The Sacrifice

In the business district of Twilight city, a skyscraper stood up high in the center with the words Miles-Teller embossed in big letters.

In the top floor of the skyscraper, a hard faced man was looking through the news.

"It looks like that brat Cody Briggs was indeed involved in the deaths of the three Reformation Department members. He even managed to retaliate against a siege by the Security Division." Norman Miles said as he sipped some tea.

"Dad, we need to set some protection for little bro." Emily said with worry on her face. "What if that Briggs brat tries to take revenge on our dear Adrian?"

Norman ignored her request as he took another sip of tea. "The Security Division really doesn't take our Miles-Teller Extraction Corp in its eyes. They leaked what was supposed to be a confidential testimony to the Briggs family. They want to use my son as a bait to capture that blue haired murderer."

Emily paled when she heard that. "Dad...."

Norman shook his head. "There is very little we can do. Both the Security Division and the Reformation Division are involved in this matter. The Briggs group is trying to wage an economic war with us, and our partners in the Teller family are telling us to back off."

Emily's eyes shook. "Dad, you mean you will abandon Adrian for the sake of the company?"

Norman paused. After a long time he let out a deep sigh and it looked like he an aged years in an instant. "If that son of mine had awakened it would have been a different matter. But now, I can't risk offending so many powers for the sake of one useless brat. He has the Miles blood flowing through his body, he should survive the coming calamity."

The next few days for Adrian were calm. Cody's lackeys had been heavily ostracized for their connection to a wanted criminal and had stopped harassing him. Adrian spent his time in school and after school practicing in the Training Center.

The challenge for the fortification potions had ended. Initially students had expected to see a potential match between Cody and Cran or even against Wheeler, however, with Cody being declared persona non grata, the event had ended in an anticlimactic manner. Cran, Trix and Wheeler won the fortification potions in no surprise to anyone, while Miyo received a lower grade sun potion as recognition for her potential.

---

In a quiet bar in the central district, a few individuals were sitting around appreciating the good vibes of alcohol. A woman slowly emerged from the floor in the form of a shadow and walked into a room behind the bar.

"My lord" She whispered as she knelt down.

"You've almost jeopardized our mission, Shadowness." A creepy voice replied from the darkness.

"I apologize my lord. I didn't expect that boy to consume all the drugs at once. He seems to have lost his sanity." Shadowness replied apologetically.

"Very well. The Government seems to be planning a trap to capture that fool. I want you to capture him when he appears. His body will be useful for my goals. You can use that snake gang for this mission." The creepy voice answered after some deliberations.

Shadowness bowed in acknowledgement. "My lord, the Snake Gang has become increasingly demanding for drugs. The power seems to have gone to their heads."

"They can abide by the rules. As long as they provide a unique DNA sample of a strengthening ability user, they can have the drug. If the strength goes to their heads, make an example out of them. I believe you have the ability."

"As you obey, my lord." Shadowness replied before disappearing away.

The voice turned towards a skinny man with no muscles in his body. "Has there been any news regarding that masked man known as Gray Ninja?"

The skinny man shook his head. The large circular bronze earrings rang awkwardly with the moment of his head.

---

In a darkening street, a white van slowly moved across the road. The driver glanced around desperately, looking for a victim to run over. The urge was truly overwhelming this time around.

The driver had been thwarted twice today already. Too many police vehicles roaming around. The driver wanted to feel the sounds of car crushing bone, head splattering and bodies smashing to the ground. Their teeth chattered in feverish anticipation of the sadistic release.

Soon, the driver had fixed their target. It was a fashionable looking woman who seemed to rush out of a dilapidated looking bar. She was attractive, tall and had a lot of make up on. The driver knew that today, it would be her.

The woman walked with her petite handbag on the sidewalk, occassionally looking towards the opposite side of the road. The driver of the van knew that she was looking to cross. Experience of observing targets told the driver that she would cross the road.

As it happened, on the next crosswalk, the woman began crossing the road and the chattering of the driver's teeth dramatically increased. Immediately, he pushed the pedal with all his might, as the van began glowing with a milky white aura, ramming into the woman.

The woman, who was crossing was stunned in place when she saw the glowing van arrive towards her. She was momentarily surprised but not overtly so. Yet, when she tried to move, she realized that her body was frozen in place, as if by magic and panic struck her eyes as she watched the van rush towards her with a terrifying momentum.

The driver laughed when he saw the terror in the woman's eyes. This was the moment he lived for. However, the next moment, the woman began turning into shadows.

"Shit! It's an ability user! What awful luck!" The driver screamed in dismay, but it was two late. The van collided with the half shadowy woman, causing a huge bang and throwing the woman into the air. The driver heard the woman smashing into the asphalt and without any hesitation drove away as quickly they could.

The woman was none other than Shadowness. Despite trying to turn into a shadow to avoid a collision, the van driver's ability was clearly very mysterious and didn't allow her to transform completely, causing a terrifying impact that broke most of her bones.

Horror and anger simultaneously flooded her mind as she used her hands to turn into spikes that penetrated through the back of the escaping van like a paper foil, puncturing the driver's shoulder.

However, the van still managed to disappear from the scene. Shadowness, lay there on the road, breathing heavily and bleeding to death. However loud shrieks and call for an ambulance were the last thing she heard before she blacked out.

Meanwhile, the van driver felt blood flowing from their right shoulder, along with a sadistic relief they never felt before. The driver continued laughing maniacally enjoying the feeling of pain and bleeding from their shoulder.