Chapter 2: Double Trouble
In the dim alley, Gale and Terra found themselves in an awkward situation.
Gale had pinned her to the ground, her wrist held above her head. If anyone walked by, they'd definitely get the wrong idea. But Gale didn't seem to care, and Terra just looked annoyed.
"Why should I help your friends?" Terra scoffed, glaring up at him. "What? do they need help with their homework or something? They're just regular humans- "
"One of them got attacked by a spirit," Gale cut her off sharply.
"Not my problem," Terra shot back.
"What?!"
"I've been on Earth long enough to know how this goes. Spirits don't mess with humans unless they're provoked. So, if your friend got attacked, they probably did something to deserve it."
"You can't just say that! Someone's life is-" Gale paused, his frustration boiling over. But he took a deep breath and sighed. "Fine! If you won't help, then at least keep your alien buddies away from Ayase."
Terra blinked, her eyebrows raising as realization hit. "Oh... so that's what this is about."
She relaxed slightly, a grin creeping onto her face. "Alright, Gale. I'll agree to your terms. But listen up, the spirit problem is your problem. I'll handle the alien part."
Gale stood up, letting her go and handing her cane back. "That's good enough for me, but... what's up with the sudden change of heart?"
Terra brushed the dirt off her clothes and smirked. "Simple. Earth is mine to conquer. I'm not letting some random aliens mess with my plans."
Gale's eyes widened. "Wait...are you saying there are other aliens here trying to take over Earth too?"
"Of course, Earth may be on the outskirts of the galaxy, but it's...unique. Other aliens want to claim it, and while I work alone, they're definitely out there," Terra replied nonchalantly.
"If that's true, then how have humans even survived till now?" Gale asked, shaking his head.
"I already told you, Earth is unique. Besides the fact that other alien species are already an annoyance for me, there's also the spirits. They're like Earth's guard dogs, wild animals we, aliens, barely understand. That's why we didn't launch full on attack, we need to understand them first"
Gale nodded slowly, the pieces starting to make sense. "Then, I trust you with Ayase-san's safety."
He turned, ready to sprint toward the tunnel, when Terra grabbed his arm and quickly let go, as though she hadn't meant to. "You... You haven't told me where she is."
"Right." He opened his phone and sent her the location for Ayase's abandoned hospital, also including the location of Takakura's tunnel. They exchanged numbers quickly, phones beeping with confirmation.
Ding.
Terra glanced at the locations. "So, which one is the alien problem?"
"The abandoned hospital." Gale replied.
"Got it," Terra said, nodding. "And you're heading to the tunnel...on foot?"
Gale forced a determined smile, "I'll get there in time."
"Yeah, no way. I should have drained that stamina of yours. There's no way..." Terra muttered.
"Even so, there's no other way," Gale clenched his fists. "I have to save him!"
Terra sighed and extended her cane toward him. "Grab this."
He eyed the cane warily, "What for? You're not trying to shock me again, are you?"
"Just shut up and take it," She scowled, refusing to meet his eyes.
Gale hesitated at first, but finally grabbed the tip of the cane. In an instant, the space around them distorted, and before he knew it, Gale found himself standing inside a room filled with a sleek control panel, a cockpit.
The room lit up, and he glanced around in astonishment. "Welcome aboard my ship." Terra announced. At first, she wanted to go all dramatic, but her exhaustion made her gave up.
"You can teleport?" Gale asked, looking around in awe. "Why didn't you use that when I was kicking your butt earlier?"
"Shut up, or our deal is off!" she snapped.
"Aye, aye, Lady." He chuckled.
Terra rolled her eyes. "Just so we're clear, I can't teleport. I can only retreat into my ship. It's one of my cane's functions."
Gale's gaze wandered over the controls. "By the way, where exactly is your UFO parked?"
She pressed some button. "We're on top of an abandoned building in the city center. It was supposed to be demolished ages ago, but...let's just say I pulled a few strings."
"You didn't hurt them, did you?" Gale asked.
"No, I used my electric power to hack the data and... well, maybe rewrote a few workers' brains to convince them. But they're perfectly fine, otherwise," she said, waving a hand dismissively.
"Brainwash, huh..."
"Anyway, go up there," she said, ignoring his disapproval. A hatch in the ceiling slid open, revealing the night sky.
"Why?"
"So, you can collect the wind," she said as if it were obvious. "Listen, you may not realize it, but the spirit your friend messed with is seriously dangerous."
"Turbo Granny?"
"Yes. She's Shono city's top dog spirit and you'll definitely need some prep time if you plan on fighting her. I'll drop you off, but I have to move on to my own target."
Gale looked at her, "And you'll definitely save Ayase-san, right?"
"Ah, yeah... that too. D-Definitely," Terra tried to brush it off, but Gale could tell her focus was clearly more on dealing with the alien issue than helping Ayase.
Gale's eyes narrowed, sensing her indifference, but he didn't press it further. Instead, he leapt up through the hatch, feeling the wind rush around him as he prepared for the second fight of his life that day. Only then did he finally take in the ship's design, his eyes widening.
"It's... a train?!" he asked, noticing the UFO's shape closely resembled the train from his dreams, Denliner. Except this one had a sleek black body with glowing purple lights instead of the white and red from the visions.
Terra gave him a glance, "What? Got a problem with it?"
"N-No, no problem," Gale stammered, trying to shake off his surprise. The resemblance was uncanny, but he decided not to question it. "Let's go, then."
At his signal, Terra activated the UFO. A hatch in the floor slid open, revealing a strange bike perched on some kind of conveyor belt. It rose smoothly into view, and Gale realized it was the vehicle's control system.
'It is Denliner!' Gale sweat dropped, it's like the imaginary series from his dream made its way into the real world one way or another. 'But this UFO doesn't seem to be able to time travel'
Terra revved the bike and the UFO surged forward, slicing through the night sky. Gale tightened his grip, the wind swirling around him as the ship accelerated, its sleek form a blur against the dark cityscape
"Whooaaa!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the roaring wind. But as terrifying as it was, he could feel the power building within him. The speed amplified the wind swirling around his body, and his senses sharpened, fully alert.
