Episode 21: Sharp Dressed Man

  The Ecological Garden, Mount Krailaz

  That evening, the atmosphere around Chris’s family home was filled with the savory aroma of food and a lively sense of togetherness. Everyone had gathered once more for dinner, but the primary topic of conversation—making the table more animated than ever—wasn't the meal itself. It was "Pon," the mysterious object manifested by Ren and bestowed upon Master Tenzin as the first pilot user.

  Everyone pressed for details about the experience, their eyes gleaming with the desire to possess this god-like technology for themselves. However, they met with a slight disappointment when Ren confirmed that while he would eventually provide one for everyone, there were manufacturing constraints.

  “The rare elemental materials that Prom and the robot army have been dispatched to excavate are still insufficient for mass production,” Ren explained calmly. “At the moment, we can only produce one unit per day. You will all have to be patient.”

  Despite the wait, their imaginations ran wild. They engaged in a spirited debate, exchanging ideas on how they would utilize the power of "Pon" once it truly belonged to them. Some wished to use it for omniscience, others for protection, and some to create entirely new things according to their deepest desires.

  Ren decided to demonstrate the next step, something no one had anticipated. He reached out and gently grasped the "Pon" emblem embedded in the center of his chest, murmuring a cryptic Tefa code. In an instant, Ren’s normally serene expression contorted in a flash of intense agony.

  The metallic plate, which had been flush against his skin, began to shift. It retracted and folded back its tendrils—those which had been burrowing deep into his flesh—returning to its original state. Finally, it transformed into a woven wire sphere, detaching itself and resting upon his palm. As the physical bond dissolved, Ren’s features returned to a state of calm relief.

  However, the observers around the table collectively swallowed hard, their throats dry with sympathetic dread. The momentary pain they had seen etched on Ren’s face made it far too easy to imagine the horror of the sensation.

  “It is not necessary to remain perpetually fused with ‘Pon’...” Ren stated, glancing around the table. “We can command and utilize it in this spherical form with equal effectiveness.”

  “If it works without the fusion...” Chris blurted out, voicing the exact question everyone was thinking. “Then why must we endure the pain of embedding it into our bodies at all, Master Ren?”

  Every eye was fixed on Ren, waiting with bated breath. Deep down, none of them wanted to experience the sensation of metal burrowing into their flesh unless it was absolutely essential.

  “'Pon' is not merely a reservoir of ancestral wisdom,” Ren stated, his voice laced with significant undertones. “It can manifest actual creations according to the deepest desires of your heart. However, as for the full extent of what it can construct... I shall keep that a secret for now. I want to see which of you can harness its potential to the absolute fullest!”

  “If that’s the case, I guarantee I’ll put it to better use than anyone!” Victor chimed in, seizing the moment to boast with a grin. “If it’s anything like inputting a Prompt for an AI to generate anything—images, videos, or even physical objects... when it comes to imagination, I don't think any of you can keep up with me! Hahaha!”

  Victor’s boastful laughter lightened the atmosphere at the table. Lars, Chris’s father, sat listening in silence, a content smile playing on his lips—so obvious that those beside him couldn't help but notice.

  “I know what you're thinking, dear...” Astrid teased her beloved husband with a knowing look. Their playful interaction drew smiles from Chris and everyone else around the table. It was a brief, precious moment of happiness amidst the crushing pressure surrounding them from the outside world.

  ————————————————————————————————————————

  Location: The Dead Lagoon, Amazonas Basin

  Above the raging battlefield, the alien craft—sleek and as massive as a bus—hovered in absolute silence, like a divine judge from the heavens. Below, total chaos reigned. The roar of various weapons thundered as they battered the towering Great Anaconda, its head as colossal as a passenger car. Yet, the hailstorm of bullets achieved nothing more than filling the forest with thick, acrid gunsmoke; they couldn't even graze its impenetrable hide.

  Amidst the relentless staccato of gunfire, the craft’s door slid open with a soft, mechanical hiss.

