“Hello again,” Nico said. The Goon made an abrupt movement and Nico smashed his face. He waited for a moment then brought it up. More blood came down his nose. He panted and some of it went into his mouth. “This all must be very embarrassing for you—you know, to be beaten by someone that can’t fight?”

Before the Goon even spat Nico dodged his head to the side. “Saw that one coming when I was still on the roof,” Nico said, shaking his head, then smashing the Goon’s head again. He did it a few more times before the Goon’s hold over his axe laxed. Nico brought it up again. “So which gang are you from?”

“W-we’re a clan, fucker,” he wheezed out.

More roleplaying. Nico smashed his face. “Which gang are you from.”

“You freak,” he said, laughing. “You have no idea who you’re fucking with.”

“Which is why I’m asking, doofus,” Nico said, smashing his face. “Look, I can do this all night.” To prove it, Nico smashed his face, brought it up, and after a pause he smashed it again. Even after all that Goon V was still conscious. Ranker’s bodies were tough. “And trust me, fella. Hurting people like you does feel good.”

It really didn’t. A Goon was a just a Goon. Nico didn’t see them as real people.

Goon V wasn’t really a Ranker either. A Ranker referred to someone that was climbing up the Ranks. People that reached the 1st Rank were uncommon but not rare. All they needed was to hunt three Elite monsters and buy a Memory Card that went for a few hundred Energy. Tough, but doable with a good squad over a few years. For the 2nd Rank and later, though, they needed to hunt a Boss.

Hunting a Boss was not a simple matter. It took years of dedicated training to even have a chance at it, or at least save enough funds for it. It’s not something anyone could do.

So while Goon V was a Rank I, his life choice of joining a gang and robbing people instead of training for it meant he chose a life of crime. He looked old too—around 30 or so, much more than the other gang members. It was hard to call him a ‘misguided youth anymore.’ He’d had more than enough time to think over his actions, to see the damage it did, all the natural stuff that came with becoming an adult.

And at the end, he’d chosen to hunt people than monsters. It was more cowardly than the Rats that obey the Rankers. Nico understood that gangs offered a sense of belonging and security seldom found in a heartless city, but he still had no sympathy for his type.

Seriously. He couldn’t think of something more immature than gang wars, with all their ridiculous names and elaborate rituals.

“W-we’re called the Dark Nights,” he said.

Nico smashed his face.

“W-why! I answer—”

“That one was personal,” Nico said. “Give me a layout of the area. What’s happening. Who’s around?”

“I’m not going to—”

Nico smashed his face. “A moment ago you told me in very clear terms that you were going to kill your squad, a little boy, and presumably kill me too, all to avoid responsibility for your fuck up,” Nico said. He brought his face up. It didn’t look very good. He smashed it again and brought it up. It looked worst. “We both know you only think of yourself—so out with it.”

“…don’t…don’t tell anyone I talked,” he croaked.

“Sure,” Nico said.

“The—the Dark Nights are fighting against Risen Sanctuary for rights to control Blocks 250 to 260,” he said. “The Reds and the Helens are staying neutral.”

“And they are?”

“The big four?” he said. “You haven’t heard of us?”

“No?” Nico said. “You think everyone keeps track of this non-sense?”

“What?” he said. “You don’t belong to any clan?”

“No, I already said that,” Nico said, pausing. “Wait, you’re asking questions, and you still think you’re a clan and not a gang. I thought I told you not to do either of those.”

“Sorry,” he said, sniffing.

“We all make mistakes,” Nico said. “So those 4 make up the Underground?”

“As far as I am aware of,” he said.

“How much does that mean exactly?”

“A-a lot! I didn’t get to lead a squad for nothing,” he said, swallowing the blood he sniffed.

“Sure,” Nico said. “What’s the Syndicate doing about it?”

“The Syndicate doesn’t get directly involved as long as not too many of us or Rats die in the crossfire. They like us fighting because that saves them the trouble of training us to hunt better,” he said. “Different money comes in from different Houses.”

Figured that would be the case. The Syndicate didn’t leave the 3rd District to the gangs because they couldn’t be wiped out. They did it because it prevented other Houses from taking control, and they were able to do things the Syndicate couldn’t do in broad daylight.

That meant that Nico might find protection in joining one of the gangs opposing the Iron House, then getting connected to the House that is in conflict with them. That didn’t leave a good taste in his mouth, but it was something. He did have to work quick, though. “Which Houses fund which? And how are the other cities involved?”

