MORINJO
The building looms before us, a monolithic structure with a grand facade of deep crimson hues, etched with intricate hieroglyphics that seem to whisper ancient secrets. As we step inside, the walls press in on us, forming a labyrinth of blood-red surfaces that guide us on a journey cloaked in silence, thick with the air of mystery and solitude.
Leonard's voice is barely a whisper, as if the walls themselves might swallow it whole. "This place is insane. It's like a graveyard."
His words are tight, choked with the fear that twists inside him, a fragile thread ready to snap.
I glance at him, trying to steady my own nerves. "It's okay to be scared. Being scared means you're about to do something really, really brave."
He looks at me, his eyes searching for something to hold onto. "Are you trying to motivate me?"
"Yes. We're men. Men overcome fear."
A shaky laugh escapes him, half disbelief, half desperation. "Oh, really? So, how do we find the weapons?"
I sigh, scanning the maze-like walls. "I don't know. This place is complicated. But don't worry, we'll find them."
Suddenly, the echo of footsteps bounces off the walls, growing louder with each step. Without a word, we duck behind one of the walls, hearts pounding in our chests. We peek out cautiously and see three figures, towering and menacing, moving with purpose. They're clad in gleaming armor—breastplates, gauntlets, and those damned bio-helmets that make them look more beast than man. One of them approaches a smooth section of the wall and presses a sequence on a hidden lock. The wall splits open like an elevator door, and they disappear inside.
Leonard breathes out slowly, his voice barely a whisper. "That's a secret door."
I nod, my mind already racing. "Yeah, I see that."
Minutes pass, and the Bloody Scars emerge from the hidden room, now armed to the teeth. One of them carries a shoulder-mounted cannon, the barrel of which glows with a sinister energy. Another wields a whip, metal rods linked by rings, ready to snap into lethal action. The third brandishes a shuriken, its sharp edges glinting in the dim light, and they're all equipped with wrist-mounted weapons I recognize—metallic nets and plasma pistols.
Leonard stares at me, his face pale. "Like I said, they've got armor and advanced weapons. You see it now?"
I nod grimly. "I've seen these weapons before, Leo."
"Really?"
"Shhh. Be quiet."
The Bloody Scars suddenly stop, their heads swiveling in our direction. We freeze, muscles tense, hardly daring to breathe. After a long, agonizing moment, they move on, and we finally exhale.
"Thank God, they're gone. Let's move," I say, leading the way to the secret door. We approach it slowly, cautiously. The smart lock is still there, but this time, there are no visible buttons. Instead, the PIN is written in a strange, ancient language.
"Alright, Pathfinder," I murmur, "You're up. What's the code?"
A moment of silence, then Pathfinder's voice comes through, clear and steady. "Ekam, treeni, pancha, sapta, and nava."
I repeat the words under my breath as I press the symbols. The wall slides open, revealing an arsenal of weapons that makes my heart race.
I can't help but smile. "This is going to be fun, Leonard. Let's make our choice."
I'm immediately drawn to two weapons: a massive, two-handed sword that gleams with a deadly edge, and a dagger with a wickedly sharp point. I slip the dagger into its sheath, the weight of it reassuring against my side. The sword is a beast, nearly as long as I am tall, but it feels right in my hand. My pulse quickens as I imagine the damage it can do.
"This is awesome," I mutter, running a finger along the blade. "I can't wait to slash and stab someone."
Pathfinder's voice cuts in, calm and slightly amused. "You're sure about that?"
"Of course."
Leonard, meanwhile, is fidgeting with his own selection of weapons, clearly out of his element. He looks at me, uncertain. "How many weapons do I need to take them down?"
"As many as you want, Leo. Me? I just need four."
I secure the sword to my back, then my eyes land on a circular cutting device—like a discus, but deadlier. I pick it up, the cold metal sending a shiver down my spine. Beside it is another intriguing piece of tech: a wrist gauntlet. I slip it on, and the moment my fingers brush against a button, the panels spring open, revealing a dizzying array of functions.
"Damn," I mutter, inspecting it. "This tech is incredible."
Pathfinder chuckles. "Megan's tech is the best."
After a moment of admiration, I close the gauntlet's panels and grab the smart disc. Leonard approaches me, his arms full of weapons, looking lost.
"Are these good enough?" he asks, dropping them at my feet. "You know I don't really use weapons."
I pick up a spear-like weapon from his pile and examine it. "Let me show you."
With a quick press of a button, the spear extends to its full length, light as air but strong as steel.
"Oh my God," Leonard whispers, eyes wide. "How did you do that?"
I smirk. "It's a Telescoping Spear. Perfect for close combat and throwing."
I move to the next weapon, a projectile launcher. "This is a Spear Gun. Fires spikes that can shatter stone."
Leonard's jaw drops. "How do you know all this?"