  A pair of bespoke, polished dark brown crocodile-skin shoes stepped out onto thin air. Utilizing a master-level "Lightness Technique" that completely defied Earth’s gravity, Lord Ben emerged. Clad in a perfectly tailored dark brown suit and matching slacks, contrasted by a pitch-black shirt and tie, he exuded an aura of prestige and class, looking as if he had just stepped off Savile Row in London.

  Every strand of his hair was impeccably set, not a single hair out of place despite the violent gusts from explosions and the swirling gunsmoke.

  Ben descended gracefully through the air, coming to a halt directly above the ten soldiers who were panting from the exhaustion of their futile assault. He gazed down at the behemoth below with a tranquil expression, as if merely looking at a patch of filth that needed to be swept away.

  “You people... shall I call you foolish, or is there a better term to define such incompetence?” Lord Ben’s deep, composed voice permeated the minds of every soldier via telepathy. “You see with your own eyes that those weapons cannot even graze the hide of this ‘Majestic Serpent,’ yet you persist with this deafening, useless noise. For what purpose?”

  As his words faded, the ten Gifted soldiers froze, ceasing fire instantly as if under a spell.

  “Lord Ben, sir... what are we supposed to do? Two of our men have already been devoured!” the team leader shouted, his voice trembling. Terror was beginning to gnaw at his mind, stripping away his self-control.

  Ben cast a chilling, sidelong glance at the cowardly commander before addressing the group with flat indifference. “Which of you is the second-in-command?”

  One soldier quickly raised his hand in fear. Ben gave a slight nod. “Congratulations... from this second forward, you are the new leader in his stead.”

  Before anyone could process the change, Ben turned back to the former commander. He simply extended his palm and made a slight pinching motion with his fingertips. Suddenly, the air surrounding the ill-fated soldier imploded with violent force. The reinforced safety visor of his helmet shattered, revealing a face contorted in terminal agony.

  No scream escaped his throat—only the resounding crunch of breaking bones echoed through the forest. Ben used both hands in a "molding" motion, as if shaping invisible clay. The victim's body was folded and compressed, his bones pulverized, until he was transmuted into a perfectly rounded sphere of flesh, hovering prominently in the air. The remaining soldiers scrambled backward in mid-flight, seized by a level of horror that pushed them to their absolute limits.

  Lord Ben drifted with effortless elegance toward the Great Serpent, which had been watching the entire grisly display with cold, unblinking eyes. He continued to manipulate the mangled, spherical remains of the former commander, leading it through the air until it hovered a mere meter away from the giant serpent's jaws. The remaining nine soldiers watched with wide-eyed disbelief at Ben’s sheer audacity.

  “Guardian of the deep forest’s treasures... I am Ben Benedict. I offer you my most sincere greetings.”

  With those words, Ben actually bowed his head in a formal salute to the Great Anaconda. The nine soldiers behind him exchanged confused glances. They wondered if Ben had lost his mind—how could he be so confident as to take his eyes off such a monstrous predator for even a second?

  The Great Serpent narrowed its amber-yellow eyes. It scrutinized Ben intensely, gliding its colossal head closer as if to catch his scent or read his very soul.

  “And you... by what name are you known? I ask that you answer me in the spirit of friendship,” Ben spoke in a humble tone that nonetheless vibrated with underlying power.

  The giant serpent did not respond in words. Instead, it retracted its head about five meters, staring fixedly at Ben without blinking. It seemed to be utilizing a sense far beyond mere sight to comprehend something about this man... before slowly “Opening its mouth…”

  A guttural, rasping roar erupted from the depths of the Great Serpent’s throat, sounding like an ancient tongue that no mortal was ever meant to comprehend. It was so chilling and powerful that the nine Gifted soldiers felt their hair stand on end, instinctively drifting backward in sheer terror. Yet, Lord Ben remained perfectly still, listening to the cacophony with a serene expression as if appreciating a piece of fine music.

  “That sounds remarkably like the incantations my master used to recite...” Ben remarked softly before the behemoth.

  But in the fleeting second that silence reclaimed the air, Ben flicked his hand with lightning speed. He telekinetically launched the mangled sphere of the former commander’s remains straight into the gaping maw of the Great Serpent with pinpoint accuracy!

