Criminal Underworld

Walking through the dark hallways that seemed to have no end in sight my heart started to race as my mind went wild about all the possible scenarios that could happen at the end of this path.

I was a newly awakened F-Grade Super, the bottom of the barrel, I was even worse than an ant right now. A battle between two peak E-Grade Superhumans would put me in critical condition and the slap of a high D-Grade Super would put me in the ground.

After confirming that I wanted to be introduced into the criminal underworld, Taze looked around the lobby to make sure that nobody was paying attention to us and used his divine sense to make sure that no one was eavesdropping on us. The Divine Sense of Psychics was said to be the strongest and most abstract of all the Super Professions.

When he made sure that we were unseen by the public he told me to follow him to the backroom and I reluctantly followed him. It couldn't be helped, this guy was going to introduce me to the criminal underworld and was not going to do something like kill me on the way there or do something else to me. I would be better off buying something from a random guy saying that it was the portion that could make a Superhuman reach S-Grade in an instant.

Surprisingly my wariness was responded to by a nod and even a compliment from Taze, "Good." He said as he took me through a series of corners and hallways that I didn't even know existed and eventually a pathway that was kept off all the maps of the Continental.

Confused by his compliment I asked, "What do you mean by good?"

"Being skeptical and questioning everything you hear is one of the key things needed in surviving the Criminal Underworld. Just having a slight doubt about something could be the difference between life and death." He responded and stopped in front of a massive door.

Although I'd never seen this door before just looking at it just gave me a sense of fear. It was not fear due caused by the recognition, it. was a fear that was caused by an instinctual fact, like you walking through a dark alleyway in the middle of the night.

You knew that by going down that path you were putting yourself at risk. You knew what was going to be there but at the same time, you didn't know what you were going to get.

It was weird and scary. The solid black door wasn't giving off any aura or intent but just looking at it was making my skin crawl.

This was my last chance, my final warning to turn back now while I still could. My entire being was screaming to me that if I didn't take this chance now and walked through that door. I would be going on a journey beyond my wildest imagination...but I would pay the price and never be the same.

"I know I asked already but now that we are here I have to ask you again and for the final time as well." Taze solemnly said and turned around and looked at me with a frosty look.

I looked up at his eyes and met them with a look devoid of fear and hesitation. I made my choice and I will stand by it no matter if it ends up with me in jail or dead I will have no regrets.

"Are you sure you want to embark on this path? There is absolutely no turning back if you do. I promise you that, even if you get close to getting out something will always come up that will pull you back in." He reminded.

"This is my only choice Taze." I responded in a cold tone, "Is someone going to give me millions of Astral Dollars and tell me to live happily ever after? No? I thought so. Taze, I know the world I'm walking into is a dark and cruel one. One where I will see things I wish I could unsee and do things I never thought I would be doing while becoming something I never thought I could but I'm not scared. I made my choice and have no regrets."

Taze gave me a proud smile, "Then let's see what you're made of then. I don't know why but I feel like you're going to be special Dior, a person who's going to cause serious changes in the world."

He then turned and placed his hand on the door and a flare of his pale blue aura pulsed off his body.

Strings of runes appeared on the front of the door and flashed green as they congealed and two worlds appeared in the front of the door.

'Identity Confirmed'

The ground rumbled and the door slowly opened and slid to the right, when I looked at what was behind it my eyes opened wide in shock as I was completely blown away from what lay before me.

I was looking at a hub of business, opportunities, and jobs that could skyrocket me to the top. This was it, this was where all the game-changing deals of Zone 3 and the United Zones of America were held.

"They all make that face when they first see it." Said Taze, pulling me from my thought and my lips dipped into a frown when I looked at the pity that was brimming in his eyes.

"Who the fuck is 'they'?" I asked. It seemed that Taze has been the gateway to the Criminal underworld for multiple people but it seems that not all of them were able to find success or even have a decent end.

"Doesn't matter" He shot down quickly, "Just don't end up like them no matter the cost. That would be a tragedy." He explained and began walking towards the energetic atmosphere of the Criminal Underworld.

"Come on." he said as began walking as well, following Taze, "Need to give you a rundown of the basics and tell you the power structure here. Wouldn't want your dumbass getting lost here now do we?"