Belial was in a peaceful sleep, completely unaware of the chaos happening outside. The bed beneath him was as soft as a cloud, bringing comfort after endless days of planning and running. He was lost in dreams when a sudden loud explosion broke the silence, reverberating through the walls.
He automatically leaped out of bed and grabbed his katana from the table nearby. Before he could grab the handle, half of the room suddenly blew up. The loud explosion pushed him backwards, causing confusion. The air was filled with smoke, debris fell, and the smell of burnt metal filled his nostrils.
Belial struggled to stand up, trying hard to see through the haze. An enormous power was colliding right outside his door, he could feel it. With his heart pounding, he proceeded carefully towards the door, clearing his vision by blinking away the smoke. In the corridor, he witnessed two individuals engaged in a fierce struggle. A person with green hair was engaged in an intense fight with a cyborg.
The sound of metal hitting metal echoed loudly in the alleyway. Sparks ignited from the cyborg's missile launcher as it plunged into the ground, forming a crater. Belial's eyes grew wider. The individual with green hair stood before him, arms up, protecting him from the full impact of the blast. The stranger remained unharmed despite the smoke enveloping them. The surrounding area, in contrast, was now in ruins.
Belial scratched his head, and blinked at the individual in front of him. A man, woman? He was unable to determine their gender, but it was evident that they were very appealing. Despite the disorder surrounding them, it was impossible to deny their athletic elegance. Watching the stranger battle the cyborg felt like observing a lethal choreographed performance. Belial stayed hidden in the darkness, observing carefully as the two fought each other.
The cyborg showed no mercy, its robotic limbs moving at an unnatural pace, launching consecutive assaults. However, the person with green hair showed the same level of expertise, smoothly evading and retaliating. Belial couldn't resist appreciating their combat technique; it was completely unique to him.
"Let's go!" encouraged the individual with green hair, motioning for Belial to come along.
Their voice carried a sense of urgency that left little room for hesitation. Belial glanced at the cyborg, which had just fired another volley of missiles in their direction. With no time to waste, he decided to trust the stranger.
Darting behind a nearby dumpster, Belial crouched low as the green-haired fighter joined him. The cyborg continued its relentless advance, its metallic body whirring with deadly intent.
"This makes it the third time I've saved you," the stranger muttered, their voice barely audible over the distant explosions.
Belial shot them a sidelong glance, feeling a mix of gratitude and suspicion. "Why are you helping me?" he asked.
The person with green hair - Xin, he recalled - turned their eyes towards the cyborg. "Let's just say I have unfinished business with that thing."
Belial nodded in comprehension. He also recently had his own motives for desiring the cyborg's demise,
It did blow up his temporary sleeping quarters Afterall.
It had to go.
and with Xin's assistance, they could prove to be a valuable partner.
Belial observed Xin closely, intrigued by the life of fighting cyborgs and aiding strangers in alleys that this person lived. However, there was no opportunity for inquiries. The cyborg shot once more, prompting Xin to quickly react. Demonstrating impressive agility, Xin utilized the cyborg's body as a platform, propelling themselves over it and landing smoothly on the opposite side.
Wow, they're impressive, Belial thought to himself.
"What's up with that dude?" Belial inquired while gripping his katana.
"I don't know. I was just at the bar, and he started shooting missiles everywhere!" Xin replied, clearly annoyed.
The cyborg approached once more, its mechanical limbs whirring with deadly intent. Belial lunged forward, swinging his katana in a precise arc. The blade struck the cyborg, but it barely left a mark. The armor was too thick. Belial cursed under his breath. His failed strike caused Xin to leap into action again, propelling himself forward with a powerful kick that sent the cyborg crashing into a nearby wall, leaving a gaping hole in the ground.
"You got a Hax?" Belial asked, impressed.
"Yeah, sound manipulation. Cool, right? I can control any sound I make, and also those around me." Xin responded with a hint of pride.
Belial had never encountered anyone with the ability to control sound before. Just as he was about to comment, the cyborg emitted a high-pitched beeping sound. A sinking feeling hit Belial. The cyborg wasn't finished. It exploded, sending a shockwave through the alley. Acting quickly, Belial created a dome of darkness, shielding both himself and Xin from the blast.
As the dust settled, Belial turned to Xin. "That was close, way too close."
Xin nodded, catching his breath. "Thanks for covering me. By the way, what is that Hax?"
Belial glanced at the dark barrier that was beginning to fade. He thought for a second, and came to a conclusion that it would only be fair that he also reveals his hand since Xin already revealed his own. "Darkness manipulation," he replied. "I can control and shape the darkness."
"Darkness manipulation?" Xin echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Like... witchcraft or something? sorry, I'm actually curious."
Belial chuckled. "No It's nothing like that. I can create objects out of darkness. Think of it like clay. I can mold it into whatever I want."
Xin's confusion turned into fascination. "So, you could make a sword out of darkness?"
Belial nodded. "Exactly. Weapons, shields, even armor—anything I need."
Xin scratched his head. "That's pretty cool, actually. But what's the catch? There's always a catch with complex Haxes like that."
