It was 8:40 P.M.

  For the past two days, I was mostly preparing my villain career and backup plans.

  The first one was school.

  School was a problem. Skipping was the easy part. Not letting my parents know was the hard part. So, I call the school and then redirect the phone number and email to my devices.

  The only way this plan gets foiled is if my parents ask for grades or figure out that I am skipping school. Luckily, I stole a burner phone today from the store. This is so my main phone doesn’t go off and my dad picks it up as he took it away. I mean, what else am I supposed to do for 8 hours?

  So all I have to do is not get caught.

  The second one was when my parents checked on me.

  I could easily sneak out without getting caught, but the issue is with my parents checking on me when I’m gone. So that was a big problem. However, the good thing is that they usually sleep at 10 PM, as my father works early and my mother cares for my brother all day.

  Finally, the biggest issue was time. In about a month, my father would pull the plug on my brother. Even though my mother yelled at him for it, he was insisting it as money was getting low. This is why I need to pass this last trial or else it might be over for me.

  I skipped school today to prepare for tonight, as it was important to make my costume.

  I had ideas for a hoodie dyed red using spray paint, however; It was too dangerous unless I wanted my identity exposed. I mean, sure, I risked it a few times, but if my parents find the hoodie, then my costume ends up on the news. Say bye to my normal life.

  So I decided on a blood hoodie. I knew it wasn’t the best idea, as I was still recovering and needed to preserve my blood for whatever that white bitch was going to put me through.

  Risky, but blood was the best option, as I didn’t need to worry about people finding my costume or losing it. Also, I can use it as a utility.

  I looked down at my hoodie on my bed. Then touched it, and felt like a liquid fabric in my hand, like a silky red fabric. I slipped on my hoodie, then felt my warm blood all over my body like a better coat. This would be useful especially in cold climate.

  I had nothing in my room, only a bed, a table, and a mirror. I looked into my mirror, looking at my hoodie. “Dam, this shit looks good,” I said, happy with the outcome of my work.

  I checked my map thingy in my eye, or whatever it’s called, and saw a map of the location. Though this one was closer than the void district, about five miles away. I had almost two hours. So, I have time to hunt for criminals for some extra blood.

  I made sure the door to my room was locked. Then I opened the window and went outside into the cold night.

  ...

  I was 2.5 miles away from my location, which is an alright distance for me. I was walking around in my new costume. As bad of an idea that was, who gonna fucking recognize me? And this is the only chance to walk around in drip without my ass being chased by the police or heroes. The dim lighting lamps fill the surroundings, and the Hero HQ looms in the sky a few miles away.

  My goal was to find some criminals to kill for some blood. Sure, civilians can be easier, but killing someone who does nothing wrong or is just trying to live their life puts a bad taste in my mouth. As it reminds me of the innocent people who die every day to villains and superheroes. Besides, I’m doing the hero’s job by getting rid of the drug dealers, rapists, and killers off the streets.

  Now, if it was thieves depended on hurting innocent people for valuables, then yeah. If they were robbing a bank, I wouldn’t give shits on what they are doing. I mean, we all got to pay the bills somehow.

  I walked down the street to see Cliff High, with little to no lights, illuminating it. Then I saw two figures on a sidewalk with a car with their dim lights. I could hear some people talking, but too far to hear clearly.

  I got close enough to recognize the two figures. One is John, a football player, and the other is Ari, the cheerleader captain. She was wearing her cheerleader outfit, with the orange and purple color design. While John was in a black hoodie and some sweat pants.

  “Hey, get in the car, Ari. We can have some fun at my place,” John said, which made my blood flare as I got closer now to them. “nO, I tHinK I hAD ToO maNY DrINkS, wHerE iS jUliE,” Ari said.

  “She’s back in my place with Lucas. come on, we will have a fun time,” I saw John open the back door to a car. I could barely hear it out. “Hey John, hurry up, someone’s coming,” I heard, but I didn’t recognize the voice.

  This time, I wanted to calm the situation down, hoping to prevent bloodshed as these were my classmates. “Hey, what’s up,” I said, which made John look at me. I could see his face, disgustedly looking at me. “Oh, Louis. What are you doing out here so late?” He replied.

