Infinity, The Arcade Age

The streets were in chaos as gang members received word of the ongoing assault. Car after car pulled up along the road, each filled with gunmen who leaned out the windows, opening fire at Qin Ming and the Punisher.

However, the combined firepower of the gangsters wasn't enough to stop the relentless advance of the two. Amid the barrage of bullets, Qin Ming and the Punisher swiftly broke through the defensive line and reached the end of the street.

There, they caught sight of Bruno, the casino boss, being escorted onto a double-decker bus by his remaining underlings.

The powerful engine of the bus roared to life, smashing aside obstructing cars as it barreled down the road, speeding off into the distance.

Without hesitation, the Punisher's eyes narrowed. He sprinted to the roadside, catching a passing car's door handle and using its momentum to leap onto the roof.

With his gun aimed at the driver through the window, he barked, "Don't stop! Keep going! Follow that bus!"

The terrified driver, glancing at the corpses littering the road, knew better than to argue. He slammed his foot down on the gas, and the car shot forward, quickly gaining on the bus.

Perched atop the speeding car, the Punisher fired at the gangsters leaning out of the bus windows, eliminating those trying to halt his pursuit. As they passed by Qin Ming, the Punisher extended a hand and shouted, "Get on!"

Qin Ming wasted no time. He grabbed the Punisher's outstretched arm and was pulled onto the car roof.

With the wind howling in their ears, the two men closed the distance to the bus. When they were near enough, the Punisher leaped forward, landing a powerful kick that shattered a bus window and launched him inside the second floor.

Without missing a beat, Qin Ming followed his lead. Standing atop the bus, he unleashed a powerful Sonic Hand Chop with a roar, sending a whirling gust of energy toward the bus. The spiraling wind tore through the metal frame, slicing two gangsters in half and ripping open a massive hole in the side of the bus.

Qin Ming jumped through the hole he created, guns blazing as he gunned down the remaining enemies inside the vehicle.

At the same time, the bus's roof exploded as the Punisher threw a grenade, blasting a way in for himself. He landed with a heavy thud next to Qin Ming, and together they unleashed a hail of bullets, mowing down the final few gangsters left inside.

As the last of the gang members fell, the only one left was Bruno, the casino boss, trembling in the corner. His face had gone pale, and his teeth chattered in terror.

Though he had built a reputation as a ruthless crime lord, at the end of the day, Bruno was still just an ordinary man. Being hunted down by two relentless killers who had slaughtered dozens of his men in pursuit would have terrified anyone.

Qin Ming's eyes gleamed coldly as he raised his gun and pointed it at Bruno's head. But before he could pull the trigger, his hand was suddenly pushed down.

The Punisher shook his head, his expression serious. "Not yet. I need to ask him some questions first."

Reluctantly, Qin Ming lowered his weapon. The Punisher stepped forward, grabbing Bruno by the collar and yanking him to his feet, ready to interrogate him.

But before a single question could be asked, a deafening crash came from the front of the bus.

The windshield shattered, and a massive figure, easily over two meters tall, burst through the glass, slamming into the Punisher with the force of a battering ram.

The impact sent the Punisher flying several meters, crashing hard into the side of the bus.

Recognizing the danger, Qin Ming immediately raised his gun and fired at the massive man. His bullets struck the hulking figure, but the shots barely fazed him.

The giant roared, shielding his face with his arms as he charged forward, plowing through the bus with the force of a raging bull. Within moments, he was upon Qin Ming, ramming him head-on.

The collision sent Qin Ming flying into the side of the bus. The force of the blow was so immense that the bus's windows shattered, and the metal frame buckled from the impact.

As Qin Ming's body slammed against the wall, he was nearly thrown out of the bus entirely. He quickly shot out his hand, grabbing hold of the bus's metal frame. His fingers dug into the steel, allowing him to cling to the outside of the speeding vehicle as his legs dragged along the road below.

The Russian, Bruno's bodyguard and the final boss of the first stage, had arrived.

Name: The Russian (Punisher, Stage One)

Strength: 50

Constitution: 50

Agility: 10

Spirit: 2

Skills: None

Description: The Russian doesn't need any fancy skills. With his monstrous strength and unbreakable constitution, he can crush anything in his way.

With terrifyingly high strength and constitution, but pitiful agility and spirit, the Russian was an oddity. He had no special skills—just raw power. But that raw power alone made him a formidable foe.

The Russian's attacks were no different from most people's special abilities, thanks to his absurd stats. A single punch from him could crush bones, and his blows carried enough force to kill with ease.

Inside the bus, the Russian saw that Qin Ming had managed to hang on. Enraged, he lifted his massive leg, preparing to stomp Qin Ming into the ground.

But before he could deliver the kick, a dark figure lunged at him from behind. It was the Punisher, who had recovered from the earlier blow. With a well-practiced chokehold, the Punisher locked his arm around the Russian's neck and fired his gun directly at the giant's head.

The bullets tore through the Russian's skin, but they failed to penetrate deeply enough to cause serious damage. The Russian's skull was just too thick.

Undeterred, the Punisher tightened his grip and continued firing. But his efforts only served to enrage the giant further. With a furious bellow, the Russian grabbed the Punisher by the arm, hurling him across the bus like a ragdoll.

The bus trembled as the Punisher hit the ground hard, groaning in pain. Before he could recover, the Russian raised his massive boot and stomped down, aiming for the Punisher's head.

Boom!

The impact was so powerful that the entire bus shook. The Punisher barely managed to catch the blow with both arms, but the sheer force pressed his arms into his face, pinning him to the floor.

As the Russian prepared to deliver a killing blow, a loud sound drew his attention.

Qin Ming had regained his footing and leaped back onto the bus. He stood at the far end of the vehicle, glaring at the Russian.

Angered by the interruption, the Russian kicked the Punisher aside and charged at Qin Ming, roaring as he closed the distance.

Qin Ming took a deep breath. His arms spread wide, and violent currents of air began swirling around his hands.

For two full seconds, he channeled all his strength.

Then, with a bellow, he unleashed his full power.

"True Sonic Hand Chop!"

A blindingly fast air blade shot forth, spinning through the air like a buzzsaw. It sliced through the seats and walls of the bus as it hurtled toward the Russian.

Seeing the deadly projectile coming, the Russian's eyes widened in fear. He tried to sidestep and raise his arm to block it.

Whoosh!

The air blade flashed by in an instant, cutting through everything in its path and exiting through the front of the bus.

The Russian froze in place, his face contorted in pain. Slowly, he let out a guttural scream as one of his massive arms fell to the floor, blood gushing from the wound.

The stage one boss of the Punisher world, the indomitable Russian, had been dismembered by Qin Ming's True Sonic Hand Chop.

Collapsing to the floor, the Russian writhed in agony, clutching the bleeding stump where his arm had been.

Before he could scream again, two dark figures loomed over him—Qin Ming and the Punisher, standing side by side. Without a word, they raised their guns, pressing the barrels against the Russian's head.

"Where's Bruno?" they demanded in unison.

(End of Chapter)