Chapter 16: The Second Island

"That's why I'm offering you another option," Black Flame said, his voice low but steady. His mechanical lenses glinted in the dim light, casting shadows over his helmet as if to emphasize the seriousness of his offer. His gaze locked onto the two brothers, waiting for their response.

"We accept!" Max and Leo shouted at the same time, their voices brimming with eagerness.

"Huh?" Black Flame blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Can you repeat what you just said?" His tone carried a mixture of disbelief and curiosity.

"We accept your offer," Max reaffirmed with unwavering conviction.

"We'll be in your care then," Leo added, his voice calm yet resolute.

"..."

For a moment, Black Flame stood silently, staring at them as if trying to comprehend the swiftness of their decision. His eyes, hidden behind his visor, seemed to study them carefully.

"Um... Mr. Flame? Are you alright?" Leo asked, sensing the pause was unusual even for someone as mysterious as him.

"I'm fine," Black Flame responded, though his tone was more introspective. "I'm just... surprised at how easily you both accepted my offer. I expected more hesitation."

"Oh... that's why. Mr. Flame, even if you didn't extend this offer to us, we would've asked for it ourselves," Max said with a determined glint in his eyes.

"Max is right," Leo chimed in. "While you were fighting those talking zombies, we concluded. We want to follow you—if you'd let us." His voice, though young, carried a mature weight, something that only survivors of this brutal world could possess.

Black Flame remained silent for another long, agonizing moment, his gaze unreadable. The seconds stretched on before he finally broke the stillness.

"Do you trust me?" he asked, his voice deep and deliberate as if the very essence of their survival hinged on their answer.

"We do," Max and Leo said in unison, their voices steady and without a hint of doubt.

"Why?" Black Flame pressed, his tone demanding an explanation.

"Isn't it obvious?" Max replied quickly. "You saved our lives."

"And more than that," Leo added, "you're strong and dependable. In this world, that's all the proof we need."

"...Fine," Black Flame said, his voice softening slightly. "But remember this—I'll work you both to the bone. You'll kill zombies, face danger, and you'll be expected to pull your weight. There are no free lunches in this world. If you agree even after hearing all that, then... I'll take you with me."

"We agree!" Max and Leo replied instantly, their determination unwavering.

A small, almost imperceptible nod came from Black Flame. "Good. Once I've cleared the next island, I'll come back for you."

"If you don't mind me asking, how long will it take you?" Max asked, a mixture of curiosity and respect in his voice.

"Hmm... shouldn't take more than fifteen minutes," Black Flame responded with a shrug, as if obliterating an entire island of undead was just a minor task on his to-do list.

Max nodded, seemingly unfazed. "That's great. We'll wait until you return."

"You don't seem surprised by the short amount of time I'll need," Black Flame noted, his tone teasing but sharp.

Max grinned. "Mr. Flame, please don't joke with us. After personally witnessing what you're capable of, I doubt the next island will be much of a challenge for you."

"Fair enough," Black Flame said. "Then I'll be back. And stop calling me 'Mr. Flame.' It makes me sound old. Just 'Flame' is fine."

"Okay, Flame," Leo agreed. "But do you want us to see you off? Maybe we could escort you to your boat?"

Black Flame let out a short laugh. "That won't be necessary."

"Huh? Why not?" Max asked, a little confused.

"It's simple," Black Flame said, turning towards the horizon. "I don't have a boat."

Max's brow furrowed in confusion. "Then... do you mean you have a ship?"

"I've got nothing of the sort," Black Flame replied, a slight smirk playing on his lips beneath his helmet.

Leo stepped forward, his curiosity piqued. "Then... how do you plan on crossing the ocean? And wait—how did you even get here in the first place?"

Black Flame turned his gaze to the sky. "Simple. I flew here. And that's exactly how I plan on getting to the next island."

"Huh?" Both Max and Leo echoed the same sound of confusion.

Before they could ask for an explanation, Black Flame's Rocket Boots activated with a sharp hiss, and he shot up into the sky, leaving a trail of exhaust fumes and astonished faces behind him.

"..."

For a long time, silence reigned as Max and Leo stood there, staring at the shrinking figure in the distance.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Max pointed at the sky where Black Flame had disappeared. "Did he just...?"

Leo, his mouth hanging open slightly, nodded stiffly. "I think he did."

***

While Max and Leo stood dumbfounded, Black Flame was already soaring through the air towards the next island. The wind whipped around him, but his focus remained sharp.

"Faraday," he commanded. "Activate Sensor and Holographic Mode."

[Understood.] Faraday's robotic voice echoed in his head.

Flash!

Two brilliant laser beams shot from his helmet, projecting a detailed holographic map of the island before him.

"Hmm..." Black Flame muttered to himself as he analyzed the map. "About a thousand Grade 2 Poison Splash Variants. Perfect. They'll help me reach half the requirement for unlocking my 10th ability."

With a smirk of satisfaction, he began his descent.

Boom!

His landing shook the ground beneath him, the force of his impact sending a shockwave that immediately attracted the attention of the zombies below.

"HAAARRGGHH!" The variants screamed in unison, their monstrous voices echoing across the desolate island as they began spitting their corrosive venom toward him.

"Annoying..." Black Flame sighed, his voice cold. "Faraday, activate Laser Beam."

[Understood.]

A low hum of energy built up behind Black Flame's visor. The lenses of his helmet began to glow a deep red as the power charged within them.

Bzzz~

In an instant, a searing red laser shot out from his lenses, and with a swift, calculated motion, he spun in a full circle, the beam slicing through the horde with deadly precision. The air was filled with the sound of bodies dropping to the ground, their torsos severed cleanly by the lethal line of energy.

"Done and dusted," Black Flame muttered, dusting off his mechanical hands as if he had simply completed a routine task.

Surveying the now lifeless battlefield, he frowned. "No humans or animals detected on the map. But that doesn't mean there's nothing important here, right, Faraday?"

[That is correct.]

"Let's get exploring then."

***

Ten minutes later, after thoroughly exploring the island, Black Flame grumbled in frustration. "There's nothing useful here..."

With a sigh of disappointment, he activated his Rocket Boots once more. "Faraday, let's head back."

[Understood.] Faraday's voice resounded in his head.

FUUSSH!

He took off into the sky, leaving the deserted island behind.

***

Back on the previous island, Max and Leo were still deep in conversation as they waited for Flame's return.

"Hey, Leo," Max said, breaking the comfortable silence. "What do you plan on doing once this is all over?"

"Huh?" Leo raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. "Why do you want to know?"

"Just answer the question," Max pressed, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Leo shrugged. "I don't know... I guess I'll just eat, sleep, and repeat. That sounds good enough for me."

Max burst into laughter. "Seriously? That's your plan?"

"What's so funny?" Leo scowled, his face flushing with embarrassment.

"Nothing!" Max chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye. "It's just... I didn't expect someone as serious as you to want something so simple."

Leo huffed. "Hey! I'm not a robot, you know. I want to relax too."

Max's expression turned thoughtful. "Speaking of robots... what do you think of Flame?"

"What do you mean?" Leo asked.

"I mean, do you think he's human? He wears that weird armor... sometimes he seems more like a machine than a man."

Leo scoffed. "Idiot. Of course, he's human. A robot couldn't express emotion the way he does."

BOOM!!

A thunderous sound interrupted their conversation, and Black Flame landed before them, his Rocket Boots hissing as he touched down.

"Who's a robot?" he asked, his voice dripping with amusement.

Max and Leo froze, their eyes wide as they realized Flame had overheard everything.