Toruri sat with Poseidon beneath the ocean's surface, his brow furrowed in concentration as he attempted to align his chi. The water around them was still, save for the gentle swaying of aquatic plants and the occasional flicker of fish darting by. The calmness did nothing to soothe Toruri's growing frustration.
Poseidon watched him with a bemused expression, arms crossed. "I never thought the one thing that would be a huge wall for you to get over would be concentrating," he remarked, a playful lilt to his voice.
Toruri clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Tch, it's kinda hard when you're surrounded by water and have a dude sitting in front of you taunting you every six minutes."
Poseidon shrugged, unfazed. "Sorry, lil cuz. I'm just counting on you to hurry up—I have a meeting with the other gods I need to take care of."
Toruri's teeth clenched, his irritation spiking. "That's not helping with my concentrating, Poseidon!"
Poseidon grinned, leaning back casually. "Maybe you're just a slow learner."
"Not helping!!" Toruri snapped, his aura flaring slightly as his frustration boiled over.
Suddenly, the bubble that had been encasing Toruri burst with a soft pop, sending a rush of water against his skin. Poseidon's eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across his face. Toruri's aura had stiffened, wrapping tightly around him like a second skin.
Toruri groaned, wiping his forehead. "Ugh, now I'm sweaty, very sweaty. Thanks for nothing!"
As Toruri stood, Poseidon observed him intently. He's talking underwater, Poseidon realized, his mind quickly assessing the situation. He just unlocked his true pono chi.
Toruri blinked, the realization hitting him suddenly. "Wait," he said, his voice steady and clear despite the ocean surrounding them. His eyes widened in confusion. "Where did the bubble go?!"
Poseidon offered a rare smile, nodding approvingly. "That bit of anger concentrated enough chi for you to accidentally exert it. That's very... unexpected..."
Toruri's face lit up with excitement. "Cool!"
Poseidon stepped closer, his demeanor shifting from casual to instructive. "Learning environment alignment grants you more than just the ability to breathe anywhere you please. You can also walk anywhere you please—like on top of water, on walls, and even ceilings."
Toruri's eyes sparkled with newfound interest. "So I gain cool cockroach powers too!"
Poseidon chuckled at Toruri's unconventional comparison. "That's one way of putting it. There's a little bit more pono chi techniques you can learn, but you can put that off for later. It's time we get into the main course—kaua chi!"
"Heck yeah!" Toruri exclaimed, his enthusiasm palpable.
"But before that," Poseidon said, his tone taking on a more serious edge, "I need to give you your reward."
Poseidon approached Toruri and placed a hand firmly on his left shoulder. His eyes began to glow a vivid blue, and his touch emitted a soft blue light that pulsed rhythmically against Toruri's skin. When Poseidon removed his hand, Toruri glanced at his shoulder to see a new marking—a blue raindrop adorned with dragon wings, identical to the one on Poseidon's chest.
Toruri stared at the mark, his eyes filled with curiosity. "What's this?"
Poseidon met his gaze, the blue glow fading from his eyes. "It's a blessing from me. As a god, I can grant blessings to people, and the primary blessing I give is the technique of my people—elemental fist."
Toruri tilted his head, intrigued but still puzzled. "What's that?"
Poseidon smirked, a confident glint in his eye. "I'll gladly show you, after I teach you kaua chi."
"Right, let's get that done!" Toruri declared, brimming with eagerness.
Poseidon nodded, watching Toruri with a keen eye. "After learning pono chi, this should be pretty simple. Just focus on manifesting your chi into a sort of solid form."
"Alright." Toruri's aura flared to life, enveloping his hands with a vibrant, ethereal glow.
Poseidon's eyes gleamed with approval. "Sweet, done! Odd that you instinctively put it around your fists, though."
Toruri shrugged, clenching and unclenching his hands as if testing their newfound power. "It seemed like the right place to put it."
