The Greatest Fight [progression cultivation isekai]

Szaszo's Revenge

Dawn rose over Grayshroud, its light cutting through the haze just as an explosion shattered the morning calm—saboteurs had targeted several oil tanks in the harbor. Meanwhile, another group was busy drawing the armed forces into the streets, serving as a crucial distraction in Roa's plan.

"That's the back entrance where the deliveries are made for food and supplies. We can enter through there. Let me do the talking. I know the guy guarding that door," explained Astra.

She was a middle-aged woman with exhaustion etched into her face. Four children waited anxiously at home for her, while her husband sat in a cell, somewhere in that very building—a cruel punishment for their inability to pay their debts. Having worked at the prison for years, she knew the staff and layout well enough to navigate its inner workings.

She approached the metal door and knocked firmly until a short man appeared, recognizing her with a wary glance. Roa crouched behind a cluster of scrapped cars a few meters away, studying their exchange, reading the man's body language. When the officer began shaking his head and tried to close the door on her, Astra panicked and grabbed his shirt. A brief struggle broke out, but before the officer could sound the alarm, the others sprang from their hiding spots, swiftly subduing him.

"It won't be long before they find him here. We must be quick. Lead the way into the prison," said Roa.

They slipped through several corridors unnoticed, their footsteps silent and measured, until a guard caught sight of them. Before he could alert the others, Rosso used Haste, vanishing in a blur and reappearing in front of the man. With precise efficiency, he locked the man in a chokehold, holding firm until the man slumped unconscious.

"I thought you didn't learn anything during training," smirked Roa.

Rosso rolled his eyes, but a faint smile revealed itself on his lips.

"Stop," said a deep voice from one of the cells, catching them by surprise. "Get me out of here, and I will make it well worth your time."

They moved closer, their eyes straining to make out the large figure shrouded in the darkness of the damp, tight space.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Szaszo Acrasia. I recognize that move. Haste—we call it where I am from. Must be my lucky day. I never thought Jumpers would find their way into this cesspit. I can feel your auras. You got some spark, but you are going to need plenty of help getting out of here," he paused. "I can help—if you let me out."

Rosso and the Sunflower exchanged a glance and wordlessly agreed to open every cell on the floor. One by one, the doors swung wide and the prisoners stepped out, their expressions shifting from disbelief to joy, as some embraced while others simply stood stunned by their sudden freedom. Astra called out her husband's name, her voice trembling. He appeared, worn and old, his face softening into a smile, his eyes lighting up as they met hers. They ran to each other, embracing tightly for the first time in years, tears streaming down their faces.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the hall. Szaszo emerged, each step resonating like a giant's, his towering frame rising half a meter above them all. An intimidating presence in an orange uniform, he was bound by thick, glowing chains pulsing with a strange energy.

"Take these damn things off of me," the large convict commanded.

His face was obscured by a plastic cover designed to prevent biting and spitting. The boy could hear his deep breaths growing faster. He suddenly felt a deep unease from his presence—his energy not only heavy, but vast, pressing down on him like an invisible weight.

"Do you know where they are keeping someone named Vesper? He is with a young woman named Mattina," asked Rosso as he unlocked the chains using the keys from the unconscious guard.

"Yes—the other Jumper trapped in this hell. They have him in the lowest level, in the interrogation room. They've been trying to break him to get some info out of him. I have been listening to his screams—he must be a tough one if they haven't stopped yet."

"And his granddaughter?" asked Roa.

"I have not seen anyone by that name here," explained Szaszo, as they unlocked the shackles from his hands, feet and neck.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"Why are you the only one tied up like this?" asked the boy, fidgeting nervously with his fingers.

Letting out a loud groan of satisfaction, stretching, and cracking his neck, he said, "because I am the most dangerous one here." Then, with a deranged look in his eyes, he leaned down, adding, "and because they know that as soon as I'd break free again—I would make them all pay."

The boy stared at him, worry etched in his furrowing brows. Sirens blared and lights flashed across every floor, the alarm shattering any semblance of order. Officers poured in from all sides, their shouts mixing with the chaos, as a massive brawl erupted between them and the newly freed prisoners.

"I'm going back in—let's kick their asses, boys!" said a man jumping into the fray.

"There's no time to waste. Astra, bring your husband with us. The rest of the inmates will have to act as a distraction, for now," shouted Roa.

