## CHAPTER 13 – BREAKING POINT
When they carried the man upstairs, he was still alive.
Breathing heavily.
His body covered in blood.
But his eyes… still hadn't given up.
Boran dropped him to the ground.
"He's alive, but barely."
The doctor couple immediately knelt beside him.
The female doctor quickly checked his pulse.
"He's lost too much blood."
The male doctor clenched his jaw.
"He needs surgery… what we can do here is limited."
Riven scanned him carefully.
"Any bite marks?"
The female doctor shook her head.
"No bite."
Karel stood a few steps away.
Silent.
Just watching.
---
The man slowly opened his eyes.
He saw Karel.
For a moment, fear crossed his face.
Then… relief.
"You…" he whispered.
"…are you the leader?"
Karel didn't answer.
He just looked at him.
The man swallowed with difficulty.
"You… were watching us, right…"
Boran stepped in.
"We were."
"And it was a great show."
Riven chuckled slightly.
"Even cinema isn't this good."
The man smiled in pain.
"Smart…"
---
Karel slowly stepped forward.
He stood in front of him.
"Name."
"Emre…"
"Your group?"
The man closed his eyes for a moment.
"…doesn't exist anymore."
---
Karel crouched down.
"How many were you?"
"Twenty-three…"
Boran raised an eyebrow.
"Nicely wiped."
The man continued with effort.
"We came from three different points…"
"Collecting weapons… ammunition… food…"
Riven asked:
"Any other groups?"
The man shook his head.
"No…"
"We… were the biggest…"
---
Silence fell.
Boran leaned slightly toward Riven.
"Damn, lucky timing."
Riven whispered:
"One of the biggest threats in the city is gone."
---
Karel was still looking at the man.
"Your leader."
The man opened his eyes.
"…was me."
Boran paused.
"Seriously?"
Riven tilted his head.
"So you were the one with the megaphone."
The man smiled faintly.
"Yes…"
"And I lost."
---
Karel's expression didn't change.
"No."
The man raised his eyebrows slightly.
"You didn't lose."
"You chose the wrong battle."
---
The man stayed silent for a moment.
Then turned his head slightly.
He looked at the people around.
Fear… respect… silence.
"You're… different…"
Karel didn't respond.
---
The female doctor stepped in.
"We can keep him alive, but…"
The male doctor finished:
"He needs blood. Rest. Time."
Boran crossed his arms.
"Is he worth it?"
Riven looked at Karel.
"Your call."
---
Karel thought for a few seconds.
Then spoke.
"He lives."
Everyone went silent.
Boran:
"You sure?"
Karel didn't even blink.
"He's useful."
---
The man smiled faintly.
"You're… going to use me…"
Karel replied calmly:
"Everyone has a use."
---
The doctors moved quickly.
They dressed the wound.
Tried to stop the bleeding.
The female chef brought water.
Others carried cloth.
For the first time…
the group worked together.
---
Riven approached Karel quietly.
Spoke in a low voice.
"Did you really spare him just because he's useful?"
Karel replied without looking away.
"No."
Riven raised an eyebrow.
"Then?"
Karel smiled slightly.
"Leaders are hard to find."
---
Boran shouted from afar:
"Stay awake, man! Don't die now!"
The man forced a laugh.
"Don't worry…"
"…I don't die that easily."
---
The night deepened.
Karmara Forum was now fully under their control.
But this time…
they didn't just have a base.
They had a source of information.
Another leader.
---
And one thought kept turning in Karel's mind:
How many more groups…
were there in this city?
---
At that moment…
The security screen crackled again.
The mechanic shouted:
"Boss… this time it's different!"
Everyone turned.
On the screen…
a massive column of smoke was rising from the city center.
But this…
was no normal fire.
It was like a black pillar…
stretching into the sky.
And inside it…
strange flashes of light.
Riven whispered:
"What the hell is that…"
Karel narrowed his eyes.
For the first time…
he saw something that truly caught his interest.
"So…"
"…the game is getting bigger."
End of chapter.