"I don''t need mutant armor or weapons to be strong," us replied confidently, walking past her to stand before the portal. "Listen up. We''re here for one purpose: to travel to Agogjie and retrieve every item belonging to the Sycrax species. You might think this is a simple mission because Agogjie is a safe, but there''s a chance the Sycrax are still there. Stay sharp."


    Before anyone could respond, us stepped into the portal and vanished.


    **ZWIN!**


    The staff members appeared on the mere seconds after stepping through the portal. Upon arrival, they nced around, carefully examining their surroundings.


    The entirendscape was covered in sinking green sand, reminiscent of a vast desert. Several meters away stood a cluster of small houses, their silhouettes stark against the chilly atmosphere. Above, a crescent-shaped sun hung low in the sky, casting an eerie light over the deste terrain.


    "Ah, I''ve missed this ce," Sam remarked, inhaling deeply with a grin spreading across his face.


    The residents of the small houses, alerted by the sudden movement, cautiously stepped outside, weapons clutched tightly in their hands. They prepared for a fight, assuming it was another mutant attack. However, relief washed over their faces when they recognized the staff from the academy.


    Those who chose to live on this, known as Agogjie, were typically individuals who couldn''t afford an apartment on Earth. Life here was entirely free—no rent, no bills to worry about. But this freedom came at a steep price.


    The was gued by nightly mutant attacks.


    Most of these attacks came from low-grade mutants, rtively easy to fend off. However, there were grim cases where mutants struck while families were asleep, devouring them before they could defend themselves.


    Hunters on the sold mutant body parts for tokens, which they used to hire guilds or solo rangers for protection. Only those with enough resources to hire protection could sleep peacefully. The rest had to stay awake all night or sleep with one eye open.


    The residents stood still, eyes fixed on the staff members approaching.


    "Good afternoon," Miley greeted loudly, breaking the tense silence. "We are staff from the mutant academy," she introduced herself with a polite nod.


    "We know who you are," replied a man with a bald patch at the center of his head, his bushy ck beard framing a face lined with worry. His voice was cracked but firm. "What is it that you want?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.


    "We just came to look around and grab a few things," Sam responded nonchntly.


    "And what exactly do you n to grab, if I may ask?" the bald man inquired, his tone polite but wary.


    Sam''s demeanor shifted instantly. Grabbing the man''s cor, he lifted him off the ground with rming strength.


    "Who are you to question us? We are High Staff, you bloody lowlife!" Sam spat, his voiceced with anger and disdain.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Let him go, Sam. We''re here to retrieve the Sycrax species equipment, not to bully these poor civilians," us intervened, stepping forward with a calm butmanding presence.


    Sam released the man abruptly, and us could have sworn he saw him fixing the man''s cor and straightening his shirt afterward.


    "Did you just say... Sycrax species?" a woman from the crowd asked timidly, her gaze locked on us, who stood with his hands tucked casually in his pockets.


    "Yes, sweetheart," us replied, a smirk ying at the corners of his lips. "A word of advice—stay indoors with your loved ones while we''re here. Shut your doors and close your curtains. You don''t want them getting in, do you?"


    The residents swallowed hard, fear evident in their eyes. Without a word, they turned and hurried back to their homes, following us''s instructions to the letter.


    "Don''t scare them like that," Barry Banner, one of the five High Staff, spoke up. He had sleek ck hair, youthful features, and an innocent expression.


    "I''m not scaring anyone, Barry. I''m warning them—there''s a difference," us replied as he began walking forward. "Come on, let''s find this building. We don''t have all day."


    The group stood in ce for a moment, then reluctantly followed him.


    ---


    The group trudged through the deserted terrain, each step sinking into the green sand. Sweat now drenched their faces, despite the chilly air.


    "What if this is a trap?" Sam whispered to Kara, who was walking beside him. His voice was low but urgent.


    "I''m sorry, what?" Kara asked, a puzzled expression crossing her face.


    "I mean, us just showed up out of nowhere, spouting nonsense about the Sycrax species and their supposed ns. Can we really trust him? What if he lured us here to kill us?" Sam hissed, his eyes darting nervously.


    Sam had always harbored resentment towards us. us was stronger, more skilled, and never missed an opportunity to unt it. During a recent meeting, us had humiliated Sam in front of Sir Dominic and the other High Staff, leaving a deep scar on Sam''s pride.


    He knew he was no match for us one-on-one. If they fought, us would defeat him in under a minute. His only hope was to turn the group against him, to sow doubt and mistrust.


    "You think us is a traitor?" Kara asked, disbelief etched across her face.


    "Exactly! He could be working for enemies like the Demon Paradise Empire or the Desert Eagle Guild. Can''t you see? There''s something different about him," Sam insisted, his voice tinged with desperation.


    Kara remained silent, her gaze fixed on us, who walked ahead. Sam''s words nted seeds of doubt, but she wasn''t convinced yet.


    "There is no Sycrax species building, Kara. No weapons. It''s all a lie," Sam pressed on. "We have to warn the others."


    Kara continued walking, deep in thought. Just as she opened her mouth to respond, us''s voice cut through the silence.


    "We''re here," he announced, stopping in front of a towering structure that loomed ominously before them.


    """


    A/N: Vote with your Golden Tickets and Power Stones.