The Elemental Relics

The group quickly settled down in the slums. The members were pleasantly surprised by the accommodations they were given. Despite the rundown exterior that matched the other buildings in the slum, the Dark Cult maintained the interior exceptionally well. Their rooms were tiny but they were well protected from the elements. During the cold night, they never once felt the freezing wind that those in the streets had to endure. Random people also rarely got close to the building as the building exterior gave a sense that it had nothing to offer, including to those with nothing. Overall, the four members agreed that it was a great base to operate from as they carried out their missions.

“I hope you four had plenty of rest and are now adjusted to the slums.”

The tall woman before them went by the name of Menna. She was easily the tallest person they had ever met. She wore the uniform of the local police but the group members were told to never inquire how she got the white uniform with light blue linings. Her face was always under a mask and even those in the building claimed that they had no idea what her face looked like. Some suspected that a past combat had ruined her face so she concealed it with her mask. Finally, she had short blonde hair that were extremely rare in Cheudal.

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone with blond hair in Ocad or Usnana either.

“Take a look at these documents,” said Menna as she handed out a piece of paper to each member. “You will all be operating solo to get more work done.”

Following the briefing, the group understood the current situation better. Vliland had sufficient food for the influx of refugees but it lacked the manpower to maintain order throughout the metropolis and shelter to give all the newcomers a roof over their heads. Therefore, the local authorities had concentrated most of their manpower in the sectors they deemed more important. As expected, the slums weren’t included and organized crimes were already forming in the slums. Among the refugees were those who looked to establish control in the slum before they moved into the wealthier sections of Vliland. For the ordinary civilians, they had to do their best to survive the harsh conditions, especially when rain and cold winds were common in the region.

“That’s where you four come in,” said Menna. “Gather intelligence on these new groups and determine if they are a threat or not.”

The Dark Cult didn’t like unpredictable competition and looked to crush any group that fell into that category. They couldn’t afford their operations to be jeopardized by something out of their control. To minimize risks, rankers were sent to eliminate threats before any could take root. The four members were given that exact mission to identify the threats and, if necessary, eliminate it. As soon as the meeting was over, the four of them went through the tunnels until they exited into an abandoned building. These abandoned buildings were common as they offered little protection from the elements and appeared unstable. Once they crawled out of a hole into the street, they went their separate ways.

“Have you heard about the new Lightning Clan?”

“I heard they are taking over the slums. You either serve them or you end up dead.”

Ali was taking a break while he listened in on the conversation. Coincidentally, he was investigating the Lightning Clan which was one of the factions vying for control of the slums. Unlike the other factions, the Lightning Clan wasn’t shy in hiding its existence. From the conversations of the slum inhabitants, it was clear that the faction wanted its name known. It wanted to strike fear while it attracted new followers to expand its power. This approach made his mission both easier and harder.

I better get close to one of their bases. I’m sure they’ll be happy to disclose secrets openly. I cannot rely on rumors right now.

The teenager was about to get up when some nearby civilians screamed in fear. He remained sitting as he poked his head out to see what was going on. He watched a few people running before they were brutally killed by lightning abilities. Nearby civilians cowered at the sight but no one dared to run and risk the same fate. Soon, the responsible group appeared with a big man with several nasty scars on his face at the head of it.

“Listen here, you maggots!” The man shouted loud enough for everyone within the block to hear. “We the Lightning Clan don’t offer our protection for free! You better pay up or you’ll suffer the same fate as those I just exterminated.”

Ali knew many people in the slums had little say in the matter. They already fled their homes and struggled to carve out what little they could in the slums. The influx of refugees only made space more competitive so many couldn’t simply leave for other parts of the slum.

The Lightning Clan knows this and are capitalizing on it. Many people won’t approve of these actions but their opinions matter little. Those with power will reign supreme. The weak has to obey the strong.

“Starting tomorrow, we will be walking around to collect our protection fee. Pay up every month and you’ll live a good life. Oppose us and we’ll make you regret it immediately. That is all for my announcement! Be ready to pay up tomorrow!”

Suddenly, a rock was thrown towards the man who effortlessly smashed it with his fist. Ali looked around until he spotted the kids running on the rooftop. The man apparently spotted them too because he ordered his men to scale the walls and catch the kids.

Tian, let’s get to work! I wanted to try out my two new abilities. This will be a good training exercise.

Ali summoned his air serpent and asked Tian to give him the location of the Lightning Clan men. Meanwhile, he stuck to the dark alleyways as he pursued those who thought they were the hunters.