The cool evening breeze rushed past Jared as he biked downtown, his legs pumping steadily on the pedals. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he eyed a low metal rail ahead, clearly meant for skateboarders.
"Let's spice things up," he muttered to himself.
Jared lifted his bike slightly, grinding along the rail with a spark-filled flourish. His balance was perfect, his body shifting with practiced precision. At the end of the rail, he jumped the bike cleanly off and landed smoothly, his wheels hitting the pavement with a satisfying clatter.
He sped through a narrow alleyway, pulling up to a dimly lit, inconspicuous parking lot. The lot was hidden beneath a nondescript brick building, its existence betrayed only by a faint villain-themed emblem scratched into the wall. Jared came to a stop in front of a massive steel vault door adorned with the unmistakable **VILLAIN.CO** logo.
Reaching into his pocket, Jared pulled out a crumpled piece of paper with a code written on it. Twisting the vault's combination lock, he muttered the numbers under his breath: **1-9-6-8**.
The vault shuddered, gears grinding and hissing as it began to open. White smoke billowed out dramatically, obscuring the entrance. Jared smirked, hopping back onto his bike.
"Always with the theatrics," he said as he waited for the smoke to clear.
Once the door fully opened, he pedaled forward, his bike's tires squeaking against the polished floors of the hidden parking lot.
---
Inside the massive underground garage, Jared was greeted by a jaw-dropping array of villain-themed vehicles. Sleek, luxury sports cars were parked beside monstrous, tank-like creations. Some cars were jet-black and menacing, while others were wildly colorful, sporting designs that teetered between genius and absurd.
One vehicle looked like a giant robotic spider, its legs folded neatly under its car-like body. Another resembled a flying saucer with an exhaust pipe. Jared couldn't help but chuckle at a particularly garish car shaped like a giant hotdog.
"Villains and their rides," he muttered, shaking his head.
Ignoring the open spaces, Jared rode his bike into a disabled-only parking spot, parking his wheels with a playful grin.
"Pretty sure I deserve priority parking," he joked to himself as he headed toward the main building's revolving doors.
Above the doors, glowing neon letters spelled out: **VILLAIN.CO**.
Jared stepped inside, immediately greeted by a rush of cool, fresh air from the industrial air conditioning. The lobby was a bustling hive of activity, filled with villains of all shapes, sizes, and attitudes. The polished floors and sleek, modern design of the space were a stark contrast to the chaos within.
---
Jared walked to a row of elevators, pressing the button for the one that would take him to the 45th floor, the floor designated for rookies. When the elevator doors slid open, Jared stepped inside, joining a peculiar group of villains already inside.
One villain was dressed in a full clown costume, complete with oversized shoes and a squeaky nose. Another wore a futuristic, metallic suit that buzzed faintly with energy. A third villain, tall and skeletal, stood silently with glowing green eyes that seemed to pierce through Jared.
The air in the elevator was thick with awkward tension as the doors closed. Jared cleared his throat, trying to break the silence.
"Busy day, huh?" he ventured.
The clown villain honked his nose in response, the sound echoing uncomfortably in the confined space. Jared chuckled nervously, but no one else reacted. Except for the third villain replying in a deep voice "shut the fuck up."
When the elevator finally reached the 45th floor, Jared practically leaped out, relieved to escape the awkward atmosphere.
---
### **The Fourth Lobby**
The rookie lobby was buzzing with activity. Villains strolled through the expansive space, some chatting in groups, others standing by themselves, exuding an air of menace. Across the room, a team of villain co-builders was hard at work repairing the shattered glass of the skyscraper's exterior. The damage was a clear reminder of Jared's last encounter with Super Light.
Jared made his way to the reception counter, where a familiar figure was sorting through paperwork. Ms. Vang looked up, her sharp, piercing eyes widening briefly in surprise before a sly smile spread across her face.
"Well, well," she said, leaning casually against the counter. "If it isn't Mr. Red Eyes himself. What brings you back here, Jared?"
Jared grinned, his confidence brimming. "I just took down CrocoDriller. Thought you might want to update my rank."
Ms. Vang laughed, her voice carrying an edge of amusement. "Oh, I already knew about that. Word travels fast around here, you know."
Jared's excitement grew. "Does that mean Grunmalan noticed?"
Ms. Vang nodded slowly. "Just a teensie, tiny bit. But hey, progress is progress."
She tapped a few keys on her holographic desk interface, and within moments, a fresh Villain.Co receipt printed out. She handed it to Jared with a smirk.
Jared's eyes darted to the receipt, scanning for his new rank. **#312**.
His heart sank slightly. "#312?" he muttered. "Seriously? After beating CrocoDriller, Super Light, and CockMan? What do I have to do to crack double digits?"
Ms. Vang leaned closer, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Patience, Jared. Climbing the ranks isn't just about taking down other villains. It's about making a splash, catching Grunmalan's eye in a big way."
Jared opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Ms. Vang pulled a small gum silencer from her mouth and stuck it onto his lips. The muffled sound of Jared's complaints was comically abrupt.
Ms. Vang rolled her eyes, prying the silencer off him. "Relax, will you? You'll get there. Now shoo—I've got work to do."
---
Jared left the counter, pouting slightly as he made his way back to the elevator. The trip down to the parking lobby was blessedly free of awkward interactions this time. While he's also getting rid of the gum off his mouth.
Stepping off the elevator, he mounted his bike and pedaled out of the villain parking lot, the weight of his new rank receipt tucked into his pocket.
"#312," he muttered under his breath. "For now."
His eyes gleamed red for a brief moment as he sped into the night, determination burning in his chest.
---
End of Chapter 13.