Curse it, I didn't expect that mutt to be so strong. Then, the contents of that thing must be powerful. I need to write it down to tell my master. I can't do much more. I'll go look for the artifacts they must have stored around here, though I'm not holding my breath. If they turn out to be as dull as these toys... I was referring to the robots.
He headed into one of the rooms to search but didn't find what he wanted. All he discovered was a large vault with an extremely sturdy door and some kind of screen that opened it. However, just as he was about to approach, someone firmly grabbed his hand.
"Hey, idiot, this area is restricted. Besides, we need to return to our section. The boss is calling us," a voice said from behind him.
Eliot spun around quickly, surprised. It was Travis, a teammate known for his pragmatic nature and sense of duty. His face was marked by a serious, almost impatient expression.
"Oh, it's you, Travis," Eliot replied, trying to hide his nervousness as he yanked his hand away abruptly. "But I wanted to see… This place dazzled me."
Travis sighed, crossing his arms. His gaze swept across the room before settling back on Eliot.
"Yeah, it's intriguing. That door is where they keep everything dangerous and unknown. But it's not for us. We'd better leave before someone sees us here and draws attention to us."
"But I want to see what's inside," Eliot insisted, his tone mixing curiosity with frustration.
Travis grabbed him by the arm and pulled him toward the exit, leaving no time for protest.
"The team wants to see you later, and so does the boss."
Upon reaching a reinforced door, Travis stopped and entered a code into a digital panel. The door opened with a metallic hiss, revealing a spacious, well-lit room. Inside, five people were waiting. One of them, a man in his forties with a deep scar on his right eye, stood up when he saw them enter.
"Hello, boss, we're here," Travis announced, his tone respectful but somewhat forced.
"Glad you've arrived. How are you, Agent I-Five?" asked the leader, whose name was Olaf Inks.
"Ah, sir, there's no need to be so formal. We all know each other's names here," Travis interjected with a mocking half-smile.
Olaf shot him a sharp glare.
"That's the policy," he replied firmly.
"But, boss…" some of those present protested.
The leader ignored them and continued speaking.
"We're gathered because of what happened to three of our fallen comrades: I-Seven, I-Eight, and I-Nine."
A woman named Anais Green, young with light brown hair, interrupted in an annoyed tone:
"Listen, boss, to you, we're just numbers. If you don't remember, they were Remi Reyes, Aldo Bras, and Rocky Du."
Olaf sighed, but his expression didn't change.
"I know, girl. I know. But for operational purposes, we're numbers. They knew the risks and dangers of the job."
Cris Rope, a twenty-eight-year-old with a rebellious air, chimed in:
"Yes, boss, but try to be a little more empathetic."
Miguel Rojas, known as I-Three, added in a tone heavy with frustration:
"Boss, we know we're like cannon fodder because we don't have powers, and anyone who does will wipe us out. But day by day, we put in the effort."
Olaf nodded slowly, though his posture remained rigid.
"Yes, boss, don't be so strict with the rules. We know you're very serious, so the two of us won't say anything," said Berta Woo, speaking also for Patricia Flex, I-Four and I-Ten respectively, both twenty years old.
"The rules are there to be followed," Olaf replied, his coldness chilling the room. "Besides, I now have fewer primary personnel compared to the first five squads. I can only have ten under my direct command and the rest in reserve. I'll have to promote three more. What a shame, they were three promising youths. Take note, I-One, to make changes to the team later."
The woman writing, who appeared young but was thirty-seven, nodded silently.
"Sir, you're still going on about the numbers," Cris pointed out, visibly irritated.
"Well, aside from wasting my time, Eliot, tell us what happened in that cave," Olaf ordered, fixing his gaze on the young man.
Eliot swallowed hard, feeling all eyes converge on him. He took a deep breath before speaking.
"Well, sir, I don't remember much. All I know is that some monsters with large claws attacked us and tore my companions apart. Worse still, they ate them. That's why you couldn't find their bodies."
The listeners were horrified by the brutality of Eliot's words. Everyone, except Olaf, who remained impassive.
"How horrible," some murmured.
"Poor them. Let's observe a minute of silence," Olaf instructed, his tone seeming more procedural than genuine.
