Of course. How unfortunate it was to have punched the one person in the group he disliked—and who disliked him in return. Sean was the type of guy who exuded an aura Kiel associated with rough crowds, the kind that belonged to hell's angels. A dangerous tackle was one thing, but laying hands on a child who looked barely eight? How low could he sink? And then there were the two others, complicit in the assault, further complicating the scene.
Standing toe-to-toe with Sean, Kiel finally grasped the true scale of his rival. Whether in skates or not, Sean loomed like a giant, towering over him with an air of menace. Anger radiated from his furrowed brows, eyes burning with intensity as he glared down at Kiel, almost daring him to flinch. Kiel met his gaze, unwavering, forcing himself to stand tall—even rising onto his toes in a futile attempt to assert some dominance. It was laughable; Sean still held all the power in this standoff.
Then, Kiel noticed his hands curling into tight fists. Standing at a mere 5 feet, 4 inches had its disadvantages, especially in a situation like this. The sensible choice would usually be to turn and run. But not Kiel.
Never Kiel.
When it came to saving a life, cowardice was not in his nature. Suddenly, a sly smile crept across Sean's lips, startling Kiel. He watched, tense, as Sean slowly raised his hand, a deliberate gesture that sent a chill down Kiel's spine. Time seemed to stretch in the silence, the air thick with anticipation. Then, with a snap of Sean's fingers, the bullies sprang into action. In perfect synchronization, they grabbed their victim by the collar and flung the young boy into the farthest corner of the alley.
Without a second thought, Kiel dashed to the boy's side, driven by an unwavering sense of duty. That's when he noticed...
The victim wasn't just a boy.
Well, okay, he was.
But not entirely human. The Kaiju—at least from what Kiel could discern—appeared to be about eight or nine years old. His ears were a striking feature; longer than usual, with pointed, elven-like tips. Otherwise, he looked remarkably human.
What perplexed Kiel was why this Kaiju was out in the open and how he had ended up in Sean's clutches. How had he wound up there to begin with? He didn't have time to ponder these questions because things were rapidly worsening.
Sean began to laugh, his eyes glittering with cruel amusement. "You know something?" He said quietly, each word dripping with disdain. "You're a fool. A stupid, moronic, pathetic fool." His words shot out like machine gunfire. "A complete idiot! Yeah, I said it."
The words breezed past Kiel's ears, leaving him momentarily stunned by their absurdity. What? An idiot... fool?
"Now, you see it yourself, don't you?!" Sean thundered, his brash personality amplified since their last encounter. "He's not human, just masquerading as one. So why help this disgusting creature? This abomination!"
Kiel kept his focus on the boy, ignoring Sean's venomous words.
"He's nothing but vermin!" Sean continued, his voice rising with each syllable. "That asshole dared to mess with my people! As their leader, no one gets away with that. No one." His rage was infectious, and his friends began to chuckle, their faces twisted with malice. They inched forward, a pack of wild dogs ready to pounce, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Kiel's first instinct, honed over years, was to avoid such confrontations, to remain hidden and safe from the harsh world he knew. But then an oddly familiar sound pierced the tension—the soft whimper of a bruised baby chimp cradled in the boy's arms. The boy's eyes, though confused and pained, held a glimmer of defiance.
What a tragedy...
They look down and jeer at those who are weaker than they are.
Caught between the boy's plight, Sean's seething temper, and the gang's cruel anticipation, Kiel felt a surge of sorrow yet strangely, determination. There was no time to hesitate. If he was going to give an answer, it had to be now.
Kiel rose slowly to his feet, a heave of breath escaping him. He turned to face the trio, resolve building within his person. So evil deeds are perfectly fine as long as it's for your comrades. Your people. Noted, he mused, his voice steady and resolute.
A faint blue glow slipped from his eyes, casting an eerie light over the alley. Right here, right now, my kind needs help, he furthered, resolve hardening within him.
Kiel took a boxer's stance, fists raised and ready, every muscle tensed for the inevitable clash. The trio advanced, and he knew there was no turning back.
What compelled him to take such a stand, he wasn't sure, but the fire in his veins demanded he protect at all costs.