The moment the hatch opened, a different kind of air brushed against them.
It wasn't recycled. It wasn't filtered.
It carried soot.
Ai stepped down first, boots clicking faintly against dark cobblestone. She paused, eyes sweeping slowly across the horizon.
"…What is this?"
The sky above was not the sterile clarity of advanced worlds. It was a muted amber-gray, as though the sun had to push through layers of industry to be seen. Massive iron frameworks arched across distant rooftops. Steam hissed from pipes that coiled like metal serpents along buildings. Somewhere far off, a deep mechanical horn echoed — low, almost mournful.
Dennis stepped down behind her, adjusting his gloves.
"This," he said calmly, "is the planet we've been assigned to. Bueno."
Kiyomasa whistled softly as he joined them, hands tucked behind his head before slowly lowering them. "It looks completely like the steam-world era."
Dennis walked to the nearest wall and ran his fingers lightly across its surface. The brick was dark red, nearly blackened in places by smoke. Iron reinforcements bolted across it in symmetrical patterns.
"Bueno is one of the few planets," Dennis explained, "that refuses to embrace external technological integration. They preserve their traditions — their industry, their systems of governance, even their limitations." He withdrew his hand. "You will see very little advanced augmentation here. Most of what exists is mechanical."
Ai nodded slowly.
"This is steampunk," she murmured. "Almost textbook."
A train whistle shrieked somewhere nearby.
They turned.
Beyond the platform stretched an enormous railway yard. Steam locomotives rested like sleeping beasts, their iron bodies gleaming with polished brass trims. Pistons pumped rhythmically. Gears rotated openly along the sides of engines. Workers in long coats and flat caps moved between them, adjusting valves and tightening bolts with heavy tools.
No holograms. No floating interfaces. No drones.
Everything was tangible. Audible. Heavy.
They began walking.
The city unfolded before them in layered tiers. Buildings rose three to five stories high, built from brick and reinforced iron. Arched windows framed with brass. Balconies with intricate gear-like railings. Overhead, elevated rail lines cut across the skyline like ribs.
Gas lamps — actual gas lamps — lined the streets, their glass casings glowing faintly even in daylight.
Carriages moved along the roads, some horse-drawn, others powered by compact steam engines mounted at the rear, releasing small bursts of vapor with each rotation. The air smelled faintly of coal, oil, and rain-soaked stone.
People passed them constantly.
Men wore long coats, waistcoats beneath, chains of pocket watches hanging elegantly from breast pockets. High boots. Polished shoes. Some had mechanical monocles fitted over one eye — not glowing, not digital, but gear-assisted optical enhancements.
The women wore high-collared frock coats of heavy charcoal wool, buttoned securely with double rows of brass toggles that obscured the form over long skirts or tailored trousers, gloves of lace or leather, small hats decorated with feathers or brass ornaments.
No one stared at screens.
No one walked distracted.
Conversations were face to face. Transactions done with coin and paper.
A bell rang overhead.
Dennis gestured toward a station entrance ahead. "We'll take the inner-city rail to reach our lodgings."
They entered the terminal.
The ceiling arched high, iron beams crossing like cathedral ribs. Steam drifted lazily near the roof. Massive clockwork mechanisms turned above the central clock — exposed gears clicking rhythmically, marking time.
Ai tilted her head upward, watching the interlocking pieces move.
"It's inefficient," she said quietly.
"Yes," Dennis agreed.
Kiyomasa grinned. "But it's cool."
The train arrived with a deafening hiss.
They boarded.
The interior was wood-paneled, seats upholstered in deep burgundy fabric. Brass handles hung from overhead bars. Windows slightly fogged from interior warmth.
As the train began moving, the city rolled past outside the glass.
Factories with towering chimneys. Clock towers whose faces rotated through mechanical precision. Bridges layered atop bridges. Laundry lines strung between buildings. Market squares filled with vendors selling gears, textiles, spices, mechanical tools.
Steam occasionally clouded the view before clearing again.
Ai watched silently.
A newspaper boy moved through the aisle shouting headlines. The paper itself printed in thick black ink, edges slightly rough.
Kiyomasa leaned closer to the window. "It really feels like we went backward in time."
