This was a story that took place over 30 years ago. It all started when a young dark elf couple came to Cugine City in search of work. They came to the fairly new city after they heard that the place was overflowing with job opportunities. They brought their two year old daughter and settled down in the city. Little did the young couple know is that this place had already became the playground for a beast of a man.

When they came, the city was indeed overflowing with job opportunities, but they were all shady jobs. The couple desperate to make a future for their daughter took on several of these jobs. Ironically, this led to their downfall.

“Pearl St. Claire?”

The daughter of the two, who was now six, was standing in front of a group of men who looked shady no matter how you looked at it.

“I’m sorry to say this, but your parents passed away earlier today.”

They told the young girl. How did a young girl like her to react to lost of her parents? Naturally, she cried and screamed. Of course she would. For this young girl her parents were her world. However, the girl’s tears didn’t move the men in the least. After they told her what they needed to they immediately left.

Suddenly, the young girl found herself without support. Since she couldn’t provide for herself the young girl was forced from her home and into an orphanage. It was there she met the two who would change her life forever.

“Hey, you.”

She was sitting alone in a corner crying with her head down when she heard someone call out to her. She looked up and saw two boys standing in front of her. One was overweight had rough skin, black hair, a face resembling a pig, and red eyes. He was an orc. The other had dark skin, sharp teeth, horns, and looked like humanoid bull. He was a Minotaur.

“You’re that kid with the strange name right? What was it….St. Claire?”

The Minotaur boy asked. The girl didn’t respond and silently looked at him and then his friend beside him.

“Ah, I guess you won’t talk to people you don’t know just like that, huh?”

The Minotaur boy pointed to himself.

“I’m Lucas. Lucas Emilio.”

He then pointed at the orc boy beside him.

“This is Tony. Tony Gambino. We call him Fat Tony around here.”

“…..I’m Pearl.”

The girl responded.

“Pearl huh?”

Lucas and Tony stretched their hand out towards her.

“Nice to meet you, Pearl St. Claire.”

Pearl quickly became friends with the two boys and she came to learn more about the two. Tony was the grandson of the old woman who ran the orphanage, while Lucas came here with his sister when their relatives could no longer afford to raise them. All three of them had lost their parents at a young age. Maybe it was because of this that Pearl was able to become close friends with them.

For the first time since her parents’ death, Pearl felt alive.

Her years at the orphanage quickly rolled on and before she knew it, Pearl was already a teenager.

“Hey, Pearl.”

A girl who was a little bit younger than her was sitting beside Pearl who was eating and watching television. The girl despite being thin was also a Minotaur like Lucas. She was his little sister, Bella Emilio.

“What is it?”

“You like my brother, right?”

“Pfft! Cough! Cough!”

Pearl started coughing after choking on her food.

“W-Where did that come from?”

“I mean you’re always looking in his direction and smiling, so I figured.”

Bella suddenly hugged pearl from behind.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you two will get together soon.”

“I didn’t really….”

“Oh, by the way I’m planning on confessing to Fat Tony.”

“Tony?! You like him?”

Bella frowned.

“Whats with that reaction? What’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing. It’s just he’s….energetic?”

“Hmph. I’m sure you mean he’s a troublemaker and quick to pick fights. You think he’s too much for me right?”

“I didn’t…”

Bella started laughing.

“I’m just joking.”

She released Pearl and moved back a little.

“I know how Tony can be, but I still love him. I mean, despite my frail body he always treated me like an ordinary person. Unlike you and my brother. Besides, Lucas isn’t that much different from Tony you know. They’re both troublemakers. They just fought with a gang last night.”

She sighed.

“Sometimes I wonder how you’re friends with them.”

“I wonder too.”

One day life suddenly changed for the trio. Tony’s grandmother passed away causing the orphanage to be shut down. The trio plus Bella found themselves without a home. However, they didn’t plan to become beggars who had to depend on charity to survive.

“Let’s start a gang.”

The one who proposed that was Lucas, who was a bit more muscular since he became a teen.

“A gang?”

He nodded at Pearl.

“This City is a cruel one. In order to survive you must be strong enough to fend for yourself using every means possible. You must be prepared to get your hands dirty. I’m sure none of us here wants to see each other starve to death, right? Then we must get our hands dirty.”

“I’m up for it.”

Tony was the first to agree. He was still overweight and had rough skin, but his face was looking a bit more human.

“I don’t want any of you to die.”

He looked at his his friends and his eyes stopped on Bella for a bit.

“If my brother and Tony is gonna do it, then I definitely will too.”

“The same goes for me.”

Pearl added.

