I suppose we end this boy... before he ends us..."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"I'm sure you felt it earlier. Back when Lin was attacking. That instantaneous overflow of radia."
"I thought that was Lin trying to go all out. Don't tell me... HE caused it?"
"He did."
Monty swallowed hard, clenching his fists.
"That radia was akin to a grade 4... just who the hell is this boy?"
"Uhh." Yuri interrupted. "That wasn't so scary. I don't know how you thought I was gonna piss my pants off of that."
Monty let out a nervous chuckle, trying to hide his unease.
"Most people do. Guess you're just built different then."
"I am!" Yuri laughed as well. "It seems like I've learned all I wanted to now. We can keep moving and cover some ground before night."
"Sounds good to me."
Yuri went to gather their supplies. Monty, however, remained still, staring at him, deep in conversation with Saiken.
"What do you suppose we do then?"
"Kill him."
"You of all people couldn't even stand being in full form in front of whatever's inside him. You think you can take it on?"
"We'll just have to see."
"Bullshit. How do you know he's dangerous anyway? He could just be significantly strong but still a nice person."
"The radia was murderous. That's almost a 100% guarantee that he'll kill anyone if he gets a chance."
"Can't we just like talk to this thing? I mean, if it has radia that high, surely it's intelligent, right?"
"Then what?"
"Well, after the talk is when we'll decide if he lives or he dies. That seems fair, doesn't it?"
"Hmm. How do we expect to talk to it though? It doesn't look like Yuri is fully aware of what he possesses, so we can't just outright ask him to let us talk to it."
"We'll just have to draw it out then. One way or another."
Yuri noticed Monty's distant stare but figured he was just fatigued from his earlier fight.
Then, suddenly—
Monty coated his hands in Saiken's flesh and charged toward Yuri.
"Woah, woah! What are you doing?!" Yuri barely had time to react—
Before Monty blitzed past him. His fists, blazing with energy, collided into what seemed like empty air.
For a second, there was nothing.
Then, as if being forced into existence, a massive Chameli materialized—launched back by the sheer force of Monty's punch.
A monstrous, semi-truck-sized chameleon-like beast with rough, mutated scales and a long, thick tail came into view.
Monty landed smoothly behind Yuri.
"You alright?"
"Mhm." Yuri replied, still shaken. "How did you know it was there?"
"It slipped up and unmasked a bit of its presence before attacking."
"Ahhh, I see." Yuri thought about how lucky he was to have Monty around. If it weren't for him, he'd be dead.
Monty, however, wasn't as impressed.
"Seriously, how the fuck has this boy survived for this long? His reflexes suck."
The Chameli groaned, now registering the blow. It started pulling itself up, preparing to retaliate—
Monty tensed, ready to end it.
Then—
"YO YO YO, WAIT DAWG!"
Monty and Yuri froze. Their jaws practically hit the floor.
The deep, gangster-like voice was the last thing either of them expected.
The Chameli raised its hands in surrender.
"Ayy, I was just defending myself, ya dig? Y'all got too close to my crib. I saw what you did back there, and I ain't tryna end up like them poor suckas."
"Then you shouldn't have attacked, dumbass," Monty snapped, still ready to strike.
The Chameli stepped forward, its massive body shifting.
With each step, it shrank.
Its form compacted, until—
It stood upright.
A humanoid, chameleon-like figure with a long curved tail and two clawed hands, now the same height as Yuri, stood before them.
"You gotta understand, man. I sensed hostility. Didn't wanna risk y'all throwin' hands and wreckin' my place, feel me?"
"Throw hands? Why would we have any reason to fight each other?" Yuri raised a brow.
Monty shot the Chameli a stern, authoritative look. No words needed—his expression said it all. The Chameli immediately understood the situation, scanning them both as if confirming his suspicion.
"Aight, aight, no beef, no beef. I heard y'all was just 'bout to dip. Why not stop by for some grub n' a lil' chat?"
Monty and Yuri exchanged glances.
"We can't just go to your place just like that. we don't even know you." Monty muttered.
"Ayy, totally understandable my guy! If y'all ain't feelin' it, no sweat. I just don't wanna be out here vibin' with bad blood, ya dig? Food and a lil' convo usually bring folks closer, know what I'm sayin'?"
"True. But we're kinda in a hurry, so—"
Yuri interrupted "Let's just hear—" He gestured to the Chameli for their name
"Nico. Nico Reeds."
"Yeah, let's just hear Nico out. He seems chill enough. Plus, we could use some hydration if he's got some drinks."
"Ayy, don't even trip, kid. I got drinks in plenty. Even the… spicy ones, if ya know what I mean."
"We are not getting drunk," Monty snapped.
"Aight, aight, my bad. So, we got a deal then?"
Monty let out a deep exhale. "Fine. But we ain't stayin' long."
"Say less, dawg. Well then, shall we?"
