After Chris decided to head south of the city everyone fell silent The tension of a potential attack on the city hung heavily in the air Chris told them to stop he would continue on foot They told him he was crazy and that he couldn't make it but he insisted He began walking through the empty streets devoid of humans with only animals around Chris entered a massive building and headed toward a room Before he even set foot inside someone struck him on the head with a stick and he lost consciousness

  One day a child was doing his kindergarten homework when another child approached him and said "Hey do you know your white hair is really unique"

  Chris replied "Thanks"

  The child asked "What's your name"

  Chris answered "My name is Chris What's yours"

  "I'm Kevin Let's be friends"

  "Alright I agree" said Chris and they began playing together

  A woman with white hair appeared and said "Chris come on let's go home"

  Chris immediately left everything and ran happily to his mother holding her hand and waving goodbye to Kevin His happiness made him feel as if the ground couldn't hold him

  Chris regained consciousness and felt as though his head would explode He struggled to open his eyes and found his vision upside down He realized he was tied up and suspended by ropes Someone said "Have you woken up Black Mask I wanted to remove your mask but my boss stopped me you're lucky"

  Chris asked "Who is your boss that ordered you to stop removing my mask"

  "Don't worry we won't kill you Our boss will arrive soon What's wrong with you"

  Chris heard the door close and footsteps approaching His heart raced He thought Is this an enemy an ally or an ally of Skull Head The door opened and Chris was shocked

  A man in a suit wearing a fox mask introduced himself "Hello Black Mask I've heard about you I apologize for the rough treatment Men bring Black Mask here Sit down I have an important matter critical given the current events The situation is more dangerous than you expect Black Mask Oh excuse me let's have some tea first"

  Chris said "By the way you haven't introduced yourself"

  "Oh pardon me My name is Mr Fox I worked similarly to you but only fought gangs You however didn't stop at protecting Valenham you decided to protect the world Your last appearance in New City made you globally notorious Skull Head spread the news worldwide you didn't just become a criminal you became the number one wanted globally Do you realize what this means It means you didn't lie when you said you'd protect the world Well I've talked enough Let's get to the point Why not cooperate"

  Chris agreed

  He left the building and continued on his way after the strange incident Hunger gnawed at him he had no food Seeing animals everywhere Chris decided to hunt a deer He only had three bullets so he had to make them count He hid among the trees and waited for the right moment The first shot struck true the deer fell

  Chris skinned the animal and cut the meat with his knife leaving the scraps for the stray dogs He roasted the flesh over a small fire and ate while his mind wandered back to the dream of holding his mother's hand a memory that reminded him how hard life had been Exhaustion from overthinking dragged him into sleep

  He woke to the sharp crack of gunfire He didn't know who was shooting at whom Chris slipped behind a tree and watched a pitched battle had erupted between gangs and the police The officers were trying to protect civilians while one gang member sneered "Why protect the people They caused the city's decay If they'd surrendered everything to us we'd leave them the city" His laughter cut through the chaos

  A police officer fell Their commander barked "Retreat This isn't our fight the army will take over" The gangs pulled back Chris realized that if the military arrived he would be captured in his current condition without question

  He called Kevin and ordered everyone to prepare they were going to confront the gangs Kevin was surprised Chris cut him off without a chance to answer he rushed to inform Edward Ace and Jota to gear up for war

  Ace reacted instantly he fired up his vehicle and called Chris on the move "Chris where are you I'm coming now We need to start even if it's with a single gang unit That will weaken them"

  Chris answered "Ace I like your boldness I was in the forest when the gunfire woke me and a cop died After hearing their leader I decided we must act now or we'll be finished"

  Ace asked for a description of the leader Chris said he had a solid build white hair and beard he looked older Ace snapped "Jake forty-five He trained me when I joined the police Ex-military sharp instincts If Jake warned you then he said something serious"

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  Chris reported "The army will handle this if it spirals out of control If it does it becomes a global problem The world watches films with dead hearts they might help us but their compassion is gone"

