Lawrence was bored, sitting in his penthouse in the center of the Northern Kingdom. The sky was sunny, the scene from his desk was beautiful, his maids walked around cleaning while his chefs made him dinner, but he was bored. He was angry.
"Are you stupid? You missed a spot." He called out to a maid who was cleaning. She instantly tensed up, apologizing.
"We don't pay you to do nothing but clean and you can't even do that. You're fired."
The woman couldn't protest. This was Lawrence. If she even spoke out of turn, he could have her family hanged, he could have most businesses in the kingdom blacklist her, he could even make parts of the underground reject her. This man was someone who was not worth even annoying, let alone arguing with.
The maid finished her cleaning and walked out, and Lawrence leaned back, glancing out the window. His gaze fell back, filled with boredom. He played with a small ball, tossing it around the room, using his power of elasticity to allow it to bounce off solid objects better and faster.
His butler walked in holding a tray of premium quality beef, a rare meat considering how hard it was to hunt cows—the mutant gene having given 99% of cows powerful mutations that made the beef just that much more rare and harder to obtain. The most common meats were whale since the larger the creature, the lower the chance the mutation would affect it.
One single bite and Lawrence slams the tray into his butler's head, knocking him over as he beats him with the metal tray.
"You had it overcooked, you stupid bastard. Are you all trying to piss me off today?"
The butler did not respond. The correct response was to take the beating, so he lay there, head bleeding as the metal bent against his skull with each hit.
Before he could go further, his watch buzzed green. Someone had rung his doorbell. Glancing at it and looking at the security feed, he saw Maria Kortez standing at the door waiting.
He lowered the tray and glanced at the butler with disgust.
"What are you doing? We have an important guest and you're just sitting there. Don't make me fire you too," he says, slumping back in his chair, spitting on the butler as the butler walks over through rooms and lets Maria into the penthouse.
She eyes the bleeding butler but says nothing. Only Xander could question Lawrence's behaviour without dying, and she wasn't with him this time. She walked through the rooms and found Lawrence sitting in his chair at his desk, looking out at the kingdom.
"What brings you here this time?"
She pulls out her tablet from her bag.
"I identified more anomalies and started the last section of the chip." She says, looking at her own phone. "We need another 4 weeks."
Lawrence's hand squeezes on his chair as veins pop out on his forehead and arms.
"Why is everyone trying to annoy me today? I gave you 4 fucking months to make it, and you want more time? Do I need to remind you of what I can do?" He smiles.
Maria clenches her fists, annoyed.
"First, I didn't even make it for you in the first place. Second, if you do anything, Xander won't just stand by."
"You think I'm scared of HIM!" He slams his fist into the armrest, glaring at her. "He's strong, but he has limits and weaknesses. I'm tired of people talking about him like he's a god. Only I deserve such a title."
He stands up and steps close to her, whispering, "The second the chip is done, I will be killing him, and you will be sent off to the nearest hospital because when I'm done with him, you don't want to know what I plan to do to you."
"I don't see why Xander even chose to help you. All you do is this shit and you even admit to wanting to kill him."
"It's obvious," he smirks. "Deep down he fears me. I am better than him. I will always be better than him!"
His fingers twitch as she steps back.
"How old are you again?" He smiles. "You have decent looks. You would make good money now that I think about it."
"You're disgusting." She pulls out her pocket knife. "I'm done. Finish that stupid chip yourself. Xander will listen to me over you."
Lawrence hesitates for a second. He's smart, but not smart enough to finish making this chip. If he was, he wouldn't have even worked with these two. All he has over them is threats, and this annoys him further as he breaks back into a smile.
"Now let's not do that. I won't lie, I can't finish it without you, and you're right—Xander would do whatever you say."
"Shut up. I'm done." The knife in her hand twitches. She can't fight Lawrence. In terms of power he's stronger, but Lawrence won't kill her unless he's fully provoked.
She takes a step forward and eyes him, purposely lowering the knife slightly as if she's reconsidering. Once close, she kicks him in the stomach towards the window. Her power compared to his was low—he didn't even feel pain—but he also didn't expect it. Her being so smart, he didn't think she'd stupidly kick him.
