MORINJO
The air is thick with the warmth of our lunch, the hum of conversation, and the clink of silverware. We're gathered around the table, sharing jokes and savoring the meal. The space around us is sleek, modern, everything designed for comfort. Laughter fills the room, light and carefree—until a voice rips through the peaceful atmosphere, low and insistent.
"It has begun."
The words hit like a hammer, loud enough to make my bones vibrate. I feel it in my chest, the sound echoing deep, rattling my skull. The room plunges into a sickening haze for a moment, and I clutch the edge of the table as the noise lingers, an agonizing sixty seconds of disorienting sound. It feels like it lasts an eternity, a hum that scrapes against my mind.
When the ringing finally fades, the silence that follows is almost worse.
"Did you all hear that? What voice is that?" John's voice cuts through the air, his hands pressed hard against his ears as though trying to block out the residual hum.
I look around, feeling the heaviness in the air. Drax glances over at me, his eyes wide, a flash of recognition crossing his face.
"That voice... sounds familiar," he says, his voice low, thoughtful.
"It's Malacoda," Lin Ongro declares, her tone steady but dark. "He's here."
The voice echoes again, colder this time, as if it's seeping into the very walls. "The king you all have been waiting for is here! I was once dead, now I live for all eternity. I hold the keys to Gavaria and death itself..."
"He's come to rule this world," Jessica whispers, her voice barely audible, but it carries the weight of finality.
"Yes, he's come," Lin Ongro says, rising from her seat, her eyes flashing with resolve. "But he won't take it. We're stopping him."
I stand as well, the air thickening with the seriousness of the moment. "We're not just fighters," I say, my voice steady, stronger now, "we are heroes. Protectors of Earth. We are the Ultimate Ventures."
"Ultimate what?" Jessica asks, her tone a mix of confusion and curiosity.
"Ultimate Ventures," I say, turning toward John. "Leonard and I came up with the name. It sounds unique, right?"
John grins. "Yeah, I like it."
Jessica smirks, nodding. "Good. I'm in."
"Alright, then," I say, my voice sharp with urgency. "Let's roll."
The table is abandoned, the once relaxed atmosphere now replaced by the weight of purpose. We quickly head to our rooms, slipping into our hero gear—tactical suits designed for speed, agility, and protection. Minutes later, we gather in the Hangar, a sleek, high-tech space full of vehicles that gleam under the lights. The aircraft in front of us is a thing of beauty—sleek, futuristic, and deadly. It pulses with potential, and I can almost feel the hum of power beneath its surface.
The team stands frozen for a moment, staring at the craft, the reality of what we're about to do settling in. The air is thick with anticipation. The enormity of our mission presses on us all, but we don't falter. We're ready.
Jessica strides toward the cockpit, her movements assured. I settle into the seat beside her, and the rest of the team secures themselves in the plush, high-tech seats behind us. The interior is a masterpiece of technology—sleek control panels, ambient lighting that sharpens our focus, and a hum of energy that matches our heightened senses.
"Ready?" Jessica asks, her fingers hovering over the controls.
"Ready," I reply, feeling the pulse of the moment as if it's synced with my heartbeat.
She lifts the jet off the ground with ease, the powerful engines roaring to life as we ascend into the sky. The world below us shrinks, but our focus doesn't waver. The sound of the engines fills the cockpit, but amidst that, I hear John's voice from behind us.
"Hey, how about we say a prayer before we head into battle?" His voice is calm, grounding.
Jessica and I exchange a brief glance. We're locked in, focused on the task at hand, and we remain silent.
John begins anyway, his voice steady and full of conviction. "God, we thank you for the strength to fight, for the protection of our people, for the wisdom to defeat what threatens us. We ask for forgiveness, for guidance, and for victory. Amen."
Joseph chuckles from the back. "Amen, brother," he adds, his voice light and uplifting, offering a brief moment of levity before the storm ahead.
As we approach the outskirts of the devastated city, the scene before us is a wreckage of the worst kind. The buildings are crumbling, their twisted remains sprawled across the landscape. The ground is scorched, cracks spiderwebbing through the earth like wounds. A chilling silence fills the space, broken only by the distant cries of chaos. Malacoda and Birsha have already left their mark. The destruction is so complete, it feels like we're stepping into a nightmare.
But we're not too late. Not yet.
We exit the jet, our boots hitting the ground with purpose. The sight of Malacoda and Birsha standing amidst the ruin is like a sickening mockery of power. They stand tall, unshaken by the carnage they've caused, their presence an affront to everything we're trying to protect.
I step forward, my voice cutting through the air. "Malacoda! Birsha! This ends now! Stop the destruction! Leave Earth!"
Malacoda turns to face me, his expression cold and mocking. "Granddaughter," he says, his voice smooth and dripping with disdain. "We've claimed this world already. You should give up."
"No," Lin Ongro says, her voice unwavering. "You haven't claimed Earth. And we won't let you."
