INTRODUCING THE MAN IN BLACK:

  A mysterious black ship floats through space. It crosses great distance within the quiet of the void. The black of space acts like a blank canvas; beautiful nebulae, celestial bodies, fiery orange gas clouds, red burning stars, and celestial storms of yellow, paint this grand void. The sharp black ship’s engines ignite, as it flies into a planet’s atmosphere. The ship flies through the purple skies and the black clouds of the planet, docking within a public hangar. A man dressed in a sharp, heavy black coat, and blacked-out high-tech goggles walks out. He pulls out a device, and on it, an image of a man with a bounty appears. The bounty states the man is worth “10,000,000 dead or 15,000,000 alive."

  The bounty hunter exits the dock and takes a stroll through the city. He walks around taking in the sights with awe. He spots a massive screen playing an ad. It’s an ad for a new device, a personal assistance cyber frame; a new type of robot. He puts a hand on his chin and tilts his head. He then chuckles to himself and keeps walking. He then walks past a store of some kind and looks inside. He seems very intrigued as he walks in and then walks out with a bag. He takes out a sandwich. He takes a bite and makes a disgusted expression. Yet he continues to finish the sandwich regardless. He crumples the bag and tosses it away. Before he keeps walking, someone stops him and picks up the trash. They then angrily gesture to the nearby trash can. The bounty hunter takes the trash and then seems to get an idea. With a sleight of hand, he makes the trash disappear. The trick seems to impress the citizen. The man then points to the trashcan. The civilian looks and sees the trash has magically appeared. The civilian looks impressed before turning to a large hand cannon shoved in his face. The civilian throws up his hands up fearfully shaking his head. The bounty hunter then gives a hearty laugh, and turns to walk away. The civilian huffs and starts sprinting. The bounty hunter puts his hand cannon away, but not before snapping his fingers. In the distance, the citizen has the crumpled piece of trash fall on their head from nowhere.

  The man in black walks Into a bar, filled with men drinking their sorrows away. He takes a seat, looks at the selection of drinks behind the bartender, then gets the owner’s attention and points to a bottle. The bartender looks back and sees the man has picked out a very STRONG alcohol; called Rodeo. The bartender looks back and is surprised; he points his thumb at the selected bottle, seeing if the man is correct. The man nods. The bartender shrugs and pours the bounty hunter a shot glass, and slides it over. The bounty hunter looks insulted, as he gestures for a tall glass. The bartender looks concerned, however the man exudes a lack of concern. The bartender pours the man his tall glass and sets it down, watching intently.

  The bounty hunter nods in appreciation, then without a second thought, chugs the tall glass in one swig. The bounty hunter exhales in satisfaction. The whole bar looks at the strange man with concern, disgust, or pride, but then goes back to their drinks.

  The bounty hunter then pulls out his tracker and slides the bounty to the bartender. The owner ignores it, going to clean the man's glass, but the hunter puts some cash on the table; metallic currency, imperial credit. The bartender, now intrigued, reaches under the counter, pulls out a notepad and pen, and begins writing on a small piece of note paper. He rips off the paper and slides the note over the counter. He swipes the currency and pats the man's shoulder, but he yanks his shoulder away. The bartender nods in gentle reassurance. The bounty hunter scoffs, takes the note, and leaves. The owner notices the guy next to where the man in black sat, staring at him. The bartender then shrugs, very confused himself, and puts up the man's glass.

  The hunter appears In a different location on top of a tall building. He briefly checks the note, then he walks past a ventilation shaft. He walks out of an alleyway and finds himself on the street in front of a warehouse. He checks his note and sighs. He repeats this, randomly appearing in many different location. On the fifth stop, the hunter checks the note, seeming to acknowledge that he’s found what he’s looking for. The busy warehouse seems to be running floating boxes and machinery in and out of the complex. The inside houses many workers moving around the clock to move these supplies. The hunter walks out from behind a support beam holding up the ceiling. He casually infiltrates the complex undetected, as if it is the easiest task ever. He appears on an upper walkway and continues to stroll. He toggles the buttons and dials on his goggles as he tries to overhear some conversations. He makes his way deeper into the complex and spots his target, inspecting tech and giving orders.

  The man in black leans on some railings and watches as the target goes about his business. The targets eventually find himself alone as he walks to his office. His name is on the top of the door in gold-plating, Evan Combu. The target walks In and takes a second before he notices a very large, ominous, grey-skinned shadow of a man, in his chair, feet kicked up, hands resting on his stomach.

