* Unknown Brain & Rival – Control (ft. Jex) *

***

*Present*

*Draven’s POV*

‘I shake my head, releasing the memories of the cold past.

‘Ever since it all started back then and till now, I haven’t had a good night’s sleep.

‘Nightmares ravaging my mind at every opportunity they get, heck, even during daylight.

‘In any case, killing these b*stards should help me sleep soundly tonight, at least.

Or so I hope.

‘Both Lady Luck and Black Silver had it coming.

‘But…

‘Why I’m so nervous… why are they late?

‘To anyone aside from those who actually know me, mainly Maya and Maria, I bet I’d look like a fearless assassin.

‘Yet, the truth is anything but.

‘I’m not just nervous, but terrified to my very core.

‘As someone who had experienced a severe psychological trauma, I’m actually quite nervous of meeting my old captors again.

‘All of the bad memories kept flooding me nonstop since I set foot here.

‘Worse part is that I’m completely alone.

‘Even that mysterious voice in my head had disappeared.

‘It’s quite concerning, considering it could’ve been the trauma playing tricks on me…

‘In any case, I shouldn’t be so tense since I’ve been preparing for this for a while now.

‘After the incident, I’ve started training my powers, trying to understand the basics of my ability.

‘What I’ve found out was that it works both ways, meaning not only can I give my own life force, healing and rejuvenating others, but I can also steal it from others, shortening or completely demolishing their lives.

‘And contrary to my previous experience, I don’t need to have a… let’s say “specific prolonged contact” with my victims for the ability to work.

‘A simple touch is enough to apply either effect. I’ve started calling it “Ruler’s Touch” since the effect is solely based on my will.

‘And, although stealing others’ life force makes me feel unnaturally strong and healthy, it’s still slow and not very practical in fights.

‘I’ve also realized that I can naturally feel the energy currents around me, whether it’s my own, someone else’s, or that of the world’s. And even visually see it, if I focus hard enough.

‘Not only that. Although still rough around the edges, but I can control these energy currents as if they were extentions of my own limbs, enabling me to utilize them as means of attack, defence, or just to enhance my senses and body.

‘I could even infuse some of my energy with my body to increase my speed and overall strength, or/ and with my shadow to animate it or turn it into the light dark armour I always wear.

‘I’ve decided to call those abilities “Energy Perception” and “Energy Control”.

‘Three years of practice had built me anew, yup I’m completely ready for this!

‘What’s sad though, is that I’ve never been able to replicate the dark crimson armour I had used to escape that hellhole.

‘I have a hunch it’s related to that voice somehow.’

Before I could sigh in annoyance, footsteps’ sounds knock me out of own thoughts and back to reality.

————————————

*Five minutes earlier*

Lady luck had received a meeting request from Red Joe, the top criminal mastermind of Torinto city.

She was both nervous and excited at the same time, meeting the big leagues was always fun for her.

‘He hadn’t explained much.

‘He only mentioned he’s got “an offer that I can’t refuse”.

‘I seriously hope he isn’t ratting me out, or something worse.’

Even with that thought on mind, she couldn’t help but let her excitement reach its peak.

‘What if I’m going to be given some special privileges? Maybe he wants to add me to his team!’

Black Silver on the other hand was wary, he always is.

It was a new unknown environment, for all he knew, this could be a trap.

His mistress is known in the underground, and she had many enemies.

‘Damn it, I must keep focus. My lady here is having the excitement of her life’ he couldn’t help but sigh at her childish behaviour.

He was happy to see her overcoming her trauma from that unspeakable incident.

With normal food in her mouth again, her figure was started to look like own self once again.

Each cut their thoughts short once they saw the warehouse in sight.

“That’s out meeting point?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Hmm, weird, I was expecting it to be something fancy, yet I find rather too deserted for my comfort”

“Lady Luck, if every mastermind discussed their plans in a fancy restaurant, I’m afraid, people would start calling us stupid criminals instead of dangerous underground organisations.”

“Umm… Point taken.”

The warehouse was about a hundred metres away from the lake, so Draven had no problem discarding all of the cars and clothes in it.

The warehouse was as clean as when it was first purchased by Red Joe.

EEEEEKK!

The sound the warehouse’s gate made the hair on Lady Luck’s neck stand to an end.

Or was it a familiar sensation she had tried to get rid off for so long?

She shrugged it off and walk straight in, with Black Silver one step behind her.

————————————

Lady Luck had barely closed in to the lone chair in the warehouse, when a red barrier enveloped the warehouse, trapping everything and everyone inside.

Black Silver was already by his lady’s side the moment they saw something jumping down off of the second floor railings.

A figure clad in black armour landed elegantly and with such grace, it almost seemed like he’d float down rather than jumped down.

Lady Luck and her assistant were both tense and wary, since even though his face was obstructed due to the dim lighting and the shade his hair threw over his features, they both knew the person in front of them.

“You must be Wraith! I wouldn’t expect less from Red Joe!”

Lady Luck was buying time, for her assistant to transport them out.

The moment she saw his black armour, she realised Red Joe wanted her dead!

The rumours around high rankers in the underground stated that Wraith always had a hood on, covering his features, yet what almost everyone confirmed was his jet black armour.

‘DAMN IT! DAMN IT! RED JOE, WHEN I SURVIVE THIS, I’LL HUNT YOU DOWN LIKE THE PIG YOU ARE!’ She though, rage seeping through her veins.

Yet, she was in for more surprises.

“I wouldn’t have expected this from him either, Red Joe is an incompetent b*stard. But surprisingly, he gets the job done”, Wraith spoke with such a familiar voice, it made her flinch.

The moment Wraith stepped into a random spotlight, she immediately recognised, or rather remembered, his voice and face.

Although he’s grown quite a bit, and even with his dark purple eyes and crimson pink hair, there was no mistaking it.

She’s seen him countless times after all.

And now, she saw him again; the very same young boy that had destroyed her years of hard work.

Along with that memory, fear and anxiety that she had managed to keep hidden so far, creeped out of her own mind, crippling her every thought.

A sudden killing intent hit her deep down her core that even her breaths became fast paced and shallow.

Her knees became weak.

THUMP!!

She hit the floor with a thud, eyes wide, lungs gasping for air.

“You…” is all she managed to say with her cracking voice.

She didn’t even bother learn his name back then.

Black Silver was trying so hard to focus on transporting them out, yet the barrier was preventing any form of long range transportation abilities.

He cursed his luck and his lady for being so weak, but he didn’t despair.

They’ve played this scenario a hundred times. Lady Luck knew that, one day, she’ll face this overwhelming aura again and so she’s practiced.

Taking a second to analyse the situation Black Silver realised something important.

“My Lady!” he shouted while blocking Wraith’s path, protecting his Lady, “he’s doesn’t have the same aura! I’m pretty sure he’s weakened somehow!”

PEEP!

The device he brought in his hand made a faint sound, prompting him to smile like a devil. He tossed the device to his lady.

Trying to calm herself, she looked at the small screen and saw something that made her confidence skyrocket.

‘He’s only rank D!’ she thought as she regained her composure.

They both had such dangerous expressions that would make a normal person cower in fear.

Alas, Draven wasn’t impressed….