Charanko pried his eyes open as he awoke on the floor of Caspian's apartment.
"My head is killing me… What happened?"
Standing, he glanced around the empty room.
"Did they move out and leave me here?"
Thud
Charanko jumped at the sudden knocking at the door. Heading out of the living room and down the short hallway, he pulled open the door and froze.
"Is Caspian home? This is the address and apartment room number he gave me…"
"K-King!"
The 'King Engine' came to life.
He's ready for battle.
"I got the wrong room. Goodbye," King said, as he head back toward the exterior staircase.
Charanko shut the door and caught up to him. "It's an honor to meet you. You said you're looking for Caspian… he had to some errands."
"Okay. I'll swing by on a different day."
King hugged a right and descended the stairway.
He's not very talkative.
Charanko decided it was best to follow King out of Z-City Ghost Town. He hadn't been thinking straight yesterday and had forgotten the rumors about this place.
King's tucked his hands into his jeans' pockets and picked up his pace when he made his way onto the street, shooting glances back at Charanko.
Making sure I'm safe. He doesn't even know me and he already cares to such a degree. A genuine hero.
If the knock at the door startled Charanko, then it came as no surprise that he fell backward when what sounded like dozens of massive bombs detonating in the skies above thundered out.
His mouth fell open when he noticed King had also fallen backward and now sat on weed-flecked concrete.
The 'King Engine' roared, overtaking the residual sounds overhead.
Such power and kindness! First, he annihilated the innumerable aerial monsters hidden behind the clouds above and then when he noticed I had fallen… he did the same in order to make me not feel ashamed. How can I ever repay him?
Charanko got up and offered a hand to King. "Thank you for saving me. Ah, my name is Charanko. Sorry for not introducing myself."
Once King was back on his feet, he cleared his throat and nodded, but didn't say a word.
During this silent lapse, a faint fluttering sounded to the left of them.
Weird looking thing.
A winged sphere with a single big blue eye and seven legs hovered in place, watching the pair without blinking.
He patted his chest. "Frozen in fear, monster? You definitely recognize 'The Strongest Man on Earth' standing beside me. Say goodbye."
The winged sphere didn't, couldn't react to the blurred attack that landed from behind, smashing it into bloody paste.
"Filthy creature. Caspian needs to move."
¤ ¤ ¤
Boros roamed the Monster Association's base, having purged the previous room of its creatures. Occasional generic no-name monsters attacked, forgotten before their bodies even splattered against the floor or walls.
The stone halls stretched wider now, pillars on either side lining a space over twenty meters across. The ceiling rose half as high as the hall was wide.
I hope the Executives can at least fight back.
A set of silver-toned voices rang from a corridor ahead to his right, freezing him mid-step.
"Big sister, we should get back to our posts."
"I know you can smell the bloodshed as well. If the others won't believe us, then we'll take care of the intruder or traitor ourselves."
Two female monsters emerged from the corridor. The moment they spotted him, they charged toward the hall's center, weapons drawn.
Boros studied the two eye-pleasing specimens before him.
The buxom woman on the left bore unmistakable reptilian features; a thick tail, jagged teeth, and clusters of black scales scattered across her muscular frame. Underneath those scales, her skin gleamed green. Wild, voluminous white hair exploded from her scalp, with side braids and scarlet feathers woven in. Two long, straight black horns jutted back from her forehead. Camouflage mesh clung to her ample curves, paired with black panties, spiked bracelets, and strapped heels. In her right hand, she gripped an obsidian dagger, its jagged blade dripping with a vibrant-green viscous fluid.
On the right stood a woman with a slim, curving frame. Brown scales ran down both sides of her vivid orange skin, drawing the eye to each contour. Her thick tail swayed behind her, split in color: half orange, half white, lined with sharp spines. Long, tousled fair hair framed her face and shoulders, broken by two tight side braids.
White horns with black tips curled from her forehead. Gold hoop earrings hung from her pointed ears. A black collar with metal tips circled her throat. She wore a minimalist black bra, double-strap panties, spiked gloves, and heeled boots. In her left hand, she gripped a machete, its blade wet with the same bright-green fluid.
The recruitment drive starts here.
"Little sister, I think the traitor here is checking us out…" The green-toned woman lifted her obsidian dagger. "Let's gouge that big eye of his out."
"Yeah, even if he is a tiny bit handsome…"
"Now's not the time for your urges little sister." The green-toned woman rolled her red eyes.
Boros, very pleased with what he was seeing, crossed his arms before nodding. "The two of you will join my New Dark Matter Thieves. What are your names? It is best I know them, as the two of you will remain at my side from now on."
The two women exposed their sharp teeth, their tails thrashing side-to-side. Wordlessly, in a coordinated manner, they darted toward him and slashed out with their dagger and machete.
Boros moved back, avoiding the two blades, surprising the sisters. "I do not understand your reactions. It is an honor to be at my side. Now be good female specimens and obey."
"I.will.kill.you…" Muttered the green-toned woman through her grinding teeth.
While the right-side woman's emotional state was like a brewing dark storm ready to release at any instant.
Boros narrowed his eye, confused. Was there something wrong with these two? He had been polite and straightforward with them. And yet, they wish to kill him over it.
His attention turned to the two figures that appeared further down the hall, arriving at a speed greater than all the previous monsters he dealt with so far combined.
"What are the two of you doing here? Gyoro Gyoro tasked us to dispatch this intruder. Do you wish to go against his orders? Leave now or I'll kill the two of you where you stand."
Upon hearing those words, an unfamiliar negative emotion swelled up within Boros.