Endless... P.3 (Finale)

~ Rei's Pov ~

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'It's... it's a Saiyan!?' I stared at the figure emerging from the cocoon...

The golden light pouring from the cracks intensified, illuminating the chamber until it was almost blinding. I squinted, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. Although I couldn't make out their face clearly, I could tell that the figure was humanoid—tall, muscular, with wild, untamed hair that stood on end; radiating with crimson energy, the aura surrounded them, shimmering like fire, and it definitely carried the unmistakable signature of a Saiyan.

But there was something... Wrong about it. Not even just that. Why did he have that color hair and tail? Is, or was that even possible? And even those markings on his body...

I tightened my grip on my blade... My own instincts were practically screaming at me to stay on guard. This Saiyan didn't just feel powerful—they felt unnatural, like their energy was distorted somehow, twisted into something that didn't belong together.

"Ahhh... Rei? What do we do?" 

I turned towards Saya, knowing I had to do something here. He's out cold despite the feeling I'm getting. And to be honest, it isn't like we can just leave him here.

"Damn it!" I scratched my head, frustration bubbling up as I glanced back at Saya. "We'll have to take him with us..."

Saya's eyes widened, her voice pitching slightly. "What?! Are you serious? Rei, this guy looks like he fell out of some nightmare! And you want to bring him along?"

I sighed, running a hand down my face. "Look, I don't like it any more than you do. But we can't just leave him here. If someone else finds him—or worse, if he wakes up and comes after us—this whole area's screwed."

Saya crossed her arms, glancing warily at the unconscious Saiyan. "I dunno, Rei... He doesn't exactly scream 'safe to handle.' What if he wakes up while we're carrying him? What if he's some kind of freak experiment gone wrong?"

I shot her a sharp look. "That's why we bind him first."

Saya blinked, then groaned, throwing her head back dramatically. "Oh, yeah, sure, because tying up a glowing, shiny-haired Saiyan with weird markings and an energy signature that feels like it's absolutely gonna crush us, is a great idea."

"Do you have a better one?" I snapped.

Saya didn't answer, just muttered something under her breath as she rummaged through her pack. She pulled out some heavy-duty binding cords, the kind reinforced with ki-resistant fibers. "Here. But if he wakes up and blasts us into next week, I'm haunting you."

I didn't bother responding, my focus already back on the figure lying at the center of the chamber. His aura had dimmed slightly, no longer radiating with the same intensity, but the markings on his body still pulsed faintly, like they had a life of their own.

I approached cautiously, every instinct in me screaming to stay back, but I ignored it. Whoever—or whatever—This guy was, leaving him here wasn't an option now. As I knelt down beside him, the air felt heavier, like the remnants of his power were still pressing down on the entire room...

Up close, the details were even stranger. His hair, an almost glowing platinum blond that faded to black at the tips... It almost seemed to shimmer in the dim light. His tail, coiled loosely by his side, was the same unnatural tone, and the markings on his arms and chest looked almost like runic yet mechanical in nature, glowing faintly against his skin.

I wrapped the cords around his wrists and ankles, tying them tightly before Saya helped me hoist him onto my back. He was surprisingly heavy—far heavier than he should've been—but I easily managed.

"Let's move." I said, my voice firmer than I felt.

Saya didn't argue, though I could see the unease in her eyes. She led the way out of the cavern, her ki sphere casting long, shifting shadows on the walls as we retraced our steps. Not creepy at all of course.

As we entered back into the forest, the morning sun seemed too bright, almost harsh after the oppressive darkness of the cave. I adjusted the Saiyan's weight on my back, his head lolling slightly against my shoulder...

"So..." Saya said as we started toward camp, "What's the plan once we get him back? Tie him to a tree and hope for the best?"

"First," I said, "We figure out who—or what—he is. Then we decide what to do next."

"And if he wakes up before that?"

I glanced at the unconscious Saiyan, my grip on him tightening slightly. "Then we make sure he knows he's not in control of the situation."

Saya let out a low whistle. "Yeah, sure. No way this could ever go wrong."

I ignored her sarcasm, my mind racing with too many unanswered questions at this point. Who was this Saiyan? Was he even a Saiyan? Where did he even come from? And most importantly, why did his presence feel so... Dangerous?

Whatever the answers were, I had a feeling this was just the beginning. For now, I think it's best we took him back to our camp, and question him when he wakes up.

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"…Saya, you've been staring at him for the past hour and a half. QUIT IT!" I warned sharply, my patience wearing thin.

Saya flinched but quickly raised her hands in mock surrender. "Alright! Alright! Geez, no need to yell!" She glanced back at him again and muttered under her breath, "But have you seen him? He's ridiculously good-looking compared to most of our kind. He's like… a totally different breed or something."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, already regretting bringing him back. "Saya, he's unconscious. Bound. And a complete unknown. Maybe focus less on his looks and more on the fact that he might try to kill us the second he wakes up?"

Saya shrugged, leaning back against a tree. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Mysterious Platinum-haired Saiyan with creepy glowing tattoos—super dangerous, blah blah blah. But seriously, have you ever seen anyone with a face like that? No scars, no rough edges, just... perfect, sharp."

I shot her a look. "I didn't realize you were a Saiyan historian specializing in attractiveness now?"

She smirked, unbothered by my sarcasm. "I'm just saying! It's already super rare, that's all. Most of our kind look like they've been through a grinder, and they have. He's definitely the exception. A fine exception."

"Focus, Saya." I said, though I could feel the faintest tug of a smirk threatening my face. "We don't know anything about him yet, and until we do, he's likely a threat. Even if he looks like some kind of hero from an old legend."

Saya gave a halfhearted sigh, sitting down cross-legged near the unconscious Saiyan. "Fine. I'll behave. But for the record, if he turns out to be some ancient warrior here to save the universe or whatever; I'm claiming first dibs on the good story."

I rolled my eyes, trying not to let her lightheartedness chip away at my serious mood. She always had a way of cutting through tension, even if it drove me crazy sometimes.

The Saiyan shifted slightly in his sleep, his brows furrowing for just a moment before relaxing again. My hand instinctively went to my blade, but he didn't stir further. His energy was still faint, but it felt... different. Like, it was starting to stabilize in a weird sense...

Saya noticed too, her playful demeanor fading slightly. "Hey, Rei... What do you think his deal is? I mean, he doesn't feel like anyone from our planet. Not even remotely close."

I hesitated, my gaze fixed on his face. "I don't know," I admitted quietly. "But whatever he is... he's not normal. And we need to be ready for anything when he wakes up."

Saya nodded, her smile fading into something more thoughtful. "Yeah... I guess you're right. But still, it's kind of exciting, isn't it? Finding someone like this—it's not something that happens every day."

Exciting wasn't the word I'd use, but I kept that thought to myself. For now, all we could do was wait and see what kind of person—or creature—we were dealing with...

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END