Velstrea.
The Eightfold, Steel City.
Decades ago, Velstrea was created as a last bastion for humanity. After many years of development, 8 different districts formed in different parts of the city.
District 1: Civitas Core
Also known as the Government District and the Heart of Velstrea, District 1 sits on an elevated plateau in Central Velstrea. A gleaming, high-rise stock full of security drones and regulation is maintained to a high degree.
District 2: Mercadia
Also known as the Commercial District, it's also located in Central Velstrea, directly under District 1. Bustling and widely diverse. Travelers, sellers, and informants usually meet here. Markets and shops sell anything you can think of. The biggest auctions typically happen here.
District 3: Southwall
Also known as the Working Class District, it is located in Southeast Velstrea. This District is home to a fair amount of Velstrea's population. Houses, apartment complexes, hotels, schools, offices, malls, and plazas fill the District.
District 4: Sonaria
Also known as the Art District and is located in Western Velstrea. A District full of art, lights, and illusion. Filled with theaters, galleries, museums, and halls. Many people come here to fulfill a dream or enjoy a high form of entertainment.
District 5: Neurospan
Also known as the Tech and Research District and the Intellect Engine of Velstrea. It is located in Northern-Central Velstrea. Research towers and labs fill the transparent domed center under artificially made weather. This District pioneers technology and science in Velstrea.
District 6: Fortis Bloc
Also known as the Military District and the Defense of Velstrea. Located on the Northeast edge of Velstrea, barracks, academies, and testing grounds surround the area.
District 7: Hollowpark
Also known as the Gravesite District located on the Southern edge of Velstrea. A quiet cemetery full of marble gravestones remembering the dead.
District 8: Downreach
Also known as the Slums District located in a lower, underground section of Velstrea under District 1 and 2. Many do not even consider it a District due to its lack of maintenance from the government. Outlaws and fugitives make home in rusty sewers and abandoned, run down houses.
While development of Velstrea began in 1991, 37 years later in 2028, the large city is now seen as complete.
...
"So… when do we leave?" Lucen had only slightly come to terms with everything that has been happening.
"Tonight. For now, please feel free to lounge around until then."
"I still have a lot of questions but alright… "
Sana suddenly hopped directly in front of Lucen, beaming a bright smile at him. "Let's hang out!"
"Sure… (With the way she's looking at me, I don't think I have much of a choice.)"
"I'm Sana, by the way!"
"As I've come to know…"
"Ok follow me! I have somewhere I want to take you."
Lucen followed Sana as she skipped out of the room. "(Is this girl always so energetic? Such a stark contrast from her refined sisters. She's like a puppy, always smiling and jumping around.)"
Sana led Lucen down the corridor and stopped at a door on the left side, a few feet from the staircase that leads to the second floor. She opened the door and it led right outside to a courtyard with a fountain in the middle and a large grass field next to it.
"Here we are!"
"Wow. Really adds to the extravagance of this whole place. So, what did you bring me here for?"
"Well… I wanted to have a spar with you!"
"A spar…?"
"Yeah! It'll be fun!"
"You mean like a fighting spar? You know how to fight?"
"Of course I do! I fight practically every single day!"
"Uhh, sure… I have nothing to do anyways. So what, we just have a go with anything. (Normally, I would be pretty hesistant to fight a girl of her stature, but considering she's not even human, it should be fine... right?)"
"Yeah! First one to get knocked down and hit the floor loses. We'll start when I say go."
"3…"
"2…"
"1…"
"Go!"
In an instant, Sana closed the distance between them and threw a spinning high kick at Lucen. He narrowly ducked and shifted to the side. The power of the kick being shown by the massive heap of wind that blew past Lucen.
"What the hell?!"
Sana continued the onslaught of kicks with Lucen narrowly dodging each one. Some, if not for his unnatural reaction time, would have caught him. Lucen caught his footing and weaved through another kick before throwing a one-two combo (left jab and right cross) in return. Sana dodged easily and threw a high side kick towards Lucen. This exchange of punches and kicks continued for a bit.
"(She's insanely fast! Faster than anyone I've ever fought in my life! But her kicks, they aren't perfect. In fact, they're very amateurish. She telegraphs before she attacks and she doesn't chamber or re-chamber her kicks. I can take advantage of that.)"
