William took a drag out of the cigarette before releasing a small puff of smoke into the air. The building is an old apartment building if the faded paint were any indication. The standard model given the number of floors it has and how it looked.

Following the address given, William drove to this small area as soon as possible. The apartment is built in the busy part of town in an attempt to capitalize on the building commerce area and other restaurants.

Dozens of people walking around in broad daylight, meaning he can’t actively use his Ascended powers in public. There are too many people and with the Internet and social media, they’ll film it and then the Malaysian Slayer Association comes crashing down on them with the hammer of justice full force.

He took another drag, sucking out all the nicotine before releasing it in one, big puff. William’s hand crushed the tiny bunt, his Ascended physiology allowing him to ignore the minor burn in his palm. Watching the carcinogenic smoke waft through the air for a brief second before he decided to spend no more time dawdling. As he took a step forward, one of the kids of a nearby couple noticed him.

“Are you a cop?” A young girl, no older than five, asked innocently when she got closer.

“Nah, I’m a gangster.” Smiled William as he walked, hearing the girls’ parents admonishing her for talking to strangers.

Walking up the stone steps, he entered through the front door. The lobby looked like it could use a makeover; everything looked positively stale as the seats for tenants and paints of the wall is clearly beyond their prime.

William frowned at the sight, finding the place more boring than anything else. There was a counter at the end of the lobby with a bored portly old Indian man sitting behind it.

“Excuse me, is a Mr Ling live here?” Asked William, taking out his phone from the pocket and showing the photo inside to him.

“This guy. Does he live here?” Repeated William. His friend hadn’t deigned to tell him which room he lived in. Forcing him to ask the man for information.

“Why do you want to know? Are you a friend of his? I cannot give anything away unless my tenants say so.” The man replied.

William smiled, placing a hand on the counter. After a quick contemplation, William decided to utilize his own strength. Muscles tightened as his grip settled on the wooden furniture. The counter groaned under the vice-like grip and eventually William managed to pull out a big chunk of the tree.

Splinters fall between the fingers, dropping to the ground. The man got out of the chair, backing away as far as possible.

“Which floor does Mr Ling lives on?” Asked William for the third time.

Blubbering in fear, the old man protested weakly in a mish-mash of English and Tamil. The young Ascended merely sigh before placing a second hand on the counter and pulled. The Indian could only watch in horror as the wooden counter left the floor and hang precariously over the older man’s head.

“Last chance old man. And if you waste it, I’ll drop it on your head.” Smiled William.

“Fifth floor. Fifth floor. The fifth room as well.” He blurted out.

Satisfied, William dropped the ruined counter down which broke the floor underneath it. Fishing out his wallet as his arm deflated in size, he dropped several RM100 bills and left without sparing a second glance.

“Use that money to pay for the damage and don’t tell anyone what you saw today.” Spoke William as he entered an elevator. The money he dropped should act as compensation for the trouble. Pressing the buttons to reach the right floor, William took out his phone and sent a message to his friend. Just as he finished sending the message, the elevator stopped.

The door slide opened and William stepped out of it after ascertaining he was on the right floor. Walking down the hallway he idly counted the room number. Passing Room 501,502 and two others behind it before stopping in front of the fifth room.

As he knocked on the door, there was a pregnant pause settling in. Looking to the right and the head turned to the left, catching no one in sight. He could hear the faint sound of shuffling, possibly the man getting walking. After waiting for several minutes William twist the doorknob open but met resistance.

“Open up now, Mr Ling.” Spoke William, annoyed at the man’s tardiness.

“I came here to collect a package for my friend here. Hurry it up.”

More shuffling came about. William rolled an eye at the man’s slowness.

“If you don’t open this door, I’ll break it open.”

The pace of the shuffling increased. If he focused, there were faint traces of whispers being shared. Two people are inside but he can’t make out much more than that. For a moment, he wondered if the man had hired some muscles to protect himself or the man might even be an Ascended.

It’s not the first time Anthony settled for a practical joke like this. That bastard will do anything for a barrel of laughs.

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Annoyed, he tightened the right hand into a fist. Arm reared back before the Ascended threw it forward. A hole made into the surface of the door with his own physical strength. He could hear the screams of a young child and an older man. Eyebrows raised at the second individual before shoulders shrugging, uncaring if there is a witness.

What neutrality he has for the man has sunk to zero if the man likes children in that fashion.

“Here’s William!” Laughed the Ascended sinisterly as he searched for the doorknob. Feeling the coldness of steel, he grabbed onto it firmly and turned it clockwise. Sounds of the door mechanism kicking in and William pulled out his hand only to kick the door open. The force of his foot broke it off its hinges, causing it to hang uselessly to the side as he entered.

Standing in the living room with a frightened expression was his target. The subject of his ire, a short, overweight middle-aged man with a balding head who shares the same ethnicity as his. Some Asian man wearing a dark blue shirt and shorts to match. There were clear signs of sleep deprivation as the bags under the eyes were a dead giveaway.

What drew his attention however was a young girl who belongs in a kindergarten. Black hair tied into twin tails and a blue dress fit for a child hug the girl’s form. She looked positively scared and seek out protection in the very same man he’s intending to rough up.

