Chapter 1

Venierreaze; a planet of complete and utter chaos. There isn't a moment where your life isn't constantly at stake. Hundreds of thousands of people die each day(which isn't much in relation to its global population which fluctuates in the hundred billions). You can't simply escape death on Venierreaze, it chases you faster than you can run. But even with the destruction, danger, and vile creatures on Venierreaze; there is always some light wherever you go. And we're going to present-day Death City to a certain tall, red-haired woman named Lisa Pernalli, who works as a cashier at a retail store on the busy street of Dorn.

Present Day

Although I wasn't wealthy, I managed to make a comfortable living for myself by bounty hunting and serving in Death City's air force. Today was like any other day; robberies, attacks, streetfights, crowded streets; but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. 

As usual, I open up the shop, turn on the lights and air conditioning and sit behind the register waiting for customers. The first person to come in gave me a little anxiety, he was a tall, dark, and muscular man. I hadn't seen him before nor did I know who he was. But either way, I had to be polite and greet him, so I said, "Good Morning sir, what can I get ya?" He glared at me for a few seconds before replying in a deep, husky accent, "Hello, I'm looking for a girl by the name, Elizabeth Pernalli. Do you know her?". I was confused as to how he knew my sister and what he wanted with her. But knowing my sister, she's always causing problems with dangerous people and making enemies. No matter what she got herself into, I had to have her back. So I just pretended I didn't know her and said, "Oh yeah, she used to work here but she quit a while ago and I haven't seen her since, why?". He looked as if he knew I was lying and replied in an irritated tone, "Mmm… well I would believe that if your nametag didn't say Lisa Pernalli". 

'Damn it, stupid nametag', I thought to myself before thinking of another lie, "Oh, I hadn't noticed. I must've grabbed the wrong tag, my co-worker-" "Don't bull**** me!", he cut me off angrily. "Where is Elizabeth?", he yelled. "Tell me or I will snap your neck with my bare hands." I replied sarcastically, "Well, what else would you use?". His eyes lit up with rage as he took large strides toward me. Having been in the army I instinctively pulled out a speargun from under the desk and sternly told him, "Back the hell up". He stopped in his tracks. His eyes were red and full of rage. 

Without wasting another breath I told him, "Get out". And as he slowly walked backward a group of men burst through the doors and lit up the place with bullets. For obvious reasons, I ducked behind the desk. I could hear punching sounds as I hid and the men grunting in pain with each hit. I slowly peeked over the desk and saw the original man beating the hell out of the other guys with ease. 

While he was distracted I took my chance and shot him in the back with the speargun I was holding. He shrieked in pain, "Agh, you little b****". Being a bounty hunter I always carry weapons on me; especially throwing knives. And without a second thought, I jumped over the desk and threw my knives directly at him and a couple of the robbers, gut-punched one of the guys and uppercut him then drop-kicked the big guy. With all the other guys completely unconscious I had my focus on the initial guy and pulled out my handgun aiming at his face. I've decided to call this guy 'Medena' meaning 'evil one' in Areanic. 

"I'm Barren Kartovyan, 'Industry Titan', you don't want to threaten me", he said confidently. I sarcastically replied, "And I'm gonna kick your a**." He looked fearfully yet angrily at me for a moment. Wondering what I could get out of him I asked, "What do you want with my sister?" "I ask the questions around here", he scoffed. "Well you're not the one holding a gun, are you?", I said back. At that, he replied, "Do this, and things will get real messy for you." I thought to myself, what could he possibly do after he dies? But then it hit me; he's not just some random dude, he's a mob boss. I tried not to show any expression on my face when I said, "I don't give a damn what you think you can do." But he saw right through me. "I will have you and your family in the ground by nightfall if you don't put your gun down." I had no time to think, my only options were to kill him now and lose the little family I had left, or put the gun down and be on his hit list. 

Keeping a serious expression, I got up off of him and put the gun in my back pocket. "Alright, what do you want", I asked, already knowing his intentions. "You know I want your sister, so tell me where she's hiding", he demanded. I honestly had no idea where she could be so I wasn't lying to him when I said, "Sorry, I don't know". "Don't lie to me", he replied, getting impatient. "Seriously, I don't know! She rarely ever talks to me, let alone about her personal affairs", I said truthfully.

Seeing the irritation on his face, I quickly thought of the most convincing lie I could and said, "She's in Imperial City on business". He grew livid as he responded, " You think I am idiot, you wouldn't willingly give up her whereabouts". "Well you kinda have no other choice but to believe me or you'll never find her", I said propitiously. He took a deep breath and recollected himself and offered, "How 'bout this, if I find your sister, I let you go scot-free; If not, I take your head and eventually hers". Although I took that as more of a threat, I concurred, "Sure, if you think that's necessary". "I do, and I'm glad you agree", he replied with a smirky grin. "I don't, I concede. You clearly have the upper hand in this situation". "Thank you for knowing your place; people tend to have this false sense of authority— I'm glad you don't", he replied vainly. I began to get irritated with his boastful ego, knowing I had no choice but to heed his words. Still, I had to throw in a jeer remark to let him know I won't just stand there and take it, "Right cuz you do". He completely ignored my remark and went on to say, "I'll be back here in a few days, either for your head or to treat you to dinner". I didn't say anything in reply and just let him leave. I mean really, what was I supposed to do at this point?