The elderly gent glances towards a hole, revealing the outside of this subterranean haven. His guests heed his look and gaze as the morning star ascends, casting a golden glow upon the barn as he meanders toward the frying pan.

Amelia "Here, let a Brit have a go at it."

With her aide, they rustle up some classic bacon and eggs as the others assemble around the table. They savor their meal in silence, yet a hint of worry mars the old man's face.

Kanji "What's eating you, Goral? You've got a look as though you've seen a ghost."

Goral "It's nothing, young man. I'm merely wrestling with what you've shared with me. It's a bit thick to take in what you folks went through. Even for a veteran like me. My soul is struggling to reveal any help I can give."

Claire "Don't push yourself, old man! We can crack their weakness by ourselves if you like!"

Goral "No, I must tell you! It's my pride as an older generation. Stogan houses a grand total of 31 generators. In our immediate area— five span from south to west, and another five from south to east. The remainder are huddled up north, right by the outer wall."

Sarah "What the fuck with that?"

Goral "From the information I gathered off some of the prisoners, the charging stations and batteries for Stogan's armament are nestled just beyond the northern wall. It's swarming with their troops, day in and day out.

Gwen "That's an intriguing tactical decision. But then again, these citizens have never known a real enemy since Genesis. Could they be over-dependent on their weapons?"

Goral "Indeed, their weaponry is more intimidating than lethal. Engineered to instill fear in those who resist the mutation process. I suppose you want to know more about the details."

Sarah/Noah "Hell Yes! That would be sick! Is there gore?"

Goral "You two... are very odd but very well. Contrary to the Flora who sport three sets of arms and carry relatively primitive weaponry, the Stogans possess only two pairs and are armed with very powerful firearms."

Dave "Sure sounds like they've had a taste of good ol' American freedom, eh old brother?"

Goral "I'm not familiar with this 'American' you speak of, but yes. Each gun is designed to obliterate different targets. One disintegrates flesh. One pulverizes bone. One severs control. The final one stops emotions. I mean this as direct as possible."

Noah "Well, shit. That is overpowered."

Azan "This was expected. This realm was created by a complete madman, after all."

Diana "Sounds gnarly but I think I can hold my ground. Your thoughts, boss?"

Kanji "We need a solid strategy. But first, let me modify my weapon. If I can redistribute the elastic energy along my chain at regular intervals then...

A tingling sensation courses through his right hand as the metallic chain acquires a whip-like flexibility. Kanji steps into the open.

Kanji "Alright, now with a bit of force."

With a powerful swing, the chain whip lashes out, producing a thunderous crack at its tip.

The unleashed force carves a massive chunk out of the earth and splinters the left side of the tree that props up the old man's hammock. Sheepishly, Kanji stows his whip with shame, unable to face Goral.

Kanji "Erm... my apologies for the tree."

Goral "No need for apologies, young man. A new tree will sprout in time. Time's a friend of mine after all. Now, are you ready for the rest of the information?"

Kanji "Yes, sorry for going off track. I remember you mentioning an outer wall?"

Goral "Correct. Each city is fortified by an inner and outer wall. The inner section is home to the savages, a luxurious haven reserved only for the mutated. Beyond the outer wall is where the resisters dwell, the slums you might call it. Here, survival is a brutal game, and every man and woman must fend for themselves. I remember those harsh days."

Mina "Oh, dear. Did we open old wounds? We're so sorry!"

Goral "No, it's alright. I'm not some brittle old coot. Although some memories of those savages during hunts do stir some resentment, but that's in the past now."

Gwen "You have a great mindset. I can see how to manage to achieve all of this. I'm guessing that within those inner walls are where the clones are."

Gwen "You've got an admirable mindset. It's clear how you achieved all of this. I'm guessing the inner walls house the clones you told us?"

Goral "Spot on, but that's merely a rumor. Only a privileged few know for sure. However, I do know that a colossal crystal resides there. It's worshipped by the savages and is believed to be the source of our souls."

Adrian "Beg your pardon? Your souls?"

Goral "Yes. Once shattered, the Stogans will vanish into thin air. It's your best shot at purging this accursed world. This holds true for the Watas and The Floras as well. The Watas, with their four sets of limbs, are adept at manipulating ice and water. The Floras are skilled fighters trained in various weaponry. They're tougher nuts to crack given that they don't have a clear weakness."

