"So, how many of them are there?" Klaus inquired, seeking further clarification.
"Well, we were fifteen before you, and I believe you're the last one, so you can do the math based on that."
With that, they eventually arrived at their destination. The setting was a capacious room, with dimensions akin to a park and approximately six corners.
As they entered, Klaus observed several individuals present, all appearing to be around his age.
"Those are the others, right?" he quietly asked Ace.
"Yup, that's them. Though some aren't here at the moment."
Klaus and Ace proceeded into the room, with Ace guiding him toward an individual who appeared to have the role of overseeing them until further instructions.
Following Ace's lead, Klaus observed as Ace engaged in a conversation with this individual.
"Yo XVII, here he is," Ace announced.
XVII turned towards Klaus and responded, "Thank you, Ace Falcon. We will initiate the final preparations shortly."
From the tone of XVII's voice, Klaus deduced that this entity wasn't human; rather, it resembled a robot. Despite its human-like appearance, its identity as a machine was revealed through its voice.
Klaus couldn't help but inquire, "What do you mean by 'final preparations'?"
His curiosity was strong, driven by the need to understand why they were gathered there.
"I understand your curiosity. However, I am limited to conveying messages. The information you seek will be provided when the event begins," XVII replied.
It seemed Klaus had reached a dead-end in his quest for answers. He resolved to wait patiently until the enigmatic "final preparations" commenced, hoping that they would shed light on the mysteries surrounding this unusual situation.
After the reporting was concluded, Ace suggested the idea of introducing Klaus to the others who shared their circumstances.
Guided by Ace, Klaus accompanied him to meet these individuals, and he quickly recognized that they were far from identical.
Observing the group, Klaus realized that most of them bore a similar perplexed expression, indicating their shared uncertainty about their situation. It became evident to him that extracting essential information from them might prove futile.
Ace then led Klaus to the first person for an introduction.
The individual before him was attired in a peculiar full-body metallic suit, a sight that left Klaus puzzled. Although he couldn't fathom the purpose behind the outfit, he chose to disregard it for the moment. The suit had a reflective, metallic sheen, encompassing the person's entire form.
CONVERSATION
Ace: Hey, Siren, this is Klaus Walker, the last of us anomalies.
Siren: You need to stop calling us that, Ace.
Ace: Whatever, dude. Just introduce yourself.
Siren: Sure.
The individual named Siren then turned towards Klaus, taking a moment before proceeding to introduce himself.
Siren: Uhh, h-hey there. My name's Mason, but you can just call me Siren. I-If you want to, that is. It's nice to meet you, Klaus Walker.
Klaus sensed a somewhat shy demeanor from the person, but it didn't bother him too much, so he didn't mind.
Klaus: You can just call me Klaus, and it's nice to meet you too... I guess.
After a while, Ace then asked.
Ace: I'm sure you're curious about why he's wearing the suit.
Klaus: I guess.
Siren then glanced downward, seeming somewhat sensitive about the question, so Klaus decided to drop the topic. However, Siren indicated that he was okay with discussing it, but it stirred up painful memories. Despite that, he went on to explain his situation to Klaus.
Siren: When I was young, I had an extreme sensitivity to sound. Even the slightest noises felt like deafening screams to my ears, so my mother and I had to move far away from civilization because of it. As I grew older, one day, a plane flew over our home, and the intense noise caused a great deal of strain and distress to my body, making me feel incredibly uneasy. It was later discovered that my body was absorbing the sounds around me, and over time, it accumulated the need to discharge that energy. Due to the large amount of absorbed sound over the years, the discharge would result in a powerful sonic boom capable of causing massive destruction and draining my own life energy. I thought it was going to be the end for me until I saw a light from the skies before losing consciousness. When I woke up, I found myself in the suit, and my body was stable. My mother explained that I had to wear the suit for safety because it not only absorbs the surrounding sounds but also manages the discharge of sound energy from my body, preventing the catastrophic consequences I once faced.
Listening to Siren's story left Klaus feeling uneasy. The hardship Siren and his mother had endured, living isolated from civilization and being confined to a suit for survival, weighed heavily on Klaus' heart. He wanted to express his sympathy, but he knew it meant nothing, so he remained silent, absorbing the gravity of the situation.
While engaging in conversation, Klaus heard a familiar voice addressing him. It was who he expected – Rose. Turning his attention towards her, a mix of shock and relief crossed his face. Shock because he hadn't anticipated seeing her here, and relief because she seemed to be well, unlike the last time they met.
"Hey, Rose. I'm glad to see you're okay," Klaus expressed sincerely, his smile reflecting his genuine concern.
