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It was a lively evening on one of the bustling planets in the Kaipo Universe. Inside a dimly lit tavern, the air was thick with laughter, clinking glasses, and the ramblings of drunken patrons. In the corner, an older man sat hunched over the bar, wearing a worn sweater with a hoodie drawn over his head. His face was hidden beneath the shadow, but the glint of his robotic arm peeked out from under his sleeve. A half-empty glass of whiskey sat in front of him, and despite the noise around him, he seemed lost in his own thoughts.
The bartender, a grizzled man with a scar running down his cheek, slid another glass of whiskey toward him. “Another round, old-timer?” he asked.
The older man nodded slightly, as his phone buzzed repeatedly on the counter. It was an unknown number, but he ignored it. The ringing continued, but he didn’t flinch, only swirling the amber liquid in his glass.
Suddenly, the doors of the tavern slammed open, and a gang of rowdy thugs barged in. The atmosphere shifted immediately, the cheerful noise replaced by tension. The leader, a bulky man with a shaved head and a menacing tattoo across his neck, scanned the crowd.
“We’re looking for Pavio,” the leader growled, his voice booming through the tavern. “That bastard owes us money. Bring him out, or no one leaves!”
The older man, still sitting quietly at the bar, finished his drink and placed the money on the counter. He stood up, stretching slightly, as if the events around him were of no concern. As he made his way toward the exit, one of the gang members stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
“Nobody leaves until we get what we came for,” the thug sneered, pointing a gun at the man’s chest.
The older man sighed, his voice low and gravelly as he spoke for the first time. “Kid, I’m just trying to get by. Don’t want to cause any trouble.”
The thug cocked the gun, pressing it against the man’s temple. “Don’t care. You’re not going anywhere.”
The older man shook his head, a wry smile forming beneath his hood. “The younger generation… always so reckless.”
He took another step forward, completely ignoring the gun at his head. The thug, angered by the man’s dismissal, pulled the trigger—but nothing happened. The gun clicked, lifeless.
The thug’s confusion turned to panic as his weapon began to disassemble in his hand. Tiny nanobots crawled out of the gun, swarming over his fingers and up his arm, sending him into a terrified frenzy.
Before the gang could react, the older man had already vanished. Outside, in the alley behind the tavern, the old man stood quietly, leaning against the wall and lighting a cigarette. His mixed robotic arm glinted in the dim light, a silent reminder of the power he wielded.
His phone buzzed again, and this time, he answered it with a heavy sigh.
“…Yeah,” he muttered.
There was a pause as the voice on the other end spoke. His response was brief. “I can’t even enjoy retirement.”
Another pause. “Put her on the phone.”
The voice changed, and his demeanor shifted. “Build me a tavern, a private room, and a personal lab. Then I’ll come.”
With a final sigh, he ended the call. “Bye.”
As he pocketed the phone and took a long drag from his cigarette, he turned to leave but stopped short. The entire gang from inside the tavern was waiting for him, weapons drawn, eyes filled with rage.
Inside the tavern, the patrons were frozen in shock as Pavio, the owner, struggled in a chair, tied up and gagged. Panic spread through the room, but in the blink of an eye, the ropes around Pavio snapped loose, as if cut by an invisible force.
Back outside, the scene was much grimmer. The gang members lay scattered across the ground, their bodies lifeless. The older man, cigarette still dangling from his lips and face still hidden under the hood, walked away into the night.
The Land of Spade - The Base
Back in the Land of Spade, the new facility was nearing completion. Captain Solari stood proudly at the center of the construction zone, overseeing the final touches being made by her machines. The sprawling base was a sight to behold, with its sleek design and cutting-edge technology.
From a distance, Captain Doran was still snoozing under the shade of a large tree, while Kiera Voss kept watch, leaning against the trunk. Captain Solari, fully immersed in her work, barely noticed when Seraphina arrived, her presence sending a wave of energy rippling through the area.
Seraphina’s arrival didn’t go unnoticed for long, though. Captain Solari and Kiera exchanged a glance before walking toward her, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity.
“Your Highness?” Solari asked, her voice tinged with both respect and confusion. “What brings you here? I thought you were back in the Azure Universe.”
Seraphina, her regal aura ever-present, nodded in acknowledgment. “I needed to see how things were progressing.” She glanced around, taking in the massive base under construction. “But more importantly, there’s been a development.”
Captain Solari’s excitement was momentarily dampened as she listened carefully. “A development? What’s happened?”
Seraphina took a deep breath, her tone growing more serious. “During a recent call with Queen Nia, we discovered that Elder Aeliana and Queen Elara have both disappeared into shadows. The situation has escalated.”
Kiera Voss, who had remained quiet until now, furrowed her brow. “Disappeared? Into shadows?”
Seraphina nodded. “It’s the Eclipse Sovereignty. They’re behind this, I’m certain of it.”
Captain Solari, usually composed and focused on her technological marvels, looked concerned for the first time in a while. “Do we know where they are?”
“We've located a signal, matching Elder Aeliana’s aura,” Seraphina replied. “I was just stopping by here before heading out to investigate.”
Solari glanced past Seraphina toward Captain Doran, still asleep under the tree. “What about him?”
Seraphina chuckled softly. “Still lazy as always.”
Kiera and Solari shared a brief smile as Seraphina walked over to the tree, her presence alone enough to wake Captain Doran. He stirred, his eyes blinking open as he felt the immense energy surrounding him.
“What… why are you here?” he asked, groggily sitting up.
Seraphina quickly filled him in on the recent developments and the missing figures. Doran’s expression turned grim as he absorbed the news.
“It’s definitely the Eclipse Sovereignty,” Doran muttered. “They’ve been moving in the shadows for far too long. It’s time we dealt with them directly.”
“I’m heading to the location of the signal,” Seraphina said. “Will you accompany me?”
Doran stood up, dusting himself off. “Of course. But have you brought anyone with you?”
“It’s just me,” Seraphina replied.
Doran scratched his head, then glanced toward Kiera and Solari. “I’ll go with her, then. No need for a big group. The fewer people, the better.”
Kiera approached, her expression concerned. “Are you sure about this? You know how dangerous they are.”
Doran smiled down at her, placing a hand on her head with a reassuring nod. “I’ll be fine, Kiera. I don’t want to put you in unnecessary danger.”
Kiera, though hesitant, eventually agreed. “Alright, but stay safe.”
With that, Doran and Seraphina set off toward the source of Elder Aeliana’s aura. The journey ahead was long, approximately two weeks, but both of them knew the stakes were higher than ever. As they disappeared into the distance, the air was thick with uncertainty, the weight of their mission looming over them.
The chapter ends as Doran and Seraphina head into the unknown, ready to confront the darkness that lies ahead42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw78Rh1yDV
