With Janx and Magnax promising to help them Gustav ordered his soldiers to stand down. Janx and Magnax were now leading them to civilization.
“Man, I’m really glad we were able to make allies. We can’t afford to get lost once we enter the habitable side of the island.”
“….You figured it out?”
Janx glanced behind him. Gustav nodded.
“It’s thanks to my youngest son, Ryder. He mentioned there was no wildlife in the jungle which got me thinking. When we reached the fake village, I was certain.”
He grinned and pointed at the ground.
“This area is abandoned and used as a trap to lure outsiders when they come onto the island.”
“Scouts will be positioned to watch the coastlines, once Outsiders are spotted they lay wait in the jungle to ambush them. If the Outsiders are stronger than expected, you’ll retreat to a fake village where you’ll ambush them again, taking them out. This is what you mean right?”
“You’re correct, Gina.”
Gustav playfully rubbed Gina’s head.
“There’s a lack of wildlife because they don’t want Outsiders to grow stronger from eating the creatures there. The Phoenix-like birds we saw are probably incredibly strong, so they left them alone thinking Outsider would die if they attacked them.”
“What about the giant crab?”
Damini asked.
“Probably a coincidence. It must’ve left the ocean on its accord.”
Gustav looked at Janx and Magnax.
“So, are we right?”
“….We’ll leave that to your imagination.”
Gustav laughed.
“By the way, why can we understand each other even though we’re speaking different languages?”
Roxanne asked.
“That’s because you’ve eaten a heavenly creature. So you have god essence inside you. We have the same essence, so that allows us to connect.”
Magnax answered.
“God essence? So it’s the god essence that gave us these abilities…”
Gina mumbled.
“Wait, the demon fish we ate was a heavenly creature? That thing? Gehenna has a weird culture.”
Ryder’s caused Magnax and Janx to turn and look at him.
“Demon fish? What are you talking about? And what is this Gehenna?”
“Gehenna is what we call this island. It’s one of the names for hell.”
“Hell? You bastards are actually calling our home hell?”
“How dare you.”
The two were visibly offended.
“This place is called Paradise. It’s far from hell.”
“In our eyes, where you’re from is the true hell.”
An argument broke out with the two aggressively defending their homeland.
After traveling several kilometers, Gustav and others spotted a city in the distance. The buildings were a mix of grey and azure and were abstract shapes. They all looked like modern buildings made of concrete. Above them were several man-sized birds with colorful feathers. The city itself was surrounded by a blue wall with a golden bird stretching around it.
“Wow~. This is a beautiful city.”
Gustav was all smiles looking at the city.
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!
“Alfa, take our weapons and hide all but one soldier in the surroundings.”
“Yes, Gina.”
The droids took everyone’s weapons and suits, scattered, and hid in a blink of an eye. Gustav nodded in approval. Janx and Magnax looked at him with furrowed brows.
“What? You thought we were going ambush your city?”
Gustav chuckled a bit.
“When I said I wanted peaceful cooperation I wasn’t lying.”
He put his hand over his chest.
“I’m a man of peace.”
“Pfft!”
Damini covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing. Gustav ignored her and put his arms around the men’s shoulders.
“Now that you know, please lead us to meet your people.”
Janx and Magnax guided the group to the city walls. However, Gustav and the others were tied up in a rope that looked like it was made of water.
“We can’t just walk you into the city, so we’re gonna make it look like we captured you.”
Janx explained.
“Is this alright, General? This puts us at a great disadvantage.”
Raphael whispered.
“It’s fine. These guys have the same look in their eyes as me, someone who’s greatly interested in something. They are no longer cautious but interested.”
Gustav smiled.
“Almost as if they want to use us for something.”
“…Understood.”
Raphael backed down.
“Did we really have to give them back their weapons? I mean what’s with this liquid rope?”
Damini complained under her breath.
“Quiet, we’re here.”
Roxanne silenced Damini when they reached the gate.
“Janx and Magnax, who are these people?”
They heard a female voice coming from beyond the wall.
“Outsiders, we spotted them late and were forced to take things in our hands and confront them. We were able to make them surrender after killing half their forces.”
Magnax spoke up.
