CH5: VAGUE MEMORIES (PART 2)

[10:00PM]

[New Year's Eve]

The loud sounds of music echoing through the streets of Desper signalled for cheer and celebrations from all the citizens as they waited to enter the new year. Clubs, restaurants and other celebratory facilities were making a lot of profits as they entertained and served many customers who came to eat, drink, get laid, and have themselves a good time.

While everyone was having a good time and enjoying their last day of this year, two teenage boys were slithering their way through thick crowds as they walked towards the edge of northern half of Desper. Luke and Dezhong were making their way past central Desper and headed to a location where Blake was waiting for them.

Dezhong was oblivious to where he was being taken, none the less, his curiosity had gotten the better of him.

"Where exactly are you taking me?" He asked.

"Dunno." Luke replied. "Got a text from Blake with a screen shot of the place he wants us to meet him. Anyway, he say's we've got to be there so, let's go."

Finally making their way past the crowd, Dezhong and Luke arrived at the edge of the city. At their back was Desper and at their front was RedZone, the most dangerous city in the world. Only the toughest men, women and mutants hung around that area, making the weaker ones avoid it at all costs. RedZone and Desper were separated by a canal that acted as a natural border, keeping both cities and their occupants away from each other.

The reason for this was due to Desper and RedZone's past. For generations, the two rival towns competed and fought with each other for almost everything from best infrastructure, job availability to most deadly gangs, thugs and most powerful mutants and weapons.

Unfortunately for Desper, they didn't have as many mutants as RedZone had, giving RedZone an advantage. To counter this disappointing fact, Desper's largest gang, The Gorillas, consisted of many men and women with powerful prosthetic arms powered by beast crystals. This not only gave them an upper hand but also brought fear to the hearts of their rival gang and the leading gang of RedZone, The Dragons.

" What the hell, Luke. What's the reason for this? You know how dangerous RedZone is towards us." Dezhong angrily barked at his friend who just stood with an emotionless face.

"Hey, don't look at me man," Luke replied. "Ask Blake when we get to him. He's the one who told us to meet him here. Now shut up and follow me." He abruptly replied as he made his way across the bridge. Not wanting to be left behind, Dezhong reluctantly followed his friend as he'd occasionally look around, making sure no one followed them.

The boys crossed the bridge into RedZone, the last place two young, defenceless, teenage boys would be. Luke followed the directions on the screen which eventually led both boys to a large warehouse that was overcrowded with many men and women cheering on. As soon as they got in, they witnessed a large caged ring with two fighters inside.

One was a giant lizard mutant with a long thick tail, long claws and razor-sharp teeth all together with a large, dark green skinned body. His opponent was rather interesting. She was a woman of average height, average weight and average stature. However, she had two silver arms powered by crystals and a slim, curved long sword.

"Whow, what is this place?" He wondered.

Two hands held his shoulder as Blake stuck his face between Luke and Dezhong's. "This, my friend. Is the reason we'll need someone with arms like that. Just watch and see."

The crowd started going wild as the two opponents circled each other. The woman, who was calm and collected, kept her sword in its sheath while raising her fists upwards towards her head. Her opponent, on the other hand, hissed, fussed, cursed, and mocked the woman who was obviously much smaller than him.

"Little lady looking to get crushed, huh?" The Lizard taunted while laughing but he didn't get any reply from the woman. "What's the matter? Is my awesome girth too much for you?"

Pretty soon, Dezhong, Blake, and Luke were already cheering on as they and the crowd laughed and enjoyed every second of The Lizard's taunts. The woman on the other hand remained quiet while keeping her hands still.

*READY…FIGHT!!*

The fight commenced and The Lizard immediately whacked his tail towards the woman. Thanks to her smaller size, she was able to leap backwards and dodge the attack. She landed on the ground with her knees bent and one arm on the ground as she stared The Lizard dead in his eyes.

Without hesitation, the woman took one mighty leap and closed the distance between her and her opponent. Thanks to her leap, she was now at the same level as The Lizard's head and once she got within range, she spread her arms apart and let out a powerful blast of energy that propelled her sideways. Once she was rotating, she quickly landed a series of powerful kicks to The Lizard.

Thanks to her arms, some of the crystal energy flowed through her veins, making her three times stronger than she normally was and with those powerful kicks, she was able to knock out The Lizard, thus winning the fight by default.

*LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. YOUR WINNER FOR THE TWENTIETH TIME IN A ROW. SILVER UNDERWOOD.*

The crowd went wild with cheers as they celebrated their champion. While she was receiving all the praise, The Lizard was carried out of the ring in order to receive medical attention

"OH YEAH!!" Dezhong screamed in excitement just like everyone else. His eyes bulged with excitement as his brown face nearly turned red. His veins bulged as he yelled out of pure excitement. However, while he was celebrating, everyone in the building started to disappear until there was no one left. All except for one familiar entity.

Dezhong's heart began pacing as fear and panic slowly crept up on him. ' It's okay bro. You'll be fine.' He whispered to help himself. 'This is just a nightmare. You have nothing to fear about. You have nothing to fear about. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR ABOUT!!'

Now that he was in a well-lit room, Dezhong was able to make out just what was chasing him. The beast was a large werewolf being with fur as black as shadows. It had long claws attacked to powerful arms, attached to a powerful, seven-foot body. Its muscles bulged with each step it took towards Dezhong and its eyes were filled with pure rage.

"OH SH*T. THIS BEAST'S AFTER ME!!

*ROAR*

Dezhong took off for the door and zoomed out from the building. The werewolf got on its four limbs and chased the boy through the empty streets of RedZone. Dezhong's legs carried him as fast as he could but the creature following behind him was too fast and eventually caught up to him. It pounced on him with its large claws, pinned him down and stared deep into his eyes while its claws dug into his shoulders.

Black smoke-like matter rose from the beast's body as its complexion turned from a black furry creature to an almost shadow like being. The black matter quickly swirled around Dezhong's body and entered through his eyes, ears, nose and mouth. All of this happened and Dezhong could feel his body changing from the inside out.

[ Fusion In progress.]

[ System Load in 3...2...1]

[ Congratulations: You've been chosen and marked by the first beast. You'll be infused with the beast system.]