PRIME

Xander POV

“Wear this.” he gave me a mask.

Here we are opposite the abandoned building. Hawk stopped from running too fast.

“Where are we?” I asked him and accepted the mask he gave.

I don't know where this part of the Philippines is. The place is isolated and only an old building can be seen.

He just shrugged, then continued driving.

...

I was surprised when we got inside the building. Three men blocked our motorcycle. Their body size can be compared with a wrestler.

“Password.” asked the one in the middle.

I was nervous because I had no idea what a man was referring to.

“Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder you might die.” I heard Hawk said.

I breathed a sigh of relief as they passed our vehicle.

What a dangerous kiddy password.

...

We passed through the narrow hallway. As we passed that hallway, different types of vehicles were exposed. Not just a simple car, it was expensive cars.

Cars may have a different lane because it won't fit in the hallway we passed through.

...

“Avoid talking a lot. They might recognize you through your voice.” he said after we go down his motorcycle.

“What is this place?” I wondered as I followed him.

He did not answer and just continued walking. Later I heard various noises.

I was exposed with too many people and there were others wearing masks like us. I noticed they're attention were all in the middle where there was ....

Fighting?

Holysh*t

This is .....

“Underground.” I heard Hawk said.

What are we doing here? This is not what I expected. It's just today have I been able to go underground even though I hear about it before.

...

Instead of asking, I just followed Hawk. He was standing on the other side, where there were few people, and it was quite dark. We see the whole arena with different people fighting from here, some are bloody and lying on the floor.

I am horrified by what I see. Even though I knew how to fight, It wasn't resulting by killing my opponent.

I looked at Hawk who was now wearing a different mask. If he used to wear all black even the mask, now it is gold. I did not realize that he was already wearing that. He just folded his arms as he stared inside the arena. I could freely see his blue-green eyes with a deadly stare. I was more terrified by what I saw, so I looked back inside the arena.

“Snake Gang win.” I heard a man announced.

That means a Gang fight is happening.

“Snake Gang will be in 10th place.” I saw the men standing there even though most of them were wounded.

“Who wants to challenge our Rankers?” he asks everyone.

I continued watching even though I was terrified by what is happening right now.

I saw a group climb up the arena.

“Eagle Eye Gang wants to challenge the 6th Ranker. Scorpion Gang.”

Scorpion Gang?

They are the ones who attacked us. It means the group is not easy opponent if they are 6th Rank in the underground. Even though I wanted them to pay, I controlled myself. I have to be careful, maybe I will do more harm than good when I rush.

“Man, a weakling group wants to get our title. Are they serious?” I heard a man said. Probably a member of the Scorpion Gang because he was looking at the group inside the arena.

“Man, they want to have a higher rank. They didn't start with the low Rank first. They're committing suicide.” another man answered.

There are eight members at the top of the arena while Scorpion Gangs are five members.

“Scorpion Gang, do you accept the challenge of the Eagle Eye Gang? You also know that when those in the Rankers refuse any challenge, the title will automatically go to the challenger.” the announcer asked.

I don't see the speaker's face, but based on the voice, it is a man. Almost everyone is male in this area. There are also women but those who serve the people. Different types of service.

I also see someone making out. TSK.

“Scorpion Gang, Rank Go or Rank Gone?” the announcer asked again

“Man, you are insulting us. Of course Rank Go. We cannot be overthrown by the group without a rank.” replied the previous man to the scorpion.

“Battle confirmed for the 6th Rank, between Eagle Eye Gang and Scorpion Gang.” the announcer shouted who raises energy to the audience. I even saw someone betting.

“Any weapons are allowed but strictly prohibited, No Killing.” the announcer remind the duelers. Then, I have seen the unconscious earlier not dead.

“Man, I'll just finish them.” the scorpion member said to his group mates. The one who said weakling to the other group.

“Do it, Blue.” agrees with a man who has been watching what is happening.

“Thanks Black, Man.” he grinned at this statement and climbed inside the arena.