  “Oh, just walking around. Got nothing to do,” I said. “Nice seeing you, but me and my girl got to get going,” John replied with a laugh.

  “Well, she looks kinda drunk, so can I join you guys to make sure she gets home safely?” I could see John’s face turn red. “Can you mind your business?! She is fine!” After he said that, he tried to punch me, but for a second I saw the punch in slow motion as if it was like time slowed down. I easily catch the punch in my right hand, feeling like the attack was hollow, like a tiny pebble being thrown at a mountain.

  “John. John. John. I think you don’t understand something.” I gave him a chance, but I think it’s time to step it up a notch.

  His face turned from red to white in an instant. “Get the car started, Mike!!” I heard the engine starting up. John tried to pull his hand away from my grip, but it was pointless. I used my left wrist to shoot a blood arrow through his foot into the concrete so he couldn’t run away.

  Then he screamed in agony as he tried to pull the arrow out, but it was futile. In a split second, I slide over the car to the driver’s side to see Mike, another football player, trying to get his phone out. “How stupid are you? You should have driven off,” I said, then I ripped the car door off with no blood. Feeling this new strength and power as the door went flying across the street. It felt refreshing and amazing.

  I don’t know what it was, but after I healed after my fight on Friday. I felt stronger.

  Not only that, but I feel I have more control over my blood than before. I mean, before today, I could only have some control over what I could do. Some of the more difficult tasks, like rotating my blood, and creating very specific constructs, as it took some effort. It was unnatural to me, as it took stamina to do those tasks.

  But now it seems like I have far more control, like making that blood coat wasn’t as hard as it was. It only took like a few seconds to create it without much stamina.

  I saw Mike’s face turn white. Before he could scream, I grabbed him by the face and pulled him out of the car, violently. Then I saw Ari running away screaming, but then she hit one of the light poles, knocking her to the ground.

  I slowly felt myself rejuvenate. As Mike’s blood was absorbed into my body, he slowly dried up like a raisin. After a few seconds, he fell to the ground.

  Dead.

  “Mike!!! What did you do to him Louis, you fucking Super-psycho!” John yelled. I went around the car to see him still trying to pull out the blood arrow. “Don’t worry about him, you selfish prick,” I said, walking closer to him.

  “Stop, please! I will do anything, just don’t kill me!” John pleaded as I could see tears running down from his face.

  “Fine,” I said. I could see him smile. Thinking he would walk away from this.

  “Before I let you go, I want to tell a story. Back in 1848, Phineas Gage was a railroad construction worker.” I could see John’s face turn from a smile to a frown. But I kept ongoing.

  "One day he blew up a bomb, causing a metal pole to fly through his brain. Surprisingly, he survived, but the after-effect caused him to have mood swings and memory issues. I mean, the brain is the most sensitive part of the body...” I saw John’s eyes widen.

  “...So what would happen if it happened to you?

  You would be in a drunk state for the rest of your life. Like Ari.”

  “Wait, Louis, please!!!” John pleaded, but I didn’t care. I grabbed his head and started to flow blood into his head as I felt my blood slowly make its way to the brain.

  “Can’t control yourself, can’t walk, and hell, maybe forget how to breathe,”

  Then when my blood reached John’s brain. Then I used my blood to pick away his brain cells, slowly. During this, John screamed and cried in pain.

  After a minute, He stopped screaming, then I dropped him to the ground, looking like a vegetable who got sucked by a vegetarian vampire. I also absorbed some of his blood but only a small amount in order to keep him alive.

  I absorbed the blood arrow and walked over to Ari.

  Ari was in a drunken state, which isn’t good, as people who drink alcohol are much more susceptible to hyperthermia. I grabbed Ari by the legs and head. Then I walked over to Mike’s car, opened the door, and laid her down in the back seat.

  Then I grabbed Mike’s jacket, which was in the front seat, and put it on Ari.

  Ari was beautiful, with her blond hair, blue eyes, and silky skin. She was nice and polite. The only thing is that she can be a bit bimbo-ish at times, which I hate to describe someone like her but sadly it is true.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  For example, once she didn’t know how to charge her computer or phone. I’m not saying she’s dumb, but god, she doesn’t understand technology one bit. I mean, she did grow up in a rich environment, which is kinda sad, but hey her parents taught her proper manners unlike Julie.