Inside the cockpit, Terra monitored his position, occasionally glancing back with mild amusement. "You're not chickening out up there, are you?" she teased through the intercom.
"No way!" Gale shouted back, clutching the edge of Terra's UFO as it streaked across the city. Below, Shono City's lights blurred into vibrant trails of color as they sped toward the haunted tunnel.
"Terra," Gale called suddenly, his voice crackling slightly through the wind, "you weren't serious back there, right?"
"About what? Brainwashing you? If that's the case, I was absolutely serious."
"Nah... I don't buy it. Even if you did, you wouldn't wipe out all my free will."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Your maniacal laughter, dramatic flair, and conqueror ambitions did catch me off guard. But back when we were walking around the city center, you looked like you were actually enjoying yourself. When you bought that double-scooped ice cream, you seemed... I don't know, almost childlike, like you didn't have the happiest childhood. When I showed you the library, you said..."
'...You're lucky to have people who take care of you. Not everyone does...' Gale recalled
"... that was genuine, isn't? I don't know what you've been through but whatever that is, it made some of your screws lose, but i know you're not that bad."
The intercom went silent for a moment. Terra's hands tightened on the controls. Her usual smugness faltered, and an uncharacteristic tension filled the cockpit.
Then, with an annoyed scoff, she revved the engine harder, making the train accelerate.
"OWAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Gale yelled, clutching the UFO for dear life as the wind howled, the train hurtled forward like a bullet through the night.
Moments later, Terra's UFO slowed to a hover, floating high above the ground just outside the mouth of the tunnel.
On top, Gale was catching his breath- not because he was weak. No, he was stronger than ever, his body charged with the sheer amount of wind he'd gathered. His panting came from the adrenaline. after all, riding on a vehicle instead of in it was an entirely different beast.
"Your stop, Kaze-kun (wind-boy,)" Terra called, her tone dry.
Gale steadied himself, his expression firm. "All right...thanks for the ride, Terra. I'm not letting Takakura down. Just make sure Ayase-san's safe, okay?"
Terra rolled her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Yeah, yeah. Get going, and don't die. After all," she muttered, her voice softer, "I'd hate to lose my best 'gemstone sample.'"
"Whatever you say." With a smile, Gale jumped from the UFO. The wind he'd gathered swirled protectively around him, cushioning his fall as he landed just outside the tunnel's entrance.
The wind didn't scatter or fade, the sheer volume he had gathered kept his power steady and poised.
Gale glanced upward, catching a fleeting glimpse of Terra's UFO as it activated its cloaking system and zipped off toward the abandoned hospital where Ayase awaited.
With a deep breath, he turned to face the darkness of the tunnel, resolve hardening in his chest.
"Takakura-san! You there! Answer me! It's me, Gale!"
Gale's voice echoed down the empty tunnel, swallowed by an eerie silence. He muttered to himself, "This isn't working... maybe..." Summoning his charged power, he released a gust of wind that swirled around him in a soft hum, spreading out like a radar to sense everything nearby.
"There!" he whispered, pinpointing a faint signal deeper in the tunnel. With a burst of wind, he zipped forward, closing the distance. What he found was Takakura, collapsed and convulsing on the ground, his body rigid with spasms.
"Takakura-san! What happened?" Gale crouched down beside him.
Takakura looked up, his face pale and contorted with pain. "G-Gale... you need to leave... but don't run. I... I can't hold her back much longer."
Gale's hand reached out, but he hesitated. "What are you talking about? I have to get you out of here!"
As he moved to lift Takakura, Takakura's skin became red, his eyes glowing a haunting yellow. His body twisted at unnatural angles, joints popping and limbs elongating.
Gale's eyes widened, and he leaped back. "Possession?!"
With a final shudder, Takakura's transformation completed, leaving him standing as Turbo Granny. A modern yokkai with long messy hair, red skin, eyes narrowed, gleaming with a malevolent yellow light as she sneered, "Another brat... how tiresome."
"You! Give him back!"
Turbo Granny scoffed, tilting her head mockingly. "Ya come into my domain and start barking orders? You got a death wish, HUH?!"
The tunnel was suddenly bathed in an ominous red light, and the temperature seemed to drop as a malicious energy filled the tunnel
'She's Shono City's top dog spirit.' Terra's earlier warning echoed in Gale's mind. He swallowed hard, but his feet remained firmly planted, determination cutting through his fear.
Turbo Granny cracked her elongated knuckles, her twisted grin exposing rows of jagged teeth. "You're trembling, kid. What's the matter? Too much for ya already?"
"Maybe..." Gale crouched slightly, the wind swirling around his arms and legs like a living force. Launching forward in a blur. His fist drove toward her chest, the coiled wind amplifying its force.
"RIEDER PUNC-"
The impact never came. Turbo Granny's claw caught his punch mid-strike, her hand barely flinching as the tunnel reverberated from the clash.
"Fast," she sneered, her tone dripping with mockery. "But ya hit like a kitten."
Gale gritted his teeth and spun on his heel, unleashing a wind-enhanced roundhouse kick. The force sliced through the air like a whip, but Turbo Granny ducked effortlessly, her grotesque agility accompanying her twisted frame.
"You'll have to do better than that!" she cackled, claws gleaming as she lunged.
Gale pivoted just in time, the razor-sharp claws slicing through the air inches from his torso. A powerful gust of wind blasted from beneath him, pushing him back and creating some much-needed distance.
"Damn it!" he muttered under his breath, his mind scrambling for a plan.
"What's the matter? Getting cold feet?" Turbo Granny jeered, her glowing eyes locking onto his. Without warning, she surged forward, her speed blurring as she closed the gap in an instant.
Thinking fast, Gale twisted and blasted wind from his feet, launching himself skyward. "How's this for cold feet?" he shouted, slamming his fists downward with a concussive shockwave of wind.
The tunnel howled from the impact, dirt and debris swirling chaotically in every direction. For a moment, he thought he might have gained the upper hand. But as the dust cleared, Turbo Granny stepped out of the chaos, completely unharmed.
"Not bad," she said, her feral grin widening. "But you're just a little breeze, boy. Let me show you what real speed looks like!"
