Lyon POV:

4 months later.

I sat on the rooftop overlooking District 4 as I meditated while the evening breeze brushed past me calmly. I could hear talking from the busy streets below as yet another extension to the main base was nearing completion.

More and more people from District 4 wanted to join the Organization, and soon our numbers swelled from the hundreds to the thousands. The empty 1st and 2nd floors were full to the brim once more, and with a significant increase in the number of Watchers and Vices, Lissandra was as busy as ever.

I made it a habit to meet and greet as many people as I could before helping out with everyone’s training. There were quite a few hidden talents among the new recruits, which made the future even more promising.

Rumours about massacres and huge battles going on in District 3 quickly reached Brunaulf's ears. He had sent some of the Watchers to keep tabs on the north side of District 4, as it was the boundary to District 3, but thankfully nothing happened.

After teaching the Watchers and Vices, I trained with Lissandra. I found out that she used a unique form of Taekwondo and that she wasn’t originally from Outer Astril.

In order to not destroy the entire 5th floor, we had to change our sparring location. We fought outside, in a large open space, in the middle of the two connected building complexes.

A crowd of members would always gather around to watch the two of us, and I realized that Lissandra hadn't been going all out, yet she was still improving. Our spars lasted longer and longer until we fought continuously for hours.

As for Comfort, staying true to my word, I spent more time there. The locals clapped and cheered, eager to greet me whenever I stepped inside. Crime had fallen to an all-time low while no one could deny the positive change that had swept over District 4. Gone were the days when you needed to always watch your back walking down the streets or alleyways.

Ness looked at me with proud eyes, whereas Jasmine was still clingy, and Marina hated it. Len was in high spirits and occasionally trained together with Jasmine. Everyone had adjusted to the two sides of Marina. The only one who didn’t need to adjust in the first place was Len.

‘Sisters...’

Bonds in life were truly a powerful thing. I opened my eyes as I looked up at the evening sky. I got to my feet and headed inside.

***

I wrapped the hand wrap around my left arm using the method Jasmine had shown me when I heard the door close shut.

Brunaulf was the only one who didn’t knock when entering the main room, so I immediately knew it was him. His footsteps were light but quick—something had happened.

“Leader!”

He bowed his head before holding out a small piece of paper in his hand.

“My master sent this.”

‘Copycat...’

My eyes narrowed as he passed me the note. A street address was written neatly in the middle:

53, Complex B, Pine Street, District 3

I have a gift for you.

- Copycat

‘A gift?’

I examined it carefully, but there was nothing strange about the note. I wasn’t sure what he meant by gift either.

I couldn’t help but remember the time when he messed with my mind and put Len's life in danger. I wanted to throw it away, but I wasn’t in a position where I could just act on my own personal emotions; I needed to be wise if I wanted to deal with Copycat and the Ruler.

“Brunaulf, what do you think?”

“It would be in your best interest to go. I can’t comprehend my master's thoughts, but I can say this: he rarely gives out gifts.”

He answered without hesitation. However, his response left me more confused. If he rarely gives out gifts, wouldn’t that mean it’s more likely to be a trap?

‘!’

Wait... The current conflict going on between District 3 and District 1, was that his doing? The word ‘gift’ played over in my mind as I leaned forward in the chair.

‘Did he steal something and want to get rid of it?’

I furrowed my eyebrows as I pondered over just what Copycat’s goal was. My theory could be a long shot, but it was worth checking it out. I also wanted to see first-hand the state that District 3 was in.

Skorr had almost completely taken over District 2. It had taken longer than expected due to some small-time people from Inner Astril getting involved, but it was almost time to move onto the next step.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Alright. I’ll go.”

“Should I send a few Vices with you?”

“There’s no need. I’ll go alone. Take care of things here while I’m gone, Brunaulf.”

“Yes, Leader.”

I watched him leave the room and slowly got to my feet; I wanted to get this out of the way as soon as possible. I activated the Mark of a Pantheon and headed to the rooftop. I stood over the ledge while wondering just how bad the situation was in District 3.

My body flickered forward, and I was gone.

***

??? POV:

“Waaa!”

“D-don’t cry...”

A loud explosion rang out from the street behind us while blood painted the walls a dark shade of red. I dashed through the network of alleyways in a hurry as the sounds of chanting echoed around me.

The baby buried his head deeper into my chest, and I instinctively tightened my grip around him while rolling into an abandoned house to catch my breath.

“Shh...There... There...”

I stroked his head to comfort him, his wailing gradually subsiding. His parents had been decapitated, and their heads hung on the street corner as a warning. I recalled their last moments when they pushed their son into my arms, begging me to protect him while swords penetrated their bodies.

I had quickly turned around, covering his tiny ears from their bloodcurdling screams as I ran. This place... It was hell.

These people had no mercy. They cut down any and everyone while chanting ‘Blood, Blood, Blood!’ like some crazy ritual fanatics.

Some of them even smeared the blood of the innocent on their faces, creating disturbing tattoos. They were no longer known as members of the Organization; we called them Blood Hounds.

The situation had gotten so bad that even the Cleaners abandoned most of District 3, leaving the destruction to the district permanent. It was hard to pinpoint an exact trigger that caused this descent into madness, but I believed it would have happened eventually one day.

