The Red Light District. The city that was usually dead in the day was now alive more than ever. People were running up and down with weapons in their hands, with burning buildings in the background. Screams were drowned out by the sounds of explosions and blood ran in the streets.

“Tsk! They’re hot on our tail!”

Nico was running through this hell carrying a heavily wounded man on his shoulder.

“Boss, leave me behind.”

Said the man. His blood drained from his body and stained Nico’s shirt.

“Shut up! I’ve already left so many comrades to their deaths! I’m sick of it!”

“You’re too kind, boss.”

The man struggled free from Nico’s gripped and then pushed him away.

“Hey-”

*Boom!*

Nico was blown back by an explosion when he was about to turn around to chase after his comrade. He sat up and saw a crater were his friend once was.

“Goddammit!”

Nico sprung to his feet with an enraged expression.

“Come out and face me, you cowards! You want the head of a big name from the Usurpers right?! I’m one of the capos! My head is priceless! So come and get it!”

Nico’s voice caused the area to tremble like rolling thunder.

“Oh, we know who you are, Nico Stankovic.”

Nico saw a group of armed people come from behind the burning buildings. They were wearing black bodysuits and helmets so their identities couldn’t be seen.

“You’re our main target after all.”

“Is that so?”

Nico slammed his fists against each other and produced a thundering sound. Static could be seen coming off his body.

“I’m so happy to hear that I’m so popular.”

The armed peopled aimed their strange looking guns at Nico without a word. Seeing this, a grin appeared on Nico’s face.

“You killed a lot of my comrades earlier.”

He pointed at them with veins bulging in his head.

“Don’t think those fancy guns are going to protect you from the hell that I’m about to show you!”

**********

“The Red Light District is Nico’s territory right? Has the situation really gotten that out of hand that he can’t handle it?”

Kaido asked Bloom. Bloom and her subordinates were having a meeting.

“Before you answer that, are you sure you want him here?”

Kaido was talking about Miko who was casually listening on their meeting with the girls.

“I want to show that we’re allies, so I’m allowing him to listen in.”

“It’s like that. We’re all buddy-buddy now.”

Miko leaned back in his seat and crossed his legs.

“Your problems are my problems; so don’t be shy.”

“You can be really creepy some times.”

Miko laughed at Kaido’s insult.

“Anyway, Nico was assigned to the Red Light District to infiltrate the infamous Usurpers and join the upper ranks so that we can control the city to a certain degree. However, a coalition army made of dozens of smaller gangs are coming for their heads. At first, Nico and I thought that it wasn’t a big deal but we were wrong.”

“The coalition is stronger than you expected and now the Usurpers are on the brink of annihilation, right?”

Bloom nodded to Jin’s question.

“So then why not have Nico fall back for now?”

“That’s not an option.”

“Why?”

“Because we need the Usurpers. They keep the balance in the Red Light District. If they are destroyed then the coalition will disband and a war bigger than this one will break out to see who will be the king of the city.”

“So you want to help the Usurpers defeat the coalition?”

“That’s right.”

Miko slowly lifted his hand.

“If I may, I have a question.”

“….Go ahead.”

“Is it alright for the queen herself to back up a gang? Wouldn’t it be ideal to focus on wiping out both parties to ensure a longer period of peace?”

“Like I said, they’re absolutely necessary. Sometimes you have to associate with certain people to get what you want.”

Miko’s eyes sharpened when he heard that. This caused Bloom to flinched.

“I see.”

He started smiling.

“I was just checking.”

“A-Anyway, I want you guys to go to the district and assist Nico.”

“Conditions for victory?”

Jin asked.

“Destruction of the coalition and the capture of its leader. I want to know how they got their hands on such powerful weaponry.”

“If we can’t capture him, can we kill him instead.”

Kaido asked.

“No. Even if you have to cut off all his limbs and remove his eyes, nose, and tongue I want him alive.”

“Then are we free to give it our all?”

Sapphire asked.

“Go bonkers if you need to.”

“What about the innocent bystanders?”

Hana asked.

“If you can save them then do so but don’t put your own life at risk doing so.”

Bloom looked around.

“Those are my orders. Do you accept the mission?”

They four stood up in unison and bowed.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Wow.”

Miko was impressed by their discipline. Bloom nodded.

“Then go make me proud.”

************

Jin and Kaido’s group arrived at the Red Light District to carry out their orders. Miko’s group followed them because it seemed fun. They entered by taking a different route than the one Miko would always take.

“Woah.”

When they stepped foot in the city they couldn’t help but be surprised by how much of a wasteland the place had become.

“I don’t think this qualifies as a city anymore.”

Kaido said while looking around.

“This place will have to be rebuilt when everything is over.”

Hana seemed a bit saddened by the depressing scene before her eyes.

“MYTH will rebuild this place in no time, so it’s nothing for us to be worried about. For now, let’s focus on our task.”

Jin said as he led the group into the district.

“This is surprising.”

Miko said.

“What is?”

Sapphire asked.

“I thought those two would be incapable of working together, but they seem fine. I thought that they would be fighting nonstop.”

“Hahaha. Even those two won’t do that. They know that there’s a time and place for everything.”

Hana nodded in agreement.

“They might have a cat and dog relationship but when those two work together they’re invincible.”

