Ro-Ro stepped outside, the bell over the door jingling behind him. The midday sun cast a glare across the dusty road, heat waves rising from the cracked pavement. There, standing across from the diner’s front steps, was the man—tall, motionless.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fQ5V2oTIl
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOQiIHu6ax
His hair fell in sharp bangs that framed his pale, stone-carved face, and his cold gray eyes locked onto Ro-Ro like a scope. Neither of them moved for a moment.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpWI31BMSs
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFExHeVCP7
Ro-Ro tilted his head, cracking his neck. “So you’re the creepy guy giving me bedroom eyes through the damn window.” He smirked. “What? You want a kiss? An autograph? Or are you just gonna keep staring at me like a zombie craving a face buffet?”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EeWJGySgL
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuaYPrOPyN
The man didn’t blink. His voice was low, gravelly, but deliberate. “You… Ro-Ro. I know who you are.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nLwcfaElO
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuBDOUF3vt
Ro-Ro raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Yeah? That makes one of us.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLP5B5WkU3
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Tk4IZxQQ9
“I joined this race,” the man continued, “for one reason—to kill you. I’ve been paid very, very well to drag your screaming corpse out of that car of yours.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImTAEcvaOU
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTgNf98CoP
Ro-Ro blinked, then frowned. “Huh? Paid? The hell are you talking about?”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwuqrJeZaU
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR3StNQREe
The man took a slow step forward, fists clenched. “I am LuMo. And I’m going to kill you slow. Painful. Like twisting a knife into your gut and spinning it like I’m opening a goddamn doorknob.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwddhjJ6ohO
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDON2mmNl2
Ro-Ro stared at him blankly, then slowly clapped. “Wow. That was cute. Poetry night at the psychopath café?”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Pn7TjjU8i
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA1sE8mqCW
LuMo’s eye twitched.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1Om8wAYjB
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw16dvnH3P
Ro-Ro casually brushed past him.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdb9jHRFOl
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbJGJveot3
“What are you doing?” LuMo growled.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmrHl4EZvt
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycuhbzCDzx
Ro-Ro held up a finger. “Shhh.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMoKZrp333
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEJFM8lbVB
He strolled right past the assassin and headed to a nearby vending machine shaped like a giant pink cat. It had cartoonish eyes and a mouth for a dispenser. He pressed a glowing button labeled #3: G-MAX Energy and dropped a coin into the slot.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurrspdswdh
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7SviSvgAa
The machine meowed twice: “Meow! Meow!” Then hissed as a cold can rolled out.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl9GKGUNwS
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlBOipQdpR
Ro-Ro squatted down, grabbed the drink, popped the tab, and chugged without hesitation. The silver can hissed with neon vapor as the liquid disappeared into him.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6DF47Ucdl
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz89VKygZYi
LuMo clenched his fists, veins bulging in his neck. “What… the HELL… are you?”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLYv2fY5Wn
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrErr02fPv
Ro-Ro held up his finger again. Shhh.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokczegKewt
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZFu3hXG1o
Then he finished the can, let out a loud burp, and tossed it into a trash bin behind him without looking.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6Jf5Nrh5D
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQl19Hed3o
“Sorry,” he said, wiping his mouth. “My throat was dry.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKdRMVVagV
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGbJcwibvX
LuMo roared, pointing a shaking finger at him. “You STUPID SON OF A BITCH! You drank a damn energy drink—while we were about to fight!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCdamaU3mH
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nCQMQoVL8
Ro-Ro cracked his knuckles, eyes flashing with that familiar cocky fire. “Well, yeah. Can’t beat the brakes off a lunatic while parched, can I?”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RqQuXGqTH
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRSDrVEzvV
He took a step forward, his smile turning razor-sharp. “Now that I’m hydrated…”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCLlmrL8kU
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJpKKgS1il
He slammed his fists together. “I’m ready.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdsxhPLYhw
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M1mOWG7o6
LuMo's eyes gleamed with bloodlust as he pulled out a serrated combat knife, the blade humming with a faint electric current.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDq2P4Imsu3
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLatr5EjB6z
"I'm going to enjoy this," he whispered, licking his teeth.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61BYmb0TPs
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GwUHHoO6B
Ro-Ro’s face twisted in disgust. “I bet you would, you horny bastard.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwIWwTFNg4
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1hKzmoF0X
His hand darted to the back of his pants to grab his Desert Eagle—but before he could even grip the handle, LuMo was gone. A gust of wind slammed into Ro-Ro’s chest—then pain.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkpIiNheni
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Yrzzc84bp
