It had been 2 months since they'd all become Nexeans, and this was Shogai's third mission. He was with Jade and Kiara, the first time it had been just the three of them, and this mission was to deal with an army of Aberrants that were going towards a small town in the west, Gnay. They were told the numbers were below fifty, and that there were no Deviants leading them. This would be a fast mission.

  Jade was leading the way with a map. They were underground. Nexus used the tunnel system under the island just as much as Aberrants did. With it, they were able to get from one point of the island to another dozens of times faster. Unfortunately, while the Nexeans knew the system like the back of their hands, Shogai, Jade and Kiara still needed a map, which significantly slowed things down.

  "I think it's left from here." She didn't sound sure. For all they knew, the map was upside down.

  Turning the corner Jade had pointed out, an Aberrant was waiting. It was relatively small, smaller than a person, and so Shogai took it down immediately. The tunnels were dangerous, but if a Nexean couldn't deal with the Aberrants they'd run into, they were unworthy.

  "They travel in packs. We can't be far now." Another intersection appeared in front of them. Jade looked at her map, and carefully examined it at all angles.

  Kiara rolled her eyes. "Give."

  She took the map and then took off. She vanished into the tunnel on the left. A split second later, Shogai could barely make out her returning and entering the second tunnel. She was just a blur. After maybe three seconds total, Kiara returned to them.

  "Found it." She gave Jade the map back, and then rotated it. "It was upside-down. Let's go."

  The three quickened their pace as they headed towards the Aberrants, and it wasn't long until they found them. Maybe thirty Aberrants were moving down the tunnel, and they were nearly out onto the surface. They hadn't noticed the trio yet, and they used that to their advantage.

  "Jade. Take over as many as you can. Keep them still. Kiara and I will kill them."

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  "Understood."

  Jade outstretched her arm, and the six Aberrants leading the way froze, blocking their friends with their stationary bodies. The Aberrants snarled for a second, then turned around to see Kiara and Shogai leaping towards them.

  A single punch from Shogai killed the first Aberrant. Kiara was able to deliver multiple hits in the same amount of time, and so the first two Aberrants died before they could react. The other roared and attacked in unison.

  The tunnel was cramped, far too tight for this many creatures to attack at once, but also too tight for Shogai or Kiara to easily dodge. A clawed hand barely missed Shogai's face, and Kiara was focused on evading. Dust crumbled from the ceiling. If they didn't end this fight efficiently, the tunnel would collapse.

  Shogai lay flat on the ground to avoid another attack, this time a tail, and he grabbed onto it. This wasn't a plan, it was a risky gamble. The Aberrant whipped around, pulling Shogai out of danger, but also throwing him against the wall. He felt a bone break, but didn't have time to whine. Kiara was on one side of the mass of Aberrants. He was on the other side. Now that they were surrounded, it was over.

  Shogai punched the frozen Aberrant in front of him, and it flew backwards into its brethren, crushing most of its friends. It reminded Shogai of how he used to deal with Aberrants back in the day. That was an oddly nostalgic time.

  A few Aberrants stood and ran past Shogai, into the light of the overworld. He prepared to deal with them, but Jade told him to stop. They were going to risk blowing their cover. Plus, it was only around six. That village could definitely deal with them.

  Shogai nodded, and let them go. He turned back to Jade and Kiara, but felt a shadow loom behind him. An Aberrant he thought was dead stood up, and hit him with all its force. Shogai didn't budge. Kiara ran up to the Aberrant and kicked it to the ground, but it had already died from the recoil of its attack.

  Shogai didn't feel a thing. Jade came up to him.

  "I thought Raven told you never to use that form. Have you been training?"

  "Maybe a little, but it sounds helpful, being able to take hits."

  "We don't know the cost yet. That's far too risky. Let's go speak to Raven. Didn't she promise to tell you if you became a Nexean?"

  That sounded good to Shogai. He wanted to learn more about this world. About people, Aberrants, and his strange power. He wanted answers.

  "We'll see if she's at base. If so, I'll ask her."

  "Good. I'll come with you."

  "Why?"

  "I know she scares you."

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