The two women exchanged a quick glance and nodded. They strode into the crowd, yanking random shop clerks and managers by the arms. Screams and sobs broke out as some were dragged to their feet, their families crying out in protest before being silenced with the threatening wave of a rifle.“Move!” one of the women barked, shoving a young clothing store clerk toward the stairwell. “You know where the cash is. You’re going to get it for us.”Sierra stumbled back into the crowd after the leader waved her off, her cheek still burning from the slap, her hand trembling without strength. She dropped down beside Elijah, and before she could even steady herself, Elijah pulled her into his arms.He held her close, his hand pressing gently against the back of her head, his voice low so only she could hear.“Sorry,” he whispered firmly. “You’ll get your ring back. Don’t worry.”Sierra’s lips parted as if to reply, but no words came. Her throat tightened, and she simply pressed her face against h

The robbers hesitated, fear flickering behind their masks. They exchanged quick, nervous glances—this wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Who was this man?One finally bent down, stretching his hand toward his rifle as if to shove it forward.BANG!A bullet tore into the floor right beside his fingers, splintering tile into sharp fragments. The man flinched back instantly, his mask snapping up toward Elijah in raw shock.Elijah’s expression didn’t shift. His voice dropped colder.“Push it with your hand again…” He tilted the barrel slightly. “…and I’ll take your wrist off.”The robber’s breath came fast, his chest heaving. With trembling legs, he nudged the rifle forward with his boot, shoving it across the floor toward the line of hostages.The clatter echoed through the hall, followed by more rifles sliding across the tiles one after another as the rest complied, too terrified to resist.Elijah’s rifle swept slowly across the room, his cold stare locking on one of the hostages sitting

The leader’s body shot up from his knees like a spring, his boots slamming the tiles as he dashed forward. The sudden move startled the hostages, who gasped in horror. Even the other robbers widened their eyes—none had expected their boss to make such a reckless move.He charged straight at Elijah, his arm cocked back, veins bulging, eyes wild. If they couldn’t leave with cash, they’d leave with a hostage—and this “boy” who humiliated them would pay the price.The leader’s fist came down in a brutal arc, the air splitting with the sheer force of it.BOOOOM!The sound of the strike tearing through the space was so sharp that everyone flinched. Hostages covered their heads, some screaming.“Watch out!” Sierra cried, her voice breaking, her body lunging forward helplessly.But Elijah didn’t flinch.His eyes sharpened, a calm darkness settling over him. For a split second, time itself seemed to slow in his perception. The spiritual energy within him—dark, unseen, yet potent—flared subtly.