They left the bar "The Last Chance" and returned to the lilac glow of Kheris, leaving behind a heavy silence and the scent of fear.
As soon as the door closed, the gang leader—still trembling on the floor—dragged himself to his wrist communicator. With shaking fingers, he activated an emergency call on a private channel.
"A-alert… nearby unit to the boss…" he gasped.
The response came immediately, another Kherian's voice sounding irritated. "What is it, Rhen? We're busy."
"They're coming!" Rhen shouted, his voice weak. "Humans… with strange powers… one controls gravity, the other… the other manipulates the ground… they know about the hideout… warn Boss Crismon!"
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Humans? Powers? You've been drinking too much, Rhen. The boss doesn't like false alarms."
"IT'S NOT FALSE!" Rhen screamed, using his last bit of strength. "They're dangerous… warn him now…"
The call cut off. Rhen collapsed onto the dirty floor of the bar, exhausted and terrified, unable to move.
Meanwhile, the group ran through the winding streets of the industrial district, moving at a speed driven by adrenaline.
"Zugiy, when we get there, your priority is finding the hostage," Ling commanded as they leapt over pipes and dodged metal structures. "Your ability is perfect for a fast, silent search. Find the girl and get her out. We'll handle the rest."
"Understood," Zugiy replied, determination clear in his voice.
After five minutes of running, they reached the entrance to an underground area—a dark crack at the base of a mountain of scrap metal.
"This is it," Ling said. "Zugiy, go. Be careful."
Zugiy nodded and, without a word, vanished into the shadows of a secondary tunnel, moving like a ghost.
Ling, Melissa, and Victor continued through the main tunnel. The air grew colder and damp. They moved crouched, following the sound of voices and loud music. They reached an opening that led into a massive cavern, lit by bonfires and industrial lights. It was a true den. Dozens of gang members from various species drank, gambled, and repaired weapons.
And at the center of it all, on an improvised throne made of wrecked starships, sat him—Crismon.
He was not Kherian. To Victor, he looked like a giant monstrous pig walking on two legs. Melissa noticed he also had horns, but they were thick and twisted, unlike the elegant horns of the natives. He stood nearly four meters tall, with a massive body and an enormous belly, holding an energy sword that hummed with power.
Suddenly, a Kherian ran into the cavern, shouting.
"Boss! Boss Crismon! Rhen called! From the bar! He said humans attacked! Strange powers! They're coming here!"
Crismon, who had looked bored and arrogant, raised an eyebrow. "Humans? With powers? Ridiculous."
He laughed—a guttural, unpleasant sound. Still, a trace of caution flickered in his eyes.
"But… if you're lying just to pull me out of boredom, I'll feed your bones to the cave worms."
Crismon let out a sharp, piercing whistle.
From the dark ceiling of the cavern, three figures dropped down, landing silently around the throne. They were his elite assassins.
The first was a woman with green skin and black hair, wearing a sadistic smile. Her arms were covered in pistols and projectile launchers. She was Mela, the gunner, who loved the sound of her weapons more than any music.
The second looked like a humanoid spider, with four thin mechanical legs extending from his back, allowing him to move in an unpredictable, arachnid way. He was Skitter, the scout—a silent predator who delighted in hunting his prey.
The third was a lean man with a scar-covered face, holding a pair of poisoned daggers. He was Silas, the master of poison—a sadist who enjoyed watching his victims suffer slowly.
"Vex, Skitter, Silas," Crismon ordered. "Go to the cells. Check our 'packages.' And stand guard. We have unexpected guests, it seems."
Hidden in the darkness, Ling heard the order and his blood ran cold. The cells. That was where Zugiy was heading. He would run straight into three professional assassins alone.
There was no time left for a plan.
Slowly, Ling stepped out of his hiding place on the elevated platform. He unsheathed his sword, the blade glowing in the cavern light. With a fluid motion, he unleashed a horizontal slash. A wave of pure energy shot through the air, straight toward Crismon.
The gang boss, with surprising reflexes for his size, raised his own sword and blocked the attack in an explosion of sparks.
He looked up, saw Ling's silhouette against the darkness, and a cruel smile spread across his pig-like face.
"KILL THEM!" he roared.
Instantly, dozens of laser weapons were unholstered and aimed upward. The entire cavern turned against them.
The battle was about to begin.