On a dark rainy night, lightning flashed in the sky as a young man stared out his open window taking in the breeze air of the rain.
"Look at yourself what a disappointment."
His voice was followed by the sound of thunder rumbling in the sky illuminating the land before disappearing in a flash.
"Not even two weeks have passed yet what have you become calling yourself Rex… Huh?"
His voice was of an AI but the harshness of it was adamant.
"Was my dream all an illusion?"
"Why are you acting like you’ve been like this all your life?"
He yelled every word from deep within, all of which were transmitted to an AI computer that spoke on his behalf.
This AI is a wheelchair assistant that speaks up for people that can’t talk, it is connected to the brain through a nanochip inside the head, this is only for No.0002 and not others.
"You receive a system and I’m gone from your life that’s it?"
"And is your life only about those puppet rascals that threw you off the bridge?"
"Answer me damn it?"
Every pit of his lashing was met with silence because to anyone he was just screaming at the heavens or the rain but in reality, he was talking to a shadow who stood behind his room door.
Creek
The room door was opened slightly and behind it was Rex followed by a thousand chained skeletons bleeding black ink from their sockets.
"Of course not how could I sleep and not see this every time it’s always dreams and dreams turning into nightmares."
"I’ve become our dream but this is only the begging yet I see no patients from you, do not imprison me with the past this is who I’m now so take it."
Saying that green light rose from the wooden floor taking the form of the three dinosaurs.
"Isn’t that right my babies we will forge a new path where there are no shackles right?"
The dinosaur babies rubbed against him whimpering as to say we are with you.
"If that is your answer then know it is not enough…"
The young man in the wheelchair stood having a tear running down from his left eye as his body disintegrated into ashes along with the skeletons.
Sigh
With a sigh of relief, Rex crouched down patting his pets.
Meanwhile, he asked himself.
'How many does this make?'
This was a dream and he was aware of it as it happened multiple times in just two nights.
It is as if he is haunted by his past self whenever he closes his eyes.
He is transported into a fragmented world of his memories but it doesn't repeat as it happened, because he is confronted with his past self every time.
“A-T is this the system’s doing?”
Silence
He was met with silence again just like every time he asked the same thing.
Creek
A door appeared on the other side of the room and it was a grass field where cows and children played.
"Uh oh, no not this one…"
Seeing the other side of that door Rex panicked not wanting to see that memory.
*
6 hours later
Upon waking up, Rex stretched as if he had been sleeping in a confined area for days.
Right after collecting more than hundreds of bones and forming a pile of bone hills, he slept right there on the ground beside them.
And that’s why he is feeling that way.
As Rex did his stretches, R-1 observed with a frown.
However, it was difficult to discern his expression as he was a dinosaur.
R-1 had some profound thoughts in his small, round head as he gazed upon his master and father figure.
It hasn't been long since he hatched from the egg with his siblings, but he has always felt somewhat different from them.
It all started when he took the fruit that was intended for his younger sibling.
Despite his hunger and desire for more, he was taken aback by an unexpected surge of emotion when he was reprimanded.
He didn't understand it as it was complicated but he still somewhat felt its meaning through the stare he was given.
Ever since then, he could think and understand speech in his mind but could not speak.
‘Father… Sleep… With Us…’
Seeing Rex tired and sleeping on the hard ground next to a pile of bones was unsightly and depressing for him.
Suddenly his eyes met with his as he heard something Rex says to them every time they get near him.
“Do you wanna play or something?”
Being asked a question like that his mouth opened but a little cry came out making him grunt in anger.
“Ugh, I don’t know what you're saying maybe you're hungry and want some food, well sorry buddy you ate the remaining fruit last night with your sibling.”
Rex came close patting his head as he said, “Don’t worry though champ maybe we’ll get some after doing some quest.”
‘Father.’ A cry came out misinterpreting what he wanted to say.
“There, there…” With some more pats, Rex told the system to store the bones in the pasture space.
This pasture space isn’t in another dimension or something but a storage building according to the system assistant and it’s somewhere on the island.
