A towering figure stood waiting for them in a large, luxurious private suite that oversaw the arena, arms crossed and eyes burning with menace.

Kai's lips parted slightly as he took her in.

Even Nadya - broad-shouldered and muscular - seemed small next to this mountain of a woman. Powerfully built, skin a deep brown like polished mahogany, dreadlocks tied back in thick cords, and a black eyepatch covering a scarred eye that looked like it had lost a fight with fire.

'She looks more manly than me and doesn't seem particularly happy to see us,' Kai muttered internally, eyes narrowing.

Nadya, calm as ever, offered a mocking grin. "Been a while, Dominique. How's that eye of yours doing?"

Dominique, or at least that's what he'd heard Nadya call her, wore combat boots thick enough to crush skulls, fingerless gloves tight around meaty fists, and a sleeveless leather jacket stretched across boulder-like arms. Her presence alone made the room feel smaller, heavier.

Meanwhile, she didn't seem to take kindly to Nadya's taunting question.

Kai didn't even have time to flinch before the air in the room changed. The intensity dialled up, thick and stifling. The tension? Palpable.

The mutant that had led them there stood nearby, twitching, also not appreciating his boss being spoken to that way, foot shifting like he was about to leap forward.

BOOM.

Dominique stomped once. The ground shook, and dust fell from the ceiling. She glanced at her subordinate sternly, as if to tell him to "back off" before speaking.

"That name has long been buried," she growled, voice like gravel mixed with fire. "They call me the One-Eyed Viper now… thanks to you."

Kai blinked slowly, unimpressed.

'Viper? More like hippo. Or maybe a rhino with a grudge.'

Though he didn't dare speak those words aloud.

"Last time we met," Nadya said, lips curling into a smirk, "was in this rat hole of a fight club. It was fun, right? And I like what you've done with the place."

"How could I forget?" Dominique spat. "We both went on to open our own clubs - I took over this one. Life's funny like that."

Her eyes gleamed. "Yours was called what again? The… Rabid Mutt Fight Club?"

Kai physically cringed. Not even inside his head.

'Wow. She's built like a freight train and still says these corny lines. Really?'

But no one dared laugh or even make a sound. The tension was too thick, and everyone had seen what happened to people who laughed at the boss.

Dominique cracked her knuckles.

Nadya didn't flinch and casually stated, "Mine closed. Unfortunate circumstances and all that. But I'm not here for old times' sake. I've got questions. And you might have answers."

The giantess threw her head back and roared with laughter.

"Why would I help you, Pyro Maniac?"

Nadya tilted her head. "Not out of kindness, obviously. I figured you'd prefer a bet."

Dominique's eye gleamed with curiosity, and she stepped forward - another ground-shaking stomp. "Go on."

"Simple. One of yours versus one of mine. Winner gets what they want."

Dominique grinned, revealing a chipped molar. "And if I win… I take an eye. Fair's fair."

Nadya burst out laughing. "Sure. Sounds fun."

Kai stared at her.

'What?!'

No hesitation. No negotiating. Just casually offering up eyes like they were trading cards.

'Is she serious? We're just gonna pretend that's a normal thing to wager?'

Then again… there weren't any contracts here, and it wasn't like she could sue her if she didn't oblige - but that went both ways...

"Alright then," Dominique rumbled. "Who's your champion?"

Nadya slowly turned to the group behind her.

But there was no longer a group.

Isaac had vanished with Amina, phasing into the ground beneath them. Takeshi was long gone, slipping away after they emerged in the city, disappearing into the urban jungle. As for Sven? He was probably upstairs in the club, grinding against someone's girlfriend while downing his fifth drink.

And that left…

The red-eyed man.

Kai sighed and looked around the empty space behind him.

'Typical. Of course, they all bailed. Why do I even bother being surprised?'

But he didn't complain.

'Sure, why not? I've been meaning to test myself anyway.'

He rolled his shoulders, stretching his neck until it popped.

He was surrounded by enemies and thrown into the deep end by Nadya, but Kai wasn't planning on drowning.