  “Who the hell are you?! Announce yourself before I turn you to ash.” Mr. Combu says in a strong tone as he out-stretches his hand.

  The bounty hunter then takes his feet off the desk and stands up, in no rush to move quickly. The difference in size is quite apparent even from a distance apart. The bounty hunter is at least five feet taller than Mr. Combu. The man then tilts his head and sighs.

  Then… A terrifying smile creeps on the hunter's face. Suddenly in a flash, the two are hundreds of meters in the sky. Evan looks down shocked, awed, and stunned beyond confusion. He then begins yelling as his rapid descent begins. He yells out to the hunter, “WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!!”

  The hunter, unbothered, decides to open his mouth. “I haven’t been in action for a long while. Try to put up a good fight.” He says in a cold, raspy voice, sending a chill down Evan's spine.

  Evan makes a face of fury and confusion, but before he can say anything, the hunter vanishes from sight. Evan looks around frantically when he’s suddenly spiked in the back by a diving kick. The kick carries the two crashing through some tall buildings. In the rubble-filled alleyway, the hunter picks up his target by the back of his head. He pulls his target's head back, ready to slam him against the building wall. However, Evan then shoves a palm in the man’s face, and it begins glowing red hot. A massive explosion topples the two buildings making up the alleyway, dropping it upon them.

  Evan quickly speeds out of the way of the falling buildings and starts running down the street. (Who the hell is this guy!), Evan thinks to himself pushing people out of the way. He takes out his phone and tries to call up his men. Suddenly the hunter appears in a purple flash, unharmed, above Evan and lands an incredibly fast downward kick to the back of Evan’s head, his face crashing into the ground, sending shockwaves through the street. The hunter lands, puts His in his pockets, and sighs. “You can’t be an empyrean. You’re way too slow”.

  The target pulls his head from out the street and turns to look at the menace, with fury. A crowd forms around the fight, and the nearby law enforcement starts swarming in.

  “Who the hell are you!!” Evan says with a mangled bleeding nose.

  The man’s linear smile remains unnerving as he tilts his head up, “Call me, Obsidian.” The crowd starts taking out their phones and devices to record the scene. The man in black snaps his fingers and everyone’s devices disappear from their hands. Evan himself is dumbfounded, He’s never heard of this Obsidian, not once. (Is he getting beaten by some unknown?!) he thinks to himself. The law enforcement raises their rifles.

  “Stand down and do not resist!!!” Armored soldiers say.

  “Phoenix Order? SsHehehe.” Obsidian chuckles as his creepy smile widens. He clasps his hands together and a little cylindrical device appears in his hand. He presses a button on the side, and the handle part pops off. He drops it, and both Obsidian and his target vanish from the scene. Suddenly in that same spot, five more of these devices appear in his place shining a bright violet.

  “Grenade!!!” The law enforcement screamed, ungrateful for their explosive gift.

  Upon rooftops from afar, a large explosion can be seen, and a massive smoke cloud appears in the distance. Evan then falls from the sky and lands hard on a skyscraper roof. Evan scrambles to get up and looks around him. He’s then suddenly kicked in the back and sent rolling away. Evan scrambles up, grits his teeth, and rushes at Obsidian, running in with a red-hot fist. Evan throws the punch, however, without flinching, Obsidian draws a finger around the fist and suddenly it disappears, and the explosion goes off on Evan's back, leaving him stunned.

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  Evan jumps back and darts around to find a strong angle to attack from. Evan rushes in, puts up his fists, and throws a series of punches using the stance of a boxer; all glowing orange ready to explode. Obsidian dodges each strike with little effort or intrigue. Obsidian then smacks away the next series of punches and effortlessly strikes Evan deep in the gut, causing him to gasp. With heavy and crushing blows, Obsidian begins breaking his target with a devastating and rapid series of punches and knee strikes. Every one of Obsidian's blows makes a booming and crunching sound as he shatters Evan's body. Evan tries to put up his guard as he coughs out blood, but Obsidian grabs and pulls away Evan’s arm and strikes its joint blowing it out, rendering It gushing and useless. Evan grits his teeth as he takes the pain; he tries to pull away, but Obsidian’s grip is too tight. Evan groans as he pulls and rips his arm own off and leaps far back, blood lining the roof.

