Swift Death

… Saturday Night …

The music festival was in full swing, a vibrant show of sights and sounds. Multicolored lights danced across the sky, illuminating the throngs of people moving rhythmically to the pulsing beats from the main stage. Food trucks lined the pathways, each offering tantalizing aromas of gourmet street food, while the air buzzed with excited chatter and the occasional burst of laughter. The energy was infectious, with fans adorned in creative costumes, neon face paint, and glitter.

The scene shifted as a sleek black vehicle pulled up to the festival's VIP entrance. The doors opened and out stepped Alex, Silver, Dean, Maya, Ralph, and their sidekicks Xiaolian Mei, Andre Depont, and Mira Rivera.

Alex wore a fitted black leather jacket over a white shirt, paired with dark jeans and combat boots. His hair was styled effortlessly, giving him an air of rugged charm. Silver strangely wore a sleek silver jumpsuit that clung to his athletic frame, sparkling under the lights. Meanwhile, Dean wore a tight-fitting black tank top along with cargo pants and sturdy boots. 

Maya was dressed in a flowing red dress that contrasted beautifully with her dark hair, the fabric swaying gracefully as she moved. While Ralph wore a practical yet stylish outfit consisting of a green utility jacket, jeans, and sneakers.

The sidekicks followed behind. Xiaolian Mei, with her lithe frame, wore a traditional yet modernized cheongsam dress, the intricate designs glowing subtly in the dark. Andre Depont donned a tailored navy suit with a crisp white shirt and Mira Rivera opted for a casual yet chic look, with a denim jacket over a floral dress, her vibrant personality shining through.

As the group approached the entrance, the security team instantly recognized them. 

"Welcome, it's an honor to have you here," the head of security said, bowing slightly.

Their words drew the attention of some people in the crowd, whose eyes lit up upon seeing them.

"Its the God set!" Someone screamed.

"Heroes of Fort Aegis!" Another person yelped in shock.

Other members of the audience quickly noticed their arrival, and a wave of excitement rippled through the crowd. Fans rushed towards Alex, Silver, Dean, Maya, and Ralph, eager for pictures, autographs, and a chance to chat with their heroes. The five of them smiled and interacted with their admirers, taking pictures and signing autographs with genuine warmth.

Even Ralph had people asking for his autograph, while also inquiring about Lucius. They all hoped they would finally get to meet the new S-rated student who had taken the entire city by storm.

"I am sorry, but Lucius has not fully recovered." Ralph smiled sheepishly, overwhelmed by the attention he was getting.

The fact he was Lucius's sidekick made him popular just by association. They believed if Lucius picked him over every other person in the academy, then he must be really special.

At the sidelines were the sidekicks of the God set, watching the adoration heaped upon their colleagues. Despite being part of the same team, Xiaolian Mei, Andre Depont, and Mira Rivera felt a pang of resentment. Even Ralph, who was technically also a sidekick, was getting more attention than they were.

"Let's get out of here." Andre said with a deep frown.

"Shouldn't we tell them first?" Xiaolian asked.

"Hmph! It's not like they care, what's the use?" Mira snorted disdainfully.

Annoyed, the three sidekicks decided to explore other parts of the festival. They headed towards the admissions area and chill zones, where the atmosphere was much quieter. The areas were practically empty, as everyone else was captivated by the main attractions.

"I can't believe we got ignored like that," Xiaolian Mei muttered as she crossed her arms, her face set in a scowl. 

"They'll notice us eventually. We just have to prove ourselves." Andre shrugged, trying to keep his cool. 

. "Hmph! As long as we remain in the shadows of the God set, we will never be noticed. They don't treat us the same way Lucius treats Ralph." Mira frowned.

Mira walked toward a Hammock and sat on it with a reddened face.

"I can't believe I'm jealous of that fat pig because a slave treats him better. This is all wrong!" Mira said in a heavy voice.

Andre and Xiaolian lowered their heads, overwhelmed by pain and anger. They were stuck with the God set and since their families were dependent on the big four for survival, they could only accept the situation and remain silent.

Andre annoyingly pulled out a pack of cigarettes and pulled out a stick, leaving the girls stunned.

"What are you doing?" Mira asked with a look of shock on her face.

Spark!

Andre lit up the cigarette with a lighter and took a heavy drag before exhaling, letting out the smoke from his mouth and nostrils.

"Dude, we are underage!" Xiaolian complained.

"But we are old enough to fight at Fort Aegis?" Andre asked with an annoyed look. 

Swish!

Bam!

Bam!

Pft!

Andre shivered as he watched a hand burst out of the chests of Xiaolian and Mira, holding their beating hearts in their hands. The two stood frozen with a look of shock plastered on their faces, in their final moments. Never did it cross their mind that they would be attacked here and at a time like this.

"A-Andre…" Xiaolian and Mira muttered before their body collapsed, their hearts still in the hands of the killer.

It was a youth with glowing black and purple hair, his figure covered in an oversized black cloak. On his face was a devil mask, its eye space blazing with purple light while the mouth section filled with razor-sharp monstrous teeth.

Crunch!

Andre staggered back as he watched the strange youth open his mouth, thrice as wide as any human should be able to do, and throw the beating hearts into his mouth. 

As he chewed down on the heart, streams of blood washed down from the spaces between his teeth, creating a gory scene.

"What the hell are you?" Andre shivered and his legs wobbled.

It felt like he was looking at a man and a beast all at once. Regardless of what he thought, one thing was certain— This guy was dangerous!

"Death…" Lucius growled in a deep tone.

Bam!

Lucius shot forward, driving his hand forward, but before he could reach Andre, he vanished.

Swoosh!

[He used it. Don't let him get away!] Lyxor warned.

Using his invisibility power, Andre ran towards the direction of the crowd. He was only a support type and lacked fighting abilities or skills, so going against someone as strong and fast as the masked youth was akin to suicide.

Buzz!

Suddenly the feeling of death washed over him, and he looked to the side, only to see the masked man beside him!

Bam!

Lucius grabbed Andre's face and smashed it into the ground, causing the floor to crack while blood flowed from his broken skull.

"H-how?" Andre gasped as his body slowly phased back into reality.

"You should have listened to the girls and put the cigarettes away." Lucius said before stomping down on his head and completely crushing his skull.