“Then looks like we’re up for business.”

Lucas looked around and spoke.

“Our gang will be called Predator!”

Predator, this gang which made of entirely teenagers quickly made a name for themselves. They debuted on the scene after crushing a small gang of teens like themselves and took their base for themselves. This quickly drew the attention of a much bigger gang that ran the gang they destroyed. They were obviously targeted.

However, this was the biggest mistake that gang had ever made.

“Hey, did you hear? Aqua Beats got destroyed by a new gang called Predator.”

“What? No way!”

“I heard that Fat Tony and Mad Bull Lucas are a part of it.”

“Really? Those two have always been monsters.”

“I heard that they have two girls in their gang as well. A dark elf name Pearl and Lucas’ sister Bella. Lucas’ sister can’t really fight but she’s pretty smart. I heard that she came up with a trap that cut Aqua Beats man power in half. While Pearl is said to rival Tony and Lucas when it comes to fighting.”

“Damn. Looks like a new star is on the rise.”

It only took little under six months before Predator was consider one of the top gangs. This was undoubtedly the fastest a gang had ever risen in power. By the time they were 18, Pearl, Tony, and Lucas had already earned enough money to buy their own mansion in the Golden Breath Villa.

However, every story had its ups and downs.

“Cough! Cough!”

“Bella?”

Pearl looked at her friend who was walking beside her before suddenly stooping down and started coughing.

“I-I’m fine. This is normal.”

“…….”

Pearl looked at her in silence. It was obvious that Bella’s body was getting weaker and weaker. Yet, she smiled and stooped down in front of Bella.

“The date of your surgery is coming up, please hang in there until then.”

“I said I’m fine, really.”

Bella stood up, Pearl did the same.

“Bella is getting worse?”

Later that night, Pearl approached Lucas about his sister.

“Yeah. I think we should keep her home until it’s time for her surgery.”

“I don’t think she’ll like that.”

“What if we have Tony stay with her?”

“…..That could work. She is willing to do anything for Tony.”

Bella had a disease known as Anima Deficiency. Her body was unable to absorb Anima as fast as the average person. As such, her body will grow weaker overtime as her body will need more Anima to function properly. What made it worse was that she was in the Kashmir Continent which was stationed countless feet above sea level. Unlike everyone else around her she’s unable to adapt to the atmospheric conditions. This will ultimately lead to death if nothing is done.

“Her surgery will replace the Anima core in her body with an artificial one that will help her absorb Anima like an average person. Once that happens, she’ll grow stronger over time. The surgery was expensive but it’s worth it if it allows her to live a long life.”

Pearl said.

The Anima core was a spherical organ located near the stomach of all animals. It was what granted them the ability to manipulate and store Anima. Only those who were extremely skilled could repair or replace one. Hence Bella’s operation really cost a lot.

“Don’t worry. Tony will surely spend time with her. He loves her more than me her brother does after all.”

The time for Bella’s operation came quickly. She was brought to the best hospital in the city and all the best doctors and staff were brought out to assist with her operation. The trio went to see her just before the operation.

“How are you feeling?”

Pearl asked.

“Like shit. They shoot me up with so much drugs that I can’t feel anything.”

“Don’t worry. It’s only temporary.”

Lucas said. Tony walked up to her and held her hand.

“Don’t you dare die on me. I won’t be able to contain myself if you do.”

“Hahaha. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Im a part of Predator after all.”

The trio smiled.

“I guess there’s no need to worry then.”

Bella’s operation started a hour later. The trio sat in the waiting lounge and waited for the operation to finish. Even though the doctors told them that it would surely take at least half a day, they still chose to sit and wait. It was now the sixth hour since the operation began.

“Move! Move!”

While they were waiting they heard a loud voice. They looked and turned towards the entrance. The door was forced open and a group of men barged in holding a bloody man.

“Doctors! We need doctors!”

A burly man shouted at a nurse.

“The doctors will be here soon, sir. Please calm down.”

“Shut up! Do you know who this is?!”

The man pointed at the bloody man.

“This is Paul Gotti!”

“Paul Gotti?”

“Salvatore Riina’s Righthand man?”

“What happened to him?”

The surrounding people started mumbling to themselves.

“If he dies everyone here will feel the Beast’s rage! You got it!”

The man shouted.

“Give me every doctor you have! He must be saved no matter what!”

“T-That isn’t possible sir. Most of our doctors are in the middle of an important operation. We still have an adequate amount available but all of them is-”

*Bam!*

The nurse was suddenly kicked across the room.

“Shut it! I said we want every doctor here!”

