The underground city of smugglers, or New Umbra, was divided into several areas of territory throughout the city. The southern part contained an entrance to the deeper underground passages. It was also the city's defense against creatures that appeared at the entrance to invade the city, mainly fire ants. It was also the main exchange point for buying and selling. The eastern part was an entertainment area, with gaming houses and the main fighting arena. The rich came to have fun, while others came to get a taste of a better future as poor people with nowhere to go.
In the West, mining and refining were carried out. Weapons and armor were manufactured for both commercial purposes and city defense. And the Ultima area in the North was a poorer area. It was a place where no one wanted to be found. Many who lived there preferred to keep a low profile in a place with a high mortality rate.
Viktor decided to go north, to a poorer area. Atlas immediately expressed his concern.
'THIS IDEA IS ILLOGICAL!!'
Viktor responded with confidence. 'Have more faith. We're not safe here.'
'ILLOGICAL. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF SMUGGLERS, CRIMINALS, AND RENEGADES, AND YOU WANT TO TAKE US TO THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE IN THE CITY?' Atlas questioned.
"First, John told us about it. Second, it's the perfect place to hide." Viktor argued.
Atlas insisted. 'BUT JOHN HAS MORE EXPERIENCE IN THE CITY!! HE'S BEEN HERE FOR YEARS AND WE JUST ARRIVED!'
Viktor sighed. 'Just trust me. We didn't survive this far by pure luck.'
'I AGREE, IT WAS THANKS TO MIN!!'
'Yes, but it was also thanks to...'
Viktor was about to continue arguing, but he was interrupted when he saw a gate leading to the northern area. He looked at the gate and noticed that it was a bit worn and unkempt, with rust and cracks visible. However, despite its unkempt appearance, the gate seemed to have reinforced security.
"Admission is free." The guard was laughing, enjoying himself.
Viktor remained silent, but Atlas asked him to reconsider. 'RECONSIDER, VIKTOR.'
Ignoring the advice, Viktor tried.
"Open the gate now."
The guards laughed again. As one of them opened the gate.
Viktor ignored them and went inside. The northern area was a big difference from the rest of the city. The buildings were precarious, made of improvised materials.
The ground was very dirty and covered in rubble. People with lifeless and desperate looks, completely lost, wandered the narrow streets. Children played with broken objects, while adults fought for food and others traded.
To his surprise, Viktor found more guards ahead. He ignored them, but one of them spoke.
"To leave, it's 1 million each."
Viktor was not surprised and kept walking. He took in his new surroundings. The buildings were made of rusty metal and poorly made pieces of stone. The streets were narrow and poorly lit, with flickering streetlights. The smell of garbage and sulfur was strong, making it difficult to breathe.
People passing by Viktor avoided eye contact but looked at his back. He noticed that many were armed, carrying knives, pistols, and even improvised weapons.
As Viktor walked through the streets, he realized that he was being followed. Two large, armed men kept a discreet distance, but not far enough to go unnoticed.
Atlas alerted him immediately. 'USER, WE ARE BEING FOLLOWED BY TWO ARMED MEN.'
Viktor, without slowing down, responded with a calm tone of voice.
"I know, Atlas. For someone who's hiding, they're pretty bad at stealth."
The two men continued to follow him, trying to blend in with the streets. He quickly turned a corner, entering a maze of narrow and winding passages.
"Trust me, Atlas."
He continued walking, hearing the heavy footsteps of his pursuers echoing behind him. The alley was narrow, with high walls of rusty metal and cracked concrete. The ground was covered in rubble and trash, making it difficult to move quickly.
Finally, Viktor found the perfect place. A dead-end alley, with only a small opening to escape.
"Hahaha! You bastard! I'll beat you until you give me everything you have!"
However, Viktor did not react to his voice, as if he had not heard. This enraged the man even more. Then, he moved towards him and grabbed him roughly by the shoulder.
But when Viktor turned around, a chill ran down the man's spine. He felt his heart stop for a moment while looking into Viktor's eyes, which were like those of a beast.
They were like two empty wells, devoid of any human emotion. They were so careful of emotion that they were disturbing.
'What's going on now?' the man thought in panic. He didn't know why, but just looking into Viktor's eyes made him feel like his body was separated from his head.
Viktor saw the deep horror in the man's eyes and then spoke to him in a calm and cold tone.
"What do you want?"
The big man began to back away slowly, driven by his survival instinct.
'Why am I afraid?! Have I gone crazy?!'
He couldn't believe that a boy could threaten him, so he shook his head and looked at Viktor with anger.
"Give me what you have, and I'll just beat you up without killing you," he said.
