In a poorly lit alley, two men stood against the chilly brick wall, their faces illuminated by the eerie neon lights of nearby signs. One of the individuals, a person with a tall and slim frame who had a shaved head, inhaled deeply from his vape, blowing out a dense cloud of smoke that appeared to hang in the calm atmosphere. He was known as Razor, a moniker he gained for his quick sense of humor and exceptional swordsmanship. Razor had a contemplative look with his eyes partly closed while he pondered, tuning into the distant city sounds.
Beside him, Slate, his partner, was occupied with a girl who clung to his arm. Slate appeared more substantial, with a defined jawline and a dense beard that added to his primal appearance. He was known in the hidden circles of the city as a tough fighter that you wouldn't want to mess with. Velvet, the girl, was just as much a familiar presence in this area as the guys, known for her own alluring charm that could captivate even the toughest individuals.
As Razor took another pull from his vape, Slate and Velvet were deep in a flirtatious exchange, their conversation blending into the hum of the city.
"Come on, Razor," Slate said with a smirk, his voice gruff as he slapped Velvet's ass. "When are you gonna find yourself a girl like mine? Velvet's got that touch, man. She could make anyone forget the day's grind."
Velvet giggled, her fingers tracing the line of Slate's jaw before she leaned in for another kiss, her lips pressing against his with a hunger that suggested more than just a casual fling. Razor rolled his eyes, feigning disinterest.
"Not my style," Razor replied, blowing out a stream of smoke. "I prefer the quiet life, you know? Don't need a girl getting in the way of business. And besides, I'm not looking to share a bed with someone who's already had half the city in it."
Velvet pulled back from Slate and shot Razor a look, half playful, half challenging. "Jealous much? You know you're just bitter because no one's caught your eye yet."
Razor chuckled, a low, throaty sound. "Please, Velvet. The day I settle down is the day this city cleans up its act. And we all know that's never gonna happen."
Slate laughed, pulling Velvet closer. "You're missing out, Razor. But hey, to each their own. Some of us like a bit of fire in our lives."
Velvet smirked, her eyes glinting mischievously. "And some of us just like to live on the edge."
Razor shrugged, finishing off his vape and stubbing it out against the wall.
"Living on the edge only gets you cut," he said dryly. "But whatever floats your boat. Just don't come crying to me when that fire burns you down." He said as he formed a light flame with his hands.
As the three continued their banter, the camera of the city's surveillance system, hidden discreetly in the shadows, panned to catch a figure standing outside an abandoned warehouse not far from the alleyway.
Walking without a care in the world, the figure walked towards an abandoned warehouse just opposite the alleyway Razor and his gang were in.
It turned out to be Melton who was was there, with his face partly covered by the hood of his jacket. He quickly looked around to ensure nobody was observing him before he walked towards the aged door of the warehouse.
Melton was highly alert, receiving silent information from Nexus about the surroundings. The warehouse used to be bustling with activity, but it has now deteriorated over time. Now, it had become yet another overlooked location within the city, an ideal refuge for those seeking to steer clear of unwanted notice.
Pushing open the door, he heard the creak reverberate through the vacant room. The inside was dim, with light only entering from some damaged windows at a great height. Melton walked quietly, almost silently, entering and looking for movement in the shadows.
Meanwhile, back in the alleyway, Razor finished his conversation with Slate and Velvet. "Alright, enough with the sweet talk. We've got business to handle. Boss said we're checking out that old warehouse tonight."
Slate groaned, reluctantly pulling away from Velvet. "Duty calls, huh? Just when things were getting good."
Velvet pouted but didn't protest. "You boys go do your thing. I'll be around when you're done."
Razor nodded, slipping his vape back into his pocket. "Let's move. The boss doesn't like to be kept waiting."
Unaware of being followed by a mysterious figure, the three of them began heading towards the warehouse.
Upon their arrival at the warehouse, Razor, Slate, and Velvet could feel the tension in the air. All of a sudden, the night air was shattered by Velvet's scream. "Be careful, Razor!"
However, it was already too tardy. The mysterious figure quickly attacked them with frightening velocity, moving rapidly. Razor had little time to respond before he was hit, the impact throwing him against the wall. Slate attempted to resist, yet his efforts proved futile against the figure's superior strength. In a matter of moments, Razor and Slate were both motionless on the ground, their bodies battered and bloody. The enigmatic figure expressed disdain with a scoff, disrespectfully spitting on the dead bodies before shifting focus to Velvet, who was now cowering on the ground in fear.
As the figure approached, Velvet begged for mercy, her voice shaking.
The figure paused, considering her with cold, calculating eyes. "Leave," it said, voice dripping with disdain.
But as the figure turned its back, Velvet, in a desperate bid for survival, unleashed her ability, sending a barrage of cables hurtling towards the figure. Anticipating the attack, the figure vanished into thin air, reappearing behind Velvet in an instant.
With a cruel smirk, it stabbed her, one hand gripping and fondling her breast and her tongue licking the back of Velvets' ear as it whispered, "I only offered you your life because I love ladies."
Velvet was filled with horror as she felt the chilling touch of steel inside her, feeling her life fade away. The figure dropped her motionless corpse onto the floor with a loud noise before enteri
ng the deserted warehouse, its objective obvious and firm.