Daniel texted back and placed the phone back into his pocket as he continued on his way to a particular car park. The car park itself was quite large, six stories yet it was empty. Although the night sky was out, it wasn't too late, yet there were no cars present at all.
The reason why it was empty was because today was due to it being another day like before, it was a fight night, and the multiple gangs and supernatural in the area had made sure that those that didn't need to know about it, wouldn't stumble upon this place.
"So tell me again, why didn't you invite that Midnight maiden? Are you worried she might go crazy again?" Red Sunn asked.
The newest member of their yet to be named gang was wearing the new uniform he had been given. The black overcoat with a red and yellow runes trim and his matching trousers suited him surprisingly well.
"Because it would be a bit much to invite our leader to such a small occasion." Daniel answered with a smirk, not turning around.
"Our leader? That white haired lady that could barely fight is supposed to be our leader? Didn't know you had a sense of humour, but seriously tell me the real reason." Red Sunn insisted.
However, Daniel didn't say another word, and just continued to move towards the car park. There were two guards up ahead who didn't look like they quite belonged there. Still, it was a perfect way to stop anyone nosey from snooping around.
Sunn, for a moment entertaining the possibility that Daniel wasn't just pulling his leg, stopped in his tracks, making Amy nearly walk into him. At the last moment, she gracefully sidestepped him.
"He really is not joking? I need to know what the hell I signed myself up for!" Red Sunn asked the girl, who just shook her head before following behind Daniel.
The two guards appeared to be adults in their late twenties or early thirties. They checked over Daniel and his entourage briefly, yet didn't say anything else as the trio walked past them. Inside, the three could hear the sounds of several people cheering.
Red Sunn knew that once they went further in, he wouldn't be able to ask Daniel as many questions, so he had to ask now.
"Fine, fine, let's say that kid is our leader, then isn't that all the more reason to bring her along? Not to belittle her or anything, but she clearly isn't really used to these kinds of things and some more fighting practice couldn't hurt either. The way she currently is…"
The leader of a gang could be said to be their most important person. In a way, they alone symbolised the prestige of their respective gang, hence why in most cases it was the gang member with the most strength.
Due to the 'No Lethal Weapons Act', individual strength was important these days. In cases of disagreement when one side needed to 'convince' another, the most forward way was to do it the good old fashioned way.
However, this wasn't always the case, especially for established gangs it wasn't rare to have a wise leader at the top, one who wasn't just a musclehead. In those cases it would either be their right hand man or those under him with the frightening strength that would ensure that others followed their command.
Usually, those kinds of leaders had something special about them, a type of unique charisma that had allowed them to get trustworthy people to work under them in the first place.
Red Sunn had joined in the belief that Daniel would be the latter type, which was why he was shocked to learn that Midnight maiden was supposed to be their leader. She didn't even fit the former type, so with her as their gang's representative it was practically asking for trouble. The fighter could already foresee them getting picked on by other gangs.
"Alright, seeing that you're asking out of concern for the new gang you've joined, I suppose I shouldn't keep you out of the loop. You see, in my opinion there are certain qualities that distinguish a great leader from a good one." Daniel replied, not slowing his steps.
"A great leader needs to have a reason to keep growing his territory. Putting it simply, they need ambition and hunger. At the moment, I'm testing that person's hunger since I want to see just how far she will go. If I'm right, then it's just a matter of time for Emily to start acting on her own. Once she does, it will be a perfect opportunity to find out just how ambitious she is."
At this moment, the three could see several cars that had been parked in a way to make an arena. Crowds were cheering from behind them as a fight was already taking place.
Amy smiled and lightly patted Sunn on the back which made his cheeks turn red before she looked for a good spot to watch the ongoing fight.
Meanwhile, Daniel had been paying attention to something else. On top of one of the cars, a little behind the arena, there was a large digital board that had the names of today's fighting roster, as well as the betting odds.
***************
As the sun rose over the desolate dumping yard, its rays illuminating the metallic wreckage that littered the area, a man stirred from his slumber. His naked body, pale and liveless, shivered slightly against the cool morning air. With a groan, he pushed himself up to a sitting position, the only witness to his rebirth. Ignoring the discomfort and unusual pain that coursed through his body, fragments of forgotten memories flashed before his eyes, teasing his consciousness.
He stared down at the gaping hole where his heart once resided. Astonishingly, he observed the gradual healing of the wound. Yet, a deep cut on his neck remained, a chilling reminder of his uncertain fate. He became an amalgamation of life and death, an enigma that defied explanation.
As the pain subsided and he gathered his strength, the man stood up, his limbs trembling. He took a cautious step forward, then another, each movement sending waves of discomfort through his body. Yet, he persevered.
With each step, the man's surroundings became more defined. The piles of discarded machinery, towering like grotesque monuments to humanity's excess, seemed to mock him, reminding him of a time he couldn't fully grasp. His eyes, scanning the vast expanse before him, chance encounter brought his attention to an aging man operating a massive machine compression vehicle. A sinister smile crept across his face.
A gleam of recognition flickered in his eyes, and a smile slowly spread across his face. It was not a smile of warmth or camaraderie; it was a smile borne of hunger and desperation. In that moment, the man's once-ordinary features contorted, elongating into a predatory grin. He watched the oblivious figure, his gaze fixated, an insatiable hunger raging within him.
And then, as if summoned by his darkest desires his eyes turned into a pool of darkness, a bushy side beard sprouted from his face, framing his now-intense eyes.
With a predatory grace, he pounced onto the compression vehicle, defying gravity in an extraordinary feat. The vehicle's windshield bore the brunt of his relentless assaults, each bang chipping away at its once durable exterior. Fear gripped the old community worker as his sanctuary crumbled before him.
With a final, bone-shattering bang, the compressed alloy glass shattered into a thousand glittering shards. The ensuing silence was deafening, save for the piercing scream of the community worker, his voice carrying the weight of terror.