Dennis shook his head slightly. "No. They simply chose a different direction."
The train slowed as it entered a more refined district.
Here the buildings were taller. Cleaner. More ornate. Iron balconies curved elegantly. Street musicians played violins beneath lamplight even though it was still afternoon.
They disembarked.
Before heading to their lodgings, Ai stopped walking.
"We stand out," she said plainly.
Kiyomasa looked down at himself. "Oh."
Their materials were too fine. Too seamless.
Dennis adjusted his coat. "There is a tailor's shop nearby."
They found it on a corner — a shopfront of dark wood with gold lettering painted across the glass: Viremont & Sons — Fine Garments.
A small bell chimed as they entered.
Inside, the smell of fabric and polish replaced coal smoke. Mannequins displayed layered coats, waistcoats, trousers cut to precise Victorian silhouettes. Shelves of folded fabrics lined the walls — wool, tweed, heavy cotton.
An elderly tailor looked up from behind a counter, spectacles perched low.
"Travelers? Welcome, looking for some clothes?" he asked.
Dennis inclined his head politely. "We require attire suitable for the district."
Kiyomasa moved immediately toward a rack of long coats. He lifted a charcoal one, holding it against himself in a mirror. The coat fell just below the knee, structured shoulders, brass buttons.
"this feels kinda cool and that old vibe you know," he muttered.
Ai walked more deliberately. Her fingers brushed across fabrics until she found a long black coat — slightly slimmer cut, high collar, clean vertical lines. She paired it with tailored dark trousers.
She studied herself in the mirror.
The coat gave her presence. Authority. Blend.
She smirked "Now this—"
"—this looks hot," she said.
Kiyomasa selected fitted trousers and a structured vest beneath the coat. He rolled his shoulders experimentally. "Okay yeah. I like this."
Dennis required nothing. His existing coat and trousers already matched seamlessly — understated, precise.
After paying in local currency Dennis had prepared beforehand, they stepped back outside.
Now they blended.
The city no longer looked at them twice.
They boarded a steam-powered omnibus next — larger than the train, its engine mounted externally at the rear. It rattled gently as it moved through narrower streets.
As they traveled, the atmosphere shifted subtly.
The sun dipped lower behind smoke-filtered clouds, casting everything in a copper hue. Gas lamps flickered to life one by one. Shadows stretched long across brick roads.
A cathedral-like structure appeared in the distance — tall spires wrapped in iron braces. Stained glass windows reflecting orange light. Bells tolling softly.
Men in dark coats stood beneath it, speaking in hushed tones.
Ai's gaze lingered.
"There's a heaviness here," she said quietly.
Dennis nodded once.
"Bueno values order. Structure. Tradition." His voice lowered slightly. "And secrets."
The omnibus turned one final corner.
Their lodging came into view — a tall, narrow building with wrought iron balconies and lanterns glowing warmly beside its entrance.
Steam drifted past the street behind them like a curtain slowly closing.
Ai adjusted her collar.
Kiyomasa exhaled.
Dennis stepped forward first, gloved hand resting briefly on the door handle.
"Welcome," he said calmly, "to Bueno."
The door opened.
And the world of steam, smoke, and shadow fully swallowed them.
Ai dropped onto the edge of the bed, the old mattress creaking faintly beneath her weight. The room was modest—brick walls partially covered with patterned wallpaper that had begun to peel at the corners, a brass-framed mirror mounted above a wooden dresser, a single gas lamp hissing softly in the corner. Outside the tall window, steam drifted past like wandering ghosts.
She leaned back on her palms and stared at the ceiling.
"This planet…" she began slowly, inhaling through her nose. "Everything here feels weirdly nostalgic and…"
She paused, searching for the word.
Kiyomasa, who was leaning against the wall near the door with one foot braced behind him, tilted his head.
"Iron-y?"
Ai snapped her fingers lightly. "Yeah. That. It's like… there's this metallic taste in the air. And the smell of wet bricks. Like old rail stations after rain."
Kiyomasa crossed his arms and slid down the wall slightly until his shoulders rested comfortably against it. "Well," he said, glancing around the room, "it is a steampunk world. What were you expecting? Cherry blossoms and clean oxygen?"