  “Then again, talking is useless... because I don’t understand a word you’re saying!”

  BOOM!!!

  With those words, Ben used his mental prowess to detonate the high-explosive charges embedded within the corpse's armor. A massive explosion erupted from deep within the serpent's throat, tearing a jagged, gaping hole through its flesh. Dark, crimson blood sprayed across the water like a macabre rainstorm. The monstrous beast writhed in excruciating agony before coiling its body and plunging back beneath the churning, boiling waters of the lagoon.

  The nine soldiers stood frozen in stunned silence. However, Lord Ben merely looked down at the lapel of his suit with a look of pure irritation. Three drops of blood had splattered onto his expensive, dark brown fabric.

  “Sigh... I didn't expect the blast to be quite that powerful. It seems my barrier couldn't even keep out a few specks of blood...” Ben muttered, his face contorted in utter annoyance—as if the stain on his favorite suit was a far more dire catastrophe than the slaying of a legendary beast. “How utterly tedious.”

  Suddenly, the lagoon—already murky with the stench of blood—began to churn and boil as if an underwater volcano had erupted. Massive plumes of spray blasted into the air before the colossal forms of eleven more Great Anacondas breached the surface simultaneously! They reared up, their towering necks encircling Lord Ben in a deadly ring, their amber eyes radiating a palpable, murderous intent.

  The nine Gifted soldiers, who were on the verge of cheering, were instantly seized by a new wave of paralyzing terror. They fled toward the forest's edge without a second thought. However, not a single one of the eleven monsters even deigned to glance at those insignificant grunts. Their sole focus was the man in the dark brown ensemble who stood defiantly in the center of the swamp.

  “Now, this is more reasonable... finally, some real entertainment.”

  Lord Ben allowed a bloodthirsty smirk to play across his lips. He meticulously peeled off his luxury suit jacket and tossed it carelessly toward the group of soldiers as if they were common valets. He then began to crack his knuckles and stretch his limbs, the sound of popping joints echoing through the stifling silence.

  Ben dropped into a low crouch, assuming a flawless combat stance. But at the very second he was about to strike, everything came to a sudden halt... Ben tilted his head slightly, as if intensely listening to a "Voice Code" or a "Command" permeating his mind.

  In that split second of distraction, the nearest serpent seized its chance. It unhinged its massive jaws, revealing terrifying, curved fangs, and lunged at Ben with the speed of a lightning strike!

  The frantic lunges of those razor-sharp fangs couldn't even graze the hem of Lord Ben’s shirt. He evaded each strike with a fluid grace, moving like a dancer who knew every beat of his partner’s rhythm. The remaining giant serpents took turns striking in a relentless, alternating assault, yet Ben dodged every single blow with a chilling, uncanny relaxation.

  “It is exactly as I suspected... Master Hoto,” Ben responded inwardly with a cold smile. “The voices they emit... they are indeed the same ancient tongue used in your incantations.”

  As one serpent lunged again, Ben merely flicked his palm upward. Instantly, the behemoth’s massive form was pinned by a dense mass of compressed air, its head locked in place. It writhed in agony, its long, muscular body thrashing wildly, leveling trees and flattening the marshland around the lagoon as if it were a wasteland.

  The nine soldiers watched the display in awe, but Ben simply turned to the remaining serpents hissed fiercely at him. He raised a finger to his lips, making a soft “Shh... shh...” sound, as if scolding a child for making noise during an important phone call.

  “Do not disturb me for now... it’s quite rude.”

  Ben flicked his hand to release his grip. The pinned serpent plummeted back into the water and retreated to the group in fear. All eleven serpents grew still, crouching low as they finally realized that the human standing before them... was no prey they could ever hope to conquer.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  The Classified Laboratory, Area 51

  Master Hoto sat in absolute stillness, his gaze fixed intensely on the monitor broadcasting the live feed of the carnage from the Amazonas. “My dear disciple... recite the words as I command.” Hoto began to chant a Tefa incantation of a peculiar frequency via telepathy. Even Ben himself could not grasp its profound meaning, yet he followed the instructions with strict discipline.

