shaking as he pulled the object from his ruined eye. Blood streaked down his face as he covered it, writhing.

Diag bent low, her hand brushing against the object on the floor.

She froze.

Her eyes widened, blood dripping from her chin.

“…A lollipop stick?!”