With only one day left until the commencement of the Universal Tribe Tournament, people around the globe made frenzied preparation to attend the highly anticipated event.

Colorful billboards and banners advertising the tournament were placed across the bustling cities, showcasing the impressive list of past top champions who had competed in the tournament's previous editions, spanning several decades.

***

~Vegas Neighborhood, Beverly Hills~
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting hues of fiery orange and pink across the sky, David stood alongside the red-haired girl of the Behuga bloodline, atop one of the dilapidated skyscrapers of the Vegas neighborhood.

From their elevated vantage point, they surveyed the breathtaking vista of Beverly Hills sprawled out before them.

The city's streets lined with palm trees casting long, stretching shadows. Mansions of grandeur stood like fortresses, their white walls gleaming in the last rays of sunlight, while the windows caught glimmers of gold. The distant hills were veiled in a soft haze, adding an air of mystery to the scene.

However, the sky above shortly transitioned from sunset to dusk, painting the clouds with shades of purple and pink that caught the dying light.

David could feel the pulse of his childhood city beneath his feet, the distant hum of traffic and the faint sounds of music drifting up from the streets below.

Beside him, the Behuga descendant's eyes sparkled with wonder as she took in the sight, her hair catching the last rays of sunlight like flames dancing in the wind.

Behuga Girl: "It is time," she silently conveyed to David, who seem to be lost in a nostalgia upon glancing at the wrecked buildings of the Vegas neighborhood.

<<The Behuga descendant, who was outrightly called Milla Behuga, was the most recent and final heir to the Behuga bloodline. Her ancestors had long ago been banished from the Land of Flames and had settled in the Outlands, where she was born. It was said that they were exiled for dabbling in dark magic, twisting and perverting the very essence of their flames in their quest for power. Though their actions were born of desperation, the irreversible consequences of their sacrilege ultimately led to their expulsion.>>

David had developed a sense of trust in Milla, viewing her as a reliable companion. He took it upon himself to guide her through the city and help her acclimate to human customs and lifestyles. Acting with compassion, he provided her with shelter, sustenance, and clothing, in an effort to make up for the hardships she had faced in the past.

Such kindness did not go unnoticed by the young girl, as she found herself developing secret feelings of affection for her generous benefactor.

However, the Flame Riot had begun threatening to influence her recently due to the prevalence of sorcery growing in Beverly Hills.

Milla could sense that the Chaos Force was planning its move to conduct diabolic blood sacrifices in the city. Feeling unsettled by their scheme, she continued to report her findings.

MILLA: "[Gaze sternly at the heart of the city from the building's top.] I can smell their diabolic stench even from this height," she revealed.

DAVID: "How far do you see?" David asked her, his tone laced with curiosity.

MILLA: "Far enough to spot a few hundred; mage-level sorcerers and ten high mage sorcerers. Each one is stationed at every corner across the city," she responded with a scowled expression - not one directed at David, but at the enemies she sighted lurking in the shadows.

DAVID: "[Flickers yellow fire from his fingers.] Let's put an end to everything," David answered, his voice stern and determined.

MILLA: "[Suddenly grabs David's shirt from behind.] Wait! My Behuga Flame Riot is very sensitive to sorcery. I may lose control if I get too close..." Milla anxiously voiced her concerns.

Noticing the distress etched on the Behuga's face, David tenderly placed his hand on her vibrant red hair, gently stroking it as he gave her a reassuring response.

DAVID: "Milla, we all have our demons. But be rest assured that you are safe with me. The ethereal Spirit Mode I possess will help suppress any negativity from the sorcerers and prevent us from losing control to our inner darkness."

MILLA: "[Nods her head in agreement.] Hmm! Then I'd trust you since you saved my life before." Milla replied with a slight blush on her chin.

During their time together in the woods, she and David uncovered much about themselves and their parallel life journeys. Both were orphaned at a tender age, each carrying the burden of familial betrayal.

For David, his uncle, Mako, loomed over his past. But for her, it was her ancestor, Denigaaz Behuga, who cast a long shadow over hers.

But despite this shared history, their backgrounds diverged sharply.

