We finally reach the outskirts of Meteor City, and I can't help but feel a mix of relief and unease. The journey to get here was long and exhausting, but we made it. The shadow platform I'd created helped us cover a lot of ground quickly, sparing us from having to walk for days. We've traveled over 2000 miles, and now we stand on the precipice of this desolate city. The atmosphere is thick with tension, and even though we've arrived, I feel like the real challenge is only just beginning.
The moment we step off the platform, I dismiss it with a flick of my hand. We all take a few seconds to survey the area's old, crumbling buildings, a quiet, eerie emptiness that seems to stretch for miles.
Ponzu, Hanzo, and Nicholas exchange a few unsure looks. I can't blame them Meteor City has that feeling to it, like it's alive with danger, just waiting for us to slip up. I direct them to a very ugly house that looks like it's going to crumble if we open the door. Everybody else other than me and Gramps looks unnerved by the sight of me about to enter what they would assume to be a random house.
I enter and we walk through the darkness for a while before I suddenly stop causing Nicholas to bump into me. Bending down I grab one loose floorboard after another revealing a trap door under us. As I open the trap door light comes to the room almost blinding us from being in the dark for a minute.
The trapdoor leads to a ladder that we use to go down, and by down I mean far down. 100 feet under Meteor City is where my base is. I bought the house above this and created this place with my shadows. Using a shadow drill I came down here and then I proceeded to create a tunnel system under the city. In fact, all the money I spent went to the materials to keep it comfortable and lit. We climb down for about a minute before reaching the main base.
The look on everybody's face is great they were most definitely not expecting the tiny room that they climbed into. "Wait what why is it so small?!" Hanzo yells in shock with one of the most confused looks I've ever seen on his face.
"Well, you see... um... I kind of made this whole place with my shadows but I didn't have enough money to cover all the walls in metal so I had to make the place a bit smaller than I originally planned. I spent most of the money on lighting and the metal for the tunnels under the city." I say while scratching the back of my head. "But where is the rest of the family?" I ask quietly while taking out a string pose. The men are all hundreds of miles away doing whatever and oh most of the women are in another room.
"Okay follow me, the fighters aren't currently here right now but the women are so there is somebody still here for you to meet. For the next 5 days, we are going to stay here and train."
I lead the group through a narrow, dimly lit corridor that winds beneath the city, passing rooms and makeshift chambers, all constructed with the same type of metal that supports the foundation of this base. The walls are sturdy enough to hold up, but they still feel a bit too close for comfort. The flickering lights along the walls offer a faint sense of reassurance, but they can't fully chase away the dark weight of the city above us.
We eventually reach a large, open space where a few figures are gathered. They are all women, sitting on mats or leaning against the walls, chatting among themselves making plans on papers scattered all over the room. There's a mix of familiarity and curiosity in the air as they turn to face us. Their gazes linger on me for a moment, but they obviously know who I am as I was the one who recruited them. Soon I plan to make them under Nicholas as the intelligence and negotiations division.
One of them stands, brushing her long, dark hair from her face, and gives me a smile that's somehow both warm and tired. "You're back early," she says with a raised eyebrow. "I thought you'd be at least a day or two behind schedule."
"Plans changed," I reply with a shrug, making my way toward her. "I need everyone on their toes. We've got five days before I leave again."
"The others will be here soon," she says, her tone turning serious.
I nod in agreement. "Good. I'll need everyone in top form for what we're going to do. How many other families have we taken over so far?"
"In total, we have taken over 2 families in the past few weeks you've been gone. Both of them were small so we only have 10 recruits in total who decided to join instead of die."
"Good. Good, that's enough for now. Once the rest of our little meetup gathers call me I'm going to go train the newest recruits. Oh, speaking of them have you all met them yet?"
"No, we haven't but if you have 5 days we have time. Go have your fun torturing them as you did to us in our 'training'." She says with a slight smirk.
The rest of the women begin to gather, and Ponzu, Hanzo, and Nicholas take tentative steps into the room, clearly out of their comfort zone. They're not used to the atmosphere down here, the quiet intensity of those who've spent their lives in places like this. The weight of the city seems to press down even harder the longer we stay.
I motion for them to take a seat and look around. "This isn't much, but it's all we've got for now. The fighters will be back soon enough, and then we can get to work on some combat experience with people around your level but first, you need to get up to their levels. Nicholas this doesn't go as big for you as I mostly want you to do intelligence for the plans I make so you won't have to fight but still you need to know Nen basics."
As I start to prepare the room for the first training session, I can't help but think about how everything has led to this moment. Meteor City may be desolate, but there's a strange kind of finally here, something that can't be ignored. And I know the people here, the ones I've surrounded myself with, are capable of joining that family and making good ties with locals.
But we won't have time to ease into things. I have a feeling that in five days, they'll either be ready for my plans or they'll be buried under the weight of it all.
"Alright," I say, clapping my hands to get everyone's attention. "Let's get started. I'll give you a rundown of what type of jobs you're going to train for, and then we'll begin."
The room quiets instantly, everyone waiting for me to lay out the plan. I can feel the eyes on me, waiting for me to explain. "We don't have a lot of time," I begin, "but we're not just here to train. We're here to teach you everything from physical combat to mental warfare. So, no matter your strength, no matter your abilities, you'll be pushed harder than ever before mentally and physically."
Ponzu shifts uneasily, but I see the resolve in her eyes. Hanzo stands taller, his posture sharpening. Nicholas seems more focused, and less unsure than he was earlier.
I pause for a moment, letting my words sink in. "There are no shortcuts. Everyone needs to give everything they've got. Understood?" The room is silent for a beat, and then one by one, they all nod. A shared understanding, a shared purpose.
I turn to Gramps, who's been quietly watching from the corner, I plan to talk strategy with him while they train and probably include him in the training of each subject.
"Good. Now, let's begin."