Blood-Lust HQ. World Walker was sitting behind a desk in his office on the 2nd floor. Stone stood across from him. Ed, Jarrod, and Mordy were carried in his arms. He tossed them to the floor.
"How did they do?" World Walker questioned.
Stone spoke in a deep voice, "Ed and Mordy did well. Jarrod was trash."
"Hmm." World Walker rubbed his mustache. "I expected for Mordy to do well. Jarrod isn't suited to combat, so I expected that as well…" He glanced at Ed and his new metal arm. "I thought Ed would be the weakest one. Was it the arm that made the difference?"
"No." Stone shook his head. "The arm was comparable to a strong steam rifle. Maybe even a cannon, but if it was just that he wouldn't even be comparable to Mordy. Ed melted the ground underneath me and trapped me inside. If it had been someone else, they may have been trapped for a while."
"I see…" World Walker closed his eyes and thought for a moment. "Combat notwithstanding, how did Jarrod do?"
"Hmph!" Stone snorted. "Completely useless. He abandoned the others, begged for mercy, and even promised to sell them out."
World Walker leaned back in his chair. Tap, tap, tap. He repeatedly tapped his chair's armrest with his finger. "That's too bad then. We don't need useless people after all... Send Jarrod to Luny. She's been wanting some new espers."
Stone nodded. "Okay." He grabbed Jarrod and left the room.
…
Ed slowly woke up. He saw Mordy sitting in a chair conversing with World Walker.
"What's going on?" Ed questioned. "Where's Jarrod?"
"Oh good!" World Walker smiled. "You're finally up. Jarrod has taken his first mission and should be gone for a while. I was just discussing with Mordy about what type of mission he would like to take."
"Mm." Mordy nodded "I was thinking of a hunting mission. We'll hunt low-level mutants for their mana-cores."
"Right." World Walker nodded. "We are always in need of more mana-cores. They're hard to buy on the black market after all. It's a good first mission to gain experience. Mutants are powerful, but they're also dumb. I don't wish for you to take any missions involving espers yet."
"So, about the equipment?" Mordy questioned.
"I won't lend you any." World Walker shook his head. "You may use the materials you gather in the wastelands in exchange for equipment or money. We're currently in need of mutant hides and bones as well. They're much stronger than metal at the higher levels."
"Alright. I'll trade the materials for what I want." Mordy turned to Ed. "How about coming with me Ed? You still need to contribute for all the materials Blood-Lust gave you."
World Walker frowned. "There's no need for that Ed. You can just make equipment for us. I heard from Stone about how powerful your arm is. I think you have a lot of potential here. It'd be a shame if you died to some low-level mutant."
"Stone?" Ed questioned. "Oh, right! What happened with Stone? How did we get here?!"
Mordy explained that they were just being tested. He had already heard the explanation from World Walker when he woke up earlier.
"I'll take the mission as well." Ed nodded. "I won't get stronger just spending all my time in a lab."
"Okay then..." World Walker sighed and shook his head. "Go get prepared. I'll send you outside the city walls in a few days."
The two boys left their room and returned to their home they had built. They prepared food, water, and other necessities for the trip to the wastelands. Ed made minor adjustments to his arm and Mordy practiced with his acid.
…
Several days quickly passed. Ed and Mordy met with World Walker in his office. A black portal appeared and they stepped through it. They appeared inside a large building with big glass windows.
Ed looked outside the windows. Ruined buildings were everywhere. The streets were covered in debris. He turned towards Mordy, "Any idea where we are?"
"Not sure." Mordy shook his head. "World Walker said he would send us somewhere relatively safe. Most of the wastelands would be a death sentence for us. I was surprised to find out there were areas we would be capable of hunting in."
Ed and Mordy headed downstairs and exited the building. As they walked the empty streets they saw some buildings were completely smashed apart. Others had large scorch marks on them. After walking a couple of streets Ed stopped. "I know where we are." He spoke, "This is Reef city."
"What?!" Morty yelled in surprise. He looked around him and examined a street sign. His face turned ugly. "You're right. The ground is flat, it's hot out, and the street signs match up." He sighed, "No wonder World Walker said it would be safer. The mutants couldn't have taken over the entire city yet. Still… There should be survivors hiding. We'll probably run into espers as well. We should be more careful. Damn World Walker! Is this another one of his shitty tests?"
The two proceeded even more carefully. They kept an eye on their surroundings vigilantly. They walked for several hours…
"This isn't right." Ed frowned. "There's no way we wouldn't run into mutants or people by now. The streets are completely empty. It's like a ghost town."
"Mm." Mordy nodded. "It doesn't make much sense." He closed his eyes and began to think.
"Watch out!" Ed yelled. He grabbed Mordy and pulled him aside. *Swoosh* A spear flew past where Mordy had just been standing. Several dozen men appeared from several nearby buildings. They all wore ratty clothes and carried crude spears.
"You fuckers have some nerve!" Mordy screamed in anger. Acid began to cover his arms. A sizzling sound rang out as some drops fell to the ground.
"Shut up and die!" One of the spear wielding men screamed. He hurled his spear with all his might. Mordy swung his acid towards it and the spear corroded into nothingness. He shot a ball of acid towards the man that attacked him.
"Aghh!!!" A scream rang out. The man had been hit by the acid right in the throat. It quickly corroded his flesh and a blood gurgling sound could be heard as the man gasped for air. He fell to the ground dead. The acid completely separated his head from his body.
