Tuesday's starting to feel a lot like Monday... In a way, you're getting tired of waking up in random places.
For the second time that day — or at least it felt like it — Igyris woke up in another base. But this one... this one was different. Very different.
Cutting-edge technological weapons. Heavy combat droids — the C-99 Guardian models, the same ones he'd seen patrolling the streets instead of the police — with modular black armor, hydraulic limbs, and shoulder plates studded with automatic launchers.
Armed drones hovered near the ceiling — Cyclone-04s, with asymmetrical rotating wings, red pulsing sensors, and claws equipped with micro plasma turrets and guided micromissile launchers.
Explosives and smart mines stacked on shelves — black boxes with blue LEDs, each labeled with things like "M-Quake | Seismic Grenade" or "Flechette Viper," mines that release venomous darts in every direction.
In the corners, four automated Valkyria Turret-X towers, with articulated bipods, thermal sensors, and twin rotary cannons. Their lights tracked Igyris, targeting lasers crisscrossing the floor.
Yeah... this was definitely a terrorist base.
Maybe he should've been more surprised.
This time he wasn't bound. No cuffs, no chains. But it didn't take long to realize — an energy barrier shimmered around him, stopping him from moving forward.
The barrier looked like liquid glass, with hexagonal lines pulsing in bluish tones, flickering and trembling as if under tension. Every second, small sparks ran across the structure, crackling like Tesla coil discharges.
Still trapped.
And outside the barrier... her.
— Hey... what did you mean by "destroy the world"...? — Igyris asked, head lowered, hair falling over his face.
— Well, well... — the woman answered, smirking. — My cursed little toy is awake. And already on his feet? Heh. Full of energy, huh...
Her malicious smile practically glowed.
— Answer me... — he raised his eyes, voice firm, tone almost hoarse. — What did you mean by... destroy the world?
This time, his gaze wasn't empty. There was fire. Fury. Life.
She crossed her arms, scoffing.
— Listen here, sewer rat... — she spat the words — I don't think you'd understand even if I explained it a million times. But you know... sometimes... they take everything from you. Everything. Get it? And the most... fair answer I found was to destroy what they hold most dear. Their filthy little world.
This time, Igyris listened. Really listened.
She took a step closer, staring him in the eyes, as if spitting venom and hope in equal measure.
— But don't try too hard to understand, or your brain might fry, okay? — she chuckled, tilting her head — There are people in this world who are born with so little... and guess what? Those up there still insist on taking even that little away. And you know what I think? I think those people should unite. Like a pack. A pack of wolves... — she grinned, teeth clenched. — ...and tear down their sky.
Something stirred inside Igyris. An uneasy feeling. Maybe... identification?
Why? Why the hell did hearing this from someone who clearly despised him... make him feel this way? Did this even make sense?
His thoughts were torn apart by a sharp voice from above.
— Oh, dear Mana... — someone said. — Didn't I tell you not to chat with the captives...?
Igyris looked up.
A man was descending from above — not via stairs, but floating, using propulsion boots.
Arms wide open, a huge grin, thinking himself a god. Or at least pretending to be one.
A red coat filled with implants, wires, tubes, and tech plates. A slick mohawk swept back. A pair of red welding goggles perched on his forehead.
He descended slowly, like stepping onto a stage made just for him.
— Dude... you and these entrances... so embarrassing. — grumbled Mana, covering her face with her hands. — For God's sake...
— Don't worry, Mana... — he replied, winking at her. — I'm merely demonstrating our... abyssal superiority... to yet another of our captives. — he laughed, spreading his arms.
Mana crossed her arms, rolling her eyes. Muttered:
— We've never even kidnapped anyone before...
— So, Mana... — he spun midair, looking at Igyris — This is our captive? The kid you said had a Plague or whatever? Meh... doesn't look like much.
He'd already seen Igyris, but seemed far more interested in... performing.
— Dude... ugh, forget it... — Mana sighed — Yeah, it's him, alright? The kid, the plague, blah blah... Do me a favor? Stop saying my name every damn sentence!
— Of course, Mana... — he giggled, theatrically covering his mouth. — Hehehe...
— Oh, God... — Mana turned her back, kicking a crate out of the way — I give up. He's your problem now, Naxel... holy shit.
Naxel watched her walk away, then turned back to Igyris.
— Hohoho... so it's you, huh? — he pressed his cheek against the barrier, peering closely. — Tell me... what's your name, my little rat? I see that rebellious hair... that tattoo covering your left eye... — he chuckled. — Interesting. Are you in a gang, by any chance? You look the part.
Yeah. The guy was definitely a lunatic.
— Name? — Igyris smirked. — Wouldn't be fair to say I really have one. But they call me... Igyris. Well... don't laugh, alright? Heh.
For some reason, these two... were starting to seem interesting.
— Igyris...? — Naxel blinked. — Oh... like the belt brand? Yes, yes... I've heard of it. But didn't know you could register that as a name. Ever heard of copyright, buddy?
His eyes were wide, vibrant, a little insane.
— Yeah... yeah, I've heard of it. — Igyris stared him down, head tilted. — In fact... I'm pretty sure I've seen you somewhere... Your name's Naxel, right?
Naxel froze. His heart nearly jumped out of his chest. Off to the side, Mana shook her head.
— H-how do y-you know...? — he stammered.
Igyris burst out laughing, unable to hold it back.
