Viper walked through the damp streets. Looking at the homeless and stray dogs, he didn't see a difference. When he arrived at the edge of the city. The strong smell of stinking fish and piss stung his nose. He placed a handkerchief to cover his nose as his eyes narrowed.
He looked deep where the land meets the dark grey sea which was infested with slithering things that the locals didn't want to disturb.
"The monster are growing more evident now. How much time do we have...? Nonetheless, Noted"
Viper pulled out his golden clock which popped open and revealed a green chip that had flowing red go through its patterns. Then after a holographic screen hovered on top of the clock. He pressed and swiped through the air and not long after a hovering sound hummed in the distance.
He looked around at the locals who were staring intently at him. Some mumbled amongst themselves, most shivered in his presence, though one stood out from the crowd.
A towel wrapped around his head to tie his long black hair as the blood of the fish he was gutting dripped from his fingers. Half a cloth covering his body as he wore a diaper like short with sharp tools shoved dangerously close to his skin. "Can't manage the smell now, huh? You've gotten weak..."
The man spoke to Viper, which Viper took no mind of. The man's head tilted, he looked at the nearby rotting tree and spoke almost like a whisper, "Trees go bad when they forget their roots... Have you forgotten, Viper?"
Viper glanced at the man who's left arm was missing, the tip of Viper's lips twitched. "You know better than to talk to me... So shut it"
"You've gotten rotten. Is that what they teach you up there?" The man glanced above the clouds, not looking at them, but beyond. "This is not the only way"
Viper did not respond.
He only rubbed the golden watch with his handkerchief. He looked at the rookie that was still unconscious, his head shook involuntarily as his lips were tight.
'This is the only way...' he thought.
The humming sound grew closer and through the dark clouds a blue light could be seen piercing through. It was C-01. A hovering enhanced transportation device. Colored black and sleek in design, it looked less like a car and more of a fighter jet.
The C-01 arrived with no driver and only 2 seats. But before Viper could take note of it's design any further, the man interrupted him, "You can't shoulder it all, Viper. You know that much..." the man's head rocked slowly. "You've always been-"
Swoosh!
Viper's blade was drawn and pointed at the man's neck. The man's eyes looked conflicted for a second, though he gained composure after the next, "Are you going to take my right arm too?"
Viper's breath crept through his gritted teeth.
Though his face was expressionless, his eyes were not. And the man saw that. After the next breath, he withdrew his sword.
He first threw Jayce into the floating device then calmly went in himself. He gave the man one last glance, "Watch yourself" then the automated door closed vertically.
Minutes passed as Viper's chin rested on his palm. He looked around the new compartment that smelt like sterile air. "That mechanic..."
In front of him was an advance tracking location that allowed automatic transportation and a button that allowed him to get a free drink. "She has potential..." He grabbed a water.
'You can't shoulder it all, Viper'
Viper's grip on the cup tightened as the water inside made small ripples. "I can... So watch me, Kael... This is the only way" He murmured to himself.
He looked over the other side and saw Jayce, "Starting with this young man..."
Then Jayce felt a cold drench flow across his forehead, jolting him awake. He covered his hands over his face as he tried to argue but could not. "Good" Viper crumbled the cup then placed it inside his pocket, "You're awake"
"Goddamn! Hell are you doing?!" Jayce voiced out. "Do you want to be expelled?! You do understand who I am, right?"
Viper exhaled through his nose.
"I do. It is my duty as a Senior to look over the Junior Highs. And I've looked over your files, Jayce"
"It's Mr. Floyd to you, rat"
"The others look up to you... So why do you keep putting up such a bad image?"
Jayce scoffed. His eyes rolled as his arms folded. "What do I care about others? They can all go to hell... Especially those lowly trash-"
Jayce felt the air tense with Viper's Aura abundant. "Jayce. We are hunters. It is our duty to show a good image and act upright" Viper's tone sharp and precise.
Jayceswallowed his breath then cringed.
"Damn, rat... Not even the professors nag me this much. Is this what power does to you, huh? Just because my father supports you doesn't mean you can act all high and mighty"
Jayce did not get a response and so his thoughts wandered back to what happened before the black out.
'That guys Aura... It was... Inhumane. Almost-'
"That's irrelevant" Viper suddenly answred. "I ask you this, what would happen to the world if all of us decided to go on selfish? What would happen to the people who can't defend themselves?"
"Then they'd die. Simple. That's how this world works"
"Is this the world your mother would have wanted you to live in?"
Jayce's eyes sharpened as he side eyed Viper, "Do not bring my mother into this..."
"Is this the world you want your sister to live in?"
Jayce slowly stood up from his seat, then looked at Viper in the eyes, "I said..." His voice dragged.
Clutch.
He gripped Viper's uniform, his grip was tight, shaking. "Don't bring my family into this"
Now Viper's expression changed to a strong and determined look. "We hunters have the power and responsibilities to to make that dream a reality, Jayce"
Jayce continued to stare at Viper's stoic eyes. The hovering vehicle's light flickered. Jauceas released his grip.
"Tsk. I don't need to get all tense up because of you... I don't give a damn about others" he looked at his hand, "I will clear the tower and kill that damn bastard myself. That will be the world my sister lives in"
"A world without her brother?"