---
They followed Nico, taking a slight detour. His place was just below them apparently. He strutted toward a thick tree and reached behind it, shifting some forest litter aside to reveal a hidden trap door.
The ladder inside looked... questionable. Rusted bolts stuck out at odd angles, and the whole thing swayed with just a nudge.
"Yo, go one at a time. I ain't tryna scrape y'all off my floor." Nico called from below as he descended effortlessly.
Monty eyed the ladder, then glanced at Yuri.
"This does not look strong enough to hold us."
"You'll survive." Yuri chuckled, gripping the sides.
The moment he placed his weight on it, the ladder let out a long, painful creak. Metal groaned as if begging for mercy. Yuri froze.
Something snapped.
Not the ladder—just a loose bolt dropping into the abyss below.
His breath hitched, and he exhaled slowly, continuing downward one step at a time. The scent of damp metal and old wood clung to the air, mixing with something oddly... burnt? The faint hum of machinery grew louder the further he went.
Yuri finally touched the floor. He turned back just in time to see Monty testing the first step with a hesitant nudge before committing.
The ladder let out another agonizing screeeeeech.
Monty froze. Looked down. Looked up.
"I hate this."
"Take your time dawg." Nico called out from the shadows.
With a sharp exhale, Monty dropped down the last few steps in a short hop. The ladder held—barely.
---
They stepped into a whole different world.
The space around them was bathed in warm neon—deep blues and soft pinks pulsed from unseen light sources, making the metallic walls gleam. A low mechanical hum vibrated through the floor, like the heartbeat of a sleeping beast.
Nico's place was decked out. Not just cozy—this was a damn tech sanctuary. The air carried the distinct smell of old electronics and polished plastic, with a faint trace of something citrusy, like cleaning solvent.
Yuri's eyes darted from one corner to another. Consoles, wires, holographic displays flickering in alien code, and—was that a VR rig?!
His gaze locked onto a massive 77-inch TV, mounted dead center in the largest room. Below it? A couch, a mini library stacked neatly to the side, and directly opposite... hundreds of pristine, perfectly arranged video games.
The arrangement was quite bizzare though. The first row had all the 18+ games front and center. As if sorted by their level of horniness.
"Yo… these are clean as hell." Yuri whispered, stepping closer.
"Ayy, best believe it, my guy. Ain't no dust in my crib, ya feel me? I keep my babies right. Organized 'em by dopamine too—so uh, maybe don't judge me on the first shelf, ya feel me?
Yuri let out a small laugh before continuing to look at the bizzare stuff on the shelves. As he skimmed further, something else caught his attention.
A small, dust-coated flash drive lay beside a stack of books, its faded label barely legible.
"ARCHIVED GOVERNMENT RECORD – HUMANITY'S DARKEST DAYS"
He picked it up. "What's this?"
Monty came closer and looked at it
"A government record?"
"Best believe it. Straight out from the FBI and everything. I suppose y'all are more interested in what's in the record though."
"We are. Could we see it?" Yuri asked
"Sure, why not."
Yuri tossed the drive to Nico, who plugged it into a nearby terminal. The machine whirred, fans kicking up dust as the scent of old electronics filled the air.
The screen flickered to life, displaying a worn-out government insignia. A robotic, monotone voice spoke as grainy black-and-white footage played.
Year 0: The collapse. Humanity's decline began with an internal war—a conflict sparked by the rise of an authoritarian leader. His regime, ruthless and absolute, faced opposition from a global coalition. What followed was a war unlike any before, spanning continents, reducing cities to rubble. Casualties: 3.2 billion."
The screen shifted to a satellite view of Earth, once illuminated with city lights—now a patchwork of darkness and fire.
"Year 6: The Invasion. With Earth divided, weakened, and vulnerable, external forces saw an opportunity. Zirudian fleets descended, eliminating what remained of organized resistance. Primary objective: planetary occupation. Casualties: 1.7 billion."
Yuri leaned in. "So that's what caused the invasion."
Monty's expression darkened. "Ourselves..."
Nico exhaled. "Tis the effects of being human."
The video continued.
"Year 25: The Mutation. Prolonged exposure to extraterrestrial radiation triggered genetic anomalies. A small percentage of survivors exhibited enhanced physiological traits. Superhuman strength. Regenerative properties. Energy manipulation. These individuals became humanity's last hope."
The footage shifted to grainy recordings of test subjects—people with glowing veins, distorted limbs, and eyes devoid of humanity. Some convulsed violently. Others lashed out, restrained by mechanical arms.
"Year 31: The Monarch Initiative. The first wave of mutations stabilized, producing warriors capable of countering the Zirudian threat. These individuals—designated Monarchs—were deployed in combat. Effectiveness rating: 98%. Zirudian casualties: 89% fleet loss."
The screen showed battle footage—Monarchs cutting through alien forces with terrifying efficiency. It wasn't heroic. It was cold. Calculated.