She steps up beside me, her eyes blazing with determination. "We will fight you—if we have to."
Malacoda scoffs. "Are these your fighters?" His gaze sweeps over our team, assessing, calculating.
Before we can respond, a crimson portal tears open in the sky. From it, an army begins to pour out—five thousand Bloody Scars, alien warriors bound to Malacoda's will. The ground shakes as they emerge, their eyes glowing with malevolent purpose. The tension in the air is palpable, and the weight of what's to come presses down on us like a physical force.
"Morinjo," Menace calls, his voice tight with urgency. "What's the plan?"
I pause for a moment, my eyes scanning the army in front of us. Then I look at Drax, a smile tugging at my lips. "I need your support, Drax. Let's get ourselves some barbecue."
Zetacode mutters to himself, clearly bewildered by my choice of words. "Barbecue??"
But the battle is already beginning, and there's no more time for explanations. The Ultimate Ventures are ready. It's time to fight.
I step forward, letting the cutting-edge Nano technology suit envelop me. A sharp, electric pulse courses through my body as it bonds to my skin, the transformation breathtaking. In seconds, I emerge as Path Finder, the battlefield's most formidable force. Around me, chaos reigns, but I don't hesitate. The Bloody Scars, two thousand strong, surge forward.
Drax is already in motion, a juggernaut of pure strength. His fists slam into the invaders, each blow reverberating like thunder. My suit crackles to life, flames roaring out of my palms, incinerating the front lines. The alien screeches fade under the roar of fire, but there's no time to celebrate. Another wave is coming.
To my left, Marger raises his hands, commanding the forces of nature. Bolts of azure lightning rip through the air, striking a thousand Bloody Scars with terrifying precision. The stench of ozone fills my nostrils as charred remains collapse in heaps. Beside him, Zetacode taps into cosmic energy, summoning green lightning that arcs like a living creature, seeking its targets.
The battlefield is chaos, but my team and I move as one. Each of us is a weapon honed for this moment. The air vibrates with raw power.
"Ultimate Ventures, let's finish this!" My voice cuts through the din.
The final thousand Bloody Scars stand between us and victory. They're battered, desperate, but still dangerous.
Drax falls in beside me, cracking his knuckles. "Lead the way, Path Finder."
Marger smirks, electricity sparking at his fingertips. "Let's make this quick."
We launch our assault. Drax barrels into the enemy ranks like an unstoppable force. Every punch sends shockwaves that topple the creatures around him. Marger unleashes a storm, gusts of wind and torrents of rain slamming into the aliens, disorienting them.
I weave through the chaos, manipulating fire and water to reshape the battlefield. Flames erupt under their feet, water surges around their ankles, pulling them into a deadly tide.
Zetacode moves like a phantom, his green lightning cleaving through enemy lines while he rescues civilians caught in the crossfire. His speed is unreal, a blur of motion that leaves no one behind.
"Eyes up!" Black Cardinal shouts, her blade flashing. She moves with lethal grace, every swing of her swords cutting through alien flesh.
Menace's arrows whistle past me, each one finding its mark. Lin Ongro, glowing with divine energy, conjures weapons mid-battle, arming us with tools of destruction.
And then there's John Brown—no, Lycon Wolf now. His transformation is monstrous. His grin stretches into a snarl, teeth sharp as daggers. Green skin ripples as his muscles swell, his clothes tearing to shreds. His claws glint under the eerie light of the battlefield. When he leaps into the fray, it's like unleashing a beast from hell.
The Bloody Scars falter. For the first time, they're on the defensive. Together, we press forward, a storm of fire, lightning, and fury.
"Congratulations," a voice sneers, cutting through the sounds of battle. "You've defeated them. But you'll never defeat us."
I turn, my blood running cold. Malacoda stands at the edge of the battlefield, his twisted grin promising nothing but destruction. Beside him are Aynat, Allatou, and Birsha, their presence exuding raw power.
Malacoda's chuckle is low and menacing. "Your fighters will fall. Just like the aliens. Kill them!"
The three step forward, their energy palpable. Aynat eyes glowing with unrestrained fury. Allatou looms, his muscular form radiating brute force, while Birsha summons a swirling vortex of dark energy.
Zetacode moves closer to me. "Path Finder, what's the plan?"
I glance at the team, my mind racing. "We split up. Lin Ongro, you take Aynat. Be careful—she's not just strong, she's cunning."
"She's my mother. I know exactly how to handle her," Lin replies, her voice steady.
"Marger and Drax, Allatou is yours. Don't let him overpower you."
Marger smirks. "We've got this."
"Menace, Black Cardinal—you're on Birsha. Stay sharp. He'll use the shadows against you."
Menace nods, drawing an arrow. "We'll handle it."
I look at Zetacode and Lycon Wolf. "You're with me. Malacoda's ours. Let's end this."
We break formation, each of us charging toward our target. My heart pounds, fire igniting in my palms. This isn't just a fight anymore—it's war. And we don't intend to lose.
To be continued...