Enormous arachnids scuttled forth, their numerous legs moving with impressive speed across the grass-laden street. Above them, massive winged beasts soared through the air toward the bandit base, their enormous wings outstretched as they glided toward the target.

Jake watched from a distance, not bothering to participate in the attack. It wasn't long before his monstrous minions took care of the turrets and killed all the bandits. After that, he absorbed an amber with the flesh of each of his hands and entered the base. Instructing the workers to get out of there, he began the process of obliterating the base.

It took him a few minutes to flatten the walls and guard towers and reduce all the machines to piles of scrap. The only building still standing was HQ. As he looked at it, Jake decided to give Skullface a video call for no apparent reason.

He entered the building and, a moment later, stepped into the control security room. There was nothing in particular he wanted to tell Skullface or hear from him. Acting on a whim rather than anything else, he dialed the number for Los Demonios' main base and waited for the call to be answered.

For several long seconds, it rang and rang without anyone answering. Perhaps Skullface just didn't want to talk to him anymore. On the other hand, Jake had just annihilated this base, so news of the destruction shouldn't have gotten to him yet, unless he had been alerted the moment Jake's monstrous minions began their attack.

Jake waited and waited. Just as he was about to end the call, convinced that no one would answer, an unfamiliar face suddenly appeared on the central screen.

"What now?" the bald man on the screen barked immediately. Jake wondered who he was. It was the first time he had ever seen that human.

The person's expression changed instantly as he recognized Jake on the other side of the video call.

"Ah, it's you again," the man said with a smirk.

Jake couldn't help but notice the absence of fear or anger in the man's expression and tone.

"Who's that?" Skullface's familiar voice echoed from a distance.

The man turned to glance at someone off-screen.

"It's the freak. I wonder what he wants this time."

"Let me talk to him, Kato."

Footsteps approached, and moments later, Skullface appeared on the screen. Kato stood and stepped out of view as Skullface settled into the chair Kato had just vacated. The skull tattoo on the gang leader's face stretched disturbingly as he grinned at Jake.

"Hey there," Skullface greeted, sounding as though they were old friends. "How have you been, bud?"

"Busy," Jake responded, having pulled the electrolarynx from his inventory and positioned it against his mandible.

Skullface chuckled, as if he had just heard a private joke. He appeared to be in a good and relaxed mood, or at least he was trying to project that image. Yet, Jake's heightened senses caught the subtle tension in the gang leader, revealing that he was more on edge than he was letting on.

"It's been quite a while since we last spoke, hasn't it?" Skullface said.

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"Only two days," Jake responded.

"Really?" Skullface feigned surprise. "I thought more time had passed. So much has happened since then."

Skullface gazed at him with a sly grin, his eyes glinting with mischief. Jake, however, didn't take the bait. Instead, he replied, "Yeah. I've flattened half of the bases you put so much effort into building. As the saying goes, it's far easier to destroy than to create. Soon, it'll look like your organization never even existed."

Skullface kept the same smile plastered on his face, but Jake could tell that the gang leader was hardly able to keep his cool. Although it seemed like Skullface wasn't troubled, the quick loss of territory hit him harder than he cared to let on. His organization was crumbling at a startling pace, and he couldn't do anything to stop it from happening.

Skullface's smile suddenly vanished, and he no longer tried to feign indifference.

"You must be very proud of yourself right now, you smug asshole," he said through clenched teeth.

He was wrong. Jake hardly felt anything, both at that moment and when he was actually tearing down Skullface's bases. He was merely carrying out what needed to be done without any emotions involved.

"What the fuck did you even call me for?" Skullface snapped when no reply came from Jake. "Did you want to gloat, huh? Make me beg? Ask you to stop? Well, guess what? I'm not going to beg you. You just keep doing what you're doing, alright? I don't care. I don't give a shit about all those bases you keep tearing down. You know why? Because they're expendable. As long as the main base is still standing, everything else can be easily rebuilt."

Skullface paused to catch his breath, creating a moment of silence. Jake didn't feel compelled to fill the silence, though. He just kept staring at the tattooed face of his enemy.

"You know, we're constantly getting calls from our subordinates at the various bases that are still standing," the gang leader continued. "In fact, we even thought your call was actually from one of our people, and we didn't want to answer it at first. They all call us asking for various resources, more guns, and personnel. They've all heard about you destroying the bases, and they know it's just a matter of time before you come for the rest. They're all absolutely terrified of you."

Jake didn't have anything to say, so he kept silent.

"But unlike my subordinates, I'm not afraid of you," Skullface proclaimed. "You probably want me to run, right? That might be the very reason you called. But guess what? I'm not going to run. I'll stay right here, waiting for you to arrive. I'm not the coward you believe me to be."

"Good," Jake replied. "Because I don't want to waste time trying to hunt you down. Just stay at your main base. It'll make things a lot easier for me. Chasing you would only take up time that I'd prefer to spend on more rewarding pursuits."

"Like breeding your own army of monsters?" Skullface asked.

"Among other things," Jake replied.

He attempted to use Mind Reader on Skullface, but it didn't work. It seemed he needed someone physically close to him to access their memories. Speaking with someone over a video call prevented him from using that ability on them, a fact he hadn't been aware of before.

Jake was aware that Skullface was likely plotting some sort of trap for him at the main base. That was perfectly fine. He was confident there was nothing Skullface could come up with that could pose any real danger to him.

"I'm waiting for you," Skullface declared. "I can't wait to meet you face to face. When that happens, you'll see that I'm not afraid of you at all."

We'll see about that, Jake thought. Skullface might be feeling brave right now when hundreds of miles separated them. However, when they stood just a few feet apart, it would become clear if his confidence was genuine or just an act.

Skullface was about to say something more when Kato suddenly appeared on the screen, saying to him, "I just got word that the rebels have struck again. They're currently at tunnel M14, engaged in combat with our people. We're suffering some casualties, and most of the slaves have managed to escape, too."

"Dammit," Skullface growled. "I can't stand those fucking pests." He then turned back to Jake. "It's been a pleasure chatting, but I gotta go now. We've got some issues here that require my attention. It's nothing we can't manage, though. It's more of an annoyance than a real problem. Still, I need to take care of it. So, make sure to come here as soon as you're done with the other bases. I'm right here and waiting for you, asshole. It's about time we met face to face. Skullface out."

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