  Obsidian, seems surprised, he lets go of Evan’s arm. Obsidian then starts ominously chuckling, as his grin grows wider. Evan then outstretches a hand and it glows a bright violet. However, Obsidian appears in Evan's face and lands a nasty blow to his gut once again. Evan gasps as he stumbles back holding his bleeding gut. Evan then tries to raise his hand again, but Obsidian appears from Evan’s left and strikes him in the head. Putting one hand in his pocket, Obsidian starts pounding the life out of Evan; a brutal punch to the head, followed by a knee strike to the side. He follows up with a kick to the back of the head, and knee to the face, sending him up. Obsidian then grabs him by the collar and slams him down. He picks him back up and throws him into large rooftop appliances. Evan then gets back up spluttering as he wipes his face. Obsidian then gestures, calling Evan forward, with his unnerving smile. Evan charges forward and leaps up, firing off a large explosion that takes off a chunk of the building. Obsidian then appears behind Evan as he lands. Evan quickly turns and fires off another large explosion. Obsidian appears towering behind Evan, looking down on him.

  Evan just sighs, breathing heavily, as his missing arm drips crimson. “I get it now. You have a spacial warping blessing; intrinsic to the Praw lineage. But why. But why would a Praw become a page hunter they’re practically royalty!” Evan looks back gritting his teeth.

  Obsidian stares at Combu with that chilling smile.

  “Gift.” Obsidian says

  Evan's eyes widen in fear, he stumbles forward and backs away from Obsidian. “What did you say.” He says in horror.

  “It’s my GIFT, not a blessing. And Praw is just for documents.” Obsidian teleports in Evan's face, leaning in. “Though I hope it doesn’t scare you, not yet at least, let me see more of that drive.” Obsidian says in an ominous tone.

  Obsidian’s smile invades Evan's mind, he begins to panic. Evan then screams as his entire body ignites and the entire top of the skyscraper explodes.

  From the smoke, Evan launches himself into the sky with explosions from his feet. He flies away as far as he can muster, but then a portal opens and he’s punched down. Then immediately after, Obsidian teleports up and kicks him down, Leaving him skidding off the street. Evan tries to limp away, but Obsidian continues to torment his prey. Obsidian kicks out his legs from behind him and soccer punts him into a building.

  Evan is left in a pile of rubble, unable to get up. He knows there’s nothing he can do. If it’s a spacial GIFT, then there’s no escape. Obsidian walks him down with that same chilling smile. That smile; It causes Evan to truly panic, as he tries everything to move, struggling and struggling. Obsidian looks down upon his target with a cold grin, then he pulls out a hand cannon from behind his coat.

  “Nooooo!!! Wait—no—please! 10,000,000, that’s nothing—I can pay you 100 million, no 500 mil. Please just leave me alone! I HAVE A SON I NEED TO GET BACK TO!!!” Evan struggles more and more he can’t even defend himself from what’s next to come. Obsidian puts a boot to his chest, and the smile fades from his face. Obsidian scoffs.

  “What a shame, I was hoping you were stronger; barely a warm-up. Although I was impressed for a little while. Now face death with pride. I hate a coward.” He squeezes the trigger.

  “Wai---”

  A loud mechanical bang is followed by audible gasps from the crowd that has quietly formed around. Obsidian drags Evan’s body out of the building by the leg.

  “It’s been too long since I felt this wonderful sensation again,” Obsidian says to himself in satisfaction.

  Just then the peacekeepers rush in swarming Obsidian. “We got a hostile individual, going in for detainment.”

  “Oooooh, dessert. (I wonder if people say that).” Obsidian says as he lets go of Evan’s leg.

  The peacekeepers rush at him, rifles raised and pushing back the crowd. Obsidian runs at the peacekeepers and drop-kicks the lead man. Touching a hand to the ground, he spins around and kicks into another’s face. Jumping off, he knee-drops another, grabbing him but the head and throwing him into the terrified crowd. More peacekeepers swarm In, and Obsidian gives a wicked grin. The area is filled with a heavy, intense pressure. Suddenly, his hands blaze with a purple flaming aura, and two large blades manifest in Obsidian’s hands. In a blinding move, everyone is left dismembered. Obsidian grins ear to ear, reveling in the sound of falling bodies. He makes the blades vanish behind his coat and quickly goes to put Combu in a body bag and then vanishes from sight.

  Obsidian appears on his ship. He makes his way to the cockpit and starts up the ship. But before the engines are ready, he notices an alert on one of his monitors. A horde of peacekeepers are rushing into the dock.

  (Dammit. Am I too busy for this?.. yeah) he thinks to himself.

  With a frustrated sigh, he teleports the entire ship into space and blasts the engines.

