Between a pair of stone steles deeply hidden under the flora and fauna of a distant rainforest.
A sizzle could be heard as a tiny spark was lit and jumped to and fro the pair of stone steles. The spark rapidly gained momentum until it became a mass of electricity slowly revolving into a seemingly gaping hole.
This hole reeks of vastness and chill that one would be shocked if they ever come across. It had a deep dark blue tint and looked as if it led to some terrifying place.
The lightning continued to zap and whirl until suddenly a pair of hands slowly reached out from within. Slowly, these hands came into full view, and shortly, came along a humanoid creature.
"Keep an eye out."
The humanoid creature soon had its figure revealed by basking in the dim light peering through the canopy. From its voluptuous body, one can infer that the figure was a female. She wore a leather textured outfit that tightly hugged her body, emphasizing her womanly charms.
She softly whispered towards the portal as if waiting for someone to follow her orders. She quietly strode forward with determination filling her eyes. She seemed to be on an urgent quest.
Not too long after the woman left, the portal zapped and buzzed with action again, and then, a hulking stature walked out with just enough sway to his movements to determine that the guy was very carefree, even lackadaisical.
The man looked taller than average with a very medium handsome face. He wore what looked like vanta black colored tactical equipment with just a helmet and vest missing. He surveyed the surroundings with a bored expression.
"Yes, Boss-Ma'am."
By the time he sat down in front of the portal, the woman was long gone but he talked as if she was still nearby.
***
Cornelius. A place far from what you know.
Gods and Monsters, who's to know who did what.
But in this place, everyone struggles to find out who to hold responsible.
This world is governed by multiple factions. Some are good, some bad, and some very bad.
Now, somebody has to be thrown into this coop to flip everything around.
***
Three days after the surgery, Clint came back to his old self, not a hint of transcendence in sight. His parents were shocked at first but the doctors brushed it off as a bout of temporary savant syndrome which they said is normal for patients who have undergone brain surgery.
That explanation was suspicious due to very obvious reasons but they let it go. The more important matter is that their son was safe and far from danger.
Clint, sitting on the hospital bed, was dazedly looking with hollow eyes at the white walls of the room while clutching his chest. He appears to be reminiscing that fleeting transcendence that he felt when he woke up.
He was convinced that everything that happened was real to the core.
What made it even harder to deny was the fact that the armor was floating in front of his face the whole time he was awake.
It was difficult not to notice due to its archaic appearance.
Either it's real or he's insane.
Furthermore, he felt a certain type of connection with the armor, enticing him to wear it.
A knock was heard from the door. "Come in!", Clint loudly exclaimed.
"Did you talk to the doctor, Mom? When can we go home?" He asked while still focused on the floating armor.
Light steps rung and a figure clad in leather, looking as if she came from a comicon stopped in front of his bed. She, too, stared dazedly at the armor. She was surprised at the sight but quickly came to her senses.
"You need to come with me." The woman commanded.
"You are not safe here– I need you to come with me, quickly!" She continued.
Clint stood with his mouth agape at the beauty of the woman crazily talking to him.
He was still in his hospital gown and the IV is still attached to his hand but he was still able to stand up abruptly to brush his hair back, trying his best to look good. But how could someone who just came from a freak accident, had a major surgery, and was stuck in a hospital possibly look remotely good?
"Pl-Please d– I mean, Wh- who are you, miss–MA'AM?" Clint was embarrassed and started stuttering from beginning to end.
The woman was weirded out by how the man in front of her is reacting but, "We have no time for lengthy explanations, we have to go!" she reached out to grab his wrist.
Clint somehow evaded on reflex and jumped back, accidentally pushing his back against the wall. He said,
"I'm sorry but I don't know you, Ma'am. I know you're beautiful but I'm still a virgin and I have my pride as a man. I won't just let you take me!" His nose was poking the air as if convinced by what he just said.
The woman was appalled by what she just heard but more importantly, she was shocked by how the man evaded her so fluidly.
Given that she was casually reaching out and not seriously putting some effort, she was still a very capable individual! Otherwise, she wouldn't even be in charge of the Phoenix Squadron.
"We don't have the luxury to stand around, Mr. Clint Heracles! The Hawks could be here any minute! You could end up endangering not just yourself but every–!"
A ripping sound came and the wringing sound of steel mesh and bars rubbing against each other and then, splitting resounded in the air.
The outside world was suddenly revealed to Clint in full as if he were standing on the balcony of the building. His face was aghast as he realized that half of his room was ripped open by a giant-sized raven-like bird with dragon scales for a feather.
"Stop right there, Lady Ember! Hand over our kinsman!"
An old man with a dragon cane standing in mid-air spoke with a domineering tone.