Ai shot him a look before shifting her gaze to Dennis.
She crossed one leg over the other. "So. What's the plan?"
Dennis stepped closer to the window, adjusting the cuff of his glove. Steam from outside briefly fogged the glass, distorting the street below.
"Let us rest briefly," he said evenly. "After that, there is someone I would like you both to meet."
Kiyomasa pushed off the wall immediately. "We just got here through teleportation. I'm not tired."
Ai stood as well, smoothing her coat. "Yeah. We're fine."
Dennis nodded once. "Very well. Please follow me."
---
They stepped back into the streets.
The metallic air hit them again.
Ai paused instinctively this time, drawing in a slow breath. The faint tang of iron and coal brushed against her senses—
—but it didn't bother her.
It felt… normal.
Her eyes lifted slightly.
Did my body adapt already?
Before she could sink further into the thought—
"Ai. Everything okay?"
Kiyomasa had stopped a few steps ahead, glancing back.
She blinked and quickly caught up, taking two long strides. "Yeah. Just thinking."
Dennis resumed walking at a steady pace. The gas lamps were already flickering to life despite the lingering daylight. Their footsteps echoed faintly against the cobblestones.
As they walked, Dennis spoke without turning around.
"Bueno's districts are divided by industry type. Residential areas remain relatively safe. However, certain zones are intentionally neglected."
They boarded a train shortly after—its iron body groaning as it pulled forward. Inside, wooden seats rattled faintly with every shift of the tracks. Through the window, the city slowly changed.
Brick turned darker. Buildings grew narrower. Chimneys multiplied.
The sky seemed heavier here.
When they disembarked, the station itself looked abandoned—rust creeping along the railings, warning signs half-torn and swaying in the wind.
They entered an alleyway.
It was narrow. Cracked. Pipes lined the walls overhead, occasionally dripping dark liquid. The air was thicker here—sharp, chemical, almost suffocating.
Kiyomasa's voice lowered instinctively. "This place is creepy. Every street we've been on so far was packed with people. But here? Not a single soul."
Dennis nodded. "Industrial zone. The air here is highly toxic and harmful to ordinary humans."
Kiyomasa blinked. "Wait. We're okay, right?"
Ai glanced around calmly. "Most likely. We're far superior compared to normal humans."
Dennis inclined his head slightly. "Miss Ai is correct. This environment poses no threat to us."
They continued walking.
The alley darkened further as towering structures blocked out what little light remained.
Then—
Dennis' pupils shifted subtly to the left.
Toward Ai.
He began raising his hand—
—but Ai's fingers touched his wrist gently.
Their eyes met for a fraction of a second.
He gave a small nod.
Kiyomasa looked around concerned. "Looks like we have guests."
Ai exhaled through her nose. "Let's greet them properly."
Dennis' tone sharpened slightly. "Miss Ai. Sir Kiyo."
They both glanced at him.
"Can you estimate their numbers?"
Ai's gaze lifted casually. "Twelve."
Dennis nodded. "You must hold back. As much as possible. No powers. No weapons."
"What?" Kiyomasa frowned.
Ai's brows furrowed. "Then how do you expect us to—"
A man dropped from above.
Ai's body reacted instantly.
She pivoted, foot sliding across cracked stone, fist launching forward with terrifying precision—aimed straight at his face.
Before impact—
Dennis' hand intercepted hers mid-motion.
The air around her fist trembled.
Dennis' other hand redirected the attacker in mid-air, pushing him away. The man crashed several meters down the alley instead of being obliterated.
"What the hell, Dennis?" Ai snapped.
"You would have destroyed his skull entirely," Dennis replied calmly. "Your hand would have passed through his face."
Ai stared at her own fist.
Behind them, another attacker lunged at Kiyomasa.
He ducked under the swing smoothly and prepared to counter with an uppercut—
—and suddenly—
A vision flashed.
His fist tearing through the man's jaw. Skull splitting. Blood spraying the alley walls.
Kiyomasa's eyes widened.
He altered his trajectory instantly.
Instead of the chin, he drove his fist into the man's ribs—pulling his strength back as much as he could.
The impact still echoed like a gunshot.
A sickening crack followed.
