The car drove swiftly, engine humming in the background like the engine of a truck. From afar, the sight of their mansion was visible — a faint view of the tallest part of the house, but not hard to map out.
Inside, a faint light from her phone glowed on Marie's face. She was on LiveChat, a famous social media platform, checking different messages her fellow employees from the firm sent her. Crying-plus-hugging emojis filled the text, the mind interpreting their meaning directly after seeing them. That was how people were brainwashed with technology.
Ross did nothing of that sort. "Touch grass" was a term he lived by, a motto that governed his social life. Besides, he didn't have any friends even though he had a good heart — perhaps his idea of life shortened the social cycle.
His sights were at the front, pondering on what Medussa had told him earlier.
"A mission I would improve my skills on!"
Just the thought of it made his fingers twitch with adrenaline, made him tremble and excited at the same time. A feeling he once had when he was into martial artistry.
A career that stopped when he lost in the finals of the annual tournament.
He faced Jaguar — a tall, large man with bloodlust in his eyes, a very prominent figure in the martial arts world, with influence and an aligning streak that seemed to never end.
But with Ross it was different. The only one who had the greatest chance of taking him out. All his schoolmates and family raided the event, cheerful, happy, as they headed to push their fighter on.
And when the ref said,
"Ross versus Jaguar, begin!!"
The bloodbath was unleashed at once like a rain of terror. All the efforts Ross put in the first five minutes — trying to weaken him by kicking his legs — were just amusement for Jaguar. Entertainment before he started playing with him.
Suddenly.
Jaguar landed the high kick, pushing him down like a tree fell on him. The whole spectacle changed. The effect lasted five months for him to get back to his feet.
Elod Mutt banned him from ever thinking of fighting, the career he built from the ground up since he was a kid with a dream cut off instantly.
So he needed to go into a different field — one that wouldn't involve blood and kicking. One that would put his parents at ease. So he joined architecture.
As the car went forward, so did his mind. The feeling of going back into fighting — something his father told him never to do again — made him feel rebellious. But what would you have him do? There was a legacy that needed saving.
"Medussa, what favour were you talking about?"
"You can't wait, can you? A heart of a man obsessed with war always acts like that. I told you I would tell you at your home, and I plan to keep that promise."
The sound of the engine going to a halt echoed in the background as it finally stopped in the residence.
Psstss.
The facial device glitched — his old holographic face showing once more.
His heartbeat scaled up high, his eyes turning to Marie next to him.
"Thank God she is on the phone!"
He wondered. It saved him a lot of explaining to do, the type of explaining he didn't feel comfortable with yet. Better wait for the right time, he figured. He knew that sooner or later she would figure it out.
"Thanks for the drive!"
Ross got out, his sights concentrated. He couldn't wait for anyone, especially now that he was fired up more than ever and wanted to remove the device, afraid that it might give in — but even though he was thankful the device went off at the perfect time.
"You got out quick!"
Marie followed, mocking him as she put her phone in the back of her jacket.
"I'm tired, want to take a deep sleep and blow off some steam, so don't come looking for me."
"You do you!" Marie replied while smiling, covering up the deep curiosity that stood strong in her heart.
"You've been acting weird lately… ever since he came from that meeting. He surely is hiding something. The question is… what exactly?" she muttered, her eyes looking at him dismissively like he was some kind of thief who just came out of jail after years.
....
"We are here, aren't we? Give me the info?" Ross muttered after having a large jug of water — fuel for the mission to come.
[Select any bathroom in the house]
"Bathroom? What do you want me to do, take a piss?"
[Just do it, or you changed your mind on becoming strong]
"Not in the least, I just don't think a bathroom could be the place to do it!"
[We are not going to use the bathroom as you may assume. We are going to use the door!]
"Door?"
He muttered, surprised.
....
Ross stood just outside his bathroom. The door opened wide — a vintage design made with shiny diamond walls and an expensively tiled floor.
The toilet itself painted gold, with a diamond toilet paper hanger.
Its appeal was so extravagant and clean that you could dine in it without any fail whatsoever.
[Close the door]
She ordered. Ross went ahead and closed it.
[Punching in the coordinates… syncing the Sanctum Scorai]
Then —
A zapping sound followed.
[Open it]
He followed the order, only to his surprise to be welcomed by a screen of electricity zapping, flowing all around the entrance instead of the bathroom view.
"You really sure it's safe?"
He cautioned, inquiring for any side effect the doorway might've had a chance of causing him.
[I know much better than to hurt my host]
Ross's eyes twitched with doubt. The sight in front of him was terrifying. A battle unfolding between whether to continue or stop.
His fingers trembled by the minute. The adrenaline rush he felt continued for the worse.
"I know this might seem new, but if there is something I know, it's that I have to do this. Because if I don't, no one is going to do this for me. I need to improve or else I won't be able to retaliate when the Turtle Companies come for me and my family."
He pondered, his determination stronger than ever.
"Alright then!"
He stepped forward dramatically.
"Let's do this!"
He entered the portal — straight to his first mission.