  Back at the Dead Lagoon, Amazonas Basin

  Amidst the churning, blood-stained swamp, Lord Ben moved his lips, uttering the words as Master Hoto commanded. The eleven serpents, once feral and ferocious, grew instantly tranquil. They appeared to listen to his voice with the rapt attention of servants receiving a divine decree.

  “Now... reach out and touch one of them,” Hoto’s voice echoed again in his mind. “Any of them... then repeat after me.”

  Ben extended his slender, elegant hand to touch the ice-cold lips of the nearest giant serpent, articulating the Tefa code with crystal clarity. In that instant, the serpent froze as if turned to stone. The silence stretched so long that even the nine Gifted soldiers watching from a distance held their breath in agonizing suspense.

  The remaining ten serpents reared their heads high, watching the event with profound awe... and then, in the following second, all eleven Great Anacondas slowly and silently submerged into the depths of the lagoon together. They left behind only faint ripples and an eerie, chilling silence that blanketed the entire Amazonas forest.

  “We made it...” the nine soldiers whispered through their V-Sonic comms, a wave of immense relief washing over them. The newly appointed squad leader immediately barked out orders. “All units! Prepare to dive and recover Master Hoto’s ‘Essential Artifact’!”

  But before anyone could move, Lord Ben, who had been hovering in silence, cast a chilling, sidelong glance toward them.

  “That won’t be necessary... Get lost, all of you. Before I change my mind and crush you into meat spheres like your predecessor.” Lord Ben used his telekinetic grip to snatch his prized suit jacket back from one of the soldiers and meticulously slid it on. The soldier stood frozen, utterly paralyzed by Ben’s overwhelming display of power.

  Those few words sent a shiver straight to the marrow of their bones. Without a moment's delay, the nine men surged with power, skyrocketing toward the heavens. They tore past Ben’s craft at maximum velocity, leaving behind a series of thunderous Sonic Booms that shook the entire forest before they vanished into the cloud cover.

  “Hahahahahahaha!”

  Ben erupted into a fit of manic laughter amidst the emptiness. He felt a surge of pure intoxication from the absolute power he held—power no one dared challenge. Yet, in a mere heartbeat, he reverted to his composed, dapper persona. His hair and suit were once again impeccably smooth, as if nothing had ever transpired.

  “Prepare to receive the cargo...” Ben telepathically commanded the pilots in the craft above.

  The alien vessel slowly descended toward the blood-stained surface of the water. The two pilots exchanged bewildered looks because, from their vantage point, there was nothing below but an empty, crimson swamp. There was not a single trace of the ‘Essential Artifact’ Ben had mentioned.

  Suddenly, the blood-red marsh—once still—began to boil violently once more. Massive plumes of spray erupted, signaling the awakening of something monumental. Beneath the murky crimson depths, a bizarre object gradually rose to the surface. It possessed an advanced structure resembling a spacecraft, yet it was grotesque, with a texture like raw "flesh" intricately woven into reinforced metal... a piece of Biomechanical technology that appeared truly alive!

  The eleven Great Serpents acted like powerful living machinery. They maneuvered their colossal bodies beneath the object, heaving and pushing it until it cleared the surface of the bloody waters. The entity that emerged was two to three times larger than Lord Ben’s own craft.

  “Can we transport ‘this’ in its entirety in a single trip?” Lord Ben telepathically inquired of the pilots, his voice flat and indifferent.

  “Yes, sir. Our craft possesses immense propulsion power, more than enough to carry this load with ease,” the pilot reported confidently. “However, we won't be able to reach supersonic speeds. We must maintain a standard cruise at nearly Mach 1 for maximum stability.”

  He immediately proceeded to outline the transport plan. “We will engage full-spectrum cloaking—visual, thermal, and radar signatures. Then, we’ll ascend to blend in with the cloud cover at an altitude of 20 kilometers. With our stealth technology shielding both the craft and the cargo, it will be impossible for any enemy to detect us unless they are at point-blank range. We estimate arrival at our destination within six hours, sir!”

