The winds were strong, and the clouds danced in the blue sky. Amid them floated the Kingdom of Navya—a vast island adrift in the clouds, sailing effortlessly as if nothing existed above or below it.
Crimson sunlight struck the landmass from beneath, casting a veil of light that painted the cities in light and shadow. This ethereal phenomenon distinguished day from night, for while the sun hovered above during the day, it brightened beneath during the night. While the city was dark, the clouds were as bright as they would be in a day. For 500 years, the kingdom and its people had lived in this surreal existence.
Generations came and died, searching endlessly for worlds beyond their island. Yet no discovery was ever made. Everyone was born, lived, and died—happily.
Well, almost everyone.
"Thud-thud." A muffled sound echoed in a narrow, junk-filled alley. Silence reigned for a moment before the noise resumed, coming from a grimy green trash trunk. Something inside it was struggling fiercely.
"Crackle... thump!"
The lid exploded open, and out popped Leo, drenched in gooey filth and gasping for air. "Huff... finally," he panted, staggering as he struggled to catch a breath. Dizzy and disoriented, he stumbled out of the trunk, his head throbbing from an injury he couldn't quite recall.
"Where the hell am I? How did I end up here?" Leo groaned, standing atop a heap of junk like plastic Superman suffering a severe kryptonite overdose—naked but for the sticky mess clinging to his skin.
"Pingle! I summon you!" he commanded.
With a sudden burst of shimmering light, a small green-blue parrot materialized in the air.
"Wiihooo!" the bird chirped jubilantly, circling Leo's head. It was about to perch on his hair but halted midair, eyeing him skeptically. "Wii! What is this creature? Are you from the summoning world?"
"It's me, Leo," he grumbled through gritted teeth.
The parrot burst into uncontrollable laughter. "Wiwiwiwi! Is this some new human fashion? Wiwiwi!"
"It's not time for jokes," Leo snapped, frustration evident in his voice. "What the hell happened to me?"
Pingle stopped laughing abruptly and perched on a nearby trashcan. "Wiwi, weren't you spending money yesterday?" the bird asked, tilting its head.
Leo frowned, scratching his goo-covered forehead. "You're right... I was spending all that gold. I bought clothes and jewelry..."
"And then?" the parrot prompted.
"Then I went to a club. I paid for everyone's drinks and threw money around like a king..." The fog in Leo's mind began to lift as he placed things together.
"And then?"
"After that, this cute girl approached me. We talked for a bit and headed to a room." Leo's face turned red at the memory. "She closed the door and pushed me onto the bed..."
"And, and then?" Pingle's eyes widened in anticipation.
"Her hands slowly ran over my body," Leo recounted, heart racing as he relived the moment. "She started unbuttoning my clothes, and I leaned in for a kiss."
"Then, then?!" Pingle squawked eagerly.
"But she stopped me," Leo continued, "with a finger on my lips. She leaned in close, her warm breath brushing my ear...she whispered..."
"What did she whisper? What did she whisper?!" the parrot urged breathlessly.
Leo wiped a trickle of blood from his nose, his expression both wistful and bewildered. "She whispered... 'I'm shy. Can you close your eyes, please?'"
The parrot's feathers stood on end. "Don't stop! Continue, continue!"
"So I closed my eyes and waited for her to make the next move," Leo said, his face shifting from dreamy nostalgia to dawning horror. "And then... she said in a manly voice."
"Manly voice?" the parrot asked confused.
She said, "I am not Rose I am Rosandra...and WHAM! Something hit me on the head. Next thing I know, I'm here!"
Leo smacked the back of his head, realization dawning. "Wait... did I just get robbed by a prostitute?!"
His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as rage replaced disbelief. "That bitch took all my money, my clothes, my jewelry—everything!" He said looking at the rusted silver ring in his hand.
"Wait, wait," Pingle interrupted with equal outrage. "She took everything from you?!"
Leo glanced down to double-check his "essentials." "Everything... except for this ring...and my virginity," he muttered bitterly.
The parrot shook its head solemnly. "Wiwi... humans are strange creatures."
"And now I've lost all my money, dignity, and clothes," Leo muttered, brushing bits of trash off his shoulders with an air of indifference.
He was just about to begin his favorite hobby—ranting about life—when an explosion rattled the air.
BOOM!
Leo froze. "What the—?"
"
Another blast followed, the bass so powerful it shook the junk heap beneath his bare feet.
