---
On the empty streets under the dim glow of the streetlights, Dipanshu and Shreekant walked side by side, unaware of the ambush waiting for them.
Without warning, a group of masked figures surged from the alleys — members of The Demolition, the new gang that had been causing havoc across the city.
But they had made a fatal mistake.
Dipanshu cracked his knuckles, a dangerous smirk playing on his lips, while Shreekant's eyes darkened with an almost eerie calm.
"Looks like they came to die," Shreekant muttered.
In an instant, both unleashed fury.
Dipanshu tore through the attackers like a raging bull, every punch dropping a thug like a sack of stones. Shreekant, colder and more precise, broke through the mob with brutal efficiency, his movements a deadly dance.
Bodies hit the pavement one after another — groaning, broken, defeated.
Then, the crowd parted, and a towering figure stepped forward.
A mountain of muscle, with scars crisscrossing his arms and an unsettling grin on his face.
"I'm Johnathan," the man said, voice deep and rough. "I heard The Shield had some tough guys. Guess it's my lucky night."
Dipanshu wiped the blood from his knuckles and stepped forward without hesitation.
"Good," he said. "I was getting bored."
The two clashed with the sound of fists hitting flesh echoing through the street.
Dipanshu fought fiercely, his strikes landing heavy and fast, but Johnathan absorbed the punishment, grinning wider with each hit.
Gradually, Dipanshu began to feel the weight of exhaustion creep into his muscles.
Johnathan chuckled darkly.
"You're tough... I'll give you that," he said, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. "But don't expect mercy."
Dipanshu smirked through heavy breaths.
"Wouldn't want it," he said, steadying himself.
He added under his breath, "He's no rookie... must be from the 3rd gen of Bad Boyz..."
The realization sent a ripple of adrenaline through him.
Before the battle could tip either way, another figure appeared — stepping casually into the chaos.
A man dressed in black with silver chains hanging from his waist.
"I'm Zora'oZ," he said smoothly. "Heard someone needed a reminder why the OZ brothers were legends."
Dipanshu's eyes widened.
"No way... Zora'oZ... and if he's here—"
Before he could even react, a heavy clang rang out behind him.
A metal rod slammed into the back of his head.
It was Corner'oZ — Zora's notorious brother — grinning wickedly as Dipanshu and Shreekant both crumpled to the ground.
Pain blurred Dipanshu's vision, but rage burned hotter.
With a roar that made even the attackers hesitate, Dipanshu forced himself back to his feet — fists clenched, teeth bared.
He fought blindly, savagely, knocking down anyone who came close.
But the injuries were too much.
His legs finally gave out, and he collapsed, breathing hard.
Among the wreckage, Bablu, one of The Demolition's newer recruits, stumbled back in terror.
"They're... they're not human!" he screamed before bolting down the street.
Sirens howled in the distance.
Soon after, Dipanshu and Shreekant were rushed to the hospital, battered but alive.
---
Later that evening, when Wick received the news, his entire demeanor shifted.
His fists tightened until his knuckles turned white.
"Who did this?" he demanded, his voice cold and deadly.
Deep stepped forward.
"It's... it's Demolition. And their leader is... Eddie."
The name struck Wick like a bullet.
For a long moment, he said nothing, only staring ahead as if calculating a hundred different outcomes.
Eddie. Once a brother. Now an enemy.
"We'll wait," Wick finally said, his voice steely. "Let everyone recover."
Then, turning to Deep and Dev, he ordered, "I want everything — their hideouts, numbers, alliances. No gaps."
---
That night, an emergency meeting of The Shield was held in a hidden corner of their territory.
The room was tense. Bruises and bandages marked the few who had already tasted the Demolition's fury.
Nick stood at the front, his voice hard.
"This meeting is now in session.
Today, our members were attacked all across the city — by a gang calling themselves Demolition."
Deep stood and added, "They're not just some random street thugs.
From what I gathered, multiple elite groups... groups that once fought each other... have merged."
Dipanshu, sitting with an ice pack on his neck, grunted.
"Johnathan and the Oz brothers... they're with them."
Vivek leaned forward.
"Not just them. Farhan too — from the original gang days."
A stunned silence fell over the room.
Wick stood slowly, his eyes like frozen steel.
"In other words," he said, voice low, "Demolition is a fusion of the most dangerous fighters we've ever faced."
Nick crossed his arms.
"Sounds like their grudge against us runs deeper than we thought."
Wick's gaze swept across the room — burning with a quiet fury.
"Then hear this — I will not let The Shield fall.
We will not wait for them to strike again.
We will invade.
And we will crush them."
The room echoed with the sound of fists pounding the table — a silent, fierce agreement.
The war had begun.
---
To be continued...