The man flew backward several feet and slammed into a wall. The bricks behind him fractured outward like a crater had formed.
Blood spilled from his mouth as he collapsed.
Kiyomasa stared at his hand.
'I held back....I barely hit him.'
He looked at the broken wall.
'What the hell…'
They were suddenly surrounded.
Ten figures emerged from shadows—pipes, knives, revolvers glinting faintly.
Dennis stepped slightly forward.
"Do you understand now?" he asked quietly.
Their eyes shifted toward him.
"These are normal humans. Even if they possessed minor enhancements, a single strike from either of you would kill them."
An attacker lunged at Dennis.
Dennis pivoted elegantly, redirecting the weapon away from himself and striking the man's temple with precise force—knocking him unconscious rather than shattering his skull.
He caught the man's dagger mid-fall and hurled it toward another attacker—
The blade flew straight toward the man's eye—
—and Dennis vanished, reappearing just in time to catch it before impact. He spun and kicked the attacker instead, sending him sliding across the ground.
He walked back toward them calmly.
"You have only fought monsters," Dennis said. "Against ordinary beings, you must restrain yourselves. They must be doing wrong but they can be punished by the law, no need to kill them."
Ai lowered her gaze.
Her breathing slowed.
My body is conditioned to target vitals.
In her mind, she saw it clearly—
If she had used her full strength these men would instantly die. Training with Neo has thought them to always fight with everything they had, but now even if she used half of her physical power these men would be obliterated.
She stepped forward again.
"Hold back," she whispered to herself.
A man charged.
She lifted her leg for a kick—
—and stopped mid-motion. The kick made a crack in the air and the man started sweating just from the impact of air on his face.
If that connected fully, his head would explode.
She flipped backward instead, creating distance.
'I almost killed him.'
Clicking her tongue, she vanished briefly and reappeared behind the attacker, grabbing his collar.
She lifted him lightly.
He weighed at least eighty kilograms—
—but he felt like nothing.
She tossed him upward gently.
He still flew several meters into the air before crashing down hard.
Her eyes widened slightly.
'How strong… am I?'
Another man ran at her.
She stepped slightly to the side and extended her foot subtly.
He tripped and hit the ground.
She raised her foot to pin him—
—and froze.
Even minimal pressure would crush his skull.
Her expression shifted into discomfort.
"How weak are you…" she muttered.
Then the realization hit her and she corrected herself.
"No. How strong am I?"
---
On the other side, Kiyomasa adjusted his stance.
He shifted into defense.
Four men rushed him simultaneously.
He lowered his hand and chilled the ground just enough—for Ice to be formed beneath their boots.
They slipped and fell in chaotic collision.
One man scrambled up and pulled out a revolver.
He fired.
The gunshot echoed loudly through the alley.
Kiyomasa's eyes widened—
—not in fear—
—but in surprise.
The bullet looked… slow.
He raised his hand.
Caught it mid-air.
The metal rested in his palm.
He blinked at it.
"Isn't a bullet supposed to be fast?"
Another attacker pulled out a shotgun and began firing wildly.
Pellets sprayed toward him.
He stepped aside casually, weaving through them effortlessly. He even caught one or two mid-flight, comparing them to the revolver bullet.
"Huh."
He generated a tiny wind charge—barely the size of his fingernail—and flicked it forward.
The compressed air detonated on impact, launching the shotgun wielder backward violently.
Another man screamed and charged.
Kiyomasa walked forward calmly.
He reached out and lightly tapped the man's shoulder with one finger.
A controlled electric surge traveled through the man's body.
He convulsed briefly before collapsing unconscious.
The alley fell silent except for the distant hiss of industrial steam.
Ai stood still.
Kiyomasa exhaled slowly.
They both looked at their hands.
They had grown used to fighting monsters.
They had forgotten what normal felt like.
And now—
They finally understood.
They weren't just strong.
They were overwhelmingly beyond human.
Dennis stood still for a brief moment, his gaze resting on the unconscious bodies scattered across the alley.
His gloved hands folded neatly behind his back, posture straight as ever.
They are exceptional…
His eyes shifted toward Ai and Kiyomasa.
Just like Sir Zazm… they've already begun controlling their strength, even if only instinctively.
