Gangsters: Mri V The Cosmic Tyrant[5]
Chapter 13: The Calm Before the Storm
The next morning, the air in Machu Picchu was crisp, the sun rising over the mountains, painting the ruins in golden light. The team was finally taking a break after everything they had been through. But the words of the mysterious figure still lingered in the back of Mri's mind.
Was this really over?
For now, he decided to push those thoughts aside. Today, they were just tourists.
---
A Day of Exploration
Jasmine stretched, yawning loudly. "Finally, a day without fighting monsters or running for our lives. Let's actually enjoy this place!"
Ayang smirked. "That's the plan. But if we see another glowing-eyed creep, I'm throwing you in front of them first."
Jasmine punched his shoulder. "Try it and see what happens."
The rest of the group laughed. They spent the morning exploring the ruins, walking through the ancient stone pathways, and marveling at the architecture.
Bibek, being the history nerd of the group, started giving unnecessary lectures.
Bibek adjusted his glasses. "Did you know that Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century and—"
Pronami groaned. "Bibek, please, let us enjoy the view without a lecture!"
Malobika chuckled. "It's cute that he knows all this, though."
Pronami smirked. "That's why I let him talk. Only sometimes."
Bibek blushed but kept talking anyway.
Mri, meanwhile, was still thinking about Limitless Mode. He had tapped into it for a few seconds during the fight with the Hybrid Dragon-Human, but he had no control over it. It was just raw, uncontrollable power.
Ayang noticed Mri zoning out. "Oi, don't tell me you're thinking about fighting again?"
Mri sighed. "I can't help it. That guy said we don't understand what we're interfering with. What if there's more?"
Ayang shrugged. "Then we deal with it when it comes. For now, let's just live a little."
Mri smirked. "Fine. But if we get attacked again, I'm blaming you for jinxing it."
---
The Marketplace & A Mysterious Warning
After a few hours of sightseeing, the group made their way to the local marketplace.
The place was bustling with life, with colorful stalls selling handmade crafts, jewelry, and food.
Jasmine and Malobika instantly got distracted by souvenirs.
Jasmine held up a necklace. "Oooh, this would look so cute!"
Malobika nodded. "And this bracelet! I need it."
Pronami rolled her eyes. "We've been here for five minutes, and you're already shopping?"
Meanwhile, Ayang and Bibek were focused on food.
Ayang bit into something that looked like a pastry. "Damn, this is good."
Bibek nodded, stuffing his face. "Best. Trip. Ever."
Mri was about to join them when he felt something—a presence.
He turned around and saw an old woman staring at him.
Her wrinkled face was serious, her eyes dark and knowing.
She spoke in a low voice. "You carry a power that is not meant to exist."
Mri's heart skipped a beat. "What?"
She took a step closer. "The yellow aura… It is a curse as much as it is a gift. Be careful, young one. There are eyes watching you."
Mri's fists clenched. "Who are you?"
But before she could answer, she vanished into the crowd.
Mri stood frozen.
His mind raced.
First the cloaked figure, now this old woman?
What did they mean by "not meant to exist"?
Before he could process it, Ayang called out, "Oi, Mri! Come try this food, man!"
Mri hesitated but then sighed. He'd figure this out later.
For now, he joined his friends.
---
The Night Before the Storm
As the day ended, the team gathered around a campfire near their lodge, laughing and sharing stories.
Jasmine grinned. "Alright, let's talk about our greatest fights. I say Ayang's best moment was getting punched across the jungle by that aura beast."
Ayang glared. "I survived, didn't I?"
Pronami smirked. "Barely."
Bibek laughed. "I think Mri's fight with the Hybrid Dragon-Human was the best. That was legendary."
Malobika nodded. "Yeah. You went completely insane, Mri. That yellow aura of yours…"
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
They had all seen it—Mri's true power.
Mri shifted uncomfortably. "I still don't understand it myself."
Ayang put a hand on his shoulder. "Then we'll figure it out together. We always do."
Mri looked around at his friends, a small smile forming.
Yeah. They always did.