Before Gale could react, Turbo Granny shot forward, a blur too fast for his eyes to follow. Her claws raked across his side, and a sharp pain erupted as blood seeped through the torn fabric of his hoodie.
"Urghh!" Gale grunted, stumbling back and clutching his bleeding shoulder. Each step felt heavier as Turbo Granny's relentless speed and ferocity pushed him closer to collapse. Her twisted limbs lashed out like whips, cracking through the air, narrowly missing him with every dodge.
His footwork was decent, but even the quickest man alive couldn't dodge every raindrop. Gale was always just a step too slow, and little by little, fresh streaks marked his hoodie, with scratches starting to mar his skin. The worst part? Gale could tell the granny wasn't even trying yet.
Another swipe came, and Gale barely twisted away, summoning a burst of wind to propel himself backward. The gust carried him skidding across the rough tunnel floor.
"Stay still!" Turbo Granny snarled, leaping toward him with claws outstretched.
Reacting on instinct, Gale thrust both hands forward, releasing a powerful gust that slammed into her midair. The force shoved her back briefly, but instead of frustration, amusement danced in her glowing yellow eyes. Landing with eerie grace, she narrowed her gaze and lunged again, faster than before.
This time, Gale wasn't fast enough. Her claws slashed across his side, sending a fresh wave of searing pain through his body. He staggered, barely keeping his balance, his legs trembling under him.
"Getting tired already?" Turbo Granny sneered, circling him like a predator savoring its prey.
Gale gritted his teeth, summoning the wind to push himself upright. He couldn't keep this up much longer. Her strength was unreal, each strike landing harder than the last. His mind raced for a solution, and then it hit him, the urban legend.
He wasn't going to win this fight by brute force. He had to change the game. Wiping the blood from his mouth, he forced a grin.
"You know," he called out, sidestepping another swipe of her claws, "for someone who's supposed to be the fastest, you're not all that impressive."
Turbo Granny froze, her glowing eyes narrowing into slits. "What did you just say?"
"I said you're slow," Gale taunted, circling her carefully. "Isn't the legend all about how you can hit 100 kilo per hour? Because right now, you're not even keeping up with me."
Her sneer turned into a snarl. "you dare insult me?! Do you even hear yourself?! Look at you!"
"Why not prove it?" Gale continued, his grin widening despite his pounding heart. "Let's settle this with a game of tag. If you catch me, you can do whatever you want. But if I win, you let Takakura go."
Turbo Granny tilted her head, her neck cracking audibly as she straightened. "A game of tag?" she echoed, her voice dripping with amusement. "Ya think you can outrun me, brat?"
"Only one way to find out," Gale shot back, the confidence in his voice masking the desperation in his chest. "But you'll have to give me a minute's head start. After all, I'm just a slow human, right?"
Turbo Granny chuckled darkly, the sound reverberating through the tunnel like a sinister melody. "Fine. I'll play yer little game. But when I catch you- and I will catch you- you'll wish you'd never crossed my path."
Gale nodded, his muscles coiled like a spring. There was no room for error.
"Your time starts... now!" she growled, her voice rolling through the tunnel like thunder.
Without hesitation, Gale bolted toward the exit, channeling every ounce of stored wind energy to propel himself forward.
"Fifty-nine... fifty-eight..."
He burst into the open air, the cold night biting at his skin. The city lights glimmered in the distance, but he didn't head toward them. He needed to lead heraway, out of the city where her power would start to wane.
"Forty-seven... forty-six..."
The wind swirled around him, amplifying his speed. Trees blurred past as he sprinted toward the city's outskirts, his lungs burning with every breath.
"Thirty-nine... thirty-eight..."
The air behind him felt suffocating, thick with the pressure of her presence. Even counting down, she radiated power, a reminder that she was mere moments away from unleashing it all.
"Twenty-nine... twenty-eight..."
Gale pushed harder, vaulting over fallen logs and weaving through the uneven terrain. Each gust of wind he summoned propelled him forward, but the strain on his body was relentless. He couldn't falter—not for an instant.
"Fifteen... fourteen..."
He glanced over his shoulder for the briefest moment. The tunnel was now a faint shadow in the distance. His gambit was working—she was following. But the hardest part was still to come.
"...three... two... one..."
The night exploded with a deafening roar as Turbo Granny surged forward, a blur of raw speed and malice. "YOUR TIME IS UP. HERE I COME, BRAT!"
Gale didn't dare look back. He couldn't afford to. Every ounce of focus, every bit of energy, was funnelled into one singular goal, RUN
===
Terra's UFO hovered in silence above the desolate hospital on Shono City's outskirts, cloaked from prying human eyes. She winced, the dull ache from Gale's Rider Punch still reverberating through her ribs.
"Of all the species to lose to, a human," she muttered, slumping into her chair with a grimace. "I wasn't even trying that hard... right?"
The thought brought little comfort. Gale had been unexpectedly formidable, not just strong but annoyingly tenacious. That stupid, defiant grin of his, even when battered and overpowered, nag at her. Worse still was how he spoke to her, as though he saw something she herself couldn't.
"Me? Childlike? What a joke…" she growled, gripping the armrest of her chair as if to steady herself against the memory.
She hadn't planned to be pushed this hard, much less to lose. But a deal was a deal. Letting some third rate aliens mess with her planet? Out of the question.
"Let's get this over with," she sighed, pressing a button on the console to deploy a surveillance drone.
===
The drone zipped through the hospital's crumbling hallways, its purple lens scanning faded walls and shattered equipment.
The building was unnervingly silent, and somewhere in the distance came the faint sound of something dragging across the floor.
"Hmm. No signs of your standard alien goons," Terra muttered, adjusting the drone's speed.
Rounding a corner, the drone abruptly stopped mid-flight. A figure stood ahead, its back turned. Its skin was pale, a grin spread ear to ear, his eyes were hollow , dressed neatly in a white collared shirt tucked into black pants, complete with a polished belt and shoes. It tilted its head slightly, as if sensing the drone's presence.
"Serpoians…" Terra hissed, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
She slammed a button, commanding the drone to retreat, but it was too late. The figure turned, raising its hand. A shockwave rippled outward, obliterating the drone in an instant.
