Chapter 1: The Three Cloaked Figures
"Tap… Tap… Tap…"
On the massive Smokey Mountain range, rain drops started to pour. The sunlight that shined through the gap between the mountains started to fade. In the deep canyons and the forest in the hillside beside the valley, beasts' roars can occasionally be heard.
On the surface beside the valley, a busy looking city stood proudly.
The world outside of the Smokey Mountains is filled with different kinds of radiation levels that only few strong human can resist. The world outside is extremely dangerous not only radiations are all over the place, the presence of vicious beasts and monster can often be seen. The people living in the mountain range are afraid going outside, if not for some very strong individuals providing information outside, they might even think that they're the only human left in this world.
Having a geographical advantage due to being surrounded by mountains and hills as a natural cover, the city still stood from passing generation. However, they would occasionally encounter attacks from powerful beasts within the Smokey Mountains. And, after going through numerous city-shaking conflicts, the city still stood and became stronger and stronger in each passing conflicts.
These towering sky high chimneys and the indomitable walls provide its people abundant power and protection.
This city is called Black Smoke City, the city and the rising black smokes are the symbol of hope and progress for the people living within.
…
…
…
They sky was dark and heavy rain clouds were hovering above. The heavy pouring rain didn't stop the rising black smokes coming out from the towering chimneys all over the mountain.
*Splash*
The sounds of water splashing were heard.
Three cloak-hooded silhouettes were running fast on the muddy ground as if they were being chased by someone. Their cloaks were worn-out and full of holes, however few holes were stitched, especially the bigger ones.
"Stop!! You little thieves!"
Five guys came out from one of the alley several meters behind the three cloaked figures and spotted them and shouted.
"Fucking brats!"
Some of them couldn't help but cursed out loud as they continued their chased to the three little thieves.
"Shit, they're so annoying!" One of the three cloaked figures on the right with a brown pants exclaimed as he heard the shout from behind.
"Stop wasting your energy on talking and just run!" The leading cloaked figure with black pants ordered hastily.
"We are almost at the rendezvous point, be patient blockhead!" The last cloaked figure with pale red pants spoke with an annoyed soft voice.
The three cloak-hooded figures were running fast but the five guys were slightly faster than them, it just a matter of time before they catch up.
"Hehehe you skinny thief, none of you can't escape us!"
One guy was slightly faster than the rest and already caught up. He was behind the cloaked figure with red pants with only several inches apart and the guy swing his two arms wanting to hold his target.
"Whoosh"
The cloaked figure with red pants quickly bended his upper body down and that causes the guy swing to hit only the thin air. At the same time, the cloaked figure slightly turned his head around and took out something from inside his clothes. It was a small plastic sachet shaped into a circle like balloon and it was filled with black liquid. The cloaked figure throws the balloon shaped plastic right in the face of the guy and didn't even bother confirming if it hits or not and just resumes running.
"Pop!"
*Splash*
The balloon popped when it hit the face of the guy and the black liquid inside splashed all over his face, especially his eyes.
"Aaaaaaaaaahhh! What is this!?"
The guy tumbled and crashed on the ground while holding his eyes and instantly roared in pain as he rubbed his eyes that were suffering from burning stinging sensation. But no matter how many times he rubbed his eyes the stinging pain still remains and the worst part was his vision was now all black.
"Little Mink are you alright?"
The leading cloaked figure with black pants asked with concern and slightly lowered his running speed to match up with the cloaked figure he called 'Little Mink' that was lagging behind because of what happened.
"I'm okay Big Brother… Hurhurhur that guy took my Cool-Coal Pepper Liquid right in the face! He will become a blind man for one week, hurhurhur" Little Mink childishly replied.
"Haaist your naming sense is really… But as long as you're safe…'" The one called "Big Brother" shook his head as seemed to remember something, however he just kindly smile as he replied towards Little Mink.
"Hmm..." Little Mink wanted to pout her lips but when he saw the smile of his big brother, she just also smiles in return and nodded silently.
"Almost there!" The 'Big Brother' declared as they look ahead and got a glimpse of the place they planned to go to from the very beginning. They quickened their pace and continue their run.
…
…
…
"We're here! Go go go inside quickly!" The seemed leader of the cloaked group quickly ordered his companions when they finally reached the rendezvous point.
