Chapter 13: A Gang Takes Root
The air outside Bloodfang High was thick with the remnants of the day's tension. Dikun Silver stood at the edge of the rusted chain-link fence, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets. Beside him was Kellan, the bruiser who had once been feared — now a recruit.
The whispers of the crowd still echoed in the back of Dikun's mind.
"Silver beat Jax and took down Kellan?"
"No way. The Iron Fangs won't let this slide."
"Maybe he really is different."
> System Notification:
Gang Progress: 1/10 Members
First Recruit Gained: Kellan (Level 5 Brawler)
Reputation: Bloodfang High (Respected)
"Feels weird," Kellan muttered, his voice low as he rubbed his sore jaw. "Following someone else again."
Dikun glanced at him. "You're not following me. You're standing with me. There's a difference."
Kellan scoffed, though there was no hostility in it. "We'll see."
Rico jogged over, a grin plastered across his face. "Man, that fight was insane! You've got half the school talking, Silver. People are wondering what's next."
"Good," Dikun said. "Because we're not done yet."
---
A Plan in Motion
After the victory over Jax, Dikun knew the Iron Fangs wouldn't stay silent. Graves would respond, and the retaliation would be swift. Dikun needed to be ready.
But strength alone wouldn't be enough. He needed numbers.
"Rico," Dikun said as the three of them made their way down the cracked pavement. "Who else in this school is worth recruiting?"
"That's a tough one," Rico replied, scratching his head. "Most people either fall in line with the Iron Fangs or keep their heads down. But…"
He paused.
"There's a few names," Rico continued. "But convincing them won't be easy. Especially with Graves breathing down their necks."
"Give me names," Dikun said without hesitation.
"Alright. First off, there's Tori. She's fast, fights like a damn whirlwind. Used to run with one of the smaller gangs before the Iron Fangs crushed them. She hates Graves, but she's careful. Getting her on board will be tricky."
Dikun nodded. "Who else?"
"Then there's Lee. Smart. Knows how to talk his way out of anything. People say he's been keeping tabs on all the gangs, waiting for his chance to pick a side. Could be useful for intel."
"And the last one?"
Rico hesitated. "There's Benny. Ex-Iron Fang. He got booted after losing a fight to one of Graves' top guys. The guy's still strong, but he's got a grudge the size of this school."
Dikun's expression remained calm, but the gears in his mind turned. Three recruits. Each with their own reasons to fight.
"Perfect."
> System Notification:
New Objective: Recruit Potential Members
Tori (Pending)
Lee (Pending)
Benny (Pending)
---
The Shadow of Graves
The next morning, Bloodfang High was eerily quiet. Word had spread fast — Jax's defeat had thrown the Iron Fangs into disarray.
But Dikun knew better than to think the silence would last.
"Graves is watching," Kellan warned as they walked toward the schoolyard. "He's not the type to let something like this go unanswered."
Dikun nodded. "Let him watch."
They passed through the gates, but before they could get far, a voice echoed across the yard.
"Silver!"
The crowd parted, revealing a tall figure leaning against a rusted pole. Graves. His slick black hair and cold eyes gleamed with amusement. The leader of the Iron Fangs carried himself like a king — and in Bloodfang High, he practically was.
"Enjoying the spotlight?" Graves sneered, his lips curling into a mock smile. "You've been busy."
Dikun didn't flinch. "And I'm just getting started."
Graves laughed, the sound low and dangerous. "You think you can walk into my school, beat my men, and build something? You've got guts, Silver. But guts won't keep you breathing."
The crowd held its breath. Even Kellan tensed, his fists clenching.
"You're afraid," Dikun said calmly. "That's why you're here."
Graves' grin faltered for a moment, but the amusement returned just as quickly. "You'll learn soon enough."
With a sharp gesture, Graves signaled to his lackeys, and the Iron Fangs retreated. But not before his parting words rang out:
"Bloodfang belongs to me, Silver. You'll regret thinking otherwise."
> System Notification:
Event Progression: The Iron Fangs are Watching You.
Expect Retaliation Soon.
---
A Step Forward
Later that day, Dikun, Rico, and Kellan gathered in the school's shadowed courtyard. It was a quiet corner — the perfect place for planning.
"Graves won't wait long," Kellan said. "He'll come at you harder next time."
"Then we'll be ready," Dikun replied. "But first, we grow."
Rico nodded, his grin returning. "So, who's first on the list?"
"Tori," Dikun said without hesitation. "If we're going to stand against the Iron Fangs, we need speed and unpredictability. She's the best at both."
"And if she says no?" Kellan asked.
Dikun's expression hardened. "Then I'll give her a reason to say yes."
> Next Chapter:
Dikun sets his sights on Tori, but winning her over means proving his strength once again. Meanwhile, the Iron Fangs plan their next move — and this time, Graves isn't holding back.