My Tribrid System: More than a Monster-Chapter 96: A Breacher

Chapter 94

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LOCATION: WALL STEEL!

In a dark alleyway nestled within the sprawling shelter of Wall Steel, a pulsating, radiant light flickered for several moments.

The glow grew brighter and more intense, nearly spilling out of the shadows and onto the main street until...

Thud—!

"Ouch... that hurt. I think." The voice of a young boy echoed through the cramped space as he stumbled out of the swirling white portal behind him.

He looked no older than fifteen... sixteen at the very most.

His jet-black hair was meticulously combed back, providing him with a sharp, disciplined appearance that contrasted with his current predicament.

He began dusting off his clothes while surveying his immediate surroundings.

"I’m in an alleyway? Why would grandpa’s portal drop me here of all places?" He wondered quietly, his gaze fixing on the light at the end of the passage.

The exit.

"Let’s see... time to explore the human world."

He grinned widely, his previous discomfort forgotten as he stepped forward into the unknown.

****

A few minutes later, the boy could be seen standing paralyzed in the middle of a bustling street.

His eyes lit up with pure wonder at the technological marvels laid out before him.

Hover bikes and streamlined cars zipped through the air, while a magnetic train hummed overhead.

Surrounding him were dozens of massive, glowing billboards painting the world in neon hues.

"Woah. This place is lit. It’s nothing like that gloomy place back home," he muttered with incredible excitement, his head twisting and turning to take in every detail.

He was staring at everything like a wide-eyed child lost at an amusement park.

’Alright, Felix. Be cool. Do you want the ladies here to see you as some uncool dude?’ he scolded himself internally.

Clearing his throat, he straightened his posture and began glancing around with a forced air of sophistication.

"Now, nobody is here to monitor or nag me. So, where can I find that legendary drink grandpa always talks about?" He mused silently, his eyes scanning the storefronts.

’Ah... I won’t find it just by standing around.’

With that thought, he began roaming the district, searching for a tavern or a lounge.

He walked a considerable distance away from the central shelter before he finally stumbled upon a local bar.

Walking in, a low, melodic chime echoed out, signaling his entrance to the establishment.

His eyes scanned the room, which was filled with weary adults drinking to their heart’s content.

Most of them didn’t even bother to lift their heads or offer a glance at the newcomer.

They simply drank and engaged in low-toned chatter.

With a casual shrug, the kid strolled over to the polished counter where the beverages were mixed and served.

"Hello there," he greeted politely, flashing a charismatic smile at the man behind the bar.

"... What are you doing here, kid? What do you want?" the bartender asked, his voice gravelly and unwelcoming.

"...."

Felix didn’t reply for a moment.

His eyes scanned the rows of glass bottles lining the back shelf until they landed on a specific one.

It was labeled with a bold, stylized letter "W."

"I want that drink," Felix pointed out excitedly, causing the attendant to trace his fingers to the dark bottle.

"It’s expensive. You got any money?"

That was the exact moment reality dawned on Felix.

’Wait. Oh crap! Money. How could I have forgotten something as basic as currency?!’

He dragged his palm across his face, lamenting his own exasperated stupidity.

Seeing the boy’s shifting expression, the attendant’s face contorted into a scowl.

"You got no money, right?"

"Uh... well, yes, I don’t. But I can work for you to repay the cost of the—"

"Just leave," the attendant snarled, cutting him off.

"No, I’m serious. I’m a pretty hard worker, and I can—"

"Like I said," the attendant repeated, his tone dropping into a dangerous register as he reached under the counter and pulled out a heavy shotgun. He leveled it directly at the kid’s chest. "Leave."

’Sheesh. No one told me that humans were this hostile. Tsk!’

"Fine then. I will come back when I have some money," Felix grumbled, raising his hands in a mock gesture of surrender as he backed toward the exit.

"Whatever."

With that, Felix turned around and walked out of the bar.

Returning his weapon back to its place, the attendant then proceeded to tap on his sleek wristwatch.

—Iron Corps response team here; what is your emergency?

"Hi, uhm... wasn’t a law passed recently stating that kids from the ages of fifteen to seventeen should be sent to the Aspirant Corps?" The attendant spoke clearly into his watch.

A few seconds later, a voice replied.

— Yes. Is there a problem?

"Well, I just spotted a kid who looked to be seventeen years old at the very most roaming around aimlessly. He even attempted to steal from my shop a while ago before I chased him away." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

There was another brief pause, as if the receiver were considering the report. But then, they finally replied.

— Location?

"24th Street, close to the second shelter."

— Someone will be sent down immediately. Thank you.

With that, the call was over.

***

After being asked to leave the bar, Felix found himself back on the bustling streets.

He felt utterly lost as he kept turning around, searching for some sense of direction.

’Who even asked me to leave my world and come over here? Now where do I go? What do I do? And most especially, how do I find my favorite author? I should have planned things out properly,’ he thought, facepalming himself in frustration.

"Maybe I should just use my skills to make some money. That could help," he mumbled as he prepared to take a step forward.

He had just lifted his foot and hadn’t truly taken the step when his ears perked up for a moment, catching a faint sound.

Then, he placed his foot firmly on the ground.

With that, he began walking away.

Clack. Clack. Clack.

With each step he took, he moved faster and faster, gliding through the environment with swift precision.

He wove through the crowd like a master of evasion, keeping his gaze fixed ahead as if he were just an ordinary passerby.

Eventually, he found himself entering an alleyway—one different from the one he had originally emerged from.

He walked in without hesitation.

In front of him was nothing but a dead end.

"Brave of you to actually walk into an alleyway on your own, kid."

"I don’t even have any money. What do you people want from me?" Felix asked as he turned around to see three men wearing matching, tactical outfits.

Rifles hung from their shoulders.

"We are here to arrest you for breaching the law that was passed regarding all teenagers. You are to be taken into custody."

’Laws? Arrest? What the hell are they talking about?’

"And it will be in your best interest if you comply; otherwise, we will have to force you to surrender."

"Force?" Felix asked, his eyes narrowing into deadly, piercing slits. "I don’t particularly like that word."

"Guess you are the stubborn type, eh? Fine then. Let’s do this the hard way."

Felix snarled as he shifted into a battle stance, staring at the men who bolted his way at a rapid pace.