The Rogues Of: No Man's Land

Far above, on the 100th floor of the 500-storyblock, a different battle was occurring.

Dragon-Boy slammed Morticia into the reinforced wall of the skyscraper, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the steel and concrete.

The force rattled the entire level, causing bystanders to flee in terror. Morticia gritted his teeth, gripping his bloodstained scythe, Killer, as he pushed himself out of the dented wall. He landed on his feet with unnatural grace, barely phased by the attack.

"That all you got?" Dragon-Boy smirked, bouncing on his feet in a fighting stance. "I thought vampires were supposed to be scary."

Morticia wiped a streak of blood from his lip and twirled his scythe. "You talk too much."

"Or maybe you just don't talk enough," Dragon-Boy shot back, grinning. 

Morticia's expression darkened. He spun his weapon in a deadly arc before slamming the blade into the ground. Crimson energy surged through the floor, and in an instant, two blood-forged swords materialized in his hands. The moment they fully formed, the blades combusted, burning with eerie black and red flames.

Dragon-Boy's eyes widened. "Your primal engine can generate flames, too? That's new. Thought you were just some silly vamp." He took a cautious step back, analyzing the change. 

Morticia smirked, licking his fangs. "Oh, you're just now figuring that out? I've been slaying dragon-bloods for centuries." He tightened his grip on the twin flame swords, his gaze narrowing. "You won't be the last."

Dragon-Boy's smirk vanished. Rage flickered in his golden eyes, and his body tensed. "That so?" Without hesitation, he lunged.

Morticia met him head-on. Their clash sent shockwaves through the air as sparks of flame and blood-red energy erupted from each strike. Morticia slashed wildly, his dual swords slicing through the air like streaks of fire, but Dragon-Boy was quick. He dodged and weaved, his movements honed from centuries of battle.

Then, Dragon-Boy's fists ignited. He focused his Primal Engine, channeling raw fire into his hands. Flames roared to life, engulfing his arms in a searing inferno.

"You wanna see what real fire looks like?" he growled, thrusting his hands forward. A massive ball of molten flame formed in his palms, expanding with chaotic energy. "Try this on for size! FLASHING AXLE!"

He hurled the attack at Morticia.

Morticia barely had time to react. The fireball collided with him before he could escape, engulfing him in a violent explosion. The force sent him hurtling through the air, smashing through walls and collapsing entire sections of nearby buildings. Civilians screamed and fled as debris rained down.

Dragon-Boy panted, watching the aftermath. Smoke and fire clouded the battlefield. "Shit," he muttered. "Didn't mean to go that far..."

Then, from the wreckage, movement.

Morticia rose from the rubble. His clothes were singed, his pale skin marred by burns, but his expression was eerily calm. He rolled his shoulders, stretching his arms. "Impressive," he admitted. "I haven't been pushed this far in a long time."

Dragon-Boy's fists clenched. "You're still standing?"

Morticia smiled. It was not a friendly smile. "Let me show you something..."

His body began to change.

His muscles expanded, his frame growing taller and more imposing. His long, silver hair flowed down his back, his features becoming sharper, more monstrous. His aura thickened with raw, primal energy. A dark crimson mist swirled around him as his transformation reached completion.

Dragon-Boy took a step back, eyes narrowing. "What the hell?"

Morticia flexed his hands, relishing the sensation of newfound power. "You don't even understand your own abilities, do you?" He laughed. "This is a true Primal Engine Evolution. Stage Two."

Dragon-Boy scoffed. "Uh-huh." Without hesitation, he blasted another wave of flames at Morticia.

But Morticia was gone.

Dragon-Boy barely had time to react before a powerful force slammed into his back. He was sent flying, crashing through steel beams and reinforced walls. The impact rattled his bones, the pain sharp and sudden. He barely managed to get his footing before Morticia was in front of him again, delivering a devastating punch to his gut.

Dragon-Boy gasped as the air was knocked from his lungs. He flew back, slamming into the ground, his vision spinning.

Morticia stood over him. "You're just a child playing with fire."

Dragon-Boy gritted his teeth, forcing himself up. He wiped blood from his mouth, his golden eyes burning with defiance. "You think you're the only one who can evolve?"

Suddenly, the air around him shifted. His arms began to change, the scales on his skin thickening, spreading. His nails sharpened into deadly claws. A single dragon wing erupted from his back, stretching wide. Molten rock seeped from his hands, dripping like liquid gold.