Ten men in uniform came out, guns pointing their way. The two Jumpers were about to go on the offense, but were instead left standing dumbfounded. Szaszo single-handedly took out the whole group in a split second. Blood splattered against the walls, painting them red, as bodies fell limp on the grated floors with several thuds.

"You don't need to kill them! These people are also victims of the system," argued the boy, staring at the excessive violence.

"These dogs have kept me trapped for years. I promised them death the day I would break free," Szaszo said. He paused, his face inching closer to the boy's, his gaze intense and unblinking. "I am a man who keeps his promises," he said, defiant, as more guards appeared from behind the corner.

"We're here to break the others out, not cause a bloodbath. They're not the enemy," pleaded the Sunflower.

"Shut up—I'll do as I please. After all of the pain they have caused me, I deserve vengeance," roared the large inmate, sweat running down his temples as he trembled from the rage. He punched one of the officers' faces, causing his skull to explode.

"That man was just doing his job—he was forced by threat of hunger by the system. Get a hold of yourself," bellowed the young man.

"Was he also forced to pick on me every day—spit in my food—push me around like an animal? Was he forced to do that too, boy?"

The Sunflower stood there with his eyes wide open when the officers received word of reinforcements on their radios. The riot police had been alerted, and were beginning to flood the building.

Making their way down to the bottom floor, Fulvix sprang into action. He was a lean young man in his twenties from a disadvantaged background, his life had been marked by hardship in the city. His brother had been imprisoned for leading a riot, while Fulvix himself had faced time in prison for petty crimes. With knowledge of the layout, he was chosen to accompany the group inside the Hole, a place he knew too well.

"Where's my big bro?" he screamed at a guard as he slammed him against the wall. When Szaszo heavy steps grew louder, the officer pointed to a cell, his index finger trembling.

"He's in there. Please don't hurt me. Remember when I gave you that cigarette, Acrasia?" the guard pleaded with a quivering voice.

His shriek echoed through the air, followed by a sickening splat as Szaszo hurled him from several stories with a single hand. Meanwhile, Fulvix finally reunited with his sibling and embraced him tightly, clinging to the only person who had ever truly cared for him. His brother joined other political prisoners, exchanging hugs and handshakes, their faces lighting up with smiles despite the grim circumstances.

"Let's keep going down. Vesper is at the bottom," said Roa.

"Wait—please wait," said a woman from inside an open cell.

Blood dripping down her cheeks, her nose broken, and her lips swollen, she raised her trembling hand to get their attention from her bed.

"Inside the warden's room—bottom floor. Inside the metal locker is a machine. Please, it is my life's work. It is the reason why I am in here. It will help you—take it," she said, her voice shaking like her fingers.

"We will come back for you! We must find our friend—then we will be back," said Rosso, trying to reassure her as they continued on.

The two Jumpers sprinted through the complex, their bodies a blur of incredible speed as they darted from floor to floor, searching for the teacher. Meanwhile, the rest of the group methodically worked their way through each level, unlocking the prison cells one by one. Letting out a maniacal laugh, Szaszo leapt off the metal staircase, plummeting ten floors with a deafening crash. He landed in a crouch, his impact so powerful that the floor buckled beneath him, forming a crater; lifting his crazed eyes, he sneered as he scanned his surroundings. His furious screams echoed through the complex, chilling noises that sent a shiver down Roa's spine.

"Guess who's loose, finally?" Szaszo shouted below.

Massive explosions rocked the place, as the inmate's rampage escalated. The staircase shook and rattled, bolts ripping free from their fixtures, whizzing past their heads like bullets. The entire place seemed on the brink of collapse, the chaos intensifying with each passing minute.

Sweat running down his temples, Rosso reached over the ledge and screamed, "you're going to tear this whole place apart, you fool! You're going to kill everyone before we can even free them!" he cried.

"That's exactly the point, little man! You think any of these inmates were kind to me while the chains were still on? No—they were worse than the guards," his burning eyes flared with anger as he growled those words up at him. Shrapnel and screams filled the dusty air. "They deserve this," he continued, as his maniacal laughter was choked by excitement.

The two friends stared at each other, exchanging worried glances.

"What did we unleash?" said Rosso, his hands on his head, as Roa grabbed his cloak, climbing over the rail.

The two Jumpers leapt from the last two stories, worry gripping them as they manifested Pan's Gift of flight. Their auras slowed their fall just enough, gaining them a few precious extra seconds to reach their teacher in time.

"I found him!" said Rosso eventually, as he stuck his head inside one of the many rooms of the bottom level.