“Outsiders? There haven’t been any in decades. So does that mean the outside world has its eyes on this place again?”
“We don’t know, ma’am. It’s possible this group acted on their own without their leaders’ backing.”
Janx answered.
“We think this because they aren’t nearly as equipped as the last Outsiders.”
“I see, rogues. Alright, bring them in.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Janx and Magnax walked up to the wall. They cut their hands and placed them on the wall. Their blood soaked into the wall and the ground started to rumble.
Gustav blinked and found himself in different surroundings. He was standing on a road made of unknown gems, looking up at the tall buildings surrounding him. He brought his eyes down to see that they were surrounded by people with brown skin, blue hair, and blue gems in their bodies like Janx and Magnax. They were dressed in military clothing and pointing serpent-shaped weapons at them.
(Are those guns?)
Gustav’s eyes sparkled while everyone else wore serious expressions.
“Good work, you two. You can hand them over and go home.”
A woman stepped out of the crowd. Her blue hair turned gold at the ends, her face was oval, and her eyes were gold. Whether it was looks or presence, she stood out from everybody else. Janx and Magnax saluted the woman.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
They walked past her and disappeared into the crowd. The woman approached Gustav and the others. She looked at them one by one and from head to toe. She then stopped in front of Gustav.
“I take it that you’re the leader here.”
“Nah, I’m just the old guy that brings the luggage because he’s too poor to get a proper job.”
“A jokester, huh?”
She took a step closer.
“A jokester who smells of death.”
Gustav smiled.
“What can I say, I had a wild youth.”
She looked at him again and turned away.
“Take them to the lock-up. I’ll interrogate them myself later. After all, I don’t think they’ll tell the truth normally.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Soldiers moved to grab Gustav and the others. Gustav’s body flickered and he reappeared beside the woman.
“You’re pretty fast for an old man.”
The woman said without looking at him.
“Not as fast as you.”
Gustav looked down, there was a serpent-shaped handgun pressing against his heart.
“My apologies, I simply wish to know the lady’s name. I guess I was too eager.”
(No change in his heartbeat. He isn’t afraid of death.)
The woman smirked.
“Kelz Tiama, that’s my name.”
Gustav’s mouth curled.
“Gustav Fernandez, I hope we can get along.”
Kelz turned away. Gustav watched her leave with a smile.
“Get moving!”
A soldier hit him in the back of the head with his gun. Gustav stumbled a bit and looked back. His green eyes grabbed the man’s soul and caused him to freeze up. The man clenched his teeth and move to hit him again.
“I said get-”
A leg smashed into his face and forced him to the ground. He looked up in shock only to have a foot stepping on his windpipe. He grabbed his attacker’s leg in an attempt to save his throat. He looked up in dismay to see a pair of black eyes staring him down. These eyes stirred his primal fear of the dark with how black and terrifying they were.
“Damini, stand down.”
The man looked behind his attacker at Gustav who was looking at him.
“Yes, General.”
Damini lifted her foot off the man’s neck and stepped back. He started coughing.
“That goes for the rest of you too.”
The man looked behind him and his eyes widened. The scene of his comrades laying on the ground with their weapons pressing on their heads opened up before his eyes. Roxanne and others dropped the weapons and allowed the soldiers to get up. The man questioned how they were able to take weapons while tied up.
“Do you need a hand?”
The man turned around to see Gustav’s hand in front of him. Gustav held his hand and pulled him up. He then started dusting the man off using his bounded hands.
“My apologies. My soldiers can’t stand to see the elderly being mistreated. They’re good people don’t you think?”
The man didn’t say anything and only looked into his eyes. Despite the smile on his face, Gustav’s eyes were cold.
“Anyway, I think it would be better for everyone if we all keep our hands to ourselves. Don’t you agree?”
“Y-Yeah.”
The man didn’t know why but his body was trembling. Gustav patted his shoulder.
“That’s great.”
Gustav looked beyond the man at the soldiers who had their weapons returned.
“Isn’t great, guys?”
The soldiers looked at each other and then nodded.
“Good.”
He wore a massive smile on his face.
“Alright, lead the way.”
Some distance away Kelz was watching.
“Surrendered, huh?”
She smirked.
“That isn’t the behavior of someone who has given up.”