At noon Rex engaged in training exercises with his pets and then took on the significant responsibility of preparing plans to tackle any challenges that may come his way.
*
July 19th, 2423 On Earth Prime
The bright sun shone brightly above a red bridge while the many cars honked as the frustrated drivers shouted due to an apparent obstacle ahead hindering their progress.
While a minor incident took place on this bridge between E-City and F-City something big happened following that incident a week later.
July 26th
In space orbiting the planet was a tower with many ring-like satellites around it.
This tower had the shape of a woman’s upper half and is called the Mother Sentry, humanity's greatest creation.
Patroling around the Mother Sentry were seventy guard ships two motherships the size of 4 large football stadiums and the other ships of different sizes ranging from a hundred meters to car sizes.
And on the head of the Mother Sentry was a crown that had a large ring sitting on it and this was no ordinary ring but a space bridge.
This bridge is something that allows an almost instantaneous journey between planets.
Inside the Mother Sentry, the interior of this floating tower in space was built in the same way as a normal tower only difference being the technology.
Being consisted of three levels the brain, the heart, and the womb.
The brain area is the intelligence department gathering and observing all that happens while being the control system of the Mother Sentry.
The heart area is the core of the tower where the engine is and what keeps the place together.
And finally, the womb area is the staff deck where they sleep and rest.
This place is the future as everything was several years ahead of what others have down on earth.
In the brain area of the tower.
Sitting on a chair was a dark woman with pointy ears wearing a military uniform.
Her uniform was full of metal honers making her look dignified and terrifying.
This was also because two scars marked her body one on her face looking like a live flame and another from her neck down to her chest.
This person is the head of an anti-super individuals organization known as Arm and Chief of Intelligence in the Mother Sentry.
Chief Amanda
The brain area has a large hall where everyone works and in this hall, hundreds of people were sitting in front of monitors working while a larger screen panel was on the glass-like wall.
The person in charge at this location Chief Amanda, was positioned in a room with a bird's eye view of everything.
Knock Knock
Someone knocked on her door waiting for permission to enter.
“Come In.”
With her permission, three subordinates entered two men and a female wearing uniforms similar to hers only being of different colors with star-shaped metals.
“Ma’am…” As soon as they entered they bowed their heads.
She nodded indicating to them to say what they came in for.
One of the men stepped forward reporting his assignment.
“Ma’am just as you have speculated the murder No. 0002 descended of house Rockswell was done by a hero...”
Hearing the word hero a fit of anger appeared on her face before disappearing instantly.
Just as her anger appeared and disappeared instantly the people in the room felt the air around them change making the man stop his report halfway but was brought back to attention by one word.
“Continue.”
The moment he heard that word, it was like a sudden jolt that brought him out of his daze, as if a bucket of ice had been splashed over him.
“Yes, ma’am as I was saying your hunch was right the murder was done by a hero two actually by the name of Invisible D-class rank 5, and Magnet Hand also D-class rank 4…”
Pausing for a second he pulled out a device containing a hologram picture of the two heroes mentioned.
The hero Magnet Hand wore a mask that had an infinity pattern and a shirt with floral patterns he also wore a large glove that resembled his mask.
The other hero Invinsible however wore a full costume that was platinum with the word I in the chest.
“We’ve apprehended Magnet Hand and questioned him, but… but…” The man was contemplating what to say next fearing the outcome of his words.
“But what.” A vein popped on her head yelling at the subordinate.
“But Invisible is nowhere to be seen.”
“You’re telling me?” She got up and approached him.
And as she approached him, he couldn't help but notice her impressive height.
She towered over him, standing at least twice his own height, even though he was supposed to be 6'3".
“You’re telling me that with all the support of this department, you can’t find one measly D-class hero.” After repeating herself to understand what he said the anger that disappeared returned terrifying the three subordinates.
“Yes, ma’am he disappeared like a ghost and hasn’t been seen for the last five days in any of the cities.” The subordinate whimpered as he spoke in sweat.
She turned and went to her desk tapping on it while thinking of something.
Tap Tap Tap
“Connect me with the Hero Guild President.”