He turned around smoothly, coat swaying lightly behind him, and began walking toward them.
With them… our side may truly have a chance.
"Good work," Dennis said calmly.
Ai exhaled slowly, flexing her fingers as if still trying to understand her own strength. "Dennis… what exactly is going on?"
Kiyomasa walked up beside her, rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean… I kinda get it, but… not really."
Dennis stopped in front of them, his expression composed.
"You both arrived in this universe only a few years ago," he began, voice even and precise. "However, the opponents you have faced since then… were never ordinary."
He gestured faintly toward the men lying around them.
"You fought monsters. Entities far beyond the natural limits of humans. To survive, you adapted… and continued to grow stronger."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"And now… you have reached a point where even the strongest of normal humans can be killed with nothing more than a flick of your fingers."
Ai clicked her tongue softly, looking away. "Yeah… that makes sense."
Kiyomasa slowly raised his hand in front of his face, staring at his palm as if seeing it for the first time.
"…It feels weird," he murmured. "Suddenly being this strong. It's like… we're not even human anymore."
Dennis stepped closer.
Without hesitation, he raised a single finger and lightly tapped Kiyomasa's chest.
"What matters," he said quietly, "is here."
Kiyomasa blinked, looking down at him.
Dennis' tone softened just slightly, though his posture remained formal.
"What separates humans from monsters is not strength. It is the heart. Kindness. The ability to care for others."
He lowered his hand.
"A monster thinks only for itself. A human thinks of those around them."
Kiyomasa stared at him for a second—
Then smiled. A warm, genuine smile.
"…Yeah," he said softly. "And the strong protect the weak… right?"
Dennis allowed a faint smile to appear.
"Exactly."
Ai smirked, rolling her shoulders slightly. "Alright then. Therapy session over. Should we continue?"
Dennis inclined his head. "We should."
He turned—
Then paused.
"…However, Miss Ai."
Ai raised a brow. "What?"
Dennis walked toward a nearby metal door embedded in the wall of the alley. He placed his hand lightly near the knob but didn't touch it.
"Would you kindly try to open this door?"
Ai walked over, slightly confused. "You're asking me to open a door? Can't you just—"
She grabbed the knob.
Twisted it casually.
Crack.
The entire metal knob snapped clean off.
It sat in her hand.
Ai froze.
"…What the fuck?"
Kiyomasa stepped closer, eyes wide. "Wait—what just happened?"
Ai looked at the broken knob, then at the door, then back at the knob. "It was already weak…?"
Dennis pressed his lips together slightly, holding back a laugh.
"It was not," he said. "That is reinforced metal. Stronger than what most 'normal' people can break even with tools."
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
Ai stared at her hand.
"…How monstrous are we?"
Kiyomasa scratched his head. "But we used doors and stuff back at EIAA and the kingdom. Nothing like this happened."
Dennis adjusted his gloves.
"That is because everything in the kingdom is reinforced," he explained. "It is constructed using materials such as Siphir—far stronger than even carbyne. It was designed to withstand individuals of your level."
Ai exhaled. "So how are we supposed to open doors now?"
Dennis smiled faintly.
"You simply lack control over your physical strength. Once you learn to regulate it… such tasks will become effortless."
Ai looked at the door. "…Right."
She then raised the broken knob slightly. "So how do we get in now?"
Dennis stepped forward, placing his palm where the knob once was. He applied the slightest pressure—
Click.
The door opened smoothly.
Kiyomasa blinked. "That's… actually kinda cool."
Dennis stepped aside. "Please. Follow me."
---
Beyond the door—
Stairs.
Long.
Descending.
They began walking down.
And down.
And down.
Their footsteps echoed endlessly against the narrow concrete walls. The air grew cooler. The metallic scent faded slightly, replaced by something sterile.
Minutes passed.
Kiyomasa stretched his arms as he walked. "We've been going down for like… what… twenty minutes?"
Ai crossed her arms, glancing upward briefly before looking back down the seemingly endless staircase. "What is this? Infinite stairs? This is starting to feel creepy."
Dennis continued walking at the same steady pace.
"The security measures here are… extensive. Precautions were necessary."
Finally—
Light appeared below.