  While waiting for the others Chris scouted a gang headquarters and discovered one of their strongholds it clearly had vast influence in the city When Ace learned this he was stunned "Chris are you serious You found the location and you're on your way Did you enter the building"

  "No" Chris replied "How could I enter without you"

  Ace grinned "Don't make me blush I'm on my way The site isn't far I'll reach you in about two hours"

  As Ace left Edward said he would stay behind at base he couldn't guarantee the gang wouldn't come to their hideout even if the chance seemed small Jota mocked "If the chance is small you should feel safe" Edward replied coldly "If you underestimate anything even a fly can kill you by laying eggs in your wound Don't underestimate anything" Jota fell quiet then said "Alright men to the city"

  A henchman asked "Where to Chris didn't tell us"

  Jota scoffed "Who are we We're a gang like theirs We'll wreck their operations"

  Kevin announced "I'm coming with you"

  Jota laughed "You Are you serious How could someone like you come I don't think Chris trusts you more than me" His men laughed Kevin bristled "He does trust me more I'm his friend since childhood not a gangster like you" Jota apologized "I was joking My joke's bad Alright I'm going"

  Kevin headed out alone despite Edward's warning "Kevin don't go alone It's dangerous"

  Kevin snapped "Mind your own business I have a score to settle with those gang members I won't forgive them"

  Edward asked curiously "What did they do"

  Kevin furious said "Because I couldn't buy ice cream that's unforgivable"

  Edward sighed "You're right Go settle it and bring me some ice cream after the chaos"

  Chris meanwhile slipped into the gang headquarters through a third-floor window The place was trashed He gathered every scrap of intelligence he could find On descending to the second floor he noticed the organization's tech it resembled Edward's He sneaked toward a card-controlled gate searching for the access card but something unexpected happened an enemy noticed him and shouted Before the man could raise the alarm Chris grabbed him and choked him to death then took the access card

  A voice crackled over the radio "Why did you scream" Chris lied "It was nothing I thought I saw an enemy turned out to be a rat from the third floor" The voice warned "Be careful Mr Raven was almost intervening to protect you" Chris replied "No need that was my mistake Sorry" and hung up

  He put on the dead man's clothes used the access card and pushed through the door To his shock the guards carried katanas instead of firearms Chris deduced the organization was foreign He pressed on and found horrific animal experiments he even saw an extinct mammoth specimen Suddenly the lights went out and a voice said "A long time has passed Chris" Before he could react a katana stabbed into his back

  The attacker said "Don't worry I turned off the lights so you'd remember me Now fight me with your sword" When the lights snapped back on Chris saw Raven standing there sword in hand blood dripping from the blade the dim lighting made him seem like a hired killer

  Chris exhausted muttered "Coward stabbing me from behind Fine" He lunged at Raven and their blades met Raven laughed hysterically "Oh Chris get up We've only just begun Don't make it boring"

  One of Raven's men reported an intrusion by two attackers who appeared to be Black Mask's crew Spitting blood Chris said weakly "Turn them into police" Raven sneered "You'll die Black Mask You've done too much The stab the kick it's all too much drama"

  Chris gathered himself gripped his sword and charged In the clash Raven kicked Chris sending him flying into a wall Raven taunted "Don't underestimate me You might have a chance to stab me but remember I'm half metal practically a cyborg" He laughed hysterically

  An aide announced the place had been breached by two men apparently connected to Black Mask Chris panting spat blood and said "Make them like the police" Raven replied coldly "You'll die Black Mask You've done too much"

  Rising despite intense pain Chris lunged and struck Raven parried but Chris kept up the assault Kicks rained down until Raven's sword slipped from his grip Chris seized the opportunity and cut Raven's left hand Raven screamed "Ah My hand you bastards You already tore half my body before I swear I will kill you"

  Before Raven could finish a truck barreled in Ace shouted "Chris come on We stormed the place with the truck"

  Chris stammered bewildered "Ace how did you get a truck in here We're on the second floor what logic"

  Ace grinned "You'll find out"

