Kai woke up at an hour he considered unreasonable. Hiding sudden wealth was harder than earning it.
"God I hope no one's awake this early." He muttered, stretching his body with a grimace.
As he thought of a plan he looked at his beast sleeping peacefully.
"Tsk. Look at him sleeping so peacefully." Kai scoffed.
"As much as I want annoy him I don't have the time." He relented.
Ok... First I need to wash up, then I need to find some clothes atleast for passing as a slum and then I need to use this money carefully— so I don't draw much attention. That sounds about right. Alright first stop the river.
As Kai made his way to the river the old man woke up the girl.
"Hey! Wake up! Nyx." The old man gently shook the girl wake.
"What is it... ? It's not even morning yet. She said groogyly.
"He's heading somewhere— you follow him and I have something else to do." He whispered.
"Yeah... right! You just want to sleep more." She grumbled.
"Just follow him and don't make trouble." The old man said holding back a sigh.
On the way to the river Kai passed a few alleys and entered a slum, looking at the people stirring in their sleep, he tried to look for clothes that would serve his purpose, but decided not to approach them— he had a sense of foreboarding.
Alright... new plan, try to lure someone in the dark.
Kai moved through the slums with measured steps. From doorways, rooftops, and the gaps between crumbling walls, the rats tracked his every move—watchful, patient, unseen.
The shortest way to the river was through the dangerous parts of the slum Kai didn't want to take that risk so he chose a detour— but no matter how many precautions you take, trouble finds you in the end.
"Where is this kid going...? Oh, I am so sleepy." Nyx said yawning.
"Doesn't he realise that he is being followed?" Nyx clicked her tongue."I don't get it. What does he see in that piece of garbage?"
There are footsteps behind me. Kai thought trying to steel his nerves.
Well after this corner I will reach the river in five minutes but just in case I should take a note of the surroundings.
I already know the layout of this path maybe I can outplay them here. I bet they are planning to ambush me here.
The main street ran forward uselessly. The river was through the alley at Kai's side. Another alley waited two houses ahead, seemingly unrelated—but inside the slums, the two were connected.
Kai stepped into the alley. He'd barely gone a few steps before four slum rats surrounded him—two charging from behind, the other two slipping in from the interconnected alley two houses down.
Kai studied them.
The one in front was short and bloated—bloated for a slum rat. Next to him stood an older version of himself, lean but worn down.
The two behind him looked barely alive. All ribs and angles, skin stretched thin over bone, as if a strong wind might snap them in half.
Above all of them, in the shadows stood an old man and a girl, watching all of this. Her eyes narrowing and lips curving up in a smile, her body twitched with the urge to join the skirmish but she was held back by the old man.
"You only step in if the kid gets in trouble. The old man said calmly. If he can't deal with this, then he is of no use to me ."
"I bet he dies of heart failure before the fight even starts." she scoffed.
"Where were you, anyway?" she asked not taking her eyes away from the ambush.
"I went ahead to set this up." the old man replied.
Nyx's head snapped towards him. "Wait! You sent those thugs after him?"
The old man sighed and didn't say anything else. Nyx was busy watching the scuffle unfold so she didn't pry anymore.
Kai was slowly backing towards the two thin men as both men infornt of him walked towards him. All of them had a knife in hand.
"Come on kid! Hand over the bundle of cash you have and we will let you go." The older man said, a slight edge to his voice.
"After having some fun of course." The chubby man added, flashing a greasy grin at Kai.
Kai kept backing away without saying anything as soon as he heard the men the back stir he spun around bolted for the closest to him and kicked him, with all his force, in the balls.
The thin man's legs gave out and he fell on his knees holding his balls. Kai took him by the shoulder and shoved him towards the other one, also taking the knife for himself.
He ran for the main path, turned the corner and pressed is back against the house beside the alley and listened.
You go chase him. I will pinch him from the second corner and you go check up on him. Kai heard the older man's voice from behind.
Alright... the tall one will reach me first and the fat one is in the alley with the other tall one. I just hope I kicked him hard enough—
The thin man turned the corner in a hurry and was surprised to find Kai waiting unable to stop in time he ran right into Kai's kick to his balls and before he could scream, a knife was plunged in his throat—the bones breaking in a sickening crunch. His head went limp and he fell.
"That's two down." Kai said as he took out his knife from the man throat, blood spurting in small bursts.
"Now I have two knives." Kai smiled.
"You damn bastard!!" I am gonna kill you." The lean older man shouted as he finally came out of the second corner. Pure anger visible on his face.
"Buh... Bye," Kai mocked.
The man's faced twisted with fury as Kai slipped back into the alley.
In the alley, the chubby man was just done moving the unconscious man out of the way as he saw Kai appear he froze in fear.
"No... No! Please let me go and I would do anything—please just let me go." The man managed to say as he fell on his back.
Kai ran straight at him. "Where's your friend?"
The chubby man pointed a shaking finger toward the intersection where the first and second corner met.
Kai knocked the chubby man out by kicking him in his balls and striking the back of his neck.
As he rushed towards the unconscious guy the lean guy burst in the alley. Kai ran into the intersection sliced the man's neck and kept moving forward after another left turn he entered the main street again. The man fueled by adrenaline chased after him like an uncontrolled animal.
Kai stopped at the centre of the main street and turned around. Kai mocked him again.
"Hey! Your little ambush plan just went up in flames." Kai laughed mockingly.
Enraged by his jeers and mockery, the older man charged Kai like a bull. Kai threw a knife straight at him. The knife lodged itself in the man's chest but the man didn't stop.
"It's as if anger has taken all his senses. Well, too easy for me. I just have to dodge him—
The man closed the distance and threw a punch at Kai. Kai jumped back barely avoiding the hit. Above them,The sun broke free of the horizon, light creeping into the alleys and the streets of Greyford.
Kai was too focused on dodging the man's attack to notice it though.
"Man, I can't attack and he's just getting faster at this rate I am going to get hit. I have to think of something." Kai muttered.
"What's wrong, brat? Too tierd to throw a punch" the man sneered.
Kai stopped weaving and jumped away once more and ran straight for him, a drak glint in his eyes.
Ok so I think some of his anger has subsided. This should work.
"Activate divine mutt!!" Kai shouted.
[Anyone who looks at you, will be disgusted of your presence.]
Kai reached him and the skill was activated for a split second the man had a conflict in emotion that was all Kai needed as he punched the rear of the knife driving it deeper in the man's chest, with the other he punctured his stomach. Blood gushed out with his guts spilling outwards. The man fell onto in own pool of blood. Kai had won.
***
[Axiom event: three human death registered.]
Vestiges detected: Reinforced strikes, Frenzied surge
Compatibility:
—Host: 70%, 80%
—Puffy: null, 50%
[Please choose a skill to devour.]
"Wait... What? I killed three of them why do I get to choose only one." Kai grumbled.
[The skills reinforced strikes and frenzied surge came from the same host.]
[Please make a selection.]
"What...? What about the other two?"
[Please make a selection.]
"Fine... give me the info on them." Kai said.
[Available after the choice. Please make a selection.]
"This system… you're no better than those two worthless fools without vestiges. You hear?"
"Fine... my gut tells me reinforced strikes, so I will go with that." Kai murmmered.
[Extraction Complete.]