Auras. The embodiment of one's soul. A power that can only be used by a certain few with an iron will. They grant the user an unique ability that personifies what they are. Some use it for good, others use it for their own gain. The way to get one is unknown, although some say you have to be chosen.
A pounding heart echoed throughout the silent appartment, not because of nervousness, but because of excitement. A bland wooden white mask was being put on. This masked man was known as the vigilante Ray. He's been doing this work for two years now, and this was his second big bust.
'This will help me get even closer to finding out about those damn gods.' is what he thought to himself.
Bitterness and anger are what drove the vigilante, alongside a gigantic conviction of justice. He felt like law enforcement had done nothing about these scum, so he took it upon himself to expose these monsters.
Now that the mask was put on, a single object remained on his table, before he could do tonight's job.
A katana that was sheathed. This was Ray's good luck charm. A beautiful deep red base accompanied it's pale blue sheath. This katana was special to the vigilante.
Before he left the appartment, he looked at a polaroid of himself, a girl smiling with her eyes closed, holding up two peace signs, and a boy with a cut on his left eyebrow cockily smiling. Two souls who were ripped apart by the vast underworld that this city hosted.
It was a quiet night, the moon wasn't obscured by any clouds. While walking towards his destination, he couldn't help but still feel nervous. Being a vigilante in this city was playing with your life, there are none left except Ray.
Every step felt heavy. He had the choice to go back and return to a normal life, but that wouldn't satisfy Ray. He had a clear cut end-goal in sight.
Expose the gods that ruled this city. They had eyes everywhere, he knew of that. That was also the only thing that he knew. These gods treated the city like a big playground, providing guns to all sorts of gangs small and big, because those were a rarity. Every major crime always felt like they had something to do with it.
No one dared to do something against them, it was like wishing for death. Ray steeled himself 2 years ago, ready for anything to be thrown towards him as he fought valiantly against these unknown beings.
He had to start with exposing corrupt businessmen first; A way to cripple the funding and help that the underworld got.
As the man stood at the fence of a seemingly innocous one-story building that was located in the middle layer. After climbing over the fence and walking towards a window, the sound of glass shattering echoed throughout the neighbouring area, but no one seemed to care. Ray quickly entered through the newly created entrance.
He rummaged through the office, quietly but quickly looking for something that related to the businessman's ties with the underworld.
He picked up a strange cylindrical object found within a hidden layer of a desk. Within it were papers hidden. They detailed transactions between a man named "shi" and several other people of interest. Although some of their names were crossed or blacked out.
Underneath the mask was a frown. Not enough information about the gods, but this was enough to expose Shim
Ray planted pictures throughout the office of all the crimes that Shi has done. These were pictures he himself had taken over the past few months.
Shi had evidence against him that proves he aided in trafficking and extortion. His public persona was that of a caring business owner, but Ray has known of his true nature for months now.
As Ray tried to leave the building via the entrance he created, he heard the sound of a lot of cars stopping at the front entrance. Doors being opened and slam shut echoed throughout the empty streets. Lights from flashlights which swifted through both the front and the back of the building searching for the vigilante; One of the cops found the makeshift entrance.
"I gotcha now, ray!" A woman with a coat hanging on her shoulders said via her megaphone.
"Fari? How did she find me?"
Fari Heir. She's a police chief nicknamed the "rabbit-loving prodigy". The woman had been making the news over the years due to her unforseen strategic wit. She's been chasing Ray ever since he started. Her belief is that of true justice, which caused her to clash with the vigilante's less than savory ways.
"My men got you surrounded! Come out!" She shouted.
Ray wasn't going to do that. He heard 3 people kick down the hallway door. He knew that Fari always had a squad of 5 people with her, including herself. It amused him how little that number was.
With the opening of the door to Shi's office, Ray was face to face with 3 officers. They were all wearing a badge that resembled the face of a bunny.
"Come on man. You've been pissing off Fari for a while now. Give it a rest." One officer groaned.
Ray slowly raised his hands, only to start dashing right between the officers.
Ray swiftly and silently maneuvered through the halls, evading all 3 officers.
"Miss, he's escaping again!" One of the officers said via the pager.
"Tch. Rick, you're up."
"Sure thing, madam."
Ray stood in front of the building, face to face with only Rick and Fari. Rick was easily 2 heads taller than him. Ray knew that this was a situation that could be escaped. Fari suddenly held her megaphone close to her mouth. Rick put in earplugs. Ray was confused.
"You're not escaping me this time. You've forced my hand."
And then, a blue-ish aura began enveloping Fari's entire body, her light green hair slowly beginning to float, before a shape began manifesting completely above her. The shape took form of a large, white-robed lady.
While it's face was obscured by one of it's hands, a smile could be seen throughout it's fingers. The lady also had bunny ears. In front of it was a giant chessboard with only 3 pieces on it. A queen and two pawns.
[INVIGORATE HIM. THE STRATEGIST.]
The strategist, that's what Fari named it when she unlocked it years ago. The embodiment of her want to help others. While auras are rarely seen, this one is special in its own way. Auras serve to help the user and only them, but the Strategist serves purpose for others instead of Fari.
