"You're a girl?!" Tisane blurted out in shock as he stared at the now revealed female in a ninja outfit. Her facial expression carried no hint of nervousness.
"Well yeah. You have a problem with that?" She inquired with a blank look on her face.
"Eh?" Tisane gaped stupidly as he didn't know how to reply.
"Get some rest, we would be moving out soon" the girl said as she finished removing her facial mask and hooded covering. Sitting down on the surprisingly smooth floor in a cross legged position, she glanced at Tisane who still stood in a daze.
"You hungry?" She asked while making a gesture with her hand.
Snapping out of his daze, Tisane touched his rumbling stomach as he nodded.
~vinng~
Within seconds, there was a flash of light and then a metal object which had the appearance of a cooking pot materialised between them. Waving her hands again, another metal object materialised which looked very much like a mini gas cooker.
"Huh?" Tisane's eyes widened as he watched the girl move her hands and one of the dead animals that was hung by the wall flew through the air and landed in her open palm. For the next few minutes, Tisane gaped at the amazing cooking skills of the girl that was seated in front of him. The way she moved her hands as objects kept flying towards and away from her. Also the way she sliced and diced the spices and ingredients all seemed magical.
But the most amazing aspect of all these was the aroma. Oh gosh, the aroma was heavenly. Tisane closed his eyes and lifted up his nose as he sniffed the air. Tisane had never smelled anything so delicious before.
"You can stop sniffing the air like a dog now, food is ready" the girl said.
Cancelling his food reverie, Tisane opened his eyes to see a pot of steaming meat soup. Staring at the pot, Tisane couldn't stop himself from salivating.
Dishing out into one of two ceramic plates that the girl materialised, she stretched out her hands which was holding a plate of meat soup.
"Here and please don't eat while standing" she said.
Collecting the plate of soup, Tisane obeyed and also sat down in a cross legged position as he drank a bit of the delicious looking soup.
~slurp~
"Hmm, gosh this is so delicious" Tisane said as he licked his lips. Glancing at the girl, he couldn't help but be stunned by her beautiful features. He could guess her age to be around 20-22 years. His eyes unconsciously moved to her chest area as he felt his face become hot. As he kept staring, he heard a loud snort and saw the girl glaring at him.
"Uh...can I have more soup please?" Tisane awkwardly asked while scratching his head. Rolling her eyes, the girl collected the plate and was about to dish out another soup when...
~brmm! Rawrh!~
There was a loud noise followed by a bone chilling roar which shook the entire rocky cave.
"What was that?" Tisane felt his blood freeze as he glanced around in fear.
"It's a monster tide" the girl replied with a nonchalant look on her face.
"A monster what?" Tisane asked with wide eyes.
"A monster tide" she repeated.
"I saw something in that thunderstorm. What was that really?" Tisane asked as he stared at the girl. Staring back at him, the girl had an expressionless look on her face which made Tisane quite uneasy. After a few seconds of awkward silence, the girl sighed.
"You don't need to know" she finally said.
"What? What do you mean by 'I don't need to know?' Come on just tell me"
Looking into his curious eyes, the girl smiled.
"Do you really want to know?" She asked with a mysterious grin.
"Yes of course" Tisane replied with a serious look in his eyes.
"Very well then. How much do you know about the universe?" She began by asking.
"Uh, is that a trick question? I mean everyone knows about the universe" Tisane replied.
"Really?" The girl raised her eyebrows.
"Yeah I mean we have nine planets which rotate around a very huge star called the sun".
~clap clap clap~
"Well well, it seems you paid attention while in elementary school. So is that all there is to the universe?" She asked with a mocking grin.
"Uh what do you mean?" Tisane asked
"What else do you know about the universe?" She asked.
"Um....I do know that the universe was created with a big bang"
"Riiiight" the girl rolled her eyes. "Do you know about the realms of the universe and it's inhabitants?" She asked as she folded her arms across her breasts.
"Realms? Inhabitants?" Tisane had a confused look on his face.
"I want you to listen to me carefully Tisane and I want you to know that everything I am going to say is the truth" the girl said with a serious tone.
"Uh-huh" Tisane nodded with an attentive stare.