  Lord Ben stood in absolute tranquility, watching the eleven Great Serpents as they completed their mission of delivering the ancient artifact under Master Hoto’s decree. The massive craft utilized a powerful tractor beam to lock the biological entity firmly in place before beginning its ascent into the heavens. Ben signaled his pilots via telepathy to proceed ahead, while he remained hovering majestically in the center of the blood-stained battlefield.

  “Understood, Master... I shall carry out the remainder of your wishes in every detail.”

  Ben responded to the voice in his mind while casting a sidelong glance downward. The once-ferocious giant serpents began to exhibit strange behavior. They looked at one another with glazed, fading eyes before gradually losing consciousness and sinking into the bloody marsh, one by one... until the water’s surface returned to a state of stillness and emptiness once more.

  Yet, Ben continued to sweep his razor-sharp gaze across the surroundings, acting as a living radar tracking a hidden signal.

  “There are the forest dwellers... and there is that giant...” he murmured to himself as he closed his eyes, projecting his immense psychic power outward to scavenge for any anomalies hidden within the shadows of the jungle. “And there he is... the spy Master spoke of.”

  Within Ben’s mind, a vision manifested with chilling clarity... He discovered the form of a Gifted spy, clad in advanced flight armor from a secret Russian base, hiding meticulously behind a massive tree. The spy observed the entire scene with bated, ragged breath, utterly unaware that the “Suit-Clad Reaper” had already locked onto his target!

  Once the target was locked within his divine vision, Lord Ben had no intention of wasting time. He extended his palm, unleashing a colossal burst of compressed air that erupted into a Sonic Boom of unimaginable destructive force!

  BOOM!!!

  The shockwave from his palm tore through the Amazonas jungle, leveling everything in its path in an instant. Giant trees were pulverized into dust, and the earth was gouged into a deep trench stretching over 50 meters wide and tearing nearly half a kilometer through the forest—as if a meteor had skipped across the landscape.

  Amidst the swirling plumes of smoke and fire rising toward the sky, the Russian Gifted spy in his flight armor managed to evade the direct hit by unleashing a Sonic Boom of his own. He pushed his power to its absolute limit, skyrocketing toward the upper atmosphere at supersonic speeds to escape the cataclysm below.

  “Trying to run, are we...?” Ben let out a cold, sharp smirk.

  He wasn't about to let his prey slip away. Ben detonated his own Sonic Boom, surging upward in immediate pursuit. The sound of tearing air thundered across the horizon, leaving behind only the blood-red lagoon and the unrecognizable ruins of a shattered forest. Above, their silhouettes became nothing more than two pinpoints of light, slicing across the sky at speeds the human eye could never hope to follow!

  The Russian Gifted spy pushed his power to the absolute limit, skyrocketing toward the horizon at Mach 5 and ascending to an altitude of 30 kilometers above the Earth. Yet, in the very second he believed he had finally eluded the Reaper’s grasp, the figure in the dark brown suit miraculously surged past him, blocking his path with effortless grace!

  Ben’s suit billowed elegantly beneath a translucent barrier, showing no signs of damage from the immense atmospheric friction. The Russian spy was forced to brake mid-air so violently that his body nearly tumbled out of control. He stared at the man before him with profound dread, swallowing hard as he saw Ben assume a stance to unleash an air-pressure blast at point-blank range—a distance from which "there was no escape."

  “Wait a moment... you of exceptional speed,” Ben spoke in a deep, resonant voice that vibrated through the upper atmosphere. “Your velocity is quite impressive... but my Master has sent a vital message for your kind.”

  Ben lowered his hand slightly, though his murderous aura remained undiminished. “Go back and tell your people... before long, my Master will pay you a visit in person. Both at the hideout of the 'Liberator Child' and at the homelands of every single one of you!”

  The Russian spy trembled with a primal fear he had never experienced before.

  “Today is not the day you die... I’ve had enough amusement,” Ben let out a cold smirk. “Oh... and my Master also gave strict instructions: do not trouble yourselves with elaborate welcoming ceremonies. Simply let your superiors know the name of the one who is coming... tell them his name is Master Hoto, and he is coming to reclaim what was 'entrusted' to you! Hahahahaha!”