William’s heart dropped at the sight. The idea the man’s a child-toucher is already thrown out the window judging by how she’s holding onto him. Beating up a man in front of his daughter isn’t exactly on his mind. Now he felt stupid thinking the man swing in a very messed up direction.

Briefly he contemplated on how to approach this complex system before deciding to settle for the friendly gangster approach. Wagging the index finger to the man to come forward, he tried for a friendly smile.

“Sorry about that kid. I’m one of those Ascended you know. Those guys on tv that fight against the bad monsters inside those big towers.”

On the inside, William felt a part of him dying but he hoped this does the trick. The child looked hesitant while the older man looked confused.

“O-okay.” She spoke hesitantly. At least the girl seems less afraid. Just looking at her already makes his resolve weaker.

“Tell your friend I still have a week left to make the payment. The deadline isn’t due until next week’s Thursday.” Bemoaned Ling.

“I know.” Replied William, mildly annoyed at the man. He had hoped for the task to be a simple debt collection but now he has to account for a child.

“But our mutual friend will be attending a week-long raid in the Tower. The one in Kuala Lumpur. He hoped to collect it before he leaves.” William replied, marching up to the man.

“I-I’ll get the money. Just don’t take my daughter.” He pleaded, backing away and urging his daughter to stay behind him.

For a moment he saw the back of his mother, looking utterly in shock at the giant red mass that is a monster. The last thing he saw was her turning towards him, apologizing to him. Before the tentacle snatched her up and flinging her into a building.

William remained stoic, silently judging the man. At least he doesn’t try and barter with him or worse, try selling his kid. That’ll make it much easier for him not to pummel the man.

Ling stepped back, one hand hovering over his daughter protectively. The other hand was extended forward, as if the gesture could ward him off. William scoffed at that, sighing at the display of impotent strength. It reminded him of his weak self.

Faster than the normal father-daughter duo could see, a hand, his hand, lashed out and yanked the man forward. A short gasp escaped the man’s lips before his other free hand cupped the flabby cheeks, shushing him effectively. Their eyes made contact and William found fear in those eyes.

“Let go of my dad, you liar!” She yelled, kicking his leg. A big mistake as one kick sent her reeling back in pain, clutching her own injured appendage. The entire spectacle earned a derisive snort and a smidge of respect for the child.

“Let me illuminate you on the situation you have precariously landed in. You are a mere human; a walking meatbag that doesn’t even have the strength to take on the weakest of the Slayers. I can simply press down on your ribcage like how you would use the keyboard of a computer, effectively breaking your bones.

Deciding he could risk it, he channeled activated his skill. The unique ability of every Ascended that is shaped by their psyche. Burning sensation flared to life in the bowels, spreading to his arm. He focused and commanded the energy to flow around the eyes and teeth. Changes washed over him as the world around him suddenly turned brighter and the jaws feeling heavier.

“Or perhaps another arrangement. I have developed an appetite for the human flesh thanks to my ability.” William smiled, showing off the fangs of a beast.

“N-no, not in front of my daugh-“

William tightened the grip around the neck. An act that should constrict the oxygen from flowing in. The man kicked and punched pathetically, trying to break free. She cried even harder.

“I suggest you pay your debt and stop gambling if you value your loved ones, got it?”

Whimpers and a nod given, satisfying William’s needs. He shoved the man away, letting him land on the sofa. Thankfully the furniture didn’t break under the man’s momentum. She ran to her dad and sobbed into his pants while he patted.

Huffing in disdain, he left the place without looking back. As he walked out of the room, one of the tenants came out to check on the ruckus no doubt. Before the useless meat can say anything, he threw a stack full of cash out of the pocket. The standard bribe money he offer to any witness.

A stack consisting of twenty bills, each one valued at a hundred ringgit. That kind of money can silence anyone of the working class. It should keep their mouths shut and the bribed tenant have lost any interest in the ruckus, counting the bills with greed in the eyes.

“To shut your mouths.” William commanded. The man made no reply, shutting the door in his face. Annoyed by his action but he decided there were enough violence committed today. It’s time for him to leave as his work is already done.

“Any dumbass that tries calling for cops will get hunted down by the Merchant’s Guild!” Yelled William, sliding a card on the floor. Their calling card, always left on the scenes of any crime activity if the police tries to investigate. With their influence over the country’s commerce, they can effectively do whatever they want.

“Give that to the cops. They’ll know the standard procdure.”

As long as things are done per procedure the profit will flow in. No one will challenge them and they can keep doing what they always do.

Punching in the ground floor button, he turned on the phone and dialed Tony’s number. The line obviously connected and he can hear the sound of a woman moaning. The transformation as already slowly getting undone as he no longer wills the magical energy to maintain the transformation. Disgusted, he was about to turn it off until another voice spoke up.

“Hey, this here’s Anthony Zhang’s voicebox. Leave a message cause I’m too busy making money.”

The line went dead after that and he delivered his message.

“You lazy idiot. You give me one more shitty job, I’ll bash your head in. I don’t like scaring kids! Also, change your bloody voice box. It’s gross you bastard.”

Turning off the phone, he shoved it down into his pocket. Fuming, William crossed his arms over the chest and leaned against the cold steel of the elevator. The girl reminded him of his dead sister. Already he can start hearing the screams of despair. Closing his eyes, he begun counting down from a hundred.