As Ty absorbed the last words from the book, the tiny fairy perched on his shoulder remarked with a mix of awe and concern, "Wow, that's all so intense. I can't imagine what it must have been like at that time."
Ty nodded, his thoughts mirroring the fairy's sentiments. "It is a bit odd, though, and a lot of it is vague. It doesn't give answers to what happens or even the reason for the Arena," he mused. "Reminds me a bit of religion back on Earth. Even though I still believe in some stuff, going your whole life not knowing was sort of just accepted."
"So, I bet it's the same thing here in that regard," Ty concluded, just as a sudden, large boom echoed around him. Dust and bits of rock fell from the ceiling, showering Ty's head with debris. "What the hell was that?" he exclaimed, startled. Two more booms followed, each one sending a shiver down his spine, leaving a heavy silence in their wake.
Ty's heart raced as he pondered what could be happening outside the safety of his current surroundings.
"Hey, can you go check that out, Fairy?" Ty asked, trying to peer beyond the confines of his current location, the sudden disruptions igniting his curiosity.
"Mhmm, sure," the fairy replied, her voice tinged with a hint of annoyance before she zipped away, a streak of light marking her swift departure.
"That was strange," Ty thought, settling back down. He stared at the book, attempting to refocus on his thoughts amid the unexpected chaos.
"What is Erebos's angle here? What does he want from all of this?" Ty mused, his mind racing. He recalled that other vampires had tried to capture Erebos, marking him as a rogue. Yet, now, it seemed Erebos had an accomplice. "Ahh, it's too much.
It's so complicated the more I think about it," Ty exclaimed, the frustration evident in his voice as he attempted to untangle the web of intrigue surrounding Erebos.
Taking a deep breath, Ty spoke softly to himself, trying to sift through the information he had. "What do I know about him, though?" He pondered Erebos's actions—the gauntlet laid out for him to use, the clear intention not to kill him, the apparent disdain for the creature within Ty, and now, the urging to use that specific sword.
As Ty delved into his explanation, Goey's expression shifted, his voice turning stern. "Please shut up, and don't make me ask again."
Ty felt a cold shiver run down his spine at those words, stopping mid-sentence as the faint sound of a coin flipping echoed in the distance. A shadowy figure emerged from the same direction Goey had come from.
"Please, let me introduce you to Sergeant Gui-Jun from the house of the nobilized Zio Family bloodline," Goey said, shifting into a formal tone as he gave a salute to the newcomer.
Ty, taken aback, noted to himself the oddity of the salute—such formalities hadn't been observed around him before, not even with the Lieutenant.
As the man named Sergeant Gui-Jun stepped into the light, Ty couldn't help but assess his towering presence. Standing around 7 feet tall, his build was reminiscent of a professional basketball player from the Bucks in the 2020s.
His eyes, a startling non-sensical red, contrasted sharply with his black hair, just as Goey and JJ had described. Ty's initial impression was one of awe and wariness, the Sergeant's imposing figure suggesting a man of significant power and authority.
"You are the Demon, correct?" Sergeant Gui-Jun's voice was firm, cutting through the tension in the room.
Ty nodded, a wry smile tugging at his lips despite the gravity of the situation. "That's what they call me, I suppose. What can I do for you, Mr. Qui-Gon—I mean, Gui-Jun?" His attempt at humor lightly veiled his apprehension.
"You're coming with me. I am taking you to get registered officially. Other than that, don't worry about it. Just get up and come with me, and don't talk unless I ask you to," Gui-Jun commanded, leaving no room for negotiation in his tone.
"Sounds fine to me," Ty responded, his voice calm, betraying none of his inner turmoil.
Suddenly, the fairy, hidden away in Ty's pocket, emerged, voicing her displeasure, "Who is this rude guy?" Her question was cut short as a coin, thrown by Gui-Jun, whizzed dangerously close, narrowly missing her before Ty's quick reflexes allowed him to catch it.