Under the Veil of Night

Black Street, 2 years ago in June

Several people were lurking about on the secluded street late at night. It was not unusual for people to roam on the streets in Black Street. This area has always been known to be home to the people who were part of the underworld.

"Rei, you're doing great with the missions recently," Jason remarked as he swung his large blade around.

Kanae smirked. "We have been doing this for more than a year. I have gotten used to the missions that we accept."

"But you're still so stingy with our meals," Tommy's face scrunched. "You should treat us occasionally."

"Just ask Oro, I'm still saving up my money."

"No way, you two are big eaters. All my money will disappear if I have to feed you two," Jason immediately refused. He would be the world's biggest idiot if he dared to agree. These two were each capable of eating more than five heaping plates of food per meal. There would be an unmendable hole in his pocket if he dared to agree to their request.

"You're the richest one among us," Kanae grinned.

"Just ask Shin, he would be happy to treat you all."

"That demonic doctor will be happier to see all of us become his experiment specimens rather than treat us," Tommy's face scrunched even more.

Kanae laughed when she heard their remarks. Her feet stopped abruptly as she focused on the dark alley in front of her. Although they couldn't hear anything yet, her senses were telling her that it would be their death if they kept walking forward.

Jason was alarmed and put up a defensive stance. In terms of strength, he might be stronger than Kanae, but her senses were far sharper. Kanae was always the very first one to sense danger.

"What is it?"

"I don't know," Kanae answered apprehensively.

CLANG!

The next second, they could faintly hear the sound of metal clashing. The sound was quite faint but it was enough to tell them that there were people fighting not far from them.

"Let's check out," Jason stepped forward quickly.

"Wait!" Kanae was startled. Sweat had already beaded her forehead. Her senses were telling her that something or someone dangerous was there. If they tried to get closer, they could die.

Jason stopped near a larger alley. Two men with large blades were fighting each other in the middle. The sound of clashing metal grew louder and more frequent as the two people exchanged moves at close quarters. Even with their level of martial art skills that have been polished by numerous near-death battles, the three couldn't follow the speed of these two people at all.

'They're dangerous!'

Kanae's instinct was telling her to get away as fast as possible because she wouldn't be able to defeat any of the two men.

Unfortunately, before she could utter a sound, one of the men was thrown backwards. He was flung so far that he crashed into the wall, creating a large crater where he landed.

"Master, you're too violent," a men stepped out from the darkness. His footsteps did not make a sound as he approached the only man left standing.

The man standing in the middle, Master Rudy, laughed loudly. "He's just too weak."

The one who approached, Matt, shook his head lightly. They only came to the outer part of Black Street because this master of his was invited to the Ryukalin Clan Headquarters to teach their unofficial clan head. Of course, this master of his would take the time to deal blows to anyone he found too.

Master Rudy turned his attention towards the three men—no, two men and one girl—at the mouth of the alley. Seeing how their eyes filled with fear, he snorted. People from the outer area were all too weak.

BA-DUMP!

Suddenly, he felt an impending sense of danger directed towards him. His body tensed up immediately as he gazed towards the source of threat that he sensed. It was faint, but he had never sensed any form of danger from anyone for years. Only those who had extremely high potential or were extremely strong could give him a similar feeling.

His eyes landed on the only female of the group. Her eyes were filled with worry and caution; it was as if she could see the depth of his strength.

'Interesting,' Master Rudy thought internally.

He only stopped here because there was an idiot who dared to challenge him. Never did he think that he would find a youth that piqued his interest. The last person who managed to give him this sense of threat recently was the young man he was meeting today.

'There should be nothing wrong with trying.'

He glared at them, exuding a level of pressure that was enough to crush ordinary people. By his side, Matt truly wanted to face-palm. His master didn't want to back down at all.

"What are you looking at, youngsters?"

His voice travelled to their ears, exerting even more pressure than before. Tommy felt his knees grow weak and in the next second, he fell with his palms and knees hitting the ground. The pressure was too much. It was as if he was facing the death reaper with the blade hanging over his head.

Jason was trying his best to stand firmly. He was reminded once again of the pressure his father always gave him in the past. However, this person in front of him was far more dangerous.

'Why is a monster of this level in this part of Black Street?'

At this moment, despair filled his eyes because he very clearly knew their difference in strength. With just a wave of this man's hand, he might not be able to see the light of day tomorrow.

Gritting her teeth, Kanae stared determinedly back at Master Rudy. She didn't want to show that she was far weaker than him. Even if she was weaker, it didn't mean that he could trample on them just like that.

Her legs were trembling, but they calmed down in the next second. All she had in her mind was how they could escape from here. After all, she didn't want to die yet.

'They're quite interesting,' Master Rudy watched their reactions amusedly. However, he knew that their difference in strength was like heaven and earth. They couldn't do anything in front of him.

"We are sorry to interrupt you. We'll go now," Jason suddenly spoke up.

He was trying his best to stay calm and ignore the pressure, but shaking legs gave away his real feelings. Just like Kanae, all he could think about was how they could escape from this situation.

Matt looked towards the three people in front of him weirdly. His master seemed to take an interest in them? After all, it was not Master Rudy's style to display his power before he attacked like this.

"Have I given you permission to go?"

The very next second, his large blade was already swinging towards their direction, ready to kill them.