Belial was in a peaceful sleep, completely unaware of the chaos happening outside. The bed beneath him was as soft as a cloud, bringing comfort after endless days of planning and running. He was lost in dreams when a sudden loud explosion broke the silence, reverberating through the walls.

He automatically leaped out of bed and grabbed his katana from the table nearby. Before he could grab the handle, half of the room suddenly blew up. The loud explosion pushed him backwards, causing confusion. The air was filled with smoke, debris fell, and the smell of burnt metal filled his nostrils.

Belial struggled to stand up, trying hard to see through the haze. An enormous power was colliding right outside his door, he could feel it. With his heart pounding, he proceeded carefully towards the door, clearing his vision by blinking away the smoke. In the corridor, he witnessed two individuals engaged in a fierce struggle. A person with green hair was engaged in an intense fight with a cyborg.

The sound of metal hitting metal echoed loudly in the alleyway. Sparks ignited from the cyborg's missile launcher as it plunged into the ground, forming a crater. Belial's eyes grew wider. The individual with green hair stood before him, arms up, protecting him from the full impact of the blast. The stranger remained unharmed despite the smoke enveloping them. The surrounding area, in contrast, was now in ruins.

Belial scratched his head, and blinked at the individual in front of him.A man, woman? He was unable to determine their gender, but it was evident that they were very appealing. Despite the disorder surrounding them, it was impossible to deny their athletic elegance. Watching the stranger battle the cyborg felt like observing a lethal choreographed performance. Belial stayed hidden in the darkness, observing carefully as the two fought each other.

The cyborg showed no mercy, its robotic limbs moving at an unnatural pace, launching consecutive assaults. However, the person with green hair showed the same level of expertise, smoothly evading and retaliating. Belial couldn't resist appreciating their combat technique; it was completely unique to him.

"Let's go!" encouraged the individual with green hair, motioning for Belial to come along.

Their voice carried a sense of urgency that left little room for hesitation. Belial glanced at the cyborg, which had just fired another volley of missiles in their direction. With no time to waste, he decided to trust the stranger.

Darting behind a nearby dumpster, Belial crouched low as the green-haired fighter joined him. The cyborg continued its relentless advance, its metallic body whirring with deadly intent.

"This makes it the third time I've saved you," the stranger muttered, their voice barely audible over the distant explosions.

Belial shot them a sidelong glance, feeling a mix of gratitude and suspicion. "Why are you helping me?" he asked.

The person with green hair - Xin, he recalled - turned their eyes towards the cyborg. "Let's just say I have unfinished business with that thing."

Belial nodded in comprehension. He had his own motives for desiring the cyborg's demise, and with Xin's assistance, they could prove to be a valuable partner. Belial mentioned that it was indeed you he saw at the festival, as he attempted to engage in small talk to divert his attention from the commotion nearby.

Xin laughed in a sinister manner. "Yes, it was me.Though I didn't expect to see you again this quickly."

Belial observed Xin closely, intrigued by the life of fighting cyborgs and aiding strangers in alleys that this person lived. However, there was no opportunity for inquiries. The cyborg shot once more, prompting Xin to quickly react. Demonstrating impressive agility, Xin utilized the cyborg's body as a platform, propelling themselves over it and landing smoothly on the opposite side.

"Wow, they're impressive," Belial thought to himself.

"What's up with that dude?" Belial inquired while gripping his katana.

"I don't know. I was just at the bar, and he started shooting missiles everywhere!" Xin replied, clearly annoyed.

The cyborg approached once more, its mechanical limbs whirring with deadly intent. Belial lunged forward, swinging his katana in a precise arc. The blade struck the cyborg, but it barely left a mark. The armor was too thick. Belial cursed under his breath. His failed strike caused Xin to leap into action again, propelling himself forward with a powerful kick that sent the cyborg crashing into a nearby wall, leaving a gaping hole in the ground.

"You got a hax?" Belial asked, impressed.

"Yeah, sound manipulation. Cool, right? I can control any sound I make, and also those around me." Xin responded with a hint of pride.

Belial had never encountered anyone with the ability to control sound before. Just as he was about to comment, the cyborg emitted a high-pitched beeping sound. A sinking feeling hit Belial. The cyborg wasn't finished. It exploded, sending a shockwave through the alley. Acting quickly, Belial created a dome of darkness, shielding both himself and Xin from the blast.