Poseidon chuckled. "Fair enough. There are a few simple rules that come with kaua chi, though. Do you remember me mentioning something about chi impact yesterday?"
Toruri scratched his head, vaguely recalling the conversation. "Kinda."
Poseidon continued, his tone taking on a more instructive note. "Chi impact is something that can occur whenever you strike with kaua chi. There are three different types of chi impacts: the golden burst, the anti-crush, and the neutral slayer. They're rare to see in actual combat, but they're all extremely powerful. The golden burst, for instance, can occur if your kaua chi makes contact with something while you're experiencing absolute happiness and joy. Upon activation, your chi strength and output increase by the same amount as your target's chi strength and output."
Toruri's face twisted in confusion. "So, if I hit a cockroach, I would gain its chi output and strength?"
Poseidon stared at him, raising an eyebrow. "What's up with you and cockroaches? And yes, but it only lasts for ten minutes. There's also an added bonus: when you land a golden burst, your target will feel all the chi in their body explode internally."
Toruri winced, imagining the visceral outcome. "Gruesome!"
"Very," Poseidon agreed. "Then there's the anti-crush. This occurs when your kaua chi makes contact with something while you're feeling only negative emotions. On impact, it completely neutralizes your target's life force and chi, resetting their chi back to its default state. This reverses any changes, increases, or decreases that have been made to their chi and inflicts your target with chi-crush, making them unable to use their chi for five minutes."
Toruri raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound as gruesome as the golden burst."
Poseidon nodded. "It's not, but it's a lot more practical. It's especially effective against those who use hokeike chi—the type of chi used to summon chi beasts and barriers. Lastly, we have the neutral slayer, which is the hardest chi impact to activate. To trigger it, you need to feel absolutely neutral, devoid of any emotion. But when it activates, it drastically lowers your target's chi to just 1%, and you absorb the remaining chi for yourself. The stolen chi will gradually drain from you, but once your target regains full chi, they suffer a fifty-minute chi-crush."
Toruri scratched his head, looking overwhelmed. "That's a lot of things to remember. I might land one of those impacts by accident."
Poseidon chuckled. "Well, that's completely intentional. But enough about that. How about we move on to teaching you the elemental fist?"
Toruri nodded, excitement bubbling up again. "Alright, show me."
Poseidon's fists began to glow, charged with his powerful blue chi. With a fluid motion, he waved his fist, and the water around him responded immediately, shifting and swirling in sync with his movements.
"Elemental fist revolves around the chi god technique that I've bestowed upon you—second body," Poseidon explained, his voice steady and commanding. "The second body uses your chi aura to form an invincible, invisible layer of chi around your body. This layer can grow along with your chi output, allowing you to pull, push, and bend reality on a basic level."
To demonstrate, Poseidon punched forward with controlled force. The ocean floor responded, a chunk of the ground morphing and lifting as Poseidon guided it with a simple movement of his fist. The piece of land hovered, bending to Poseidon's will as if it were clay in his hands.
"With this technique, you can manipulate any element around you," Poseidon continued, his tone filled with pride. "This is the primary fighting style of Atlantis. Elemental fists can block and redirect enemy attacks. Thanks to the second body, the chi shapes itself around whatever you're wielding. So, if you have a sword, your elemental fist will become sharp, allowing you to cut through reality itself."
Toruri, eager to try, thrust his fist into the air with a triumphant shout. "Second body, go!"
Poseidon's expression turned to alarm. "Wait, Toruri!!!"
In an instant, Toruri was slammed to the ground by an unseen force, his body pinned as if the weight of the ocean had suddenly pressed down on him.
Poseidon sighed, shaking his head. "Due to the limitations of the second body, you can't just be all limp and weak with your movements while using it! You must be stiff, and exerting 100% of your muscles!"
Groaning, Toruri slowly pushed himself up, rubbing the back of his head where it had hit the ocean floor. "I wish you told me that in the huge explanation," he muttered, wincing slightly.
