Chapter 76: The Visit (Bonus chapter)

"So you've returned. How did it go? Save the princess yet? Did the Traveler willingly follow you? I'm curious as to how you were able to accomplish something our entire squad couldn't."

Scorpion spoke, using his knife to carve off fruits so he could eat.

Zex was standing a bit further from him, wearing the clothing he had stolen from a nearby reserve.

"No words? Or perhaps, did you fail and cowardly return to me with your tail between your legs." Scorpion spoke yet again, while still craving up his fruits.

"I found her." Zex replied after making a frustrated grunt.

"Oh? And where is she now?" Scorpion asked.

"She— she doesn't want to return to the temple." Zex reported.

Scorpion's knife froze mid air, his brow twitched slightly, but he didn't turn around.

"I see."

"I see? That's all you have to say?! If the rest find out they'll kill her for sure! No one can betray the cult and get away with it!" Zex shouted.

"It's a choice she made for a reason, there's nothing to be done about that, and besides-"

Scorpion stood up, grabbing his knife in a defensive way while taking a bite of his fruit.

"They are already here."

One by one, yellow portals began to open up around Zex and Scorpion, making them back each other, their survival instinct on the run.

From within these portals, individuals dressed in black began to step out, each one had their faces covered.

They all positioned themselves around them, some taking the trees, and others sitting on the stones.

"Welcome, I'm glad to see you remembered us." Scorpion voiced out.

"047, where is the man?" One of them spoke, she had a feminine voice and was the only one who stepped forward.

She was the second in command, her name, Eliot Kampong, a member of the Red Wings, and officially known as 002.

"Oh yeah, the man, see, a few things happened and we were kinda un-"

Slash!

"Yep, that's exactly what happened. She was taken hostage by the Traveler, Zex went back to set her free and she refused to come with..."

They gasped even louder.

"Did she state her reason?" 002 asked.

"All she told me was, she has found her place with him and doesn't want him to think bad of her." Zex responded.

"If this is another lie you are definitely-"

"I'm not lying! She really did say it, she also said to tell Mother the Traveler would like to speak to her, he doesn't want any conflict."

"She...betrayed us?" one of the cloaked men spoke, he was standing behind 002.

"Oi! That's unacceptable, a member betraying the Cult is the same as a member Betraying Mother. Surely we can't let this slide, I say we storm Camelot and kill her!!!" another member yelled.

"Yeahhhhh!!!" the rest shouted.

But their screams were soon covered by Scorpion's laughter.

"You jest?" 002 asked menacingly.

"Sorry sorry, it's just, I find it funny how easily we all underestimate people because we are so confident about the powers Mother blessed us with." Scorpion continued –

"She is the goddess of the heavens, so it's only natural, but I'll say this in a way even you all can understand. Right now, if we all were to storm Camelot looking for a fight, that man would undoubtedly kill every single one of us...without breaking a single sweat".

"You speak so highly of him." 002 hinted.

"Well, I know a god when I see one."

002 sighed.

"Your insolence is really revolting. As much as I wish to kill the bitch that betrayed us, we are not making a single move until we've informed Mother. So, let us go. And being these two with us, they'll answer to Mother themselves."

002 turned around, and the yellow portals opened back up.

Immediately, the rest all followed, some of them carrying Scorpion's body and guiding Zex into the Portal.

They were finally going back home, to face their trials with the one woman who blessed them.

The goddess of Discord.