  My thoughts were disrupted by sirens nearby. I got out of the car and ran away. I didn’t want to deal with police or, worse, heroes. Since I didn’t want to be late for my trial.

  ...

  It was about 10:00 P.M.

  I was sitting on the roof of a 4-story building near my destination, about a block away.

  The part of the city I was in was criminal-infested near the lakeside, which would make sense for Serpent to be hiding out. The building was a big concrete warehouse about three to five stories tall, but that was all I could see due to being pitch black. With the only saving grace, being the lamp lights.

  I was mostly looking on my burner phone to look at information, but mostly to kill time. Most of the stuff I had already heard. Omega Overdrive and that bastard returning to Chicago recently. Which is not good as they could knock me out or kill me in one attack. Even though Omega doesn’t often really do anything unless the entire city or country is in jeopardy, so that’s unlikely.

  But him... that’s a different story. Just thinking about him gets me bad memories.

  I turned off my phone and got down from the building via fire escape. I needed to reserve all my strength and brain power.

  I walked down the block to the building, which, up close, was abandoned, but it was clear with the rusted metal, boarded-up doors, and broken window. Which isn’t surprising.

  However, the surprising thing was the somewhat banging noises, not like a gun, but like the biggest fucking festival of the year was being thrown somewhere.

  I went around the large building for an entrance. After finding the entrance, I went inside and found it to be nothing more than rusty metal pipes, and a bunch of debris. With the noise now being louder. I also coughed as I breathed in some of the dust particles.

  “You lost,” I heard a female voice.

  I looked around, then saw someone up where metal bars were holding the building. Then I check to make sure this was the right place and... it was?

  “Uh... yes and no?” I said, weirded out on what is going on. “Oh, you must be the new guy. I was surprised you managed to pass Serpent’s first trial,” she said. I couldn’t make out who it was, but from the voice, I could tell it was someone I hadn’t met yet.

  The woman jumped down and then I could see her. She was wearing a dark green and purple costume with fake eyes all over it. She also had black hair, an afro, a nose piercing, a dark skin tone, and the most noticeable thing being her snake tattoos on the side of her face.

  “Uh, who the hell are you?” I said. “Don’t talk to me like that, hun,” she said.

  “Sorry, what’s your name?” I asked.

  “My name is Liver Eyes, the support medic of the bitch girls,”

  Liver Eyes got to be the second weirdest name, only beaten out by Nut Master... which yeah, better if people think he controls peanuts or something.

  I don’t remember her being on the wiki, so she must be a low-key villain in the background.

  “So... uh, where is Serpent,” I asked. She walked up to me and grabbed my hand. The touch of her hand was hard and ragged. Meaning that Liver Eyes experienced some rough work or fights. “Don’t worry about it, I got you... what’s your name?”

  “My name is...” I thought about it for a few days now.

  There are four key parts for a name.

  1. Aura. Your name needs to have aura, or else you will sound like a bum, or not a threat.

  2. Short and sweet. If it’s too long or stupidly difficult to pronounce, whos gonna remember you?

  3. Cringe. If your name is something called ‘Mr. Death or The Darkness Killer,’ like bro. People would laugh at you for the rest of your life. Until you’re a big shot, so it’s a risky choice.

  4. Fits. Of course, the most important is that it fits your power or the type of person you are.

  “...The Blood Reaper,”

  “Cool name. Now let’s get your ass into that party,” I followed Liver Eyes into a room where was a metal elevator with only a bottom plate and rails, with the sound of music becoming louder.

  But, one thing that confused me was the party? Why did Serpent lead me to a supervillain party? I heard these parties are straight up illegal.

  “Hold on tight,” Liver said, then I quickly grabbed the railing and fell to the floor due to the speed.

  After it stopped, I got up in anger. “What the hell!” I yelled. “Haha. Hun come on, what do you expect, a five-star hotel?”

  “No! but still, it’s just a fucking metal plate!” I yelled as the music now boomed fully, blasting rock through my eardrums. With also it smelling like alcohol and weed.

