In the frigid cold winter, in the wee hours of the night, Nox City still thrums with life. Flashing neon signs of bars, strip clubs, casinos, karaoke clubs all simultaneously flashing, trying their best to get your attention.
Having lived in the underground of Nox city for 10 years, I knew these weren't the only common occurrences.
On my way to the bar, I encounter a scrawny young man being shoved into an alleyway by two hulking brutes. They both easily towered over the young man who was now on the ground shivering in fear. The two men were cracking their knuckles, staring at him like how a vulture stares at its dying prey.
Everyone in the underground knows, if it ain't your business stay the hell away... But I couldn't help myself. I stole a quick glance in their direction. Pity painted itself onto my face though I tried my hardest not to show it.
"WAIT! Please! Help me!" the young man screamed as he was being beaten to a pulp. In an instant, I felt the cold gaze of two pairs of eyes staring at me.
"I was just about to leave..." I lamented.
"Hey! You! The one in the jacket! C'mere..." the brute on the right said. I turned to look at him, angling my head in a manner such that only have my face was visible while the other half was covered by my hood.
"whatchu lookin at huh? He said come here!" the other brute exclaimed. To an ordinary person, it looked like I was hesitating, like I was scared for my life. This seemed to give the two of them confidence.
However, in reality I was analyzing their appearance and possible capabilities. Superficially, the two men looked strong, but I knew it was just a facade. They wore jackets with a dragon emblem embedded on the arm. The one on the left wore a red jacket with bronze linings while the one on the right wore a back jacket with gold trimmings. It didn't take a genius to discern who was higher in rank.
With my analysis completed, I calmly walked towards them. Simultaneously, my right hand rummaged my jacket pocket. Almost instantly, I gripped my butterfly knife. While walking, both my hands never left my pockets
"Hey buddy. This the guy who sposed to help you? Huh?" the one in the red jacket said to the scrawny man. As he was saying that, I felt a hulking arm wrap around my shoulder as if trying to crush me.
"Well... Too bad!" he continued, pointing a gun to my head. "Now tell us, pretty boy... Where is the money???"
I sensed a greedy smile etching itself on both of their faces. The sight of the man in front of me writhing in fear tugged at my heartstrings. I decided I had enough, I had better places to be tonight...
"Is that what Boss Draco asked you to come here for?" I finally spoke in as chilling of a voice as I could.
Upon hearing my words, the brute in. Black pulled out his pistol and raised it to my head. "How the... How do you know the bosses name?! Bah doesn't matter, we were just gonna use you as a hostage... But now it's better if we would put you in the ground."
"Go ahead. I'd like to see you try." I said calmly, not even looking at either of them.
"Why you!" * PEW * The brute in black lost his temper first, in an instant I heard the trigger being pulled. I simply close my eyes as time slowed down.
I crouched down to avoid the bullet, simultaneously I kicked the legs of the brute in red, making him fall on his back. The bullet which was aimed at my head instead flew a mere centimetre above his, hitting the wall behind him and making a * CLANG * sound. He was instantly paralyzed with fear.
Without hesitation, I flipped, kicking the pistol out of the other brute's hand, hearing it clatter on the floor behind me. Upon landing I pulled out the butterfly knife from within my right pocket and with a quick flourish I aimed it at his neck.
The blade was lined with molten hot plasma, and it would have been so easy to carve out this man's throat. His eyes were bright with fear, sweat trickling down his face as his eyes reflected the blue neon blade that threatened to end his life. His breathing was rapid, clouds of mist formed as the cold Nox City air met his warm fearful breath.
" Tell Draco, to expect a visit from me. You boys interrupted my night outing... " I said with a wicked grin under my hood.
"Who... Who the hell are you..." he said between his rapid breaths. I smirked at his question and in one quick motion, threw my head backwards, causing my hood to fall off from the inertia. I saw the three men all widen their eyes in awe and horror. My bright red hair, blue eyes and a half mask covering the right side of my face spoke for themselves.
"You may go now, young man... Show's over." I glanced at the young man on the floor, eyeing him as he scurried out of the alley.
"Captain... Captain Valerion ..." the brute in black said in absolute fear. The gravity of the situation finally dawned on him. He realised who he was messing with. The fear in his eyes intensified tenfold as I maintained my grin.
"Remember what I said... Expect a visit within the next few days." I reminded the two brutes as I retracted my knife and walked away. The brutes were stunned into silence. I knew I had no business helping the scrawny young man, but I also could not let off the two brutes for trying to kill me, Captain Hunter Solaire Valerion of the Ion Skulls.