He grabs her arm, anger flashing across his eyes as he warps the elasticity of his body while she tries to stab him. The knife goes in, bouncing right off as he twists her arm. A little more and it would break.
"I thought you were smart, and then you pull something like this."
She knees him but her knee bounces off as he smacks her across the face, tossing her to the ground.
She pulls another knife out of her bag this time, sprinting forward and slashing at his arms. He simply blocks each one with his rubber-like skin, but then she pulls out a small vial and smashes it against his arm. The purple liquid stains his skin and starts to eat away at him as he stumbles back. She leaps forward, slamming down the knife—but this time at the window behind him—shattering the window as she body-slams him out.
She rubs her jaw as she looks out, watching his body ragdoll towards the ground far below. He won't die, but she's bought enough time to run.
Grabbing the tablet off the desk and looking through his desk drawers for USBs, data disks, and anything else she can download before she runs, she sprints past the butler who was still bleeding. He should've stopped her, but he smiled and watched her run off. Down the hall she stops in front of the elevator, opens up the side panel, disables the elevator, then heads to the rooftop. If not the elevator, then he'll definitely take the stairs.
Down below on the ground, Lawrence slowly gets up as his rubber body shapes back into his normal form. He looks up and sighs before slamming his fist into the wall of the building, but he's not stupid. 'She's probably blocked the path up,' he thinks to himself as he takes a step back from the building.
He jumps up slightly, landing onto the air which has become a sort of trampoline due to his elasticity effect. By constantly changing the output and jumping, he propels himself up the side of the building, and when slowing down he just does it again.
Maria can hear his screams the second she exits out onto the roof as he calls out her name, voice climbing higher. She curses at herself for not having gone down as she searches through her bag, pulling out different vials of liquids and gas.
Lawrence's body launches past the building up in the air as he slams down onto the roof, glaring at her. Without a word he charges at her and she reaches into her pocket, pulling out a small cylinder. With a flick of her wrist it extends into a bo staff while she twists, slamming it into him, pushing him to the side. As he goes for a right hook, she blocks it with the other end of the staff.
Blocking each of his fast punches and kicks while countering with her staff, she stabs the end through his leg. His rubber should've saved him but he was tired from using all his energy scaling the building. He could not manifest his power properly and a blade popped out of the end of the staff that pierced through his leg.
Now apart, he breathes heavily, building up his energy in one last move. In turn she hops back, spinning her staff.
"You are one annoying little girl."
His hands twist violently as his body turns stretchy and rubber again, the wind around him forming daggers as he changed their property with his touch.
"Because you're useful, I will give you one last chance," his voice hums with rage as his fingers caress the blades he makes. "Finish the chip, or you will never see your brother again."
"No." Plain and simple.
He charged forward at her, the blades of elasticated wind coming at her from different angles as she jumps back and spins her staff so the blunt end faces him.
"Humanity mastered other forms of violence to counter powers—like the gun!"
A violent burst as a vial shoots out of the edge of the staff like a bullet, slamming into his chest. It explodes and the corrosive liquid burns through his skin as he screams and falls to the ground. The elasticated blades vanish into nothing due to his lack of focus as he claws at his chest. He can't remove it but he won't stop trying—the pain unbearable but not lethal. The worst kind.
Maria runs past him towards the edge of the building, slamming her staff into the ground, using it to pole-vault off the roof. High above the ground she spins and the sides of her staff shoot out, turning into a glider, letting her distance herself from Lawrence who stays clawing at himself on the roof.
***
Xander, back in the underground right after Maria had left, heads down the street back towards the eastern district. Near the borders, wind coils around his feet as he leaps into the air ready to propel himself over, but something wraps around his leg.
Below, a fat man in a red suit and winter coat holds onto the other end of the scarf that had wrapped around Xander's leg, yanking him back down. Xander spins and lands in front of the man.
"You think you can come into my district? You really have gotten full of yourself, Xander," the man barks out a laugh, patting Xander's shoulder. "When they said someone had entered the north district even after I made all the preparations for it to be closed, I knew it had to be you. Either that or the old devil and his butler."