  The sheer size of the place struck me in awe as I walked out of the elevator. There were tables all over the place with an occasional strip pole and dancer barely clothed or straight up nude. Then there was the main dance floor, which was the furthest location from me. With hundreds of people dancing like no tomorrow, with several strip poles. However, what caught my eye was a giant box area in the middle of the room with tables.

  We walked past the tables into the middle part of the club where the box was. Then, as soon as we entered. The music was quieter, but still present.

  “Now it’s quieter here, so I can explain what’s going on,” Liver said. “Ok, what the fuck? Like... Why does Serpent throw these giant parties? Why was...” before I could finish Liver Eyes cut me off. “Stop. Let me explain hun,”

  “These parties aren’t just hosted by Serpent, but hosted by a bunch of villains. Five villainous groups host these parties, including Serpent, Helldog, Peakcock, Aimzone, and Black Jagwar. With one reason being that their workers, villain comrades, and even special guests can pleasure themselves to keep their stress levels at bay. Villain, work is fucking stressful once you start taking on dangerous missions.”

  “Oh... well I didn’t think about that, well what about? Fights? Heros? and people killing each other?” I asked, shocked that a calm woman with strict protocols would allow someone to throw something so risky.

  “Don’t worry about that. We got people to deal with those problems and besides, Kereos is the real danger. The main reason is that these five villain groups are in an alliance because of Kereos. Because of the immense power they have, they have a five-way alliance to keep that balance. It is fragile at times, as these groups have their own agenda.

  Heros, never tend to not fuck with these places unless they want to get jumped by 50 to 60 superhumans. On top of that, without us, Kereos would be out of control, not just in Chicago but all of Illinois. Besides that, this place is a no-fighting zone unless it’s in the Gulag. But fights still occur, and luckily, someone stops them or takes the fighters to the Gulag.

  Parties are mostly once every few months, however, Serpents’ hideout is open to anyone since it does have over 100 to 200 rooms here, in case something comes up.

  I mean, besides all of that. This party is to drink, have sex, dance, or bet on poor victims who are going to be put in the Gulag,” Liver explained in depth.

  Where do I even start? I thought these villains wanted to kill each other, but they choose to loosely work together. However, the most surprising thing is that often heroes don’t do shit about them. I knew that the P.W.H was bad for doing their fucking job. But god, think about it—now thinking about it, I see why they want to eliminate superhuman rights because they compare powers to atomic bombs.

  However, then I heard the last part Gulag?? The Russian fighting area.

  “Wait, what’s the Gulag...” Before I could finish my sentence. A Striper approached me. “Hey Liv. Oh, who this. I haven’t seen him before? You want a dance?”

  “How old are you?” Liver asked me. “Fifteen. Not legal, or close to legal,” I said, sweating. “Aw. You’re young young. But don’t worry, there are some girls here that are around your age that can give you a fun time,”

  My mind stopped for a second and had to process what I was hearing. There are girls in a party my age walking around asking pedophiles or other minors to have sex with them. Like what the fuck? I didn’t think Serpent went this low.

  “What the fuck! No,” I said angrily. Mad now. Looking back,

  Then Liver Eyes snapped me out of my revelations. “Come, I will take you to Serpent. Don’t be surprised hun this is a villain den,” Liver said.

  After that I shut up, in order to not draw more attention.

  “Sorry about that, he is new here. Anyway, see ya later, Florce,”

  “See you later, Liv. And don’t let that kid run into trouble,”

  Me and Liver walked to the left of the room where there was a door named ‘Lower Area.’ The door was about 10 feet tall, with two bouncers standing next to it. As soon as they saw us, they opened the door leading down. As we went through the door, it closed behind us.

  “Listen, don’t talk to anyone. Or act scared, got that? I will talk to them,“ I heard Liver, which I responded with a nod.

  We entered a much nicer place. With decorative tables, a bar in the middle, nice couches with strip poles. And most interesting of all, the side windows look out into an area, however I couldn’t get a good look.

  However, there was one difference here.

  They were all superhuman villains.

  Some had their costumes on and others had their face fully out in the open. For me, I had no face protection, as the hoodie was big and chunky to see me. But I decided to make my blood masquerade just in case one of these guys is my teacher, classmate, or family member. Which I pray isn’t.

  We continued with some villains whispering. Some were whispering about who I was and talking about a villain knife queen. Who killed someone called Scafs, which I remembered was a high tier Kereos member.