Lucen noticed, right before Sana threw a kick, despite how fast they were, her kicks lacked control. She kicks wildly and lets her leg drop instead of controlling it. Of course, Lucen only sees this due to his high level of perception which doesn't stop at just reading people but noticing smaller details. Lucen changed into a less guarded stance. Sana, seeing the openings, struck at the unguarded areas of Lucen's body with a multitude of kicks.
"(Of course, that was on purpose. Doesn't seem like she uses punches either, so this should be convenient for me.)"
Lucen saw that she was going to go for a roundhouse kick with her right leg. Sana threw the fast roundhouse and Lucen ducked but instead of moving back, he sidestepped to the right of Sana. As he predicted, Sana dropped her foot, leaving her vulnerable for a very quick moment. Taking advantage of the small moment, Lucen swept her unstable back foot, causing her to tumble.
"AH!"
Sana hit the ground with a thump.
"Owww… What happened? Ah! I… I lost! Wow... you're good!"
Lucen stretched out his hand and helped her back up on her feet.
"Sana… You… You have potential! Yes, I can see it! Those kicks! The speed at which you throw them! Amazing!"
"Huh?!"
"You have to let me train you! Your kicks, if you train them properly… you'll be unstoppable!"
"R-Really?!"
"Yes!"
"And I'll get stronger?!"
"Yes!"
"Stronger?!"
"Yes!"
"Please train me then!"
"Alright, first things first! I will teach you how to properly throw a kick! Are you ready, Trainee?!"
"Wait... but I already know how to kick."
"Properly! Your kicks lack control but with practice, you'll be kicking even more accurately and even faster than you do now!"
"Really?!"
"Yes! So once again! Are you ready, Trainee?!"
"Sir, yes sir!"
"(Heh. I think you and I will get along just well.)"
Lucen spent time teaching Sana how to properly kick as well as how to control them and balance.
~A Few Hours Later In The Lounge~
"Alright, is everyone ready to go?"
"Yup!"
"Yes."
"Absolutely not…"
"Okay. Let's head out."
"So… How are we getting there? As far as I know, the trains don't enter District 8."
"With this." Lia walked to the middle of the lounge room and pulled out a small piece of paper with unrecognizable symbols on it.
"Stand near me."
"Ok…" Lucen walked over and stood next to Lia. Sana and Vonica followed suit.
"Transfer!"
Suddenly, a red magic circle, something similar to the one Lucen saw during his first meeting with Lia appeared.
"Woah!" Suddenly, Lucen's vision became obscured by darkness and in an instant, the blindness faded, revealing a sight of a rusted, mossy wall.
"What the hell?!" Lucen, perplexed, looked around the area. They seemed to be in a room that has clearly seen better days. The room, slightly dark, the only light being provided by a light source from outside of the room. The air, filled with a sharp smell of rust and damp concrete. Looking down, Lucen noticed another piece of paper, similar to the one Lia was holding, laying on the floor.
"That paper… Did we just… teleport with that..?"
"Yes. It's called a Transfer Seal. It requires two papers to utilize. When one is placed, the other paper can be used to return to that same paper as long as the paper remains there. If it's moved, the seal loses function."
"Just when I thought I've already seen it all…"
"Our mission is to hunt a stray from the Kiilin Family, a small but notable Family in the Underworld . Based on the information we've received, the stray should match this description: Six feet tall, spiky dark red hair, a long scar running from his eye to his nose, and a ripped, stained black coat. Traces of him should be left around the middle part of District 8. Once we pick that up, we can immediately track him down. Let's go."
The group walked out of the room which led right outside. Lucen took in his surroundings. The building they stepped out of and everything else around it. Sights of abandoned buildings, broken structures, trash and homeless people filled the area, establishing District 8's earned reputation. There was no sky as this District existed completely underground. The sight above was only stone. The only lights coming from street lamps.
"Ugh… The smell." The musty scent increased outside, hitting Lucen's nose immediately.
"Stay close to us, Lucen."
"Don't gotta tell me twice."
The group continued further into the depths of District 8 to search for signs of the stray devil.