While David came from a respected and affluent family, her heritage as a descendant of the Behuga bloodline was marked by a legacy of hardship and misery.

Generations of her kin had faced trials and tribulations, each chapter of their story etched with suffering and tragedy. The name 'Behuga' carried weight, but it was burdened with the weight of past mistakes rather than the accolades of success.

Despite their differing backgrounds, Milla found solace in David's shared experiences, forming a bond with him that transcended the boundaries of their upbringings.

Together, they prepared for the next course of action, swiftly descending the hill and gliding toward the heart of the city with graceful agility. Their mission was to root out the minions of the occultic Chaos Force, who were lurking in the shadows, plotting their sinister blood sacrifice.

With determination and a clear sense of purpose, David and Milla navigated the bustling city, their eyes keenly scanning the crowds for any hint of danger.

Every step they took was deliberate, every movement purposeful as they weaved through the throngs of people. They understood the urgency of their task, knowing that time was of the essence. They needed to be quick and decisive if they were to safeguard the innocent bystanders from harm.

***

On the deserted street corners of the city, the minions of the Chaos Force moved with stealth and precision under the cover of night. They brazenly attacked unsuspecting passersby who were either returning from parties, bars, events, or concerts. Swiftly and mercilessly, they snatched their victims and slit their throats, invoking eerie abyssal chants in unison. The macabre ritual continued as the minions trapped the essence of their victims' blood in a shimmering green crystal ball. This was a diabolic act of human blood sacrifice.

As the night wore on, three intoxicated teenagers, two boys, and a girl stumbled out of the club, weaving their way down the dimly lit streets. They were clearly under the influence of alcohol and filled with a contagious excitement from the night's revelry. Amidst giggles and playful banter, they stumbled towards a secluded alleyway, hidden away in the corner of the deserted street.

BOY 1: "Yo mates! I could bet my ass you guys didn't remember tomorrow's legendary UTT event. Damn it! I really fucked myself up with this shit. I wonder how I'm supposed to make it to Central Continental if I don't sober up tonight?"

GIRL: "[Lights a cigarette.] Fuck, damn it! You're too loud, dude. You want the damned cops to spot us?"

BOY 2: "Well, I dunno for ya'll fuckers but I've got to go home to my old woman. Won't look good if she found out I sneaked out of the damned house again,"

As the three teenagers walked and chatted in the dead of night, a sense of sarcasm settled over them. However, their banter was shattered in an instant as the lurking minions of the Chaos Force made their move.

In the blink of an eye, ten sorcerers appeared, silently encircling the oblivious teenagers and cutting off all escape routes. The menacing figures closed in on the trio, causing them to shriek in terror upon being noticed. Out of trepidation, they instinctively huddled together for protection.

GIRL: "[Panics as her cigarette slips off from her mouth.] D-damn you, Alfred! I told you that you were too loud! Look what you've fucking caused!"

BOY 1: "Fuck you, Anela! Don't push the blames on me, damn it! Who the heck are these people? They don't seem like cops to me... More like anti-christs I'd say,"
"[Turns to the ten sorcerers.] H-hey yo, chill! W-what do you want? Money?" the first boy stammered as he tried to negotiate with the menacingly approaching sorcerers.

BOY 2: "[Already starts crying and peeing his pants.] Fuuuck! The heck was I thinking when I agreed to party with you guys? " the second boy sobbed with a horrified expression.

Ignoring the frantic pleas for help from the terrified teenagers, the ten sorcerers advanced upon them with a single-minded determination.

In unison, the adversaries began to chant in infernal tongues, their ominous auras radiating an air of malevolent power.

One of the sorcerers unsheathed a sharp dagger, causing the teenagers to feel the cold chill of fear coursing through their veins. The trio, certain of their imminent demise, clung to each other in a desperate bid for survival, praying for a miracle to save them from the dark fate that awaited them.

However, fortune luckily smiled upon them this fateful night.

Like flickering bonfires that illuminated the darkened streets, David and Milla abruptly appeared, their very presence disrupting the sorcerers' wicked intentions.

Their emergence evoked explosive bursts of sound that reverberated through the desolate alleys, setting a welcome sight for the teenagers, but bringing despair to the hearts of the Chaos Force's minions.