Three figures dashed through the shadowy alleyways.
The bright neon lights of the city cast glows across each turn and exit to the main city streets, the shadows born from these spots serving as momentary checkpoints for the three to catch their breath.
While resting with his clawed hands on his knees, Lino looked over at the two strange men who had helped him. He had been impressed with their level of power. The two had easily been able to overtake the group that had been chasing him down.
'I wonder what their grade is? They must have been at least C, but held their power back massively, or we would have destroyed an entire city block. I supposed that's also in part due to that squad not having anyone above Grade D, minus the fat rat...They're efficient but at the same time, they seem new to battling...well the short one is anyways.'
He glanced at Huey, who was huffing and puffing just like him. The strange-looking youngster was less efficient in his attacks but undeniably more savage than the larger man he was with. While the big guy exhibited a level of combat experience, he refrained from going for any kill shots, seemingly holding back his true capabilities.
It was puzzling; just minutes ago, he had witnessed the yellow-haired kid that was lovingly rubbing the laser pistol he had picked up as he followed behind, deftly sever a head from its body. The contrast between the two fighters was stark—the savage aggression of the kid and the measured restraint of the older man. It raised questions in his mind: What held the larger man back? Was he protecting his partner, or was there something more complicated at play?
'Where could they have come from? They can't be from off planet, right?...there isn't a single beast trait on either of them as far as I can tell, I wonder what type of warm bloods they are?...The large one is a fighter class but I think from the energy color, the savage one must be a Meta...either way, both of them could be helpful to the cause. We just need to get out of here before the stronger ones come after us...if they aren't already.'
Lino was concerned about the transmission that the mousy captain of the kill squad chasing him earlier had completed. Any S.O.S that was sent out by a squad would most certainly summon a larger hit force, or gods forbid, a B Grade combatant. This particular planet had several higher class fighters, despite that, Lino had chosen to risk his life to procure what the squad from earlier had been chasing him to reclaim.
The larger of the two men looked over at Lino, sizing him up in turn.
Their new companion wore a dark blue pullover windbreaker with a large, billowy hood. His matching baggy pants boasted several deep pockets, accommodating both his gear and the long, serpentine tail that emerged through a large slit in the back. His feet were covered with some sort of black, alien type shoes that looked like this world's version of high-top sneakers.
His windbreaker had been ripped in the earlier fight, revealing the sturdy looking black armor he had on underneath. It was sleeveless to allow for the agile, stretchy movements he displayed with an ease that defied his humanoid form.
Lino was lean yet muscled, the young man had a full head of medium length hair, brown with small blonde streaks scattered throughout. It reminded Edward of the multicolored hair that Norvin had. Just not quite as pronounced.
Perhaps the most striking feature was Lino's eyes—an arresting golden hue that glinted with an almost predatory sharpness, unlike any human's. His pupils were subtly elongated, slitted like that of a reptile.
Asides from his eyes, and the small flecking of emerald green scales on Lino's forehead, tail and limbs; not to mention the much sharper and longer than normal fingernails, he looked more-or-less like a pale-skinned teenager from Earth. Some Earth based females would have even called him very handsome had they been able to lay eyes on him, even with the lizard like qualities.
'Dude is a snake-man...and the other guy I beat up looked like a fat mouse. Where the hell are we!?' Edward was having a hard time not asking their new friend directly why everyone here looked like some sort of animal. So he asked a less personal question instead.
"Okay, so why don't you let us know what that was all about...We didn't make a mistake helping you out, right?"
'Wow, quick to the point...'
Lino thought for a few moments before answering.
"Indeed, you certainly saved my life...thanks again fellas. That was a group of hunters backed by the local lord of this city. Didn't you recognized their insignia? As a matter of fact, the fat one you beat up is kind of a big deal among their ranks."
Huey and Edward exchanged a brief glance. Upon becoming Oracles, basic information regarding the Curators and Oracles, super power classes, and grade levels had been downloaded into their brains. They had learned how to summon their gear, use their energy, and other simple aspects of their own bodies during their transformation. However, they had no knowledge of this strange new planet to which they had been sent.