As the dust settled, Belial turned to Xin. "That was close, way too close."

Xin nodded, catching his breath. "Thanks for covering me. By the way, what is that hax?"

Belial glanced at the dark barrier that was beginning to fade. He thought for a second,and came to a conclusion that it would only be fair that he also reveals his hand since xin already revealed his own.  "Darkness manipulation," he replied. "I can control and shape the darkness."

"Darkness manipulation?" Xin echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Like... witchcraft or something? sorry, im actually curious."

Belial chuckled. "No It's nothing like that. I can create objects out of darkness. Think of it like clay. I can mold it into whatever I want."

Xin's confusion turned into fascination. "So, you could make a sword out of darkness?"

Belial nodded. "Exactly. Weapons, shields, even armor—anything I need."

Xin scratched his head. "That's pretty cool, actually. But what's the catch? There's always a catch with complex haxes like that."

Belial's smile faded slightly. "It's not inherently evil or anything... but I haven't really pushed it to its limits yet."

The conversation was interrupted by a troubling thought. "Eli," Belial said, his voice grim. "He could be in danger."

They wasted no time, rushing to the inn where Eli had been. Upon arrival, they found him unconscious but mostly unharmed. Xin checked on his bandmates, who were shaken but otherwise fine.

After making sure everyone was safe, Xin let out a sigh of relief. "You guys should leave without me for a bit. Things are getting too dangerous. I'll send a message when i can, for now you guys try not to give sid too much trouble."

While gathering their belongings, Belial examined them closely - four youthful musicians exuding a clear rockstar aura. The first person was tall with red spiked hair, the second had a shaved head and a leather jacket, and the third had blue highlights and piercings. The final member was a girl with pink short , always keeping her hands close to her bass guitar. They appeared strong, yet clearly affected by what had happened that day.

Xin hesitated before responding. He saw the room where belial was staying at and indicated for Belial to come with him instead. "Feel free to hang around with me for some time. We'll solve this together.

Belial paused briefly before giving a nod of agreement. Xin's offer provided reassurance, even after the chaos they had experienced. Together, they navigated the intricate network of narrow alleys and side roads, feeling the heaviness of fatigue weighing on them both.

In the end, they reached Xin's place 490 roselia street. The walls were decorated with graffiti, heavy metal posters plastered every corner of the room, and the dim lighting created shadows that gave the illusion of more space. Belial couldn't overlook the extensive assortment of guitars and basses displayed on the walls, resembling a sacred space dedicated to music. A black drum set sat in the corner, stirring nostalgia in Belial for his past days as a musician.

"You play?" Belial asked, gesturing toward the instruments.

Xin grinned. "I dabble."

Belial couldn't resist smiling. He fell onto the couch, feeling completely exhausted at last. There was a momentary pause of silence.

"So," Belial inquired, interrupting the silence, "who do you think wants you dead?"

Xin thought about the question, with a frown on his forehead. "I am not sure. I arrived in this town just yesterday and I don't think I've already made any enemies yet. What do you think?"

Belial nodded his head in disagreement. "I also don’t know."

Xin remained in deep contemplation while perched on the edge of his seat. His thoughts continuously returned to the leader of the underworld—their supporter. Xin had been financing his shows, but now he suspected he might be responsible for the attack, as the last time they contacted each other, it was not on good terms. However, he did not want to drag Belial into his troubles.

Xin, what's happening? Belial inquired. "You're acting weird. "Is everything alright?".

Xin hesitated before finally deciding to tell Belial the truth. He explained about the kingpin and his suspicions. Belial listened carefully, his expression growing more serious as Xin spoke.

"We Can't just sit  here and wait for them to come after us again," Belial said firmly.

"I don't want to risk your safety," Xin objected.

Belial nodded and shook his head. "No, I am okay with helping  you on this. But in return i'll need a place to stay temporarily."

Xin extended an invitation for you to spend the night at his studio.

They went down to the basement together, the wooden stairs making noise as they walked. The studio had a soft lighting, cluttered with musical gear and the remains of Xin's creative projects.

"you can sleep down here for now, ill prepare the guest room for you" xin said as he yawned.

Belial quickly sank onto a grey-ish black beanbag , giving in to the exhaustion that had burdened him through out the night. As for now, the storm had passed. But as both knew it was only a matter of time before the danger returned.