Under the dark sky and raging rain, Merphis stood majestically, holding her sword with unwavering confidence. His imposing figure was highlighted by the lightning that streaked the darkening sky, revealing a determined face and eyes burning with determination. Opposite, Suka was kneeling, her eyes full of despair. Before her, her opponent's power and invincibility were evident. The sound of thunder sounded like a distant echo of the epic battle taking place between them, a struggle between unyielding will and bitter resignation.
Suka, his voice exhausted, whispered weakly to Merphis, "Do it...finish me." Merphis looked at her, his gaze full of compassion and firmness. He slowly shook his head and replied in a calm but resolute voice, "I can't, Suka. I don't kill innocent people, much less those who defend the same cause as me." Suka's eyes widened in astonishment. "If it was anyone else in my place, you would have killed him without hesitation, Merphis. You would have taken control of the group." Merphis put away her sword and placed a comforting hand on Suka's shoulder. "We are not all the same, Suka. It doesn't matter who is the leader, it doesn't matter who is in command. I just want to be part of this fight alongside you, without shedding innocent blood."
Suka, exhausted, slowly sat down on the damp ground, letting her tired muscles relax. She looked up at the sky obscured by dissipated clouds, revealing a dazzling ballet of stars. Exhausted by the battle that had just taken place, she took a moment to observe these bright stars, each of them carrying infinite mysteries within them. Their distant glow seemed to soothe his tormented mind, offering him a brief respite from this world troubled by war and struggle. A moment of peace in the darkness, where she could lose herself in the silent vastness of the universe, temporarily forgetting the challenges that awaited her.
- Suka, staring into the ruins around them, began to speak softly to Merphis. "You know, Merphis, this world was once a living paradise. Where we are now, there was an amusement park. My friends and I used to come here to play, laugh, and make memories. I used to live here with my mother. But now there is nothing left, only these two almost destroyed buildings, silent witnesses to what this place once was."
-Merphis, feeling the pain in Suka's words, responded with empathy, "I understand, Suka. I had friends too. Things didn't go the way I wanted, and I lost them, either way." He paused, letting his words permeate the air. "But despite all our losses, I believe in our cause. Our will and the justice we defend are justified. Even if it is difficult, we must continue to fight for a better future, not only for us, but for all those who knew this lost paradise."
In an instant, five other armed people, probably members of the same group as Suka, appeared. Each of them displayed the same symbol as the one on the sign, a rallying sign in this declining world. Two of them rushed to protect Suka, their determined looks revealing unwavering loyalty to their comrade. Meanwhile, the other three positioned themselves in offensive formation, ready to attack Merphis. The atmosphere became electric, charged with palpable tension, as the group found themselves face to face, each sticking to their positions in this theater of conflict where the outcome seemed uncertain. Facing Merphis, one of the three attackers stepped forward, pointing an advanced technological firearm, his gaze filled with anger and defiance. He yelled, "How dare you break into our headquarters and hurt our leader, huh? You bastard, you lose nothing by waiting!" The tone of his voice echoed in the tense air, as the confrontation reached its climax. Merphis, calm despite the threat facing him, fixed his gaze on his opponent, ready to respond to this provocation with unfailing determination.
The attacker, stunned by the speed and effectiveness of Merphis' response, saw his firearm sliced in two by an invisible force, the blue energy vanishing into the air. His missed shot fell far from its target, not even hitting a hair of Merphis. In a quick, silent movement, Merphis slipped behind the attacker, holding his sword tightly in his hand. He spoke in a calm but icy voice: "I do not tolerate threats. Another outburst like this and I will kill without hesitation." The attacker remained motionless, paralyzed by fear and incomprehension, realizing that he had seriously underestimated his opponent. The tension in the air was palpable, with any moment potentially tipping into a brutal confrontation.
Suka suddenly stood up, shouting loudly, "Stop it right now, that's enough! Leave Merphis alone, he did absolutely nothing to me!" One of the people, Miya, a young girl with white hair and scarlet red eyes, replied, "But you're covered in dirt, Suka." Suka continued firmly, "All Merphis did was destroy the Yokai I summoned, but he didn't physically harm me. So leave him alone." His tone was full of indomitable determination, defending Merphis despite the evidence of the fight that had just taken place, thus demonstrating unwavering loyalty to his comrade-in-arms. In the darkness of the dilapidated building, Suka stood up, followed closely by Merphis and the others. Inside, the atmosphere was gloomy, infested with rats, cockroaches and other unwanted creatures, while skeletons lay here and there, silent witnesses of the past. Despite the disorder and dirt, they moved forward courageously, crossing the debris until they arrived in front of a half-destroyed library. Suka stepped forward and pointed his finger at a specific book, the scan of his fingerprint triggering the bookcase to secretly open in half, revealing a hidden elevator. Without hesitation, they all climbed aboard, letting themselves be guided in the darkness to the basement, unaware of the dangers that could await them in the mysterious depths of this forgotten place.
