Read ahead on Patreon.com/heavenlyenel.
By Odin's beard, I was busy, so I looked at the time and gasped to myself! I should have fed you guys an hour ago. I hope you are not too mad, Venerable readers, for this is a good read.
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The flickering lights in the warehouse cast long shadows, illuminating the vast space sporadically as bursts of energy crackled and echoed off the metal walls. The sharp scent of burnt circuitry hung in the air, mingling with the acrid smell of ozone from the ongoing battle.
Amidst the chaos, Gwen danced around the colossal armoured robot, her movements graceful yet powerful. Beams of light sliced through the air, narrowly missing her as she twisted and turned, her eyes glowing purple with a determined intensity.
"Not bad. You've definitely got the hang of that... transformation," Ben remarked, leaning against a nearby pillar with a smirk, his voice carrying a hint of pride as he watched his cousin engage the formidable machine.
Gwen's eyes narrowed in concentration as she dodged another volley of laser fire.
"It's not a transformation, Ben! I'm just tapping into my true form," she shot back, her voice tinged with frustration. Her body shimmered with energy, a radiant aura surrounding her as she zipped behind the robot, delivering a decisive blast that shattered it into pieces.
"You just called it a transformation," Ben teased, his grin widening.
"That's because you transform into beings that are completely different from your DNA structure," Gwen countered, her tone sharp as she landed lightly on the cold, hard floor.
"I just tap into my true form. We're different, Ben. It's not a transformation," she reiterated, as her body glowed and flew behind the robot swiftly and blasted it to bits, though the argument seemed to drain her slightly.
As the dust settled, Gwen picked up the only remaining part of the robot—a large, intricately designed arm, still sparking from the damage.
"Let's keep this. It's the only thing that's left," she said, her voice laced with a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction as she took the arm with her and made her way towards Kevin's car, which was parked nearby, its sleek, black exterior barely visible in the dim light.
Ben followed her, an amused look on his face. "Nice of your boyfriend to lend you his car," he quipped, sliding into the passenger seat.
Gwen ignored the jab, her thoughts elsewhere. "That thing just kept coming at us. Maybe Kevin can figure out what's behind it," she mused aloud as the car roared to life, the engine purring with a low, menacing hum.
"Take us to Mr. Smoothy!" Ben commanded with enthusiasm, but the car remained still. He turned to Gwen, a pleading look on his face, and she couldn't help but chuckle as she gave the necessary command.
As the car smoothly glided out of the warehouse, the hot afternoon sun blazed down, casting sharp rays through the city streets. Ben could feel the heat during Gwen's battle, and the thought of a cold drink made his mouth water.
Meanwhile, in a sleek, black-tinted car parked discreetly a few blocks away, a woman with striking blonde hair and sharp features spoke into her phone. Her voice was calm and measured, but there was a hint of excitement as she reported her findings.
"New update, sir. Mr. Kevin is indeed in a relationship with the girl attuned to mana. I just witnessed her fight a sentient armour—impressive and destructive," she said, her eyes never leaving the vehicle she was observing.
The voice on the other end of the line was deep and authoritative.
"Be careful as always. If that is Alpha Derrick's son, we have to get on his good side first before taking any action. I wouldn't believe all you have reported so far if I hadn't witnessed this boy fight that powerful alien last week. It was the stuff of movies but nothing I can't handle."
"Learn more about this girl Kate but be careful. If she is anything like Elsie, you best not provoke her at all. We can't afford any mistakes, Kate."
"You are the sword of the Alphonso pack, I would be worried if there was something you couldn't handle in our territories. There's no need to worry about the girl. But when will we enact our plan on Mr. Kevin?" Kate asked as her driver followed Kevin's car after a while.
"Just do your job, Kate, and return to the suite," the voice commanded before the call abruptly ended. Kate sighed, sinking back into her seat.
Her pack had been set up for extinction many times but they had pulled through all the schemes, traps and assaults from the other packs in the country. Alpha Derrick just ended two packs and their bloodlines recently and claimed their territories from himself and got no heat from the others that remained because of his strength and resources. It was only a matter of time before her pack would be targeted again and if it was by Alpha Derrick, their chances of survival would be low.
But with the appearance of Kevin and rumours going around saying he could be the fabled heir of Alpha Derrick, things could change if they played their cards right. For once they wouldn't have to defend and can attack.
As Kevin's car pulled up to Mr. Smoothy's, the bright, colourful signage stood out against the backdrop of teenagers milling about, enjoying their drinks and each other's company. The sight of the sleek car immediately drew their attention, and whispers of admiration rippled through the crowd.
