The blade-like arm descended toward Finn. The world around Kaito seemed to slow. The sounds of the forest and everything else faded away, leaving only the pounding of his heartbeat in his ears.
Thud-thud… thud-thud thud-thud, thud-thud thud-thud thud-thud thud-thud
Before his mind could fully process the danger, his body moved on its own.
He reached out and grabbed ahold of the guardian's arm just inches before it struck Finn. His eyes were wide open but they were empty… almost soulless.
The creature struggled to escape his grip. A strange, but subtle white energy began to flow around him, and in an instant, he twisted the creature's arm, ripping it off forcefully.
But he wasn't done just yet.
He pivoted on his heel, channeling all the momentum and with a brutal punch to its chest, he sent it flying across the forest clearing. It crashed into the trees, knocking a few down along the way.
Kaito stood frozen in place panting as his eyes returned to life. His entire body tingled with the aftershocks of that strange energy. But as quickly as it appeared… it vanished, leaving him staring down at his trembling hands.
"What… just happened?" He thought to himself.
"K-Kaito… how did you do that?!" Finn said, still trembling, his eyes even wider than they were before.
Before Kaito could respond, it hit him.
A sharp, stabbing pain erupted in his chest before spreading to the rest of his body. He dropped to one knee, gasping as his vision seemed to collapse in on itself. Blood mixed with vomit splattered onto the forest floor from his mouth.
"This pain… What is this? My body… it's like I'm being stabbed over and over…"
He tried to push through it and rise to his feet, but before he could gather the strength, Finn's voice cut through the haze of pain and confusion.
"Kaito! Look out!"
Kaito looked up and his stomach dropped to his ass as he saw the creature he'd sent flying earlier charging toward him once again.
"Come on body… MOVE!"
His mind screamed at him to move, but his body wouldn't listen. It was as though the power he had just used had left him paralyzed. He braced himself for the worst, knowing there was nothing he could do to stop it.
But then, out of seemingly nowhere, an invisible wave of force slammed into the beast, knocking it back before it could strike. It skidded across the forest floor, crashing into the trees again.
Kaito blinked in shock.
"What the—?"
A voice echoed through the clearing, brimming with a smugness that could be felt from miles away.
"What's wrong boys? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Kaito turned to see someone leaning casually against a tree at the edge of the clearing. It was an alien woman with purple eyes that glowed in the moonlight. Her thin long dark purple tail flicked lazily behind her. Her black hair seemed to have a slight purple hue at certain angles. Everything about her screamed tsundere. Suddenly, Finn's voice broke the brief silence.
"Talon!"
"Talon? Who the hell is she?" Kaito thought to himself.
Before he could ask, a rustling came from the bushes. Dozens of glowing eyes emerged from the shadows as more of the guardians stepped into the clearing.
"There's more of them? Shit, I need to help them." He thought to himself in a panic.
But Talon didn't seem fazed. Instead she rolled her shoulders back, still smirking.
"Looks like we found the jackpot, Elara."
Kaito's confusion deepened.
"Elara? Who is–"
But he swallowed his words as the elf woman from earlier appeared beside him seemingly out of thin air. He wasn't able to register her movements whatsoever. She knelt beside him.
"Are you hurt?"
Kaito, still trying to process everything that had just happened, shook his head weakly.
"I… I think I'm okay. Just… what's going on?"
Before he could ask more, another beast lunged at them. But Elara didn't flinch. With a swift motion, she turned and drew a shimmering katana and sliced through the creature in an instant.
"She's… she's unbelievably fast! These people… they're not normal." Kaito thought to himself, almost starstruck.
Talon's eyes widened as she walked over to him.
"Wait, I thought you were an elf, but your ears are round… Are you a human!?"
Before he could respond, the ground began to tremble beneath them. The guardians parted, making way for one that was much much larger than the others. Its head just peeked over the trees. Kaito's eyes shot wide open as he stared up at the mosterous creature.
"What… is that thing?" He muttered out.