The screen went black. Terra leaned back in her seat, her lips twisting into a snarl.
"So, the Serpoians are here," she muttered. "Perfect. Just what I needed, slug freaks treating my planet like their personal buffet."
===
Terra descended from her UFO, landing atop the hospital's roof with barely a sound. Her cane hummed faintly with energy as she raised it, scanning for signs of movement.
Inside, the building reeked of mildew, and the oppressive darkness pressed in from all sides. Her cane emitted a faint purple glow, illuminating cracked tiles and peeling paint as she advanced.
"Banana thieves," she muttered under her breath, stepping carefully over debris.
A sound broke the stillness, faint noise from further down the hallway. Terra halted, her gaze narrowing.
From the shadows emerged a Serpo, its human guise still intact. The crisp shirt and polished shoes it wore looked strangely out of place amidst the ruin. Its hollow eyes fixed on Terra with unsettling calm.
"Well, well," the Serpo said, its voice polite but unnerving. "Another woman person wandering into our harvest grounds. Are you the previous woman person's friend?"
Terra smirked, tapping her cane lightly against the floor. "And here I thought slugs like you preferred the shadows. Guess I was wrong."
The Serpo blinked, seemingly caught off guard by her confidence. It raised a hand, the fingers twitching in an unnatural rhythm. "No need for hostility. We're simply... collectors, preserving the balance of our species. Why resist when you can help us continue our noble work?"
Terra scoffed, spinning her cane idly. "Right. Let me guess, 'bananas,' isn't it? That's what you call them, isn't it? Honestly, if your entire species depends on organ theft, that's just pathetic."
The Serpo's polite tone vanished, replaced by a chilling edge. "You speak as though you understand us, but you are just a woman person—"
"Wrong," Terra snapped, her cane crackling to life. In a flash, she surged forward, the glowing purple arc of her cane slashing across the Serpo's midsection.
The force of the blow sent it hurtling down the hallway, crashing through a rusted gurney before colliding with the far wall.
"Let's get one thing straight," Terra said, standing tall. "I'm here to conquer this planet, and you have no place in it."
The Serpo groaned, rising unsteadily. As it moved, its human facade began to peel away, revealing its true form. Its slug-like body shimmered in the dim light, black-and-white patterns lining its humanoid frame. A bloated stomach quivered with each motion, and its crystalline cyan eyes glared at Terra with newfound recognition. The room painted by blue light.
"You're... not an earth person," it hissed, its split, toeless feet scraping against the floor.
"Now, are you going to slither away and return the girl, or do I have to teach you respect for Dominion territory?" Terra replied, spinning her cane with a flourish.
The Serpo's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Dominion, is it? How unexpected. Your arrogance betrays you."
Before Terra could respond, two more Serpo stepped from the shadows, their disguises discarded. One had glowing pink eyes, the other yellow.
"Dominion technology. Fascinating," sneered the pink-eyed Serpo.
"A rare specimen indeed," the yellow-eyed one added, its hands forming a T-shape as it began channeling psychokinetic energy.
Terra's eyes flashed purple. She sent a crackling arc of electricity toward the pink-eyed Serpo, knocking it off its feet with a guttural screech.
"Fie!" The yellow eyed Serpo retaliated with a psychokinetic shockwave, obliterating a section of the wall as Terra darted aside. Her cane hummed as she counterattacked, unleashing a blast of electricity at the cyan eyed Serpo. It blocked with surprising speed using psychokinesis field, though the force drove it back.
Terra manipulated electrical signals within her own cells gave her an edge, allowing her to perform superhuman feats. With a burst of speed, she struck the cyan eyed Serpo squarely in the chest, sending it crashing into the debris.
"Banana thieves and amateurs," she muttered, breathing heavily. She was not in her best condition because of the previous fight. "Could you make this any easier?"
But the Serpos were relentless. The pink-eyed one, still smoldering from her earlier attack, rose to its feet, its crystalline eyes glowing ominously. "You're strong, Dominion person, but even you cannot stand against us all."
The three Serpo synchronized, their hands forming eerie T shapes as the air grew thick with pressure. A low hum reverberated through the corridor, causing the walls to tremble. Terra's instincts screamed a warning, but before she could act, an invisible force enveloped her.
"Urgh?!"
The weight was crushing. Her cane sparked futilely as she tried to fight back, but her energy drained rapidly. The field pressed against her body with unbearable intensity, pinning her in place.
"You... think this will stop me?" she snarled, her voice strained as she struggled against the invisible force. The pressure bore down on her relentlessly, her clothing tearing under the strain, exposing her to the cold, decayed floor beneath.
The cyan eyed Serpo approached, its voice filled with condescension. "Your arrogance blinds you. The Amazing Zone subdues even the most stubborn of spirits. For a Dominion like you, it is insurmountable."
Terra gritted her teeth, her vision blurring as exhaustion crept in. The toll of her earlier fight with Gale compounded her weariness, and now, even her enhanced physiology seemed unable to resist the overwhelming power of the Serpo's combined attack.
With a final surge of effort, she tried to teleport retreat but her cane released a weak arc of electricity instead, it fizzled out harmlessly against the shimmering field.
"Enough." the pink-eyed Serpo stepped closer. It placed its foot on her head, pinning her to the ground with an air of triumph.
Terra's strength gave out. Her body fell limp, and the last of her energy faded as she stared into the crumbling corridor.
'This is humiliating…'
===
For a start, Ayase jolted awake, her head spinning as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. She was seated in some sort of floating chair, her arms and legs strapped down tightly. She had been stripped to nothing but her undergarments and shoes.
"What in the…?" Ayase muttered, groggy and disoriented. Her gaze drifted to her side, where she spotted another girl slumped unconscious. This girl had purple hair, her body similarly restrained, though strange glowing purple lines snaked across her skin, like some kind of surgical mark.
Ayase's eyes widened in alarm. "What the hell is going on here?!"
"Hello to you, woman person," a polite voice greeted her.
"Gyaah!" Ayase yelped, whipping her head around. From seemingly nowhere, three slug-like aliens appeared from the shadow.
