“One sword style: Shin Kuraoukami ! ”

Sora’s blade shook as he was getting close to Vik. Slicing through the wind with an icy touch. A cold ice element coating the sword from tip to bottom. Vik’s eyes widened as he knew he wouldn’t be able to block; but it seemed luck wasn't on Sora’s side. Before he could reach Vik’s throat, his sword shattered in two.

“Huh?!” Sora and Vik both gasped. They both paused, not knowing what had just happened.

“Don’t tell me.. his sword couldn't handle the technique?!” Vik thought to himself. But regardless, the fight wasn’t over. It was no time to be in awe of your opponent's abilities. Exploiting a moment of weakness is the key to a victory.

Sora was now open. He tried to back off, jumping back to the side trying to salvage the sword he shot to the top. But Vik followed .

“I won’t let you”. He instinctively knew that this boy in front of him had something more to him. If he grabbed that remaining sword, the conclusion might not be in Vik’s favor. Sora was at his ends rope. Trying to dodge the blade while also trying to get the sword that was falling down. Using the dust of the ground, he threw it at Vik’s eyes. Slightly blind rendered him immovable.

“Ah, I can't see!”

Sora, using this chance, jumped, trying to grab the sword. His jump was astoundingly high, but it all went according to Vik’s plan. Vik jumped with him. His slight blindness was an act on his part to catch Sora midair. A place he wouldn't be able to dodge.

“I have you now!” he smirked as he stretched his arms behind, ready to slash Sora to pieces. Sora felt frantic, not knowing what to do. But the sound of a car drew their attention. Here, it was a hovering one.. It hit Sora, making him dodge the fatal blow.

“What is this?” Vik gasped.

“You really need to send better people to chase next time,” Ryu replied with an icy voice. He had gotten the vehicle carrying the parts and drove it to the top, rescuing Sora.

“You son of a bitch. Cut it close there, “Sora said as he shook his body, trying to find any broken ribs.

“We’re getting out of here right now!”

“But my sword..”

“There is no time! Get on!”

Sora saw many of the wolf humanoids were swarming the place. They were not approaching because of Vik and his duel, but now that it was interrupted, there was no time to wait.

His sword fell to the bottom of the mine.

“Imma come back for you!” He murmured to himself. For now, he jumped on the car as Ryu pulled the throttle to max. The cavern was collapsing in on itself.

Meanwhile, back on the surface of the planet, Ken and Akane were aimlessly looking around, trying to find civilization if there were any. Suddenly, from the distance Akane could see a small campfire.

“Oh, look someone’s there,” Ken said as he dashed towards there.

“Hey wait! Be on your guard. We don’t know if those are hostile or not”

Regardless of what Akane said, Ken paid no heed. The smoke was coming from behind the enormous cliff they were on. Ken, using his tentacles, jumped to the top rocks in a flash. His eyes were in a little disbelief at what he witnessed. Akane soon followed behind. A huge village that scattered in the plain grounds below all the cliffs. The village looked decimated, void of life. Not a single moving soul to be seen. Only a thick fog covering its inner areas and the light of the campfire in the middle.

“What happened here?” Akane thought to herself.

“Let's check it out”

They slowly slide down the cliff as the fog loosened.

A desolated gate. With a wall that is broken in places. Ken slowly walked inside. The place is lifeless as the harsh environment surrounding it.

“What happened here?” He thought to himself. Akane walked behind. Unlike Ken, her eyes were examining their surroundings. The empty limbo wasn’t so empty. Small lights were glowing from the deserted buildings as if some things were silently watching them. Akane pulled out her revolver, thinking of the worst. Ken notices one such pair of eyes that were glowing.

“Hey you there!” he waved, trying to get their attention, but as soon as he called out, they vanished instantly in the wind, just like that.

“Well, aren’t they shy?”

Ken entered the place as his stomach growled once again. He sat down, rubbing his tummy.

“I’m so hungry”

Sudden noise of horse carriages echoed from behind. A huge red muscular humanoid wolf emerged from the shadows on top of a horse. The horse had horns coming out of their eyes and torsos. There was also a certain set of fins, like fishes, across the horse's neck. Behind the red wolf was another set of wolves, 7 in total. The horse was dashing towards Ken without stopping. The muscular wolf looked at the front, noticing Ken but not caring to stop.

“Sire, there is someone in front,” one of the other wolves said.

“So what? We need to get these shipments to the facility now. Trample everything that stands in our way..”

Akane ran towards the side as she suddenly looked back, only to see Ken standing still, not moving an inch from his spot.