The elevator abruptly stopped, revealing a hidden secret base, a veritable sanctuary hidden in the bowels of this abandoned building. To his great surprise, Merphis discovers a mini-restaurant, a laboratory equipped with strange machines, rooms to rest and above all, a huge central computer, surrounded by cables and keyboards. It was a secret base worthy of the name, a technological haven in the heart of darkness, offering not only a safe haven, but also the resources necessary to continue his fight against evil, alongside these new comrades. Suka turned to Merphis, a warm smile on his face, and said in a sincere voice, "Welcome to our headquarters, Merphis. Make yourself at home." His welcome testified not only to the hospitality of the place, but also to the trust he placed in Merphis and the importance of his alliance in their common struggle. Merphis nodded, grateful for the warm welcome, and prepared to play his part in this new chapter of their fight, determined to contribute with all his might to their common cause.
Merphis took an invigorating shower in one of the secret base's bathrooms. Once clean and refreshed, he walked out of the bathroom. As he was drying himself off, he suddenly heard Suka's voice calling him from afar. He hurried out towards the source of the sound. He arrived in a completely white room, where a long table was surrounded by seven chairs. As he entered the room, he realized that everyone in the group was already there, waiting for his arrival. A solemn silence filled the room, testifying to the importance of this imminent meeting and the decisions that would be made for their common future.
- Suka, with a slight smile, explained to Merphis: "This is our meeting room. Every time we meet, it is to take stock of everything concerning our organization, our missions, our plans. "
- Merphis looked around the great hall and nodded. "I see, it's an impressive room."
As they prepared to discuss the upcoming missions, a young girl in the group, seeing Merphis' bare and well-trimmed torso, couldn't help but react. "Suka, you really found us a priceless treasure," she said, biting her lip.
- One of the members, amused, replied: "Always you, looking for good-looking guys. Let the young boy get used to our organization before you think about putting him in your bed." The other members laughed lightly, lightening the atmosphere while emphasizing the importance of unity within the group.
- Merphis, showing humor despite the tense situation, replied with a smile, "Luckily she's not a bounty hunter, otherwise I'd be dead by now." His comment caused a general burst of laughter in the group, including Suka. The relaxed atmosphere and shared humor strengthened bonds between members, emphasizing the importance of unity and camaraderie within their group.
Azaku stood up with a shy smile and introduced himself: "My name is Azaku. I'm sort of the geek of this group. I take care of everything related to computers, data, and other technologies." Then, Miya, the young girl with scarlet red eyes and white hair, spoke confidently: "And my name is Miya. I am the equipment manager of the group. I create and remodel weapons and equipment that we need for our missions." The group nodded respectfully, recognizing the crucial importance of each member's unique talents in their shared fight.
Daru stood up with an air of defiance and declared: "My name is Daru. I am an expert in expedition and reconnaissance. And I almost killed you earlier, that said." Yamero, another member of the group, also stood up and added with a teasing smile, "I'm Yamero. I'm the group's vehicle creation and management expert. And Daru, stop lying. Merphis just said a sentence and you literally pissed yourself, hahaha!" Laughter erupted again in the room, showing that despite the tensions, humor and camaraderie were present among the members of the group. The tension rose a notch as Daru, unable to contain his anger, pointed his gun at Yamero. Silence fell in the room, everyone holding their breath in the face of this tense situation , Suka, immediately alert, intervened in a calm but firm voice: "Daru, put your gun away. This is not the solution. Don't let a small altercation escalate into violence between us. We are a team, we must support each other each other, even in tense moments." His words echoed throughout the room, reminding everyone of the importance of unity and cooperation within the group. Daru hesitated for a moment, then, under the influence of Suka's soothing tone, slowly lowered his weapon and put it away. Tensions gradually eased, with everyone understanding the importance of maintaining harmony within their team.
Maki, with a graceful and seductive gait, stood up elegantly, her dark blue hair framing her face as she cast a mischievous gaze towards Merphis. In a teasing voice, she introduced herself: "My name is Maki, and I am the portfolio manager of our organization, dear muscle Merphis." She winked at him, adding a touch of humor to the tense situation, making some of the group smile slightly. The atmosphere, although still tense, seemed to soften slightly thanks to Maki's mischievous spirit.