The way to gain an aura is unknown; Ray would've tried his luck otherwise. It angered the man that he didn't have one.
Perhaps he could've saved them if he had one.
But that regret isn't something Ray could linger on, he had to focus on the police duo in front of him.
With a click and a deep breath, the detective shouted into the megaphone. Her aura moved one of the pawns closer to the opposite pawn.
"RELEASE YOUR LIMITERS, RICK, SO THE STRATEGIST SAYS."
"Yes ma'am!" Rick shouted, and with the sound of a chain being broken, a blue glow surrounded him, his hair waved upwards, even though there was no wind. A smile appeared on his face as he sprinted at Ray with immense speed.
For the auraless vigilante, this situation was less than ideal.
Rick stood in front of Ray, throwing out a right straight. Barely dodging it, Ray could feel the power coming off his opponent. The only thing that Ray could rely on were his inhuman reflexes.
He placed his hand on the handle of the katana that he had sheathed on his hip. Within a split second, he made the decision to not use the katana, but the sheath itself.
Ray has never used his actual katana in combat, only using it's sheathe as a blunt force weapon to get out of sticky situations.
Thud
The sheath hit Rick's stomach, A lot of force was put behind the blow, causing him to stumble backwards.
But even with that audible thud, it still felt like Ray was hitting against a brick wall. Rick swiped under his nose and took a stance that resembled that of a kung-fu fighter.
Ray accepted his challenge and also assumed a stance, one that closely resembled what is normally used for Aikido.
Fari sat behind them holding a small pocket watch. The strategist had a very limited active time. It's active time could last longer with every subsequent usage on one person, but for Rick, it had only happened three times before.
10 seconds remaining
Rick threw out very fast punches at Ray, who tried dodging them but instead got hit by a right kick to the side afterwards.
Ray was playing defensive while dodging everything, not knowing that Rick was on a tight timer, he was looking for a way to escape. The plan was to eventually floor him and then book it.
5 seconds remaining
Another punch aimed at his chest was dodged and Ray took this oppurtunity to firmly grasp Rick's right arm and slam him to the ground.
Rick rolled backwards and bounced right back up again, winding up for a flying kick to hit Ray with. But right before he could jump up, the blue aura surrounding him dissapeared.
Ray had succesfully survived against Fari's ability. The man instantly bolted out of there, Rick tried to chase after him, but fell to his knees, panting heavily.
"Are you okay?" Fari asked.
"Sorry, I let him escape." He grimaced
Ray smiled to himself as he ran through his escape route into the city that was still sleeping. Police cars could be seen around the area, all looking for the masked vigilante.
After he came home to his appartment, sudden fatigue washed over the man. Taking off the mask and the katana, he fell asleep on his couch.
The next day, the vigilante would start his usual routine. Walking from the bakery, he noticed some people chatting about the death of someone. He couldn't make out who.
Arriving home and turning his tv on, there was a news segment that instantly caused the vigilante's heartrate to skyrocket. He dropped the coffee he was drinking on the floor.
MURDERED! FAMOUS AND BELOVED OWNER SHI FOUND DEAD.
The corrupt bussiness owner's body was found lifeless in his office at 8 AM, the cause of death were slashing and stabbing wounds, presumably from a katana. Everywhere, Ray's masked picture was displayed. It was taken while he was in Shi's office, unbeknownst to the vigilante. No one knew who he was, but everyone knew what he was.
A murderer.
Ray clutched his chest, breathing extremely heavily. The justice he was driven by caused him to be blamed for murder. This was too much for him. He tried to rebel and this is what it ended up accumulating to. With his breathing becoming even more shallow, the man's ears were ringing as he couldn't even hear the news story anymore.
A few seconds later, the man fainted from all the panic.
"Wait, No! This can't be real!" Fari shouted at her squad. "He was a nuisance to us, but even I know he wouldn't steep this low. I'm going to talk to the chief about this!"
But that talk turned out fruitless. Fari was only met with silent stares and a wad of money in front of her. She never talked about this again, disgusted by it all. Everyone in that force was bribed, the only one who didn't accept the bribe was her group, but even they slowly disintegrated due to the constant pressure of the higher ups. She locked herself up in her office for years to come, only indulging in even more detective work; The incident left a deep scar for the police prodigy.
Rick felt frustrated too, swearing loyalty to protect Fari. If someone bribed the force, it would only be a matter of time before Fari overstepped boundaries and be a target of elimination too. He couldn't let that happen, he wouldn't let that happen.
As for Ray, the vigilante was never heard from again. Even though he knew that he didn't do it. The whole situation left an awful taste in his mouth. He was framed, with a very clear message aimed towards him.
"Stop disrupting our business."
Instead of fighting back, he simply gave up. That anger, bitterness, and sense of justice were shattered. The fire had been put out. To continue would be to die; And he couldn't die, he was afraid of death. He made a promise years ago, and he had to fulfill it.
Six years passed, and the public had forgotten about the vigilante. The beeping of an alarm screeched throughout the appartment.