First blood

The air grew dense as the first of the vehicles bearing the distinctive KnifePoint emblem rolled into the warehouse. A sleek black sedan, its tinted windows shielded its occupants from view until the door opened with a soft hiss. The first to emerge was Big Ron, his massive frame filling the door frame, causing a few members to turn and nod in respect.

"Ron!" A voice called out from the crowd. It was Lackey C, a thin, wiry man with a scar stretching from his chin to his right ear. "You think the boss is really giving out bonuses?"

Big Ron grunted, adjusting the leather glove on his right hand. "With Blade? Who knows. But if he's calling all of us here, it's gotta be something big."

A trio of bikes roared in next, the trio of riders immediately hopping off and joining the growing crowd. Their leather jackets adorned with KnifePoint patches showed their allegiance.

"Did anyone actually see Blade?" a petite woman with a sharp bob and a dagger tattoo on her neck asked as she joined the group.

"Just a message," responded another member, a tall man with a bald head and a serpent tattoo winding up his arm. "Said he'd be late. We wait."

As murmurs of agreement and various theories floated among the group, Tom was already in action. He discreetly moved towards an SUV, one of the most robust vehicles present, knowing it would be ideal for blocking the entrance. As he approached, he pulled a small device from his pocket. It was a car hacking tool he'd fashioned himself. Sliding it near the door handle, a soft beep sounded, and the vehicle's internal system synced with the device.

Eyes darting to ensure no one had noticed him, Tom quickly connected to the SUV's onboard computer. He watched as the vehicle's digital display came to life, the security protocols flashing as they were rapidly overridden. The entire process took less than a minute, but to Tom, it felt like hours.

Finally, the engine rumbled to life without the turn of a key, and Tom took a deep breath, knowing the most challenging part was about to come. He'd have to block the entrance and seal the fate of everyone inside.

***

From the rooftop vantage, Zero observed the buzzing hive below. The expanse of the warehouse was vast, illuminated dimly by a smattering of overhead lights and the soft orange flicker of a campfire situated in the center. Shadows danced across the walls as the crowd of a hundred KnifePoint members clustered around the fire's warmth, their murmurs creating a low hum.

"Has anyone seen Blade?" inquired a tall man, his voice carrying over the general chatter.

"No, just got that message on the phone," replied another, a woman with striking red hair, "Same as everyone else. Weird, ain't it?"

"He better have a damn good reason for dragging us all out here," a third voice grumbled, belonging to a man with a heavily scarred face and tattoos snaking down both arms.

As conversations swirled about Blade's mysterious absence, a sudden and synchronized ringtone pierced the atmosphere. Confusion rippled through the crowd as every KnifePoint member reached for their ringing phones. Zero used Blade's phone to call everyone.

At this precise moment, Zero gave a forceful shove to the gasoline jar next to him. The heavy container tipped and crashed to the ground, creating a domino effect as other jars followed suit. Gasoline spilled rapidly across the warehouse floor, its strong scent instantly noticeable.

"What the hell?!" someone shouted. "It smells like gasoline!"

A wave of panic surged through the crowd. "Watch out!" a woman screamed as she stumbled back from a spreading puddle, her eyes wide in terror.

"Who's doing this?" yelled another, looking around frantically for the source of the chaos.

But Zero had already moved onto his next step. Taking a cloth drenched in gasoline, he wrapped it around Blade's unresponsive form. With a deliberate motion, he sparked his lighter, setting the cloth aflame. The blue and orange tendrils licked up the cloth, rapidly consuming it and the figure it enveloped.

Without a moment's hesitation, Zero pushed the blazing body of Blade from the roof, sending it plummeting into the heart of the warehouse. As it made contact with the gasoline-soaked ground, a massive fireball erupted. Flames roared to life, reaching for the rafters and spreading hungrily, setting the entire place ablaze.

The warehouse became a cacophony of screams and shouts as members tried desperately to flee the inferno, but the ferocity of the flames, driven by the spilled gasoline, was merciless and unyielding.

***

As the flames began to consume the warehouse, Tom acted swiftly. He revved up the engine of the heavy SUV he had just hacked into, driving it with precision to the entrance of the warehouse. The vehicle's powerful frame slammed against the doors, effectively barricading any immediate exit.

To ensure no escape, Tom repeated the action with another vehicle, positioning it behind the first. The layers of obstruction were not just physical; the chaos and smoke billowing from within would further disorient anyone trying to force their way out. The sound of the burning warehouse, mixed with the screams and crashing noises from within, was almost deafening.

Once satisfied that the entrance was thoroughly sealed, Tom sprinted back to his Maserati. The sleek vehicle roared to life as he started it, making his way quickly to the predetermined location where Zero was waiting.

Pulling up, Tom could see Zero's silhouette against the backdrop of the blazing inferno. Their eyes met, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Zero swiftly got into the car, and without wasting a moment, they sped away from the scene of devastation they had orchestrated.

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QUEST COMPLETED:

Target: Rescue Family from KnifePoint

Reward: 5,000 Zen, +7 all stats.

==============================

QUEST COMPLETED:

Mission: 100/100

Kill every singe KnifePoint member

+20 Zen for every single kill, +0.1 all stats for every 5 kills.

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Name: Zero Elsher

Age: 12 years old

Power: 35 (+7) (+2) (+5 Time left: 3 Hours)

Intelligence: 41 (+7) (+2)

Stamina: 38.5 (+7) (+2) (+5 Time left: 3 Hours)

Unused points: 0

Balance: 8300 Zen (+5000) (+2000)

Balance Exchange.

Skills: Future Sight -, Calm Mind Rank F

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