Gerald and Marcus stepped out simultaneously as they walked over to the middle. The light snaked around and headed straight towards both of them, putting them at the center of attention.
Marcus spoke up, "Hey guys, good to see that you are all here." He calmly shifted his stance, staring out into the crowd, "you are all called here to decide which route you guys want to go. A unanimous vote will decide everyone's future at the end of this presentation between Gerald and me."
"Well, well, well," Gerald spoke aloud as his voice boomed out through the crowds, cutting Marcus from speaking any further. "Our good old leader came to speak about what will happen today."
"Good to see you as well, Gerald." Marcus wasn't phased at all. Instead, he stood erect and firm, not wavering by Marcus' smug expression.
"Why don't we start off today about what is happening," Gerald stated.
"There are a few changes that would be happening." Marcus replied, "first off, we will go after one of the other seven deadly sins; Sloth is located south of us. Near us is a vital tech factory Grey Tech that can create new and upgraded prototypes of the dragon suit and weapons we need. So we will be going on a large-scale mission to slay this monster and take over the plant."
"That sounds good and all, but how are we going to win this?" Gerald asked, "The last instance we fought against pride, we lost half the team, and the rest were injured."
Marcus shook his head. "I know, but this time it would be different."
"Oh?" Gerald licked his lips a couple of times. Then, "What do you have in mind?"
The crowds became a bit curious; they watched the heated interrogation by Gerald.
"We have a few new weapons created with the intent to kill Sloth. It will immobilize and destroy the monster as this isn't just a one-time thing. If we succeed in this, all other deadly sins will be immobilized and killed."
A heavy silence filled the whole room as heavy breathing could be heard.
But Marcus didn't seem to be phased at all. "If you still believe in me, fight with me one more time."
Gerald placed his hand on his hip, and he smugly smiled. "That folk is quite a speech, but I concur on what he said."
Everyone changed their attention to Gerald.
"I don't think he can do it."
"What makes you say that?" Marcus asked, "What plans do you have?"
"I suggest, instead, we go after another power plant with the materials we are looking for. It's less trouble, fewer demons, and we can take over the factory in under a day. It's east of here, called Hellen Utility Factory. It isn't as big as the one you want to go to, but we will need to go to other factories to compensate for our lack. That Is less danger, less seven deadly sin shit, and we will make more powerful weapons with the least resistance."
"You know there is a flaw to that plan."
"That is?"
"If we split up, we need more manpower protecting these facilities to create the weapon we want. This also brings trouble to our sanctum as this place has normal people to protect. Demons have always tried to invade our base for the past year, and making our forces smaller would be dangerous."
Gerald retorted, "it would be dangerous to fight against Sloth with the limited number of forces we have and the firepower. It would be suicide. Instead, taking the more strategic route that requires better planning will get us a sure victory."
The crowd all started to slowly agree with Gerald's statement.
"You're wrong." Marcus strongly spoke, "One of the creators of Dragon Suit is here with us today: Crystal."
A murmur of words burst through the crowd.
"Wait, I thought Crystal was dead!" One of the people in the crowd spoke up in shock.
"No," Marcus shook his head, "she's here with us in this auditorium."
A bright light turned on and swiveled through the crowd on cue. It rested on top of both Alexus and Crystal. For the next few weeks, the days blurred together. Alexus was busy training with the other Ouroborous, learning their skills and techniques. He was able to meet up with the old and the new but didn't hear much of the plan from Marcus or Crystal.
Instead, he rarely got to see them as Crystal was busy in the shop with Timothy repairing all the Dragon Suits and even upgrading them as best as she could with their tools.
Time flew by as he spent time with the kids, allowing him to destress, but the days were too dull. Each day, the second becomes more intensive as the next.
Alexus came by a few times, checking up on Crystal's work. There weren't many answers to what she had planned until that d-day.
It was the middle of noon when both Marcus' group and Gerald's group came outside. Crystal and Timothy had rows of dragon suits in a suitcase.
There were hundreds of Ourborous waiting outside with curiosity.
"Alexus!" Crystal called out with a wave of her hand.
Alexus, standing by the side with Jones, looked over.
Crystal motioned him over.
"What's up?" Alexus asked, wondering what she had in mind. The thought of a new toy that he would get to try out made him excited. He peered over her shoulder, taking quick glimpses to see what she had made, but there weren't many hints.
"I'm going to need your help with showcasing what we have upgraded."
"Okay, what do I need to do?"
Crystal walked over, picking up one of the suitcases. She came back, handing it over. "This is the new update on your suit. You're definitely going to like it."
Alexus grabbed the suit. Soft bling was heard, and a green light lit up, telling him that the connection between the two was ready.
"You ready?" Crystal asked.
"Yea," Alexus reached over, pressing the button on his wrist. The suitcase started to unravel with a loud beep, melting into the ground, climbing up Alexus's legs and covering his whole body.
