The force of collision that came from Jonas’ attack and Howard's block was so powerful and filled with so much Sin: it sent them both flying backward, and as Jonas skidded to a halt on the stone floor, he watched as dozens of fighters flew past and charged toward the elites.

“Throw the iron rods!” Jonas yelled. He foresaw the moment when his forces clashed with the enemy and knew it wouldn't go well for his men. “Aim to kill!” Jonas gripped the stolen iron baton from the waistline of his pants, wheeled his arm back, and threw it as hard as he could directly at the face of Don Marino. It hit him square in the forehead, and his body fell backward from the impact. The rest of the gang leaders and their fighters watched in horror as thirty or so batons came flying toward them like a hail of arrows.

Jonas wasn’t sure where the inspiration had come from but was happy he had it. When the first wave of fighters reached the elites, the batons had broken their guard and allowed the slaves and blue-collar fighters to swarm their targets and get a few good hits before the enemy retaliated.

As he charged into the mayhem, Jonas dodged a body that Howard had thrown his way, slid underneath the legs of Thomas Vale, and punched upward: striking him right in the groin. Jonas didn't look back, but if he did, he would have seen Thomas grabbing his crotch while fighters overshadowed him and took him out of view.

It didn’t take long to find Howard because he threw another person at Jonas, who followed the source, and he saw five low-ranking fighters trying to take the President down to no avail. Within a few moves, those fighters were knocked unconscious, and an unlucky one had his neck snapped like a twig. The fighter's eyes rolled, and he hit the floor dead like a rock. Howard Hurts smirked, kicked one of the fallen slaves in the head, and turned to face Jonas.

“Leave Howard to me!” Jonas screamed as he watched two more fighters try to approach. Howard breaking that slave's neck was a terrible scene, and it turned Jonas' stomach. Those fighters nodded, quickly turned tail, and began fighting with their fellows against Michael Davis, who was swarmed and irritated because a small-time gladiator had wrapped his neck and was choking him.

Jonas stepped forward and attacked without hesitation, while Howard met Jonas' attack with a block, but that block quickly transformed into a vicious counterattack that hit the young fighter straight in the face. From the brief exchange, Jonas knew Howard Hurts was the strongest opponent he had ever faced.

The fact the President was nearly a True Sinner became apparent as they exchanged blows, and Howard introduced Jonas to their difference in power by striking him multiple times.

After throwing caution to the wind and eating a vicious attack to the face, Jonas managed to close the distance between him and Howard and landed a haymaker right to the gang leader’s chin that made his head jerk violently to the side and followed it up with a kick.

Howard blocked the kick and didn't receive much damage at all. Jonas could barely breathe as his opponent hit him with a tremendous series of attacks on his face, chest, and gut. Howard’s punches were so fast and deadly that Jonas felt like he was trying to fight against an assault rifle.

Jonas couldn't afford to lose, and his thoughts were erratic as he managed to gain some distance between himself and his assailant. Although a much stronger opponent overwhelmed him, this didn’t stop his Pride from feeling more firm than ever before because everyone needed him to win: it wasn't a choice.

Jonas had spent over a year learning so many different lessons, and he had discovered a ton about Sin, and it had nearly cost him his life. As his next Pride-filled attack struck Howard across the face, he watched with joy as it sent his opponent flying. It had been a speedy, unavoidable attack.

There were very few fighters who had the time to sneak a glance at the battle between Howard and Jonas, and their eyes bulged with shock when they saw a lowly slave send Howard flying, and a boost of morale filled their bellies as they continued their battles with renewed vigor—the war had yet to be lost.

As Howard and Jonas prepared for another round of blows, intense battles took place around them. In particular, one of those fights had become bitter.

Yotama Yuki exchanged an intense series of attacks with her opponent Xiao Lin, and she wasn’t fairing very well against him, as her face was bleeding profusely from a split lip, and her left eye looked very swollen.

“Get away!” She yelled at Ralph, who had been trying to tag-team fight with her. “Help the others. I don’t need you!”

“But we'll have a better chance together, don't be ridiculous,” Ralph had watched them exchange blows numerous times and could see that Yuki was at a disadvantage. Although he didn’t know her well, Ralph knew that Yuki was irreplaceable to Jonas, and that alone was enough to risk his life for her.

“I can’t fight him with you here,” she spat blood and stared daggers at Xiao Lin, who had acted like a gentleman by allowing her to take a breather. “I’m used to fighting alone. I can handle him,” her dark eyes gazed up at the giant. “I promise.”

“Don’t lose!” Ralph didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone to face Xiao Lin, but he looked over and saw that Pete was being beaten harshly by Bannji Balewa, and with a roar, he trampled over to help his best friend.

“Finished?” Xiao Lin smiled politely. “Please, Yuki, stop all this nonsense.”

“That's Yotama-san to you!” she snarled. “Who the hell are you calling me by my name?” When he heard the disgust in her voice, his face grew ugly.