“Yes, ma’am!” A key with a face, hands, and legs jumped out of her desk jumping happily like a child.
The AI key serves as the central component of the brain's mainframe.
“Ring… Ring… Ringging, Ringging, Ringging, Ringging, Ringging…” The AI key began emitting a melodic tone as it dialed, tapping away while waiting to establish a connection with the other side.
“Answered, he answered.” The AI said jumping happily.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Uh is that you space cunt?” A voice came out of the AI key feeling surprised but it wasn’t hers but of a grown man.
“Always with the foul mouth Maxamillion the bastard child.” As the man on the other side greeted her like that she did him the same way.
“What do you want?” With a grunt, the man asked displeased.
“Maxamillion have you counted your sheep for any missing ones I might have counted two but I'm not sure if it?”
“...”
For her question came nothing as the other party seemed to be doing something.
“What do you mean my people are accounted for?” The man Maxamillion asked back feeling something wrong.
“Maybe you haven’t changed you’re ways yet look at the lower rosters.” She said smirking at him.
“You bitch what have you done?” An angry roar came out of the AI key’s mouth her complexion looking mad and this wasn’t the hologram complexion but of the man on the other side.
“No, you should ask yourself or them what they have done Maxooo.” She roared back clearly angry at the man’s behavior.
Silence
The man Maxamillion did not know what to say since he didn’t know what happened but his hunch was this person only called because she has dirt on them.
And this meant one of two ways to comply or be ruined, this is a game they play regularly but this time it seemed it was something huge.
“What do you want?” Asking the hard question he was full of frustration.
“Good you understand your place, two heroes have killed someone important we’ve got one but the other is missing bring him to me within a month or this goes public, also I want to have the right to select two people in this year's hero exam.”
Hearing those words the man was speechless before saying, “You cannot do this Amanda.” This time his voice was serious as bolts of electricity sounded in the background.
“Hhm, yes I can and I will if my demand is not met think it over you have a month.” With her finishing sentence, she glanced at the AI key which understood her meaning cutting off the call.
“Next.” She turned her attention to the other two motioning them to report.
The man who reported first bowed and stepped back in line with the other as another took his place.
This one was also a man steppin' up with a bow.
“Ma’am an anomaly has been detected on Skull Continent, Today at 11:00 PM the barrier that covers the continent opened up a little and in that short time we have detected someone’s identity watch…”
“Wait pause there?” The chief interrupted the report halfway telling the AI key to pull up a map of the time the anomaly took place.
“Okie Dokie ma’am.” The AI key replied doing a sideway flip as a large panel appeared and on the panel was a map of the world.
On the top corner of the panel, a small 3D map appeared and the rest of the panel was a 2D map.
Four continents and thirty-one islands were on the map.
One continent on the left side was the only place where humans lived and it was divided into nine territories each having letters of the alphabet A-I this of course was the Metro Citedal state continent.
Right under this continent were many islands and six islands above it and to the right side of the map was another continent but this one was completely white this continent has been like this ever since five centuries ago it is called Ice Age Continent living on it were mutant creatures of snow.
Another continent was the Land of Mutant Sahara this one was under the Age of Ice Continent on the same level as the islands under Metro Citedal it was a big desert continent full of mutant monsters.
And lastly, the most mysterious continent in the world is Skull Continent, just like its name says it’s a continent that looks like a skull but if turned sideways looks like a skull with bunny ears on its cheek.
For as long as humanity can remember this continent has been a mystery as only its shape is known and nothing else it’s like an invisible barrier blocks entry and sights to it.
Although there is an island next to this continent that hosts snakes called Snake Island.
The map image on the panel looked accurate and perfect except for the Skull Continent part as it was blurry.
“Key enhance it to the entirety of the panel.” She ordered the AI key receiving another Okie Dokie reply as only the image of the skull took the whole panel.
If one looked closer to the panel they would see a ripple sort of distortion or a glitch that showed a watch going through something but if one even looked closer they would see a hand.
