The Creatures that We Are

“Wang…Zi…Kai…?” Gao Xinxin gaped. It’d been less than a minute, yet she had been surprised, scared, confused, and shocked. There was no room in her head for more.

Who are those two men? Who is this man? Why does he look like Wang Zikai?

Wait, no way! No way, no way…

It is Wang Zikai! When did the idiot become a cool superhero?

Wang Zikai made a cool turn around, his blond hair and face catching the moonlight. The rim of cold light made his profile look sharp like a sculpture. Even his eyes seemed deeper than usual.

“There’s no time to explain. Hop on.”

“Huh?” Gao Xinxin was lost.

Without explaining further, Wang Zikai grabbed her by the waist and jumped out of the window.

Whoosh. Gao Xinxin felt the world spinning around her as if she were flying. When she realized it, Wang Zikai had already made a safe landing with her in his arms.

“Hold on tight!” Wang Zikai shouted.

“Huh???”

Vroom. The motorcycle made a wild deep rumble before shooting out, the tail lights leaving a long orangish red trail in the dark.

…

Abandoned chemical plant, Apple Island, twelve-thirty at night.

Gao Yang remembered the night before his college entrance exams. He had fought Black Tortoise to the death alongside Ghost Horse, members of the fifth team, and his first companions—Qing Ling and Officer Huang.

That night, Ghost Horse gave his life in exchange for Gao Yang’s survival.

Ghost Horse’s lifelong goal was for humanity to open the Gates of Closure and escape the Mist World. For that, he followed Dragon and himself with full devotion.

He was a pioneer and a martyr, the torchlight that had gone out before the dawn.

When Gao Yang arrived at the abandoned chemical plant, the traces left by the battle that night were still there, including the collapsed hood, fallen walls, distorted reactor, broken mess of steel pipes, cracked and sunken concrete clearing, and the charred marks left by blazing flames.

Gao Yang went up to where Ghost Horse had died. He had never forgotten the place: under a maze of pumping pipes was a gray round reactor. Gao Yang crouched down to move a few rubbles away and dust the ground. He could still make out the faint brown blood stains, now covered by yellowed weeds.

Gao Yang could imagine the weeds thriving came next spring. They would grow until the faint blood stains were gone like they had never been there.

He took out a slip of paper written with the words, “The moon is beautiful.” Folding it into a simple white flower, he placed it by the weeds.

“Captain!”

Can was the first to show up with a full black backpack, her forehead covered in beads of sweat as she struggled to breathe. “I…I’m…I’m here… Whoa! Captain, why are you…all wet?”

Soaked, Gao Yang got to his feet and was about to say something when a dark figure descended from above with a fierce glinting blade. Gao Yang didn’t bother to dodge it. Instead, he lifted his hand holding a Black Gold dagger and parried the attack.

The shortsword was caught. The figure bounced back and landed a few meters away from Gao Yang.

Lithe Snake sheathed his shortsword with a cold smile. “When did you spot me?”

“From the very beginning.”

“Is my stealth so bad?” Lithe Snake frowned. “That can’t be.”

Gao Yang didn’t explain. His Charisma had reached 1200, and with his six senses pushed to the limit, he could hear Lithe Snake’s heartbeats when he was close. While Lithe Snake had held his breath, he couldn’t stop his heart from beating.

“Where are the others?” Gao Yang asked calmly.

“All here.” Lithe Snake had been hiding at a vantage point that allowed him to see the whole Apple Island.

“Good.”

Gao Yang turned around, leading Lithe Snake and Can out of the metal door of the chemical plant.

Outside was a grayish-brown clearing, awash in moonlight. On their ten, a silver car drove up to them, stopping beside Gao Yang, Lithe Snake, and Can in the blink of an eye.

Bam! The door was kicked open. Gray Bear got out of the driver’s seat, and Nine Frost, who had gotten a free ride, emerged from the passenger seat.

“Captain!”

“Captain.”

The two men called out at the same time.

Gao Yang nodded in response.

He turned to look at his one, where a shared electric moped was bumbling its way here. The rider was Hong Xiaoxiao, and on her head was a thumb-sized figure, Nainai.

She had an edgy oversized black cape draped around her as she stood with one hand on her hip and the other hand pointing forward, facing the wind and laughing. Whatever she was saying, no one could hear her.

Hong Xiaoxiao glanced at the battery display. Shoot, it’s running out. How am I going to ride back later?

Wait, this isn’t the time for that! Why are you still thinking about that?

Wake up, Hong Xiaoxiao. The real trial comes later. You have to live!

While reflecting on herself, Hong Xiaoxiao parked the moped before the group.

“I’m here, Seven Shadow…” Hong Xiaoxiao quickly went up to Gao Yang and suddenly realized that she shouldn’t call him that any longer. She paused and corrected herself, “Octopath Traveler.”

Gao Yang swallowed a laugh. I didn’t mean it literally when I said the name, Hong Xiaoxiao.

“You aren’t followed, are you?” Lithe Snake was worried about the newbie.

“I’m not, for real!” Hong Xiaoxiao waved a hand in vehement denial. “I’m certain of it. I was really careful.”

“Alright.”

Just then, Nainai jumped down from Hong Xiaoxiao's head and quickly grew in size, making a superhero landing with one knee on the ground. She grabbed the black cape with her left hand and whipped it off, revealing her sailor suit.

She slowly rose to her feet and looked up suddenly, taking off her eyepatch. “The crimson eye of the devil lord can finally be unsealed! Shake and wail. From today on, this Empress’ will is going to…”

Nainai fell silent suddenly, lowering her head and walking up to Gao Yang meekly. Two seconds later, she backed away, hiding behind him like she was avoiding someone’s deadly glare.

Gao Yang had already noticed the tall, slim woman appearing on his right. She was dressed in a black catsuit with a black cape draped over her, the hood concealing half of her face but did nothing to conceal her icy aura.

Two long Black Gold blades were sheathed by her waist. On the outside of her thighs were the Butterfly Twin Blades. And three glinting Black Gold darts flew around her shoulders like paper cranes.

The left arm she had lost was replaced.

Can stared at her, stunned. Holy, that’s so cool! She’s the perfect embodiment of my idea of a Valkyrie! But something’s missing…right! She needs a blower for better effect!

With a light wave of her hand, Can conjured a gust of wind, lifting the hood off the blade wielder’s face and revealing her long hair. Under the moonlight, Qing Ling’s eyes and facial features were sharp yet beautiful.

“Welcome back.” Gao Yang smiled.

Qing Ling wordlessly lifted her hands to brush her long hair back, taking off the black rubber band around her wrist to tie her hair into a high ponytail with ease.

She rested her right hand on the hilt of the weapon by her waist, walking up to Gao Yang slowly.

“All here?” Qing Ling asked.

“Only one left,” Gao Yang said.

Vroom. As if in response, a wild resounding rumble of an engine broke the silence of the abandoned land under the night sky. They all looked over to see a sexy red motorcycle speeding toward them, the rider wearing a racer outfit and a helmet.

Houseau3's Thoughts

Classic anime montage followed by a gathering. Cool, cool.

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