Ken Sou!" Yang Lu and Alexis blurted. Their eyes were wide and big, and their teeth clamped.
"What is one of the six Celestial Guardians doing here? Did Peter contact him while we ambushed them? Even if that were the case, it should've taken him longer to reach us from Utopia," Yang Lu reflected as he tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword.
Ken Sou looked around and studied both Yang Lu and Alexis's movements. He neither smiled nor scowled at them. He only observed. "I don't know what you are doing here, but the likes of you are forbidden from setting foot on these grounds," he spoke, his voice deep and smooth.
Alexis swallowed a hard lump and reflected, "Damn it, we are both outmatched. And if we don't do something, he'll take us out effortlessly."
Ken Sou then said, "Surrender, now, and I will spare you from a humiliating death."
"That's not about to happen, geezer, we didn't come all this way for nothing. We have a purpose to serve, and we will fulfill it even if it means going through you!" Yang Lu shouted.
Ken Sou smiled, admiring Yang Lu's courage, "Very well, we'll do it your way!"
Yang Lu swiftly swung his blade at Ken Sou from where he stood, creating a large air-pressure projectile slash from the force of his swing. As the projectile slash advanced toward the Celestial Guardian, it grew so big that it dramatically dwarfed him in height. The project slash also cut through the ground, nearly splitting it in half. Ken Sou stood there unperturbed by this recent event.
Ken Sou stretched his open hand toward the projectile slash and absorbed it once it was a few inches from him.
Yang Lu gasped with horror, "He absorbed that projectile slash like it was nothing. That was the biggest slash I conjured, sharp enough to split this compound in half ." He reflected. Yang Lu's hand twitched with fright.
Since Alexis stood a further distance behind Ken Sou, she concluded this was the right time to strike. She stretched her hands toward Ken Sou and tried to expel a chunk of smoke from her palms. Only a small cloud of smoke departed; it was barely the size of a kettle steam. She shook her hands and stretched them toward him once more. This time, not even a steam of smoke departed from her outstretched hands.
"What is wrong with my powers? I barely used fifty percent of them. They should be working right now!" She reflected with frustration. She suddenly gasped for air, as though she had run a marathon. She placed her hands on her thighs and bent lower. She rested her hands on her thighs and panted.
Without turning to look at her, Ken Sou then addressed her, "Don't even bother to use your smoke powers. I siphoned your energy from where you stood without touching you."
From where Pete stood, he smiled, admiring Ken Sou's formidable power, "Wow, this Ken Sou guy is really good. I he barely used even a portion of his power."
Yang Lu gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. He tried to tap into his last reserves of power but failed. "Dammit, I can't go invisible... He has nullified my powers, too." Frustrated with the recent outcome, he resorted to a drastic measure. He dug his right hand into his pocket and reached for a device.
And before he could take it, he saw Ken Sou's blue eye contacts drastically change into a scarlet pigment. "Don't even bother with that smoke bomb," Ken Sou said as he emerged behind Yang Lu before he could take it out.
Yang Lu gasped with horror, especially since Ken Sou stood before him a second ago. Now, he mysteriously materialized behind him without realizing it.
"How did he know that I was gonna do that..." Yang Lu pondered.
Yang Lu slowly turned around and saw the Celestial Guardian standing before him. His head only reached Ken Sou's chest. He swallowed a hard lump and backed away slowly.
"Here's what's going to happen, " Ken Sou began, his voice so broad and stern. "You will return to your earth and tell your Lord Shai Ken that his days are numbered. Is that clear!"
Yang Lu and Alexis nodded and went their way. Ken Sou's eyes reverted to their blue pigment.
**********
The chirping songs of the early birds serenaded Bianca's ears. Her closed eyes twitched; she couldn't help but ignore the sun's light dancing on her eyelids. She lightly opened them and spotted a wooden ceiling. The dark brown oakwood pattern complemented its light brown surroundings. As she reflected, she looked around and spotted her white cream walls, her white dressing table, and a sliding door made of washi paper. She soon concluded that she was in her room, in Yung Fu's compound.
The door slid open, and Pete entered with a large smile plastered on his face, "Oh, good. You're awake."
She directed her eyes at the tray he carried in his hands; it held a glass of orange juice and a plate filled with steamed buns.
"I brought you breakfast, just wanted to make sure that you're alright," he set the tray by her bedside. He tipped his fingers with excitement afterwards.
"So what do you think?"
She leaned over and grabbed one bun with a chopstick. She opened her mouth and took a bite while he watched, waiting for her response. She swallowed and looked at him, "This is the biggest dog shit I've eaten," she replied sternly.
"Huh..." He responded, his smile turning into an upside-down U.
She chuckled, "Just pulling your leg, Petie. I think it's sweet. I don't remember the last time someone did something this nice for me."
She then paused briefly and stared deep into his eyes. She reflected while he looked back at her, "Now that I think about it, you remind me of someone... I can't put my finger on it."
He chuckled nervously, "Hey, I hope you don't think I am one of your ex-boyfriends because if you do, you got the wrong guy."
She gently punched his shoulder and said, "Nah, don't worry about it. Plus, I have one ex."
"Holy smokes, how's that possible?"
"What do you mean?" She inquired as she shoved the remaining piece into her mouth. The sweet dough, pork belly, and gravy graced her tongue with a heavenly sensation. She closed her eyes and moaned.
"What do you mean, how's that possible?"
"I mean, look at you, you're catch, I bet a bunch of guys drool over you when they see you."
