The Fox’s Final Show and Leon’s Awakening
CHAPTER 1
The inside of the car was drowned in a sepulchral silence, broken only by Jack’s heavy breathing. He was asleep… but not resting. In his mind, the shadows of the past came alive.
Flashback
Jack is a child. The air smells of gunpowder and fear. His eyes, wide with terror, watch as soldiers drag his mother by the hair. The scene is chaos—uniforms, shouting, violence. Desperate, little Jack runs forward and sinks his teeth into one of the soldier’s leg.
—You little bastard! —the soldier roars, smashing the butt of his gun against the boy’s head.
Jack falls. Blood begins to soak his face.
—Please, don’t hurt him! —his mother begs, her voice breaking.
The soldier grabs Jack by the neck, pointing his gun at him. But something changes. Despite the blood and pain, the boy doesn’t cry. He stares at him… with such hatred and menace that the soldier shivers.
In the struggle, his mother tries to free him.
A gunshot echoes.
The world stops.
—Mom?… MOM!!!
Jack grabs a piece of broken glass from the ground. The soldier looks at the lifeless body with disgust.
—Damn it! You stained my uniform, bitch! —he says, kicking the corpse.
Jack’s rage explodes. He runs at inhuman speed and slashes the soldier’s leg. As the man bends in pain, Jack cuts his throat with the glass. The soldier bleeds out, his last sight being the eyes of a child… no longer innocent, but filled with something ancient and pure evil.
Present
The sound of someone forcing the car door snaps Jack out of the nightmare. Pure instinct takes over—he draws his guns and aims at the window.
The door opens.
—I’M CALM, BOSS, IT’S ME! —Doier shouts, hands raised.
—DOIERRRRR! —Jack exhales, adrenaline still pumping—. I almost blew your brains out.
Jack looks at himself in the mirror, frowning, his hands trembling.
—Holy shit, boss… I think I almost pissed myself —Doier says, catching his breath.
—Why the hell are you opening the door? Don’t you know how to knock?
—Sorry, Jack. I came to tell you—it’s time.
—Damn… how long was I out?
—Only ten minutes.
Jack stares at his hands. Still shaking. He adjusts his scarf, puts on his hat, and regains his leader’s mask.
—Alright… let’s get to work. No time to waste.
PART II: THE FOX’S SHOW
Jack steps out of the car and raises a finger toward a distant guard. The man barely has time to react.
—Let the show begin, gentlemen.
Jack mimics firing with his finger.
At that exact moment, a bullet pierces the guard’s head with surgical precision.
—Nice shot, baby!
On a nearby rooftop, a sniper gives a thumbs up. Jack walks into the bank like he’s stepping onto a stage.
—Good morning, gentlemen! The stars of the show have arrived. Please, everyone on the floor.
Jack grabs a woman as a hostage, smiling cynically.
—Hey… you’re really pretty. When the show’s over, wanna grab a coffee?… Just kidding.
He drags her to the counter and points at the receptionist, who is visibly shaking.
—I only want the gold. I won’t hurt anyone. Open the door, please.
—Please… don’t hurt me… —the man begs.
—My mom didn’t raise a monster —Jack says… but for a moment, his mind drifts back, seeing himself slaughter soldiers without mercy. He freezes briefly—. Relax. Just do what I say and everything will be fine.
But the receptionist, in a panic, presses the alarm button.
The buzzing fills the room.
—Shit… this wasn’t going to be easy, was it? GENTLEMEN! Time to play for real!
Jack releases the woman. In a blink, Doier shoots the receptionist down. Jack looks at the body.
—I told you I’m not a monster… but I never said they were good. RONA! You’re up!
Rona grins like a madwoman as she plants explosives.
—Take cover, this bastard doesn’t have any pati—
—BOOOOOOM!
The door explodes into pieces.
—Damn it, Rona! You should warn us first —Jack complains, though his eyes shine at the sight of the loot—. Alright, get in there and grab our babies! My little suns!
PART III: THE FALL
They exit the bank carrying heavy bags. Jack stops at the door to address the terrified crowd.
—The show must end, ladies and gentlemen! Don’t miss me… don’t hate me either. I love you all! Fox 1, out.
They run to the cars as police arrive, opening fire. Jack leans out the window, shooting back as tires screech against the asphalt.
—BABYYYY, YOUR TIME TO SHINE!