  They reversed the truck with full force it rammed Raven smashed through a wall and dropped them to the ground Chris blinked "Wait this is a racetrack How did a truck get in"

  Ace "I rented it from a gang member and had it modified You should've seen it fly you'd have loved it"

  They climbed out thanked the truck's owner and walked through the city Kevin called "Chris I came to help where are you"

  Chris laughed "Man so much happened I'll leave the rest to Jota Go back to HQ and analyze the data I grabbed I think it ties to Skull Head maybe Edward"

  Kevin was stunned to learn Edward had been separated from his family for seven years Chris explained "Maybe he was working on inventions Since I entered the virtual forest it was clear he's obsessed building a subterranean virtual world takes years Perhaps his separation from his wife drove him into it"

  Chris prepared to head west to meet Edward's family Kevin warned it was a wealthy heavily guarded district Chris took a deep breath and said "I'm going west to meet Edward's family" Kevin froze shocked "West That's the rich district guards everywhere"

  Chris replied calmly "I know Still I have to go"

  Ace tried to lighten the mood but Chris cut him off "Kevin might be reckless We need to find him" Ace balked "What are you saying You're worrying me man"

  Chris "Kevin is planning something He could die Come on Ace let's find him"

  They scoured the ruined city as the sun set the streets littered with wreckage stray dogs and cats corpses of civilians gang members and police alike The search was grueling Four hours later exhausted and frustrated Chris called Edward hoping for help

  Edward answered cold "Chris you rarely call me What's the emergency"

  Chris asked "Who's at HQ I'm looking for Kevin I don't know how long it's been"

  Edward replied flatly "I'm alone Jota and his gang left earlier then Kevin"

  Chris hung up and bolted Ace calling after him with no response Running Chris muttered "Kevin what are you thinking Are you okay" Suddenly he collapsed He turned and saw Ace shove him hard then punch him square in the face

  Ace barked "Chris stop working alone Wake up man You're not the lone Black Mask anymore you're Black Mask with a team" He punched Chris to make the point Chris silent said "Maybe Kevin went to the most dangerous gang's HQ"

  Ace asked incredulously "Why would you think that"

  Chris "Kevin might believe that if he defeats the biggest gang the city will collapse and be saved Come on Ace let's take that car in front of us"

  Ace blinked "You mean steal a car that looks like it belongs to a gang member"

  Chris "It's probably stolen in the first place maybe the owner's dead"

  Ace hesitated then said "Remember where you were yesterday" Chris said nothing Ace added "After we save Kevin you should rest for a week"

  Chris "No time The gang's HQ is only a fifteen-minute walk Let's go"

  Ace laughed "Then you idiot let's walk Seems you want to kill them all"

  Chris explained the plan they'd rescue Kevin and blow up the HQ with the car Ace thought Chris mad but agreed They filled the car with gasoline smashed the doors so they could jump out at speed and Chris purchased more fuel from a nearby shop

  Chris drove at a reckless speed toward the target Wind roared in their ears making speech impossible He signaled to Ace they leaped from the car at the last second The vehicle smashed into the gate and detonated in a massive explosion

  Gang members cried out "Leader this was a deliberate attack but there's no one inside the car" The leader barked "Stay alert They could come at any time Tighten security"

  Chris turned to Ace "Are you ready for the worst"

  Ace replied "I'm always ready for the worst"

  In the midst of all that chaos Raven in his hidden lair was fitting a prosthetic arm Despite the brutal injuries from Chris and the truck he showed no outward pain Inside he raged silently "Edward you see I have not betrayed you I fulfill your noble goal to purify the world I swear I will never betray you Chris the world I will return I will not disappear I will haunt your nightmares and dreams Wait I will come back stronger than you can imagine Remember that"

  Though the world tried to destroy him Raven considered himself unbeaten He muttered to himself "I will not lose I will not lose I will not lose I will make the world feel pain What did I lose Half my body An eye A hand There is no excuse to surrender Chris Chris you will know what hell is You will taste the cup I drank" He let out a sinister laugh like the quiet before a storm