Chapter 1: THE FIRST STRIKEFrom ashes… comes the storm.
The rain hit Bloodhaven like a fist. Sharp. Cold. Relentless.
Beneath a flickering neon sign reading "ECHO DINER," a lone figure stood—broad-shouldered, hooded, fists clenched like caged beasts.
Rico Blaze.
His breath steamed in the night air as he stared across the street at the armored van idling by the curb. Syndicate goons were loading crates—illegal weapons marked for the corrupt Bloodhaven security forces.
They thought Rico was dead.They thought wrong.
He tugged his gloves tighter—steel-threaded, shock-absorbing knuckles. His calling card.
Inside the van, Drek, the lowest ranking of the Sovereign Six, lit a cigar, chuckling with his men. Rico's eyes burned with memory—this same bastard gave the order to torch his apartment… with his brother inside.
No more waiting.
He stepped onto the road.
"Yo, who the hell—"CRACK!
The first guard's jaw shattered before he finished his sentence. Rico moved like lightning dipped in rage—his fists landing like car crashes.
Another thug raised his rifle—TOO SLOW.
Rico ducked, spun, and sent his elbow into the man's ribs—three cracks. The body folded like wet paper.
Drek backed into the van. "No—NO! You're supposed to be dead, Blaze!"
Rico kicked open the back of the van, ripped a crowbar from one of the crates, and threw it like a spear—it crashed into Drek's kneecap.
He howled.
Rico entered like death.
Inside the diner across the street, waitresses and customers ducked. But one man didn't move—Juno, a tech-runner, watched through the blinds, stunned.
"He's back…" he whispered.
Word would spread. Rico Blaze had returned.
And hell followed him.
Back outside, Rico towered over the bleeding, crying Drek.
"Mercy," Drek begged.
Rico leaned close."There's no mercy in Bloodhaven anymore."
CRACK.One punch. Skull to pavement.
Lights out.
Rico walked into the dark alley.Blood on his gloves.War in his eyes.
One down.
Five Sovereigns to go.
And the next one…rules the prison that holds Rico's mentor.
👊 CHAPTER 2: "INTO THE MAW" — COMING NEXT.