Rose blushed slightly, returning a smile and affirming that she was indeed fine. As their interaction unfolded, Ace observed their familiarity with an analytical gaze.
"It seems like you lovers know each other," Ace chimed in with a smile, playfully teasing them.
Rose's response was swift, laced with hesitation and a touch of embarrassment. "Oh, shut up, Ace."
Ace then explained to Rose that he was introducing Klaus to the others, prompting her to decide to join the group.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Approaching another individual, Klaus experienced an odd sensation in their presence. It wasn't negative, but rather a sense of mature wisdom and respect that seemed to radiate from them. The person had long, golden blonde hair and a humble countenance, coupled with an undeniable attractiveness – a common thread among them all in this unfamiliar realm.
"Hey there. I'm in the process of introducing Klaus Walker to everyone. Would you mind sparing a moment of your attention?" Ace addressed the stranger with a level of articulation that surprised Klaus, given the apparent similarity in age between Ace and the stranger.
"Certainly, not an issue at all. It's a pleasure to meet you, Walker," the stranger responded, his voice carrying a hint of an accent reminiscent of medieval times.
"I am Lance Knight. Happy to make your acquaintance," he continued, extending his hand for a handshake.
Klaus reciprocated with a handshake, meeting Lance's gaze. "Likewise," he replied, acknowledging the courteous gesture.
CONVERSATION
Ace: Lance here is a member of the military's war personnel back on Earth, serving with the United States.
Klaus: Wait, what?
Lance: He's correct. I work for the war front as an advisor and director to the generals of the main force, alongside my twin brother Arthur.
Klaus: Wait, how old are you exactly?
Lance: Currently, my brother and I are seventeen, which is why we weren't allowed to be soldiers on the battlefield and were designated as advisors.
Klaus was left in disbelief upon hearing this. How could someone as young as him already be a member of the military forces, let alone a core one?
While Ace and Rose were engaged in conversation with Lance, Klaus had a realization. A pattern seemed to emerge in terms of their extraordinary abilities.
"Sorry, Lance, could you tell me about your abilities?" Klaus inquired.
Lance turned toward him before extending his right arm. Almost immediately, something peculiar began to occur around his hand, as if an object was materializing out of thin air. When he finished, a tangible sword, seemingly made out of thin air, appeared in his grasp.
Klaus was taken aback, yet his surprise was tempered by the validation of his theory.
"I can access the Divine Arsenal," Lance explained. "It's a pocket dimension where every weapon ever created exists. By channeling my energy, I can materialize any weapon from within it and use it in our world."
Lance's revelation sent shivers down Klaus' spine. He hadn't anticipated encountering such surreal powers among the group, assuming they were all just enhanced humans with heightened capabilities.
Listening to Lance's account, Klaus could sense the formidable force that Lance must be, given his military background and battle experience. His abilities rendered him virtually invincible on the battlefield.
After spending some time conversing with Lance, Ace led Klaus to a girl seated in a corner. The girl had dark brown hair tied back in a ponytail, and she rolled her eyes slightly as Ace approached her, seemingly unfazed by his antics.
CONVERSATION
Ace: How's a going, Mia?
Mia: What do you want, Ace?
Ace: *smiling* Oh, c'mon, don't be like that. I'm showing my friend Klaus here around, so I thought, why not introduce him to my favorite person?
Mia: You say that about everyone.
Ace: Well, everyone's my 'favorite person'.
Mia: *rolling her eyes* Whatever.
Turning her attention to Klaus, she maintained a sarcastic tone as she continued.
Mia: Hello, I'm Mia Brown. It's so nice to meet you.
Klaus paid little heed to her demeanor, opting not to engage, which seemed to provoke a hint of anger from her.
Ace: A-Anyway, Mia is also the daughter of a prestigious family residing in the United States.
Klaus: I figured.
Enraged by his statement, Mia then continued.
Mia: So what else do you want to know, Klaus? I'm guessing you don't need anything else.
Her narcissism left a bitter taste in his mouth, so he knew he had to end their conversation promptly.
Klaus: Let me guess, you possess some kind of hunting abilities or remarkable accuracy. That's your specialty, isn't it?
Mia was taken aback.
She couldn't fathom how he had managed to deduce her abilities from just a brief conversation.
Then she took a breath, understanding the reason, and smiled.
"No surprise there, the bow was a dead giveaway."
A hunting bow was slung over her shoulder, and she had momentarily forgotten about it. However, she realized that it was undoubtedly what had given Klaus the clue. Although his accuracy was striking, she thought of it as a lucky guess.
"That and your name spelled backwards," Klaus mused to himself before he continued addressing Mia.
