Welcome To Black Sugar

Meraki was stunned by what was written on the walls of the Monarch ruins. The memories he got from Ray were far from what he had in front of him. The more he read, the more disgusted he became. Aleron was obsessed with attracting something from the outside, even though they would end up being his food, they didn't seem to care, it was a sacrifice or immolation as a tribute to these beings that came from outside. His brothers could not understand the language so he, as his older brother, was responsible for instructing them. He could read and write the language that until a couple of hours ago he did not know. It comes naturally to him like when he witnessed his father's fight with Karoline.

Ray watched the instruction to the teenagers as something curious and wistful memories would come to him, when he was with his comrades. How Lira reprimanded Bootes and him every time they made jokes or they pretended not to understand the situation to drive him crazy. He laughed loudly recalling that and his children looked at him confused, because his father was not laughing with such force and courage. Meraki by his side, he knew why and just shook his head. His father was comparing him with one of his uncles and he did not like that, because he knew what they were like thanks to Ray's memories.

They ran with plenty of time to study so they found it necessary to start with the large-scale harvest plan and then spend their time on other things. They put all of their digital notebooks on the table and headed past the file room right into the middle of a room filled with glass tubes. Misshapen creatures that looked dead or dried out floating in a bluish liquid. A dashboard filled with buttons, radars, clocks, sensors, and levers 20 feet long by 5 feet wide was displayed in front of an archaic screen. Ray pressed a button and the dash as the screen lit up. An immense radar was displayed on the screen indicating the position of the Leyhams. It was divided into sections and that made Ray put on a vicious smile.

Ray pressed a button and a 5 minute countdown appeared on the north radar, flashing red.

-When the section turns green, I will go out to play for a while and when I finish you will follow. Maybe it will last a couple of days or more, I don't know since the leyhams abound in this area today. But, whatever you do, don't follow me unless you want to die, I lose my sanity when I fight seriously and with no one around. You'll be safe down here- Ray took off his coat, tie, unbuttoned a couple of buttons and rolled up his shirt cuffs as he silently prayed in preparation for war.

-Father, remember that you must stop to eat and rest from time to time. Your health could decline again and if that happens .....- Cydonia was nervous about Ray's departure.

-I will only go hunting to harvest, and if I get tired I will come back. You should not worry, instead you should take care of yourself more than me. Those pests are on the loose and you could be their target because of that. Get stronger and show me what they're made of- Ray hugs Cyd and then her other children before leaving.

-It will be a very long harvest. Fuuu I'll take care of everything in your absence father with the help of this pair, right? -Meraki snorts and he turns to look at his brothers very carefully.

-Yes, we will do whatever the older brother says, we promise. We will also train hard and every so often we will go to the castle to get the news, father. - Zion straightens up showing that he was ready to start.

-I'm sure if. Take care while I'm gone. See you- Ray says goodbye leaving the children on the premises.

The three of them sit and stare at the screen and Zion creates a Watchful Eye to match the radar information. They would watch their father's fight and learn his moves to use in the future. Ending these pests was their main task to prevent the emergence of the other plague in the future and even if it was not possible to avoid it, at least they would be prepared.

Ray was standing on the manastone counting the seconds to start the hunt-harvest. When he finished the counter, only the section where he was in the Gray Strip, turned the same red color as the desert, leaving behind the yellow gray. The area had become safe to walk around and the plan to grow life in it seemed more viable than ever. This land was to be the epicenter of the beginning of the end for half the world in the future.

He stepped down from the rock and he began to walk forward as his aura emanated in an atrocious way to lure prey into the jaws of the beast. The earth began to shake and a hundred leyhams appeared on the radar. The children were attentive and one by one the points on the radar began to disappear.

**

Gedeon and Darius were hiding in the shadows in an alley, watching the show being put on. Some policemen had rounded up a gang of young thieves and were beating them.

One of the policemen grabbed what appeared to be the leader by the hair while punching him in the stomach, the others were being beaten and resisting.

-I think I told them, that if they didn't deliver the fees they couldn't continue here. They make fun of us filthy half-breed shit, if it weren't for us they would be rotting in a correctional or worse in Doirse Ifrinn.-

-...-

-So you're playing hero? You told them they shouldn't pay us. They follow you because they think you are a great leader, but there were others before who refused to pay and ended up worse than shit, just look at the leader of the Nest, "Ibis", he ended up dead in Doirse Ifrinn for not cooperate hahaha-

-Go to hell ... tufff- the boy on the ground, spat at the policeman and this pissed off grabbed his gun.

-So that's all you have, you mixed bastard.- This will serve as a lesson so that they do not disobey us-

The police officer did not press the trigger and he collapsed on the ground. Then his companions accompanied him. Out of nowhere Darius appeared causing confusion in the group of young people on the ground.

-It seems that this will be a difficult group, don't you think Condor? -

-In fact, Owl, we will have a lot of work from here on. So I'll get right to the point since we're against the clock. Since we temporarily solved your problem gentlemen, would you like to work for us? We promise good benefits and remuneration according to your effort-

The young men still did not get out of their amazement and looked suspiciously at the pair of men who appeared before them out of nowhere. The leader of the group could recognize Darius and furiously rebuked him causing his group to become alert.

-Hehe yes of course. Fuck you, Darius Fersa .First dead before entering the Nest. They will end up worse than us one day and you want us to join you to use us as bait, you must lack a screw to ask for that.-

-Oh! You mean what the Bubblegum leader said? Or what the Bishop said? I'm curious to hear it from you Nelson Rosso -

-Hey?! How do you know .... It doesn't matter, you and your group are going to die-

Darius smiles and takes some pills out of his pocket to throw at Nelson and his group, leaving them wondering what that was.

-Noelia-

-What do you know about her? Answer to me!!!-

-And if I told you that her destiny was King Espin's bed to later be sold to brothels just like my mother and many other girls. Or if I told you that it was Bubblegum and the Bishop who orchestrated that plan. What would you tell me Nelson? -

Nelson swallowed hard at Darius's devilish, insinuating gaze.

-I can give you the revenge that your people long for and as a symbol of peace, I'm giving them a second chance ahead-

Nelson swallows the pill and his group follows. After convulsing they began to heal and saw that the people in front of them were waiting for an answer.

-What exactly does the Nest want from us? -

-They won't be working for the Nest, but for us. We are a group unknown apart from the rest. So do they help us destroy others from within? In return we will tell you everything we know and more-

The young people look at each other and nod, confirming the invitation.

-Welcome to Black Sugar ladies and gentlemen, please follow us.

A portal opened and the group crossed without hesitation to their new base.