CHAPTER 57: The Washington Incident - Part VII

CHAPTER 57: The Washington Incident - Part VII

Outside the White House, the scene was one of controlled chaos. Armored vehicles and elite troops maintained a perimeter around the building, while high-ranking officers supervised the operation from an improvised command tent. Enid was sitting in a folding chair, with a cup of coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other. She seemed completely indifferent to the nervousness that gripped everyone present.

General Hargrove, a veteran man with a hardened appearance, watched her with curiosity. She was hard to ignore: her youthful face contrasted with the crushing tension of the place. Finally, unable to contain his curiosity, he approached.

"Miss Enid, do you think any of those inside will come out alive?" he asked, crossing his arms, his voice dripping with doubt.

Enid exhaled a puff of smoke and looked at the general with a half-smile.

"Of course they will. I'm betting everything on Phoenix," she replied with overflowing confidence, while stirring her coffee with a carefree air.

Hargrove raised an eyebrow, incredulous.

"You really think he stands a chance? The intelligence report states that this Adam is... well, practically invincible."

Enid let out a small laugh, almost amused by the general's disbelief.

"It's true, Adam is strong. But Phoenix has something Adam will never have." She paused to take another drag from her cigarette. "Phoenix doesn't know how to give up. He's a force of nature, a storm you can't stop. And when he gets serious, no matter who's in front of him... he will destroy them."

The general nodded slowly, processing her words. But something else had left him intrigued.

"Why are you so sure of that?" he asked, leaning slightly toward her.

Enid smiled broadly, almost amused by what she was about to say next.

"Because he's my partner," she answered in a casual tone, as if she were commenting on the weather.

The general's eyes widened, clearly bewildered.

"He's your... partner? But... you look to be in your twenties, and Phoenix... he looks like a teenager."

Enid laughed at the man's reaction, putting out her cigarette in a portable ashtray she had brought with her.

"Ah, General, appearances can be deceiving." She leaned toward him, as if sharing a secret. "Let's just say we both have a... complicated past. But believe me, between the two of us, I'm the younger one."

The general fell silent, still stunned, as Enid leaned back in her chair with a calm expression, as if everything were under control. In the distance, a dull sound shook the ground, reminding everyone that the real storm was happening inside those walls.

The White House room was absolute chaos. Rubble, cracks, and shattered furniture bore witness to the titanic combat taking place within. Phoenix and Adam exchanged relentless blows, their bodies pushed to the limit, but neither willing to yield.

Each punch resonated like thunder, tearing through the air. Phoenix's knuckles broke with every impact, only to be rebuilt in seconds thanks to his supernatural regeneration. Adam, for his part, was not far behind; his own fists suffered the same fate, but his unbreakable will kept him standing.

"Is that all you've got?" Adam snarled, with a fierce grin, his face covered in blood.

"Not even close," Phoenix spat, wiping blood from his mouth with the back of his hand before throwing another punch straight to Adam's face.

The impact made Adam take a step back, but he immediately responded with a punch that connected with Phoenix's jaw, making him stagger. However, Phoenix did not fall. Instead, he adjusted his stance and launched another blow, and another, and another.

The two fought in a brutal dance, a test of pure endurance. Sweat and blood soaked their bodies, but the intensity in their eyes showed that neither was going to stop.

Then, Phoenix found an opening. His instinct took over, and in a quick motion, he landed a devastating blow to Adam's ribs, followed by another straight to his nose, breaking it again. Without giving him time to react, Phoenix culminated with a punch to the chest that resonated like a cannon shot.

Adam took a step back, inhaling sharply, but did not fall. He brought a hand to his chest, looking at Phoenix with eyes burning with fury and pride.

"You think this changes anything, Phoenix?" Adam murmured, wiping the blood from his nose and straightening up as if nothing had happened. "You're still pathetic."

Phoenix, his chest heaving with effort, smiled faintly.

"I don't care what you think, Adam. This ends today."

They both charged again, with the same intensity, the same rage, and the certainty that only one would walk out of that shattered room alive.

Adam, with renewed fury, lunged at Phoenix with a speed that defied reason. His fist went straight for Phoenix's face, seeking to end the fight once and for all. But Phoenix, with his reflexes enhanced by his supernatural ability, dodged the blow with an agile twist.

Before Adam could react, Phoenix took advantage of the opening and, with a quick movement, landed a powerful punch directly to Adam's abdomen. The impact made Adam double over briefly, but his resilience kept him on his feet. Phoenix didn't waste any time and moved away, keeping his distance while observing his opponent, waiting for the perfect moment to end the fight.