Before he could react, the ground shook violently again. This time, it was the sound of thunderous footsteps rapidly approaching their location.
"Ohh yeahh baby!!!" A voice yelled out excitedly.
Kaito barely had time to turn before an enormous muscular red alien man with cybernetic enhancements barreled into the massive guardian, knocking it off its feet with a single blow. The creature let out a roar as the large red man grabbed it by its tail, spun it around, and tossed it into the air like it weighed nothing, only to be grabbed and slammed into the ground.
The impact was so violent, it sent shockwaves through the ground, destroying the surrounding trees and all the other smaller guardians. Kaito could hardly believe what he was seeing.
"Who… are these people?"
The massive man stood tall, flexing with a grin as wide as his biceps.
"And that's how you kick some guardian ass babyy!"
Before Kaito could truly process anything, another person stepped forward. This time it was an alien woman with two short glowing golden horns, light pink skin, and dark pink hair with green and gold highlights. Her hands glowed with a soft, sparkly golden energy as she casted a protective barrier around everyone.
Finn's face was full of guilt and tried to speak to the woman.
"Elysia, I'm sor-"
"It's okay Finn, just stay still for me and I'll heal you and everyone here."
Kaito felt warmth spreading through his body as the barrier fully encased him.
"My injuries... the pain... it's vanishing. Wow… she really hea– HOLY SHITTT!!! What the- what's with the size of those things?!" He thought to himself as he stared down at her chest.
Suddenly he yelped in pain as Elysia twists her hand on his chest.
"Ow! Ow! Owwww! What in the stars was that for?!" He asked with a look of utter shock and anger on his face.
"Wow.. so it's true humans have similar mammary papilla." Elysia mumbled out almost to herself.
"Mammary... wha-? What the hell even is that?! You pinched my nipple!"
Her confusion turned into fascination as she leaned closer, seemingly examining him from head to toe. It was as if she sensed something familiar deep inside him.
"That's strange, his essence… why does it feel like…"
But Kaito didn't sense any of that. Instead, he sensed danger. He quickly backed away rubbing his chest. Elara stepped forward, trying to settle the sudden chaotic scene.
"Alright, that's enough. Let's give… him some space."
Kaito looked around as the crew stepped back. He straightened up.
"Names Kaito… Who.. are you guys?"
Elara stepped forward as she gestured toward the crew.
"This is my star traveler crew, the Starlight crew. You've met Rorik, our mechanic and muscle." Rorik flexed and kissed his ginormous bicep.
"Elysia, our medic." Elysia nodded warmly, eyeing him with a look of curiosity on her face.
"And Talon, our co-captain." Talon just stared at him with her arms crossed, as if she wasn't interested in whatever was going on.
Kaito glanced at each of them before landing back on Elara.
"And what about you?"
"I'm Elara, captain of the Starlight crew. There are three other members of our crew back on the ship."
Her tone shifts slightly, growing a little more serious.
"But before we talk about that, Kaito, there's something you need to understand."
Kaito's expression tightened.
"What were those things? The beasts? I never seen anything like them before. They look nothing like the wildlife on this world."
Elara's face darkened as she glanced at the wreckage left behind by the battle.
"Those were cosmic well guardians."
Kaito tilted his head confused.
"Cosmic... what?"
"Cosmic wells are sources of concentrated cosmic essence scattered across the universe. They're extremely valuable, and many factions and world leaders fight over them. But the wells have their protectors—guardians, like the ones you fought, programmed to annihilate anyone who comes too close."
"So those things were guarding a well nearby?" He paused for a bit before continuing.
"I didn't even know it was here..."
Talon raised an eyebrow.
"Hold on, you found a cosmic well without a scanner? You're telling me you just stumbled on one of the rarest energy sources in the universe… on accident?"
Rorik followed up.
"That's either insane luck or the worst case of 'wrong place, wrong time' I've ever heard."
Kaito shifted uncomfortably under their stares.
