As Alex Barnes walked down the street in the capital he looked around and saw how the skyscrapers looked very majestic at their peak, he also saw how at the bases of these buildings lines of people lived in poverty and homelessness. Alex was a Karyi master, one of the strongest on the island, standing at an average 6 foot with silver streaked long brown hair, a lean agile build, and aged 42. You couldn't pick him out in a crowd but once the fighting starts you'd want to hope he didn't have you as his target.

“This is bullshit” he told his companion walking beside him. “Lord Ottowa has just made the situation on this island much worse.” His companion nodded in agreement believing there wasn't much else to say. 3 years ago Lord Ottowa became the leader of the isle but he didn't do much leading, as soon as Ottowa took power he decentralized the government to the point where every city had to fend for themselves and provide for their own citizens.

“You think we should be saying stuff like that outloud? His Shadow Legion could be anywhere in this city… I don't really want a fight right now.`` His companion, Liam, expressed concern as they stepped by what seemed like the 1000th homeless person begging for money.

“The Legion wouldn’t attack us without a plan as they knew the normal soldier wouldn’t win against me. We're safe for now.” Alex replied. Liam looked very skeptical of Alex's answer prompting Alex to add “Don’t worry they're not that dumb.” Liam started fidgeting with his zipper on his jacket as they continued to walk deeper into the city and into the more dangerous parts of the city of 1.1 million people.

Alex and Liam lived on Shabista Isle and the Island owned by the US but had a contract with them that they would never leave the Island and in return the US stays out of all affairs and provides the Island with supplies free of charge when needed. The Isle was first established in the late 1800s as a place to send US prisoners so they didn't have to build a prison. The reason the US wanted no one to leave this Island was the fact that there was a mysterious force or energy called Karyi. Karyi involves everything on the Island and is in the blood of every person born there. Karyi is a force that doesn't have a lot of history or even something that a lot of people understand.

5 things are clear and known about Karyi though:

1. Karyi is powered by negative thoughts, emotions, and actions.

2. Karyi is usually only used for fighting, not really for civilian applications. Though it can be used to heal very quickly. Basically no sickness or ailments on the Island.

3. Users can make their own techniques, skills, and attacks. Meaning everyone usually has at least 1 attack unique to them.

4. Karyi affects the person's ability to move, their healing, strength, and gives them unknown power.

5. Because it's based on negative emotion, most masters have a very dark past and most masters strive to be the strongest.

These things lead to a very unstable society and where every town employs their own masters and soldiers to protect their people.

“What are we even doing here, Alex?” Liam asked, confused why they would walk around the most dangerous part of the capital.

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“I have heard rumors of an independent master who fought the Legion a few days ago. If someone opposes the Legion we must talk to them and see what their agenda is.” Alex replied

Liam thought about that for a second then asked “Don't we oppose the Legion? So are we trying to join forces or what?”

“Not join forces per say. We need someone who is strong enough to oppose Lord Ottowa with us as Ottowa has much more Masters and they are much stronger than the ones we've recruited so far.”

Liam, puzzled, asked “But you're one of the strongest masters on the Isle. How come you don't engage in more fights?” As they walked into a very run down restaurant and bar the tension skyrocketed as everyone looked at their clean clothes with no holes in them and knew they were not from this area.

“You can't win this fight by yourself and if Ottawa came out and decided to fight… I'm afraid I would easily lose.” replied Alex as he looked around the restaurant as looking for someone. “Ahh here she is.” They walked to the very back of the restaurant and sat at a table with a short blonde-haired woman, wearing dirty rags for clothes, and cuts all over her face. While walking to the back they heard whispers about how nice their clothes are and that people would kill for them.

“What the fuck do you want? This isn't the place to walk up on people.” said the mystery woman.

“Woah. I just have a few questions for you. Your name is Chloe Thorne right? The famed Master who disappeared after Ottowa took power. Am I correct?” asked Alex. As Alex talked her face suddenly fell and she leaned over the table and said “If you don't want to die I would shut the hell up. And no I don't know who that is.”

Alex and Liam shared a very skeptical look though Liams was one of more confusion as he had never heard of Chloe and still had no idea what was going on.

Alex then turned back to Chloe and looked her in her eyes and responded “I just want to know about a fight involving a Chloe person. She supposedly killed 3 Legion Masters, escaping with only her hair exposed. Is that why your hair looks freshly cut and rushed?”

Chloe's eyes went wide with shock and she jolted back then stood up and said “I will kill you if you tell the Legion who I am.” And started to walk out of the bar.

Alex grabbed her arm and looked reassuring and tried to placate her fears by adding “ Don't worry Chloe, we oppose the Legion and Ottawa too.”

“Those words could get you killed on this Isle, but I guess I don't have anything else going on in my life” she shrugged and sat back down “But why are you here? I take it you don't just want an autograph.”

“The situation on this Island is getting worse by the day with the Legion killing more and more masters who just want to protect their towns and cities. They need to be stopped.”

“Idealists like you are all the same – dreaming of overthrowing the Legion. Do you even have someone capable of beating Ottowa, or are you just here to play hero and get yourselves killed” Chloe scoffed “Without that you'll never win so why don't you just be a good Master and go back to your home and try to live your best life like the rest of us.”

Alex looks around at the rundown bar and the people in it who have holes in their clothes, dirty on them, and no smiles on anyone's faces. He then thought, is this really what people are meant to live their whole life? He then turned back to Chloe “Is this your best life or anyone else here for that matter? Before Ottowa took power places like this barely existed.”

“Well yeah maybe they did exist and you just didn't notice them or lived in places like Sycamore Hollow. These people and I have to make do to live and get by. I don't need to be dragged into some war that is not winnable in the slightest. I doubt you could even win a battle against the Legion.” Chloe said as she got up again “Anyways if you find someone who can beat or even go toe to toe with Ottowa and if you're not dead by then come find me again and i'll consider it.” Chloe threw some money on the table for her food and drinks and quickly walked out.