Morticia's smirk faltered.

Dragon-Boy flexed his clawed fingers, a grin spreading across his face. "You wanna talk about evolution?" He cracked his neck. "Let's see who has the most potential."

All the way at the bottom of the story block, Tao, stirred awake, his vision blurry, his body aching. A sharp pain in his shoulder reminded him of the gunshot wound, his clothes stained with blood. He struggled, only to realize his movements were restricted, ropes bound his wrists and ankles tightly. A few feet away, Sister Seraphina sat, similarly restrained, while Rex remained unconscious beside her.

Standing before them was Master Sora, one of the Demon King's, his expression unreadable, flanked by Kane and five other bounty hunters. The air was thick with tension.

Sister Seraphina's breath hitched when she recognized him.

"A Demon King," she muttered under her breath. ''Those bounty hunter's were after us probably because of him..''

Master Sora clasped his hands behind his back, his cold gaze sweeping over them. "Ah, finally awake? You've caused quite the bit of trouble. Firstly, it's already known now that you hooligan's are trying to make it to the Vault of Eternity. And not only did you interfere with one of my captains, but you also stole something from me."

Tao remained silent, keeping his head down, blood dripping from his temple. He knew exactly what the demon was talking about, the purple crystal. 

Master Sora sighed. "I'm feeling generous. Return what you stole, and you're free to go. No harm done."

One of the bounty hunters snorted, turning to Kane. "Are we really letting them walk?"

Kane didn't even hesitate. "No. Master Sora is just toying with them. He planned to kill them from the start. Let's be real, they aren't making it to the Vault of Eternity so we might as well end their lives here."

"Damn. That's cold." The bounty hunter muttered before lighting a cigarette.

Tao remained unmoved, his head still lowered, blood continuing to drip from his wound. He didn't flinch, didn't react. Sister Seraphina also looked down, as if resigned to her fate.

Master Sora's patience thinned. "I'm not known for waiting. Either you speak, or-"

Kane stepped forward, pressing his gun to Tao's forehead. "We could just end them now."

Master Sora hesitated for only a moment before sighing.

"Do it."

Kane's finger tightened on the trigger-

BOOM.

A sudden, golden aura erupted from Tao's body, sending violent shockwaves through the entire block. The sheer force blasted everyone back. The bounty hunters crashed into walls, crates, and debris, groaning in pain. Kane tumbled across the ground before regaining his footing. Only Master Sora remained in place, sighing as his cape rippled from the energy.

Kane scrambled to his side. "Master Sora, what the hell is happening?!"

Master Sora's gaze darkened. "The crystal... It wasn't just any artifact. It was the very spirit of O Hanuman."

Kane's eyes widened. 

Tao's body radiated golden energy, his wounds sealing instantly. A crown formed atop his head, and in his grasp materialized a massive gada, a divine mace. His entire presence shifted, his monkey tail swaying behind him.

Sister Seraphina pieced it together, her voice barely above a whisper. "He... He must've absorbed the crystal on our journey. He's now a Vanara..."

Tao lifted his gaze, his eyes glowing fiercely as he locked onto Master Sora.

Master Sora exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Well... this just got interesting."

The air around Tao pulsed, his chest rising and falling with each shaky breath as he tried to come to terms with the overwhelming sensation inside him. It was as though every fiber of his being had been restructured, every cell reorganized, and now, now he was different. Not just in a physical sense, but everything was different. The world seemed sharper, clearer, as though the veil had been lifted from his eyes.

His hands trembled, not from fear, but from the sheer magnitude of power flowing through him. He felt stronger, smarter, as though an infinite well of knowledge had been unlocked inside his mind. His senses were heightened, he could hear every breath, feel every movement of air around him, even the distant whispers of the wind. Every detail, no matter how small, had come alive in vivid clarity.

Tao didn't know whether to be terrified or elated. His muscles were burning with strength, but his mind was spiraling, caught between awe and uncertainty. "I... I feel..." His words trailed off, trying to find the right way to explain the flood of sensations threatening to overwhelm him. "I feel more knowledgeable. Like... like I've just absorbed everything I need to know."

Sister Seraphina studied him with a mixture of understanding and solemnity. She had been prepared for this moment, had known this day would come. "You've inherited the power of Hanuman," she said quietly, her voice carrying the weight of both pride and warning. "The transformation you've undergone is not just a power boost or apart of a primal engine. It is a profound change, one that alters not only your body but the very core of your being."

