After learning about Nolan's situation, Frank didn't hesitate for long. His mind was already made up.
He still remembered vividly the day Nolan had personally chosen him to serve as head of security a decision that completely changed his life.
It wasn't just a promotion or a paycheck; it was a chance at redemption.
More than that, not long after taking the position, something terrible happened. A group of armed men had broken into his home. His family had been in danger that night, and if not for Nolan's timely intervention, they wouldn't have survived.
Frank had no idea how his boss discovered what was happening or how he got there in time, but from that moment onward, Frank knew one thing with absolute certainty he owed Nolan a debt he could never repay.
And tonight, he intended to fulfill that debt.
Behind him stood the men who had fought at his side through hell and back. Each of them was a battle-hardened veteran, forged in fire and blood.
This time, they were armed with the most advanced combat exosuits ever built by Lock Industries the APU Battle Mechs.
There was no room for failure.
This fight would be won.
"Open fire!" Frank roared.
In an instant, a torrent of gunfire erupted. The Lock Industries mechs unleashed their heavy weapons, bullets streaking through the night like burning meteors.
Across the field, the infamous Kingpin reacted swiftly, his hulking form rolling aside as the ground where he had stood exploded under the barrage.
He recognized the APU models immediately.
Whoever these people were, they clearly had ties to Lock Industries.
Within seconds, the mechs had turned dozens of his men into smoking corpses. The air filled with gunpowder, blood, and the mechanical hum of war.
And yet, Kingpin's expression didn't change.
Beside him, Lady Gao remained calm, even indifferent.
Losing a few men meant nothing to them.
"Counterattack," Kingpin growled coldly.
The APU mechs were powerful, but not invincible.
Kingpin didn't know every detail about them, but he knew one truth any machine could be destroyed with enough force.
And tonight, he had come prepared.
Somewhere in the darkness, the sky began to rumble.
Rain started to fall cold and thin mixing with the smell of gunfire and steel.
The cacophony of battle grew louder: gunfire, explosions, and the screams of the dying wove together into a brutal symphony.
While Frank's forces pressed forward, a sudden barrage of rocket fire erupted from the shadows.
"Get down!" someone shouted.
A series of fiery explosions tore through the street. Three APU mechs went down instantly, flames licking their steel shells.
Thankfully, the cockpit armor held the pilots survived but the machines were rendered useless.
Still, every man there knew the same thing: the fight had only just begun.
Without their mechs, they were exposed.
And judging from the volume of rocket fire, this wasn't a mere gang skirmish.
This was a full-blown war.
"Locate their firing positions!" Frank yelled. "We take out those launchers, or we're finished!"
Kingpin watched the chaos unfold, his massive figure unmoving amidst the storm.
His lips curled into a cruel smile.
"Impressive," he muttered. "But it seems these fools don't even realize what they're up against."
He clenched the jewel-tipped cane in his hand, its faint glow reflecting off the raindrops. Beneath his tailored suit, muscles bulged like coiled cables.
Lady Gao chuckled softly. "Don't worry. This is only the appetizer."
The fighting intensified.
Frank's face darkened as his men began to fall one by one. Even with the APU units, they were being pushed to the edge.
He had activated the company's private security mechs without authorization a desperate move. But even so, the enemy's strength was far beyond what he had anticipated.
Things were spiraling out of control.
Meanwhile, Nolan was racing toward the battlefield, the sound of gunfire echoing through the streets.
"Those are APU mechs," he muttered, his brows furrowing.
Few organizations had access to that level of weaponry. The APUs were designed for large-scale military operations, not urban combat.
So what were they doing here?
"Red Queen, what's the situation ahead?" Nolan asked.
His onboard AI responded immediately. "Signal interference detected, sir. The enemy has deployed a jamming field. Drone surveillance is ineffective."
Nolan sighed. "Of course they did."
He gripped the controls tighter. "Fine. We're almost there anyway."
Suddenly, a deafening blast rocked the street ahead.
"Landmines?" Nolan muttered, eyes narrowing.
Kingpin really had come prepared.
But he didn't slow down. The shockwave barely dented the reinforced plating of his Thunder Hammer exosuit.
In the distance, Kingpin heard the explosion and smirked.
"So the first course of our little dinner has begun," he said darkly.
He wasn't planning to wait for Nolan to arrive. In his mind, the man wouldn't even make it that far.
Lady Gao gave a small nod. "Let's finish this quickly. If they regroup, it'll become troublesome."
Kingpin cracked his neck and stripped off his coat, revealing a body like carved granite.
"Perfect," he said with a grin. "A warm-up."
Then, with a thunderous crack, he moved.
One moment he was standing still; the next, he vanished.
A split second later, he appeared in front of a nearby APU mech.
The pilot's eyes widened in shock then Kingpin's fist smashed into the armor.
Boom!
The mech flew backward, crashing into the ground with a metallic scream.
Kingpin's killing intent poured out like a physical force.
He lunged again, his fists slamming down like hammers.
Bang. Bang. Bang!
Within seconds, he had punched the mech's protective shell to pieces, then reached in and crushed the pilot's neck like it was nothing.
The sight made Frank's blood run cold.
Kingpin.
So this was the Kingpin's true power.
What kind of monster was he?
Those mechs could withstand anti-armor rounds yet he shattered one with his bare hands!
Even Lady Gao, usually composed, paused for a moment. Her gaze sharpened.
Terrifying.
If Kingpin ever turned on her, she knew she wouldn't even have time to scream.
After killing one man, Kingpin rose to his full height and turned toward Frank.
Their eyes met.
Kingpin smiled and then vanished into the shadows once more.
The next instant, a massive force slammed into Frank's mech.
The APU crashed backward, skidding across the wet asphalt.
When he looked up, Kingpin's cold eyes were staring straight at him.
For the first time that night, Frank felt fear.
The armor that was supposed to protect him now felt like a cage, trapping him inside with a predator.
He was running out of time.
"Damn it…" Frank gritted his teeth, grabbing his weapon.
He had only one chance to shoot the moment Kingpin broke through his armor.
If he missed, he'd die.
Kingpin's fists blurred, pounding the mech's shield faster and faster.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the reinforced glass.
Then
A deep metallic roar filled the air.
The sound of grinding steel echoed from behind.
Frank froze. He recognized that sound.
Kingpin stopped too, his instincts flaring.
He leaped back just as a voice rang out through the smoke and fire:
"Kingpin. This time, I know for sure it's the real you."
The battlefield fell silent for a heartbeat.
And Nolan stepped forward.
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