“Oh? Then why are they always bickering?”

“That…”

Hana became hesitant.

“Let’s not talk about it. It’s a bit embarrassing.”

“I’m turning red just thinking about it.”

Even sapphire didn’t seem like she wanted to talk about it. Her face got red as she said it would.

(I wonder what it is.)

Miko thought to himself.

“Be on your guard everyone. We’re approaching the base for the Usurpers. There’s a chance that enemies from the coalition is laying in wait. There’s also the fact that the Usurpers may attack us as well.”

Jin said.

“So, how do you plan to get them to accept your help? You aren’t planning on telling them that the queen sent you right?”

Miko asked.

“That’s exactly what we’re going to do. The Usurpers respect Bloom’s authority unlike most criminals here. So it won’t be a problem for them to accept our help.”

“They respect her authority huh?”

Miko showed a sly smile as he walked. They soon stopped in front of an old flower shop. This shop still standing firm while it’s surroundings have been reduced to rubble really stood out. Miko stooped down and placed his hand on the ground and closed his eyes.

“Ishma.”

(There’s an underground structure, a really big one.)

Ishma spoke to Miko telepathically. He stood up and saw Jin and the others enter the flower shop. He walked in and saw a pair of muscular men sitting behind the counter with two high powered weapons in front of them. Jin walked up to them with his hands in the air.

“I’m a messenger for the Queen. She wishes to assist you in your battle. Is there anyone I can talk to?”

The men remained silent and slowly aimed their weapons at Jin.

“Name?”

“Jin Makoto.”

“?!”

The men’s expression changed greatly.

“Just hearing his name makes them want to shit themselves. That’s badass.”

Tia said with a laugh.

“Our apologies. Currently only the capo Nico is here.”

“What about the rest?”

“Dead or missing.”

The expressions on Jin’s group changed.

(Everyone except Nico was out of the picture. This is what Bloom wanted but it came in the worst way possible.)

Jin thought.

“Where’s Nico?”

“I’m here.”

Miko looked and saw a muscular blond hair man stepped out from the back door. This was Nico Who was wrapped head to toe in bandages. He looked at Jin’s group and paused on Miko’s group for a while before speaking.

“Let’s talk inside.”

He led Miko and the others in the room and they discovered that they were actually in an elevator.

“I’m surprised that this place is still standing.”

Kaido said.

“This place is protected by the Gaia System. It can’t be destroyed so easy.”

(Gaia System? Is it similar to the Sky Net I got from MYTH?)

Miko thought to himself.

“You got yourself really messed up, Nico.”

Jin said.

“Don’t tease me, Boss. I just survive a battle to the death. Those bastards got their hands on some amazing powersuits. My powers were ineffective against them. I had to do it the old fashion way; with my fists.”

“If they’re giving you this much trouble then Bloom made the right choice to send us here.”

Kaido said.

“Kaido, I think that you’re perfect to crush those bastards. I doubt that they have anything that can stop your heavy blows.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Kaido started smiling. The elevator door opened and they got off and found themselves standing in a dome-like structure. They could see hundreds of people moving about. Some were arming themselves and getting ready to head out. Others were groaning in pain after losing a few of their limbs. Some just stood there with unfocused eyes mumbling things that were inaudible.

“Looks like a gruesome war.”

“Could you not smile when you say that?”

Nico frowned at the smiling Miko.

“By the way, why are you here?”

“I’m an ally of this country. I simply wish to see all sides of it, whether good or bad.”

“Bloom said that he was free to do as he like.”

Jin said.

“Don’t mind me. I have no intention of getting involved. I’m a mere spectator.”

“….Anyway, Boss. Can I ask you to take over here? I’m not really the leader type so I can’t lead everyone into war.”

“I was sent here for that purpose.”

Jin started looking around.

“I can already tell that this will be a tough fight.”

**********

Later that day, after organizing the organization in the way he wanted, Jin and the others returned to the surface.

“For now, we need to figure out the enemy numbers and hierarchy. To do that we must either capture enemy soldiers or….”

Jin looked at Miko.

“No can do. I won’t ask the White Deers for help. I said I’m not getting involve, didn’t I?”

Jin clicked his tongue.

“Then we must capture enemy soldiers. The enemy is too mysterious and that isn’t a good thing.”

The started walking away from the flower shop.

“?!”

Suddenly Miko felt a chill up his spine. He turned around and started scanning the place with his eyes. Everything took mere seconds.

*BAM!*

An explosive sound rung out which caused everyone to turn to the source. There they saw Hana sitting on the ground. looking in front of her with a pale face. Everyone looked at what she was staring at and saw Miko standing with a bitter smile on his face. Their eyes widen when they noticed the huge hole in his stomach. They quickly processed the information in front of them and realize what was going on.

Someone tried to snipe hana and Miko pushed her out of the way and took the bullet.

“Of all things, they just had to use an Anti-Proxy rifle.”

Miko spoke with a bloody smile.

“Mi-?!”

*BAM!*

Before they could speak Miko’s body was flung back with a huge hole in his chest where his heart was. His body hit the ground with a thud. He then lay there motionlessly and the place became quiet.

“Miko!”

It was Momo’s horrified scream that broke the silence.