"We are Serpoians, named so because we came from the planet Serpo."
"That's... pretty obvious!" Ayase sweatdropped.
"Please don't be afraid. We are a friendly people," another Serpo said obliviously.
Ayase's eyebrow twitched. "Friendly people don't strip girls naked! Where are my clothes? And what did you do to her?!" she shouted, and gestured toward the purple haired girl beside her.
"Your belongings are being handled with care," a Serpo assured her, stepping aside to reveal a table. On it sat shredded clothes, her phone, another phone she didn't recognize, and a regal cane.
"Handled with care my ass! You owe me compensation!" Ayase glared at the aliens.
"As for the Dominion woman person beside you," the Serpo continued, ignoring her outrage, "we have not yet done anything to her. The markings you see are augmentation lines, unique to Dominion physiology. Her body is enhanced, making it impossible for us to proceed until we better understand her biology."
"And you think I care?!" Ayase shouted. "Just let me go already!"
"Serpoians," completely disregarding her protests, one of the aliens explained, "are an all-male species. To increase our numbers, we rely on cloning."
"Seriously?! Are you even listening to me?!"
"However, this process has rendered our evolution stagnant. As all individuals are identical, emotions such as joy, grief, and pleasure have been eradicated. To restore these functions and acquire reproductive capability, we require your kind's banana organs."
"Say what?!"
From one of the Serpo, a strange mechanical apparatus came out of its lower regions.
"We will now perform the Sex Act. Afterward, we will extract your womb and banana organs for our research."
"AS IF!" Ayase screamed. "Sure, I've dated some real dirtbags, but I still managed to walk away with my virginity intact! I've kept myself pure for the Ken Takakura I've yet to meet, and I'll be damned if I let some creepy-ass aliens take that away from me!"
One of the Serpo stepped forward, placing its cold hand on her forehead. Instantly, Ayase's body stiffened as a strange sensation spread through her.
"To arouse your desire, we will control your brainwaves with psychokinesis," the alien said calmly, humming sound vibrated in the room.
"Now, how is that? Your body grows warmer and warmer, does it not?"
Ayase grit her teeth, sweat beading on her forehead. "No... my... Ken Takakura…" she whispered through sheer force of will, her voice straining against the alien's influence.
"You are resisting our psychokinesis? What remarkable force of will," the Serpo tilted its head in mild intrigue. "However, I shall proceed."
Just as the situation teetered on the edge of disaster, Ayase's phone rang.
Tone-neng, tone-neng, tone-nene-neng!
"What's this? Her phone?" one of the Serpo remarked. "A poorly-timed caller, I presume."
The nearest Serpo reached for the phone, intending to shut it off. But the moment its fingers brushed the screen, something shot out of it.
"GRRRRRRR!"
A distorted roar echoed through the room as Turbo Granny, still possessing Okarun, burst forth. Breaking the phone. The half-transformed figure wasted no time, lunging at the closest Serpo. In a blur of feral motion, Turbo Granny chomped down hard on the alien's lower region before tossing it like a ragdoll into the wall, killing it instantly.
"Miss Ayase, I'm so sorry!" Okarun's broken voice called out from within the twisted, monstrous face. "There really was a spirit, and I wound up getting cursed by Turbo Granny!"
Ayase blinked, tears welling in her eyes as she shouted, "Okarun, thank god! Please save me!"
The remaining Serpo turned to face the intruder. "Who are you? Transportation via cellphone... such technology exceeds even ours."
Okarun didn't respond with anything heroic or cool. Instead, his human voice trembled as he muttered, "Help me... I can't control myself. I'm going to hurt someone again, just like I did with Gal—" His voice cut off as Turbo Granny fully took over.
"LET ME GOBBLE YOUR SCHLONGS!" Turbo Granny screeched.
"Come on! Get a hold of yourself!"
One of the remaining Serpos turned to face Turbo Granny. "Human male. You do not have permission to enter this place. Leave at once. If you refuse… we'll take your banana organ."
Though The Serpos couldn't activate their Amazing Zone without a third member, they were still determined to fight. One of them raised its hand, its voice echoing through the room.
"Six Sensory Organs"
A wave of telekinetic force shot toward Turbo Granny. In response, she scrambled up the wall, her unnatural movements as fluid as they were grotesque. The Serpo's attacks smashed into the surface, creating massive craters that showered the room with debris, but Turbo Granny was already darting around, evading every blow.
"He's fast! I can't train my psychokinesis on him-" the Serpo began, but its words cut off abruptly as it looked down.
Turbo Granny was already there.
CRUSH
She sank her jagged teeth into the Serpo's lower region with a sickening crunch. The alien screamed in agony as Turbo Granny lifted it into the air, slamming its body repeatedly into the ground until it went limp. Another loud crack echoed through the room as the Serpo's lifeless body crumpled to the floor. Two down.
The last Serpo stared at its fallen comrades. "Our precious banana organs! You banana thief!" it screeched, forming a T-shape with its hands as it began to channel its psychokinetic energy.
"Serpoian Form Surveys Method! I have you now!"
The remaining Serpo unleashed a crushing wave of force, slamming Turbo Granny into the wall and creating another crater. Dust and broken tiles cascaded from the impact, and Turbo Granny's grotesque face began to crack, revealing Okarun's face beneath.
"Agh!" Okarun groaned
"Okarun!"
The Serpo, oblivious to the chaos it had caused, spoke with a calm ignorance. "Never have we encountered such a physically aggressive person. We have established friendly relationships with mankind," its tone matter-of-factly. "So please, give us your banana organs."
Okarun, struggling against the weight of the psychokinesis, screamed back. "You can have it! If it's mine to give, you can have whatever you want!" His voice poured out in a torrent. "ALL MY LIFE, I'VE WANTED TO MEET ALIENS! EVER SINCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I'VE LOOKED TO THE SKIES AND BEGGED FOR UFOs TO COME! BUT THEY NEVER DID! NO MATTER HOW MUCH I CALLED FOR THEM, THEY NEVER APPEARED! HUMANS BULLIED ME FOR KICKS… AND ALIENS IGNORED ME! NO ONE WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE MY EXISTENCE!"
