If this were an anime plot.
Mateo would have been shot in the arm by Bofeite, then erupted with tremendous power amid flashbacks. A fiery BGM would rise, and he would turn the tables in a desperate counterattack, killing Bofeite and sealing the victory in one stroke.
If this were a film or television plot.
When Bofeite fired, the shot would slow to a crawl. Mateo would gently sway his body, narrowly dodging the bullet as it grazed past the tip of his nose. Then he would twist at the waist and fire, instantly killing Bofeite. The entire venue would erupt in cheers, and some girl who had run out from who knew where would fiercely kiss him.
If this were a novel plot.
Mateo might have seemed not to notice Bofeite, but in truth, he would have long guessed that Bofeite was not among the wolves. The instant Bofeite fired, the corner of his mouth would curl slightly into a contemptuous smile. He would calmly evade the attack, then shoot an arrow straight into Bofeite's vital point.
But Bofeite would not die immediately. Instead, just to pad the word count, he would ask, "Why?"
"The instant the wolves appeared, I already knew their number," Mateo would answer.
The problem was, this was neither anime nor film nor a novel.
This was merely cruel reality.
Mateo did not possess any of those abilities. The prerequisite for an eruption was having power to erupt with. If he did not even have the chips to go all in, what could he use to turn the tide?
Before countless spectators, just as Mateo dealt with the last wild wolf and fell into confusion for a fleeting instant, a bullet shot forth like a ghost and pierced straight through his brain. His body collapsed