"No idea...Lino was it? We just got here right before we bumped into you, well, you bumped into us I guess, I'm Edward, and this kid here is called Huey."
"What? Really? I see...nice to meet you both." Lino turned his head and glanced at the two following him again, how could they not know what happened on this god forsaken rock? He thought to himself for a few moments and decided to give them a shortened version of what was happening.
"Well, surely you know about the feud between the cold blooded and the warm. Or blues and reds if you want to be more aggressive about it...I happened to break into the storehouse of that lord I mentioned earlier, the thing they accused me of stealing? Well, it never belonged to them in the first place, it's the stuff of legends...The Dragon Orb! It actually exists!"
Lino started to raise his voice slightly, his enthusiasm evident as he became more and more engrossed in his story. "We will be able to end the persecution of the cold bloods, to stop any lingering slave trading that persists in the shadows, and to initiate a fresh start! It's an opportunity for us to redefine our society and rewrite the rules that have been unfairly enforced for far too long. Yes, there's only a handful of the upper crust, along with the lords themselves, who still cling to the old hatreds that have perpetuated division and suffering for generations. Their outdated beliefs and oppressive grip on power have held sway over the people of this planet, creating a rift between those who consider themselves superior and the cold bloods who are often unjustly marginalized. But fortunately, their influence is waning, and it won't last for much longer if we all stand together and fight for a just cause. Change is on the horizon for planet Chiffer, and it is within our grasp if we are courageous enough to seize it."
As they rounded another corner, Lino glanced at their faces, looking forward to seeing the shock at the mention of the Dragon Orb. The chubby one named Huey was still playing with the firearm, as if he had never seen a gun before, and the large one, Edward, didn't seem impressed at all. It was as if he had never heard the legend of the Orb before...how could that be possible?
"What's the Dragon Orb?"
Lino's thoughts were answered, they really didn't know what the Orb was. 'How could that be possible? The mighty dragon with plumage of gold is one of the most common children bedtime stories of all time, the Orb with the ability to grant power and create Metas is mentioned so many times. How can they not know? Everyone from this system knows.'
"It's a stone that has been rumored to exist for millennia, with the power to boost or create a super...Or so the story goes. An ultimate being created it and uses it to do marvelous things! What? didn't your mothers read the lore to you two before you went to bed every night?"
"Like I said...we aren't from around here."
Lino stopped running for a few moments, causing Huey and Edward to come to a halt as well. The sudden stoppage of movement allowed them to catch their breath and reassess their surroundings, the distant sounds of their previous exertion fading momentarily.
"Are you off-worlders?" Lino inquired, his curiosity evident in his tone.
Huey, finally ceasing his fidgeting with the long, square-barreled firearm, carefully slid it into the deep, vertical pocket of the inside of his bomber jacket. He gave the exterior of the jacket a firm pat and then turned his full attention toward Lino.
"You could say that, dude. We come from planet Earth in the Sol system," he replied nonchalantly, as if he were discussing the weather.
Edward stood frozen, staring at Huey with his mouth half open in disbelief. 'How could he just come out and say it without a second thought?!' The weight of their revelation hung in the air, laced with both danger and intrigue.
Huey, catching sight of Edward's slack-jawed expression, shrugged his shoulders dismissively, fully aware of the shock his words had elicited.
"Hhhmm, Sol, I see," Lino responded, his brow furrowing in thought. "Hmm, I've never heard of that system. Is it reachable by jump gate? Ah, I got it now!" His eyes widened with excitement as he smacked his fist into his open palm, the sound echoing in the stillness around them.
"That must be a planet in what we call the Simel system. The jump gate to that system has been non-functional for at least one thousand years. I was kind of wondering what types you were—monkey types, makes sense." His voice carried a tone of amusement, yet tinged with the weight of loss for knowledge that had been lost across the ages.
Huey snickered for a moment, glancing playfully at Edward as he tried to understand the implications of Lino's words. "Yeah, this guy is definitely a big old gorilla, that's for sure," he quipped, unable to suppress a grin as he jokingly nudged Edward, whose expression reflected both fascination and surprise at their new friend's unexpectedly direct observations and statements.