The City Is My Hunting Ground

Chapter 20: Law of Progress

I will guide you to a new age, born of destruction

(Six years ago:)

He approached the woman. She was mortally wounded, some of her internal organs could be seen.

"I'm so sorry... I can't save you", he whispered to the dying.

"I... know." She didn't cry or panic, she just laid there.

"I also have to tell you that... that... I caused this. I killed you. I'm so sorry."

"Doesn't matter... you didn't do it... on purpose", she said calmly. "But if you can... give me a last wish."

"I will do anything. For all who lost their lives because of me."

"Take this... and always carry it with you. And if you can... complete the sentence." She couched some blood after saying that.

"I go... now. Half as long..."

"Twice as bright", he said, but the woman could no longer hear.

Ziggs turned around and left the scene. He had only talked to one of those twenty who suffered.

Suffered because of me.

(Present day:)

Blood had been spilled. Warwick sensed it, but had to concentrate. He had eaten his stomach full to ensure his sanity would remain.

A chem-augmented rat, possibly Twitch. Two hours ago. Yordle. In the recent thirty minutes. Dead human. Killed maximum of five minutes ago. And the smell of Urgot. Same direction.

Come out, Urgot. Now is finally the moment.

"Warwick?"

He almost screamed. How could someone be so close to him without him noticing?

It was the bomber man from the group of yordles he had met in Viktor's mansion.

"Why are you here? Are you still investigating XIII? And why didn't I notice you?"

The yordle stumbled. "I guess my bombs smell the same as these machines and chemicals here. But where am I?"

Doesn't this guy know? And I smelled a yordle just a few meters ago. Maybe he got a wound and it has closed now.

"We are in the sewers, near the Dredge."

"What is the Dredge?"

"Urgot's lair, a former prison. But you didn't answer my other questions."

"I think I got kidnapped. I woke up in front of Urgot and got brought here. He also took something precious from me. I heard I'm in a 'Trial' or something." the yordle said with exhausted voice.

"Urgot puts most people to a test of strength, which usually consists of surviving a month here plus some other tasks. All new Dreadnoughts are also put to one, regardless of if they ever even meet Urgot. But I'll get you out of here."

"Thanks a lot, Warwick. In times like these, ghosts from the past return."

Warwick lowered his voice a little. "I know the feeling. I believed the change would take it away, but flashes still remained. And new ones came, too."

"What are you talking about?" Ziggs asked with polite tone.

"I will tell my story when we're out of here. Now, let's go."

Guess all guardian angels aren't pretty. But beauty is just an illusion, something that loses it's purpose without the wonders of mind and heart.

...

"Watch this."

Tristana threw the coin to air. With a speed of lightning, she pulled the cannon from her hip and shot without aiming. The coin shattered to pieces.

"Geez, now I lost a Bandler. But did that satisfy you?"

Natalia shook her head horizontally. Verna just watched.

"Good, I like the ol' cannon mode better. And so does Boomer."

"What a boring name", Natalia whispered to Verna.

"She doesn't get mad that easily", came Tristana's response. "But I do."

Tristana switched to cannon mode and turned the gun towards the girls.

"Sadly, there is nothing tough enough to just prove her strength. But a duel is something I haven't experienced for years." She put the cannon back on her hip.

...

"So Ziggs, have you yet found out what Urgot is trying to do? And more importantly, why?"

They headed towards the exit. Neither Warwick or Urgot knew the other ones exit's location.

"Gosh, this is the first time I see him. And I don't know anything more than those things you told us. Can you tell more?" Ziggs asked.

"Yes. I keep most of this as my own secret, but you are deep enough in this already", Warwick answered. "And I don't know everything. But first, I need to ask, do you know why Urgot and I are so powerful?"

"Umm... no."

Warwick scratched his back. "We have suffered so much in our past. It has turned us vengeful, cold and determined. As you know, I was a member of a teenager gang once. One day, our 'base' got raided by a group of criminals. Many of us died, and the rest fled. I fled without even fighting."

"Regret can make us strong, but it can also turn the life against me", Ziggs said.

"That's right. After a few months, I got kidnapped and brought to Singed's lab to be used in experiments. They hurt more than anything I remember, but I endured the pain, and finally escaped. Then I ran into Singed on my way to door. He laughed and started to chase me. Just when he was about to get me, I locked myself into the main lab."

"And then?"

"I had seen what chemicals Singed used to his bodyguards. I started to inject all kinds of them to me. When he finally opened the door, he fled in terror. Even I rarely look to mirrors."

"How much time has passed now?"

"I don't remember anymore. But when I realized my strength, I started to use them for Zaun's good. Now I eliminate anyone who oppresses its people."

"What about Urgot?"

"Yes, Warwick. You cannot know strength, until you are broken."