"Bastards!" The three men closest to them began to run towards Ed and Mordy. Mordy hurled two more balls of acid at the two men on the left. Ed took aim with his arm towards the third man. He activated the steam core and a whistling sound rang out. Sweat poured down his forehead and his hand shook from nervousness. Bang! A loud sound rang out. The lead bullet shot straight through the man's head. It exploded like a watermelon and the dead body crashed into the ground. Mordy's two balls of acid slammed into the other two men shortly after. The two men died while screaming in pain.
"Huff! Huff!" Ed's breathing was heavy, and his eyes were shaking. 'I killed someone. I really killed someone…' He looked at the headless body on the ground. Ed's body was shaking from a mix of fear, excitement, and adrenaline.
"Ed!" Mordy pulled him to the side and a spear flew past him. "Pay attention! This isn't the time to be spacing out!"
"Right." Ed nodded his head. "Sorry. I got lost in thought for a second."
There were only seven men left now. Five still had their spears. The seven men congregated together. The two sides glared at each other. The tension in the air was so thick a knife could cut it.
"Why did you attack us?" Ed questioned.
"Don't ask stupid questions!" A man yelled. "Ever since you espers awakened, this city has gone to hell! Even the mutants are better than your filth!"
Mordy frowned and crossed his arms. "We just arrived at Reef city. I don't know what happened between the local espers and you. Nor do I care. Either way, you'll pay the price for it." Mordy lifted his hands in the air. He placed one hand over the other and released a large blast of acid. It shot into the air and fell down like rain on the group of men.
"Aghh!!!" The seven men screamed in pain. The acid drops burned holes all over their bodies. They let out bloodcurdling screams as they collapsed to the ground.
Ed and Mordy walked towards the bodies. Mordy kicked them over one by one. "This one's still alive. Let's question him."
"Mm." Ed nodded. He used his powers to melt the surrounding street. It formed a stone prison around the man. They had to wait several minutes before the man woke up.
The man looked at the duo with fear in his eyes. His body was in pain from the numerous wounds the acid caused. Mordy spoke, "Tell us about the situation between the local espers, humans, and mutants in the city."
"Hmph!" The man snorted. "Disgusting monster. I won't tell an esper anything even if you're not from around here! Just kill me. You won't get a word from me."
"Fine then." Mordy smiled. A large ball of acid began to form in his right hand.
"Wait!" Ed got between the two and looked at Mordy. "Give me a minute."
Ed crouched down in front of the cage and prepared to speak.
"Don't bother!" The man snorted. "Espers can't be trusted. You can promise me freedom, wealth, or women. I don't care! I won't agree to it. Your words are worth less than dog shit!"
Ed frowned. He had been planning on offering the man his freedom in exchange for what they needed to know. He rubbed his chin and closed his eyes to think. 'That plan is down the drain… Is that really the only way? Can I even do it…?' Ed shook his head and opened his eyes. He spoke aloud, "I have to do it."
Mordy glanced at Ed with confusion. 'What is it that Ed has to do?' He wondered.
Ed melted the stone cage and changed it into a pair of hand-cuffs and ankle-cuffs. He used them to bind the man in front of him. Then he used his right arm to grab the man by his neck. Ed glared into the man's eyes and spoke, "You leave me with no other choice. You have two choices in front of you. Die an easy death or be tortured to death. Choose."
Mordy raised an eyebrow as he watched. 'Who would have thought Ed could be so vicious… He struggled with killing someone just a few minutes ago…'
"You're bluffing! You don't have the balls!" The man yelled. "I won't talk. My comrades will get revenge on all of you damn espers! We'll cleanse your ilk from the city and make a paradise for ordinary men! We were created in gods image. You devils have strayed from the path of light and the lord has sent the nightmares to punish you!"
Ed sighed and shook his head. He stood up and dragged Mordy a few meters away. He spoke in a low voice, "How should we torture him?"
"Eh?" Mordy's eyes widened in surprise. "You threatened to torture him, and you don't even know what to do?"
"It's not like I've done it before…" Ed replied. "Besides, I thought he would agree to speak. Who knew he'd be such a nut-job."
"True." Mordy nodded. "I could use my acid, but… He already experienced it. I don't think it will be enough. Maybe we can just beat him or something?"
"That won't cut it." Ed frowned. "Forget it. I'll think of something."
Ed walked back towards the hand-cuffed man. He thought for a moment and opened his metal arm. He removed a lead bullet he had loaded earlier. Then he aimed his empty arm at the right side of the man's stomach. The steam core whistled loudly. Whoosh!
"Aghh!" A large amount of steam fired from Ed's arm. The steam burned the man's stomach causing him to scream in pain. He rolled around on the ground while letting out a stream of curses towards Ed. When he finally calmed down, Ed walked over to him. "Willing to talk yet?" He questioned.
"Ptui!" The man spit in Ed's face. "I, your father, was not even bothered by that! You call that weak-ass crap torture?!"
Ed frowned. 'I don't think I'm cut out for this…'
Mordy walked over towards the man. "Screw it. Just leave it to me." He picked up a metal pipe off the ground and covered it in a light green acid. He slammed it into the man's stomach and twisted it back and forth.
"Aghahaha!" The man screamed and laughed at the same time. "Fuck you! You'll all die! God will send heavens wrath upon you! The world will return to the sinless!"
"Groar!" Several roaring sounds rang out. Ed and Mordy turned around to see a pack of mutants heading right for them! Ed frowned, "There's too many. Let's leave. We'll figure out what's going on eventually anyways."
"Mm." Mordy nodded. The two entered a nearby alley. Screams rang out behind them as the hand-cuffed man was devoured.
One beast amongst the pack did not go for the man. It was a black panther with sharp gold eyes. Two wings covered its back, and a black miasma swirled around its body. It sniffed the ground for a second. Then it chose to enter the same alley Ed and Mordy had chosen as their escape path.