The Final Curtain

Amid the fierce, chaotic battle, Sowande was the first of The Hand's three Fingers to show signs of exhaustion. He had drawn on Dark Energy to boost his strength and enter a berserk state.

The Dark Energy that had once enveloped him had grown wildly unstable, thick as ink one moment and thin as gauze the next. His control was fading fast. His chest heaved, each breath rasping like a worn-out bellows, and sweat streamed down his dark skin.

Kingpin's evasive tactics and heavy blows had not only drained Sowande's strength but worn away what little reason he had left.

"Can you do anything but dodge like a filthy rat, Kingpin?! Come on! Fight me head-on!" Sowande roared, throwing another straight punch.

Kingpin merely turned sideways, letting the furious blow miss again.

As Sowande's fist cut through empty air, his old momentum spent and his next strike not yet begun, Kingpin seized the fleeting opening. He drove a heavy elbow into the ribs Sowande had exposed with his punch!

Crack!

That was the sound of Sowande's ribs breaking.

"Argh!"

That was Sowande's agonized scream.

Kingpin unleashed all the power he had built up in his mountain-like frame. He lunged forward and locked his massive arms around Sowande's waist.

"Get... up!"

A roar tore from Kingpin's throat. Every muscle strained to its limit, veins bulging beneath his skin, as he hauled Sowande's large, heavy body off the ground through sheer physical strength!

The next instant—

Kingpin fell backward and smashed Sowande's head into the ground!

Boom!

The impact snapped Sowande's neck. The Dark Energy surging around him rapidly dispersed. His body jerked and spasmed a few times, then the red glow faded from his eyes, leaving them empty and dull.

Kingpin climbed to his feet, breathing hard. He gave Sowande's lifeless