In the rundown district, the heavy rain continued to soak the ramshackle buildings and the muddy streets. Hao walked past a group of shady characters who eyed him with malicious intent. They noticed the intricate and alluring designs on the scabbard of the sword he carried. The visible lower part of the scabbard brushed against the puddles on the ground. When the three crooks saw this, they wanted it for themselves.
These unscrupulous individuals were an unsightly trio, with grime-caked faces, tattered clothes, and a menacing aura. While Hao continued through the rundown district, he sensed that he was being watched. His Vibe Edge’s Inner Voice told him that the three unsightly characters he had passed earlier were now following him. He turned a corner and found himself trapped in a narrow alley, the walls on either side closing in like a suffocating embrace. The rain continued to pour, only adding to the discomfort of the situation.
Garbage and discarded items littered the ground, and the horrible scent of rot filled the damp air. The alley seemed to have become a dumping ground for the unwanted and forgotten. Hao's Vibe Sense alerted him to the approach of the three thugs, their heavy footsteps splashing through the puddles as they advanced.
The leader of the group, a stocky man with a scar running across his cheek, stepped forward and glared at Hao. His breath reeked of stale alcohol, and his eyes were cold and calculating. The other two thugs flanked him, their menacing presence corroding the confined space. They had cornered Hao, and there was no easy way out.
The leader's voice broke the tension like a growl that echoed off the wet walls of the alley. "Hand over that sword, lad," he demanded, the malicious intent clear in his tone. "We reckon it might be worth a fortune on the black market. I'd say at least 30,000 Blade Tokens."
The other two thugs, one with a patch over his eye and the other with a twisted smile, nodded in agreement. They towered over Hao like giants, their entire features were dripping with greed.
Hao, feeling despondent and overwhelmed by his prior situation, hesitated for a moment before finally relenting. He slowly reached for the X-Class sword on his back and handed it over without a fight. The crooks' eyes shot open as they greedily grabbed it, their mouths practically drooling at the thought of the fortune they were about to make.
The leader of the thugs, the man with the scar, cautiously took the sword from his associate’s outstretched hands. He admired its craftsmanship and the exquisite details on the scabbard. He couldn't contain his excitement, hence a wicked grin spread across his face.
"We've hit the jackpot, boys," he said to his mates who were equally elated to come across such a valuable trinket. "This thing's worth more than we could've ever imagined."
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The other two thugs exchanged excited glances then glued them to the stolen sword. They didn't unwrap the sword completely, choosing instead to admire its magnificent scabbard, but it was clear they knew they had something incredibly valuable on their hands. The twisted smile on the face of the third thug grew even wider as he imagined the wealth and power this sword would bring them.
Hao, meanwhile, stood there silently, his heart heavy with the decision he had just made. He watched the trio of thugs greedily fawn over Judgment Day, wondering if he had just made the biggest mistake of his life.
"The boss will be well chuffed with this haul," said the one-eyed thug, showing off his rotten teeth.
"What about the other one?" the scarred leader asked, eyeing Vibe Edge with curious greed. His hand reached out as if to snatch it away from Hao, but he hesitated for a moment.
The one-eyed thug, sensing his leader's uncertainty, chimed in. "Nah, let him keep that one. We've got what we came for, and that one doesn't look nearly as valuable."
The twisted-smile thug nodded in agreement, his eyes still locked on the prize they had just taken. "Yeah, the boss would probably be more interested in this beauty," he said, gesturing to the scabbard of Judgment Day.
“Hmm…?” The scarred leader seemed to weigh his options for a moment, his gaze shifting between Vibe Edge and Judgment Day. Finally, he let out a gruff sigh and nodded. "Fine, let's go. We've got enough to deal with as it is."
With that, the three crooks disappeared into the rainy corners of the Wranglers district, taking Judgment Day with them. Hao felt a strange sense of relief, as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He felt lighter, but at the same time, he wondered if he had made the right choice.
While Hao walked away from the scene, a dark aura emanated from the stolen sword, as if Judgment Day was upset that he had surrendered her without any resistance or a fight. Meanwhile, the thugs continued on their way to their boss's workshop, completely unaware of the true treasure they now possessed.
Hao continued to trudge through the rain without a care in the world. His feet were ankle-deep in water, moreover, his entire body was soaking wet. The raindrops pelted against his face, but he hardly noticed them. Coming down a flight of stairs, he almost slipped due to the moist floor, so he quickly grabbed onto a rail. Just then, two children ran past him, going up the stairs. They were too engrossed in their excitement to even care about Hao slipping. They laughed and chattered as they disappeared around the corner, leaving him to catch his breath.
After coming down the last step, Hao came across a little puppy wagging its tail while shivering in the rain. The puppy was thin from starvation, with patches of hair missing from its body and certain bumps dotting its skin. Despite its miserable condition, the little creature still looked at Hao with hopeful eyes.
“Hmm, where did you come from?”
Feeling a surge of compassion, Hao knelt and interacted with the mangy pup. He realized the puppy was hungry, so he searched for the nearest food vendor and used the last of his Blade Tokens to buy something called Scraps Stew, a cheap, simple dish that only the poor people of the district could afford to eat.
Separating the food in half, Hao knelt down and gave the other half to the puppy. The pup eagerly began to eat, its tail wagging with gratitude. Hao couldn't help but smile as he watched the puppy devour the food. The simple act of kindness had lifted his spirits and he no longer felt as miserable as before. With a final pat on the pup's head, he stood and walked away, leaving the puppy to finish its meal.