The city of Valleria stretched out like a beast below Luca's feet—pulsing with life, corruption, and danger. Once, it had been hailed as the second capital of the state, a booming business hub. Now, beneath the glittering skyscrapers and the façade of wealth, the city rotted from the inside. Gang wars, backdoor deals, and violence fueled Valleria's underbelly, a place where power was the only currency that mattered.
From the rooftop of a high-rise building, stood a pale man in his 20s. Wearing his dark light jacket, the cold wind running past his dark hair and his cold eyes matching the same colour. Below him, gathered his men. In the front stood his lieutenants and deputies, and at the front stood a muscular man with a scar on his forearm and tanned skin. He was Dante, Luca's right hand man and his childhood friend. The wind howled around them, but none of them flinched. This was their moment—the start of something that would shake Valleria to its core.
Luca's voice cut through the air, cold and commanding. "It's time… to make this city ours." Hundreds of members looked at their leader. Their eyes filled with determination. This was their morale. Luca didn't needed to give any long speech to fill their heart. Just a flick of his finger and they will be ready.
Dante, always watching, always listening, couldn't help but smile as he looked up at his leader. He thought back to a time when Luca was just a kid with nothing but fire in his eyes and ambition in his heart. Who would have thought, looking at that kid just a few years ago, that they'd be standing here now—ready to take over the whole damn city?
But Dante always knew.
Luca was born to be a king.
But that became clearer a bit later for Dante. When they first met, they were in 11 years old. Luca was the golden boy. He was good at football and also scored great marks in class. Unlike Dante, who was huge even at such early age. This was why people were afraid of him in the class but unlike others Luca didn't mind it. "You are just big, but your brain is not. Why should I be afraid of you?" is what Luca told him one day. Dante couldn't help but laugh. Almost everyone just ostracized him, and looked at him as some sort of monster. Dante said, "I'll show you who has small brain and ran after him." Dante couldn't help but smile reminiscing about that time. When things were simple. When they weren't affected by this goddamn cursed city.
But as they say all goods things come to an end. So did they their childhood and both of graduated to the middle school, and the city started showing its dark side finally.