20 CH 020

"I understand Kaneki, stay safe. After coming back, call me" my mother said. "yes Mom, I will call you after I come back." I turned my phone off and looked at Momo "So, you are going then?" she asked, I nodded "It's just a simple mission. They may track me, so I will be coming a bit late to make sure that doesn't happen" I said to Momo. Momo bit her lips and hugged me "You better be back you dummy". I smiled.

"Ok Betty, I am all set I am just waiting for you." I said to Betty, she nodded "The moment we leave, they will announce the disappearance of Star and Stripe. We need to be as quick as possible if not, I don't need to list the consequences.". I smiled and looked at Momo for one last time. Katie was also there praying in a low voice. I activated my space stone and we both teleported.

We arrived at a desert, with black sand and ghostly grey winds blowing across the place. Black granite ruins were visible from our spot. The place was filled with a suffocating smell, reminding me of sulphuric acid. I spotted an oasis, it had the resemblance of a mirror. I dashed to the spot and looked at the still water, A young man with fair skin and sharp jawline was on the other side. I looked at my costume, a red-blue shirt with brilliant white stars and chromium white lines. It was the costume made by the US for me specifically. It also had a star-shaped diamond plate in the chest.

 I sighed and looked at Betty who was capturing my every move on a video camera. "the smell is suffocating" I said, and waited for her reply. "keep talking to me at a minimum" she said focusing the lens. I nodded and activated my mind stone, "There is a place a hundred miles away from here. That place is populated with life forms. I can't figure out the structure of life forms so, we must take our chances" I said and opened a portal. We both entered the portal and travelled to the new location.

The new location was the same as the previous one, apart from the fact that it was filled with parasite monsters; mobs of black and brown creatures with six hands and reflective teeth. They formed a parameter of around 300 km. In the centre of it was a castle made from the same black granite but with gold lining which made it look menacing. I used to mind stone to count monsters this time instead of just jumping in. "there are more than 45 thousand, I also sense two different signatures from the centre of the castle. If my predictions are correct, there is a high chance that one among them is your hero." I said looking at the camera. "it's our hero" she said darkly, I nodded and gave a fake smile a the camera "Our hero". "I will open a portal and directly confront the other person or the other two persons. You must stay here.

She shook her head "That won't do, we need footage of your heroic deeds. Our president wants that for the campaign so, stop using your teleportation and fight them as ruthlessly as possible. Show us the strength you hold, not the party trick you have.". I just blinked; did she just say 'party trick'. "but won't the masses know that? I mean with teleportation it is easier and more efficient" I said. I get that the president is planning to use me as an advertising item in the upcoming election, but people will spot a bad actor from miles ahead. She bowed "Please we need it that way", I raised my hands and nodded "You don't need to bow for such simple things. You want me to show off, I will show off." With that, we both started to walk towards the horde of monsters or parasites or whatever they were.

I have already planned my move set, fight them with strong moves but don't kill them all at once. I created a barrier around Betty and warned her "Don't let the corpses touch you, we don't know if it is poison or not." She nodded and proceeded to capture the whole.

At first, I started by blasting two purple rays at them, which instantly killed two of them and alerted all the others. I floated above them and landed on the ground with force enough to make them fly apart. I then proceeded to slaughter them, sending scythes of purple energy and summoning black holes here and there. The monsters kept piling on me. I used the space stone to create space tears, killing hundreds in the process. I then switched to normal combat which was a grave mistake. I kept punching the monster with my purple hand, but it was fruitless. They started to form a huge circle around me, pushing and pulling in the process. "no more hand-to-hand combat" I shouted and a beam of yellow light cruised from my forehead blasting every monster in contact.

Flesh and blood spilled across the field, the smell of it all was suffocating. I kept sniffling throughout the fight. After the clean up a new horde of monsters came towards us in breakneck speed. I moved my wrists slightly, making them float in the air. After another twist, all the monsters were dead with their neck snapping and falling. After making sure that all monsters were taken care of I had some doubts. In all this fight, the two people inside the castle never came out. Is it because they are not concerned with me? It was odd for me, no one showed up which was a red flag.

I walked to Betty "That was some terrifying power you have " she gave me a grave look. I sighed "You are the one who asked for it though." I reminded her. She nodded "It's true, but still to think that you have such power is terrifying. "she pressed forward. "well whatever, let us go and find what's inside, "I said and we both walked towards the building.