Joel had his focus on Rook as the two faced each other head-on. The massive mercenary loomed over him, his fists the size of Joel’s head and his muscles rippling with raw power. Rook cracked his knuckles, a feral grin spreading across his face.

  Rook roared, charging at Joel like a freight train. Joel braced himself, his super strength flaring as he met Rook head-on. Their fists collided with a thunderous crash, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the ground. Joel skidded back, his boots digging into the pavement, but he didn’t falter.

  “Ugh” Joel groaned.

  Rook growled, swinging a massive fist at Joel’s head. Joel ducked, the punch narrowly missing him and slamming into a nearby car. The vehicle crumpled like paper, its alarm blaring as Rook pulled his fist free.

  Joel didn’t waste the opportunity. He lunged forward, landing a series of rapid punches to Rook’s body. He grunted, but the blows barely seemed to faze him. Rook retaliated with a sweeping kick, the force sending Joel flying into a tree. The wood bent under the impact, and Joel groaned as he hit the ground.

  “You’re strong,” Rook said, his voice mocking. “But not strong enough.”

  Joel pushed himself to his feet, his eyes narrowing. “Lets try something different from,”

  Rook charged again, his fists raised. But this time, Joel was ready. He sidestepped at the last second, Rook’s momentum carrying him straight into a brick wall. The wall crumbled under the impact, and Joel didn’t hesitate. He leaped onto Rook’s back, wrapping his arms around his neck in a chokehold.

  Rook roared, thrashing wildly as he tried to shake Joel off. But Joel held on, his grip tightening.

  Rook slammed backward into a building, the force knocking Joel loose. Joel hit the ground hard, but he rolled to his feet, his sonic scream already building in his chest. Rook charged again, but Joel unleashed the scream, the sound of waves slamming into Rook like a battering ram.

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  He staggered back, his hands clutching his ears as the sonic assault overwhelmed him. Joel didn’t let up, the scream growing louder and more intense. Windows shattered, cars alarms blared, and Rook roared in frustration as he struggled to stay on his feet.

  Finally, Joel stopped, his breathing heavy but his expression determined. Rook glared at him, his fists clenched. “I’m going to crush you.”

  Joel smirked. “Do it then”

  Rook charged again, but Joel was ready. He ducked under the massive fist, his movements precise and calculated. He landed a solid punch to Rook’s knee, the joint buckling under the force. Rook stumbled, and Joel followed up with a spinning kick to his chest, the impact sending him crashing into a Double-Decker bus.

  The bus crumpled under Rook’s weight; the alarm blaring as he struggled to his feet. Joel didn’t give him a chance to recover. He grabbed a nearby lamppost, ripping it from the ground with his super strength. With a roar, he swung it like a bat, the metal pole slamming into Rook’s side and sending him flying into a building.

  The wall collapsed, rubble raining down as Rook groaned, his massive frame buried under the debris. Joel stood panting, his fists clenched and his sonic scream still humming in his chest.

  But Rook wasn’t done. He pushed himself to his feet, his expression one of rage. “You’re gonna pay for that, kid.”

  Joel smirked, his confidence unwavering. “Bring it.”

  Before Rook could charge again, his eyes flickered to the side. Joel followed his gaze and saw the unconscious forms of Sylas, Mara, and Dexter lying in the rubble. Rook’s expression shifted, his rage replaced by something else—urgency.

  “This isn’t over,” Rook growled, his voice low and menacing.

  Joel raised an eyebrow. “Running away from a kid? Didn’t think you had it in you.”

  Rook didn’t respond. He moved with surprising speed, scooping up his teammates with ease. Sylas, Mara, and Dexter were slung over his massive shoulders like rag dolls. Joel took a step forward, but Rook’s glare stopped him in his tracks.

  “Next time, kid,” Rook said, his voice a low rumble. “Next time, you won’t be so lucky.”

  With that, Rook turned and leaped away, his super strength carrying him clear of the battlefield in a single bound. Joel watched him go, his fists still clenched but his expression one of quiet satisfaction.

  “Yeah,” Joel muttered, his voice low. “Next time.”