"Look, I don't really care about you, to be honest. So just tone it down a notch," Klaus stated plainly.
He wasn't one to seek companionship, so there was no desire on his part to forge a connection with someone like Mia.
Initially, Mia's expression shifted to irritation or anger at his response. But when she caught sight of his unwavering, serious demeanor—which was quite typical for him—she felt a touch of embarrassment. She averted her gaze, sighing softly as she mumbled, "Fine."
Rose had been trailing along, but she wasn't particularly invested in the ongoing conversation. Instead, she often let her mind wander or busied herself with her phone, which surprisingly had a strong signal in the unfamiliar area.
Suddenly, though, a voice broke through her detached state.
"Chill, Papi. A cutie like you shouldn't get worked up, you know?"
Upon hearing the voice, Rose hesitated, her heart sinking with a mixture of dread and anticipation, even though she was fairly certain of the speaker's identity.
As her gaze met the source of the voice, the newcomer wrapped her arms around Klaus' shoulders from behind. With a subtle movement, the girl maneuvered her face closer, locking her gaze with Klaus' own.
Almost instantly, Rose's expression shifted, her features contorting to a mix of surprise and recognition. The unmistakable sight of black hair with purple tips cascading down the girl's shoulders confirmed her suspicions, leaving no doubt in Rose's mind.
"Oh, Iris... um, What's up?" Ace chimed in as he too noticed Iris' unexpected appearance.
CONVERSATION
Iris: Ay, Dios mío, Ace. Where did you find this papacito?
Klaus didn't even know what to say or do, but he didn't like that Iris was so close to him, so he reacted by responding to her, telling her to move back a little.
Iris: Come on, Papi, don't you like my pequeña compañía?
Hearing that made Rose annoyed.
Rose: Hey, you heard him, Iris. Give him some space.
Iris: Oh relax, puta. It's none of your business.
Rose: What did you call me?
Ace: Ladies, ladies, calm down.
After a few seconds of silent staring between Iris and Rose, Iris finally released Klaus and walked ahead of him before she continued.
Iris: Anyways, Papi, I'm Iris. Nice to meet you.
Iris then extended her hand to him, and after a moment's pause, he shook it.
Klaus: *sighing* Klaus Walker.
Klaus couldn't help but notice Iris's Spanish cultural influence from her accent and language use. She sent out a warm smile at Klaus, while Rose's gaze remained hostile from the sidelines.
As they stood there, Klaus began to feel a nagging curiosity. He needed to clarify something that had been bugging him.
"So, Iris, what exactly makes you a supernatural?"
"Anomaly, you mean," Ace muttered under his breath.
"Well, I have the power to conjure flames wherever I gaze," she explained to the group.
Iris then turned her gaze towards a nearby trash can, and almost instantly, it burst into flames. After a few seconds, the fire vanished as abruptly as it had appeared.
Klaus approached the trash can to confirm that it had indeed been scorched by fire. Impressed by her ability, he couldn't help but wonder about the connection. However, the fact that she had to look at the location to ignite it made things clearer.
After spending a while introducing everyone, Ace had covered all the individuals that were currently present.
"I think that's everyone for now. The others might be exploring or still at the apartments," Ace remarked.
"Apartments?" Klaus questioned.
"Yeah, some of us have been here for a full day already. Well, technically twenty-four hours, considering it's always morning here. But you catch my drift," Ace replied.
As they were making their way back to their seats, Klaus noticed an unfamiliar figure entering the building. This realization struck him as he acknowledged that he hadn't met this individual yet. The person walked straight to a corner of the room, drawing Klaus's attention.
"Who's that?" Klaus inquired, prompting everyone's gaze to turn toward the guy who sported a distinctive black metallic mask.
The enigmatic stranger's brown hair was partially visible, with the mask covering the lower half of his face from his nose down to his neck.
Ace's usual hyperactivity seemed to subside as he glanced in the direction of the newcomer. The stranger's aura wasn't merely intimidating—it was genuinely menacing, sending waves of unease through those nearby.
"Uh, well…" Rose struggled to find the words, visibly taken aback by the unsettling presence of the stranger.
Even Ace, who typically wore an upbeat expression, appeared subdued in the face of this individual's presence. The room was unusually hushed.
After a moment, recognition struck Klaus like a bolt. He realized he had seen the mask and the body armor the person was wearing before.
As the pieces fell into place and Klaus identified both the attire and the person, a sense of disbelief and apprehension surged within him. He found it hard to fathom that such an ominous figure had a place in this seemingly sacred environment.
"I think I know him…" Klaus managed to utter, his heart racing at the revelation.
"That's… X."