"Lawrence is still exiled up above. Don't act like you didn't know." Xander states, his posture now stiffening. "What do you want?"
"Who? Oh that lunatic. No, I was talking about the old man and his hunter. Regardless, I want you to join the banquet." The man smiles violently. "You don't have a choice."
"I don't know who they are. Second, I won't be joining." Xander glances up at the man, distracted by his grotesque face and layers of fat.
"You've been avoiding it for too long. Even when you got your first invite 15 years ago. You don't have a choice this time. You entered the district while it was closed off. You can't leave now."
"You can't stop me."
"But I can ruin your life. You only run free because we district owners let you. Do not think we fear you. Remember, you are just a man. And if that isn't enough, you have quite the lovely sister, don't you?" The man smiled mockingly as Xander's face darkened.
"Half. I'll only stay for half the banquet. Once the main ceremony is done, I won't stay for the second."
Xander's hand clasps around the fat man's shoulder and he struggles to breathe. His voice doesn't come out and his body refuses to move. The only sound is Xander's whisper in his ear:
"And if you ever threaten Maria again, I will personally make sure you and your kin don't live to see the new year."
He lets go and walks away.
"You have my number so text me what to wear and the time."
He leaps into the air with a concentrated wind blast that sends him over rooftops as the fat man stumbles and rubs his neck, taking in deep breaths. His voice still hoarse and his eyes flared—not with anger, but greed. He wanted Xander on his side, and he was willing to do anything to make it happen.
Later in the evening, the fat man stood in the center of a large party room in the center of the Northants district. The huge building was the venue for every major event such as the banquet. The main room split into five sections: the first four were each given to a district owner, and the final slot was given to the king of the Underground, the true ruler of the King's Gambit.
The fat man was excited, for the true king hadn't shown up to a banquet in the past decade. The reason? Simply because Xander was not there. The true king had gotten bored of the banquets but he still made them mandatory as a staple of the Underworld. He did not attend as he already knew everyone there—except one.
In the center of the room was a large table. On each side sat a district owner. The fat man tapped his fat fingers eagerly as he glanced at the fifth chair—seated not at the table, but far back with a large table of its own—empty. The king had not arrived yet, neither had Xander. Who would show up first was the thing all four owners thought.
Bells rang violently as the large oak doors swung open. A wheelless carriage carried by 4 large men was brought into the room. Inside sat the true king, concealed by the curtains as he was brought to the center of the room. The chatter stopped and men and women turned and bowed. If they even breathed wrong they may be kicked out for offending the king's entrance.
A man in rags stood near the king's throne. He wasn't an attendee, but a simple cleaner who tended to the throne. The carriage stopped and the 4 men lowered it down. The curtains drew and a man in gold silk robes stood out, his head wrapped in his silk hood. On his face he wore an upside-down smiling mask. His body was not visible. To the people he was simply a slender man concealed by his wardrobe. The only skin visible was a faint mark on his neck of a star tattoo, and his pale hands.
The man who had been cleaning the throne turned around, surprised to see the true king.
"Move it." The words came out sharp, and the man darted away as the king took a step and sat back in his throne. One hand lay rested while the other raised. A single bony finger pressed against the edge of his mask.
"Thank you for hosting this year's banquet, Lord Vanley. Now before we start," he leaned back into his throne a bit, "where is he?"
The doors swung open, and in elegance—sharp eyes, perfect smile and features, dark hair and olive skin—a woman in a green flowing dress strode into the banquet, stopping in front of the king.
"Is he here yet, father?"
The king's fingers twitched.
"I was just wondering the same thing," his eyes glare at the fat man from under his mask.
"You're really impatient."
Xander's voice comes out slow and raspy from above. Every head darts up and there he is—wind coiled around his body as he slowly descends down, dark green and grey suit, his white hair messy and flowing as he adjusts his tie and rubs off what seems to be hot sauce from his lip.
"Sorry I'm late. I didn't want to be here so I went out to eat. Sauce was nice."
He says, finally landing at the end of the table opposite the king.