From above, Baby clears the path, taking down officers one by one.
In the backseat, Jack looks at the gold.
—Boss, where to? —Doier asks.
—Home.
The Celebration
At the hideout, the group celebrates with mango cake and drinks. Children run toward Jack.
—Uncle, uncle! Let’s play! We’re bored!
—I can’t right now, Amber. We’re celebrating. Have some cake.
Jack watches them with a genuine smile. He steps outside to smoke and checks his watch.
—Damn… I should get going.
—Boss, where are you going? —Doier asks.
—I’ve got a date, kid. A beauty’s waiting for me. Stay and celebrate—go to the tavern, have some whiskey for me. By the way… where’s Baby?
—I don’t know. Haven’t seen her since the heist.
—Okay… hope she shows up soon. Don’t miss me too much, alright?
PART IV: THE TRAP
Jack arrives at a restaurant. At the bar sits Heli, smiling as she sees him.
—Good evening, beautiful lady.
—What can I get you, sir?
—A coffee… and your sweet lips.
—You’re an idiot, Jack —she says, blushing.
—It’s time for our date, Heli.
While she gathers her things, Jack taps the table rhythmically, staring at the ceiling. A man beside him watches silently, wearing a strange smile.
Later, while driving across a bridge, Heli suddenly shouts:
—JACK, STOP! Let’s help that puppy—it’s going to drown!
Jack sighs, looking at her teary eyes.
—I’ll help… only because I don’t like seeing you like that.
He jumps into the water, rescues the animal, and lifts it up.
—He’s okay!
—YOU’RE MY HERO, JACK! I LOVE YOU! —Heli covers her mouth, embarrassed.
—Did you hear that? She said she loves me —Jack tells the dog—. We’ll head back up right away!
But when he returns…
The dream turns into a nightmare.
The bridge is surrounded.
The man from the restaurant is there, smiling. He’s a cop… holding a gun to Heli’s head.
Baby is there too—on her knees, beaten, chained.
—I’M SORRY, JACK! —Baby sobs.
—Turn yourself in, little fox. This is your final show.
Jack tries to set the dog down… but a nervous officer pulls the trigger.
The bullet goes through Heli.
Time freezes.
—NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Heli falls to her knees, smiling one last time.
—I love you…
—YOU BASTARDS!!!
Jack draws both guns and unleashes hell. He kills two officers before a storm of bullets tears through him.
He falls… right beside Heli.
He tries to reach her…
Darkness takes him.
PART V: REBIRTH
Jack opens his eyes in a dark void. He can’t move. He sees a girl with black-and-white hair running in the distance. To his left, another girl begins to fade into smoke.
That same smoke wraps around his arm… forming a skull-shaped sword.
Suddenly, light blinds him.
He feels the sun on his face.
Voices.
—Our son is so beautiful… like an angel —says an elf woman with pointed ears.
—Hello, little one! I’m your father! —a man named Yolk smiles.
Jack is confused.
Where is Heli? Why are my hands so small?
The elf mother drops him—and he falls to the ground.
Pain explodes through him.
—OUCHHH THAT REALLY HURT! —he tries to scream… but only babbling comes out.
Then tragedy strikes again.
His elf mother, Mora… closes her eyes forever.
Yolk holds her, crying in despair.
Jack, trapped in the body of a baby named Leon, understands the truth:
He has died…
And been reborn.
15 Years Later
Yolk, now a man who drowns in alcohol but raised Leon harshly, draws his sword. Flames engulf the blade.
—Fire magic: Crimson Blaze!
—Dad, that’s cheating! —Leon protests.
—Cheating? To be an adventurer, you have to survive. If you can’t face me… you’ll never become like your father—the leader of the Red Lion Squad! COME ON! LET’S STRENGTHEN THE BOND BETWEEN FATHER AND SON! HAHAHA!
Leon takes a fighting stance. Though he has no magic, his swordsmanship is incredible.
He runs, jumps—and when Yolk tries to burn him with a storm of embers, Leon slides and throws dirt into his eyes.
—You think like a rookie —Yolk says, smiling, as his flames burn stronger—. COME AT ME WITH EVERYTHING YOU’VE GOT!
Leon smiles.
Their swords clash with a thunderous impact that shakes the air.
Father and son stare at each other…
enjoying the fight.