Poseidon chuckled softly, offering a hand to help Toruri up. "I guess the last thing I'll do with you is work on your elemental fist's stance. After this, I'll need to go, and you can make your way to the water gate!"
Meanwhile, Nilala continued his journey alongside October, his thoughts drifting as they made their way through the bustling underwater city.
We're almost there, Nilala mused, glancing around at the sprawling expanse of Atlantis. It's not every day you get to walk across the entirety of this city. It really shows you just how vast it is.
His gaze shifted to October, the robot silently gliding by his side. The memory of last night flickered in Nilala's mind, making him shiver slightly. It was weird sleeping with that thing right beside me. It just... sat there. Not moving, not even blinking. Like a statue.
Nilala cleared his throat. "Robot, can you actually hear me?"
October's response was immediate. "Affirmative."
Nilala raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Do you have... free will?"
"My will is as free as my owner's," October replied in his usual monotone.
Nilala snorted. "That's the exact opposite of free will."
"Calculating, calculating," October's eyes flashed briefly as he processed. "I have no free will."
Nilala sighed, shaking his head slightly. "Your AI confuses me. I think you're smart enough to understand that you can live without an owner, but I don't think you have any of that rebellious stuff built into you."
"Affirmative," October replied without hesitation. "Unit J-002 is only meant to serve."
Nilala's expression softened, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes. Humans... You're so cruel with your creations.
Suddenly, a voice broke the silence. "Captain Nilala!!!"
Nilala turned to see three Atlanteans rushing toward him: a starfish Atlantean with an eye patch over its left eye and a scar across the right, an eel Atlantean with razor-sharp teeth, and a muscular manta ray Atlantean. Each bore the distinct markings of their respective blessings—the eel's emblem glowing on its forehead, while the manta ray's adorned its left arm. They skidded to a halt before Nilala, saluting in unison.
The starfish spoke first, standing at attention. "Reporting, Lieutenant Hoku here!"
"Reporting, Private Uila, right here!" the eel snapped, his teeth flashing menacingly.
"Report, Holoi," the manta ray rumbled, his voice deep and resonant.
Nilala nodded, assessing them quickly. "What's the problem?"
Hoku stepped forward, his voice urgent. "Reports of a crocodile saraoko are coming from everywhere!"
Uila's voice rang out, high-pitched and panicked. "I HEARD THE SUSPECT WAS KIDNAPPING CHILDREN!!!"
Hoku nodded grimly. "Multiple people saw it with their own eyes."
Nilala frowned, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. I thought I could postpone this investigation, but it's all coming towards me. He turned to October, his expression serious. "Robot, you can fight, right?"
"Affirmative," October answered, his tone unwavering.
Nilala nodded, his resolve firming. "Good. I'll bring you as backup. Sorry, Deity Poseidon, but I've got to stop this before it gets out of hand."
Hoku stepped closer. "We have an idea on his next location."
Nilala waved him off. "There's no need for that. I can try to single out his chi—saraoko chi is a lot different from Atlantean chi."
Uila pumped his fists, his voice trembling with anticipation. "MAYBE WE CAN SAVE THE CHILDREN!!!"
Nilala took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing with determination. "That's the plan. Let's move out!"
Two hours later, Toruri found himself locked in a sparring session with Poseidon. His stance was firm, each movement precise and deliberate as he launched a series of powerful punches toward Poseidon. The god of the sea dodged effortlessly, his fluid movements contrasting Toruri's rigid, determined strikes. Toruri's body shimmered, his chi enveloping him like an aura of raw energy.
"Perfect form, Toruri!" Poseidon called out, his voice echoing through the water.
Toruri's fist shot forward, a forceful punch aimed directly at Poseidon. Poseidon sidestepped with ease, but the power behind Toruri's attack continued forward, demolishing a large boulder that had been looming behind Poseidon. The rock crumbled instantly, reduced to rubble by the unseen force of Toruri's chi.