Kanji "We're really grateful for your hospitality and assistance, old man. Sorry to say that we must make a move now."

Goral "Of course, don't let an old fogey like me slow you down. I'll be cheering for you, kiddos."

He guides them up a concealed tunnel at the rear of the barn. The passages wind and twist until they emerge atop a hill. The group scans the surroundings for threats but it's all quiet.

Goral "I'll be heading back now. Remember, stay close to the border. Those savages' sight is a hawk."

Kanji "Understood. Guys, huddle up. I've got a plan."

Amelia "Well, don't keep us waiting, mate. Spill the beans."

Kanji "Here's the deal. There are ten generators in the southern half of the region. We're a team of eleven. My proposal is we each take out a generator simultaneously, using Adrian's Connected Mind ability. You mentioned that it's now a two-way communication, correct, Adrian?"

Adrian "Yes... more or less. I serve as the antenna, enabling you all to converse and listen through me. Like this."

Diana "Feels a bit trippy, and the echo is a bit annoying. But hey, it's useful."

Kanji "Great. Once we're done, let's rendezvous at the farthest point up north. I'll scout ahead to check for potential threats."

Claire "Kaney! That's dangerous!"

Gwen "Normally, I wouldn't worry but those weapons are quite concerning. Also, don't want to store energy from those generators."

Kanji "Yesterday, I tried that when Mina was climbing and it didn't works. Perhaps the energy they use goes against logic. Sometimes like faith energy."

Gwen "That sounds absurd but I'll take your word for it. Stay safe, Kanji."

Kanji "I promise. Now, let's get going."

Each team member affirms their departure with a nod, parting ways shortly later. After a few minutes, they all converge at the designated generators.

Upon confirming their positions with Adrian, they simultaneously launch their attack.

Claire coaxes her "pet" lava frog, which appears bemused at the scene unfolding before it. Brandishing her crossbow threateningly at its head, the creature responds with a defiant croak before belching out a stream of molten lava that reduces the generator to a steaming mound of metal.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Claire "Claire to Adrian, Generator is kaput and clear!"

Gwen's arms transform into giant wooden fists, and she delivers a mighty blow to the generator's base. The metallic frame shudders and collapses under the impact. Her fists then morph into spinning rows of conodont teeth, which grind the generator into fragments and store them inside Izzy.

Gwen "Generator clear, Adrian."

Diana takes a moment to center herself before pressing her hands together. She pulls back her right fist while her left rests against the generator. With a blinding burst of light, her punch crosses the sound barrier, reducing the generator to mere dust.

Diana "One big generator is down, bookworm."

Sarah scales the towering structure, with a bit of struggle. Reaching the peak, her ring carves a vertical slice as she descends. The Aspect of Fiction swaps to daggers, swiftly dicing the halves before carrying off pieces to the sea.

Sarah "This Generator is fucking minced, Adrian."

Dave nonchalantly leans against his assigned generator, resting his hand on it. His energy seeps into the structure, causing it to contract into a compact shield.

Dave "Bro, you won't believe this! Got a new fucking trick, Adbro!"

Amelia brandishes her knife, her swift attack etching a pizza-like pattern into the generator before it collapses.

Amelia "Generator bloody demolished, lad."

Mina yawns, laying her hand on the generator. Within moments, rust spreads across the structure, reducing it slowly to ash.

Mina "Ezpz, Adrian"

Azan studies the generator, then his suitcase. A sudden idea interrupts the moment and he morphs the suitcase into a watch. A protective force field encapsulates him as he hurtles into the structure, shattering it into pieces.

Azan "Well... That surprisingly worked. You learn something new every day. Adrian, task completed."

Noah clutches his anger stone, directing his scorching fury toward the generator. His axes slice through the metal like hot knives through butter, continuing until all that remains are charred remains.

Noah "Okay. A bit of an overkill there. But, mission complete, Adrian."

Adrian "Guess I'm up last. Thank heavens this thing is an object."

For the first time ever, Adrian unleashes his suppressed strength. His shield-bearing hand impacts the generator, causing a massive explosion on contact and crumbling the structure into oblivion.

