Teti and Khonsu moved to Scorpion territory, only to find a group of thugs from the other two gangs yelling stuff out to the people on the streets. They were almost empty as always, but many windows were discreetly open to hear them.

“…have suffered enough of Scorpion cruelty! Remember to stay home by sunset, and you won’t be caught up in the fighting!”

No one responded to her words, but she didn’t seem to expect it. Some hushed whispers and shut windows were it, and the few people on the street left hurriedly. It seemed that they didn’t take the thugs’ word for it and left early.

“See? I told you they wouldn’t involve bystanders. Even gangs have to worry a little about public opinion.” Teti said.

“I don’t know, Teti. I still have a bad feeling about this. But what’s done is done, and it’s too late to turn back now.” Khonsu sighed.

“In any case, we should get ready. The sun is going to set soon, and we’ll need to start our own hunt.”

***

When the sun had set, the streets were dead silent. Doors and windows were shut tight and then barricaded with whatever their inhabitants had. The Crocogators and the Scarabs walked uncontested to the Scorpions’ hideout, which was now crawling with its members.

It seemed like everyone had fallen back to prepare for a tough fight.

“Remember, Teti. We do not get close until the fighting’s over and the gangs leave.”

Teti rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, dad. I’m not stupid. Still, I am going to make sure those bastards are dead no matter what.”

The two of them were hiding in a nearby abandoned building overlooking the Scorpions’ hideout for a good view of the coming fight. The hideout was a warehouse in the center of an intersection, and it had been modified by the Scorpions to have cover for ranged fighters on the edges of the rooftop.

The two gangs closed off all the roads leading away from the hideout and tried to close in, but the Scorpions started attacking them from the rooftop, forcing them to make a quick retreat. The Scorpions had a few archers and mages, but it was mostly slingers with a bunch of rocks doing the attacking. It was surprisingly effective.

Still, the Scarabs and Crocogators didn’t stay back for long. Makeshift wooden shields fashioned from tables in nearby buildings stood at the front of the next charge, stopping much of the ranged assault as they advanced. At least, they did until one of the mages on the warehouse lobbed a firebolt at the shield, setting it and the two thugs holding it on fire.

The gangs made a swift retreat after that, and another staring contest was held for a while. The moon had risen, and night had truly set in.

“Wow. This is much more entertaining than I thought. I wonder what the gangs will do next.” Teti whispered with a chuckle.

“People are dying, Teti. What the hell’s so funny about this?!” Khonsu whispered back furiously.

“Oh, please, calling them human is being too generous. I can watch these parasites kill each other all day without a care in the world.”

The boy shook his head in exasperation.

“It’s one thing to do necessary dirty work, Teti, but it’s another to enjoy it. There’s no turning back from that dark path.”

Teti scoffed.

“Getting this trash to wipe itself out is kinder than they deserve. There’s nothing wrong with having fun while you’re at it. Things are hard enough without their interference in our daily lives. Now shut up and watch, they’re up to something again.”

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Like Teti said, the gangs were moving once more. This time, a bunch of barriers were erected at the intersections’ entrances, where the gangs’ own ranged fighters stood. A moment of silent tension passed before they all began firing at the rooftops at once, forcing the Scorpions to take cover. The rest of the thugs then made a mad dash for the warehouse, now that the enemy archers, mages, and slingers were busy.

Some yelling happened on the Scorpions’ rooftop before they began returning fire at the enemy ranged fighters. With both a height advantage and the enemy’s strategy hinging on continuous bombardment, the Scorpions managed to kill scores of the enemy ranged fighters. Still, they did not retreat, keeping the pressure up until the first of the thugs made it to the gates of the warehouse.

Unsurprisingly, the gates were locked and barricaded, and the thugs couldn’t just open it by force. Over the gates, windows opened and a bunch of random heavy objects were being thrown, from large rocks to chairs and tables, killing a few gangsters before they were forced away from beneath the windows.

The fighting seemed to be going the Scorpions’ way, until a bunch of ladders moved in from all four sides of the warehouse. The Scorpions’ rooftop fighters tried to target the men carrying the ladders but were suppressed by the oppressive numbers of enemy ranged fighters. The ladders soon reached the warehouse and were placed on its sides, with thugs rushing to climb up and finally pay the Scorpions back.

Suddenly, the gates opened, and a large number of Scorpions flooded out, surprising the Scarabs and the Crocogators. Fierce fighting began as the Scorpions rushed to reach the ladders, while the Scarabs and Crocogators fought to protect them. Two of the four ladders were pulled down, with all the men and women still on them falling to their deaths.

Still, surrounded and outnumbered, the Scorpions’ lost the advantage of surprise and were pushed back into the warehouse. The first of the men on the ladders finally reached the rooftop, and fierce fighting began there as well.

“With both the gate and rooftop breached, it’s only a matter of time before this battle is over. The scorpions didn’t whittle down enough of their enemies’ numbers.” Khonsu remarked.

Teti observed silently as the fighting slowly petered out, and after a short time, it all ended. Cheers of celebration emerged from the Scarabs and Crocogators, as they began beheading the corpses of the dead Scorpions and putting them on sticks to parade on their way home.

“Disgusting.” Khonsu said with contempt at the grisly sight.

Teti just shrugged and continued watching. The streets were covered in corpses, spilled guts, and a lot of blood. Briefly scanning through the heads that the gangs were carrying, Teti recognized the three who had extorted her.

“Well, it looks like our plan worked brilliantly. I see the dangled heads of the three who threatened the orphanage.” Teti grinned savagely.

Khonsu did not say anything but nodded mutely.

“Let’s get going, we’re done he-”

“Why the rush? The moon is beautiful today; might as well stay and enjoy it.” An androgynous voice said from behind them.

The two whipped their heads back only to see a strangely dressed person standing with their hands behind their back.

The stranger had their whole face painted in white, with strange colorful marks dotting his face. They had flamboyant red hair and boots that ended in a strange swirl. Their tunic and pants were white but covered in the same, colorful markings as their face.

“Who are you, and how did you sneak up behind us?!” Khonsu demanded harshly.

He pointed his trident towards the stranger, who still hadn’t moved from their spot.

They pulled out their hands in a gesture for peace, though they did not seem the least bit threatened.

“Well now, that’s a little rude, don’t you think?”

They snapped their fingers, and the trident in Khonsu’s hands transformed into a live snake. Khonsu yelped and threw it away, where it slowly slithered back to the stranger’s feet.

“Much better – now we can talk amicably. We’ve much to talk about, after all!”

Seeing that neither of the two were saying anything, the stranger carried on.

“Your plan to get rid of the thugs that were breathing down your throat was simply brilliant! Why dirty your own hands when you can get your enemies to do it for you? Oh, the chaos was simply fantastic! I simply had to come over and congratulate you on a job well done.” They said in their eerily smooth voice, bowing exaggeratedly to Khonsu and Teti.

The two looked at each other nervously before looking back to the stranger.

“You still haven’t told us who you are and what you want with us.” Teti said tersely.

The stranger raised his head and held a hand to their chest in exaggerated hurt.

“Oh, how your words wound me! I just told you I came to express my admiration for your work, and you suspect me of ulterior motives!”

The stranger began to weep, confusing Teti and Khonsu.

“But!” they quickly said, all tears vanishing from their face, “You are correct!”

The stranger snapped their fingers once more, and a hat appeared over their head. They took it off with a hand and bowed theatrically.

“You may call me Setoth, though most others know me as the Evil God of Chaos.”