“Sorry,” he changed tactics and tried to smile. “Yotama-san, please rethink your actions. We both know that this will only fail,” his voice carried a pleading tone. It seemed he earnestly wanted her to rethink her options.

“Xiao Lin,” she said through heavy breaths. “I’m escaping today, dead or alive. Either way, I will no longer be a slave.”

“Yotama-san,” Xiao Lin bit his lip anxiously. “Why would you throw your life away for no reason? If you stop fighting me and help the gang put down this escape attempt: I guarantee Howard will forgive you. I promise!”

“Promise?” She scoffed. “You couldn’t keep your word to Jonas. Your promises mean dog shit, Xiao Lin,” Yuki shook her head. “I have a dream,” Xiao Lin rolled his eyes in frustration.

“A dream?” He looked exasperated. “Do dreams fill your belly, or do dreams warm your bed at night?” He didn’t understand her. “How could you throw away your life for something so silly.”

Even though blood spilled from her mouth, it didn’t take away from her beautiful smile. She recalled the moment Jonas and her had spoken about her dream. It was the first time a man had taken any interest in something other than her body. A feeling of Lust filled her soul as she recalled the moment when she had finally spoken the deepest desires of her heart, and Yuki knew at that moment the escape was more than just about being free: it was about being true to herself.

“Warm my bed at night?” She shot Xiao Lin a scathing look. “Xiao Lin, you and I will never be anything, no matter how many times you try. If the reason you're trying to convince me right now is that you're holding onto some flame,” Yuki licked the blood off her lips. “You should give it up because I’ll never belong to anyone. Not after today.”

Xiao Lin looked as if someone had struck him across the face with a brick, and there were obvious signs of embarrassment and disappointment as his expression changed from bitterness to hate.

“Why not me?” He asked quietly. “I’ve had my heart set on you since our first sparring session when you were finding your way as a Sinner, and you needed my help. Is it because of my face or talent, or perhaps you don’t think I’m strong enough?” His voice was becoming louder and angrier as he began a battle with his inner Wrath. “What about me doesn’t please you—tell me!” He shouted the last bit as his body filled with raw hate mixed with a bit of envy.

Yuki’s heart nearly leaped from her chest, but she couldn’t help but notice that fate had thrown her a lifeline. She tilted her head up and looked down her nose at Xiao Lin.

“I could love an ugly man. I could just as easily love a man weaker than me or had no talent for Sin.”

“Then why?” He shouted. “Why him and not me!”

“Why Jonas?” She raised an eyebrow. “I could never love a coward, and Jonas is the bravest man I’ve ever met.”

“He’s a fool!” Xiao Lin’s Sin Scars were flickering rapidly. “A dead waste of space. Do you understand, Yuki!” His eyes bulged. “How can a dead kid offer more than me?” Yuki could see that her taunting was working, but unfortunately, she felt guilty toward Xiao Lin and also grateful for all the help he had given her over the years. However, she knew the only way forward was to cut out that gentle girl inside herself. She needed to force that scared, abused housewife to be silent.

“Xiao Lin, be honest with yourself,” the gentleness inside her heart began to fade away, and she knew what she had to do. “Do you think I’d choose someone as mediocre looking as you over someone as hot as him?” Her voice became louder, as did her confidence. “Look at his accomplishments, his talent, his strength!” She was nearly shouting as a wide smirk spread across her face. “We both know that it’s him warming my bed at night, and he keeps it toasty,” her heart thumped as she watched Xiao Lin’s face turn red with rage, and his Sin Scars began to fade.

“You said!” He bared his teeth. “You said those things didn’t matter!”

“I lied, obviously,” she began to laugh. “I just wanted to save your feelings, but if you need to know the truth,” her expression was full of mock pity. “I can’t stand the sight of you, while the sight of Jonas makes me burn with passion. We both know that you could never satisfy me.”

“Slut!” Xiao Lin’s muscles ripened as he prepared to attack, but something stopped him. A little green monster lived deep inside his heart who wanted to hear the last of what she had to say before he tore her throat out.

“Oh, you know it,” she giggled. “When you had your ear pressed against my door, listening to the sounds of Jonas fucking me,” she let the words roll off her tongue. “Did you stroke your tiny little cock?”

Like a monster had been freed from its cage, Xiao Lin exploded, and he let out a primal scream as he charged haphazardly toward the opponent he both loved and hated. He looked every part of the perfect Berserker: angry, red, bulging, maniacal, and yet his Sin Scars were dull like a blade that couldn’t cut anything.

As the first punch reached her face, Yuki grabbed his arm, twisted her body, and flung her legs around his neck. It looked like Xiao Lin had just offered her a piggyback.

A terrifying creaking noise came from Xiao Lin as she broke his neck. Like an owl, or perhaps a terrible toddler’s broken toy, his twisted head in its socket, raging expression, open mouth, and bulging eyes only added to the grotesque sight. The old Chinese warrior's stomach hit the floor, but he was still staring lifelessly into the eyes of the woman who had broken his heart and neck. Xiao Lin was undoubtedly dead.