Thick snake-like scales covered him from neck to toe, accentuating every piece of his muscles. He could feel how smoothly the suit was contorting with his whim with every movement. He gazed down at his hand, turning it face up. A loud clang could be heard as sharp nails appeared.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
The other Ouroboros started to notice, coming over to see what was happening.
Crystal cleared her throat. "Everyone, take your suits that have been worked on."
One-by-one they had started to come over, taking their suitcase. Everyone started to come over and take a dragon suit.
Hundreds of clicking sounds rang out in the group.
"There are a couple of changes with the suits," Crystal said aloud, "the first is that the suit has increased in power by three folds, allowing you to use your physical ability to the max. Not only that, your magical energy will increase by six-folds."
A murmur of voices rippled in the crowd.
"Six folds? Is that even possible?" One of the Ourborous asked.
"Yes, Alexus, can you show them?"
"Sure," Alexus replied. He reached to the side, where the dragon suit clanked and groaned. A sword materialized, flowing into his hand. A crystal blue sheen buzzed with electricity, and he could feel the pulsating power of his own energy inside the sword.
"Each of these suits is biometrically synched with your body. It will collect your data and adjust to your specialty, allowing it to become more and more in tune with your body. Every fight you succeed in coming out of alive, the suit grows with you. Every new update will become more yours than ever before, becoming similar to a living organism. Timothy and my job are to make sure there are no errors or kinks that stop the growth of these suits," Crystal stated with pride.
“Alexus, swing at the dummy scarecrow we have set up." She pointed.
Alexus turned his attention towards the rows of metal scarecrows. A soft buzz hummed as the scarecrow was suddenly covered in blue energy.
"Each of these scarecrows is coated with energy equating to an adult demon." Crystal stated.
Alexus gripped his sword; standing steady, he stood in place. Closing his eyes, he breathed in and out. His energy flow seeped through his sword and back at him. He was astounded at the amount of magic coursing through his veins, allowing him to pick up the tiny details of the energy field.
With a breath of excitement, Alexus poured more energy into the blade.
With an increase in brightness, the blade hummed.
In one fluid motion, he swung. Powerful blue energy sliced through the ground up to the scarecrow. It was cut in half in one swing, leaving a deep, ugly indentation in the ground.
Alexus smiled.
The others gaped in shock.
"What just happened?" One of the bystanders asked, baffled by what he had seen. "Is that even possible?"
"I don't know," the person next to him said, "I think it is if he could do it."
The others murmured in excitement.
Alexus didn't stop there. Instead, he pushed off the ground and sprinted towards the remaining scarecrows this time. A blue flash of light followed with each swing, and right behind it was decapitated scarecrows.
It was amazing to see how quickly they were cut cleanly through the barrier.
"Each dragon suit has a hidden feature that you will be able to use," Crystal said, "but only use it during emergencies as it will drain a huge chunk of your power. Jones, can you show them the rest?"
"On it," Jones stepped forward. He was different from the slim look that Alexus wore. Instead, Jones was thick with weapons and muscle. He looked like a bulldozing tank with several extra weapons locked onto his body. While in his hands, he had a Gatling gun that rested on his hips.
From his shoulders, mechanical wires appeared, slithering downwards onto the Gatling gun. It hooked up with a click and powered on. The whole weapon vibrated, causing the ground to tremble.
In seconds, the Gatling gun went off.
"Hell yea, baby!" Jones shouted with pure excitement.
Blue bullets showered into the air, puncturing holes into the new batch of scarecrows that were in place.
The ta-ta-ta of the bullets hissed through, leaving the scarecrows like swiss cheese. The wounded blue opening hissed, catching fire not even a moment later. In a matter of seconds, the whole scarecrow caught on fire. A terrible ear shrieking screech echoed in the air, making every raise up their hand to cover their ears.
Jones smirked.
The screech settled down.
"Marcus. Your turn." Crystal spoke, breaking the silence.
"You got it." Marcus' suit was different from both Jones and Alexus. It was neither slim nor thick, but armor covering major areas made him look bigger than he would.
In Marcus' hand was a rifle that was dyed in black. The only sense of color was strips of blue from the energy that he covered. He raised it up as he focused on his target.
A few rounds popped off. The first one hit the head, followed by the heart, and a few more times on the chest.
Hissing sound followed, melting through the scarecrow as black liquid spilled out of the hole.
The black liquid sizzled and popped, letting out multiple firecrackers. Then, bright lights of blue sparked off, completely blowing off pieces of their head or any body parts that Marcus shot.
Marcus ran forward, the rifle melded swiftly into his suit, and a dagger appeared in his hand. The dagger blade hummed with brightness in one fluid cut as it tore through the scarecrow-like butter.
Marcus put the blade away with a satisfied grin as he turned his back. The scarecrow shivered and, in seconds, caught in flames. He then walked over, placing his hand on Timothy's and Crystal's shoulders.
