CHAPTER 54: The Washington Incident - Part IV

CHAPTER 54: The Washington Incident - Part IV

Fénix ran through the bunker's corridors, his footsteps echoing hollowly in the empty structure, interrupted only by the sound of his heavy breathing. Despite the wounds covering his body, adrenaline continued to flow, pushing him forward. He knew time was running out and that what was to come would be even more challenging. The hallways seemed endless, but he finally reached the elevator. He stopped in front of the doors, pressed the button firmly, and allowed himself a brief respite, his mind at war with the multiple voices whispering that he needed to be prepared for the worst.

The elevator began its slow ascent, the journey to the main floor a wait filled with tension. Fénix closed his eyes for a moment, his body still trembling from the recent impacts and the previous fights. *This doesn't end until Adam is out of the game*, he thought. His determination was stronger than the pain.

Meanwhile, in the heart of the White House, Lucian and Vanessa were exhausted. Their clothes were torn, their bodies covered in wounds and bruises, but what weighed on them most was the feeling of powerlessness. The heavy air in the main room felt like a constant pressure. Both had been completely overpowered, despite their efforts to resist. And there stood Adam, perfectly calm, looking at his two opponents as if they were mere chess pieces fallen from his board. His attire was untouched, his posture firm, and his face reflected a tranquility that starkly contrasted with the brutality of what had occurred.

"That was a good warm-up," commented Adam, his voice soft but laden with disdain. "But now... it's time to end this."

Lucian and Vanessa exchanged a look full of exhaustion and frustration, but they also knew that what came next would be far more dangerous. Adam was not only formidable; he was preparing to put a definitive end to everything.

Lucian and Vanessa took their positions, breathing heavily but with the determination not to yield. They knew Adam was close, that his next offensive would be lethal. Each assumed a defensive stance, preparing for the inevitable. The air was charged with tension, and the silence was broken only by the creak of their tired bones and the soft sigh of the destruction that had taken place in that room.

Adam, unhurried, watched with a satisfied smile. He knew what he was about to do, but he also allowed himself a moment to acknowledge his opponents' courage. He approached slowly, his gaze cold yet warm in the most ironic sense of the word.

"I can't deny you have guts," Adam said with a twisted smile, his tone dripping with condescension. "After all, you dared to face what the world knows as the strongest. You deserve some respect for that."

Lucian and Vanessa said nothing, but their faces showed the tension of the imminent struggle, aware that no matter how skilled they were, they were not on Adam's level.

Suddenly, a sound resonated in the air: the elevator doors opened with a metallic clang, and out stepped Fénix. His figure was silhouetted in the dim light of the hallway and he advanced with a firm step, his eyes fixed on Adam, defiant and full of the determination that always characterized him.

"Did you really think you are the strongest?" Fénix corrected Adam without hesitation, his tone as biting as ever. "You are not."

Adam's face, which had remained serene until that moment, changed slightly. An eyebrow rose with disdain, but his smile did not disappear.

"Oh, I'm not?" Adam responded with a low, almost mocking laugh. "Well then, tell me, who do you think you are, to correct me?"

Fénix stepped forward more firmly, each word from his mouth a direct provocation.
"The strongest Lycan of the current era."

Adam observed him for a long moment, and his expression, though intrigued, remained just as arrogant.

"Oh, really?" he replied, almost laughing. "And who do you think you are to tell me that? You might be the strongest today, Fénix, but that doesn't change the fact that I am the strongest Lycan in all of history. There is no one who has surpassed what I have achieved."

Fénix said nothing more, but his eyes burned. Even if Adam was sure of his current supremacy, Fénix didn't see it that way. History wasn't over, and he was going to be the one to rewrite it.

Adam and Fénix stared fixedly at each other, the tension between them palpable. At that moment, the world around them disappeared. Only the two of them remained, locked in a duel of will, of power, of history.

Adam broke the silence with a wide smile, full of an almost absurd confidence.

"The last time we met, I left you on the ground, begging for your life," he said, his voice low and mocking, recalling their last battle. A moment he hadn't forgotten, as it had been a reminder of his dominance over Fénix. "Today will be no different. Only this time, you won't get up."

Fénix didn't react immediately, he just let Adam's words sink into his mind, before taking a step forward. The confidence on his face was unshakable.

"Today, Adam... you are going to die. And this time, I will be the one to leave you on the ground. Forever," Fénix responded with an icy calm, his eyes burning with a determination that surpassed any fear.

Adam burst into laughter, a scornful laugh that filled the air. His body tensed in anticipation, but his face never lost its arrogant smile.

"You think you can stop me?" he said, taking a step forward. "You're so pathetic. You have no idea what you're saying, Fénix. No one can defeat me."

Both fell silent for a second that stretched on endlessly, until in unison, in perfect synchronization, they said the same phrase:

"This will be our final battle."

Fénix and Adam knew they would not see each other after this confrontation.

Adam, with a mocking smile, took a step toward Fénix. There was no rush in his movement, only an overflowing confidence that filled the air. Suddenly, he threw a quick, almost casual punch aimed at Fénix's face. But Fénix, with sharp reflexes, blocked it easily, stopping Adam's fist with a firm hand.