Though strict as stone, deep down, Olaf had a human side, or at least that's what Anais thought.
When the minute of silence ended, Olaf continued:
"If that's all, you should leave. And don't forget that tomorrow we'll begin a tougher training regimen to make you stronger, along with the use of experimental technology."
Everyone left the room. Travis, concerned about Eliot, tried to approach him, but the young man brushed him off with a brusque gesture. He didn't want company; he needed to be alone to process what had happened and plan how he would open that mysterious door.
In another place, Maos was in his laboratory with Sir Larot, fitting him with new, improved armor. Suddenly, he felt a current of cold air enter through the window. As he moved to close it, a voice stopped him.
"It's not necessary."
Maos turned quickly, alarmed.
"Who are you? I'm calling security," he threatened.
"As I said, it's not necessary. You might not recognize me in this form I'm wearing, though it's temporary. The effect will wear off very soon… In three, two, one."
What covered the being began to melt away, revealing its true form.
"Ah, it's you. I thought you had disappeared off the map when the ship transporting the device crashed and there were no survivors," Maos said, a mix of surprise and relief in his voice.
"I'm a tough one to kill," the entity replied with an enigmatic smile. "I see you managed to obtain the stones. How?"
Maos explained:
"We owe it all to that fool, Laos. He took care of everything following what his father left him in his writings. He even brought back more than necessary, not to mention facing the guardian that was inside the cave."
"Really? So, do you have the black rock as well?" the entity asked, a spark of interest lighting up his eyes.
"No, I don't think so. We only have tons of rocks to liquefy for the machine and… well, a boy who can open those doors."
"A boy? Is he a Lux?" the entity asked, intrigued.
"No, he looks more human. So, a human… One of the Lux must have had offspring with a human."
"Show me the boy. I need to enter that portal and claim my prize, which will restore me to normal."
"Perhaps a large dose of the stones could return you to your previous form," suggested Lucas Maos.
"I doubt it. That's only temporary. But black rock can work wonders without using another as an intermediary. Its methods for granting powers are a bit sadistic, but if they had a black stone, why didn't they use it from the start?" questioned the scientist.
"It's forbidden. The Supreme Monarch decreed it, and that's why he placed four beasts to guard the mines and a fifth, Urion, to protect the black rock. Though that puppet Urion isn't as strong as the other four, still… Let's go see that brat."
"I can't. Zeus won't let you through. Besides, it's better for you to think you're dead. That way, you can gain an advantage. And how?" the entity asked.
"Well, I can do things for you in secret, but if you give me more knowledge, I know you have it. It's vast. What does it feel like to be submerged within the body of a Lux combined with all the stones, Master Eros?"
The entity tensed at the sound of that name.
"Eros… I haven't heard that name in a long time. Since that accident when I was submerged in that liquid, I thought I would die. But Gol fused with my being, and now I possess vast knowledge."
"Good, I'll play your game for now, Maos. But if you betray me, you'll pay dearly."
"But stop calling me Eros. I'm no longer that scientist, nor am I Gol. From now on, call me Geros, and that's how everyone will know me. It's fortunate that my foolish son followed my legacy, unknowingly giving me the next step toward my revenge."
"As you wish, sir. I'll arrange a visit with the boy once he recovers," Lucas indicated.
"Excellent," said Geros, with a diabolical smile. "I see that you do, sir. I've also begun creating the army you requested. I only showed Zeus what he wanted to see. Later, when he trusts us more, we'll take that entire army for ourselves. Everything is going according to plan, and one of my assistants will handle that special agency. It'll be a win-win situation."
"I see you still have that man after all this time. I've kept him around, Zeus, as your personal bodyguard," Maos remarked.
"I should kill him right here. It's his fault I'm like this," Geros growled.
"Don't worry. He's just a toy to me. He's under my orders, and with him, we can annihilate Zeus. That man must suffer and pay for what he did."
"Well, sir, it seems the boy has come to his senses. I'll bring him to you soon so you can maintain your form, and then we'll go after the rock," Maos concluded.
Geros laughed diabolically, a sound that echoed through the room like a dark resonance. The scientific doctor Maos joined in his laughter, both men sharing a complicity that foretold terrible plans.