Future.

People of the past expected technology to provide mankind with the ability to be gods. To live an easy life, full of desires and prosperity. To traverse space with the speed of light, explore other worlds, yet for so much looking to the stars, people decided to stare in the screens. The beautiful pixels that provide visual stimulation to one's all desires.

Everyone has access to the virtual world of Nightone today. After work, school people would enter the virtual world to indulge in indecencies that would not be acceptable in the real world. Crimes would not be accounted for, which paved the way for a freedom like no other.

Death was not a fear. 

A bullet to the head, dagger in the stomach, a person would feel that but his real body would not be scratched. 

Pain was the only price to pay while in Nightone.

And for some, their sanity...

"Eh, the big corporations hide their cash in there...and you can steal it with no problems in the real world?" a blonde boy said.

"Well true enough, I bet gangs of people are just hilariously failing trying to rob the big-shots!" laughed another boy.

"Say Shun, what if we decided to go for it?" asked the blonde boy.

"With my perfect aim and your brain we could become the richest kids in the world!" said confidently Shun.

"But we are still eight years old, at best we would fit in a ventilation system..." looked saddened blondie.

"True, Akira we must hone our body and mind to become the greatest robbers Nightone will ever witness!" said Shun.

"I already see the plan unfolding before me!" said Akira.

"Wasn't your grandpa a martial arts teacher too?" 

"Yes! Let's go ask him to train us Shun!" while doing battle stances said Akira.

Seven years later 

"Well the "Tokyo Highschool of Cyber Space and Security" should be our top choice Shun." suggested Akira.

"Sure, I leave the planning to you pal, I see the benefits of going to a school like that. You remember our plans for how we are in the social hierarchy, right?" asked Shun.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Yes yes, due to my exceptionally high grades and dashing, if I may say so myself, looks, I am to climb to the top of the classes and be a honor student, someone the others to look up to....God I cannot believe I said that!" cried Akira.

"Hey, you are the one with the genius mind, I am the one with the phenomenal accuracy with guns and my physique is not so bad either. Spending all that time training in the summers and after school days is paying off." 

"There is still more to improve Shun, we have to be absolutely ready for anything inside the buildings of the corporates." 

"Security is advancing by the day, hah, this will be so much fun!" 

"One of the tests is about weapon performance, what are you-"

"Don't worry about me Mr. Dashing, I will keep average scores while you aim for the top. Girls will probably be all over you, tch."

"Ohh Akira you looked incredible during the physical and weapon tests..."

"Are you free after school?"

"Are you interested in anyone?"  

"Shut up! You can always join me asshole!" 

"Shut it!" *smacks behind the head* "We can't have two prolific performers on top of the social hierarchy, we'd be discovered in a heartbeat."

"Having you, Dashing-kun, friendly with everyone, being the model student and me just an average guy, with average grades nobody would suspect a thing. We would not know each other in school and only contact after hours."

"We can't be pals in there."

Silence filled the room.

"I know that." said Akira.

"Remember, our dream...to do what no one else would ever do." said Shun.

"Hell yeah Shun!" bumping their fists.

"Let's send the applications, Akira."

"Yeah."

Three years later

Everything had gone as planned. Shun had average scores on all tests and began to lead a normal school life, while mostly keeping to himself, he focused on improving himself away from others for the big day.

Akira became the top student of the school, earning the respect of all the teachers and students. His circle of friends grew larger and so his responsibilities. But that was no problem for him. 

Both studiyng the layouts of different buildings, they mastered the ins and outs of cyber warfare and martial arts, they did petty crimes in Nightone, slowly gathering data with bank accounts and transferring them to different ones.

Nightone had its charm. Different coloured lights glowing, the sky eternally dark, like a city out of a dystopian world.

They were not afraid to use lethal force.

They knew that if their plans come to fruition, violence would be the only option. 

Word started to spread through the underworld about two individuals robbing low-ranking points of interest.

Of course Akira and Shun knew that attention would be attracted to them.

A thug, a crime-boss, a gang.

They viewed them as nothing more than dots, miniscule colours of a more gigantic picture.

No one knew who they were. The masks they wore made it impossible to give a facial description.

No bullets could truly harm them. No blade either. 

With their earnings they invested in their own hideout, a safe house, where they made the horrifying image that would stick in a common thug's mind. 

Two men, two masks, covering their entire heads, one red, one white.

A red suit with a white tie.

A white suit with a red tie. 

Suits with bulletproof layers making them unstoppable.

They stood as gods to the common criminal.

Versatility with weapons like no other.

Prepared for every surprise, having a backup plan for their backup plan.

The expressionless masks who echoed through the streets.

Nightone was about to meet its greatest challengers yet.