  With that authoritative laughter, Ben detonated a final Sonic Boom, skyrocketing toward outer space. The massive shockwave from his departure sent the Russian spy spinning helplessly through the air. Behind him, the sky continued to tremble from the most terrifying declaration of war the world had ever known!

  ————————————————————————————————————————

  The Next Morning, The Ecological Garden

  “Hurry! Let’s go see who Master Ren will grant 'Pon' to today!” Chris called out to the younger ones and Yuri with infectious excitement. They all scrambled into the elevator, heading toward Prom’s chamber hidden deep within the subterranean levels.

  As the elevator doors slid open, they found Ren and Tenzin already waiting. At that precise moment, the second "Pon" sphere rolled smoothly off the production pedestal. Ren utilized his telekinesis to lift the metallic orb into the air, his gaze sweeping over the group of teenagers who had just rushed in—followed closely by Victor, who strolled in at a much more leisurely pace.

  “Victor... you shall receive this 'Pon'.”

  Ren spoke as he guided the metallic sphere through the air, past everyone else, until it came to a halt directly in front of Victor, who was the last to arrive.

  “Huh? Me first?” Victor let out a wide, jubilant grin before quickly catching himself and adopting a more serious expression. “Uh... wouldn’t it be better to give it to Yuri first, Master Ren? I only have speed, but Yuri... she’s far more versatile and skilled than I am. I’m certain she could put it to much better use than me.”

  Victor’s words caused everyone to stare at him in collective surprise. Beside him, Yuri couldn't help but hide a smile, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. She felt a deep sense of touch at seeing the usually playful rogue sacrifice such a monumental opportunity for her sake.

  “Victor, you must accept it...” Ren’s voice was firm and brooked no argument. “I have already consulted with Master Tenzin. He is willing to take you on as an additional disciple. In fact, I am opening this opportunity to everyone—if any of you wish to learn the Way of the Mind, you may seek his transmission as well.”

  Ren looked deep into the young man’s eyes. “For now, you don’t need to do anything. Just take 'Pon' and place it on the tray before Prom.”

  Victor stood there, stunned and conflicted. His mind was a chaotic battlefield, torn between his ambition for power and his love for Yuri, which urged him to sacrifice the chance for her. However, seeing the supportive gazes of his friends and hearing Ren’s absolute command, he slowly reached out to accept the metallic sphere and followed the instructions.

  “You’re thinking... that even if you have it, you won't be able to use it to its full potential because you perceive your value only in terms of 'Speed,' isn't that right?” Ren’s words struck right at the heart of Victor’s insecurity, leaving him with no choice but to nod in defeat.

  “In that case... follow me, Victor. Master Tenzin, you as well.” Ren commanded, drifting toward the Capsule Room, which housed several vacant cylindrical devices.

  Everyone, including Bjorn and Liv, followed with hearts hammering in their chests. They knew instinctively that whatever was about to happen in that capsule room would mark a monumental transformation for Victor!

  “These capsules... their function is not merely to heal wounds or regenerate tissue,” Ren spoke with a voice resonant with enlightenment. “They are designed to calibrate and propel physical evolution, pushing the body far beyond its natural constraints. Now, Prom is prepared to begin... Tenzin, Victor, choose your designated capsules.”

  Tenzin and Victor shared a brief, meaningful glance before nodding to one another, their hearts filled with absolute trust in their leader. Both stepped firmly into the array of upright cylindrical capsules.

  “I thank you both for your faith in me...” Ren said, his gaze sweeping over his two disciples. “I will evolve your physical forms to be as close to the Tefa as possible. These perfected bodies will make the mastery of once-arduous techniques as effortless as breathing. You need only sleep within these chambers for a little over a day.”

  “Uh... how exactly am I supposed to fall asleep, Master Ren? I only just woke up this morning,” Victor asked with a look of genuine innocence.

  Ren didn't answer but allowed a faint, knowing smile to touch his lips. He extended his palm, and a wave of gentle psychic energy washed over the young man. Victor’s head lolled forward as he succumbed to instantaneous slumber. Ren utilized his power to cradle the boy’s body, preventing him from collapsing, before beginning to murmur a Tefa code into the "Pon" emblem embedded in his own chest.