“What are you doing?”

“Leave this to me,” he uttered calmly. Ken knew those wolves were the same type of people who were oppressing those yellow aliens. Just thinking about it made his blood boil. The horses got closer and closer at a fast speed. A single stare from Ken was all that it took. The horses immediately went to a full stop. The wolves looked shocked.

“What are you doing?! I Said push forward!”

The red wolf was yelling at the horse. But it was unwilling to move an inch. The other ones also came to a halt. To them, what was in front of them wasn’t just any creature. The vicious stare and the bloodlust that was radiating from Ken’s body felt as if a giant tiger was staring down at them from top.

“Sire, it seems whatever is standing in front of us is dangerous—”

“Dangerous huh?”

The red wolf jumped from his horse and in front of Ken. He was twice as big with an even buffed up body.

“It seems these horses need to see who the genuine danger is!”

He looked down at Ken. Ken staring back at the wolf.

“I’m in a really… terrible mood today. Whatever shit you are moving now… or I will shred you to pieces”

“Try to make me, you oversized fur ball.”

All the wolves are awed seeing someone dare say something like that to their boss.

“He is done for now… angering boss Hugo. Does that animal have a death wish?”

Akane looked at Ken’s stupidity from afar. Her hand on her forehead.

“Why does this guy always throw himself into conflict…”

The fur on Hugo’s body stirred up as his anger overwhelmed him.

“You little…”

He instantly threw a punch towards Ken. Ken took a sidestep before backing off. The small eyes that had disappeared from the buildings suddenly reappeared again, looking at the conflict. Akane noticed the eyes and went towards them. Meanwhile, Ken was fertile, dodging Hugo's attack.

“Should we help sir Hugo?”

“You idiot! If you walk in that fight, you will die. The only thing boss hates more than someone mocking him is someone disturbing his fight. Observe from here patiently.”

“That animal is just dodging. There is no way it can tank sir Hugo’s attack!”

As Ken is cornered close to one wall walls, his movement had become limited. Hugo knew there was no way for him to dodge now.

“Where are you gonna run now?!”

A huge shock wave forms as Hugo’s fist lands. But to his surprise, the thing he considered a small animal in front of him had transformed his left hand into a huge shield.

“Who’s running?”

Ken uttered as he mutated his other hand with a black, red gauntlet and punched Hugo in point blank range. That single hit was strong enough to send Hugo back a few feet away.

“What just-” Before Hugo could reply, another fist hit him right in the face. Ken had dashed towards him, not leaving any room for him to stabilize. Using his tentacle, he grabbed Hugo by the leg. Swinging him in a circle, Ken threw him back at the other wolves.

“I don’t know what your guy's deal is, but if you are intimidating these poor people for no reason than I will crush every single one of you”

Hugo was already knocked out from that hit. The other wolves were too afraid to attack. They grabbed Hugo and backed off.

Ken looked back and suddenly noticed the small yellow aliens came out of their hiding. Akane behind them, assuring them they meant no harm. She looked at Ken while pointing towards his arm. Ken noticed his left hand was still mutated. He shook his hand as the mutation faded away.

“Sorry about that”

Akane looked at them and said,

“See, we mean no harm”

The aliens were still hesitant. Well, it was to be expected. Ken was’’ any less of a monster looking than those wolves. But one of the yellow aliens pulled the courage within her and walked towards him. The alien was also yellow but had a small kidlike figure and a small doll in her hand that was made of straw. Ken was twice as tall as her. And his face, despite being normal, felt quite intimidating to her. But she gripped her straw doll and uttered,

“Umm.. umm thank you very much, sir”

Seeing her bow down, the small aliens beside her all bowed and echoed the same line.

“Thank you very much”

From their voice it was clear they were just a small group of kids. Ken gave a faint smile and patted the girl.

“Don’t mention it, kid”

The sudden growl of hunger echoed the place. An awkward silence fell upon them.

“Uh.. hehe” Ken felt embarrassed as Akane felt ashamed.

“You’re starving, huh, mister?” the girl said with a grin.

Ken tried to laugh it off, like always. The girl grabbed his hand and replied with a grin,

“You should eat with us today mister”

He tugged him towards the middle of the town as the kids followed behind. Ken was not a person to refuse a free meal. One of the other aliens grabbed Akane,

“You come with us to miss”

“No, i..” she wanted to refuse them.

“Let’s go, Akane.”

Ken said from the front. Akane let out a sigh as she murmured to herself.

“Why did I decide to follow this guy here?”