Chapter 21 - The Shift in Power

Len had some fashion shows and attended most and, as always, outdid everyone else in the events, which was the best feeling for Len. The group got to know one another better as the months went by. Dev made friends with other legion members who managed to also escape somehow; they drew bad attention here and there. Still, otherwise, they are quiet and don't disrupt our group. They have different tasks from ours; they are here to charge those who have done deals with the legions, so their guess is that they are making deals with mortals outside the legion's deals. Those that don't pay up are charged in other ways. Still, it's not a big deal as they don't disrupt the world's way of going. Dev occasionally joins them here and there now that he is off his no-killing probation period and is not allowed to kill when he is with the group unless warranted, which is very rare now. David and Dev typically argue over that, especially in the first few days when Dev just went rampant in a town, killing a few families. He learned a bit of restraint due to David threatening to throw him into an endless wave of despair if he couldn't contain himself. But other than that, everything was peaceful; Len had more fashion events for the gang to go to and help out. Everything was good until Monday afternoon, when Dev went missing for a few days. No one heard from him, which was concerning. He finally came back covered in the answers to our questions, like some wave of Demise. Dev was covered in blood, and his new gang was right behind him, cheering him on and patting him on the back like some praising of some sort. All in shock seeing all this horror, it wasn't just him that was covered in blood but all his other friends too; they went out to hunt for leisure, and they allowed him to do all that because they thought it okay. Len, Ash, and Molly weren't too shocked to see it but still looked disgusted or worried. The rest were left speechless, but San and David didn't seem happy about it; slowly, you could see them reaching their boiling points. All that was holding it back was the shock that still hadn't worn off. "Hey, gang, sorry to come so late. I was having the fun that you guys so don't let me have," Dev said in a condescending tone "you mean the fun that will draw so much attention to us that we could all pay for your stupidity?" San responded, "I'm sorry, this is fun for you?" David said, reaching closer to Dev. Dev nodded and grew a smirk "you really don't care what your actions could bring upon us?" Molly asked, confused. "Nah, I really don't give a shit these guys allow me to do it. They see no problem in what we do. In fact, they see my talents as gifts. They treat me like royalty for the things I was created with. I get the respect I so deserve from them," Dev said boastfully, "you fool, the moment legion realizes you guys are drawing attention to our kind, you will all be vanquished in a matter of seconds. Did you forget that? You of all people should remember their laws!" Len exclaimed, coming closer to David and San "my powers are no match against even the most trained legion fighters. I realized my potential thanks to these here. You guys have been so afraid of me that you guys tried to suppress me this whole time," Dev said cockily. "Dev, this attitude won't be permitted; we will have to stop this," David said "try me," Dev said, and before anyone could react, Dev ran up to David and snapped his neck instantly and effortlessly. The whole gang gasped in horror. "Well, does anyone else wanna try," Dev said, wiping his hands. They were all in a stalemate but from anyone to another could end in a clean kill since no one has their natural durability. But it seemed like all had made their mind up; the day would end in blood. Dev knew Crozz and San would want to get him first; he also knew he could take San out if played correctly by his game; Crozz would be a bit harder purely because she also has incredible speed, not as fast as Dev. Still, enough to reach one another if done correctly, but Crozz knew how to evade better than everyone. Dev knew he would have to have them follow him into an area where the rest would be too far to interject, so he chose to run enough to be far. Ash was able to predict though and let San and Crozz know this. Almost simultaneously, the three ran practically together; the rest were now surrounded by a gang of legions with their actual durability's. Molly has two revives left, but she must concentrate on bringing David back. "I can bring him back. You guys just need to protect us for a bit, please," Molly said to Len and Ash "we can try, but this will be hard. It's two to five," Ash said, trying to watch every movement of each legion member "make them three," Len said as she disappeared into the shadows and grabbed two of them, dragging them into the darkness. Their screams followed them into the dark hole they were engulfed into. Moments later, two lifeless bodies fell out of a wall and followed by Len. The other three didn't take that well; they had just lost two of their friends instantly; they wanted blood in return. "Len, careful! Jump!" Ash said to Len. Len followed instructions and jumped, and soon after, one of the legion members hopped out of the ground under her trying to grab her from the shadows too. "Duck!" Screamed Ash; Len followed and dodged another one who tried tackling her. Len countered him while he was in mid-air by kicking him in the stomach, which sent him flying to the lamp post on the sidewalk, causing him to knock out for a few minutes. Ash saw the other one going straight for Molly, who was in the process of reviving David. Ash pulled out her pistol and loaded it with light bullets, bullets that don't feel pleasant to legions, and waited for him to start charging fully to Molly. Once he started, it wasn't hard for Ash to anticipate his following footsteps. She shot him four times, causing an unpleasant sizzling sound and him falling to the ground in agonizing pain. Len didn't have help to predict movements and was fighting two legion members at once; she had the upper hand for a while but messed up when she didn't notice she was being backed into a small shadow which was enough for one of the two to go into and come out behind her and hold her down so the other one could end her. Ash was right on time before they gave Len the finishing blow; she shot each one once, leaving them in a similar state as the first one. Molly was done and was able to trap them in force fields to make sure they couldn't get back up and attack them as they waited for David to come back.