She arched her right brow, "You mean like you?" She grabbed another steamed bun with the chopsticks and shoved it into her mouth.
He cleared his throat and rubbed his chest, "What no.... no...You're hot and all, but I wouldn't drool over you..."
She arched her right brow once more, but with disbelief. He realized that she could see right through him.
"You know what, fuck this! I don't care if you think I'm drooling over you because I am..." He pointed at himself as his voice grew louder.
"....Yeah, I said, you're hot and I can't help it if I can't take my eyes off you."
She sipped her orange juice and smiled, "Well said. I like a man who speaks his mind. I find that very attractive."
His grin reached his ears, while his cheeks flushed red. "What attracts you to a guy, what turns you on?"
She cocked her head slightly and looked at the ceiling briefly as she reflected, "Confidence, Petie, confidence. It goes a long way, even if I turn a guy down, I'll always remember that trait..."
She then directed her gaze back at him and looked deep into his eyes.
"If you think that this is a backdoor you're using to take down notes for points, well..." She pointed at the left side of her chest. "Then don't think imma make it easy for you."
"So wait, are you daring = me to take my shot?" Pete said while he rubbed his chin
She took another sip from her glass and answered, "I never said that. Besides, I have a lot of things to worry about than chasing after love."
"Speaking of which, we have a visitor," he snapped his fingers frantically.
"Oh, who is it?"
"It's Ken Sou."
She put the glass aside as a look of intrigue occupied her face
***********
Yung Fu and Ken Sou stood before a fountain, where two brick walkways converged to form a crucifix. Ken Sou watched the water pour out of the pipe and fill the lower basin, gaping his mouth in fascination. He extended his hand slowly to the pouring water and gingerly placed his hand inside the current. It was soft and cold and easily slipped down his hands.
"Watching the tranquil movement of water pouring from the pipe into the basin is splendid. I'd pick a minute being here than cracking skulls and drowning in vexatious politics," Ken Sou began.
"Uh, yes. Sometimes it's good to distance yourself from reality and immerse yourself in nature," Yung Fu added. "I'm guessing you're at odds with his majesty and his decisions," Yung commented.
"I've never understood the man. It's a pity not everyone from the Guang Li bloodline has the brains to rule a Kingdom." Ken Sou replied, his voice sour.
"It's treason to gossip about King Haun Li behind his back," Yung Fu said with a hint of sarcasm.
"If you'd rather be a blind follower, then be my guest. Though the man is above me, it doesn't mean I agree with everything he says."
"Gentlemen... behold Bianca," said a zestful voice from behind.
Yung Fu and Ken Sou turned around, and before them stood Pete. He bowed playfully, his right hand stretching toward Bianca, who stood behind them, and his left, stretching toward the Utopians. His grin expanded toward the corners of his face, nearly reaching his ears.
"My, what enthusiasm," Ken Sou smiled, wonder glistening from his blue, glassy eyes. "You are a spirited individual, Peter."
"Yep, he is," Yung Fu added.
"Anyway, Bianca, I came here as soon as Yung Fu told me about your arrival. I would like to know your Earth's current state of affairs."
Bianca sighed and looked down. She looked up and said, "I mean no offense, but things are shitier than ever since the Utopians abandoned us." The tone of her voice was as cold as ice.
"The Utopians abandoned Earth forty-five, what are you talking about?" Pete interjected, his brows creasing lower with curiosity.
She briefly looked at Pete," Well, Pete. Remember when I told you that the Utopians allied with our world leaders, the United Nations, to strengthen our military from supernatural dickheads like Shai Ken. When Shai Ken defeated the Battle Trooper's leader, Azura. Ken Sou pulled back auxiliary forces who would back us up to crush Shai Ken's supremacy."
During the Elite Force's rise in power, Planet Utopia vowed to stop Death Wrath's power from growing to vast universes. To counteract the Overlords of the Elite Force, Ken Sou served in the King's council as the Head of the Military and created the Celestial Guardians system. He chose six other powerful Utopians to branch out to multiple universes and provide military assistance to vulnerable planets. Azura was one of the six Celestial Guardians, and he was assigned to ally with the United Nations of Bianca's Earth. When Shai Ken, one of the six overlords, invaded her earth with his forces, he defeated Azura.
"But why would you do that?" Pete inquired.
Ken Sou tightened his grip around his golden polearm. He sighed, "I didn't have a choice."
"How, when you could've defeated Shai Ken?" Pete asked with bafflement.
"It was not my order, it was his majesty's orders..."
Both Pete and Bianca furrowed their brows with puzzlement.
"His majesty realized that the moment that Azura and his forces failed to vanquish Shai Ken, it would be a waste of time to go and rescue them. He saw Earth forty-five as a sinking vessel and feared losing more soldiers to a dying cause. He directed his focus elsewhere," Ken Sou answered, distraught, evident in the tone of his voice.
"Why, I don't get it. You guys promised you'd help us against powerful entities. When you lost a battle, you tucked your tails between your legs and ran off. You even abandoned some of your remaining forces who were still trying to fight and resist Shai Ken," her voice ached, and her words were full of despondence.
"You might not believe me, but my actions still haunt me. I've done several things I'm not proud of. A day doesn't pass without the dead screaming their tearful cries in my sleep.. This is why I will account for my actions even if it's against my duty."
Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Wait, what do you mean?"
"I will help you, Bianca, to defeat Shai Ken. And this is what I have in mind."
Optimism shimmered brightly like stars from her hazel eyes.