"Good work, Toruri!" Poseidon praised, a broad grin on his face. He glanced at an unseen clock, his expression shifting to one of mild disappointment. "Would you look at the time, though—I have to dip."
Toruri straightened up, the intensity of their sparring fading. "You're already going?"
Poseidon nodded, his smile tinged with regret. "Yeah, it sucks that I only got to train with you for a day, but that's why I need you to practice your technique every day."
"I'll try to," Toruri promised, though there was a casual air to his words.
Poseidon laughed lightly. "Sounds promising! Now, get going to the water gate. I guess I'll see you at Heavalley."
"Cya, cousin," Toruri said, raising a hand in farewell.
"Later!" Poseidon responded, his tone cheerful.
Without further delay, Poseidon propelled himself forward, cutting through the water with astounding speed. The sudden burst of motion caught Toruri off guard, knocking him onto his back with a startled yelp.
"Oh god!" Toruri exclaimed, scrambling to his feet.
As he dusted himself off, he glanced around, suddenly feeling the vastness of the underwater world around him. He took a moment to steady his breathing, the thrill of the sparring session still buzzing in his veins.
Toruri muttered to himself, half amused, half curious, "What is October up to right now?"
Nilala, October, Uila, Hoku, and Holoi stood at the mouth of a large, ominous underwater cave, far from the bustling city of Atlantis. The sea around them was eerily still, with no fish in sight, an unsettling quiet that gnawed at the edges of their nerves.
"This is the place," Hoku stated firmly, his voice barely above a murmur.
Uila, with his usual volume, exclaimed, "IT'S VERY ODD THAT THERE ARE NO FISH HERE!!!"
Nilala, ever the vigilant captain, scrutinized the cave's gaping entrance. "This cave looks rather large. Robot, do you have any scanning functionality?"
"Affirmative," October responded without hesitation.
"Scan the cave."
A bright yellow beam shot out from October's eyes, illuminating the cave's dark interior like a searchlight cutting through the murk. The group waited in tense silence as the robot processed the data.
"Two lifeforms detected," October announced, his voice as steady as ever.
Nilala, already honing his senses, reached out with his chi. As the energy flowed through him, his eyes widened in sudden alarm. "Six..."
He staggered back, as if struck by the weight of an unseen force.
"Nilala?!" Hoku called out, concern etching his face.
"Six hearts?!" Nilala muttered, his voice filled with disbelief.
"What?" Hoku asked, looking confused.
Steeling himself, Nilala readied his sword hand. "The enemy is right there! And something in that cave has six hearts!"
From the shadows of the cave, the sound of slow, deliberate clapping echoed. Emerging into the dim light was a humanoid crocodile man, his skin rough and scaled, eyes burning a deep, malicious red. His sharp teeth glistened as he grinned, dressed casually in white shorts that contrasted sharply with his menacing appearance.
"How unexpected," the crocodile man said with a chuckle, his voice smooth and taunting.
Nilala's eyes narrowed, focusing on the creature before him. "A saraoka using pono chi. You're not from Javarahoo, are you?"
The crocodile man smirked. "Do I have the option of not answering that?"
"I think it'll be better for you to identify yourself," Nilala demanded, tightening his grip on his sword hand.
With a casual shrug, the crocodile man replied, "Alright, alright. I'm Baya, or as the robot knows me, Q-003."
Nilala glanced toward October. "Robot, you know this guy?"
"Affirmative. Baya of M.A.G.I.C, code name Q-003, magical mutation—"
"Shhhhhh," Baya interjected, waving a clawed finger. "October bot, don't go spilling all my secrets now. I didn't expect you'd get hit so hard you'd change sides."
Hoku, puzzled, whispered to Nilala, "Is this guy the one with six hearts?"
Nilala shook his head, beads of sweat forming on his brow. "N-No, it's still in there."
"Affirmative," October confirmed, his tone unchanging.
