Villain Origin : Every Crime I Commit Helps Me Level Up-Chapter 29: Dawn’s Reckoning

The morning arrived in a blur—light streaming through Andre's bedroom window, the day racing forward with the promise of confrontation. Andre woke with a calm certainty; his eyes held no fear, only eager anticipation. Today wasn't just another day—it was the day he would face Victor.

'Time flies when destiny calls,' he mused silently as he rose, dressed, and left his mansion with a purposeful stride. His double life was neatly compartmentalized, and the familiar cadence of routine provided little distraction from his thoughts, which were already focused on the upcoming duel at Blackridge Docks.

On campus, the corridors buzzed with the routine of a new day. Andre moved quietly through the throng of students, drawing no attention. In the lecture hall of Economics 301, he found his usual seat in the middle of Gia and Julian near the back—a strategic position where he could observe without being observed. The professor's monotone drone about market fluctuations became mere background noise to Andre's strategic mind.

In his final class of the day, he sat lost in thought, the impending challenge looming large. His distant gaze recalled Zaria's words from the previous night. "Victor... he was the leader of The Solar Shade," she had said, her tone betraying no uncertainty. "I wished I knew more, but none of his victims lived to tell their story." The weight of her words hung in the air, leaving Andre to confront the deadly enigma of Victor alone.

Halfway through the lecture, a text message from Ken shattered the mundane flow:

Ken~ the strategic map is ready. We attack the docks at dawn. Meet at base in one hour.

Andre closed his notebook with deliberate slowness. "I have to go," he murmured, standing up without a backward glance. As the door slid shut behind him, the atmosphere among the students shifted.

Julian, seated beside him, watched Andre's departure with growing unease. 'Andre's been off lately—too many late nights, too many vague excuses. And now this... That name, Victor, it rings a bell, but I can't quite place it. What in the world has he gotten himself into?'

Julian's internal alarm bells rang silently, but he pushed them aside. Right now, his only focus was finding a way to his friend—questions could wait.

Outside, the campus hustle continued, indifferent to the secret storm brewing among its inhabitants.

Andre's drive back to the base was quiet and focused. The cityscape whipped past the windows, and every mile brought him closer to the converted industrial complex that had become his nerve center. 'Dawn will reveal everything,' he thought with an undercurrent of excitement. 'I'm ready to settle scores.'

At the base, the atmosphere was one of controlled efficiency. Inside the main hall of the repurposed factory, Andre found Ken and Hawk already waiting. The room was sparse yet meticulously organized, walls lined with maps and tactical diagrams that hinted at countless hours of strategic planning.

"Atlas," Ken said crisply, handing over a folded, annotated map. "Everything is set. We're moving on your schedule."

Andre took the map and quickly scanned it, noting the rough outlines of the plan—deliberately vague yet filled with potential points of attack. "Where's Zaria?" he asked, his tone steady and emotionless.

Ken offered a slight shrug. "She had some business to handle—she isn't here today."

Andre didn't press further. His attention remained on the map. "So what's the plan?"

Ken's finger traced a flexible route along the coastline. "Victor's forces are spread thin, but we don't have their exact positions. Our approach is dynamic: we'll create diversions along multiple points of the docks to confuse and scatter them. The idea is to disrupt their formation enough that you can slip through the eastern channel and force a direct duel with Victor."

Andre's eyes gleamed with anticipation. 'Victor's audacity knows no bounds. He expects a conventional fight, a chance to humiliate me. But he underestimates my resolve.'

Hawk's natural hot-headedness bubbled to the surface. "Honestly, I told him we should go in blazing—drop everybody down before they even know what hit 'em." His voice carried the rough edge of a seasoned fighter.

Andre raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips. "And what about Marcus? Last I heard, there's unfinished business between you two."

Hawk's eyes narrowed, intensity flashing in their depths. "Leave the Marcus guy for me," he said firmly. "I've got scores to settle."

Hawk reached into a side cabinet and pulled out a weathered brick case. With a deliberate motion, he opened it to reveal a pair of black iron gauntlets—sleek, brutal, and clearly forged for a specific purpose.

Ken and Andre exchanged a meaningful glance—Ken's eyes glinting with professional respect, Andre's expression softening into an approving nod.

"These gauntlets," Hawk continued, his voice low and controlled, "are what I've been saving for just this moment. They'll remind Marcus that some debts are never forgotten."

Andre gave Hawk a firm thumbs up and a look of respect.

Ken folded the map with deliberate care. "Our men will spread out to launch simultaneous diversions. We don't know exactly where their positions will be, but the idea is to sow chaos along the perimeter. This unpredictability is our edge. By the time they regroup, you'll have your chance—no interference, no backup."

Andre folded his arms, his confident smile returning. "At dawn, I'll confront him head-on. I'm looking forward to it."

Ken's eyes shone with professional pride and silent acknowledgment of the risk. "That's why we're counting on you, Atlas. Remember, this isn't just a fight—it's a public statement. Victor's challenge is designed to humiliate you if you lose, but you'll show him what happens when you underestimate our resolve."

Hawk tempered his earlier hot-headed remarks with gravity. "We're with you every step of the way. Our plan isn't perfect, but it's the best shot we have at turning the tables. When the chaos begins, keep your focus and use that unpredictability to your advantage."

Andre's jaw set with unwavering determination.

The meeting dissolved into silent nods and final adjustments. As the team dispersed to execute their roles, Andre remained behind, letting the moment's gravity wash over him.

Stepping out onto the base's roof, Andre absorbed the view. The city below was still waking up, and the rising sun painted the horizon in vibrant hues of orange and pink. Here, time seemed to slow. The air was charged with the promise of conflict—a calm before the storm.

'This view is my brief reprieve—a moment of clarity before the duel that will define my future. Today, I'm finally facing Victor, the leader of the Solar Shade gang, one of the top five, and I intend to win,' he thought, his heart steady and resolve unyielding.

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After moments of solitary reflection, he descended back into the base. The team awaited him, each person carrying the weight of the imminent challenge. Ken's eyes met his with shared understanding.

"Let's move out," Andre said, his voice unwavering. "Dawn is our signal. The docks will be our arena, and Victor's challenge will be met head-on."

Ken and Hawk exchanged determined nods. Their plan, while not flawless, was a calculated gamble—a chaotic strategy designed to force Victor's hand and isolate him for a one-on-one duel with Andre.

As the team dispersed through the base's labyrinthine corridors to finalize their positions, Andre walked quietly, his thoughts resolute. *'Today is mine. I am poised to redefine the power in this city.'*

The base hummed with final preparations as the first light of dawn approached. Outside, in the quiet predawn darkness, the stage was set. Every decision had led to this moment—the duel at Blackridge Docks. The day itself seemed to hold its breath in anticipation of the confrontation that would soon decide the balance of power.

"Let's move," Andre commanded once more, his voice ringing with authority and excitement. "Today, we change everything."

And with that, the team dispersed into the approaching light, each a crucial part of the plan that would force Victor's hand and, in the process, cement Andre's place as the future of the underworld.