“……”

The trio watched the scene with racing hearts. They of course knew who Paul Gotti was and even more Salvatore who was the ruler of this city. But if they really got all the doctors while Bella was in the middle of an operation then Bella will undoubtedly die. The Anima core wasn’t something to mess with that easily. One wrong move will lead to death. It goes without saying that abandoning the operation midway will kill the patient.

“…..!”

Before they knew it, all three of them were on their feet. They knew that Salvatore wasn’t someone they could afford to offend, but they couldn’t just watch and let Bella die.

“Oi, what’s the hold up?”

As they were about to move, their bodies frozen when they heard a deep and powerful voice. Under everyone’s shocked gaze, a man walked in. He was over two meters tell, his body was made up of rock hard muscles, his skin was fair, his hair was black and long, and he had a well groomed beard.

“Salvatore Riina!”

Everyone in hospital felt their heart skip a couple beats. Cold sweat covered their bodies. Salvatore looked around with his beastly golden eyes.

“Don, these people refuse to give us every doctor they have.”

The man who kicked away the nurse reported.

“I see.”

Salvatore took a breath and closed his eyes. He then opened them slowly.

“?!”

At that moment it felt like the entire hospital was transported to the bottom of the ocean. No one was able to move or breathe.

*Bam!*

Soon every doctor who was in Bella’s operation room ran out still in their surgery attire. The moment they saw Salvatore they ran up and kneeled before him.

“Don, how may we help you?!”

Salvatore pointed at the bloody Paul Gotti.

“My pal had a run in at the Golden Breath Villa. I need you to patch him.”

“Right away.”

“Wait! What about Bella?!”

Tony shouted.

“Hm?”

Salvatore looked at him and the others.

“Who the hell is Bella?”

“Ah, he’s talking about a girl we were working on just now. Don’t worry, Don. The girl isn’t important. All that’s important is Mr. Gotti.”

“Not important?!”

The Three suddenly drew their weapons in anger.

“You fucker!”

When the doctors saw their furious expression they all started to cower.

“Hey.”

Salvatore stood in front of them.

“This is a hospital. There’s no fighting allowed.”

*Bam!”

Suddenly the three were sent crashing into a wall with fist prints on their chests.

“Bella….”

They all fell on the ground and soon last consciousness.

“Heh.”

Salvatore smiled and turned his attention to the doctors.

“Go on. Get to work.”

“Yes, Don!”

The doctors made the thugs carry Paul Gotti into Bella’s operation room. A thug soon came out holding Bella over his shoulder. He smiled and threw her in front of the trio. Her stomach was cut open and there were still tools inside her. Salvatore looked at the four and smiled before heading towards the room.

“Wait….”

He heard a voice and turned around to see the trio holding onto Bella’s body with trembling hands and tears flowing from their eyes as they glared at him.

(Oh? They were able to regain consciousness quite quickly. Looks like they have potential.)

Salvatore thought as he looked at them.

“What is it? My friend is battling for his life in there. I’m sure you of all people can understand.”

He said with a chuckle.

“Sal…va…tore.”

Tony slowly struggled to his feet while Lucas gritted his teeth and held Bella’s body. Pearl was trying to console him but she looked like she was about to fall apart herself.

Salvatore looked in Tony’s eyes and saw immense rage and hatred.

(This boy…..His killing intent is impressive. There isn’t a hint of fear in him.)

“Salvatore Riina, I promise you this.”

Tony took something from his pocket and threw it at Salvatore who caught it. When he looked down it was a silver bullet.

“I will kill you!”

Salvatore looked at him and smiled.

“Do it if you can.”

“Madam…Madam!”

Pearl opened her eyes and saw a white ceiling above her.

“Madam, you’re finally awake!”

One of subordinates’ face popped above her. She looked around and saw that she was lying on a bed.

“Madam, how are you feeling?”

“…..Like shit.”

Pearl sat up and saw that her body was bandaged up.

“What happened?”

“We were attacked by Tony Gambino. He blew up the bank with everyone in it.”

At that moment her conversation with Tony on the phone replayed in her head.

“!”

She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.

“Tony!”

“Madam, please take it easy. Because of the surprise attack your body had sustain some serious injuries.”

Her subordinate approached her and tried to calm her down.

“That bastard is gonna pay for this!”

Because she was ambushed, Pearl was unable to erect a barrier to shield herself when the bomb exploded. If she was any weaker or if Tony had used a stronger bomb, she would’ve died.

“That bastard made me live on purpose.”

She could feel the eye she lost ache.

“I’m sorry, Bella. I’m going have to kill the one you love!”