Tears welled up in his eyes as his voice cracked. "BUT MISS AYASE… SHE ACTUALLY STOOD UP FOR ME! SO DON'T YOU LAY A HAND ON HER! IF YOU HURT HER, YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH IT!"
Summoning all his strength, Okarun pushed back against the crushing force. His body trembled as Turbo Granny's influence began to surge again, his voice became distorted with malice. "I'LL EVEN BECOME A MONSTER IF IT'S FOR HER SAKE!"
"You can do it, Okarun! Show 'em what a man you are!"
"Fire!" the Serpo intensified its psychokinetic assault. The pressure increased, creating a crater within the crater. Okarun's body shook violently, the strain becoming unbearable.
"Miss Ayase… I don't think I can do this after all…"
"Are you giving up already?!" Ayase exasperated. But her retort was cut short as the Serpo placed a cold hand on her forehead once again, its other hand maintaining its psychokinetic grip on Okarun.
"A barbaric person such as yourself will not suffice for a friend. What's more, we prefer woman persons to male persons." Its grotesque apparatus emerged once again from its lower region, preparing the act. "Once more, I shall arouse your desire."
A supernatural hum echoed in the room
Ayase clenched her jaw, her body trembling as she fought back. "Unghhh…"
Suddenly, a voice echoed in her mind. It was her grandmother's 'Now, send out your chi. Focus your energy below your belly. Then visualize your chi, sending it out from your forehead.'
"Why am I remembering this now?" Ayase thought, the memory flashing in her mind. With no other choice, she closed her eyes and followed the instructions.
An explosion of green energy burst forth from her body, bathing the room in its radiant glow. Her restraints shattered as the chair disintegrated beneath her.
"No way! Miss Ayase, you have paranormal abilities?!"
"I'm as shocked as you are!" she yelled back, equally stunned by what had just happened.
The Serpo stumbled, its crystalline eyes flickering in disbelief. "My psychokinesis is being pushed back?! How?! Could it be? Did I overstimulate her brainwaves, causing the woman person's chakra to open?!"
"She's the real thing. Grandma's an honest-to-goodness spirit medium!" Ayase shouted. "Thank you, Grandma. Now I can send this scumbag….!"
She turned to the remaining Serpo, emerald aura flaring around her. "FLYING TO NEXT YEAR!" she launched powerful kick. The alien raised its arm to block, but-
CRACK!
Its arm snapped like a twig, and the force of the blow sent it flying across the room, crashing through a wall.
BOOM!
From outside, it looked as though the moon had suddenly exploded. In truth, the impact had disrupted the UFO's cloaking field, revealing the sphirical craft hovering above the city.
"Gyaah?! The heck?!" Ayase screamed, clutching the floor to keep herself from being sucked out into the sky as the wind roared through the broken wall. "We're in a UFO?!"
She glanced over her shoulder. "Okarun, you okay? We gotta get outta here before we fa-" Her words were cut short as Okarun, still partially possessed, lunged and bit her arm.
"Ouch! You moron! Get a hold of yourself!" Ayase shouted, jerking her arm free. "Damn it!" She clenched her fist, summoning the green light once more. Her energy surged, forcing the spirit out of Okarun's body with a flash of power.
Turbo Granny emerged in her spiritl form, her face twisting into a mocking grin as she loomed over them.
"Turbo Granny?!"
"Who're ya callin' Granny, brat?!"
Okarun groaned, spasming the floor. "The curse still isn't lifted, even though she's left his body?!" Ayase gasped.
Turbo Granny sneered, her ethereal form shifting ominously. "I've taken his schlongs. As long as I have 'em, the curse won't lift. If you want 'em back, you'll have to come to the tunnel. This place is too far for me. In the tunnel, I'll take you on as much as you want… brat."
With a malicious laugh, her form began to fade. But before she disappeared completely, she added, "And tell that grass-hair brat to come too. He's lucky I couldn't possess him back then. I'll kill em for sure next time."
"YOU HAG! GIVE HIM HIS THINGY BACK!" Ayase yelled at her, and pointing at Okarun. "Grass-hair? Are you talking about Kusam—"
Her sentence was interrupted by another explosion as the UFO shuddered violently.
BOOM
"Okarun, we gotta get out of here!" Ayase shouted. She glanced at the unconscious purple-haired girl beside her. "You grab that cane and phone from the table! I'll help her!"
Okarun staggered to his feet, nodding. He hurried to the table, wincing as he noticed Ayase's phone. "Miss Ayase, your phone-"
"We don't have time! Just grab the stuffs!" Ayase broke the chair that restrained the girl.
Okarun nodded, snatching up the cane and the phones before rushing back to Ayase. Together, they prepared to escape.
Ayase wrapped one arm around Okarun and slung the purple-haired girl over her shoulder. Green energy swirled around her as she created a protective field. "Hold on tight!" she commanded.
The UFO plummeted from the sky, crashing into the abandoned hospital and tumbling onto the road below. Flames and smoke erupted from the wreckage.
One of the walls of the UFO warped outward, denting repeatedly as a rhythmic pounding echoed from within.
KICK! KICK!
With a final metallic screech, the wall gave way, and the makeshift escape hatch blew outward. Ayase stumbled out of the wreckage, still carrying the unconscious girl over her shoulder, with Okarun following close behind, clutching the belongings he'd grabbed.
===
Once they were far enough from the blast radius, Ayase and Okarun collapsed onto the ground. Ayase gently laid the unconscious purple-haired girl onto the grass, then slumped down beside her. Okarun flopped onto his back, panting heavily, while Ayase raised her glowing hand, still suppressing Okarun's transformation. Oddly, the green aura began to flicker before vanishing entirely.
"Welp," Ayase muttered flatly, staring up at the starry sky. "I definitely believe in aliens now. I mean, I was abducted and all."
"And I definitely believe in spirits," Okarun replied in the same monotone. "I got cursed by one."
For a moment, neither of them spoke, letting the quiet night settle over them. Then Ayase broke the silence.
"So, what do we do now? That girl... and Kusami too?" She glanced at the purple haired stranger lying peacefully next to her.
"Good question," Okarun mumbled, before his eyes suddenly shot wide open. "OH YEAH, GALE!"