“I don’t know. That stuff is above my Rank.”

“Who do I ask to find it out?”

“An info broker,” he said. “Or if you don’t have the Energy, a squad leader higher than Rank II for us. Maybe Rank III squad. Anything that deals with the Syndicate isn’t a joke.”

Well that’s an issue. Nico didn’t think he could deal with a whole squad, much less one even headed Rank II. Most of this squad were young and inexperienced. Anyone that did not know how to climb in the city did not know how to fight.

“Well friend, that means you’re no good to me ali—”

“You can join us! We offer protection, you don’t have to hunt outside. Then next meeting is at Block 279 room 291 in a week!”

“Not useful.”

“Uh…we’re planning on sending a few squads to enter the 42nd Game! You seem strong, you can try to …join?” The doubt was added at the end when he glanced at Nico’s left side. It wasn’t subtle.

“Uh-uh, and what do you suggest I do when I, oh I don’t know, go against someone with two whole arms? Last try, make it count.”

“I…I-I can spy for you! Please, I-I’ll move up the Ranks. I swear!”

“You swear?” Nico said with awe. “Okay, now I have no choice but to trust you.” Nico let him go.

Goon V pounced immediately. His dagger went into Nico’s guts and slid up to his rib cage. “What now bitch,” he snarled, his face an inch away from Nico’s face. “Fucking…fucking…” his words faded.

Nico stared back into Goon’s eyes with pity. He watched his face twitch, then slowly crumble as the seconds went quietly by. The Goon glanced at the dagger fully submerged within Nico’s guts, looked at the blood as it pooled under them, then looked back at Nico’s placid face.

Nico reached down slowly. He took the dagger out of his stomach and tossed it aside. Heal, he thought, activating his 1st skill. The blood that spread on the ground, and the blood that was falling, all reversed course. Like a backwards river, they flew back into his stomach. The skin closed after.

“Why…why are you a healer?” he said, his voice empty.

“Beats me,” Nico said, standing up, and kneeing him up the chin as he did so. He fell back, unconscious. The answer should have been ‘hope they only have one leg.’

Nico bent low, resting a hand on the Goon’s chest and paused. Is there a point in Siphoning him? Just because he was in a gang it didn’t automatically mean he deserved to die. The first one that attacked Nico went for the legs. The second one that did went for the shoulder. They were young too, no older than twenty each. Killing them didn’t seem right at all. Falling off a roof was enough punishment.

So they’re good, but you’re a different problem. Goon V was the leader, and when he thought he was in complete control of the situation, he made it abundantly clear what type of person he was. People like him didn’t deserve mercy. Besides, he might have recognized who Nico was.

So I have a reason—many reasons— to Siphon him. But was there a reason not to?

Ripples extended out from Nico’s hand across the Goon’s body as if it were made of liquid. The ripples then bounced back towards his hand. The Goon’s body began diminishing with each wave. After a few seconds Nico held a jiggling ball of white weightless flame in his palm.

Energy. It was bright enough to light the ground below Nico’s feet. Goon V’s body was gone, leaving only his clothes, an axe, and his ID card.

He glanced at the card briefly, using the light from the Energy to read it. The first side had basic information, his name, his ID number, age, and the Block that he lived in. Block 231. They weren’t from around here.

The backside had information about his skills.

Narl

Rank: I

Next Rank: 0/1 Rank II Boss Soul

Energy: Connection Lost

Affinity: Life/Kinetic/Fire/Other

Class: Enhancer/Emitter/Transmuter/Manipulator

Secondary Class: Enhancer/Emitter/Transmuter/Manipulator

1st Skill: Life Shield (Common I)

Consumes 1 Energy to Grant 2 Shield.

Cast-time: 3 seconds.

Duration: 1 minutes.

Cooldown: 45 Seconds

Enhancer Class Perk: Grants minor resistance to all damage.

Transmuter Class Perk: Reduces cooldown by 25%.

Affinities determined what type of Energy they can use to sense and power their skills with, and the classes determined the ways they can be used. A Life Enhancer for example can turn Energy into a Shield. A Life Emitter can fire a projectile out of their palms.

The main and secondary class also determined the extra effects of their skills. A Life Emitter-Manipulator can fire a projectile that wraps around the target—but just because it was possible, it didn’t mean they could do it. They had to get the skill card for it, absorb the required Souls, then Rank Up. As they Ranked up, their bodies would physically change in order to execute the Memory Card. It’s why Ascended barely looked human—they were barely human.