“Someone probably teleported into the place but in that moment of entering there the watch was caught in by something and my guess is the thing that blocks us from going in there and looking from a satellite caught it.”
“Do you know whose watch that is?” She inquired turning her gaze to the subordinate.
“No ma’am just like you said whatever caught that watch jammed it as it is cut off from all our systems.” The subordinate said while looking down.
“Then look into a watch that traveled in that distant, next.”
“Yes ma’am.” The subordinate bowed and stepped back as another took his place this one was the female subordinate having some files on her.
Like the ones before her, she bowed and started her report right away.
“Ma’am these are files on the graduates that are likely to take the hero exam this year.”
She put the file on the desk stepping back in line.
“You may leave so if you’re done.” She motioned her hand for them to leave.
“Yes ma’am.” They all bowed together before leaving her office.
The chief set back down on her chair looking at the ceiling with a sigh as she glanced at the files the female subordinate placed on the desk.
On one of the files was the name Princess…
*
On July 20th
In an old warehouse factory, a man was hung upside down from a hook as blood dripped from his legs previously.
The man groaned in agony tears flowing from him.
This place was dark and there were five other people in the old warehouse factory with the hanged man, these people looked taller than the average person as they surrounded the man conversing.
“So, he died huh?” A tall guy with a hulking build started the conversation.
“Just when we came to hunt him at that too.” Said another who was running from one place to another leaving traces of bolts in the ground.
“Hunt... what are you talking about he’s not even capable of walking!” A guy with a computer mocked.
“It’s good that he died but where is the body?” Asked a guy whose hands were turning red.
“All of that doesn’t matter ask the verman about it to confirm also who put him up to this?” And the last person asked, this one though was a female.
But because it was dark these people couldn’t be seen well as only their silhouettes were visible.
One of the silhouettes moved closer to the man having contempt in his eyes it was the guy with red hands.
“Lower lifeform who paid you to do it and where is the body.” He bent down to the hanged man’s level speaking in an arrogant tone.
Puking out blood the man said in a weak voice, “Wait… till they find this location… you ...bastards will be done for… haha haha…”
Bam
He hit the man with the back of his hand sending him flying but the man returned to his spot because of the hook, and at least a couple of ribs were broken with that hit.
“You filthy maggot would dare mock a high human…” He said flaring up with anger.
“I believe he did and laughed about it.” The guy with the computer said chuckling at him.
“I should kill you right now!” The red hand guy yelled in anger his face turning red.
“Hey, hey watch it you gonna blow us up and this place.” The female approached him speaking in a commanding tone.
“I’m sorry commander it's just that this filth got into my head!” The guy cooled down apologizing to the female who was his commander.
Staring at the hanged man’s eyes she issued a command, “Ready the machine this man is of no use to us.”
“And who would be taking his powers since three of us except you and me already have powers… but wait commander wasn’t the plan for you to take Titan’s power?” The guy with the computer asked in concern.
“No that would be obvious besides things have changed we’ll have to do it from within.”
The fast guy who was setting up a machine with fast-lighting hands said dropping a gear piece with a shocked face, “You don’t mean?”
“Sush! And get back to work…”
Five minutes later
The machine was done and ready only waiting for the power up to do what it was made for, it looked like a turret, and in its mouth where bullets were supposed to come out was a wire that had a neck collar with sharp spikes.
The tall guy with a hulking build approached the machine placing a crystal on top of it and in response to the crystal, the machine opened a human-like mouth swallowing the whole crystal.
In like no time the machine heated up glowing red.
“Ready in places…” The female commander said standing behind the machine with both her hands on the machine handles while three others stood around her to keep guard and one put the wire collar on the man’s neck.
A little while ago this man had been in the thrill of his life since he was paid millions of dollars for offing a crippled.
He and his partner are low-class heroes that don’t make much in their daily life so to become rich they allied themselves with the rich and shady.
And a few days ago when they were offered a huge sum of money to kill someone they didn’t even blink as that was the chance they waited to climb up the ladder of life.
But out of nowhere when he just started partying for the big score he was abducted by these strong crazy guys.
‘It’s painful where are the heroes?’