Baya grinned wider, a predatory gleam in his eye. "Q-002 won't come out until you make the first move, so... the choice is yours." He spread his arms wide, daring them to act.
Tension hung in the water as Nilala's team prepared for the unknown threat lurking within the depths of the cave.
"As long as you don't attack, we can be friends here," Nilala stated, his voice steady but laced with a hint of caution. His eyes narrowed as they locked onto the figure before him. "Just answer a few questions for me."
Baya responded with a curt nod. "Will do."
Nilala took a breath, his gaze piercing through the growing tension. "Given all the... extremely shady things happening around here, I'm assuming everything said about you is true, but I'll try to give you the benefit of the doubt." His expression hardened. "First question—were you really taking children?"
There was no hesitation in Baya's reply. "Yes."
Before Nilala could process the admission, Uila erupted with disbelief. "HE DIDN'T EVEN DENY IT!!!"
Baya turned his head slightly, his tone disturbingly casual. "Well, it's the truth."
A cold silence filled the space. Nilala's grip on his sword hand tightened as his mind raced. "What are you doing with the children?" His words came out slower this time, more measured, as if hoping the answer might soften the horror of Baya's admission.
But Baya's response was a brick wall. "None of your business."
Nilala's patience snapped. His eyes flickered with resolve as he straightened, his energy sharpening into focus. "Well," he said, his voice dropping low, "I've heard everything I needed to hear."
With a sudden surge of power, Nilala channeled chi into the tip of his sword hand, the energy crackling visibly. In one swift motion, he lunged towards Baya, aiming for a decisive strike. But before he could land the blow, something massive slammed down in front of him, halting his advance with a deafening crash.
Nilala staggered, eyes wide. "What—"
A deep, synthetic voice interrupted. "Stop the racket." Emerging from the cave behind Baya was a towering figure, grotesque and awe-inspiring. It was a humanoid hybrid, a monstrous fusion of squid and octopus. Its octopus-like eyes glistened menacingly as fifteen long, muscular tentacles writhed around its body. Its head resembled that of a squid, and despite its bizarre appearance, it wore a simple black tank top that only heightened its unsettling presence.
The robotic monotone of October's voice echoed across the water. "Q-002 of M.A.G.I.C... Guricumi."
Hoku recoiled, eyes wide in disgust and fear. "What is that abomination?!"
Guricumi yawned lazily, almost indifferent to the chaos around him. "I'm Atlantean, just like you guys," he muttered, stretching his enormous limbs as if this confrontation was merely a minor inconvenience.
Hoku's voice rose in disbelief. "You're a lot larger than everyone else!"
Guricumi gave a half-smirk, a casual shrug following. "It's all a part of my charm."
Hoku, clearly rattled, turned to Nilala. "I might have to use my special technique against this thing."
"Hoku—" Nilala began, trying to rein in his comrade.
But Hoku wasn't listening. He raised a hand dramatically. "The strongest technique known to this world," he declared with conviction, "the technique that makes the ocean wet!"
Nilala shot him an exasperated look. "Yeah, yeah—"
Before their banter could continue, Baya's cold voice cut through the air. "Distract them, Guricumi. We'll meet somewhere else."
With that, Baya turned and swam away into the depths of the ocean, leaving chaos in his wake.
Nilala cursed under his breath. "Hoku, use your technique or something on this monster. I'll go after the culprit!" He started to swim after Baya, determined to catch him, but before he could get far, one of Guricumi's massive tentacles shot forward, wrapping around him and stopping him in his tracks.
"That wouldn't be so wise of you, swordfish," Guricumi rumbled, his voice dripping with amusement.
Suddenly, a blur of motion surged toward them. Holoi, fierce and unrelenting, swam up to the tentacle and delivered a powerful punch, sending shockwaves through the water. The force of the blow knocked Guricumi's tentacle back, freeing Nilala.
"Hey!" Guricumi shouted, momentarily startled.
Holoi turned to Nilala with a sharp nod. "Go."