I tighten my grip on the weapon, memories flooding back. "I used them before, back in 2020, when the Bloody Scars took Lauren. I had to fight them to save her. That's when I first met Pathfinder."
"And now?"
"Now, we don't have time to chat. The plan is simple: I distract the aliens, kill them one by one, and you get the inner circle powered up. Unleash our powers and free everyone's minds. Got it?"
Leonard nods, but then hesitates. "Do I really need to carry all these?"
"Yes, take them. You might need them."
I start towards the door but pause when Leonard calls out to me. "We can't just walk out like this."
I turn, impatience rising. "Why not?"
"Because they'll catch us. They'll know we're human. We need to blend in, wear their armor."
I groan, but I know he's right. "We don't have time, Leonard."
"We have to make time. With their armor, we can move freely."
Pathfinder's voice cuts in. "Leonard is right. I'll show you where the armor is."
I grit my teeth, resigned. "Fine. Let's do this."
"Touch the ground and close your eyes," Pathfinder instructs.
I do as he says, feeling a surge of energy as everything around me sharpens. My vision expands, seeing through the maze-like walls to the hidden room four miles away, where rows of alien armor wait.
"I've found it," I say, opening my eyes. "Let's go."
We move through the labyrinth, every footstep measured and quiet. The walls seem to close in on us, twisting and turning, a maddening maze that feels endless. Suddenly, the echo of footsteps freezes us in our tracks. We dive behind a wall, breath held, as a Bloody Scar approaches, cradling a human skull in its clawed hands.
"Oh God," I whisper, my hands trembling.
"What's wrong?" Leonard asks, his voice tense.
"It's coming this way."
"Then kill it," Leonard hisses. "You've got a sword and a dagger."
"This isn't the time to attack."
"There's no right time, Morinjo."
Pathfinder cuts in. "Hide behind the next wall. Wait for my signal."
We dart to the next wall and wait, every muscle coiled, ready to spring.
"Now," Pathfinder's voice whispers in my mind.
I move with practiced ease, drawing my sword as we creep up behind the alien. With one smooth motion, I drive the blade through its back.
"Woah!" Leonard whispers, a grin spreading across his face. "That was cool."
"Cool, huh? Help me with the body."
We drag the corpse into a shadowed alcove, then continue our journey. Finally, we reach the hidden room. I enter the code, and the wall slides open, revealing racks of alien armor.
Leonard's eyes light up. "Now, this is what I'm talking about."
I nod, moving to the nearest set. "Let's suit up."
We put on the armor, the alien material fitting snugly over our human bodies. As I snap the helmet into place, I feel a shiver of unease. But the moment we step out, passing two Bloody Scars without so much as a glance, I know Leonard was right. We leave the tower and head back to the car, the engine growling to life as I press the gas. We drive in silence, each lost in our thoughts until we pull up to the Ultimate Tower.
As we step out, we're greeted by a sight that stops us cold. The Bloody Scars have taken over, operating.
LEONARD
As I move closer to the system, my heart thunders in my chest, each beat louder than the last. There's a nagging voice in my head that insists this plan is a disaster waiting to happen, but I force myself to power on the system anyway. The moment I connect the machine's power source, everything goes south.
Menace's eyes narrow, suspicion flickering across his face. He speaks in the alien tongue, twice, but my response catches in my throat. His reaction is swift—an arrow pierces my chest before I even register the movement. Pain explodes through me, radiating from the point of impact. My teeth grind together so hard my jaw aches. My body shakes violently, sweat pouring down my face inside the helmet as I scream, the sound torn from my lungs. Then, as if things couldn't get worse, Menace triggers a siren—a death sentence calling for my execution. My costume, once a symbol of hope, is now a cruel joke, offering no protection, no escape. There's only one option left: fight until the end. Gritting my teeth, I yank the arrow from my chest, stifling a cry as I press my hand over the gushing wound. The blood flows between my fingers as I see seventeen alien beasts, the Bloody Scars, rushing towards me. But just as I brace for the inevitable, Morinjo reveals himself.
"Hey!" Morinjo's voice cuts through the chaos like a blade. He unsheathes his sword with a fluid motion, the metal gleaming under the harsh light. "What do you say we settle this, man to man, hmm?"
One of the Bloody Scars steps forward, its blade-like appendages extending with a metallic snikt. They're vicious, serrated weapons designed to tear through flesh and bone.
"Can you handle them all?" I manage to ask through the pain, my voice a hoarse whisper.
Morinjo grins, his confidence unshakable. "Why not?"
The first Scar charges, its guttural roar echoing off the walls. It's fast, almost too fast, but Morinjo meets it head-on, his sword intercepting the attack. With a swift counter, he drives his blade deep into the creature's stomach. It collapses, twitching as its life drains away. ONE down, SIXTEEN left. Morinjo pulls his sword free, readying himself.
"Leave, or face my wrath," he commands, his voice cold and unwavering.
To be continued....