* Thud * Thud * Thud *
Two horses fiercely rush passed the streets of Vakshir Settlement, any unfortunate being standing in their path was unceremoniously whacked to the other side or worst trampled under the metallic horse shoes.
The riders were relatively young men, one was dressed in a sleeveless leather jacket of a deep brownish hue with light brown fabric cast around the rim of the top, the wearer left it open showcasing his muscular constitution.
On his lower half was a pair of cotton trousers which were held loosely around the ankles, the other rider however had a more sophisticated pattern of dressing.
His entire visage was covered, dressed in a buttoned up trench coat with a dark fabric shirt hidden underneath it, the trench coat also covered parts of his legs, hiding his leather trouser.
A cowboy hat was placed on his dark blue hair and slightly slanted to cover his upper face from the world, " where are we heading?" Lucian the guy in the trench coat asked.
" I've got a gig, it's to clear a high tier F ranked dungeon that appeared near a farm, and as you know…", " Those Critters can be overwhelmed with their astonishing numbers " Lucian said completing what his partner tried to explain.
" So you in, ca…use, after what you told me about Myra's acceptance into the academy and Vincent tutorial fees, I knew you'd be hunting for some grind " Gabriel said.
" The collection industry doesn't receive customers regularly, and it's a bad trade also you know " Gabriel said trying to convince his friend.
" What about the adventurers guild, or the scouts " Lucian asked not because he was afraid of the dungeon but because it felt to low for his experience.
Living in this small settlement of over nine hundred citizens he had been forged though it's fires to adapt and survive or die, not being a fan of the latter he gave in to the not so arduous calling.
He joined an almost obsolete force called the collectors, they were part of a loan firm which hunted down and eliminated late re-payers.
Innocent or not, those who couldn't fit the bill of their borrowings ended up burrowing their own graves as the collectors came knocking, up to seventy people within the encampment had tasted Lucian's ruthless blade.
He couldn't care less about the impact it left on families as long as he was getting payed, during recent times they had been disbanded by the church and the government alike.
Nevertheless they were secretly hired by private sectors, but that to wasn't often so Lucian had to switch professions to a mini dungeon raider.
The highest dungeon he had ever raid was an A rank dungeon although it was a low tier, but he cleared it without using his full strength.
But this one was an F rank, so only Gabriel could clear it with his eyes closed, even if it was a high tier it was still supposed to be easy, he pondered on the fact of his usefulness.
After a few moments they stopped at a particular area, Gabriel disembarked from his horse and started scanning the surroundings as if in search of something or someone.
The area was located on the north of the settlement, very close to the forest which the exit to the settlement was located.
A track road lead away from the settlement into a neighboring settlement which was far more well taking care of than the one Lucian lived in.
The citizens of that settlement were though quite harsh and intolerant of strangers, the only way was through a jungle located on the west of the Vakshir Settlement.
There was something unique about the Vakshir, this was it was the most dangerous settlement in the whole of Aarth, to it's north and east was covered with the Dyam Forest.
Behind it at the West and South was covered by the Hamel Jungle, it was as if the founder of the settlement lead a group of exiled rascals and build a village in the contact zone between a forest and a jungle.
Lucian didn't know how he got here but he grew up here and knew he wasn't born here, this was his prison were he was forged into a tactical ruthless killer waiting to be exploited by his father.
Gabriel however said he grew up in an orphanage in the settlement headed by the church, well the influence of the church could be found everywhere.
A fraction of the church's government know as the Templars had their guards littered across the magi world, thus they were eminent in this encampment.
Except the northern area which Lucian and Gabriel arrived at, it was a rundown site with slaves of all races chained up for sale, the ground was a bit muddy with human wastes and rubbish everywhere.
Houses were on the brink of collapsing or some were already collapsed, the only exception was the masters lodge, a small box like building containing the slave dealers who watched over their goods.
Such a bad way to advertise for visitors upon entry, but with slave marketing another almost obsolete trade being set at the fore front it surprisingly attracted visitors to the settlement, either to buy and sell or to settle.
The reason for slave trade was nothing but a singular cause, farming.
Most of the occupants of Vakshir were peasant farmers, maybe that was what made the settlement to look so rundown and unappealing to live in.
Slaves were chained to heavy weights and sometimes concrete posts made especially for that purpose, they sat on the muddy puddles in raggy outfits and skinny underfed bodies.
Their situation was really pathetic as their masters often left them under rain and sunlight, wiping them upon the slightest provocation.
Gabriel walked towards a wooden cabin which housed some female slaves, it's rotten wood pillar unable to hold up the zinc covering the veranda.
Yet he tied his horse to one of decaying pillar as all the stalls and cabins in this area were typically the same.
Walking aimlessly about with his hand above his eyes to block the sunlight, Gabriel searched and Lucian watched unable to get down from his horse and step into the muddy street.
After minutes of searching, Gabriel kick his feet up in frustration slashing some of it around, " Were is that motherf*cking dickhead " he shouted attracting some attention to himself.
" His lucky the templars don't frequent this area or it's a times two on his tax payment " a dark skinned boy said, Lucian nodded his head in agreement as he knew the boy.
He was more or a golden brown skinned person than a black, he had dark curly hair and a really handsome face, he was topless revealing his toned muscular body built from hard work.
His hands were bonded together in cuff which lead to a huge metal ball connected by the intricate interlockings of metal called chains.
Another set of minutes passed and Gabriel continued his ramblings until he turned and looked at Lucian and the boy chatting away, his face went red with rage as he dashed to the duo.
His fist was outstretched ready to land a blow on the tanned boy's pretty face but got stopped by a metal hand that appeared out of nowhere.
" Dalek, why would you waste my time " Gabriel said his anger reducing, " I was here since you guys arrived, I and Lucian couldn't help but watch who you were looking for " Dalek explained.
The metal turned dropped into its liquid state and returned to it's original form of a giant chain ball, " We are going dungeon raiding so I decided to come pick you up, go get your horse " Gabriel instructed leaving to go fetch his horse.
Moments later three horses could be seen leaving the northern area of the Vakshir Settlement and heading deeper into the center area.
A fate changing battle would soon commence.