‘Heroes, but wait I’m a hero why am I crying for one, it doesn’t matter heroes anyone please save me.’
‘These villains are killing me unjustly.’
They hung him upside down with a hook.
The blood wouldn’t just stop and no one was coming to his help no matter how much he cried for help.
‘Is this it? Is this how it feels to be powerless against death.’
‘And why are these bastards calling me inferior and maggot?’
‘Are they those who say they are royalty or something?’
‘This job was done for someone who wanted the cripple's head someone I know but who are they?'
‘Who cares about all that I’m dying here and why isn’t someone coming to my rescue dammit I’m a hero who's dying, maybe I should bluff…’
Mustering up all the strength in him he tried to say something but puked out a mouthful of blood saying something in a weak voice, “Wait… till they find this location… you ...bastards will be done for… haha haha…”
Bam
Receiving that hit that shattered his ribs his mind became empty not able to speak a single word.
The man looked up meeting eye-to-eye with the female who was called commander.
Meeting those eyes which pierced through made him shrink back in fear because those eyes felt just like those he received from the big leagues.
The indifferent eyes that disregard him whenever they see him.
With everything he got he wanted to look up at the eyes that would be the last thing he sees before death but he couldn’t even muster up the will to do it.
Thus he accepted his fate not resisting as he was held up in place as a ray of heat sucked the energy out of him going into the machine and taken by the female commander through the crystal her eyes gleaming with vigor.
The hero D-class Rank 5 Invisible met death on this night with a broken mind.
After a few seconds, the corps of Invisible dropped to the ground everything about him looking like someone else.
“Let us head to F-City National Mountain Range!”
Their job accomplished the five silhouettes left the place while the machine exploded turning the place into ashes as they further disappeared from the place.
*
July 28th two days after Rex disappeared.
Sonya with deep red eyes stood in front of Rex’s room, she’s been standing there for two hours and clearly, she knew no one was inside but because she thought good of him the other day...
And now she is pissed like someone broke her heart he said, “I won’t forget your kindness even if my brain is taken out.” And now he’s nowhere to be seen breaking what little trust she gave him.
She tapped on the back of her neck where there were two SD chip holes retrieving a chip the size of her nail.
This was a chip that was implanted in her after she became a modified human, its uses are tracking her whereabouts and recording everything she sees.
This is something all modified cops have and aren’t allowed to remove until their off work.
Now her doing this could mean disobeying and breaking the rules she’s supposed to always keep in her heart.
But right now in her head, there were no rules only to find the young man who broke his promise to her.
She went closer to the door pushing it gently and boom like a force was used the door broke flying.
This was the strength that comes with being a modified human, they can exert five to ten times their strength and speed but the implants for this has consequences when used without precision.
After the door broke she made herself in regardless of the rules that state not to enter another room or house without permission even if you're a cop.
She darted around the room looking for traces of where he could have gone.
After 4 minutes of searching, she came empty-handed leaving the room in anger as on her way out she punched a hole through the wall next to the door.
Bam
After learning someone had broken into a room, hotel staff rushed in and broke out in a cold sweat scared of the person who made a hole in the wall with one fist.
Even the words he wanted to shout were gone as he was nervous but that didn’t mean he couldn’t press his watch for the emergency.
And as he pressed his watch the alarm went off right away making Sonya look his way.
As she looked into the staff who was panicking she came back to herself also pressing her watch as she responded to the call that was given to all nearby cops to head for the place the alarm went off.
With an awkward smile, she said to the staff, “I’m a cop call off the alarm and I wanna know where the person in this room went to?” Her suddenly opening her mouth and saying that made the staff sigh in relief before screaming in anger too.
“What the hell! What was that about you could have asked first why all this?”
“Sorry!” She bowed her head in apology.
“That’s it?” Like he was expecting more he yelled but stopped himself halfway.
“... I don’t know about that but the room’s been empty for two days.” He replied.
Looking into his eyes she thought of something leaving him there without saying anything more.
Later that day she was summoned to HQ to have a talk with her superiors.
