The air was thick and damp as Richard and the driver descended into the underground tunnel. The route was narrow and dimly lit, with the sound of dripping water echoing around them. The walls were lined with grime and strange markings that Richard could barely make out in the dim light."How far is it from here?" Richard asked, his voice barely a whisper."Not much farther," the driver replied, glancing around nervously as if expecting something to jump out of the shadows. "The underground route leads directly to the arena’s basement. From there, we’ll have to find a way into the main stadium."Richard’s eyes scanned the tunnel ahead, his instincts sharp. He could feel the tension in the air, knowing they were venturing into enemy territory. The driver hesitated for a moment, his voice trembling slightly. "With all due respect, sir," he said cautiously, "if you want to go in unnoticed, you're going to have to remove your military outfit and wear rags, like the rest of us."Richard r
Richard’s eyes flickered briefly, maintaining his composure. "You healed, didn’t you?" Richard responded with a faint, cold smile. "Must not have been that big of a deal after all."A murmur spread among the aliens like wildfire. They glanced between Richard and the scarred alien, their curiosity growing into something darker—something violent.The alien’s smile vanished. His expression twisted with rage as the memory of his mutilation bubbled to the surface. "You’ll pay for what you did," he hissed, his voice filled with venom. "This time, there will be no escape."The aliens around them began to stand, their muscles tensing as they prepared for a fight, all eyes now on Richard.Richard held up his hands in mock surrender, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "I mean no offense, bro, but unless we're fighting in the competition, I’ll gladly apologize for cutting off your cucumber."The alien's eyes flared with rage at Richard's nonchalance, and the room grew even quieter, as if the tensio
Richard's fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked, his body trembling with the sheer force of the rage surging through him. His eyes narrowed, darkening with a fierce, predatory intensity as he sized up Sea Wolf. Every muscle in his body coiled like a spring ready to explode, his breathing controlled but deep, as if he were holding back a storm.“You won’t escape my fists this time, Sea Wolf,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous, each word laced with venom. The air between them seemed to hum with the promise of violence. “You’ll pay for killing my mentor.”Sea Wolf took another step back, his once fearless demeanor wavering as he saw the storm brewing in Richard’s eyes. For a split second, fear flickered in his expression, but he quickly masked it, sneering in defiance. Yet, the tremor in his fingers betrayed him.Richard’s mind flashed with memories—his mentor’s lifeless body, the blood, the betrayal—and it only fueled his fury. His fists, now like hammers, twitched,
The first swung a bat at his head, fast and wild. Richard ducked, the air from the swing brushing his face as he pivoted, driving his elbow into the pirate’s ribs with a sickening crack. The man crumpled, clutching his chest as he gasped for breath.Two more came at him, one brandishing a knife, the other a jagged piece of metal. The knife came at his side in a vicious jab. Richard caught the pirate's wrist in midair, his grip like iron. With a twist so brutal it snapped bones, he disarmed the man and kicked him so hard in the chest that he flew back into the crowd. The second pirate slashed down with his blade, but Richard sidestepped effortlessly and brought his fist up in a devastating uppercut. The man's jaw shattered on impact, and he fell like a stone.They kept coming, three at once this time. Richard was a blur, dodging their attacks with ruthless precision. A fist aimed at his head missed by inches as he countered, delivering a sharp knee into the pirate’s gut, sending him s
The criminal blinked, confusion clouding his face. “What? You want to kill her too?”Richard’s gaze darkened. “No. I’m here to rescue her. I’m not leaving without her.”The criminal’s jaw dropped in disbelief, a nervous laugh bubbling up in his chest. “Rescue her? Are you insane? The only smart thing we can do is get the hell out of here before we all end up like these poor bastards.”More prisoners gathered, drawn by the exchange, murmuring amongst themselves. The mention of the president’s daughter seemed to send a ripple of uneasy curiosity through the crowd.Richard’s voice cut through the rising whispers like a blade. “I wasn’t captured by the aliens. I came here on my own terms.” His words carried a weight that silenced the crowd. “And I’m not leaving without the president’s daughter.”The criminal’s laugh turned hollow. “You’re out of your mind.” He stared at Richard for a long moment, only to find no trace of doubt in his eyes. The conviction was unnerving.“So, you’re saying
Richard's thoughts churned as he recalled the pegasus’ warning. "Is this why the pegasus asked me to hide my identity as the Ghost Rider?"He turned his attention to the notorious criminal, his gaze sharp. "What's your name?""I'm Addams," the man replied, his voice rough but steady."Alright, Addams. You're in charge now." Richard's voice was firm, authoritative. "We need to dispose of these dead bodies before things get out of hand."Addams raised an eyebrow. "The aliens will be here any moment," he said. "The prelude is today, so they’ll take care of the bodies."As if on cue, the doors opened, and four aliens entered, their weapons gleaming under the dim lights. One of them was scarred—the same one who had eyed Richard with suspicion before.Richard’s muscles tensed, his senses heightened. He knew the real game was just beginning.The aliens scanned the dead bodies on the floor with keen interest, muttering among themselves, "More dead bodies today. Humans are foolish, always figh
"My fellow soldiers and wise men, the day we have been waiting for has finally arrived," the alien proclaimed, his voice echoing through the stadium."For far too long, humans have dominated our kind. We have lived in obscurity, trapped by the Ghost Riders who prevented us from exploring foreign worlds."A murmur rippled through the crowd, a mix of anger and anticipation. The alien paused, letting the tension build before continuing."But now, our time to reign has come, and these humans are our puppets now!"The aliens erupted in cheers, their voices a mixture of excitement and aggression before falling silent once more."Here, before you, we have the last Ghost Rider on Earth. We will mate with her and end the Ghost Rider race forever!"The crowd drummed in approval, their enthusiasm echoing through the air like thunder, drowning out Richard's racing thoughts. As the elder spoke of the Ghost Rider’s impending fate, Richard's heart sank. This was not just a tournament; it was a sini
The elder furrowed his brow, his sharp eyes fixed on Richard as though trying to decipher the game these frail humans were playing. He knew well enough that humans, though weak, were not foolish. They understood when the odds were against them, so there had to be more to this challenge than reckless bravado.For a moment, the elder considered simply ordering the execution of all the prisoners. It would be quick, decisive, and rid him of this nuisance. But then, he hesitated. Killing them outright would cost him the respect of the alien masses. They would whisper that he had been afraid to face a human challenge, and such whispers could shatter his carefully cultivated reputation. He needed to maintain his image—he had to play the role of a strategist, not just a brute.Acting like a seasoned politician, the elder took a different approach. "Does your fellow prisoners agree with you?" he asked, his voice smooth, calculated. He motioned to the men standing behind Richard, trying to sh