Adrian "Whoa. That was... unexpected. Is this why I was cursed? What am I exactly? No... I should worry about this later. Everyone! Please prepare to head north!"

All "Roger that!"

The group quickly moves northward, skirting the border as shouting rings out from the direction of the city.

Unperturbed, they continue north, the landscape dotted with clusters of rocky hills big enough to conceal an army. Claire spies a splash of familiar blue hair among the hills and with an upbeat chuckle, waves her companions over...

Claire "Hey guys! Let's surprise him!"

Kanji "I'm well aware you're there, guys! Come over here quickly and join me over here!"

Claire "What?! How?!"

As they huddle behind the hill, an image carved onto the ground captures their attention.

Gwen "Is this your handiwork? It is remarkable you located the batteries so swiftly."

Kanji "Well, those Stogans were rather blatant about their location. Goral wasn't kidding when he mentioned they'd be attached to the outer wall."

Diana "So boss. What's the game plan?"

Kanji "First things first, I need to clarify my rationale. I proposed the simultaneous destruction of the generators to avoid tripping any alarms from The Stogans. If we were to go about it one at a time, it's slow and may cause them to panic, possibly catch us as well."

Gwen "Ah, I comprehend your goal. By eliminating roughly a third of their supply, they'll be forced to reposition south, providing us free entry from the north."

Kanji "Indeed, but there's a tad more to it. It wouldn't be enough to trigger them all to move out. The main generators and batteries are situated here in the north, so we need to destroy them for my plan to work. However, we also need to create a distraction that can convince them to go south. So... Amelia, could you handle that?"

Amelia "What? Excuse me. You mean... Oooh. You want me to create a bloody load of duplicates and lure them south. Brilliant!"

Azan "Wouldn't that need a considerable amount of energy?"

Kanji "No, we just need them to chase the duplicates long enough. Now, time to demolish those batteries. They are within the reach of my energy bolts, but I require something more potent."

Gwen "You could delegate this task to Claire and myself but I suspect you've got an intriguing concept in mind."

Sarah "Holy shit, like a special move?"

Noah "Man, knowing Kanji, it's gonna be some crazy complicated shit, right?"

Kanji "It's not as complex as you think. I've been experimenting with my abilities, pushing the boundaries, and such. That's when I discovered a fascinating aspect about Energy Conduits, a skill I barely use. Initially, I thought it merely allowed me to manifest an energy sword and shield. But the functionality runs deeper. It's all about something called a conduit point."

Mina "Conduit point? Like something that holds energy?"

Kanji "Exactly, and if I concentrate enough, I can manipulate the location of these conduits. I can create more than two, and the intriguing part is their interaction with other abilities like Energy Bolt. This synergy lets me store my shots. Now... what if I align the three points along my chain around the tip and create a whipcrack."

Dave "Yo, it goes crazy stupid fast. Not sure, bro."

Kanji "I have a hypothesis, but let's see how it plays out in action."

Kanji steadies his chain whip, targeting the distant batteries. His right arm crackles with electricity, traveling down his chain, condensing into a ball of lightning. The sensation repeats two more times. Taking a deep breath...

He hurls his whip forward. Upon the whipcrack, the three orbs converge into a single point, firing off into a colossal beam.

Elsewhere, on the outer wall, three guards, lulled by the boring atmosphere, long for some excitement. However, their day is about to take a normal turn just like any other day—

Their view is overwhelmed by a massive blue glow, swiftly ending their existence.

A section of the outer wall is bored through by the beam, traveling further inward, carrying the damaged batteries and generators toward the inner walls. The inner guards, in panic, try to escape but they are too crowded and clogged the door leading downstairs.

The batteries detonate, leaving a gaping hole in the inner wall.

Sarah "... That. Was. FUCKING EPIC!"

Noah "Dude. Did you know that was going to happen?!... Kanji?"

His vision blurs intermittently between clarity and darkness. First, his arms, then his chest, and finally his legs surrender to fatigue.

Claire "Kaney, are you alright?!"

Gwen "Kanji... you... it can't be..."