And if it came down to it, Sven and Takeshi would show up. Probably. Hopefully.

As for Isaac? He'd probably watch from a distance and keep Amina Amina.

But Kai didn't need them, nor was he planning on relying on them.

He stepped forward, crimson glinting in his eyes, his lips twitching into a smirk.

"It seems," he murmured under his breath, "like its time for the return of Red Eyes."

"Red Eyes, huh?" sneered one of Dominique's lackeys as he stepped forward. He gave Kai a once-over, like he was trying to measure a meal with his eyes alone. "Fitting name. Let's see if you live up to it."

The guy looked young, late teens, maybe early twenties, but his stance wasn't sloppy. Muscles coiled under his dark tank top, and his steps were careful, calculated. The faint shimmer of mutant energy clung to his skin like smoke just waiting to catch flame.

He was the one who had caught Kai's attention earlier, and amongst the rest of the surrounding people, aside from the giant woman who ran the place, he seemed to be the most capable. Not that he intimidated Kai in the slightest.

"Boss," he said, turning to Dominique with a spark in his eyes. "Let me be the one to fight him."

There was a flicker in Dominique's expression - something between surprise and amusement. Maybe even the tiniest hint of approval.

Kai raised an eyebrow and suppressed a laugh.

'This guy's such a kiss ass.'

Dominique studied the boy for a beat longer, her good eye narrowing slightly. "Are you sure?"

Her tone wasn't cruel, but there was weight behind the question. A warning, perhaps. If he were to lose, to disappoint her, then there would be hell to pay.

The young man nodded, sharp and proud. "Absolutely."

Dominique gave a grunt, accepting his challenge with the sort of authority that didn't need words.

"Alright then," she declared, her voice echoing through the room. "Preparations will be made. You two will be tonight's main event."

Kai exhaled slowly, hands in his pockets, trying not to grin.

'Main event twice in a row? I really am something.'

Moments later, one of Dominique's crew guided him through a long, torch-lit corridor toward what looked like a fighter's prep room - except way fancier than the rusted cages and grimy mats he remembered from Nadya's fight club.

Inside, the space had actual furniture, soft lighting and a minibar. Kai blinked as he took it in for a second.

'Snacks!'

There was chocolate and chips that felt familiar and seemed to almost call his name after living on meat and berries for the past month. There was also a small buffet tray, chilled drinks, and even a wardrobe with spare clothes and masks.

'This is… way better than Nadya's dump. I wouldn't even mind fighting here again if I get this treatment,' Kai mused, but knowing that chaos seemed to follow him wherever he went, he couldn't help but laugh aloud, "If this place is still intact."

Throwing away the blood ball he'd been holding in case he suddenly needed it, Kai grabbed a bottle of soda. He didn't bother worrying about who he was facing or what was to come. Instead, he kicked off his shoes and let out a sigh.

Finally, some comfort.

After spending a month in Takeshi's silk robes, wearing something normal again felt like winning the lottery. He grabbed a clean black tracksuit from the wardrobe - soft, breathable fabric, just loose enough to move in.

He then glanced at the masks.

There was one with a jagged red smile and hollow black eyes that caught his attention, but after a moment's consideration, he pushed it aside. He decided to go for something simple.

'I am Red Eyes, after all. I'll let them shine,' he thought, planning to use a simple ski mask to cover the lower half of his face, not that it would help conceal who he was much.

Switching on the TV suspended in the corner, just to have some noise in the background, Kai remained on edge and prepared for anything. He knew just how volatile and sudden things could be. But for the most part, he just enjoyed being alone in the room with anything he could want.

He lounged for over an hour, feet kicked up, stomach full, completely relaxed, like he wasn't about to walk into a mutant fight that could very much cost him his life.

And when the knock finally came, Kai stood up with a lazy stretch.

'Show time,' he laughed.

He rolled his neck, cracking it side to side as he made his way to the door. Putting on the ski mask he had picked up earlier, his crimson gaze was glinting under the light.

'Time to have some fun'

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