"I—I didn't even know what a cosmic well was until now. I just felt... something. I was drawn here."
Finn jumped into the conversation.
"You felt it!?" He glanced at the others completely surprised before looking back pulling out a radar like device.
"A cosmic well scanner is a special device we use to track and locate the wells, but you found one on instinct?! Tha... that's crazy!"
Talon's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"You felt it, huh?"
Kaito tried to stay calm. He knew they were skeptical, but he also knew he was telling the truth.
"I'm not lying. I just... felt something pulling me here. I don't know what it was, but I had to follow it."
The crew exchanged glances before he continued.
"Look... I don't know what's happening with me or what any of this means, but I want to find out. That's why I'm asking you..."
He cleared his throat and stared Elara dead in her eyes.
"Please let me join your crew."
Talon burst out laughing immediately. Her tail flailed all over the place as she hunched over holding her stomach.
"AHAHAHAHAHA! You're hilarious! You? A star traveler? Yeah right. What makes you think you can keep up?"
Kaito clenched his fists, refusing to back down.
"Because I'll never give up when my mind is set on something. I want this more than anything, and I'll do just about anything to get it."
Elara watched him for a moment, her expression thoughtful. Then she smiled.
"If you want to join us, there's one condition." She said with a small smirk on her face.
Kaito's eyes zipped over to her.
"What's the condition?"
Elara's gaze sharpened.
"You'll have to prove yourself in the Grand Sirius Tournament."
"Huh? The Grand Sirius Tournament? But–but why?" Kaito asked, completely caught off guard.
"It's the reason we're here. The winner of the tournament receives a Celestial Codex Fragment—one of the most powerful and sought after items in the universe. We came here to compete for it. If you want to be part of this crew, you'll have to prove yourself in the tournament and win."
Without a second thought, Kaito responded.
"I'll do it."
"Ha! You'll do it? You don't stand a chance. You'll get eaten alive out there." Talon cut in with.
"Oh yeah? Just watch and see." Kaito replied, staring her down.
The both of them held eye contact, locked in a silent battle with one another. Suddenly, Finn stepped forward, his voice ringing with unexpected confidence grabbing everyone's attention.
"I'm joining the tournament too! I'll fight alongside Kaito!"
Everyone turned to Finn, surprised by his declaration. Rorik, whose smile was wide as ever, joined in.
"Now we're talking!"
Elysia chuckled at the sudden turn of events.
"Hehehe. Looks like we've got ourselves a team."
"Ughh. You've got to be kidding me..." Talon groaned in frustration, rolling her eyes.
The energy in the air shifted with excitement and anticipation.
Kaito glanced at Finn, who stood beside him. He clenched his fist as excitement coursed through his veins and his heart pounded not from fear, but from the thrill of the challenge that awaits him. His eyes filled with determination.
Elara sensed the shift in the air and Kaito's spirit and took a step forward.
"We leave for the tournament at dawn. Get ready, Kaito. This won't be easy."
Kaito clenched his fist even tighter. His mind raced with thoughts of the tournament. The stories he heard about it growing up flicker through his mind. And now not only is he going to be part of it… but also have a chance to travel the stars and achieve his goals.
This was it. His only chance to prove himself, chase his dreams in the stars, and maybe…just maybe… unlock the truth about humanity.
"I'm ready." He said calmly.
The rest of the crew sensed his resolve. Even Talon, despite her dismissive attitude, crossed her arms and gave him a nod of acknowledgment.
"Don't screw this up, rookie. It's going to be hell out there." She said to him calmly.
Rorik slammed his fist into his palm.
"Oh yeah! The tournament's going to be insane! Nothing like a little life-or-death competition to wake you up in the morning!"
Finn stood tall beside him, puffed out his chest and grinned.
"We've got this, Kaito! We'll show them what we're made of!"
Kaito smiled like crazy. He's never felt this before. The trust, the shared excitement, the sense that even in the face of unknown challenges, they stood together. It was… exciting.