The Howlers from behind weren't just regular members of the gang. Their bodies started to morph and transform, changing into parts of beasts. Those who didn't transform were holding onto Anti-Altered weapons.
These people were a special group within the Howlers. Nearly all of the Howlers, including non-Altered members, were trained by Crowley. He had daily lessons that would run three times a day, each time with a different group.
However, Kai had told him to pay special attention to a particular group because they were all Altered. With the funds they received, they bought up all the Altered solutions they could from the black market, making themselves stronger.
They also had Tom trying to work on a way of making his own Altered solutions. He was close, but it wasn't possible just yet. Either way, those most loyal to the Howlers had been selected, the ones that worked under the core leaders.
One person in particular, Park, had an arm that started to transform into a hard shell that was white in color, with a claw at the end that reached out and went to clamp down on one of the Phoenix members. In return, though, the Phoenix Gang member's cheeks started to blow up like a balloon, pushing out, blowing out air, and a large stream of fire came out to hit Park, forcing him to let go and stumble as he moved the heat from his eyes.
"Back then, I offered to go to Notsburg, but our leaders decided to go back themselves! Everything I have now, the life I have is thanks to the Howlers, and I have to pay them back!" Park shouted as he charged back in.
Park had always been more than loyal to the Howlers. They had given him responsibility, a job, and saved him from having to move down to a Tier 4 city at the time. He still remembered the time when he had fought against Gary Dem. At the time, he didn't know he had an important relation to the Howlers gang.
The fight was intense, and Kai had jumped in with a slash, but as he did, a gang member with a burning tail had jumped and whacked his hand onto the floor. It was powerful and didn't do much damage, but it stopped Kai from hurting them.
"I hate to admit it, but these guys, they know how to fight. We should have expected it from a Tier 1 gang, and no wonder Austin and Midwak had so much trouble against them."
Kai was trying to look at the scene, and it was difficult for him to watch. Although the Howlers members were holding out, he could see that they were getting hit more than the others were.
"Altered bodies are strong and can take a thrashing and heal relatively quickly, but not like this!" Kai ground his teeth and grabbed onto one of the flaming tails. It was hot, but he didn't care, as he swung the man by the tail and slammed them right into the ground.
"Duck!" A voice shouted out, and the words were spoken by none other than Crowley.
As if by instinct, as the others heard his voice, they reacted. All of the Howlers members bent down, and right after, Anti-Altered arrows came out. They hit the Phoenix Gang members and started to electrocute them on the spot.
This gave an opening and a chance for the members to strike back.
Kai looked to his right, and he could see Crowley standing on top of the barrier of cars, and with him were the other Howlers members, all with Anti-Altered equipment in their hands.
'Crowley moved from above to the back; he said he wasn't a good commander for fights like these, but he seems to be doing pretty well.'
After being stuck, the Phoenix Gang members received a few good solid hits that sent them to the floor or gave them a wound or two. They were still relatively strong, and the arrows would only cause them to flinch.
It was also something that wouldn't work as well a second time, but it still was swaying the momentum and giving the Howlers Gang strength, and that's when something odd started to happen.
The Phoenix Gang members, it almost looked like they were running away.
"Don't give chase!" Park shouted. "Remember our job is to protect Cipen."
None of the Phoenix Gang had been beaten or hurt to the point where they had to stop fighting. If anything, the Howlers Gang had suffered more, so Kai was wondering why they were running away.
And that's when they saw something else. From the same alleyways they had come from, and from the main street, more gang members were coming. These weren't the Phoenix Gang, but the gangs from all over that were still in Slough, all after that bounty.
"Are they going to come in waves... just how long can we survive something like this!" Kai thought as he could feel his phone vibrating. Seeing Xin calling him, he quickly picked it up, worried they might be in trouble.
"Tell him I can't come; I'm a little busy right now," Kai said, after Xin had said a few words on the other side.
"Kai, I really think you should come; he says he can help with this entire situation. He says he can help us beat the Phoenix Gang."
Right now, Kai just had one plan to beat the Phoenix Gang, and he wasn't sure if it would work or not. He was more worried that it wouldn't work, so to hear that there was something else.
"Go," Crowley said. "I will cover this area; there are some trustworthy ones, and the gang you have built up is a good one. Trust them and head over there. As the current leader of this whole thing, I don't think you should be on the battlefield anyway."
Nodding, Kai thought it was the right thing to do. They were already on the edge of Cipen, so it wouldn't take long to get there. Just as Kai was about to transform and run through the streets, he turned to look at Crowley.
"When our actual leader is here, you'll see, he's a lot crazier than me."
***