  Everyone in the room stood paralyzed, eyes fixed on the spectacle before them in breathless suspense. Dozens of conduits and cables surged toward Victor’s form as if possessed by a life of their own. They breached his skin to establish a systemic connection. The reinforced glass visor slid shut smoothly just as a luminous, translucent blue fluid began to flood the chamber. An oxygen mask drifted over Victor’s nose and mouth with surgical precision at the exact moment the blue tide submerged him completely!

  “I am also prepared... Master Ren.”

  Tenzin’s voice remained steady, infused with a profound and resolute calm. The Lama slowly closed his eyes, steadying his mind to embrace the power that would alter his very foundation.

  Ren nodded in respectful acknowledgement before executing every step with the same meticulous precision he had used for Victor. He projected a psychic wave to lull Tenzin’s consciousness into a state of deep, restorative rest. The Lama’s body was gently guided into the capsule.

  Under the watchful eyes of the group, Prom’s mechanical tendrils moved toward the Lama like living vines. They interfaced with a body that had been hardened by years of rigorous training. The safety glass sealed shut, and the glowing blue liquid began to cascade inward, cocooning his form.

  Now, the two disciples—opposite in age and temperament—lay in a deep sleep under the dominion of advanced Tefa technology. Their bodies were being rewoven and reconstructed at a cellular level, preparing them for a mission to save the world that was escalating in violence with every passing moment.

  ————————————————————————————————————————

  The Amazonas Basin

  The lush, vibrant rainforest that once stood had been transformed into a desolate killing field, leveled as if by a nuclear strike. Wisps of acrid smoke still drifted from the shattered stumps of trees that lay broken in a path stretching as far as the eye could see.

  The Russian Gifted spy gradually decelerated, guiding his body down through the air. He touched down upon a massive, splintered stump at the edge of the blood-red lagoon, where the metallic stench of carnage still hung heavy in the air—the very spot where the Great Serpents had surfaced and then vanished, along with the stolen mystery.

  The young soldier struggled to suppress his tremors, fighting to regain his composure after the sheer terror of the encounter. He knew all too well that what he had faced was no mere human, but a predator in the guise of a gentleman—an entity more powerful than any weapon could ever hope to repel. With trembling hands, he activated his long-range communication system.

  “Command... this is Decoy Code... I have found the target... and it is a catastrophe.”

  He began to report the entire sequence of events, his voice still thick with alarm as he uploaded the raw footage recorded by his helmet’s visor. The images of the bloody marsh, the pulverized serpent, and—most chillingly—the serene face of Lord Ben staring into the lens with a message for Master Hoto. This massive stream of data surged through the satellites, racing toward the secret Russian base to inform the high command that... the true war had finally begun!

  ————————————————————————————————————————

  Deep within the Jungles of Colombia

  Amidst the eerie silence of the nocturnal wilderness, Drapa—who had been meditating to gather his remaining strength—suddenly snapped his eyes open in alarm. His gaze wavered as he felt a psychic tremor so violent it warped the very air around him.

  “What is this... such a colossal vibration? Even from this vast distance, I can feel that familiar, murderous aura...” Drapa murmured in a raspy, strained voice. “This power... it’s that pretentious Ben, without a doubt!”

  Drapa began to panic as the stinging realization set in. “What kind of secret training has he been doing? Since when did his power leap so far beyond my own? Dammit... if he finds out that a 10th-generation senior like me is in this pathetic state—weaker than a 19th-generation junior like him—he’ll mock me until the day I die!”

  Pressure began to cave in on Drapa from every direction: his failed mission, his humiliating loss in the jungle, and most terrifyingly, the persistent call from Master Hoto that continued to permeate his mind.

  “What should I do... what can I do?! My psychic barriers are starting to fracture. How much longer can I block Master’s tracking?!”

  Drapa huddled, clutching himself amidst the biting cold and desolation. The faint moonlight offered no comfort against the encroaching fear in his heart. He had become a stray wolf, separated from the pack, paranoid of his own shadow in a deep forest that offered no escape.

  ———————————————————————————— Ruth VT-Hin ——————