The power of Memory Cards was discovered soon after the Immortality Elixir was made, after the walls and the Deep. It was invented to help humanity hunt the Deep and its monsters long ago.

That obviously didn’t happen.

Nico placed his hand over his chest as he fetched his cloak. Bright yellow particles gathered into the shape of a small rectangular card. Having been considered a Ranker once, his ID was slightly different. It had his Handle—a nickname—instead of his real one.

Nil

Rank: I

Next Rank: 0/1 Rank II Boss Soul

Energy: 1/2 (+1/Hour)

Affinity: Life

Class: Transmuter-Enhancer

1st Skill: Life Wielder (Rare Rank I)

Consumes 1 Energy to Heal.

Cast-time: 1-4 seconds, depending on damage taken.

Cooldown: 5 seconds

Transmuter Perk: Allows you Siphon monsters.

Enhancer Perk: Improves healing.

2nd skill:

3rd Skill:

Ultimate:

Soul-Bound Equipment: 0/1

Using skills was simple. All he did was activate the card with a keyword he had to consciously decide on, in this case Heal, and the rest would be carried out automatically.

There were two types of Memory Cards—Basic Cards, which had predetermined skills that went from a few hundred to a few thousand depending on supply and demand, and Blank Cards, which gave skills depending on the person. It was like the lottery that Jarl buys into every week, but this one actually had good chances and was generally worth the cost.

There was a chance that a person might get a skill that would have otherwise costed them a few thousand Energy points in the market, or even a unique one no one has ever gotten before. But sometimes it gave skills Basic Cards could give for a few hundred Energy, and without the danger of possibly having one of their precious skill slots be a useless skill that doesn’t synergize with the rest of their skills or training.

What determined who got what was still up to debate, but it usually aligned with the person’s personality and training.

Nico for example got hurt quite a bit before becoming Rank I, giving his body enough practice to figure out the healing process in very intimate terms. Like Uhan is doing, Nico spent most of his time fighting in the Gauntlet. It was an Underground tournament with a section for youth and a section for adults. Winning the youth one two years ago is what got Nico his Rank I Blank Card.

Nico got Life Healer through it, a skill so valuable it was sold in auctions for around five thousand Energy. Being able to heal people was not only insanely profitable, but also indispensable in battle. Squads no longer had to return to the city ounce their Healing Potions ran out. Every squad that could afford a Healer had one.

There was just one tiny issue with Nico having Life Healer—he was a Transmuter-Enhancer. Healers needed the Enhancer or Manipulator class to heal others.

Nico had neither, so he could only heal himself. It was a dud. Such were the risks of Blank Cards.

But that was the thing about skills from Blank Cards. The perks they gave were a crazy throw of the dice. It turns out his Enhancer’s secondary effect’s ‘increased healing’ didn’t mean faster or stronger healing, but more accurate one. It allowed him to choose which parts got healed. That’s how Nico was able to get rid of his pain nerves.

So while the skill was not unique, the class combo was. The information his ID gave him about his skill was inaccurate.

Which was good, because Nico would have been killed on the spot if people found out his true powers. It wasn’t just ‘monsters’ that Nico could Siphon—it was humans too.

Nico Siphoned the Energy, returning him to full.

That was another risk of Blank Cards. Sometimes they gave Forbidden Skills.

It was incidental, though it would be a lie to say Nico didn’t find it fitting he could turn people into Energy. It’s only natural to do onto others as they do onto you.

That was what Yen had proposed. Instead of hunting monsters, he could hunt gangs and get their Energy that way. He would be cleaning the city of filth while getting rich.

But their Energy income wasn’t the root of the problem—the Iron House was. As long as they existed, Nico and everyone he cared about would have to live in fear of what they might do next.

Hunting misguided youth, hunting the Hunters of the Iron House. They were the same sides to the same coin. Both were going after the symptoms than the root cause. It would be a meaningless waste of his and others lives.

Nico walked down the dark alleyway, his hand coasting on the wall, the concrete cut so smooth it felt like marble, but the smell could not be mistaken. He could taste it on his tongue. It seeped into his clothes and blended with his skin. It was inside his bones.

A Rat, barely scrapping by, barely living.

He looked up to the stars far above him. It was like looking out of an endless hole. And is that really all there is for me?