Around 4 o'clock in the afternoon, Rayden and Renante's bus finally arrived at the bustling terminal in Laraval. The terminal was filled with people, and the terminal administration was making constant announcements about arrivals and departures.Their bus, coming from a different region and provinces, parked at the designated spot. Passengers began to disembark, causing a bit of chaos and commotion when those waiting to board started to push their way in."Wait! Let's not board yet! Let's wait for everyone to get off first to avoid any mishaps!" shouted the conductor to the passengers crowding near the bus stairs.The crowd settled down, waiting patiently for everyone to alight before attempting to board. Rayden and Renante decided to stay back and let others go ahead."Let's wait a bit, Rayden. It's quite chaotic right now. We might get caught in the middle if we try to disembark," Renante advised, glancing at Rayden."Alright, that's a good idea. It's better to be safe and wait for

Unbeknownst to Rayden and Renante, the woman who introduced herself as Rosalinda Márquez led them to an isolated place. They were far from the city now, surrounded by dense forests. The van jostled and bounced along the rough road, causing discomfort for everyone inside."What is this road? It's terrible! They couldn't even fix it," Rosalinda complained, gripping the front seat.The driver remained silent, responding only with a slight smile.Rosalinda, irritated by his reaction, glanced at him, her irritation evident in her eyes. "Are you happy because of this bumpy road, or are you happy because we're taking a detour?" she snapped."No, ma'am," the driver replied curtly."Not happy, huh?" Rosalinda shot him a cold glare before shifting her gaze to the window. "Let's hurry then. The boss is waiting for us," she added.Rayden, still not fully recovered, could see the back of the driver's head and catch snippets of conversation between Rosalinda and the driver. However, he still lacked

Rayden made his way to the dining room, where he found Renante sitting with Boyet and the rest of the captives. As they ate their meager dinner, a heavy silence hung in the air. They knew better than to speak openly, as the guards were still present, watching their every move. They were like prisoners, trapped in a world of uncertainty and fear.In the midst of their meal, Rayden and the others observed their surroundings, searching for any possible escape routes or weaknesses in the security. Their eyes darted discreetly, taking note of the guard's positions and the layout of the room. It was a silent, coordinated effort, born out of their shared desire for freedom.As the minutes passed, the hunger of some of the captives became increasingly evident. Rayden watched as one of them, a thin, frail man, ran out of food on his plate. With desperation in his eyes, he stood up and approached the cook, hoping to ask for a bit more sustenance. However, his request was met with a cruel push f

The air crackled with anticipation as the clash between Rayden and the formidable guard erupted. The deafening cheers of the guards and the excited murmurs of the bettors merged into a chaotic symphony of sound. In the midst of the chaos, the captive workers found themselves rallying behind Rayden, their voices rising in a chorus of support."Go on! Knock down that arrogant brute! Keep going!" the captive workers shouted, their voices a mix of encouragement and desperation.Blows were exchanged with a ferocity that painted the room with violence. Each punch landed with a resounding thud, leaving its mark on the bodies and faces of both combatants. Rayden's determination and unwavering spirit allowed him to push past the pain that surged through his body, treating it as a mere inconvenience on his path to victory.His opponent, Lando, a hulking figure with a reputation for his strength, found himself on the receiving end of Rayden's relentless assault. His face became a canvas of bruis

Rayden and the other captives of the syndicate were eating dinner in a hurry. The system for eating was still the same. Get a plate and line up to be served food by the cook. The dining area was spacious enough to fit fifty captives crammed on the small table. Adding more food was prohibited. "I'm getting tired of just eating vegetables and dried fish. I hope there's meat next time." Renante complained while chewing on adobong kangkong with patis.His friend interjected."This kangkong is so delicious, ah. Don't you like it?" Rayden responded with a smile then ate the kangkong."This is always the viand. It's rare when there's fish," Boyet affirmed."I hope there's meat tomorrow." Renante mumbled as he took a spoonful.From behind, a large hand landed on his shoulder. He was startled and almost spilled his food. So, he turned back to see."Oh, you startled me!" He looked back in surprise.Now facing him was that guard Lando who had a quarrel with Rayden this morning. They stopped eat