Monty crossed his arms. "Never thought I'd ever get to see this all unfold."
Nico let out a proud smile of his collection. "Your visit here paid off after all huh?."
The video neared its end.
"Year 33: Retaliation. The Zirudians retreated. Earth was reclaimed. Survivors: 248,000. Global infrastructure: 92% loss. Humanity's future: uncertain."
The video cut out, leaving only the static glow of the government insignia.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Yuri let out a slow breath. "So many people...died..."
Monty nodded. "That's war for you."
Nico turned the screen off, removing the flash drive. "In a way it kind of helped...I mean i wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the war. But yet again, that's the only positive thing I can get from that. Think of it as a love hate relationship with humans. Anyway enough of the depressing shit. Wanna see more cool stuff?
"Lead the way!" Yuri said enthusiastically.
Monty followed close behind, his eyes scanning every corner of the ancient bunker. He was quietly enjoying the sights—decayed remnants of a long-gone era—until Saiken interrupted his thoughts with a low, unsettling murmur.
"Hmm. Something about him just throws me off," Saiken grumbled.
"In what way?" Monty asked without breaking stride.
"When you punched him... He just got back up and kept walking like nothing happened. That was the same punch you used on Lin if not stronger. If he were any regular being, his head would've exploded from the impact. So... how the hell is he still alive and perfectly fine?"
"And that radia," Monty added. "When he unmasked his presence, I felt a powerful energy surge from his direction."
"So what do you suppose we do?"
"We stay alert. If he doesn't make a move, we play it cool and move on. But if he does..." Monty cracked his knuckles. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."
"You know there's a real chance these two are in on something. We don't even know where Yuri came from. They could be planning an ambush."
Monty's expression hardened. "Then they picked the wrong guys to pull that shit on."
He refocused, eyes sharp as they followed Yuri and Nico deeper into the bunker.
---
The tour went on. Yuri marveled at old relics—rusted weapons, forgotten tech, quirky accessories, and oddities from a lost world. Monty remained cautious, but even he was quietly impressed.
Then they entered the vehicle vault.
"WOAH, IS THAT A FUCKING MUSTANG?!" Yuri practically screamed, rushing over to the old car.
"I'm surprised you recognized it," Nico chuckled. "This model's over a thousand years old. Just a shell now."
"My dad loved this car," Yuri said with visible awe. "He used to have a collection of magazines and photos of it."
"Your dad seems like a man of culture." Nico nodded approvingly.
Yuri smiled... but it slowly faded. His mind wandered. The image of his father—faint, hazy, almost forgotten—haunted him. The man he'd been searching for across this dying world. His last memory was from early childhood, before his world burned. And yet... he had always held onto a piece of him:
A necklace. A whistle-looking pendant he never parted with. Whenever he thought about his father, his hand instinctively found it.
He didn't remember receiving it. Just that he always had it. And somehow, it always felt alive.
"What you got there?" Nico asked, noticing Yuri's fingers brushing the pendant.
"It's an old necklace my dad left me. The whistle doesn't work though."
Nico leaned in, squinting. Then he burst out laughing. "That ain't no whistle. What you got right there is a flash drive. You've been blowing on a flash drive this whole time??"
"A...flash drive?"
"Come on. Let me show you."
---
They returned to the main living room and went to the television.
"This goes here..." Nico said as he plugged the "whistle" into the ancient port.
The screen flickered to life. A single file sat there.
"TO YURI, MY SON." It was titled
Yuri's breath caught.
Nico glanced back. "If your father left this, he wanted you to see it someday."
The video loaded. And what followed—shattered the air like a thunderclap.
Monty's eyes widened. His arms, once calmly crossed, clenched hard. It was as if he'd seen a demon rise from the grave.
Nico's chill expression dropped into a stone-cold glare. The casual vibe disappeared completely.
And Yuri...
Yuri wept.
He hadn't seen his father's face in years. And now—there he was. Real. Alive. Speaking directly to him.
---
The man on screen sat on a wooden chair, flanked by thick concrete walls. A dim bulb swayed overhead. He had a weathered beard, scars mapping his face, and a hulking presence even beneath his winter coat.
"Hello son. How've you been? I'm sure you have a lot of questions and as much as I'd like to answer them... unfortunately it might not be possible..."
"If you are watching this right now that means I failed. And I need your help. I'm sorry to just dump all this on you so suddenly but you're the only one I can rely on."
"This flash drive is not only a message to you but it is also a key—a key to a weapon I created. A weapon that may be our last hope to stop Sardar. But if it falls into the wrong hands..."
He paused.
"If you're watching this with others... I'm sorry. I may have just put your life in danger. if that's the case—take it and run."
"I trust that you'll know what to do."
"Your the last hope."
The screen went black.
---
The silence in the room roared.
Yuri turned slowly, his eyes still damp with tears—then froze.
"Huh?"