  We arrived where the Villain leaders were, however, only Peakcock, Aimzone, and Black Jagwar were there. These villains are all A or A+ class.

  “Ugh, what you need, Liver Eyes, and who is the red kid?” I heard Black Jagwar say. He had his face out and open. He looked upstanding with his clean hair in a nice and clean pitch black suit.

  “Oh, where is Serpent at?” Asked Liver. “Oh, don’t worry. She’s busy, with Helldog,” Aimzone said. He had his robotic suit with a face on the top of his head and fully covered in hyper-tech.

  “Uh...” I said, but quickly shut myself up. With dirty thoughts running through my mind.

  “Oh. A pervert I see,” I saw Peakcock stand up with her beautiful multi-colored dress showing a decent amount of skin, with her masquerade and her cape. But her most notable feature was the feathers on top of her head.

  She walked closer toward me, causing me to sweat. These were powerful villains. Even taking them one on one would be a death sentence.

  “Hey what are you doing, Peakcock,” Liver said.

  “Hm, interesting costume...” Then she used her right hand to touch it. “…Oh, its made of blood,” she said. Which caused the other two villain leaders to stare at me.

  “You’re that new villain causing ruckus. The blood superhuman. With your adorable body,” I saw Peakcock lick her lips as she whispered in my ears. I raised an eyebrow and felt sweat coming down my face. I knew Peakcock selling drugs and selling illegal porn. Which now made sense why people my age are here.

  "Hey, don’t harass the newcomers,” I heard Liver.

  However, the next thing I registered was me being pinned to the wall and being choked out by her, with her immense strength causing me to choke.

  “Listen, you fucking shithead. Mess with my business again, then I will send one of my girls after you, and your corpse will be a prop for my next video.” Without thinking, blood spikes formed on my neck, which caused Peakcock to drop me.

  “Ugh!!! You little shit!” Peakcock yelled.

  Then I saw her hand bleed. Her eyes glared with anger. “Fuck you, slut!” I yelled on the ground.

  “Hey, Don’t provoke her more!!!” Liver yelled. Then I saw more people looking at us.

  “Hey!!! You know the rules, Peakcock! No fighting!” Black Jagwar said.

  “Bullshit!!! That little fuck penetrated my hand, for that…” Then I saw Peakcock pull out a large feather. “…I’m going to penetrate your skull,”

  However, before she could act. Liver got in between us. “Hey!!! You know the rules and if you break them. This alliance goes to shit,” Liver Yelled. Then I saw Peakcock put the blade down. She walked back to her seat, and I saw some feathers growing where the wounds were. Probably her regeneration factor.

  “Now. Now. Wait until the Gulag, mate. Then your rookie Knife Queen can fight him,” Aimzone said, pointing at me.

  “Rookie fight?? what the hell…” Before I could finish, Serpent walked out with Helldog.

  Helldog was the leader of the Helldivers, easily the most powerful group here as the Helldivers had an outrageous amount of superhumans and always picked carefully. But of course, it wasn’t that simple, he is known to target and even kidnap superhumans and force them into submission to grow his group in power.

  “Oh, so this is the fucker you were talking about,” Helldog said as he looked at me. He was wearing black gothic pants and shirts with his logo on his shirt, which is a red dog skull with flames and wings. He also had white spike bracelets around his arm, with one on his neck. Most importantly, he never wore a mask.

  “Does he look like a girl to you!?” Serpent said. “Oh, so he is just fodder,” Helldog said.

  “Well, yes, and no. But anyway, what’s your name,” Serpent said.

  “Blood Reaper,” I said, standing up. “Hm. Blood Reaper, your last trial is to survive the gulag,”

  “I’m assuming it’s a 1v1,” I said, confused.

  “Yes and no, it is a little more complex, you see. Anyway, don’t have time for you…” Serpent said.

  “…And one last thing, don’t lose. Or you will die.”

  “Come on Blood Reaper, follow me,” Liver said. Then I followed her as we walked to a door saying Gulag.

  God damnit, I know nothing about this. I know one thing, this is the last trial. And if I lose, well... god forbid I don’t.

  Liver entered the door, and I followed, not knowing what awaited.