Stunned silence as men look at him with awe and women swoon. The faces of all four district managers tense with relief and hunger. They need this man. They all need him. They all want him to work under them. The king doesn't move, his mask not even slightly shifting as he speaks:
"I'm 17 years too late, but… welcome to the King's Gambit, Xander Kortez."
Xander stands there, the tension in the room thick as they wait for him to speak, but the king speaks again. His hand slowly moves as he gestures towards his daughter.
"You're quite far into your life. Would you care to marry my daughter?"
No response. Xander stays standing, looking between the king and his daughter.
"I'm not interested."
His words echoed softly around the hall. Women looked relieved and men looked shocked. The king didn't react. His daughter however slammed her hands on the table and glared at him.
"You can't be serious. What more could you possibly want in a woman? I'm strong, I'm pretty, and I'm next in line to rule the 4 districts. Tell me—what is it that I'm missing?"
Her teeth grind against each other, but no one commented. It simply wasn't worth the risk.
The king cut in, his hand raised towards his chin again.
"What about your sister?" His eyes seemed to wander behind his mask. "My son is fond of women, and your sister has gotten quite the praise from the district owners."
Unlike others, the king did not threaten. He simply asked. And for that, Xander did not shout. He simply smiled.
"No. She hasn't even begun thinking that far into life."
"Then it can't be helped," the king's voice sounded almost disappointed. "Nonetheless, sit wherever you like, and eat to your heart's content."
And so he did. Xander sat in a chair that had been placed on the right side of the king's table. In the center sat the king, and on the left his daughter. Bells rang as the doors swung open and waiters flooded in carrying trays of food. The first to be served was Xander and the king's daughter, after that the four district owners, and finally the attendees. The king himself did not eat. He just sat watching.
While Xander ate, attendees walked over—men and women all eager to meet him. Some asked about his power, others asked about his love life, a few even asked about his family.
His response was the same: he did not speak, he did not glance, and he did not even think of answering. He sat, and he ate, watching the grand clock that hung in the center of the wall tick by, waiting to leave.
With a sharp clapping sound his head snapped to the left. The fat man, the Northern district owner, stood on a stage in front of a podium, speaking slowly into the mic.
"Good evening. I, as you know, am Richard Vanley, this year's banquet host."
The attendees clapped and cheered.
"Let's get on with the ceremony. As you also know, the young lass Jasmine Zebyne, daughter of our humble king, is 24 soon, and as such she will inherit the golden armour. Give a round of applause."
No one moved. They did not care. The king was a hero; his daughter was not. She was a spoiled girl who made 'jokes' of the Gambit. Her ideas could ruin this sacred haven.
"I said, clap."
Richard's voice comes out low as a sweat drips down the side of his face, not wanting to offend his king. At the sound of his voice and the silent glare from the king behind his mask, people clapped and cheered—even if they did not mean it.
Jasmine put down her fork as she was guided up to the stage, her dress flowing as she walked past the attendees, standing there looking over them.
"Next I would like to call a person up here. A very special person. One of the Gambit's 7 Hells—Silvester Park."
As he said this, a man draped in a hooded white cloak grappled down from the glass dome ceiling above with a sniper strapped to his back, landing next to the fat man Richard.
"HEYYYYYYY WHAT'S UP EVERYBODY!"
He cheered as his hood fell back, drawing his rifle, spinning it and pointing it at random attendees.
"SILVESTER IS IN THE MOTHER FUCKING HOUSE NOW!"
He laughs loud and proud.
Xander looks up to the stage. Even the king moves a bit, his masked form turning ever so slightly to face the stage better.
Richard pats Silvester on the back and gives out a hearty laugh as he continues:
"And finally, you may have also heard that one of the 7 Hells died tragically a few years ago due to a battle between Nexus and the 7 Sins."
The room stills as people now listen in. Nexus—the world's hero agency—versus the 7 Sins, the words 7 Villain Tyrants.
"Because of this," his chest puffs as he takes a step forward, spreading his arms out, "I would like to find a replacement, and there's only one man I can think of to be suitable for the job."
He turns and looks down to Xander. The attendees turn. Even the king straightens a bit more.
"Xander Kortez, will you become the 7th Hell of the Gambit?"