But deep inside, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming.
Something far worse than anything they had faced before.
And when it arrived…
Would they be ready?
---
To Be Continued…
Chapter 14: The First Attack
The night was peaceful. The stars stretched endlessly across the Machu Picchu sky, and the cold mountain air carried the distant sounds of nature.
Mri sat outside the lodge, staring at the horizon. He should have felt at peace—after all, they had won. But something deep inside told him this was far from over.
His mind kept replaying the old woman's words.
"You carry a power that is not meant to exist."
What did she mean?
His thoughts were interrupted when Ayang walked out, yawning. "Oi, why are you sitting alone like some anime protagonist?"
Mri smirked. "I was just thinking."
Ayang raised an eyebrow. "You? Thinking? That's dangerous."
Mri threw a small rock at him, and Ayang dodged, laughing. "Alright, alright. But seriously, get some sleep. Tomorrow, we go back to being normal students. No more auras, no more monsters, no more insane fights."
Mri nodded, but he knew deep inside—things would never go back to normal.
---
A Sudden Earthquake
In the middle of the night, the ground shook violently.
Mri's eyes snapped open as he heard a loud rumbling. The entire lodge was shaking.
Jasmine screamed from her room. "EARTHQUAKE!"
The team rushed outside, only to see something terrifying—
The jungle was on fire.
Bright blue flames lit up the trees, casting eerie shadows in the night. Animals were running, desperate and afraid. The same way they had when the Hybrid Dragon-Human appeared.
Something was wrong.
Ayang's fists clenched. "Tell me this is just a normal forest fire."
Mri shook his head. "No. Look at the flames—they're blue."
Bibek cursed under his breath. "Aura flames."
They all turned toward the source of the destruction.
And then… they saw it.
A massive black silhouette standing in the middle of the burning forest.
Its eyes glowed red, its body radiating a terrifying dark aura.
Another hybrid.
But this one was different.
It was bigger, its body covered in what looked like black armor, with claws sharper than swords.
And it was looking right at them.
A deep, monstrous voice echoed through the valley.
"You killed my brother."
Mri's heart stopped.
Another one?!
Ayang took a step forward, his aura flaring. "Mri, tell me we're ready for this."
Mri took a deep breath, his yellow aura crackling around him.
"We don't have a choice."
The battle was about to begin.
---
To Be Continued…
Chapter 15: Battle in the Burning Forest
The night sky was painted with blue flames, their eerie glow casting flickering shadows across the jungle. The air was thick with smoke and tension, and the ground trembled beneath them.
The Hybrid Dragon-Human stood tall, its red eyes burning with fury.
"You killed my brother."
Mri's fists clenched. The fight against the first hybrid had nearly pushed him to his limits. If this one was stronger, then…
He pushed the doubt aside. Now wasn't the time to hesitate.
Ayang cracked his knuckles, stepping forward with his dark green aura flickering around him. "So what? He attacked first. You want revenge? Come and get it."
The Hybrid growled. "I will do more than that. I will erase you from existence."
And then it vanished.
No sound. No movement. Just—gone.
Mri's instincts screamed. "ABOVE!"
The Hybrid appeared mid-air, claws extended. It slashed down, sending a shockwave that shattered the ground. The team jumped back, barely dodging the attack.
The moment they landed, the Hybrid was already in front of them.
It was too fast.
It punched Bibek in the stomach, sending him flying through the burning trees.
Jasmine screamed. "BIBEK!"
Mri rushed forward, his yellow aura crackling like lightning. He aimed a punch at the Hybrid's face—but it caught his fist mid-air.
"Pathetic."
It tightened its grip.
Mri gritted his teeth in pain. His bones felt like they were about to snap.
A sudden kick to the Hybrid's side sent it flying.
Ayang stood next to Mri, his green aura blazing. "Tch. You good?"
Mri shook his hand, flexing his fingers. "Yeah. That thing is stronger than the last one."
Ayang smirked. "Good. That means I don't have to hold back."
Jasmine ran over to Bibek, helping him up. "We need a plan!"
