Prime Evolver System

(The short break is now over, we will go into overdrive! I have mostly finished stockpiling, but just to be safe I will go safe for the remainder of the month. Keeping the 1 chapter/day schedule for this month, but from August we will be going 1 Chapter / 12 hours! 

Once again, I apologize for the short hiatus, though it was unpleasant, it did wonders to my stockpile. :) )

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Behind the nameless, corner-side grocery store, a small back alley resided. Fire escapes led through the sides all the way to the top of the nearby buildings. 

The sounds of a brawl, grunts, coughs and spits echoed through the not-too wide brick walls, reaching towards the outside. Following the sound back towards its source a ring of delinquents could be seen, hooting and screaming with delight to the spectacle they themselves have set up.

Inside the makeshift ring, a bloody, gruesome, desperate, and hopeless fight was going on. On one side, a bloody and beaten young man, with a swollen face and a disheveled, sweat-covered crown of short dark brown hair face off against two tall figures. 

A third young-looking figure was already sprawled out on the ground, his shirt literally burnt away from his torso, a palm-shaped burn mark displayed for all to see at the center of his chest. A pool of blood spilled around the area where his head hit the ground. 

From the first glance, it was impossible to tell if the body of the young man had only fainted or if some other darker fate had come for him. He was taller than the bleeding dark brown-haired youngster, with a lean, lanky build.

A tall, muscular man, the first of the standing duo facing off against this mysterious teenager smirked as he wiped the small bloodstain off from the corner of his mouth. He revealed a malicious grin as his dark sinister eyes clearly displayed his vicious, cruel nature.

"Gotta admit boy, you were quite the surprise. You proved to be a fun little exercise so far…"

"Still, all good things have to come to an end." The second, similar-looking fully tattoo-covered bald, unshaven burly man snickered with a contemptuous look. "You have two choices, brat. One, you kneel down and beg for forgiveness. In that case, we simply broke your legs and allow you to pay for our time using today's earnings from the cash register as a donation." 

Upon his words, the surrounding circle of thugs hollered, sneering and mocking at this thin youngster's misfortune. Clearly the dozen or so spectating crowd didn't think too much about the whole fight. Taunts and jabs were thrown at the boy without mercy.

"What's up now, Karate Kid, huh?" 

"Is this what that flashy sh*t was good for? To knock out the weakest of us all?!"

"Hahaha! Look at him boys, I told you he is worthless! Brother Metal and Iron made quick work of him!"

"Let's break his bones and dump him in the river!"

Threats and violent remarks were fired from the crowd, hoping for the kid's earlier-than-expected demise. None of the gathered crowd seemed to care about the consequences.

The two bald brawlers took their time, enjoying the crowd and even playing into it. 

After a short while, the man continued, snickering at the boy's beaten and battered cold-looking face.

"Heh, still got that arrogance on your face? Quite respectful of you. Listen up, the second choice is your fight to the bitter end, hope for the futile victory. Although I do not advise you this, I can-"

However before he could finish, a loud shout came from behind them. A huge, bulky tattooed musclehead standing atop the first floor of the nearby fire escape stairs, suddenly raised his right arm in the air. His gaze fixated on the spot behind the group, the entrance-slash-exit to this back streetside, where a peculiar duo stood, looking back at them with a nonchalant look on their faces.

"Who are you two and what are you doing here?!" He bellowed at the two invaders. His cold gaze, however, turned to a lascivious one as his eyes slowly glazed over the mature blonde beauty. 

Upon their boss' words the rest of the crowd quickly shifted their attention, turning around to look at the duo. Spotting the angelic beauty walking into their midst they jeered with a salacious delight glimmering in their eyes. 

Quickly, they surrounded the newly emerged duo, extending the makeshift arena to include the two newcomers as they slowly, but steadily marched towards the battered youngster ignoring the crowd.

Although they were quickly pulled into the trouble, they remained aloof on the matter, completely ignoring the band of thugs, the tattooed brawlers, or their drooling boss standing at the elevated position.

"Hey, babe! Come over here and join me! I promise to keep you safe from this ugly matter!" The bald boss hollered, waving at the busty beauty. 

Still, to his rising annoyance, the duo seemed to be completely ignorant of the grave danger they willingly walked in. Why didn't they understand that they are the mice and this is his snare?

He scoffed, clenching his fists, violently hitting against the metal railings to vent his growing frustrations. 

"B*TCH! Look at me when I'm talking to you! Do you have any idea who I am?!" He yelled with anger. Conveying their leader's rising anger, the surrounding men quickly changed their tone matching their leader's.

"You b*tch, don't be too arrogant! If the boss talks to you, you respond!"

"After a few days in the pit, chained and naked whilst all of us train you for obedience will clearly do you some good!"

"Yeah! You will learn some respect, you clearly lack!"

Still, no matter the crude remarks, the threats, neither of them reacted to their yells. They walked up to the barely standing, swaying body of the weary young man. Reaching out, Lucien placed his hands atop the young figure's shoulder.

"What is your name?" In a calm, emotionless tone, he asked, speaking for the first time since their appearance. 

Meanwhile the blonde beauty, Sera walked up to the boy's left. Ignoring the threatening gazes of the gangsters, she placed her right palm over his left shoulder. She flashed a gentle, warm-looking smile, before her hands began to glow, radiating a colorless faint glow.

The thugs, the brawlers, and even the boss looked at the puzzling scene with stupefied gazes. What was happening here?!

Still, the stillness only lasted for a meager moment, before the boss snapped out of this dazed reverie. His face contorted into a vicious scowl, he hollered with anger, his booming voice serving as a dispel to the veil of daze that had fallen over the dimly lit alley.

"SNAP OUT OF IT YOU BUNCH OF IGNORANT BUFFOONS! GET THEM, EVERYONE!"

His war cry served as the initiation to the exploding street brawl. The ring of thugs jumped out from their daze, snarled at the trio, before lounging at them in the next instant. 

As the all-out clash broke out, the bald leader snickered at the spectacle below his feet, already seeing the gruesome sight that will greet him once his men made quick work of these annoying pests.

Suddenly he jolted in his spot, as he realized the mistake he had just made. Gasping for a lung-full of air, he gathered his voice for a brief instant before bellowing once more.

"MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE B*TCH ALIVE, WE WILL TAKE HER! YOU CAN KILL OFF THE  TWO BRATS!"

His words seemingly relaxed his mind, he sighed with relief. His mind wandering towards the not-so-distant future, he could already see the marvelous taste, this new spoil he would surely take home to their base. 

Deep in his own lascivious mind, he was abruptly brought back to reality when a strange, dreadful sensation suddenly washed over him. As his haze-covered eye slowly cleared, a chilling cry reached his ears…