Pete struggled to look at the robed man, his voice hushed as he whispered, “Shhh. I’ve done my best. The rest is up to you. What I handed you are two C4 explosives. Use them wisely. If you can’t hold out, blow open an escape route and get yourself out of here. Don’t worry about me.”

The robed man was remarkably moved. He had expected Pete to hand over their last lifeline. For a moment, the cold and calculating man faltered.

The robed man nodded solemnly, his voice low but resolute. “Don’t worry. I’ll come back for you.” Pete offered a faint smile, weakly nodding, “I believe you.”

The robed man gripped one of the C4 explosives, molding it into an irregular shape as he scanned his surroundings. While holding off the advancing agents, he steadily made his way toward the Special Operations Unit team. They were mindful of their orders to take suspects alive. Their attacks, though relentless, were measured and non-lethal, hoping to subdue the robed man.

Seizing that opportunity, the robed man successfully moved closer to the SUV. When he was roughly a few steps away, Michael, who had been watching the fight from afar and knew he had made brief contact with Pete earlier, narrowed his eyes. Michael noticed the robed man grabbing something, but his obstructed view prevented him from seeing what it was. However, the robed man’s gradual retreat triggered Michael’s instincts. A sudden sense of danger gripped him. Michael stepped forward and barked, “Scatter! Move back!”

The robed man picked up a rock and threw it behind him. Simultaneously, he vaulted over the SUV, using it as a shield from the explosion. A deafening explosion ripped through the air, sending a shockwave outward. Smoke and debris filled the area.

Michael, farthest from the blast, suffered only minor injuries. He quickly shook off the dust and debris, rising to survey the chaos. Fortunately, his warning had come in time. His team, having obeyed his command unconditionally, scattered the moment he told them to. Because of this, even though injured, all survived. The area was littered with injured agents; some were sprawled motionless, but those with lighter injuries were still able to carry out their mission.

However, Michael’s patience had run out. The robed man had kidnapped and killed numerous victims. Michael originally planned to capture him alive to secure a confession. But now, he decided to handle it himself.

Michael took off his gloves and tossed them aside. He instructed two agents to tend to the wounded while he went after the robed man. The robed man was hiding behind the SUV, the reinforced, blast-resistant vehicle shielding him from damage. But before he could catch his breath, a chill ran down his spine. He instinctively looked up just in time to see a lithe figure landing on top of the SUV with a single leap, then hopping off.

A sickening crunch reverberated as the robed man let out a guttural scream. The punch landed squarely on his eye socket, shattering it instantly. Blood and tears mixed as they streamed down his face, his vision dissolving into a blur of red and black.

Along with the excruciating pain came a murderous intent that burned like wildfire in the robed man’s chest. Michael’s punch had ignited every ounce of fury within him. Michael didn’t stop after landing his initial punch. He followed up with another equally fierce blow.

This time, the robed man was ready. He dodged with a roll, picking up some loose dirt as he did, and threw it at Michael. A gust of wind carried the dirt, scattering it across Michael’s face and body, momentarily blinding him.

The robed man let out a low, menacing laugh. Seizing the opening, he lunged with a blade aimed at Michael. But despite being temporarily blinded, Michael relied on his heightened senses. He tracked the robed man’s movements by the shift of air and the faint sound of his footsteps.

The sound of metal hitting the ground rang out as the blade fell. Michael’s grip clamped down on the man’s wrist, holding him in place. With a sharp shake of his head, Michael got rid of the remaining dirt before slowly opening his bloodshot eyes to look at the robed man. His lips curled into a smile as he reached for a pair of handcuffs. In one swift motion, he clicked one cuff around the robed man’s left wrist.

The robed man struggled and thrashed. He couldn’t give in. Years of meticulous planning had led to this moment, a lifetime opportunity. He tightened his jaw in desperation and raised his right hand.

When Michael and the surrounding agents saw what the robed man held, their expressions changed instantly. “Captain Cortez, watch out!” someone shouted. In the robed man’s palm was the last remaining C4 explosive. “Do you want to go down with me, Captain Cortez?” the robed man laughed coldly, gambling on this one chance. He was betting Michael would value his own life too much to allow mutual destruction and would let him go.

But Michael simply chuckled. He clicked the other end of the handcuff around his own wrist and, with a casual flick of his wrist, tossed the key into a nearby thicket. “Gladly. If I can’t bring you in, I’ll gladly go down with you,” Michael said, his tone steady and indifferent. His utter disregard for his own life made him a terrifying adversary. There was no weakness to exploit, no leverage to gain.

The robed man’s movement faltered, his expression turning ugly. Michael pressed, “Go on. Detonate it. Just get it over with. If not, then sit tight while I arrest you.”

The robed man’s palm was slick with sweat. He wasn’t as fearless as he pretended to be. Deep down, he was terrified. The explosive in his hand felt heavier than ever. He was trapped.

However, all that ended when someone shouted, “Captain Cortez, Pele Carrell has escaped!”