Caelus blinked in surprise, processing the sudden surge of new information. His heart raced as he stared at the floating bullet, suspended in mid-air like an impossible object. He could still feel the faint aftershocks of the energy required to activate his new ability—Infinity.
"That was close," he muttered under his breath, still staring at the bullet as it hovered inches away from his body. He instinctively reached out and, with a slight thought, the bullet dropped harmlessly to the ground.
March, Dan Heng, and even Bronya were all wide-eyed in disbelief, unsure of what exactly had just happened.
Bronya was the first to speak, her voice filled with shock and confusion. "Wha... what did you just do? How did you—?"
Caelus raised a hand, his eyes still fixed on the Star System notification in his mind. Infinity, a sub-ability of Space Manipulation. The concept was both simple and mind-bending. It created infinite distances between him and anything that tried to approach. The idea that space itself could be split at a molecular level, turning an instant into a never-ending stretch of nothingness, was nothing short of terrifying. It was still in its weakened state, but even in its current form, it felt like an unstoppable power.
Dan Heng was the next to speak, his expression unreadable. "That's... not something you see every day." He lowered his weapon, realizing the fight had shifted in Caelus' favor. "We need to be careful with this. If you can do that with a bullet, what happens when you face something worse?"
Caelus looked at Dan Heng, his gaze serious. "I'll figure it out. But for now... it seems I've got one more trick up my sleeve."
He turned his attention back to the stunned guards. Bronya's eyes narrowed as she assessed the situation. "You... you're far more dangerous than I realized."
Caelus didn't respond immediately. He was focused, weighing his options. He could feel the space around him, buzzing with energy, aware of the immense power that flowed through his new skill. But something nagged at him—the message said weakened stage.
"This ability... it's not fully matured, but it's already more than enough for now," Caelus said, taking a step forward. "So, how about we end this? You can call it a day, and we can all move on."
Bronya hesitated, calculating her options. She couldn't underestimate Caelus anymore. But as her eyes shifted to the other guards, she silently gave them the signal to hold back.
The tension in the air was palpable as she spoke again, her voice softer now. "You've shown us what you can do. But you're still a threat to Belobog. To everything we stand for." She paused, then added, "However, I don't think you intend to destroy it. Not yet."
Caelus raised an eyebrow. "You've got a point, but you're still standing in our way. We don't have time for this."
March, always the optimist, stepped in. "We just want to leave without causing any more trouble, okay? No one has to get hurt, right?" Her smile was wide, but it was clear she was ready for things to escalate again if needed.
Bronya considered this for a moment, her expression softening, but only slightly. She understood they were capable of far more than they were letting on, but her duty as a Silvermane guard couldn't let her just let them go without some kind of resolution.
"Fine," she said after a beat, lowering her weapon just a fraction. "But you'll be watched. If you truly have no ill intentions, then I expect you to prove it."
Caelus nodded, his hand still twitching with the urge to activate Infinity again. "I can do that."
March grinned. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"
Bronya gave her a look but said nothing, before turning to her guards and signaling them to lower their weapons.
"Get out of here, then," Bronya said, her voice firm. "But remember—this isn't over. We'll be keeping an eye on you."
The trio exchanged glances, the weight of the situation settling in. It seemed for now they had bought themselves some time, but Caelus knew this wouldn't be the end of it. With his new abilities and the growing tensions in Belobog, their journey was far from over.
"Thanks for the help," Dan Heng muttered, stepping toward the exit.
March followed, waving cheerfully at Bronya. "See ya! Hopefully under better circumstances next time!"
Caelus lingered for a moment, his eyes scanning the room, before he turned and followed his companions out of the area.
Caelus looked at them. "So now wh-".
He stopped as March hugged, as she was shaking, as she looked at him. "Thank you, and happy you didn't get hit".
Caelus looked at her. "You ok"
March just looked at him. "I thought I was going to die before you came Infront of me, but when you did I thought you were going to die when the bullet was flying".
Caelus sighed, his usual smirk faltering for a moment. He gently pushed March back, holding her at arm's length to make sure she wasn't too shaken. "I'm not that easy to take down," he said, trying to lighten the mood. His voice was softer than usual, a rare vulnerability slipping through.
March, though visibly relieved, was still gripping him tightly, her hands trembling slightly as she spoke again, "I was so scared, Caelus. I didn't know what would happen, but when I saw you stop that bullet... I thought maybe... maybe you were invincible."
Caelus gave her a small, reassuring smile, trying to hide the unease he felt from his own powers. "I'm not invincible, March. I just... I have to do what I can to protect you guys. I don't want to lose anyone, not after everything we've been through."
She looked up at him, her eyes a mix of gratitude and lingering fear. "You're right. I'm just glad you're okay. I mean, you're... you're really strong, aren't you?"
Caelus hesitated for a second before responding, his gaze drifting away for a moment as the weight of his newfound abilities settled in. "I'm not sure yet. It's a lot to handle, but I'll get the hang of it. I have to."
Dan Heng, who had been silently observing the exchange, spoke up from behind them. "We all have to get used to this. We've crossed too many lines already to back out now. Whatever comes next, we face it together."
Caelus nodded, turning toward Dan Heng. "Right. We've got each other's backs. We're not going through this alone."
March gave a determined nod and let go of Caelus, wiping her eyes and taking a deep breath. "Okay. Enough with the drama! Let's just keep moving forward and find out what's next. We've got things to do, right?"