"What do you mean by that...?"
Both Jayce and Viper felt the floating device stop, then not long after the automated door opened. White mist escaped through the door, making the outside air enter the vehicle. If the air inside the vehicle smelt like a clinic, then the smell of the High Tier City smelt like an entire hospital.
Viper was the first to step out. He looked at Jayce and said, "Ponder that"
Silence engulfed them both for a passing minute before Viper walked away. The sound of light chatter from the students nearby crowded the air. More students passed by, some had strange hair colors while others had whole extra limbs.
Jayce's face twisted.
"Go and walk back to your master, rat! You know nothing better than to nag!"
The other students of the academy looked at Jayce with surprised eyes, they were used to his loud personality, but today it seemed like he woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
Jayce glared at the students which made them continue minding their business. He stepped out of the vehicle as his body folded and a breath escapes his mouth.
The vehicle hovered away into a tall white tower which seems to hold more of the same model. Jayce's eye twitched looking at the technological development, 'Cocky bastards are infesting this place... Damn it' His steps were heavy as he passed by the clean halls of the academy. Students continued to look at him and some even stare.
"Hey, isn't that Jayce Floyd? He's wearing Trainee armor... He must have been sent down there" A student who had a grey uniform whispered with his ear.
"Yeah he must have been... Though what is he doing here? It's to early for Trainees to return to the academy... Hah, he must have caused trouble down there" the other replied with a mouth on his hand.
"Wouldn't be surprised. After discovering his Essence then gaining his Attribute the day after. He's so up his ass he can probably smell it"
"Hey..."
The two students who were whispering amongst themselves stopped as they looked above them and saw a looming figure look over them.
"If you've got business with me" Red Aura started to show around Jayce's body. The air around him started to hear up as sounds of crackling flames followed. "Then you better tell it to my own damn face!"
The two students jolted upwards and bowed to his feet, "Forgive us!" "Yeah, like, forgive us!"
"Tsk. Bunch of wimps! You both are better suited to be belts made from snake skin than hunters! What are your names?!"
"..." "..."
"I am Jayce Floyd, son of Flourish Academy principal... So you better tell me your names... Or else I'll find them myself"
The students continued to bow as one slowly started to mumble incoherent words which spooked the other. The next moment both were infighting amongst themselves.
Though before Jayce could put down his foot on the student, another student interrupts him. "Hey, shit for brains! Stop bullying the students, you're already late for class"
Jayce raised his head to see the white messy haired boy with an extra arm.
Around his neck was a pretty girl who didn't look like his girlfriend from a couple week ago.
"Damien..."
"Yeah, it's me. Now, stop squirming with the low lives and entertain your damn low grades, Jaquence" Damien laughed and the girl around his neck laughed unconvincingly.
A vein popped on Jayce's forehead as he gave the students one last glare, "This isn't over-"
"Hey! Jaquence" Damien pulled Jayce and drags him through the halls, "I'm not exaggerating. We're 40 minutes late!"
"He-hey! Stop tugging, worm. And stop with that nickname!"
The two students exhaled in relief, though still they shivered remembering Jayce's threat. Guess they'll be graduating from their coffins this year.
****
Damien popped out a lilipop and sucked it with his white pale lips. He offered one to Jayce but Jayce replied with, "You look like you're about to die any minute now. Good"
"Ouch. You're too harsh on me, Jaquence"
"..."
"Really, I'm the only guy that can handle your temper and this is how you treat your best bud-"
Damien tripped forward as he felt Jayce's hard foot against his back which surprised the girl that was mindlessly scrolling with her golden watch.
The girl asked how Damien was and he replied he was alright in a soft tone as he patted his uniform. "This is why you're my favorite toy to play with... So easy to mess with"
"You're psychotic"
Jayce walked behind them which made it look like he was their butler or servant. The girl couldn't shake the dangerous feeling behind her, like eyes preying on her very self, she tugged Damien for help.
"Why do you even mess with those nobodies, Jaquence?"
"I told you-"
"We're leaps above their league and messing with them benefits you with nothing"
Jayce continued to walk in silence.
"Yeah, yeah... I know you've already told me about why you do that. For your sister and blah blah and how she's going to enter school soon blah blah... But really, it isn't just that, is it?"
Jayce's eyes narrowed.
"You do it for the fun of it. For the thrill. Makes you feel stronger. Bigger"
Damien stopped on his tracks and looked back at Jayce, "No problem with that! Hah, that's how it should be, Jaquence..."
'Is this the world you want your sister to live in?'
"Absolute no problem in that"
"Shut it"
Damien laughed which echoed throughout the empty halls. And in a not so far distance, faint music could be heard. "Guess they've already started"
***
The city always woke up at 5 in the morning. With clanking old machinery and the smell of salty seas and rusted nails.
The men start their day with a stretch and get ready for work as the women already prepared the food. The children also woke up at this hour to tend their own business, either be play or work. Sadly for Haden wakes up at 6.
And so he was awoken by a bone chilling pour of cold water. And with that came a loud voice that announced like a siren telling the world it was about to end. "Wake up, boy! Early worms get the best dirt!"