I caught my breath and peeked my head around the corner of the door. This alleyway was temporarily safe; no Blood Hounds could be seen. I looked down at the baby sucking his thumb and felt tears pool at the corner of my eyes.

‘Monsters...’

He would grow up without experiencing love from his real parents. An experience that was robbed from him in exchange for what? Pleasure? It was sickening.

“I smell her...!”

'!’

My heart jumped into my throat as I heard the whisper of a Blood Hound in the distance. I covered my mouth with my hand in order to stifle my breathing and calm the loud beating of my heart. I felt nauseous as the agonizing seconds rolled on.

‘He’s looking for me? Why?...’

I didn’t understand why I was a target, but then I remembered everyone was a target. I heard the sound of a blade being dragged along the ground as it drew closer and closer to me.

The baby's dark blue eyes flashed open, and I instantly put my finger to my lips. He looked at me curiously as his long eyelashes fluttered. I watched him place his chubby finger against his lips, imitating me with a quiet giggle.

“Smell... Close... Close!”

I needed to move now. He had no intention of backing off, which left me with only one option: run. I mustered up all of the courage I had and bolted out of the door into the alleyway.

“Found... You!! Kehehehe!”

He laughed like a maniac as I saw him wearing a muzzle with blood dripping down the side of it. His sword flashed while he chased after me.

‘...I won’t be able to outrun him.’

I saw a metal ladder attached to the wall leading to a small balcony on the estate, and without a second to lose, I jumped on top of the bin and launched myself upwards. I caught hold of the ladder but struggled to pull myself up.

“Hehehe...Too bad!”

He had closed the distance by a considerable amount while I used what little Ki I had to pull myself up, locking my feet into the steps of the ladder.

I climbed on top of the balcony just in time to see his sword slice through the ladder like butter as the bottom half smashed to the ground with a loud clang.

‘...’

I fell backwards onto the balcony and held the baby close to my chest as I landed on my bum.

“Phew...”

I let out a small sigh of relief. Now I’d be able to run inside the estate and hide until this night's attack was over.

“Phew?...”

Cold sweat dowsed my dirty top as my eyes slowly swivelled up in disbelief.

“!!”

He crouched down on top of the balcony ledge, and his blood-stained hand shot forward. I couldn’t react in time as my body spun violently in the air out of the estate.

“Keuk!”

My back slammed against the stone wall while the air left my lungs followed by a pained moan. I felt my arm break apart in several locations as blood rolled down my head accompanied with black specks beginning to consume my vision.

‘The baby...’

My unfocused eyes looked down, and I saw his chubby face scrunched up crying. I let out a sigh of relief; he wasn’t hurt. He placed his fingers against my cheek as the nauseous feeling multiplied.

“Blood...Blood...Blood!!”

The inhumane man stood in front of me and placed the blade against my neck. It pierced my skin, and blood flowed from the punctured wound. He did the same to the other side of my neck and raised his sword high into the air.

“P-please... Spare the... Baby...”

He cocked his head to the side, and I saw the insanity in his eyes. I ignored the burning pains from my gushing wounds as parts of my body began to convulse.

“Fresh blood...Must be consumed...!”

He cackled like a lunatic as his sword flashed. I clenched my teeth and covered the baby with my body. His blade sliced the skin off my back as it tore through my clothes while I cried out in agony.

“Torment... Ultimate... Pleasure... Hehehe!”

The blade rose and fell again as my blood splashed out all around us. I lifted my back up, ignoring the bolts of pain constantly torturing my mind. I had no choice... because if I stayed bent over, I’d suffocate the baby.

I watched his eyes curve upwards in delight as saliva spewed out of his muzzle. He raised the blade again and aimed it at my chest.

“This is much worse than I thought.”

The sword stopped centimetres away from me as he reluctantly looked in the direction of the strange voice. I followed his head and saw a young teenage boy with spiky blond hair standing in the middle of the alleyway.

“Interrupt... My... Ritual?... My life...?”

His hand trembled as he pointed the blade at the boy and roared.

“You... DARE DEFILE... MY SACRED OFFERING?!!”

His bloodshot eyes shook. He stared at the boy with a rage like no other as his voice became deep and husky.

“Is the baby alright?”

He ignored the madman's words and pointed towards me. I was barely conscious, but the baby seemed fine, so I nodded my head.

“DIE!!”

The veins of his head bulged, and he shot forward like a bullet. The wind exploded around him leaving behind a trail of bloody dust as he closed in on the target.

The boy seemed unimpressed by the Blood Hound charging towards him and walked forward without a care in the world. The Blood Hound swung his sword down with killing intent, but just as it was about to reach the boy, something strange happened.

‘!’

The blade abruptly stopped, and the man's head snapped so far back I thought he broke his neck, but that wasn’t the end. His stomach sunk inwards, and he vomited all over the floor. His knees suddenly collapsed as he prostrated himself before the boy who hadn’t moved an inch.

I watched the man shake in fear as the boy lifted him up by his hair. I swore I saw his lips curve upwards slightly before parting, but my attention was immediately placed on the words that left his mouth.

“Please don’t die on me.”