"I wouldn't make me a leader of anything." Valentine blurted
Vladimir asked, "Is their a reason for such an offer? Are you on the verge of disbanding?"
The man laughed, "Unfortunately we're not. Currently we are one of the five most feared families and gangs."
The waiter brought Vladimir's snack and he turned all his attention to the strange man with a strange offer.
"Which raises the question why make my brother and I as your heads?!" Valentine spoke "Could it be you aren't mentally sound?"
The man smiled, "You're asking question like this does that mean you're interested?"
"It is a tempting offer." Valentine agreed
Vladimir nodded, "Suspiciously."
Silence followed as they thought over what to do and finished their meal with desserts.
"We'll do it, the family head offer." they told
Everyone stared at them with new found horror and stared rushing out of the area as though it were on fire.
"Backing really is everything." Valentine said in wonder
The man smiled, "My name is Humphrey of the Nox Family."
"Pleasure to meet you." the brothers greet politely
This behavior surprised the Nox members that they were silence for a moment.
Valentine laughed, "Thought we were uncouth thugs didn't you?"
"Look at you, Val. Using big words already?" Vladimir said in a disgustingly sweet tone
Valentine held up his knife and screamed, "Stay away from me, you imposter! My brother is a heartless fiend from the nether, who are you?!"
"And he asks we why I'm not kind to him." Vladimir snorted
Humphrey went to pay the bill as the other ushered the brothers to a black limo waiting for them. Valentine scrolled through social media and paused at a live feed.
"This ones mine." he smiled showing it to his brother
It was a live about a rift in the neighboring city next to Umbra. Vladimir looked and clicked his tongue in annoyance that his brother was right.
"You." Valentine pointed to a silent man "We're going to Starside City. This core is irresistible!"
"Understood" a voice said
Valentine said bye to his brother and everyone else as he got of the vehicle with the silent man.
"Where were we heading?" Vladimir asked
Humphrey told, "The Nox's family's city and home base, Nightfall. May I ask why Valentine wants this core but you don't?"
"We just know like when you know you need to eat or sleep. We know which core will make us stronger, simply instinct nothing profound. We're trying to figure it out ourselves when we have better understanding I'll say more." Vladimir explained with a shrug
Humphrey frowned, "Aren't you worried I might cause troubles?"
"I'm trying to trust you don't make me regret it." Vladimir snapped "Please remember, I'm a petty creature that holds grudges more than favors."
The limo was silent throughout the ride meanwhile Valentine and the silent man who he later discovered was named Rex exited a portal into Starside City.
"So Pioneers just use this transportation portals everywhere? Why did Vladimir dangle me on his falcon that tyrant!?" Valentine grumbled
Rex followed after him as he weaved through the chaotic masses and finally found the rift. A smile bloomed on his face as he eyed the orange sized sphere. Although this time it was surrounded by a few barriers.
"Invaders learn from their mistakes....I don't know how to feel about this snippet of knowledge." Valentine sighed
A familiar voice interrupted, "Your impact was just that effective."
"Ethan, you leech. We left you in the Capital didn't we?" Valentine shivered "I'm not a fan of this attention!"
Ethan laughed dryly, "You'll be surprised how quickly social media works. The higher ups shoved me into a portal to arrest you."
"I almost feel bad but it's the job you chose so are we doing this? We just need to grab the core and we'll be out of your hair." Valentine smiled
News helicopters with brave reporters were in the sky again broadcasting everything to the world as usual. Pioneer fights and everything related were the most wanted news among the public, what could they do about it.
"You can't defeat me." Ethan stated
Valentine smiled, "I know."
Everyone was a bit flustered by the response except Ethan himself. He saw the hidden rage in the teen's eyes and raised his guard because that's how he looked before charming the citizens the last time.
"I can't defeat you today or tomorrow but next week. We'll be evenly matched....barely." Valentine smiled
Ethan frowned, "I'm crush before you grow into an annoying weed."
"That's the spirit Ethan. Catch me if you can." The response laughed
Ethan leaped away as vines shot upward from where he stood. He looked at the arm behind Valentine's back where the the plants peeled out of from his tattoos.
"Stalling didn't help much." The Pioneer smirked as he shot flames forward
Several vines raised up the tar to shield him as Valentine slipped into a alley. The number of vines increased rapidly and pulled down the nearby buildings. Ethan dashed up into the sky burning down the vegetation along the way.
He saw large flowers with thorns in their mouth pointing toward him. Valentine was seated leisurely on a rose and beamed.
"I can't beat you fairly luckily I can play dirty." He told
The flowers fired thorns toward his flame barrier it wasn't to troubling as he moved closer. Then he saw two rose tilt upward to the helicopters in the sky.
"Choices, choices. Ain't life difficult?" Valentine sighed in sympathy
Ethan roared in anger as he pushed him in front of the news reporters.
"Wrong." Valentine smiled
The rose turned sharply and fired toward the safe point but Ethan wasn't a veteran for nothing. A tornado of fire swept through and incinerated the flowers to it roots which angered Valentine more.
Ethan made a blue flame whip and brought it down toward Valentine slicing thorough all his plants. The teen's rage intensified and everything around transformed into a hurricane of red petals with him as the center. The petals stretched out like claws toward him and Ethan made three more fire tornadoes.
"I've collected the item." a voice interrupted
Valentine sighed in relief, "Took you long enough. Fighting fire is really hard, I'll need to study up a bit when we get back."
Contrary to how he behaved Valentine was worn thin. Pioneers use different types of energy to use their abilities but the reserves are infinite and need to be grown like building muscles. Valentine's reserve won't outlast Ethan's who built his energy reserves longer than him, it was just a matter of waiting for him to tire himself out.
"Well, you win Ethan. I will shamelessly escape now." Valentine smiled as Rex opened a portal with an item
Ethan sped forward but Valentine pointed his finger behind him. He turned back to the helicopter to find a rose tossing it toward the sea. The vines and flowers slithered into the portal as the Pioneer turned back to save the citizens.
"My loss indeed." Valentine laughed as he entered the portal
The world let out the breathe they were holding and Ethan managed to save the news crew. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and blew out a puff of smoke.
"What a terrible victory." Ethan sighed