LuMo appeared like a phantom, already driving his blade into Ro-Ro’s forearm with a sickening metallic crunch.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXHhnQnqcG
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTOEM7RXDt
“What the hell—” Ro-Ro growled, staring at his damaged robotic arm.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH4zVw2i5V
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10MqAQDawj
LuMo grinned, his breath hot against Ro-Ro’s cheek. “I’ve got implants. Speed boosters wired straight into my nervous system. I move faster than the roadrunner now. Upgrade ‘em a little more? I’ll be faster than light.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFEslMNWXl
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMnCQR6wwp
He yanked the knife out and blurred backwards, boots skidding on the dirt.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIng3IaTQgC
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCQouq5oOu
Ro-Ro took a step back, glancing at the torn metal casing and twitching servos in his arm. “Well shit… I might actually lose here.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRiYRX1VuV
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2YUlRBS3H
LuMo flashed a fang-toothed grin. “No, no. You will lose.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN72RLIw7df
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr7dHr9SOn
Ro-Ro gritted his teeth and whipped out his gun, firing three quick shots. BLAM. BLAM. BLAM. LuMo zig-zagged through the narrow alley of parked cars, narrowly avoiding each bullet, sparks dancing behind him.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X2zcYTUjq
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIkoTHM1sg
Ro-Ro ducked behind a rusted-out hover truck, his breath quick. Damn it… he’s fast. Too fast. But if I can get my hands on him… it’s game over.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhy8ArjsVL
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTNS8jWeTD
Across the lot, LuMo crouched behind a red coupe, his mind racing. So that arm’s upgraded—figures. But he’s sluggish. He relies on power. If he catches me, I’m screwed.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3KX0sm0LE
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWB5DqGXfsH
He peeked over the hood—nothing.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS0JnKl7TP
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCXbkAA12H
He ducked. “Where the hell did he—”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvfnUh9DoV
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRss3d51jcU
His eyes flicked down. A boot.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJW6yn4jEaT
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCN74c3EwU
Ro-Ro’s foot rested just beside the tire of a nearby car. LuMo’s eyes widened. Smart bastard.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYZORzbVx4
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh888nXMWrI
Without hesitation, LuMo sprinted toward the next car over—and there he was. Ro-Ro. Surprised, wide-eyed.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l7xMIVjCZ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡin6TTJI8zT
Too late.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYSJv5KccG
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P6eW8KBbD
LuMo tackled him with a brutal left hook, then another. Fists like thunderclaps. Ro-Ro grunted, stumbling back from the barrage.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBsbZRL3gF
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTG3ZrWCrYd
Until—SNAP.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9SKgDUGRP
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5nxZ9iyX2
Ro-Ro caught both of LuMo’s fists mid-swing. His fingers locked around LuMo’s wrists like steel clamps.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxaHmZYutJ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjcP5y05Wh
Ro-Ro grinned. “Gotcha, you slippery bastard.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLu5vvH7Mr
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzA83roH42
WHAM! He headbutted LuMo directly on the bridge of his nose—CRACK—and hurled him bodily through the air. LuMo’s body bounced off a car hood with a sickening thud, rolling onto the pavement in a groan.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Ewa41cHx
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDzp44QiJ3
Ro-Ro looked at the street and there were no more vehicles and sighed. “Man, no more damn cars. Ah shit—we’re dead last.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxgzeocDKZ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKzN8qjSg0
His eyes narrowed again as LuMo sprang back to his feet. Ro-Ro raised his gun and squeezed off two more shots. LuMo, zigzagging like a demon, ran straight past the bullets and toward Ro-Ro.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtDAUbo65D
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIQegU61xV
Before Ro-Ro could react, LuMo grabbed the waistband of his shorts from behind, lifted him like a sack of trash—and hurled him through the air.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuJDB4PKQa
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMQwJvzIXT
Ro-Ro slammed into the cat-shaped vending machine, glass shattering and spearing into his back like crystalline claws. He slumped down, blood trailing from his mouth.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbeYKdz1kL
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aOJbSbr5M
“Shit…” he wheezed.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHsjK1EvjQ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0swdQwU8bD
LuMo lunged, bringing his blade down straight for Ro-Ro’s skull—but Ro-Ro twisted his head left at the last moment. The blade missed, and LuMo’s fist punched straight into the jagged glass.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1brCKk9fxu
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TlDZcvqSs
“AGHHH!” LuMo shrieked as shards sliced through his knuckles.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgcUwsnHff
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQZwQKnRAH
Ro-Ro didn’t miss the chance.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡestoDJvsLx
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpLOaQFCWV
He rose like a beast, arm pistons firing, and unleashed a fury of punches into LuMo’s torso—each one a sledgehammer. One, two, three, FOUR brutal strikes to the ribs, lifting LuMo off the ground.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sOjgOo4TB