On the fifteenth floor of the HQ building, Sonya stood before a wide podium in her police uniform holding a hat in both hands.
She had three stars on each shoulder and a gold patch on the left side of her uniform that had the emblem of the HQ.
Standing on the podium were four men in their 40s to 60s in robe uniforms.
“Do you know as to why you are here Lieutenant Sonya Sord?” One of them who was in his 40s on the right spoke.
He looked like Sonya but was pale looking like a sick old man as his voice was hoarse sounding like he was dehydrated.
Lieutenant Sonya Sord: Of HQ Part of the Super Soldier Division a Modified Human
“NO!” She answered making them boil in anger.
“No… Tell us this how many rules did you break over the last month?” A bald old man with a grey beard said pointing his finger at her.
“And not only the rules of HQ but the law itself, you are a disappointment to the Sord household Sonya.” It was the pale man who spoke first this person was Sonya’s uncle named Rakter, and like the old men who stood alongside him he held a high rank in F-City HQ.
“Yes, a disappointment officer too!” An old man in the middle spoke shaking his head in disappointment the old man had his eyes closed but still he had a disapproved face meaning he was serious about what he said.
Another one who was in the middle spoke counting what she did over the past month. “A month ago one of our best agents went undercover to capture a dealer of the underworld but was taken hostage, you charged in recklessly without the support of HQ starting a war with them, and in that conflict, we lost our agent.”
“That was not my fault I rescued him but he pursued after them dying in chase…” She retorted with a snort.
“Do not lie to us you always go in without your SD chip so don’t try to cover up when you have no proof.” The old man with a grey beard said flaring up with anger.
“I’m telling you I did no such thing they had a net runner with them who jammed it!”
“That is a lie our info said nothing about a net runner being there.” Said her uncle.
“Huh? What do you mean info?” She asked in confusion but the looks she got from them almost stung her heart.
‘These bastards are covering up things only if I had a prove!’ She said in her mind but then shook her head saying it doesn’t matter right now.
“And that's not all you’ve endangered a civilians live, lost track of someone you were supposed to watch and today broke into a hotel room breaking property, scaring off civilians in there, and wasting the precious time of our officers.”
“What do you have to say for yourself Sonya Sord?” Asked the old man whose eyes were closed.
She glanced at them saying nothing as she turned her gaze between them and the ground, no matter what reason she makes they are adamant about their decision for punishing her so she decided to stay still waiting for whatever they did.
“Like we expected truly a disappointment for our strongest… hence for by the orders of HQs commissioner you are suspended for a whole month without a payment and after your suspension you will be a helper representing our force in the hero exam…” Pausing there the old man turned to his colleagues and came into agreements with something as they nodded then turned to her before saying, “...Dismissed!”
And like that one of HQs strongest was sent to be a helper in the hero exam coming a month later…
As for Rex, he was put as a missing person not really caring about him because there are cases like this all the time.
These events were like beads on broken necklaces falling down and after every bead hits the ground and its motion comes to an end something huge will happen that will forever change Metro Citedal.
*
In the present somewhere unknown to the world a small island floated above a land of small hills and dried ground.
And sitting on the edge of the island was a young man who had disheveled long hair down to his neck and tattered clothes.
This young man of course was Rex who was in a trance.
With a cool sensation in his mind, Rex came out of his trance.
He’d been thinking too much when he realized that it was draining energy out of him, so he decided to face one problem at a time and before he knew it he was in a trance his body relaxed.
[Ding]
[New Quest Issued Quest Name Mask Of Fusion: Quest Details Host Must Slay All He Can To Create The Mask Of Fusion.
Quest Time 32 Days]
Rex slowly opened his eyes reacting to the notification panel that popped up.
Since the quest he’s been waiting for came he wasn’t excited or shocked.
He first digested what the quest detailed murmuring to himself in understanding.
He didn’t even ask A-T for further understanding or help since he wanted to rely on himself this time because he expected that in the coming days, he will be asked to do something like this and thus he must face this task alone.
Winds of change were brewing and Rex was in that wind anticipating the future with a smile...
Fin