"...I'll ask you one question."
A smooth, deep voice left from the lips of the mysterious man as his gray locks were brushed in a passing breeze.
"Are you enemies of mine?" The man asked, looking directly at the three.
They didn't know how to answer for a few seconds as the man exuded a certain tranquil, yet vicious aura, but he stepped forward, quickly dissuading any notion of that.
"No…not at all–we came here because of the explosions we heard below," he laughed wryly, hoping not to upset the man.
He's strong. Stronger than all of us–there's no question about that, he thought.
Yakeru looked at him for a moment before momentarily closing his eyes, relaxing his guard as he bowed his head.
"Apologies," Yakeru said quietly, "I didn't realize there were others in the area."
"No, no, it's alright," he assured the man with a laugh, "I've gotta ask…what's up with your gear? It's way different than anything we've got."