“Watch closely.” I heard Hawk said probably for me, even he was looking inside the arena.

....

I saw the Eagle Eye Gang carrying sharp weapons while a member of the Scorpion Gang was just smiling and carrying nothing.

“You belittle us.” a man from Eagle Eye Gang said, he must be the leader. “Teach that one a lesson.” he commanded to his colleagues.

At once the Eagles rushed at the lone man from Scorpion.

I looked at the Scorpion group again, they did not seem to be worried about the companion even though he would fight alone the eight Eagle members. I looked back inside the Arena.

I saw the Eagle leader just standing behind the comrades as all the members rushed to the man called Blue who remained smiling.

An Eagle member rushes behind Blue holding a sword. I thought it would hit, but I was just surprised when the Eagle member suddenly knelt down. Blue moved and rushed the Eagle member one by one. He does nothing but surpass and avoid attacks from the enemy.

I was surprised when he defeated the last man who was ready to fly a dagger in Blue's direction. It couldn't move and like the man earlier, he just knelt down.

When Blue arrives in front of the Eagle leader, the rest of the Eagle members collapsed at once.

How did that happen?

“W-what did you do?” the Eagle leader was shocked to see his comrades fall.

“Hmm.nothing.” Blue replied smiling “But your next.” The leader did not move from where he was standing.

He was just shocked and looked at the side of his chest where Blue's hand was.

“N-needle?” he said while struggling inside.

I can't see the needle from where I stand. Does it mean he used a needle to the other member, so the others suddenly fell down. But I thought it was forbidden to kill.

“That needle is the same with the needle injected to you from the last time, it can paralyze someone not to kill.” I heard Hawk explain. If so, this is the Scorpion's fighting style, through their needles. That's why Hawk told me to watch closely, this is what he wants me to see.

My gaze returned to the arena, only Blue remained standing.

“Scorpion Gang win. Congratulations. Your Gang still on the 6th Rank.” I heard again from the announcer as well as the viewers who won the bet.

“Blue, you never failed us.” greetings from a member of the Scorpion Gang as Blue returned to his seat.

“Thanks Red, Man.” he answered with a smile.

The other members also greeted him, Blue just thanked them.

I looked around again. Most seem to be rejoicing from Scorpion’s victory. They seem to be expected the group win. I also noticed people without masks. It was as if they had just passed by and looked like they were hanging around the corner, but in contrast to the aura of the masked ones. They are strong and I felt that.

From the crowd of spectators, they suddenly fell silent. No noise was heard. Even the slightest sound from the speaker is gone. Even crackle from someone is also absent. None of the people there seemed to be moving and speaking. They were also looking inside the Arena. Probably another challenge so they kept quiet.

My curiosity strike and I also looked inside the Arena.

Sh * t

What is he doing inside the Arena?

Hawk stood inside the arena wearing a dangerous aura that silence everyone down.

Still no one speaks. Even the winning scorpion gang are staring at a single figure inside the Arena.

Hawk, what are you planning to do?

“I'll challenge all the Rankers from one to twenty.” his cold voice echoed the place that even I felt the creep because of that.

Suddenly, I realized what's going on, I felt nervous again.

Will he commit suicide?

I know he moves fast, but I am not sure of his strength.

By watching the Scorpion fight earlier from the 6th Rank, I know everyone in the Rankers is not easy to beat.

Sh * t, this is bad.

I wanted to climb inside the Arena to pull him out, but I was stopped by the silence that enveloped the whole area.

Why don't they speak?

I was just surprised to see all the masked groups carrying weapons slowly approaching the Arena.

Sh*t.

What he did was dangerous.

I was also ready to climb inside the Arena to escape Hawk because I knew his situation was at a disadvantage, but I was suddenly taken aback and my eyes widened at the masked groups.

They lower their arms and kneel.

“Welcome back, Prime.” they simultaneously spoke as they bowed to a figure inside the Arena.

What the...

Hawk is Prime?

Then...

Who is Prime?