— DAMN IT, NAXEL, STAY FOCUSED, YOU IDIOT! — Mana shouted from across the base.
Naxel took a deep breath, recomposed himself, and adjusted his mohawk with a comically thin-toothed comb.
— Alright... Alright... — he smiled. — Look, kid, I want you to understand... Me and my lovely Mana are, at the moment, the only active members of a highly renowned terrorist group... quite popular among the ladies. — he spread his arms.
His tone shifted — calmer. Almost polite.
— As you can see from my base... I'm clearly a rich man... charming... and, modesty aside, one of the greatest geniuses of our time. I wasn't born with the gift of the Arcane, but my brain more than makes up for it. — he adjusted his welding goggles, all pompous.
Igyris sighed, looking down.
— You're from robotics, right? — he asked bluntly. — Saw you in some commercial on a billboard once. Didn't really care about that crap, but... you work at PowerMagi, don't you?
Naxel's eyes widened.
— Oh... Hoho... — he chuckled. — Seems I'm truly famous. But that doesn't matter now. See... — he leaned closer — Like you heard, it's just me and Mana. But we make up for that with cutting-edge tech, arcane weapons, and... well... a team of highly skilled mercenaries. — he took a deep breath, crossing his arms. — Or... we used to. Until you... scared them all away.
— And what the hell does that have to do with me? — Igyris asked, looking up.
— Oh, don't be rude... — Naxel replied. — You scared off our workforce. Now... you gotta pay.
— Heh... Sorry, bro, but you ran into the worst guy to mess up your plans. Pretty sure the most valuable thing I have... is this dumb belt. — he slapped his belt, mocking.
— Don't worry, dear Igyris... — Naxel grinned, eyes widening. — We don't want money... or objects. You... will be our weapon. Mana told me. You are a cursed being. And trust me... that's worth more than any squad. — he tilted his head. — You paralyzed Khalis... without even awakening. You're worth more than any bomb.
Igyris gave a crooked smile.
— Look, man... I don't get this crap about "cursed," "plague," or whatever... But seriously... what the hell would make me even consider helping you two?
Naxel stepped back from the barrier, smirking.
— You'll see.
Naxel pulled a device from his coat. Held it in his hand.
For two seconds... Nobody said a word. Just the sound of drones hovering. The metallic ticking of droids adjusting their hydraulic joints. The hum of the barrier vibrating in the air.
The silence was heavy. Suffocating.
And then...
He pressed the button.
The blue barrier trapping Igyris... glowed red.
Instantly, the itch came back. Strong. Allergy. What the hell... Why now?
In the center of the barrier, mechanisms opened, revealing four arcane stones... pulsing.
— Oh no... oh shit... shit, shit, shit... WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? TURN THIS OFF! AAAAARRRGHHH!
— Hah... This is just your curse awakening, kid... — Naxel said, arms crossed, smiling. — We're giving you the power to destroy anything... You're welcome.
Igyris's skin started to crack. He had never felt so much Arcane. Never.
He scratched himself until tearing chunks of flesh. Beneath the skin... something was growing.
His eyes rolled back. His bones trembled. He screamed.
Mana stood wide-eyed, terrified. Naxel? Naxel was in ecstasy.
— HAHAHAHA! I KNEW IT! MY VERY OWN FRANKENSTEIN!
An explosion of green fire consumed everything.
And in the middle of the smoke... there he was.
A creature. A skeleton covered in green flames. A demon.
The barrier? Destroyed.
The creature's footsteps were dry, heavy... disturbing.
Mana... frozen. Naxel... fascinated.
The green-flamed demon advanced. A hellhound.
But... an electric shock jolted through his body. He collapsed, motionless.
— Hah... look at you... You're gorgeous. — Naxel laughed, crouching. — You really thought I'd be this confident... without taking precautions? — he pressed a button on his wrist. — You're our little puppy now, Igyris...
He leaned in, placing a hand where the creature's chin would be.
— I implanted a little device while you slept. Simple. If you try to attack me... you'll feel unbearable pain. And if you push it... you'll die. — he grinned. — You're ours now. Got it?
The creature's voice came out distorted, guttural, tearing its own throat.
— GO... FUCK... YOURSELF.
— HAHAHAHA! That's the spirit, my friend! — Naxel laughed loudly. — Well... I'm a busy man. So, as your new boss, I've got a favor to ask...
As he spoke, Igyris — or whatever he'd become — writhed on the ground, screaming, a complete mental breakdown.
— ARRRGHHH! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU! I WILL CLAIM THIS LAND! SPREAD MY PLAGUE IN BLOOD! YOUR CHILDREN WILL ROT! YOUR MOTHERS WILL BE CORRUPTED! I WILL SOW MY SEED INTO YOUR EARTH!
— Wow... I think that's not you anymore, huh? — Naxel chuckled, stroking his chin. — Anyway... this "friend" is an old coworker. But... he's trying to break our deal. He's been threatening us for a while... and I'm not the kind who likes fighting, you see? And... well... Mana isn't really in the mood to deal with this for me. But... she has some personal reasons for wanting in.
— HEY! — Mana yelled, outraged.
— Don't get mad, my lovely Mana... — he winked at her. — Our new business partner will help. As soon as he regains consciousness... and, of course, controls that lovely little thing there... his first mission is simple...
Naxel stood up, spreading his arms.
— Kill the Executor... Mazikin Yegrande.