Shadow Blood and Fire

Oliver Garth lifted the wine glass and smiled, "Brother Eli, how do you like this venue?"

"He is from Slough Estate, New Tylon District. How would he be interested in our little squalid venue in the Ember Estate, Hutton District?" Oliver Garth jested sarcastically.

Eli furrowed his brows and put down his glass. His lips thinned into a smile.

"How dare I! You are the boss here, just crash our party and eat free food as well as gulp free drinks," Oliver Garth said sarcastically.

"Drop it!" Milliette Visoki glared at Eli and turned to Oliver Garth. "Today is your sweetheart's birthday, can you please watch your mouth?"

"Fine, fine, I will stop, madam." Oliver Garth raised his hands above his head.

After a while, Dennis Prager's pretty girlfriend said she wanted to use the washroom. She didn't know a lot of people at the party since most of them were her boyfriend's friends. However, in order to impress everyone, she had put on her best club dress and had spent hours in front of the mirror putting on makeup.

As soon as she walked out of the washroom, someone blocked her path. Frightened, she screamed loudly. Dennis Prager was just outside, waiting for his girlfriend. Hearing the scream, he rushed to the girl immediately.

He saw a fat middle-aged man pulling his girlfriend's hair with one hand, and he slapped her face with the other. "Stupid bitch! Who do you think you are? How dare you slap me!"

Dennis Prager's nickname was Thilapas (which means battle warlock in Teleska), and his father ran a clothing factory and was a very resourceful and well-connected businessman. For most of the time, he and Oliver Garth had met certain troubles and he had fought within institutions, firms, and organizations, even becoming infamous and given the nickname Thilapas. These firms are all integrated with high-grade nullification crystals which make everyone who steps into the building unable to use their ability unless they possess the corresponding node crystal which all the guards in the building possess. This method is widely adopted in 90% of buildings to curb unnecessary high rates of deaths caused as a result of battles between ability users.

The sight of his girlfriend being attacked made him burst with anger. He rushed to the middle-aged man and kicked him, sending the latter reeling back and falling to the ground.

"To hell with you, fat pig head!" Dennis Prager stomped on the head of the fallen man. He didn't go too far as to beat him to a pulp because of the securities.

The plump middle-aged man struggled to his feet and shouted, "Who are you, boy? Tell me your name; I will make you pay for this!"

"Name is Dennis Prager; I am in the Queen's Hall. Come find me if you dare!"

Dennis Prager felt lighthearted after having avenged his girlfriend. He took his girl's hand and started back to the Queen's Hall.

When Dennis Prager got back to his friends, he was surrounded by them asking what the commotion was about. He plastered on a nonchalant look and then said, "A fat pig had his hand on my girl, Melissa Begor. His accent was from the western side. I kicked his fat ass before he could run away."

Melissa Begor was his new girlfriend. He was extra protective of her while the flame of new love's passion was still hot inside of him.

"That's badass!" A friend next to him punched him in the chest. The comment sent Dennis Prager's ego high above the clouds.

"It's better to be careful. We are not on our own turf. We could end up with a hot mess in our hands," a rich child warned everyone.

"We are almost done here, anyway; let's move." Milliette Visoki got up and willed everyone else to do the same. Like many girls, she hated troubles.

"What are you so afraid of? Oliver Garth's dad can get us out of any shit. His dad owns a five-star hotel. That shit isn't for show, you know." Salopot Migrandes held onto Milliette Visoki's waist and said proudly.

Oliver Garth smiled, also proud of his father's resourcefulness. He held up the glass and said, "There's nothing to be afraid of! There are so many of us here, anyway. Come on; let's party!"

Everyone loosened up a bit after hearing Oliver Garth's reassurance. They raised their cups for a toast. Seeing that no one wanted to leave, Milliette Visoki simply stood there and was not sure what to do.

This was a group of rich brats who had never been denied anything. Fueled by alcohol and hormones, they quickly forgot about the incident and started partying like there was no tomorrow.

Eli furrowed his brows, he had watched that confrontation between Dennis Prager and the fat man. Although Dennis Prager was blinded by rage, Eli wasn't. He could see the man possessed a bracelet on his hand with the corresponding node of a nullifying crystal, so it was obvious he was highly favored in this establishment. The even stranger thing that was nagging at the back of Eli's mind was that the fat man didn't use his ability or fight back and just allowed Dennis Prager to beat him up. "Could it be he ticked off the wrong guy? That fat man he had just ruffled feathers with doesn't seem simple." He reckoned that he should leave with Milliette Visoki as soon as possible before the matter spiraled out of control.

 "Milliette, it's getting late. Auntie Visoki is waiting for us at home. Should we head back?"

Hearing this, Salopot Migrandes's face suddenly hardened. "What do you mean? Do you want to take Milly away? My birthday party hasn't started yet!"

"Who the heck are you? Why are you so controlling?" another girl piped up.

Oliver Garth shook his head and grunted, "Hey man, that's lame. Am I not being a good host to you? Well, the door is right there if you want to leave. But she is not going with you unless she wants to."

Oliver Garth had put Milliette Visoki on the spot, forcing her to choose between Eli and all of her friends. She soon felt everyone, including Eli's eyes, fall on her.

Milliette Visoki cursed in her mind, but her choice was clear. After all, she was not going to ditch all of her best friends for someone who she barely knew.

After some awkward moments, a faint smile finally broke over her frowning face. "Of course I will stay with you guys."

Then, she turned around and gave Eli a sidelong glance. "Please let my mom know that I will be late when you get back."

She had made her decision, and Eli knew he wouldn't be able to change her mind.

Salopot Migrandes slapped Milliette Visoki's shoulder and gave her a hug. She kissed her on the cheek and cheered, "I love you!"

Salopot Migrandes then gave Eli a contemptuous glare. "What are you waiting for? Do you want me to point you to the door?"

Salopot Migrandes's scathing words made everyone burst out laughing. They sneered at the dorky loser who dared rise up to challenge the popular kids.

"No one wants you here, dork! Even Milliette Visoki has ditched you. Get out!"

Thalassa Aurelia nudged Milliette Visoki's elbow, but the latter wasn't going to change her mind. Milliette Visoki would be lying if she said she didn't feel the slightest remorse for Eli. However, if she changed her mind and left with Eli, Salopot Migrandes and Oliver Garth would never forgive her for it. She knew that staying was her only choice.

Eli stood still amidst the jeers and sneers. He shook his head in resignation. It is what it is; he can't fix stupid. They can't even protect themselves when the trouble comes. Unlike him, who wasn't affected by the nullifying crystal, they were all definitely affected. Before someone with the corresponding node of the nullifying crystal, they are as helpless as target dummies.

As Eli was about to turn around and head for the exit, he felt a strange sensation inside him, causing him to pause. The feeling was a mixture of curiosity and satisfaction. "What the heck, I'm already here anyway. Might as well figure out what will happen to them," he thought to himself.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged man pushed open the door of the Imperial Hall, panting heavily and bursting with anger. The Imperial Hall was spacious with luxurious interiors: Alucart carpet, a 300-inch LED screen, and blue Pogerion leather sofas. The setting was sparse, elegant, and luxurious.

Sitting in the middle of the sofa was a man in a suit. Beside him was a huge, six-foot-tall, black panther-like beast with purple markings, emitting a dangerous aura. Everyone else sat around the man in the suit; it was evident that he was the center of power and wealth in this room.

The man in the suit was startled when the fat middle-aged man stormed into the room.

"Buggen Moffitt, what the hell is going on?"