Ken felt a sense of discomfort and hostility from the members, but he had to get along with them for the sake of making this work. He noticed one who was sitting in a chair reading a small book. The book was quite thick in page count. One could easily lose many hours just by reading it. But the man was reading it slowly without hasting. He was also the person who stopped the dispute among Ken and that grasshopper. Being in the room's corner, separated from the rest of the crowd, he seemed easy to approach.

“Hey what are you reading there?” Ken asked in a hesitant voice.

“Oh this? It’s the latest science fiction about inter dimensional travel,” he said, rubbing his thumb and index finger against his tongue and flipping the small book's dense pages.

“Oh,” Ken replied as the words just went over his head. But it was no time for him to stutter. A friendship isn't born, it's made. And Ken knew he had to be the one to take that first approach. He pulled his hand forward for a handshake and said,

“I’m Ken, Kawasaki Ken. Nice to meet you.”

“Name’s Ryu,” he said while flipping the page. He didn't look at Ken, nor did he give a warm greeting. All of his actions were clearly a sign that he didn’t want to talk. Ken was scratching his head, thinking how to approach this situation. Suddenly he felt something touch his legs, a small electric fuse. He picked it up, observing all its sides. Words labeled in a feeling he didn't understand and logo that had a skull shape in it. A warning it was, but for a person like that meant nothing. Not because he was fearless, but oblivious. An idiot.

“Hey! Don’t touch that!”

A woman’s voice shouted. From the corner, a huge bulky mechanic suit rushed towards him. Ken was startled as he dropped the fuse from his hand, breaking it instantly. On the left shoulder of the bulky robot was a woman sitting with her legs cross and a holographic headset connected to her head. She had pink hair, glasses and vampire like teeth. Two long ringlike earrings and a sport like jacket and small jeans. Her appearance looked like that of a jock from a highschool.

“What did you just do?!” she shouted at Ken. Ken looked down and realized he had broken the object. He immediately picked it up.

“Ah… I'm sorry.”

“Don’t touch it, you idiot. That fuse isn’t a typical fuse. Your hands will get swollen from the bio chemicals.”

But it was too late for that. The hands were swollen up like purple grapes. Ken freaked out just from seeing them and flailed his hands in all directions. The others were barely handling the commotion that he was making. No one wanted their heads blown off like skull crushers so it they kept quiet, tolerating his shenanigans. The woman sighed and jumped down from the robot's shoulder and shook Ken multiple times till he stopped moving.

"Wait!" one said from the boxes. He had red crimson hair and green eyes. A black coat that covered his body.

"Your gonna violate the rules," he said..

"Shut it. It's not violating anything. " She then pulled out a drill type syringe and injected a green liquid into his neck.

“Ahh!”

“That’s what you get, dumbass, now. Stay still.”

After a few seconds of excruciating pain, Ken’s hands went back to normal. He fell down to the ground from the sweat. “Thanks,” Ken said, while trying to catch his breath. The girl opened a drink can and sipped it all in one go. She jumped back on the robot's shoulder and replied,

“Don’t mention it Kid. You will look more like a loser than you already are.”

“Hey what's your name?” Ken asked, standing up.

“Miku. I think those words should be enough for even your monkey brain to remember.”

She ambled away in the robot's shoulder, going towards her own corner. This was not getting anywhere. Suddenly, something caught Ken’s eyes. Better yet, someone. A woman was sitting on top of the boxes, slowly polishing her huge revolver. Her eyes were golden like an eagle, ponytail dark blue hair and a horn sticking out from her right forehead. Her majestic eye, small battle armor of silver color, also captivated him. What was that feeling? He wondered. Regardless of this, the bonding was going nowhere. He didn’t know how to approach them, and none of them will open up to him. Suddenly one member, the man who was wearing a black coat, came in front and clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention. He had Crimson hair and green eyes that glowed ever so brightly in the dark.

“Looks like everyone is already here. Then let's begin with some introductions. We will travel the entire universe together, won’t we? I think it would be best for us to know each other. I’ll start. My name is Axel, Axel Blyke. I’m a mercenary for hire. My goal is to get the Emerald core in the void center.”

Hearing that, Ryu flinched a little as if misheard something.

They were all very reluctant to say anything except for one, of course.

“Yo! The name’s Sora. Sora Beltron. I am a master swordsman and also a lady-killer. And I have a dream one of great significance. My dream is to have a huge harem of 1000 girls!”

He declared loudly. The man had Light yellow hair, transparent goggles tightly strapped to his eyes. His eyes, though not visible, had a golden glow that could be seen, as well as two silver swords attached to his back. Ken was a bit confused hearing that. To him, he didn’t even know what a harem was while everyone else had already realized who the clown of this group was. Regardless, others stepped forward, introducing themselves one by one.

“My name is Miku, just Miku. I'm a scientist. I see to create a grand invention which your simple minds can’t even comprehend, so I will leave it at that.”

she went back to her tinkering.

“The names Akane. I am an assassin. My goal is something I do not want to disclose.”

Said the beautiful woman at the top, who was polishing her guns. Just her words spoke volumes of her skills so normal people couldn't comprehend.

“My name’s Ryu. Ryu Tatagane. I plan on becoming an archeologist,” That answer confused them all.

“Umm, you know you don’t have to be an outlaw to become one, right?” Axel said.

“Well, with what I plan on writing, I do…” Ryu replied as he flipped the page. Seeing 3 people introduce them self another had found the confidence to stand up.

“The names Dan. I’m a hitman for hire. I don’t care about anything as long as I can make some money” He was wearing an eye patch, had silver skin and a huge scar on his left cheek. His goal seemed the most realistic among them. The woman at top didn't find it necessary to say anything.

"The names Akane." the only words that came out of her mouth. A person who's voice felt cold, emotionless.

“And what about you?” Axel asked Ken.

“Umm, my name is Ken Kawasaki. I’m an outlaw. And I… I am the man who will become the Emperor of the Cosmos!” he said with conviction. Just hearing the words 'emperor of the cosmos; ' made them flinch.

“Cosmic Emperor? Wow, you sure about that?” Axel asked.

“Yea, I am. No matter what it takes, I will!”

Just before the conversation could go any further, the announcement mic struck again.

“All teams, please reach the marked location within the next 10 minutes. We will begin the 2nd phase of the Odyssey program.”

“You heard them. Let's go.”

Axel ordered. He walked out of the room as the rest followed.

Meanwhile, in the tallest tower, close to the arena, a purple-faced man covered in a long white dress slowly strolled towards the cold balcony. His movement and presence was that of a King. Eyes that had experienced many things, some of which shouldn't be mentioned. Behind him were two of his guards. The guards had black armour with a dash of red all around all bearing the piercing moon symbol.

“Another year, another start. It has become quite the commotion out there, hasn’t it, Mike?”

He asked one guard. Both guards were silent for a second. As if they did not hear him, or rather didn't know who he was referring to.

“Yes, Sir Solaris,” one guard responded as he stuttered.

“Well then. Initiate Phase 2,”