The Hybrid rose from the ground, unfazed.
It grinned. "Let's see how long you can last."
It vanished again.
This time, it attacked from all sides. A flurry of slashes and kicks, so fast that Mri could barely react.
He blocked one, dodged another, but then—
A kick to the ribs sent him crashing into a tree.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
The Hybrid turned to Ayang, smirking. "Your turn."
Ayang narrowed his eyes. "You think I'm scared?"
His green aura exploded.
The trees shook, and the flames whirled around him.
"Let's dance."
The battle had only just begun.
---
To Be Continued…
Chapter 16: The Wrath of Ayang
The jungle burned around them, but Ayang's focus was locked onto the Hybrid Dragon-Human standing before him. The heat didn't bother him. The chaos didn't shake him.
All he could hear was the pounding of his own heart.
This was it.
The Hybrid grinned, flashing sharp teeth. "You think you're strong enough to stop me?"
Ayang cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders. His green aura surged, the ground beneath him cracking from the pressure. "I don't think—I know."
The Hybrid vanished.
Ayang didn't even flinch.
The moment the Hybrid reappeared—just inches from his face—Ayang moved.
A single uppercut.
The force sent the Hybrid soaring through the burning trees, snapping them in half.
Mri, still catching his breath, stared in shock. "Damn…"
Jasmine's eyes widened. "That was… fast."
Bibek, clutching his ribs, managed a smirk. "Ayang isn't called the Tyrant of Strength for nothing."
A loud BOOM echoed as the Hybrid crashed into the ground.
Dust and flames rose into the air.
Ayang exhaled, his aura flickering like wild fireflies. "I know you're not dead. Get up."
The dust settled—but the Hybrid was gone.
A shadow loomed behind Ayang.
"Got you."
The Hybrid's clawed hand pierced through Ayang's back.
Jasmine screamed. "AYANG!"
Ayang froze. His eyes widened. Blood dripped from his mouth.
The Hybrid smirked. "Too slow."
But then—Ayang grabbed the Hybrid's arm.
A faint chuckle escaped his lips.
"Too slow?"
He tightened his grip.
The Hybrid's smirk faded. "What—"
BAM!
Ayang headbutted the Hybrid so hard its skull cracked.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Three more consecutive headbutts, each stronger than the last.
The Hybrid staggered, dazed. "W-what… the hell…?"
Ayang, despite the hole in his back, grinned. "You really thought that was enough to kill me?"
His aura erupted. The flames turned green, swirling around him like a storm.
"Let me show you… what real strength is."
He grabbed the Hybrid's face and slammed it into the ground.
BOOM!
The shockwave shook the entire jungle. Trees collapsed. The flames danced wildly. The Hybrid let out a muffled roar, struggling to move.
But Ayang didn't let go.
He lifted it up again—then slammed it down once more.
BOOM!
And again.
BOOM!
And again.
BOOOOM!
The ground cratered, splitting apart.
The Hybrid spat blood, its vision blurring. "I-impossible…"
Ayang panted, sweat dripping down his face. His body trembled, but he didn't stop.
He leaned down, whispering into the Hybrid's ear.
"You messed with the wrong people."
Then—he punched the Hybrid straight through the crater, sending it deep underground.
Silence.
The team stared in shock.
Jasmine covered her mouth. "D-did he just…?"
Bibek whistled. "Damn."
Mri, still holding his ribs, grinned. "That's Ayang for you."
Ayang stumbled back, blood dripping down his back.
He winced. "Ugh… damn, that hurt."
Mri quickly ran over, catching him before he collapsed.
"Oi, idiot. You almost got yourself killed."
Ayang laughed weakly. "Yeah, but it looked cool, right?"
Mri sighed. "Yeah. It was badass."
Jasmine ran over, checking his wound. "We need to stop the bleeding!"
But before they could react—
A deep growl echoed from the crater.
The Hybrid wasn't dead.
Its eyes glowed brighter than before. Its aura turned black.
And then, for the first time—
It activated its Darkened Aura.
---
To Be Continued…