"Huh? What about him?"
"I... I attacked Gale!" Okarun bolted upright.
"You attacked Kusami?! What happened then?"
"I'm not sure…" Okarun ran a hand through his hair. "He came to help me, but that granny possessed me. The last thing I remember is us being on the road, heading to the next city. I was on the ground, the granny left my body, and then she tried to possess Gale... but she couldn't. Then she came back to me. We need to find him!" Without waiting, Okarun scrambled to his feet and started running.
"Wait, what about the girl?!" Ayase yelled after him
"You take care of her!" Okarun called back, quickly yanking off his shirt and tossing it to Ayase, who was still dressed only in her undergarments from the abduction.
"Can't do that! If you're away from me, you'll go berserk again-" Ayase protested, but stopped mid-sentence as Okarun turned back, his face flushed.
"And please wear that," Okarun said, his voice quieter. "I can't talk to you like that… I'm an awkward fellow, after all."
BADUM.
Ayase felt her heart skip a beat. "Huh?"
"So please," Okarun continued earnestly, "wear it. If you don't, I won't be able to speak properly."
Ayase blinked, completely caught off guard by his sudden sincerity. 'Why is my heart racing? No, it's not like that. It must be because he said Ken Takakura's lines. Calm down, Momo. Would ya?'
Awkwardly, she slipped on the shirt. As she adjusted it, she glanced back at him. "You know, now that I think about it... what's your name again? I'm really bad at remembering names. Sorry for all the nicknames. I'll start calling you by your real name from now on."
"It's Ken Takakura."
BOOM.
The world seemed to stop. Even with the distant UFO wreckage burning in the background, Ayase felt everything freeze. Her thoughts stuttered to a halt.
"NO WAY! I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT!"
"What are you on about? That's my real name," Okarun frowned.
"Nu-uh! You're Okarun, and just that from now on!" Ayase declared, pointing at him.
"You-! My real name is-" Okarun's words faltered as his gaze shifted upward. "Huh."
"What?" Ayase followed his line of sight.
The night sky rippled unnaturally, like a pond disturbed by a thrown stone. The shimmering distortion moved closer, spreading ominously.
"Wait a minute…" Ayase's eyes widened in horror. "Okarun, that's another UFO!"
"Crap." Okarun muttered as Ayase grabbed his arm.
They bolted toward the unconscious girl, but as they arrived, she was already standing, her cane gripped tightly in her hand. The strange purple lines that had once covered her body were now gone.
"DAMN YOU, SLUGS!" the girl screamed. "I'LL KILL YOU ALL! YOU RUINED MY FAVORITE CLOTHES! AND I GOT SAVED BY HUMANS! HUMILIATION! THIS IS THE WORS-" Her rant stopped as she turned and locked eyes with Ayase and Okarun.
"Uh…" Ayase and Okarun froze, both sweat dropping as the tension thickened. But the hum of the approaching UFO reminded them of the danger.
"Hey, uh, you, we need to-" Ayase started nervously.
The girl cut her off, swinging her cane dramatically. "If you're going to be annoying, then get out of my way! I only agreed to this because that wind boy deal-" Her gaze flickered upward, her expression hardening. "Oh, for Dominion's sake. MORE of them?!"
"Wait, no… this is good. I'll break them down," she muttered, her grip tightening.
"What are you talking about?! You can't take down an entire UFO!" Ayase flabbergasted.
"We don't have time to argue, humans." the girl extended her cane. "Grab it. I'll give you the best seats to watch their obliteration."
"This girl is nuts!" Ayase whispered to Okarun.
"Even so, we don't have many options," Okarun replied, eyes darting nervously as the Serpo UFO fired a blast in their direction.
With no time to argue further, they both grabbed the girl's cane. The world around them shifted instantly, and before they knew it, Ayase and Okarun found themselves inside a high-tech cockpit.
===
"Allow me to introduce myself, humans!" the girl tapped her cane against the ground. All of their clothes shimmered, transforming into school uniforms. "I'm Terra Shocker, future conqueror of Earth. This planet is mine to rule, and I will eradicate all annoyances!"
Terra mounted a strange bike that emerged from the floor of the cockpit. As she revved it, the entire UFO surged forward, accelerating toward the Serpo ship.
"What the-?! You're an alien too?!" Okarun's jaw dropped. "Miss Ayase, did you know about this?!"
"Well, I knew she was an alien, but I didn't know she had her own UFO!"
Terra's UFO rammed into the Serpo craft, forcing it out of its cloaked state. The Serpos retaliated, firing blasts and releasing flares to disrupt Terra's pursuit.
"It's just like a sci-fi movie! This is so cool!" Okarun exclaimed, his inner sci-fi otaku fully unleashed as Terra chased the Serpo ship through the skies.
The two UFOs streaked through the night sky, twisting and turning like predators in a deadly dance. Terra's Train-like ship was in hot pursuit of the Serpo craft, which zigzagged desperately to avoid her relentless attacks. Flares burst from the Serpo ship, illuminating the night as they sought to throw off Terra's aim.
Terra smirked, her hands gripping the bike's handlebars tightly as her ship responded to every movement. "Pathetic. These slug freaks think they can outmaneuver me? I'll turn them into cosmic dust. No, Shrimp Paste is more fitting!"
The cockpit shook violently as a blast from the Serpo ship grazed Terra's UFO. Ayase yelped, grabbing onto the nearest console to steady herself. "Hey! Maybe you could NOT get us shot down?! We're kind of in here too, you know!"
Terra shot Ayase an unimpressed glance. "If you're scared, feel free to jump out. I'm not slowing down for you."
"Are you crazy?!" Ayase barked back, her voice rising above the chaos. "We wouldn't survive two seconds out there!"
Okarun, meanwhile, was glued to the window, his eyes sparkling as he watched the aerial battle unfold. "This is incredible! The maneuvering! The firepower! I've never seen anything like this!"
"Focus!" Ayase snapped, jabbing him in the side. "We're in the middle of a fight for our lives here!"
"Let the boy enjoy himself," Terra interjected smugly. "At least someone appreciates my skill." She spun the bike sharply, causing the UFO to barrel roll just as another blast streaked past them.