Tao's gaze hardened with confusion. "O Hanuman? The... the deity?" he asked, his voice laced with doubt. He'd heard stories, tales of the legendary warrior, the powerful spirit known to be both a protector and a harbinger of destruction. But to inherit such a power... it felt surreal.

Master Sora remains silent, observing with a knowing expression.

She nodded. "Yes. The spirit of O Hanuman has chosen you as its vessel. You are now the host of a force that has shaped history, wielded by gods and kings alike."

Tao was about to speak, to process her words, but then his eyes suddenly widened, his body freezing in place. His breath caught in his throat, a sharp intake of air like a punch to his gut.

The others in the room, Master Sora and Kane, exchanged confused glances, both aware of Tao's transformation but unsure of the sudden shift in his demeanor.

Kane, standing a little further back. "I just can't believe it."

Tao's expression didn't change. His gaze was locked on something only he could see, something invisible to the others. His mind was racing, his heart pounding.

And then, it came.

A voice, deep, rumbling, like an echo of thunder rolling across the heavens. It wasn't from outside of him, but inside. A voice so strong, so commanding, it reverberated through his very soul.

"So, you're the one. The new host."

Tao's body went rigid, his breath hitching as the voice filled his mind, pushing everything else aside. His eyes snapped open, wide with shock. His gaze darted around, as if expecting someone to be standing behind him.

"He talks... in my head," Tao murmured, his voice soft and filled with disbelief. "That's... that's great."

Master Sora's brow furrowed. "Hm?"

But Tao didn't respond, his eyes glazed over as the voice of O Hanuman continued to echo inside him, its presence undeniable.

"What? You're surprised? I've spoken to every host before you. What makes you so special?" The voice was almost mocking, amused, but there was an underlying power, an ancient force in its words that left no room for argument.

Tao's fists clenched at his sides, his teeth grinding as the spirit's presence overwhelmed him. He opened his mouth to speak, but Hanuman's voice cut through him again.

"Oh, don't bother. I know what you're going to say. 'What is this power? What do I do with it?' Pah. You don't even understand half of it yet. But I'll make sure you learn quickly enough."

Tao flinched at the voice's bluntness, unsure of how to react. "What the hell-"

"What did you expect?" Hanuman's voice was now laced with a hint of irritation. "This isn't some 'Primal Engine' you've gotten yourself tangled in, kid. Don't mistake this for one of those petty little tricks. No, this is a rebirth. You've become my vessel, my host, my successor."

Tao swallowed, trying to grasp the weight of the words. His hand shot up to his head, his fingers pressing against his temple. "A rebirth...?"

Hanuman's voice deepened, as if pleased by Tao's response. "Yes. You're no longer the man you were before. This power... it will give you the ability to wield a multitude of techniques. Whatever you desire, whatever you need, it's at your fingertips, waiting to be unleashed. But don't get cocky, kid. I won't make this easy for you."

Tao's chest tightened, a deep knot forming in his stomach. A rebirth? Was this really happening? He could feel it now, though, this was no small change. His body, his mind, were all adapting to the spirit's presence, reshaping themselves to fit a new purpose.

"What else do you want from me?" Tao growled, irritated by the voice's incessant presence. "I didn't sign up for a ghostly mentor in my head."

"You don't get a choice in the matter. You were chosen, whether you like it or not. You'll grow into the role. Besides, there's a reason I'm here, and you're not the first to wield my strength."

Tao gritted his teeth. "What's that supposed to mean?"

The voice in his head seemed to chuckle darkly. "It means, boy, that this inheritance comes with a price. You'll have the strength of gods at your command, but that doesn't mean it'll come easy. You'll need to learn to control it. To master it. And trust me... you will learn. Whether you want to or not."

Tao closed his eyes, trying to steady himself. He didn't have time to argue with the voice, it was clear that Hanuman's power was inside him.

"Your Primal Engine, It's been altered. Enhanced. No more weak strikes. You'll hit harder. Faster. Smarter. And there's more. There's always more."

Tao's chest tightened with the realization of what was happening to him. He was thinking this power was maybe a gift, but also a curse. He looked up, forgetting Master Sora and Kane were not even nearly done with their bloodshed, especially since he's absorbed the power from that crystal.

The successor pointed to Master sora and smirked before closing his eyes. ''Om Hanumate Namah, Grant me strength.. grant me victory..'' Tao and Hanuman muttered together.