The silence took over the place suddenly, the man observed carefully what the boy would do. He didn't feel it, but his body was already on high alert.
"Why do people want to lose their lives so much?" Viktor said suddenly, with the same calm voice.
"Then I'll kill you! Don't think I won't dare do it!" The man said with a forced smile, but he was sweating coldly.
"I understand..." Viktor murmured those words before appearing in front of the man in an instant.
He was caught off guard by the sudden action, but he acted accordingly and punched the boy.
With a quick movement, Viktor dodged the punch with ease. He then grabbed the man's arm and twisted it, dislocating it.
"ARGGGHHH!!!" A loud groan of pain escaped the man's mouth as he held his arm.
"Tch" Viktor clicked his tongue, approaching the man again.
"You...!!!!! I'll kill you!!" The man had already lost all sanity due to the pain. He declared and pulled out a light knife from his pocket.
The weapon was not large, but it was sharp enough to cut the body of an enhanced person.
He then moved towards the boy and stabbed the knife into his stomach.
"Die, you bastard!"
"You must have burned through a lot of brain cells to come up with that sentence."
With a quick movement, Viktor grabbed the man's arm again and struck his hand with a cutting motion, making the knife fall. Then, he kicked the big man in the stomach.
"Blu!!!" Holding his belly, the man fell to the ground, groaning in pain.
"You could have run away when you had the chance!!" Looking at the man.
"Now, appear or run away with your friend on the ground."
"You little brat!" The second man appeared, hidden, and tried to grab the boy.
However, Viktor dodged the hand and created a distance between them.
"It's about time, I was wondering when you would appear," smiling
"Are you okay?!" The second companion appeared.
"It seems I'm fine! Cough! Cough! That boy! Let's get out of here!" Specifically, the injured man.
"But...?! What are we going to tell the boss?!"
"Forget the boss! We need to escape!"
Then, the injured man picked up his knife and looked at the boy with frightened eyes.
"LET'S GO!!" The two men fled in fear, terrified.
'ARE YOU GOING TO LET THEM ESCAPE?'Atlas said.
"Of course! How else can I lead him to his hideout?"
The two men began to run quickly towards their hiding places. They did not realize that Viktor was following them closely, hiding in the shadows and going unnoticed, blending in with the people who roamed the dirty streets of the north wing.The dirt and trash were spread all over the place. The horrible smell of feces, capable of making anyone vomit.It was a sick environment, conducive to the spread of despair, where misery and poverty took hold permanently in the region.
People passing by had looks of utter hopelessness. Their faces, marked by hunger and poverty, reflected the harsh reality of the north wing.
"So that's how you command..." Viktor murmured.
'????...USER, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?'
'Nothing, Atlas. But as you said, this district must be very dangerous,' looking around.
'YES!! I TOLD YOU!!!'
"Right..." Viktor sighed.
Viktor continued to follow his pursuers, keeping closer to the shadows and avoiding any eye contact, but it was difficult with multiple eyes staring at him. The men were focused on reaching the hideout, afraid of the boss.
He looked ahead and saw a large, ruined house with two burly men standing on either side of the iron door.
The two men had armor covering specific parts of their bodies and small pistols on their hips.
"Hm, where's the boy?" One of them said while looking at the two men who were expelled by Viktor.
"We need to talk to the boss. Open the door." The man replied briefly.
The guards, without hesitating much, quickly opened the doors, allowing the two men to enter quickly. Taking advantage of the distraction, Viktor moved silently away from the guards.
With a quick and precise movement, Viktor delivered a strong right punch to the stomach of the first guard he saw. The impact was so powerful that the man's armor cracked with a loud crack, and he doubled over in pain, letting out a muffled groan.
"Hugh!!!"
The guard fell to his knees as he held his stomach and spat out saliva, trying to protect his stomach as he tried to catch his breath.
The second guard, surprised by the speed and strength of the attack, desperately tried to draw his weapon.
"Who...?"
But Viktor was faster. In a single swift movement, he grabbed the guard's wrist, preventing him from drawing his weapon. The guard tried to resist, but Viktor's genetically enhanced strength was greater.
"I'm the boy you've been looking for..." Smiling at the guards.
In one fluid motion, Viktor turned his body and delivered a spinning kick to the second guard's chest. The impact was devastating, destroying the man's armor and cracking his torso with a dry, crunching sound.
"Hugh!!!" The guard fell, foaming at the mouth, struggling to breathe.
The two guards were out of action, groaning in pain on the floor. Viktor looked at the open door and then at the guards.
"Thank you for opening the door for me, you don't need to accompany me, I'll go alone." Waving to the fallen guards, with a tone of disdain.
He gave one last look at the guards and entered.