"They have truly outdone themselves." Marcus patted them. "With that being said, we will be split into two teams. One will follow Gerald's command, and the other will follow me. We will be heading towards the factory in the next hour to take out Sloth and possession of the major factory. Get comfortable with your suits, but don't drain your power. We are going to need everybody to make this happen."
Quickly, the people hustle and bustle, getting comfortable in their suits.
Even Alexus went through a few swings to ensure that he had a gist of the power, but he knew not to tire himself out.
Not even an hour later, the vans pulled up for everyone to enter.
Crystal froze, but she didn't show her emotions. Instead, she slowly got up and stood up straight.
"Crystal arrived this morning with a fellow group of survivors and made it safely through the city of Chicago with only her and Alexus protecting the civilians."
The words were astounding, mainly because it wasn't something easily accomplished. The whole city was infested with demons and to come out there alive was a miracle.
"This is a great chance for us to upgrade our suits, make the impossible happen, and slay a deadly sin."
A heavy hush fell through the crowds.
"What do you think, Crystal?" Marcus asked, waiting patiently on what she would say next.
"I think it's possible. I would need a couple of weeks to get some upgrades installed with the help of Timothy, and we should be able to make something happen. If what Marcus states is true, to be able to slay a deadly sin, this means we have a chance to get rid of the rest and take back our world. No more would we be hiding underground, enjoying the lovely weather, and allowing the sun to kiss our skin." Crystal words were heavy.
Everyone reminisces about going out without a care in the world, to be able to have the world back under their fingertips without the thought of death and destruction.
"Your children and grandchildren wouldn't have to worry about demons anymore. They could run out in the old days, where demons were not a thing. We would be safe, away from such a dangerous life. We will finally be able to put down our weapons, have a family, and live a full life without fear."
Even Alexus couldn't help but think of her conjured-up vision. The amazing life that he could possibly have. To live in a safe environment where Alexus did not have to think about living with worry or fear each day. To start a family from scratch and have a wife that he loved brought a sense of deep desire.
"If this is the world you want, the sooner we destroy these monsters, the better. Only time will be the slow killer." Crystal stated as she sat back down.
Marcus grinned. "As the lady stated, we only have a limited time before we could have another chance. After that, we need to strike when the iron is hot. So, who's with me?"
Suddenly, a blast of energetic voices spilled out throughout the crowd, sweeping through the air. They cheered, yelling out a loud yes.
Even Alexus couldn't help but be swept up in the high emotional excitement he could see. The thought of not having to fight against the monsters ever again was a dream come true.
Gerald waited until the voice finally simmered down for him to speak. "Well, Marcus had an exciting point of possibilities. We all dreamed of it, and I am for this crazy endeavor to make this reality a possibility. So let's get some rest, see tomorrow as a new hopeful day and get ourselves ready for tomorrow. Thank you, Marcus, for bringing us another great speech with Crystal." He stressed the word crystal, which didn't seem to have much goodwill behind it as he continued to brightly smile.
The speech abruptly ended as people got up from their seats.
Alexus stayed in his spot, contemplating what he had just heard.
Crystal got up from the seat, slightly nudging him in the process.
Alexa glanced up, tilting his head.
With a slight motion, Crystal nudged him and motioned him with her head to follow.
He got up from the spot with a nod, following her from behind. They both went toward Marcus, who was still standing in the middle of the stage with Gerald having an intense face-off.
"Marcus," Crystal waved him down.
Marcus looked over but went back to staring Gerald straight in the eye with a frown.
"Any more, you're going to increase your wrinkles." Gerald snickered.
"Gerald, what are you even planning," Marcus bluntly stated, observing him intensely.
"Nothing, Marcus. I'm just helping you."
"You wanted to go a different path against what I had."
"True."
"What made you change?"
Gerald turned his attention towards Crystal, and Marcus followed his gaze. "The appearance of Crystal and what she could do to benefit us as a whole is much higher than creating a safety net. I knew I failed in persuading the masses if this was the case. She is the variable that can help us win or lose."
"Still, for you to change your thoughts on the spot is still strange."
"You think so?" Gerald replied, "I am not the person who will go do something if there's a faster and easier solution to our success. Plus, Crystal might not be the only variable."
This time Gerald cast his gaze upon Alexus.
There was a strange sense of discomfort around Alexus that he could not explain, making him want to challenge this man. Plus, the ache in his guts told him that whatever this man was thinking was dangerous and someone to watch out for.
"If you say so," Marcus didn't believe him. "I'll see you and your officers tomorrow. We got things to hash out."
"What time?"
"9 am. Sharp."
"I'll be there."
"Good," Then he spoke to both Crystal. "Same time, 9 am, Crystal."
"I'll be there." Crystal nodded, "I'm expecting Timothy to be there as well?"
"Yes," Marcus replied.
"What about me?" Alexus asked, curious what else he got planned.
"Recuperate and just explore. I'll get back to you and the others when things settle down."
"Sure."