After the match was over, Yoad gestured to Mentos, asking for his help to carry Barkcode somewhere they could tend to its wounds. Hao, eager to assist, tried to step forward but winced as his injuries flared up. Mentos, noticing Hao's pain, advised him to stay put and avoid making his injuries worse. Hao reluctantly agreed and followed behind them as they exited the arena. The heads of the crowd turned, their eyes locked on the trio. They were speechless, unable to comprehend how the undefeated champion Kiera and Maelstrom had been defeated by an unknown fighter.
Dippo addressed the crowd, informing them of a short break due to the current state of the arena. The ground was riddled with cracks and debris from the intense battle. With the announcement made, he lowered himself to the ground and hopped off his hovering sword, making his way towards Hao and the others in the back of the arena.
On his approach, he began the conversation with surprise, "That was some display you put on back there, kid. You left even my mouth hanging. So..." He continued, informing them that they could meet him later at the Beast Holding Lodge to collect their prizes, which included the Blade Tokens and the Bastians. "Well, see you later," Dippo said with a wink before sauntering away.
"Don't worry, I know where it is," Yoad reassured Hao and Mentos when they realized they had forgotten to ask Dippo for the location of the Beast Holding Lodge.
***
Sometime later, Barkcode stirred, awakening to the relief of Hao, Mentos and Yoad. They found themselves in a rundown infirmary, being looked after by an elderly female doctor. Dr. Krinker was a sight to behold; her appearance was less than appealing, with missing teeth and a haphazardly stitched medical gown draped over her frail frame. Despite her dishevelled appearance, her skills in rehabilitation were top-notch.
Hao, now patched up and feeling better, insisted he was good to go. Mentos, however, wasn't so convinced. "Are you sure you're okay? You took quite the beating back there."
Hao shrugged, moving his arm around, "I'm as good as new, I'm telling you, this old lady is quite skilled."
Dr. Krinker smirked, attempting to look seductive but failing miserably. "Your flattery won't get you very far with me, young man."
‘Is this old chick for real?’ Whispered Mentos.
"Alright, Yoad, lead us to that place," Hao said, ready to leave. However, just as they were on their way out, Dr. Krinker stopped Yoad from bringing Barkcode along with him. She explained that the beast still needed to recuperate from the devastating attacks it had suffered at the hands of Maelstrom.
“Alright granny, take good care of my beast. I’ll be back for it later.” With that being said, Yoad turned around and began leading Hao and Mentos toward the Beast Holding Lodge.
Along the way, they encountered some people who had witnessed the match earlier. They whispered among themselves, "There's the youth! I'm surprised he can still walk around like he's fine. Meanwhile, I heard Kiera is still out cold."
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"For real? She must have gotten slammed really hard." The bystanders continued their brief conversation before the focus shifted back to Hao and the others.
Upon arriving at the Beast Holding Lodge, they were struck by the scent of wood and the culmination of sounds from the various beasts housed within. The lodge was primarily made of wood, but the floor was concrete, and the cages were made of tough metal to withstand the pressure. Medical experts and beast specialists were also tending to some of the creatures.
“Wow, so this is where they hold the beasts. This place is like a natural breeding ground.” Commented Mentos, amazed by what he was seeing.
“Hmm.” Though he had few words to say, Hao too was impressed by the beastly visuals.
“There is that big-mouth bastard over there.” Yoad pointed out.
They noticed Dippo engaged in conversation with someone up ahead and approached him. As they drew near, Dippo spotted them and quickly finished his conversation. “You came sooner than expected.”
“Will that be a problem?” Inquired Hao.
“No, not at all. I have your goods right here.” Dippo reached into a cart behind him and pulled out a hefty bag of Blade Tokens that he handed to Hao, but Yoad reached out and snatched it first, his eyes sparkling with greed.
“Give it here.” Mentos quickly took the bag from him and told him, "You'll get your split later."
“Grr…” Yoad's face scrunched into a pouty expression, clearly disappointed at being denied immediate access to his reward.
"This way," Dippo motioned for them to follow as he led them deeper into the Beast Holding Lodge. The air was thick with the musky scent of numerous Bastians, moreover, the cacophony of growls and screeches echoed all around.
As they walked, Dippo engaged in conversation with Hao and Mentos, asking about their plans and experiences. The conversation wasn’t anything fanciful or informative. Soon they arrived at the cages. Dippo gestured toward Maelstrom and the T-Biter, explaining, "These are your new Beast Companions. We've taken the liberty of loading them into secure containers and sedating them. Maelstrom, in particular, won't go willingly. He's not going to be an easy beast to tame. Are you sure you want that one? It wouldn't be a bother to switch it with a more docile creature."
Hao's resolve remained firm. "No, I want it. But that little one," he pointed to the T-Biter, "looks like it's about to die."
"We've sedated it as well. It didn’t take well to the substance, but I reckon it will be ok when its system clears." Dippo explained. "These beasts are still attached to their previous owner."
"I can see why. Well, I'll take them both," Hao agreed. He came to the Mile High Depot expecting to purchase a singular Bastian and he ended up earning two. The experiment he had in mind would surely be a success.
"Good. I'll get them ready for departure." Dippo called over a pair of muscular twins, both sporting shaven heads and matching tattoos. Their movements were synchronized as they carried two long boxes over to the cages. Placing the boxes on the ground, they pulled strings, causing the boxes to fall apart and reveal their contents.
Thud!
When the corners of the boxes collapsed onto the ground, two magnificent creatures known as Sword Fish emerged. One was a mesmerizing light blue, while the other was a soft and radiant light yellow. Each of them possessed a bubble back tank filled with water that not only allowed them to fly but also acted as their primary source of strength. When depleted, they could no longer fly at high altitudes or pull heavy objects. The Sword Fishes had multiple shrimp-like legs for crawling, and long twin tails that were flexible and capable of grasping. Their semi-pale, translucent skin revealed some of their internal organs, making them appear even more magical. Bubbles gently floated out of their mouths with each breath they took, adding to their enchanting allure.