From Bullets To Billions Chapter 625: The Apex of the Trio

As Ramon marched onto the central stage brimming with undeserved assurance, a clash of two rival notions erupted within Max's thoughts. The initial one brought icy, plummeting fear: Aron could have been vanquished by this cybernetic horror, or trapped in a crisis too grave to escape and lend aid.

Yet what stunned Max the most was his instinctive response. The instant his gaze fixed on Ramon, a fierce wave of safeguarding fury surged forth. This unexpected blaze, a fierce loyalty to his crew, risked blurring his clear thinking.

Max drew in a deep, calming inhale, compelling himself to relax and scrutinize the figure ahead. Ramon's white lab coat appeared impossibly spotless—no rips in the material, no scrapes from the gym surface, no traces of blood.

Max understood Aron's prowess deeply; he even believed Aron concealed further layers of ability yet to surface. Given Aron's rigorous preparation, Ramon couldn't possibly walk away from a lethal battle looking so immaculate.

'He's okay,' Max mused, his pulse steadying. 'Aron remains active. But that only proves these foes are far more perilous than anticipated. They're not merely powerful; they're strategic masters.'

The concern etched on Max's features twisted into a fierce, hunter's grin, morphing into a deep laugh that resounded across the arena.

"I suppose this is exactly how it ought to unfold, huh?" Max declared, shifting his footing. "The heads of every side—The Gilt Rats, The Black Hounds, and the Billion Bloodline group—all gathered on this stage, set to resolve the score."

"You're off on one detail, boy," Ramon replied, his leg mechanisms hissing as he adjusted his balance. "This ain't a fair brawl. It's us two versus you. Scratch that— I alone will bury you!"

Ramon exploded forward with ferocious acceleration. The stage planks creaked under his armored soles as he dashed like a pale streak, bridging the gap to Max in mere heartbeats. Yet during his rush, alarm flashed across one observer's expression.

"Hold on, Ramon! Stop!" Darius shouted, extending an arm as though to yank the researcher away.

Max stood prepared. He'd invested fortunes into his personal upgrades, forging a physique teetering on superhuman limits. Not yet at mythic heights like Hercules, but near enough to close the divide. Facing a foe in complete exoskeletal armor, his vision tracked the assault and his reflexes fired back.

Ramon unleashed a colossal, augmented punch, striking only void. Max had slipped from view. Glancing downward, Ramon spotted Max crouched and tensed like a coiled serpent. Then, like a snapping trap, Max's leg whipped upward, his knee slamming dead-on into Ramon's visage.

Ramon's charging momentum sealed his fate. The collision was gruesome. Max's knee shattered Ramon's nose, driving his teeth harshly into his upper lip. Ramon's skull jerked rearward, balance lost, body crashing heavily onto the platform.

'I figured this would play out,' Darius reflected, seeing his partner collapse. 'Ramon spots a youthful lad and assumes he's a mere puppet. His suit breeds total arrogance, blind to the savage beast this boy has evolved into.'

Darius moved without pause. He positioned swiftly before the fallen Ramon, blocking Max's path to block any kill shot. Max halted his pursuit, watching Darius warily. Soon, Ramon grunted, rising while smearing thick blood from his wrecked nose.

"I get it now... no surprise you struggled, Darius," Ramon muttered, voice thick and congested. "That was my dumb error. I've itched to thrash you properly for blocking us repeatedly, Billionaire. Time to do it right."

Ramon brushed past Darius, elbowing the Black Hound chief aside roughly. He closed on Max, dropping into an expert combat pose, suit buzzing with a shrill tone. Then he unleashed a kick.

The blow erupted with horrifying speed, exoskeleton cylinders syncing flawlessly. Max raised his arm to parry, planning to weather it like Darius's strikes, but he couldn't hold firm.

The assault's raw mass drove into him, shoving Max yards over the stage. His boots carved burnt streaks into the timber. Its might exceeded what Max believed machinery capable of.

'Can't just tank these blows,' Max pondered, arm pulsing with pain. 'This strength... rivals Na's!'

As a fresh fist sliced the air, Max evaded and circled to the side. But the armor adapted at once. Ramon’s punch curved abruptly in a blur, aiming for Max's side.

Max clamped both arms to deflect, yet the force skidded him anew across the surface, forearms deadened by the shock.

'Abrupt speed surges,' Max assessed, thoughts whirling. 'Like clashing with Stephen wielding Vow abilities. This won't be simple.'

Suddenly, Max caught a silhouette in his peripheral vision. Survival senses blared for evasion. He dropped low against an illusory attack, but mid-motion grasped the ploy. No strike—he'd dodged air. Darius loomed nearby, smirking victoriously; his 'intent' ploy had baited Max into vulnerability.

With head still lowered, Ramon’s chest-empowered fist hammered Max's face. The hit hurled Max skyward, twirling him until he slammed supine with a thunderous boom.

'Damn... that stung bad!' Max thought, blood metallic on his tongue. Breath ragged, he stared at the pair towering above. 'Handling them together... this night's dragging on.'