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gHGxUR0e5
Then—SNIKT.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2y7FXz63X
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHejqyJZq7
LuMo stabbed him.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XUs4Cuevr
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12Mc4D4EYL
The blade sunk deep into Ro-Ro’s gut, twisting.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZwwIKL8qX
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64HOTNCheB
“GAAH—!” Ro-Ro staggered back, clutching his abdomen.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkf6os6Hj1
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNLop0MAs0
LuMo backed away, panting, blood dripping from his own hand.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6maHlG629
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4Gq0PqX9d
“You see?” he hissed. “I stabbed you. Just like I said.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yIXseIPEr
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0Q4h96RUt
He grinned with cracked teeth. “Looks like I’m the winner after all.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZz9J5y4VW
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk5pGURY0I
Ro-Ro dropped to one knee, a ragged breath tearing through his throat. Blood dripped from his lip as he coughed hard, spitting red into the dirt.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsqSm7p8IQ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9jnDLHnje
"Shit..." he muttered, eyes narrowing.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAt3UgfHRv
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDECc99RACM
His robotic eyes whirred quietly—thermal scan activating, depth perception sharpening, HUD flickering with digital overlays. A heat signature flickered behind LuMo. Ro-Ro smirked through the pain.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2LojUUck8
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyY4eM59kV
“Heh... you sure got me, huh?” he chuckled weakly, wobbling a little.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBzxVlVviH
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpoR2ZbU39
LuMo stood tall, blade dripping with blood, his hand still bandaged in slivers of glass. He smiled down like a man admiring a painting he just finished stabbing.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ogs589UMV
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcxfUlWXrg
“Of course I got you,” LuMo said, stepping forward. “You think I joined this race just for the prize money? Nah. I wanted this. To see you crawl. To see you bleed.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL41u2Ok9Hi
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7y4qI9RANf
Ro-Ro looked up, his expression dim at first, then something sparked. His lips curled into a crooked, defiant grin.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgtFID3fTa
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxWrqAfUHi
“Yeah? Well then...” Ro-Ro muttered, voice low. “Got you.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJX2M8iQm3K
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLyEouyuon
LuMo blinked. “Wh—?”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmxaW9gWIk
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOw0YyjG9f
SCREEEEEECH—CRASH!!!
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTYiAq0EBD
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbpCvu5dRt
A car roared from the side alley—MeMe’s ride, Streak-9, on autopilot—and slammed into LuMo’s back at full speed, metal bending and bones cracking as LuMo was thrown like a ragdoll into a pile of shattered glass and bent car doors.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKouCwr3jSr
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELNWVkkrAP
“What the FUCK—!” LuMo shrieked as he was crushed against the wall.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfumDADko9
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4zADZsa5k
Ro-Ro groaned and stood slowly, yanking the blood-soaked knife from his gut and tossing it aside with a clatter.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml7frfMJkD
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuialm8cdob
“I knew you were gonna walk over here all dramatic and shit,” Ro-Ro said, wiping blood from his chin. “So I timed the autopilot on the car… just right. Waited for your dumbass to hit your mark.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGIHLT69rS
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKSqe1rujt
He staggered toward LuMo, who was now dazed, broken, and coughing against the car hood.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL0Sc0GxTz
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRtK00JAFs
Ro-Ro’s footsteps were heavy and uneven, his body bruised and leaking red—but his eyes were burning.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgi0bTQmCq
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPqE2uFA31
He cracked his knuckles. “Now…”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgV8NpAQMgg
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zXLuDe1tt
He raised his fist.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBukjYbEcr
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2oXF1bGII
“…time for your bedtime.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOPbg7OJoS
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXDzBT0piN
WHAM!
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk53swOX0R3
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtcR4y3eqg
Ro-Ro's punch landed flush on LuMo's jaw, a devastating hammer blow that snapped his head sideways. LuMo’s eyes rolled up, and he slumped over unconscious, collapsing to the ground like a marionette with its strings cut.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ryzVaGIlA
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡql2XS9CBUa
Ro-Ro stared down at him, chest heaving, sweat and blood mixing on his brow.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxNp8VJYs6
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLF67SPh28
He exhaled sharply, then muttered, “Dumbass…”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SgjEDHY0f
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaWXBXUBAE
His legs gave out, and he dropped to the ground beside LuMo, flat on his back, arms spread wide.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1z98II90c
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkczgV1u8c
“...I hate Mondays.”
ns216.73.216.79da2
