Reclusive Catalysts

Chapter 2: Encounter

Dante would've sat down and got on his phone, until he heard a bell ring. The other students had already rushed out of class and transitioned to lunch, after some time Dante was outside sitting on the bench he was setting intensely mainly due to the heat outside it was currently 87 degrees. A would person sat next to Dante.

???: "Man.. the lunch tables inside are all full, you don't mind if I sat here do you?"

Dante: *He took a look at the person's attire as he instantly noticed their golden chain, it was odd that a student just casually walked around with one* "Sure.."

Leo: "Thanks man." *He'd finally set down his tray* "So.. what's your name?"

Dante: *Beads of sweat started to form on dante's forehead* "Dante.."

Leo: *He looked down at Dante's hand and noticed the ring* "Names Leo, anyways nice ring! where'd ya get it?"

Dante: *The Beads of sweat slid down his forehead* "My.. mom gave me it for my birthday.."

Leo: "Oh really? It looked awfully similar to the one I had."

Dante: "S-SORRY! I JUST FOUND IT ON THE GROUND AND-"

Leo: "Dumbass." *Leo stood up with his arms crossed* "Caught your ass red handed, imma need you to come with me. Orrrrr give me that artifact."

Dante: "Uh.. artifact..?"

Leo: "Just come with me, I promise the foundation would probably go easy on you."

Dante: "The foundation..?"

Leo: "Man if they sent someone else you would've been dead already, Now come with me."

Dante: *He started slowly backing up and quickly started sprinting towards an exit*

Leo: *He shrugged as he dashed at Dante with blinding speeds, grabs the back of his hoodie and slams him down*

Dante: "GRK-"

Leo: "Dude, just stay down." *He throws him into an tree as it snapped in half*

Dante held his chest he started coughing from the impact, thoughts flooded his mind regarding the current situation. He stood up slowly and instinctively tapped on the ring as swirls of energy surrounded his finger, the started to unravel and increase its size that distends to Dante's height, but due to its overwhelming weight he clumsily fell down.

Dante "OOF-"

Leo: "PFFF- HOW THE HELL DID YOUR OWN ARTIFACT TAKE YOU OUT? YOU FUCKIN' SUCK BRO!" *He fell to the ground and started to laugh his ass off*

Dante: *He looked at Leo and Noticed his shoes* "They're.. Jordans right?"

Leo: *He abruptly stopped and stared back* "Yeah? They fresh as hell. They costed like, $2000."

Dante: "Uh, why don't you tell me more about them. I might save up for a pair."

Leo started to rant about the expensive materials the shoes were crafted with, Dante used the bench as support to lift himself up while holding the brush, he then did a downwards slash at him. Unfortunately, due to Leo's extreme reaction time he easily dodged the swing and slammed his thumb into Dante's solar plexus sending him to a wall.

Leo: "Look man, just-" *He felt some heavy liquid drop onto his shoe and lifted it up* "Hah? Is this paint.."

While Leo was distracted Dante glides the brush across the grass as it glows a vibrant green, Leo looked up at him.

Leo: *He raised his hands near his chest as his bling shined* "Red 5." *The wheel rotated as it landed on red 5 Leo's hands bursted into flames as he dashed at Dante*

Dante fell down once again due to a devastating mix of fatigue and the weight of the brush, though as Leo got close pillars of earth launched out of the ground to slam into Leo with enough force to even knock him back a few feet.

Leo: "WHAT THE- wait a sec, TIME OUT!"

Dante: "..." *He turned his head to the side*

Leo: "Can uh, your brush create anything?"

Dante: *He shrugged*

Leo: "Hmmm.. why don't we make a deal? I give you some info about the organization that's actively tracking down your artifact and train you to properly wield that brush IF, you promise to give me an infinite supply of cash.

Dante: "Wait.. why don't you take the brush?"

Leo: "Because it has bonded with you and uh, I don't kill people under 20."

Dante: "And also, why do you want the money?"

Leo: "Ah, I wanna use it for gambling."

Dante: "What's the point." *He blinks the indicated he was confused*

Leo: "Huh? What's the point? WHAT'S THE POINT? THE HELL DO YOU MEAN WHAT'S THE "POINT"?!"

Dante: "I mean-"

Leo: "Look Dante, gambling not just about gaining and losing treasures. It's about winning and crushing the opponent's will, Both financially and mentally."

Dante: "Okay.."

Leo: "Now, do you accept the offer." *He held out his hand*

Dante: *Without a single hesitation he grasped his hand and shook it*

Unbeknownst to him he would later along the line regret the decision of ever stealing that ring, unfortunately signing himself up for ruin.

To Be Continued.....