"GAH! WARN US BEFORE YOU DO THAT!" Ayase clutched the console for dear life.
Okarun, however, was practically bouncing in his seat. "That roll! It's just like the dogfights in Star Crusaders! Terra-san, do you have plasma cannons? Tractor beams? Anti-grav stabilizers?!"
"Of course I do." Terra tapped a button on her handlebar, and two massive energy cannons unfolded from the sides of the train. "And I intend to use all of them!"
The Serpo craft suddenly dove, attempting to gain distance. Terra's UFO followed, hot on its tail. The energy cannons charged with a high pitched whine before unleashing a volley of crackling purple blasts.
The Serpo ship swerved violently, avoiding most of the shots, though one grazed its wing, sending sparks flying. The ship retaliated, firing a series of smaller, rapid-energy bolts that streaked toward Terra's UFO.
"Terra-san! Look out!" Okarun shouted, pointing as the incoming projectiles lit up the cockpit.
Terra growled. "Sit down, nerd. I've got this." She yanked the handlebars hard, her UFO spinning sideways to dodge the barrage. The sheer force of the maneuver sent Ayase and Okarun tumbling across the cockpit.
"This is insane! going to get us killed!" Ayase complained
"If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have bothered saving you!" Terra's eyes narrowing as she locked onto the Serpo ship.
Okarun, meanwhile, was still starstruck. "Terra-sam, can I ask, how does your UFO achieve such speed? Is it warp drive? Gravitic flux engines? Oh! Is it quantum tunneling?!"
"Trade secret, and this's not the time." Terra replied coolly, there was a hint of pride in her voice.
The Serpo craft suddenly dropped flares again, but this time, Terra's eyes gleamed. "Nice try. Let me show you what Dominion tech can do." She flipped a switch, and a holographic targeting reticle appeared in the cockpit. With a flick of her wrist, she adjusted the aim, locking onto the Serpo craft despite the interference.
Ayase frowned, her eyes darting to the screen. "Uh, what's happening now?"
"Something spectacular!" Terra said smugly. She pressed a button, and a guided missile shot from beneath her UFO, weaving through the air like a predator zeroing in on its prey.
The Serpo ship tried to evade, climbing higher and twisting in desperate maneuvers, but the missile followed relentlessly. Finally, it struck the Serpo craft's side with a resounding
BOOM.
"Yes!" Okarun cheered, punching the air. "Direct hit!"
"We're not done yet," Terra said sharply, her gaze locked on the crippled craft. "They'll try to escape, but I'm not letting them get away."
The Serpo ship fired one last desperate volley, but Terra dodged effortlessly, her UFO accelerating as she closed the gap.
Ayase glanced at Okarun, then back at Terra. "Are you seriously going to ram them again?!"
"Why not?" Terra replied with a smirk. "Worked the first time."
"This girl's insane!"
"Insanely skilled!" Okarun corrected Ayase's statement.
Terra's UFO surged forward, closing the distance in an instant. The two ships collided with a thunderous crash, the impact sending a shockwave rippling through the air. Sparks flew as the Serpo craft began to break apart, pieces of its hull falling toward the ground below.
The cockpit shook violently, and Ayase clung to the nearest console. "ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US?!"
"Relax," Terra said coolly. "Dominion ships are built to last. Unlike that pile of scrap."
Through the window, the Serpo craft finally gave out, erupting in a massive explosion that lit up the night sky.
"And boom" Terra said casually, leaning back on the bike. "That's how you handle a space slug."
The night sky began to shift as the first light of morning appeared on the horizon. The sun began to rise, painting the world in shades of orange and pink.
"That was the coolest thing I've ever seen." Okarun clapped his hands
Terra smirked, spinning her cane with practiced ease as she slowed the UFO to a hover. She glanced at Okarun. "Now, seeing you're here, Takakura-"
Ayase flinched, her face turning red. "His name is Okarun."
Terra raised an eyebrow but pressed on. "No? His name is Ken Taka-"
"AGHH, I DON'T WANNA HEAR IT!" Ayase groaned, covering her ears
"But-"
Okarun sighed in exasperation. "Just humor her, Terra-san."
"Fine. Seeing as you're here, Okarun. Gale must have succeeded in saving you. Where is he?"
"You know Gale?" Okarun asked.
"Long story short, we made a deal," Terra explained, spinning her cane lazily. "I save Ayase, and he'd save you. So now I want my end of the deal."
"Well, the problem is..." Okarun glanced at Ayase before explaining. "When Turbo Granny possessed me, Gale came to help. But I… uh… kinda attacked him while I was under her influence. The last thing I remember was him lying on the road before the possession jumped back to me."
"SAY WHAT!?"
===
The scene shifted to a desolate road stretching toward the next city. Gale lay unconscious in the middle of the cracked asphalt, his body battered and bruised. His breathing was shallow, his torn and bloodied hoodie bore the marks of his desperate fight.
The sound of an approaching car broke the stillness. The vehicle slowed to a stop a few feet away from Gale, and two figures stepped out. Both had soft white hair and crimson red eyes. A twin.
The first was a young woman, a bubbly aura radiating from her as she leaned on a crutch strapped to her arm to support her limping. She nudged Gale's cheek with her cane, tilting her head curiously. "Ni-san, let's help him! He looks like he's had a rough night."
The second figure was a young man with a cold demenor. His red eyes narrowed slightly as he surveyed Gale. "I'm just planning to drag him off the road, Shiroko. That's all."
"Pretty please, Shinjiro-ni-sama?" Shiroko pleaded, her tone sweet and sing-song.
Shinjiro sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "If I help him, will you stop calling me that?"
"Sure~!"
"You're a Suzushina shrine maiden. Try to act more professional and graceful," he kneeled to lift Gale.
Shiroko stuck out her tongue. "Just because you're the family swordsman and the cursed katana bearer doesn't mean you have to be so serious all the time."
"I am professionad." Shinjiro adjusted Gale's weight as he hefted him into his arms.
"Whatever you say, Mr. Grump~!" Shiroko teased, her playful grin widening as she skipped back toward the car.