Without wasting another second, Nilala bolted forward, swimming after Baya with all the speed he could muster.
Toruri wandered through the sprawling cityscape of Atlantis, frustration creasing his brow as he held up a crumpled piece of paper. He squinted at the map, its markings an unintelligible maze in his hands.
"This seriously isn't mapping," he muttered to himself, glancing around at his unfamiliar surroundings. "From my knowledge, it's supposed to be all the way across the city!"
With a frustrated huff, Toruri crammed the map into his pocket, abandoning any pretense of navigation. "So if I just run in a straight line, I'll get there!" His eyes gleamed with determination.
Without a second thought, he bolted forward, legs pumping through the thick water, driven by pure instinct. Time skipped ahead, and five hours later, Toruri found himself in the absolute middle of nowhere, a barren expanse stretching as far as his eyes could see.
"Maybe I should look at the map..." he mumbled, slowing to a halt, the realization dawning that his straight-line strategy had spectacularly failed.
In the distance, a dilapidated wooden structure caught his eye. It stood crookedly, with shattered windows and a faintly glowing, slanted sign that flickered through the murky water. The letters barely readable, read, Josh's Grill.
Toruri's stomach growled loudly. "Is that... an underwater grill?" His eyes widened with excitement. "If I wasn't underwater, my mouth would be salivating!" With renewed energy, he sprinted toward the building.
"For the past day or so, I've only been eating seaweed! There's no way that a grill just serves seaweed!!!" Toruri threw his arms up in excitement, his hunger driving him forward. "I wonder if I can get free food!" he mused, a grin creeping across his face at the thought.
Suddenly, the water around him erupted into chaos. A warped, flaming explosion burst in front of him, sending him flying backward. He tumbled through the water, landing hard on his back, the impact knocking the wind out of him. The fire raged on, unnaturally burning underwater, flames dancing in defiance of the sea's depths.
Sitting up, Toruri groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "Eeeh, damn. Is that an enemy?" he muttered, pushing himself to his feet. His eyes narrowed as he stared into the blazing inferno. Through the roaring flames, a large, menacing silhouette began to emerge, a figure so imposing it seemed to distort the fire around it.
"You couldn't have come at a better time, M.A.G.I.C!" Toruri called out, cracking his knuckles. "A good fight always gets you hungry."
The shadowy figure strode closer, each step slow and deliberate, amplifying the tension in the water. Toruri's mind raced. The real question is... what is M.A.G.I.C doing underwater, and in Atlantis?
A faint buzzing sound hummed in the distance. Toruri glanced around, brow furrowed. "And what is that...?"
Out of the flames, the figure finally stepped into full view. A massive man, head to toe in sleek, black armor that glistened ominously, reminiscent of Denshin's design. Draped across his broad shoulders was a long red cape, fluttering with a sense of authority, and from his helmet, a singular red eye glowed, piercing the ocean's depths as he walked.
Toruri's stance shifted, his muscles tensing, ready for action. "You're a quiet one."
Just then, a tiny fly zipped into view, hovering near the armored man. Toruri's eyes widened in surprise. The fly was enveloped in a faint, purple aura, its energy radiating outward, pulsing through the water.
That must be his partner, Toruri thought, his sharp instincts kicking in. That fly has its pono chi wrapped around the big guy too. I never knew a fly had such good chi output...
To his astonishment, the fly spoke. "KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAI!" it buzzed, its voice high-pitched and unnerving.
Toruri blinked in disbelief. It's talking?!
"JU MAN!!!" the fly screeched.
In response, the black-armored man suddenly spun around, his movements sharp and fluid, striking a dramatic pose. He crouched slightly, one leg extended behind him for balance, while the other was bent forward, toes pressing into the seafloor. His right hand stretched outward, fingers splayed as if drawing invisible energy from the ocean itself, while his left arm rose above his head, clenched in a tight fist that glowed with red energy. His helmet tilted slightly upward, his singular red eye locking onto Toruri's gaze. The cape whipped around behind him, crackling with power, while his armor glowed faintly with an inner crimson light.