A door.
Dennis reached it and opened it.
---
The moment they stepped inside, the world changed. Bright lights, clean metal, advanced machinery. It was like stepping into NullFlux Bastion.
"The ceiling is so damn high…" Kiyomasa looked up.
"That is why this facility was constructed so deep underground," Dennis spoke while looking around himzwld..
Ai turned slowly. "How did they even build all this here? This planet literally rejects technology."
"Well," a voice rasped from the shadows, "we just facilitated a covert integration of the hardware."
They turned. A woman stood there. Dark skin, black hair, grey eyes sharp as steel. Dennis stepped forward and gave a slight bow.
"Greetings, Miss Jade."
The woman nodded, returning a sharp, efficient bow. "Pleasure's mine, Hand of the Supreme Commander."
Dennis straightened. "My name is Dennis. I have arrived under the orders of Supreme Commander Zazm to assist Miss Ai and Sir Kiyomasa."
Jade crossed her arms, eyes scanning them like a radar. When she spoke, the words came out in a high-speed blur, a thick street accent clashing with high-level vocabulary.
"Yeah, yeah, I peeped the dossier already. Supreme commander Zazm threw talk at me. Y'all joining the set? Immeasurable tactical advantage. Shorty here—" she jerked a thumb at Ai "—that adaptability trait is straight up transcendental, ya feel me? Busted as hell."
'Did she call me short?? I thought 5'9 was considered tall for girls but again...'
Ai blinked. Kiyomasa blinked. Jade didn't stop.
"But look—keepin' it 100—y'all ain't prepared for the coming tribulations. Your vana is hemorrhaging like a fractured conduit, it's chaotic, disorganized, just broadcasting your coordinates to any adversary with a cognizant cerebral cortex straight up snitchin' on yourselves!"
Ai raised a hand. "Wait—what?"
Kiyomasa leaned in. "Did you understand... any of that?"
Ai shook her head. "Not even a little except she called me short."
Jade stopped. She looked at their confused faces, sucked her teeth, and rubbed her temple.
"...Aight. My bad. Let me decelerate the vernacular for the uninitiated."
She straightened, forcing herself to speak slower, and use easier and more understandable words however,her accent and unique way of talking remained same.
"Let me... explain properly. Look, the amount of vana you got? It's... crazy. Huge."
Ai frowned. "Okay...?"
Jade pointed at her. "But you can't... hide it. You're loud. Think of vana like a big fire. The bigger it is, the more people see the light from far away."
Kiyomasa nodded slowly.
Jade continued, her foot tapping impatiently as she struggled to keep her speech slow. "Most people? They get strong slow. Their bodies get used to it. As they get more vana, they learn to... uh... squeeze it. Keep it inside so it don't leak."
She tapped her own chest.
"It becomes like a... habit. Their presence gets quiet. Hard to find."
Ai's eyes narrowed. "And us?"
Jade smirked. "You two didn't grow like that. You just... hit the ceilin'. Your bodies weren't trained to hold that much juice."
She pointed at them again. "So now? All that vana... it's just spillin' out. You're like... big flashlights in a dark room. You're—uh—beacons. Yeah, beacons."
Kiyomasa scratched his cheek. "So... we're glowing?"
Jade nodded. "Exactly. To anyone who can feel vana, you're basically screamin' 'here I am!'"
Ai's expression hardened. "But we couldn't feel the vana of people like Zazm or Rhyes."
Jade tilted her head. "That's 'cause they're pros. They can... camouflage it. Hide the scent. They trained for years to make their vana invisible."
She paused, a bit of her natural speed slipping back in. "As for Top bra Zazm? Man's a statistical anomaly. He mastered the... the hidin' thing in a day. I don't even wanna think about how that works."
Ai exhaled slowly. "So what you're saying is..."
Jade finished it for her, her voice dropping back into a slow, deliberate pace. "You're strong... but you got no... uh... refinement. No polish."
She leaned in, her grey eyes locking onto theirs.
"And until you learn to lock that vana down... you're just walking targets. Big ones."
Silence settled. Ai looked at her hands. Kiyomasa looked at his. For the first time, they realized: raw power was a loud, dangerous thing.
_____________________