Caelus chuckled softly, feeling the tension begin to ease. "Yeah. Let's get going. There's no time to waste."
As they continued on their path, a new sense of camaraderie seemed to form between them, and Caelus couldn't help but feel a bit more hopeful. They still had a long way to go, and many more battles to fight, but at least for now, they had each other.
The trio moved on, ready for whatever the future would bring—together.
Caelus then stopped as he saw the person they were looking for as Sampo was there just standing, the trio looked at him.
Sampo looked at him. "I gotta say you got some interesting company, you some how became Belobog no 1 enemy".
Caelus looked at him and water to punch Sampo in his smug face. "Are you here to help us or not".
Sampo looked at them and laughed at. "Will you need a place to hide I know a place".
They walked with Sampo, this was the best they had in this time after walking they arrived in place a city a city under Belobog.
As Caelus just looked at Sampo. "Oh will you look at that, this city is Curropted after, why am I not surprised".
March looked around the city as she spoke. "What is this place".
Sampo looked at them spoke. "Welcome to the underground".
The trio looked around, their expressions a mix of awe and unease. The underground city was vastly different from Belobog above. Dim lights flickered along the makeshift streets, casting eerie shadows on the crumbling walls of old buildings. People moved about hurriedly, their faces gaunt and wary. Despite the gloom, there was a hum of activity, a sense of survival amidst the decay.
Sampo smirked, clearly pleased with himself as he gestured grandly. "This, my dear friends, is where the real Belobog lives. The Underground—where the forgotten and the resilient thrive. Not as fancy as up top, but trust me, it has its charms."
Caelus crossed his arms, his glare fixed on Sampo. "Charms? This place looks like it's held together by duct tape and a prayer."
Sampo chuckled, unbothered by the remark. "Ah, but it's still standing, isn't it? And that's saying something, considering what it's been through."
March looked around, concern etched on her face. "Why is it like this? Did the people here get abandoned by those above?"
Dan Heng, always the observant one, chimed in. "This place seems to be in direct contrast to Belobog's surface. There's likely a deep divide between the two. Am I right?"
Sampo gave a sly grin, his tone turning almost conspiratorial. "Sharp as ever, Dan Heng. The folks up top like to think they're the saviors of Belobog, but down here? We know the truth. The Silvermane Guards don't care about us. They've left us to fend for ourselves. But hey, that's life, right?"
Caelus clenched his fists, his voice firm. "That's not how it should be. Everyone deserves a chance, not just the people lucky enough to be above ground."
March nodded, her expression determined. "Yeah! How can they just leave all these people behind? It's not right."
Sampo raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I'm just the messenger here. If you're planning to play heroes, that's on you. I'm just here to make sure you stay off the radar—for now."
Caelus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Where's this place we can stay? And no funny business, Sampo. I'm warning you."
Sampo feigned innocence, placing a hand over his heart. "Me? Funny business? Never. Trust me, you'll love the spot I have in mind. Cozy, discreet, and best of all, no Silvermane Guards."
The group followed Sampo deeper into the Underground, the weight of their surroundings settling heavily on them. As they walked, Caelus couldn't shake the feeling that their journey in Belobog was far from over. There was more to uncover, and more people to help.
And for better or worse, they were right in the middle of it all.
Caelus looked at him. "Let me gess the people are happier here".
Sampo laughed as he looked at them. "Why yes, they even have the greatest doctor here".
Caelus looked at him. "They have doctors"
Sampo looked at him and spoke. "Yes Dr Natasha".
Caelus then thought in his head. "Why do I feel like I already know her, weird"
March perked up at the mention of a doctor. "Wait, there's an actual doctor down here? That's… kind of surprising, considering how this place looks."
Sampo nodded, his smug grin never wavering. "Oh, Dr. Natasha is no ordinary doctor. She's the Underground's miracle worker. A healer of both bodies and spirits, you could say. Everyone down here owes her a debt of gratitude."
Caelus raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "If she's so great, why haven't the people up top tried to get her to help them?"
Sampo chuckled darkly. "Oh, they've tried. But Natasha's loyalty lies with the people here. She's one of us—someone who understands what it's like to be abandoned by those who are supposed to protect you."
March crossed her arms, frowning. "That's… kind of sad, actually. But it's also amazing that she's helping people here."
Dan Heng nodded, his tone thoughtful. "A doctor in a place like this must be invaluable. It might be worth meeting her, especially if we're going to be here for a while."
Sampo motioned for them to follow. "Well, you're in luck! Natasha's clinic isn't too far from here. I'll introduce you—just remember to be polite. She doesn't tolerate nonsense."
As they walked, the trio took in more of the Underground's sights. The streets were bustling despite the grim atmosphere, and it was clear that, for all its hardships, the community here was tight-knit. Children played in the narrow alleyways, and vendors shouted out deals for whatever scraps they had to offer. It wasn't much, but it was home to these people.
Finally, they arrived at a modest building with a faded sign that read "Natasha's Clinic." The air around it seemed calmer, almost comforting, as if the very presence of the clinic was a source of hope for the community.
Sampo gestured toward the door. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the heart of the Underground. If there's anyone who can help you get through this mess, it's Dr. Natasha."
Caelus looked at the building, then back at Sampo. "She'd better be as good as you say. We've had enough surprises for one day."
Sampo smirked, stepping aside to let them enter. "Oh, she's good. Just try not to get on her bad side."
With that, the trio stepped inside, unsure of what awaited them but hopeful for a chance to catch their breath and regroup.
To be continued