"Leo, over here!" Pingle, ever vigilant, circled high above like an overenthusiastic scout.
Leo squinted, following the bird's path. The sound was coming from another heap—a mountain of mechanical scraps and broken gadgets piled like a mad inventor's graveyard. His eyes narrowed on a figure in red makeshift armor wielding a massive air cannon.
BOOM!
The cannon fired again, sending bits of twisted metal flying. Leo reacted, nearly performing an accidental tap dance trying to avoid the projectiles.
"Hey! Watch where you're aiming, you lunatic!" he hollered.
The figure paused and lifted its helmet, revealing a scrawny girl with chaotic short hair and thick round glasses fogged up beyond usability. She squinted at Leo like she was trying to identify an exotic species.
"That could've killed me!" Leo roared, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel.
"Huh?" The girl retorted, her voice sharp and unapologetic. "Why should I care? I do my experiments here all the time, and no one complains, filthy swine."
"Well, I'm complaining today, trash goblin!" Leo snapped back, biting his tongue too late to stop the insult.
Steam practically shot from the girl's ears. "You walking compost heap!" she hissed, pulling a bizarre blue gun from her back—a contraption so weird Leo couldn't tell if it was a weapon or an abstract sculpture.
Before he could think, she fired.
A torrent of high-pressure water blasted Leo square in the chest, launching him backward. He hit the ground with a wet thud.
"Leo! Leo!" Pingle swooped down, flapping frantically.
The girl adjusted her foggy goggles, mumbling, "Wait a second... A colorful parrot... and a naked idiot named Leo..."
Leo coughed out water, spitting furiously. "The audacity to shoot me in the face! Pingle, peck her to death!"
"ON IT, LEO!" Pingle screeched, launching himself at her with the fury of a bird scorned.
"Damn bird!" the girl cursed, swatting wildly before slamming her helmet shut. She bolted toward a beat-up scooter parked nearby.
Leo, dripping wet and butt naked, sprang to his feet. "Not today, psycho!" he yelled, breaking into a full sprint.
The girl revved her scooter, tires kicking up dust as she gave chase. "Hero, wait!" she shouted.
"Not today, psycho! Find someone else to prey on!" he hollered, picking up speed.
The girl's scooter groaned as she cranked it to its limits, but Leo was already a blur in the distance.
"Just how fast is that guy?!" she gasped.
Leo on the other hand laughed like a menace, uncaring about his naked attire he ran straight into the market full of crowd. Screams and pleas filled the air, and people ran like it was a stump.
Piercing that crowd was the source of chaos, none other than Leo. The 51st Hero.
"Kekekekeke! It's no use evil girl." The parrot flew over the girl's head, while mocking her in a childish tone, " If there is one thing I could bet on Leo, it would be his running speed, there is no way anyone in the kingdom can match even half of"
While the parrot was still singing praises, it noticed something. It was the look in the girl's eyes, which changed from concerned to a dark smile. The parrot quickly understood what was about to happen, but it was too late to do anything now.
"I'll kill this parrot if you don't stop!"
Leo skidded to a halt, eyes wide. "What?"
The marketplace, previously filled with bustling chaos, fell eerily silent. Civilians ducked behind stalls, peeking nervously at the unfolding standoff.
"Isn't that the mad scientist girl?" someone whispered.
"Yeah, and she's facing off with Leo… the human disaster."
"Whoever wins, it's a win for us," another muttered.
Leo locked eyes with Pingle, who was now trapped in the girl's grip. "Pingle… my best friendo…"
"Leo," Pingle sniffed, tears welling up, "It's been an honor."
"No, don't say that!"
"It's okay," the parrot said bravely. "How long can a bird companion last, fool?"
Even the bystanders were moved to tears.
"I'll sacrifice myself so you can escape," Pingle declared nobly. "Run, Leo. Don't look back."
Leo struck a dramatic pose. "Pingle!"
"Leo!"
"LEO!" the crowd wept in unison.
"WILL YOU TWO JUST SHUT UP!" the girl exploded, shaking with fury. "I'm not killing anyone! I just want your help!"
Leo blinked. "Huh?"
"I JUST WANT YOUR HELP!" she demanded. Huffing as she spoke, "Let me join your crew!"
"Whta?" Leo stared, dumbfounded.
"Whattt?" Pingle's jaw dropped.
"WHAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT?!" the crowd gasped collectively, knowing full well that with these two in a team, Navya Kingdom was about to be screwed upside down.