- Merphis stood up in turn, responding to Maki's smile. "Nice to meet you, my name is Merphis, originally from Shibuya."
- Suka spoke next, giving Merphis a key role within the group: "Merphis, I am entrusting you with the responsibility of handling emails, calls and messages from the partners we work with."
- Merphis, slightly surprised, asked: "But which partners are you talking about? The world is completely in ruins."
- Suka replied confidently, "Sure, the world is in ruins, but there are secret organizations that sell us weapons, information and other useful resources. Chaos does not only have its downsides. We must be prepared to take advantage of opportunities, even in these difficult times." Suka's words highlighted the importance of adaptability and flexibility in their struggle to survive and thrive in this post-apocalyptic world.
- Suka spoke, turning to Miya, Maki, Daru, Azaku and Yamero: "So, what did you discover on your expedition?"
-Merphis, astonished, asked: "What did they go on an expedition to leave you alone here?"
-Suka replied confidently, "No one knows about our secret base. Everyone thinks this place is an empty sanctuary, no one comes here. And yes, they are off on a crucial expedition."
-That's when Yamero spoke: "Hi, we have discovered that the extremist organization is preparing to attack one of our largest arms suppliers. According to a reliable source, one of our partners has spoke and revealed our ties to the Silent Lions organization. They will be slaughtered in exactly two hours."
-Miya added in a concerned voice: "The extremists' organization is far from stupid. They will kill some of us, but capture others to make them talk. Our identity risks being revealed. We cannot not go out without being masked, like Merphis. It's really worrying, and even worse, it's possible that they will denounce other of our partners."
A heavy atmosphere of concern fell over the room as everyone understood the urgency of the situation.
- Suka, aware of the seriousness of the situation, made a quick decision: "So, this is a really serious time. Miya, you are absolutely right. The extremist organization is far from being made up of beginners. They will do anything to we're stuck. I'm going to send you there to help our partners, the Silent Lions."
Maki raised her arms excitedly, "I want to be part of this mission, boss." Azaku raised his hand as well, saying, "Me too, boss." Before Daru could even react, Merphis abruptly stood up and lightly hit the table with her fist. Suka, surprised, asked, "What's wrong with you, Merphis?"
-Merphis, her gaze filled with determination, replied in a firm voice: "I want to be part of this mission to tear these fucking people down." Suka, understanding the intensity of Merphis' reaction, immediately accepted her wishes and declared: "Okay, it's decided. Azaku, Maki and Merphis, you are on this mission. Carry it out, and if the situation allows you escapes, return to base immediately. Is that clear?"
The three people chosen for the mission responded with one determined voice: "Yes!" Their commitment was palpable, ready to confront the enemy and protect their organization at all costs.
Miya distributed the special suits, all in the shape of a robot and equipped with thermal vision, technological scanning and above all an advanced camouflage device. Each of them was authorized to carry up to three weapons maximum. While most members opted for firearms, Merphis preferred his saber and two other firearms, showing his preference for more traditional methods.
Azaku led them to the top of the building, where a series of spectacular vehicles awaited them. For this crucial mission, they chose a gray, triangular-shaped plane. One by one, they boarded the plane, each taking their place. Azaku took the controls, and the plane took off with a powerful roar, taking them towards their destination. The tension in the air was palpable, with everyone mentally preparing for the impending action, aware of the vital importance of their mission to the survival of their organization and their allies. The plane flew over Kyoto at breakneck speed, equipped with stealth technology that made it undetectable by satellites and devices designed to spot invisible craft. In the dark sky, the plane remained discreet and imperceptible, moving silently above the city in chaos.
The atmosphere in Kyoto was gloomy, the sacred vestiges of Japan, once so beautiful, were largely destroyed. A few people could be seen crying over the decomposing corpses of their loved ones. Merphis was even shocked to see a young girl with both of her feet cut off, dying of starvation. In an act of desperation, she began eating the flesh of her amputated foot for sustenance. It was a heartbreaking scene, a stark reminder of the horrors humanity faced in this post-apocalyptic world. The team felt overcome by a mixture of sadness and anger at so much misery and despair.
Azaku announced that the team was a few meters from the mission location. Each member prepared quickly, adjusting their suits and checking their weapons, ready to face the uncertainty of the impending confrontation. Meanwhile, Merphis sat in a meditation position, seeking inner tranquility before the coming conflict. The atmosphere on the plane was tense, with everyone focused on the crucial role they would play in this mission. Their resolve was palpable, ready to be tested in the coming conflict, the outcome of which remained uncertain....