Kanji "C-Calm down. I didn't expect such an energy drain from that move. Fortunately, I'm not dead. I didn't foresee this destructive power. We must enact the plan fast. Amelia, start the diversion! Don't worry about me. Leave that to Diana."

Diana "You got it, boss!"

She hoists his limp body onto her shoulders, as Amelia looks on with a sigh of relief.

Amelia "Roger that, lad!"

Amelia extends her arms, focusing her reality energy. The space before her warps and ripples, clones emerging from the distorted air.

Amelia "Alright, now for the real corker! False Movement!"

The clones bolt towards the city, before taking a sudden right turn south.

Some soldiers, still disoriented from the explosion, spot the clones and sound the alarm. The group watches as thousands of soldiers, both mutated and non-mutated, pour out of the city like ants fleeing a flood. Then

A massive blue text box appears before Kanji and the others. It reads...

[Condition achieved! Congrats on obtaining a SPECIAL SKILL. These skills are only obtained through hard work, experimenting, and specific conditions]

[Calculating effort. Error! The Aspect of Energy achieves SPECIAL SKILL despite skill generation error. Increasing effectiveness of SPECIAL SKILL]

SPECIAL SKILL: [ATLAS'S BEAM (Improved) (Req. A whip + Energy bolt x3 + Energy conduit x3]

Dave "Dudes, this is like finding a secret level in a video game. We could've been making special skills this whole time. Bruh!"

Kanji "No, I think it's exclusive to those who can get skills. I didn't expect such a twist to happen. I'd love to further experiment but we need to prioritize our mission. We have a clone and a crystal to eliminate. Amelia, are you holding up alright?"

Amelia "Doing just fine, lad. I... really hope they've buggered off south by now. What's next?"

Kanji "Could you disguise us as those soldiers?"

Amelia "Sure, but it's going to leave me bloody knackered. The shite's going to drain a ton of energy."

Kanji "You can recover here after you're done. We won't need much for the next phase of the mission."

Amelia "What?! But I want to join the fray as well!"

Kanji "... Fine. But Dave. You're on girlfriend-guarded duty."

Dave "Way ahead of ya!"

He picks her up, her cheeks flush crimson as a perfect disguise engulfs the group.

Venturing past the city's outskirts, they're assaulted by the stench of rot and decay, an unsettling cocktail of filth and waste. The impoverished Stogans cast fearful glances their way, and a handful of bold youngsters dare to approach Gwen, their hands clutching bowls, babbling incomprehensible pleas for food.

Gwen "Ahem... GET OUT OF MY SIGHT! YOU DISGUSTING WORMS!!!"

The kids dissolve into tears and scatter off.

Claire/Mina "Whoa there! That was harsh, even for you!"

Gwen "You girls will need to learn a thing or two about infiltration."

Her advice falls on deaf ears as they traverse toward the city's core. Past the inner wall, the scene morphs dramatically. Sprawling mansions stretch as far as they can see, forming a deserted tableau of opulence. Their journey leads them to a grand fountain, its centerpiece an armored figure akin to the entity that brought them here, albeit with metallic plumes sprouting from its temples, and two pair of wings modeled after the Ruppell's griffon vulture gracing its back according to Gwen.

Gwen "How funny... the wings of the highest flying bird given to such a stature. This John Calsion certainly doesn't lack in self-regard."

Kanji "Yeah. We've got a job to do. Let's smash that crystal on its left hand!"

A salvo of torpedoes from Gwen, followed by Claire's crossbow bolts and Sarah's ring, batter the statue's hand. The smoke lifts, revealing the crystal on the brink of shattering. Kanji scrutinizes the unmoving behemoth, then, with a swift leap, unleashes his chain whip.

The crystal shatters into pieces Suddenly, a horde of screams echo through the continent, causing the guardian to awaken.

Azan "Brace yourselves. It's waking up."

The entity unfurls its magnificent wings, casting blinding reflections of sunlight. As the scream subsides, its form mutates, sprouting another pair of metallic arms from its torso.

The guardian points at the group and ascends to the sky, disappearing in a vortex of light.

With a commanding gesture at the group, the guardian takes off into the heavens, vanishing within a radiant vortex of light.

Dave "What. The. Fuck. Dude."

(To be continued)