The place was a 3 story ruined building and it seemed to be abandoned for a very long time. The floors above were full of large holes, especially on the second floor; almost half of the floor collapsed and was in shambles. The inside of the building was dark and the only source of light was from the holes and cracked walls. However, today the weather was bad and the sky was dark, the place was now darker. And, due to the heavy rain, there were quite few leaking waters pouring from the holes of the roof making heavy splashing sounds that makes it easier to use as a cover for small noises.
*Running footsteps*
Several sounds of running footsteps were heard as they enter the building.
The three cloaked figures quickly moved separately and they each chose a building's pillar and hid behind it.
*Running Footsteps*
The remaining four guys that were chasing them just entered the building.
"Hehehe you naughty little thieves, you just cornered yourselves! Come out and kneel to your papas!"
One of the four guys chuckled as if he was so sure that things were already on their control. However they still remain cautious and slowly walk inside step by step while searching for the thieves.
* Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum*
The three cloaked thieves heard their own heartbeat, they all knew that their plan was now on its final part and they need to do their final play, and it made them so nervous, enough to made their hands shake and their heart to beat faster.
The cloaked figure with black pants inhaled the air like it's the last. After he exhaled the cold air inside his body, his eyes suddenly turned sharp and filled with determination, and finally he made a move.
*Clang, clang, clang*
Sounds of empty tin cans dropping were heard and a human silhouette in the dark, moved.
The group of four guys turned their heads to where the sounds came from and they saw the escaping silhouette.
"There! Hurry catch him!" The seemed leader of the group shouted as his finger point towards the escaping figure.
The group hurriedly chased with a hunger looks similar to a cat when catching a mouse. The escaping silhouette moved passing pillar after pillar as if he was trying to confuse them and after that he escaped to a narrow hall way. However the group just split into two groups that consist of two guys each. The first group just followed the escaping thief while the second group where the leader was, moved around to the other end of the hall way to intercept.
The cloaked figure with black pants seemed slower compared to his running speed earlier, it made the first group thought that he was already exhausted. The two guys suddenly curved up a smile as they quickened their pace once more.
When the first group passed a pair of pillars at the entrance of the hall way, suddenly something unexpected happened. The guy in the front was tripped by something and tumbled on the ground face first "Thud! Thud!" Because the two were running at full speed, when the first guy tumbles the next guy also followed, and this made them looked like a human stack.
"Rhino now!" The escaping thief quickly shouted when he saw the two guys got tripped by the rope they planted beforehand.
On the other side of the wall near the entrance of the hall way, the cloaked figure with brown pants was there. He opened his cloak and ripped muscles were seen. He inhaled as much air as he could and clench his teeth, then he pushed the brittle cement wall they calculatedly prepared.
"Bang!"
The cement wall falls and it collapsed towards the human stack lying on the ground. When the dust settled the two guys were already unconscious but still breathing.
"Nice Rhino!" the cloaked figure with black pants spoke and gave Rhino thumbs up.
"Hehehe thanks Black Cat!" Rhino replied while doing a pose showing his biceps.
The three cloaked-hooded figures Black Cat, Rhino, and Little Mink, were obviously using animal code names as they wanted to hide their identity.
"Go, take their purse first fast!" Black Cat spoke as he moved towards the unconscious bodies and crouched down while searching for coin purse. Rhino also helped searching.
They found the purse underneath some debris of the collapsed wall.
At the same time, the second group appeared at the end of the hall way which was in the opposite side to where Black Cat and Rhino currently in.
"Yo-you sneaky thieves! You will pay for this!" The seemed leader of the group roared with anger and pointed his trembling fingers towards Black Cat. And, he and the other guy dashed furiously towards them.
Black Cat and Rhino stepped backward and turned and runaway towards the entrance of the hallway.
"We need to split, I go take the right and lure one. Go left and join Little Mink to take one down!" Black cat calmly ordered Rhino.
As they were about to be separated and moved on opposite direction Black Cat spoke "Be careful, don't let anything happen to Little Mink. See you when this ends!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Novel_X_Hunter
Novel_X_Hunter Hi fellow novel hunters and authors, I just had a sudden urge to write this story when I saw the "Steampunk" in the front page. This is my second story that I wrote. However, I still prioritize my first story the "EvoMorph System."
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