"This is how you take down these pathetic monsters, boy!" snarled an enraged man named Badger, who bore a dark and menacing aura that spoke of his ruthless past as a notorious criminal. With deadly precision, he fired off a fire blast at the giant frogs, displaying the sheer dominance he commanded over his surroundings. The young boy, looking about 14 years old, could only reply with a trembling voice, "Yes, sir."
As they reached a camp, the boy dragged all four frogs behind him. Whispers and uneasy shuffling spread throughout the camp. A woman, looking visibly frightened, spoke up, "Shane is back, everyone! Get back to work, quickly!" Her demeanor suggested that she had seen the devil himself.
"Listen up you weaklings! I brought dinner for all of you, and me, of course. Have it readied immediately!" Shane bellowed with anger. Although he wasn't much of a leader, Shane held the second-in-command position due to his exceptional strength. The camp consisted of over 100 individuals, including ten ruthless killers who answered to Badger, their leader.
Standing among those 10 lieutenants, Badger's dominance was undeniable, he was their leader. Each of them had a chilling reputation, forged through fear and their unmatched powers that towered above everyone else. They ruled with an iron grip, instilling terror and submission in those unfortunate enough to cross their path. In this lawless realm, Badger and his followers reigned supreme, leaving no room for compassion or mercy as they wielded their strength without remorse.
It turned out that certain individuals were granted an inherent abundance of energy and power, raising questions about why these criminals possessed such extraordinary gifts. However, the possession of great power did not necessarily dictate a path of ruthlessness. Instead, it merely revealed the true essence of who they had been all along.
The young boy tasked with bringing the frogs was, in fact, Shane's own son, who lived in constant fear of his father. Having experienced the painful reality of witnessing his father's violent behavior towards his mother in his early years, he had grown to resent him deeply. However, that resentment was always held in check by an overpowering fear, leaving him too terrified to challenge his father's authority.
Among the group, there were others gifted with powerful magic, yet they seldom had the opportunity to hone their skills, limiting their abilities significantly. Their practice sessions were restricted to simple tasks like using fire to burn wood or utilizing water magic to provide essential resources such as drinking water and water for bathing.
Before the world changed, these individuals had ordinary lives, working in town or returning to their homes like anyone else. However, everything altered when an unexpected explosion shattered their reality. Awakening scattered across an underground train station, they faced devastating damage. Miraculously, the lower part of the train park remained intact, becoming their refuge. Though the top portion had caved in, the surviving space offered some hope. The entrances were sealed off, except for two small openings that allowed two people to pass through at a time.
With these openings, they ventured in and out, scavenging for scraps, while the ten lieutenants ventured out to hunt for essential supplies. Their expeditions would sometimes last for over two hours.
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To ensure security, two guards were always stationed at the entrance, while the other three patrolled around, monitoring everyone's activities and well-being.
Unluckily, there were instances of rebellion, resulting in brutal consequences. When two men tried to defy the lieutenants' commands, they were made examples for everyone. The main instigator had his hands cruelly severed and cauterized with fire to seal the wounds, while the other man suffered a grim fate as they used earth magic to pummel him with rocks until he was unrecognizable. The memory of that ruthless act instilled deep fear within everyone, ensuring absolute obedience among the group.
"Hey, we need to get away from this place," Tiffany said urgently to her friend, Alexia. "I wonder if Rome is still alive; he might know how to survive in a situation like this and maybe rebuild. I can't bear living like an animal, especially with those criminals lurking around.
"Alexia nodded in complete agreement. Both women were fiercely independent and self-driven, but the world they found themselves in now was entirely different. They were clueless about the true dangers lurking outside, knowing only of the rats and frogs brought back from hunting.
"Do you have a plan to escape?" Alexia asked Tiffany. Tiffany hesitated for a moment before responding, "Not entirely, but I was thinking of doing it when five of them go out to hunt. We could rally some others and take on the remaining five, making a break for it.
"Alexa's expression turned grave as she replied, "And go where? Have you seen the size of those...monsters that Shane and the others bring in? Sometimes when five of them go out, only 7 or 8 return at most. It just shows how powerful those creatures are."
"I know what you're saying, but if we stay here any longer, someone else might end up like Aleisha... I'm scared, Alexia. Both of the monsters and Badger, but I'd rather take my chances with the monsters," Tiffany admitted, her voice tinged with fear and determination.
While their days were spent providing water for the group, Tiffany and Alexia secretly trained themselves in magic. They were part of a group of water mages who took turns providing water for various needs, whether it was for drinking or freshening up. Others among them practiced fire magic for cooking and forging tools to combat the monsters.
Tiffany had set the plan in motion, waiting for the right moment to take on the remaining five criminals while the others were out hunting.
She believed that if both Badger and Shane were present, they couldn't come out unscathed, and maybe someone else or multiple people might die, but it was a risk they were willing to take.
So, we'll gather some others, take them on, and escape. Then, we'll find Rome." Tiffany said resolutely.
Within the days that followed, they discreetly spread the word to those they thought they could trust, seeking like-minded individuals who were tired of living in fear. Some folks wanted to be free, but they were gripped with fear of their rulers. But with a little motivation and push from Tiffany, they reluctantly joined the cause.
However, unbeknownst to them, not everyone shared the same views. Some people actually were satisfied with how they were living. Seeing the monsters and plants and other unknown stuff coming in, they knew something was different and more dangerous about this world, so they were against it all.
Especially one specific person who thought he could get on the good side of his rulers. He secretly exposed the plan to Badger one night. He was regarded with extra meal that day for his essential information.
"So they plan to escape, after all I did for them?!" said Badger, seethed with anger.
Shane, his loyal partner, asked, "Do you want me to kill them now?"
"No, not at all, my faithful companion. I have a better plan in mind for them," Badger said, a sinister smile creeping across his face. "We'll strike on the very day they plan to leave. We won't give them any hint of our intentions."