There was a collective gasp of recognition when Ben and Gwen stepped out.
"Woah, when did Ben get so cool?" one of the teens blurted out, earning nods and murmurs of agreement.
A small group gathered around them, their eyes wide with curiosity.
"Can we check out your car?" one of the boys asked eagerly.
Gwen shook her head slightly with a smile on her face.
"It's not mine, it's Kevin's," she replied casually, sparking another round of excited chatter among the onlookers. The mention of Kevin's name seemed to elevate his status even further in their minds.
As the crowd dissipated, Gwen brought out the robotic arm from the car and kept it on a table to study it more while Ben left to place orders. It looked like the stellar student Gwen was working on a science breakthrough.
Ben rolled his eyes as he headed towards the counter to order his smoothie.
'You didn't have to tell them that, Gwen…' he thought, a twinge of annoyance creeping in. He liked the attention but wasn't thrilled about Gwen's immediate admission regarding the car.
As Ben waited for his order, his thoughts drifted.
'Maybe I should get Ship to make me a car… Can Ship do that? Don't I need a car for him to upgrade?' he wondered, his mind racing with possibilities.
His musings were interrupted by a familiar voice dripping with disdain.
"Still the same nerdy little sh*t, huh?" The taunt came from a tall boy with dark hair, dressed in a red shirt and jeans.
"Yeah, you nerd!" chimed in another boy with curly brown hair and glasses, a smirk playing on his lips.
Ben recognised them immediately—his old bullies.
'Great, just what I needed,' he thought, trying to suppress his irritation.
As Ben turned to leave with his tray, the boy in red slapped it upwards, sending his smoothie splattering all over his shirt. The bullies erupted in laughter, revelling in their petty victory.
Before Gwen could step in as she left her table, the atmosphere suddenly shifted. A tall, elegant woman in black office attire strode into the scene, her presence commanding attention. Her striking beauty and authoritative demeanour made everyone pause, including the bullies, who faltered under her gaze.
"Boys, I think it's time you left. I didn't realise children hung around here where I come to enjoy my cheat meal," she spoke in a soothing yet authoritative British accent, her words slicing through the air like a blade.
The bullies, who had initially bristled at her interference, found themselves shrinking under her piercing stare. Without another word, they scurried off, leaving the small crowd to cheer for the mysterious woman.
"Who the hell is she? Why did we just run without question?" the boy in red muttered as they fled.
"An angel… or a demon? I don't care, she can take me!" the boy with glasses replied, his voice tinged with awe and regret.
But the boys made away with a certain object while Gwen was away from her table.
Gwen stepped forward, her curiosity piqued.
"Thanks, but you didn't have to intervene," she said as the woman turned to face her.
"I'm Kate, from Alphonso Suites. If you're ever in the mood for top-class service and the comfort of luxury, you should pay us a visit," Kate replied with a warm smile, handing Gwen a sleek, golden card.
Gwen took the card, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Oh, you're from that super expensive suite, huh," she said, glancing at the card with mild interest.
Ben, still wiping smoothie off his jacket, offered a polite nod.
"Thanks, but we had it under control."
Kate's gaze shifted to the car behind them, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
"I couldn't help but notice that the car looked familiar. It belongs to one of our VIP customers," she said, her tone light yet laced with subtle provocation.
Gwen stiffened slightly, her mind racing.
'Customer? What was Kevin doing in a hotel?' she wondered, her grip tightening around the card.
"Well, it's not mine. It's my boyfriend's—Kevin," Gwen replied, her voice steady as she maintained eye contact, wanting to assert her connection to Kevin.
The crowd behind them buzzed with excitement at this new piece of gossip, their interest in Kevin only growing with each revelation.
Kate's smile widened as she made a gesture with her hand above her head.
"Tall, with contrasting hair colour? That sounds like him," she said, her words landing like a well-aimed dart.
'What the hell? She's not lying… Now I really want to know what he was doing there,' Gwen thought, her fists clenching, though she kept her expression neutral.
Ben, sensing the tension, decided it was best to stay quiet and let the situation play out.
"Maybe," Gwen finally replied, her voice cool.
"Then he was definitely our VIP. We made sure to treat him well, as we do all our special customers," Kate continued, her tone dripping with insinuation as she winked, clearly enjoying Gwen's discomfort.
Gwen's energy fluctuated slightly, her emotions churning beneath the surface.
"I don't know what you mean," she replied, her voice tight.
Kate's smile turned almost predatory. "Oh, just that we gave him some special treatment—something reserved for our most handsome guests," she said, her words laced with implications that only served to heighten Gwen's suspicions.
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