"First of all, you should know that the universe is divided into four realms. These realms are also arranged in order of strength and wealth"
"Four realms?"
"Yes each realm is as vast as ten solar systems put together"
"Re--really?" Tisane's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes. You're surprised?" The girl smiled as she saw the shocked look on Tisane's face.
"Erm...these realms....what are they all about?"
"Each realm serve as a habitat for mech force mutants" the girl replied.
"Mech what?" Tisane was trying to keep up. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Advanced beings and creatures that utilise cosmic energy to command and control amazing supernatural powers and technological wonders" she explained.
"Uh....okay so they....." Tisane was beginning to get lost.
"Just picture iron man and the x-men all rolled into one but on a much greater level"
"Wow that powerful?" Tisane's eyes widened.
"Though the Mech force mutants are divided by strength and rank" she said.
"So.....are you a mech..um what did you call it again?" Tisane stuttered awkwardly.
"Mech force mutant. Yeah you could say that" the girl shrugged.
"So how do you become a mech force mutant?" Tisane scratched his head. "Are you chosen for it?"
"It happens randomly" the girl stated plainly.
"So anyone can become a mutant?"
"Yes the energy of the universe is all around us and is available for everyone, but due to certain requirements, one or two individuals are able to absorb this energy which then transforms their biology"
"So you're saying that an ordinary human being can become superman in the blink of an eye"
"Um....I guess that's a simplistic way of putting it"
"Do....um...do you think I can become a mutant?" Tisane asked with eyes filled with anxiety.
"...."
'Uh....why is she staring at me like that?' Tisane wondered as he saw the strange look in her eyes.
~brmm~
In between the few seconds of awkward silence, there was a loud rumbling sound that shook the entire cave.
"What is happening?!" Tisane instinctively placed his hands on the floor as he glanced around.
~primm~
Raising her left hand, the girl tapped her wrist and a holographic image appeared.
"We need to go now" she said urgently as she stood up.
"Huh? Wait, where are we going?" Tisane asked while also standing up. Stretching forth her right hand, every equipment and object in the cave transformed into particles of light as they all rushed into her arm.
'Wow' Tisane stared with wide eyes as he marveled at another amazing display of power by the girl. Glancing around the now empty cave, the girl had a satisfied look on her face as she began moving towards the entrance of the cave. Walking past the long passageway, they both came to the closed doorway.
Stretching forth her right arm, a beam of light went forward and slammed into the stone door which made it vibrate. As the cave wall vibrated, it split apart to reveal the same doorway that they used when entering the cave.
"Follow me" the girl said as they walked out of the cave entrance. Looking sideways, the girl tapped her feet as she jumped on a piece of rock and she began moving towards a particular direction.
"Hey wait for me!" Tisane called out as he also jumped on a rock and followed her. They both kept walking forward while the girl kept looking at a blue orb that occasionally appeared from her palm.
"What is that?" Tisane asked as he pointed at a huge pillar of light some distance away. The ninja girl halted her steps as she stared at the pillar of light and also glanced at the orb in her hands.
"It's the doorway, it's open!" she said with excitement.
"Wait, what doorway?"
"Let's go before it closes" the ninja girl sped forward.
"Hey don't you know how to slow down?!" Tisane cried in frustration. As he also sped up to meet with her, the ninja girl suddenly halted.
"What now.....?" Tisane almost tripped and fell over as he tried to stop himself from running.
"Get down!" The ninja girl shouted as she forcefully grabbed his shoulder and pressed him down.
"Heok!" Tisane was helpless as he fell straight to his knees due to the ninja girl's freakish strength.
~Voom~
A flash of light crackling with electricity flashed past just right above their heads. Tisane felt great heat from the flash of light and just found out that he had escaped death by a few seconds. He felt a chill down his spine as he glanced at the ninja girl whom had a sharp glare in her eyes.
"What was th---?" Tisane tried to ask.
"Shh.....don't move and be quiet" the ninja girl quickly said. Tisane felt her grip on his shoulder tighten as a sharp pain went through his arm.
~Bzzzt~
Flashes of electricity exploded ahead as a monstrous figure was revealed in the lightning.
'Oh no!' Tisane's eyes quaked greatly. 'Another monster!'