  Hours later, Obsidian arrives at his destination. A bright planet with a blue atmosphere. He lands and after he checks in at the dock, he’s allowed passage into the city. He teleports inside a Hired Gun Agency building.

  “Ahh, good God!!” The receptionist jumps back, startled out of his chair.

  “Done with the claiming of Evan Combu's page.” Obsidian says.

  The receptionist gets up and has the prize taken away. He tells Obsidian to take a seat, while the page is processed. Obsidian makes his way to the seating area, passing by various interesting characters. Page hunters of different species, sizes, and builds; equipped with all sorts of gear. The agency interior is primarily white, with gray carpeting and many murals decorating the main lobby. He takes a seat and while he waits, flicking through his phone, a woman in half black and half white business attire, a coat over her shoulders, with pointy ears and black eyes, smoking a cigar walks up to him.

  “Wow, you’re back so quickly, I thought you’d have a hard time, but I guess not, newbie. Guess I shouldn’t have doubted you.” Says the lady with a mature and kindly tone.

  “Hello, Zi.” Obsidian says coldly.

  “Sheesh, show a little emotion. You just completed your first job.” Zi remarks “You know you’re supposed to meet me before coming here, right? You’re lucky I had some business to attend to.” Zi says

  “Why?” Obsidian responds

  “Because I’m your reader and superior. You have to talk to me instead of sneaking off and doing your own thing. Speaking of which, well done. Oh, and another thing you didn’t have to kill your target, you could’ve got much more if you turned him in warm. OH AND ANOTHER THING---” Zi rants on and on.

  “All right, shut up.” Obsidian interrupts

  She pouts, “rude.” She sits down next to him, blowing out a black cloud. Obsidian looks at the cloud in disgust.

  “So, how was your first mission.” Zi questions

  “Disappointing.” Obsidian says dryly

  “Really!? Evan Combu, top dog of the Grimwal’s Cruels, the biggest criminal organization in Great Smolder. He was disappointing, I heard he---”

  “Please. Shut. Up.” Obsidian cuts her off before she begins dropping more exposition.

  “All right, fine, but I got to know how you did it on your first mission. I heard you caused quite a ruckus.” Zi asks curiously

  Obsidian sighs. However, fortune favors him, his rewards are brought out in that moment. His license was upgraded, for taking down a high-value target, a bonus for it being his first job. Obsidian checks his payment and puts his rewards through a portal. But before leaving, he snatches Zi’s cigar out of her mouth, throws it to the ground, and stomps it out. He then teleports away. Zi leans on the receptionist's desk.

  “I’m going to have my hands full with that one.” Zi sighs

  The receptionist goes on break.

  As Obsidian strolls back to his ship, seeming to enjoy his long walk, whistling a old tune. During his walk we see the reality of this universe. Law enforcement upends the poor and sickly from the streets, beating them down, taking out their fury upon them. Homeless and Xeno’s are funneled into concentration camps, attempting to keep the clean appearance of the planet. Towering buildings shine like stars as the wealthy party without a care. Obsidian walks through a plaza where a strange ad plays on a massive screen.

  Ballad of the Phoenix King: In ancient times, on worlds still young, there reigned two Kings. The King of Judgment and the King of the Free. One King sought order, and one King sought complete freedom. The Kings would go to war and in the end, found coexistence. From both order and freedom, from this unity, the Phoenix King was born. Believe in the King, as he is the embodiment of true order and freedom.

  Obsidian smacks his teeth at the ad, “damned king.” He curses. Obsidian reaches the port and watches as the poor try to pay their tithes and offerings to their rulers. Every time he overhears, “Serve the Eternal Monarchy!”, “All for the Phoenix King!”, “Obey the Phoenix Order!”

  Obsidian simply skips past check-in, teleporting to his ship, and releasing the restraints himself, like he’s done this many times before. He teleports onto his ship, and without a sound, he leaves the port in his silent ship. The interior of Obsidian’s is a lustrous pale white. The lounging area has a couch that wraps around in a quartered circle. It’s cut off to make way for a door in the back of the lounge. There’s a round table in the center of the couch, a mini fridge, and a TV.

  Obsidian starts coughing. He coughs up some blood. He looks at his hand, and the blood is a deep purplish red in hue. He clinches his hand and heads to the bathroom. He stands by the toilet as he summons a canister. He opens It, revealing a medicinal needle. He takes a breath and sticks himself with it, jittering a bit before calming down. He curses and tosses the syringe away in a bucket already filled with the same type of syringe. He looks in the mirror. Then he grins.

  “Every day I await my time to deliver retribution.”