Toruri blinked, caught off guard. "Huh—"
The fly, undeterred, buzzed loudly. "Standing at a whopping 10 foot 5, our hero Kaiju Man is a hero from a desolate future!"
Before Toruri could process the absurdity of the situation, Kaiju Man launched himself into the air, his armored form twisting with unnatural grace. He angled his body mid-flight, knees bent as if preparing to land like a cat, but his arms told a different story. His left arm extended behind him, fingers spread wide as though he had just unleashed a blast of raw energy. His right arm stretched forward, palm facing the ground, bracing for the impending impact. The visor on his helmet gleamed, reflecting the intensity of the moment, while his cape spiraled around him like a vortex of power, wrapping his body in a whirlwind of energy.
Toruri's breath caught in his throat. This wasn't just a fight—this was a spectacle.
Toruri stared at the bizarre scene unfolding before him, his expression a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "What... am I watching?"
The tiny fly, Hecate, buzzed forward with enthusiasm, its high-pitched voice piercing through the underwater stillness. "Kaiju Man has come to save your present times from the dangers of evil!"
With a dramatic thud, Kaiju Man landed, his imposing 10-foot frame shaking the ground beneath him. He crossed his arms over his broad chest, trying to appear intimidating.
Hecate hovered by his side, its wings vibrating with excitement. "I am his reliable companion, Hecate, and we are here to save you!"
Toruri blinked rapidly, his confusion only deepening. "What... Who... Who are you guys?"
Hecate's voice took on an authoritative tone as it responded. "Kaiju Man... introduce yourself."
Kaiju Man hesitated, then awkwardly lifted a hand and gave a half-hearted wave. His enormous armored hand, despite its intimidating size, looked oddly out of place in such a casual gesture.
"QUIT BEING SO ANTI-SOCIAL, KAIJU!" Hecate shouted, exasperation clear in its voice.
Toruri could only shake his head. "Dudes, I am so confused."
Hecate zipped closer to Toruri, its tone shifting to one of annoyance. "About what, pedestrian?"
Toruri gestured toward the surreal duo. "You're a talking fly, he's an awkward 10-foot black knight. What should I not be confused by?"
Hecate paused, as though genuinely surprised. "Is a talking fly not normal?"
"And you said something about being from the future," Toruri continued, rubbing his temples as if trying to make sense of it all. "Are you M.A.G.I.C. or not?"
"What's that?" Hecate responded, clueless.
Toruri's eyes widened, the confusion only growing. "So you're not... This is... EVEN MORE CONFUSING!"
The fly let out a frustrated buzz. "Kaiju, this timeline is strange."
Kaiju Man uncrossed his arms and turned to his companion. "Hecate, let me do the talking."
"You got it, Kaiju!" Hecate replied, retreating a little.
Kaiju Man cleared his throat awkwardly. "Hello," he began, his voice deep but slightly unsure. "I'm Kaiju Man, I'm from 20 years in the future, and I'm here to... kill Zeus."
Toruri's jaw dropped, his mind reeling from the words he just heard. "That's my... YOUNGER HALF-BROTHER!!!"
Kaiju Man took a stumbling step back. "He's your what?!"
Toruri's face twisted in shock and disbelief. "So you guys are evil! I guess I gotta take you out back."
Hecate let out an exaggerated sigh. "And this is why you stay quiet, Kaiju..."
Kaiju Man raised his hands defensively, his voice rushed and pleading. "Wait, wait, wait, this is just one big misunderstanding! If we sit and just talk this out, you'll understand—"
"How do I understand child murder?" Toruri's voice grew sharper, anger mixing with his confusion.
Kaiju Man's glowing red eye flickered. "Just give me time to explain!"
Toruri stood there for a long moment, weighing his options, before reluctantly nodding. "F-Fine..."