Belial's smile faded slightly. "It's not inherently evil or anything... but I haven't really pushed it to its limits yet.."
"Ah..speaking of pushing it, i forgot to ask your name.." Xin asked his embarrassment palpable on his face.
Belial looked at Xin his amethyst eyes glinting in the pale moonlight.
"The names Belial, but you can call me Bel. Your name is Xin right? i heard it from one of your friends."
Xin softly smiled revealing an face that could cause millions to fall to their knees.
The conversation was interrupted by a troubling thought. "Eli," Xin said, his voice grim. "He could be in danger!"
They wasted no time, rushing to the inn where Eli had been. Upon arrival, they found him unconscious but mostly unharmed. Xin checked on his bandmates, who were shaken but otherwise fine.
After ensuring everyone was safe, Xin let out a sigh of relief. His fingers trembled slightly as he pushed his damp hair back. "You guys should leave without me for a bit. Things are getting too dangerous. I'll send a message when I can. For now, just try not to give Sid too much trouble, okay?"
The four musicians exchanged uneasy glances.
"You sure about this?" The tall one with spiked red hair, Riven, asked. His voice was rough, a contrast to the concern in his eyes.
"Yeah," Xin said with a tired smile. "I'll catch up when it's safe."
"Man, this is messed up," grumbled Dax, the one in the leather jacket. He crossed his arms, his expression tense. "Who the hell even attacked us?"
"Yeah, I didn't sign up to get shot at," added Kai, shaking his head. His blue-highlighted hair was disheveled, and the piercings in his ears gleamed under the dim light.
The last member, Sid, clutched the strap of her bass. She had barely spoken since the attack, her pink-streaked hair falling into her eyes. Finally, she muttered, "Just... be careful, okay, Xin?"
Xin nodded. "You guys too."
As they gathered their belongings, Belial watched them. Their rockstar aesthetic was undeniable—bold outfits, confident postures—but beneath all that, they were just kids caught up in something dangerous. Something they hadn't been prepared for.
Once the band left, silence settled over the wrecked room. Xin turned, taking in the destruction. His shoulders sagged. "Damn," he muttered under his breath before turning to Belial. "Hey, you still need somewhere to stay, right?"
Belial hesitated, casting a glance at the ruined space around him. "...I'll find another inn. Don't worry about me."
Xin frowned. "Are you sure? The next inn is, like, forty minutes away by hansom cab."
Belial sighed. The weight of exhaustion pressed down on him, and the thought of wandering the streets looking for another place wasn't exactly appealing. "...Fine."
Together, they made their way through the winding backstreets, the city's flickering streetlights casting long shadows around them. By the time they reached 490 Roselia Street, fatigue had settled deep in their bones.
Xin's place was exactly what Belial expected. Graffiti-covered walls. Heavy metal posters everywhere. The dim lighting made the space feel bigger than it actually was. Most strikingly, an impressive collection of guitars and basses hung on the walls, almost like a shrine to music. A black drum set sat in the corner, stirring something old and forgotten in Belial.
"You play?" Belial asked, nodding toward the instruments.
Xin grinned. "I dabble."
Belial smirked, but his exhaustion won out. He collapsed onto the couch, sighing as he stretched out. The silence between them was brief before he broke it.
"So… who do you think wants you dead?"
Xin's grin faded. He ran a hand over his face before sitting on the edge of his seat, deep in thought. "...I don't know. I just got here yesterday. Haven't had time to piss anyone off yet."
Belial arched an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"
Xin let out a humorless chuckle. "No. Not really." His fingers drummed against his knee. His mind kept circling back to the one person who had the power—and the reason—to send trouble his way. The kingpin. Their 'supporter.' Xin had been funding his concerts with his own money instead of taking their deals, and their last conversation hadn't ended well. Could it really be them?
"You're acting weird," Belial said suddenly. "What's going on?"
Xin hesitated. For a moment, he considered lying. Keeping Belial out of it. But something about the guy told him he wasn't the type to scare easily.
So he told him the truth.
By the time he finished explaining, Belial was quiet, his expression unreadable. Finally, he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "We can't just sit here and wait for them to come after us again."
Xin shook his head. "I don't want to drag you into this."
Belial scoffed. "Too late for that. But… if I'm helping you, I need a place to crash. Temporary, of course."
Xin smirked. "Yeah, yeah. You can stay here."
Together, they headed downstairs into the basement. The wooden steps creaked beneath their weight, and the studio space greeted them with soft lighting and scattered musical gear. Xin gestured vaguely. "You can sleep down here for now. I'll fix up the guest room later." He yawned, stretching. "Just… don't mess with my stuff."
Belial sank onto a grayish-black beanbag, finally letting his exhaustion take over. His eyes grew heavy as he exhaled slowly.
First day here, and I'm already in trouble, he thought. At least I've got a place to stay… and an okay roommate. But I should be careful. I can't risk my identity. I'll have to ditch soon.
For now, the storm had passed. But both of them knew—it was only a matter of time before danger came knocking again.