Jen wakes up still lying on the chair. The nearby villager then says,
"You've only been out for an hour, but it must've felt like days—or even years—for you inside your head."
Jen slowly rises and walks to the window, watching as the sun begins to set.
"You were right," she says softly. "I feel like I've connected with my inner self on a much deeper level now. It even showed me memories I'd forgotten... After that data dragon fight, everything became hazy. But Boa—he kept what really happened from me."
She looks down at her hand, lost in thought, then exits the village house. As she passes the farm area, she spots Crank sleeping peacefully in the haystacks alongside the other animals. A faint smile crosses her face before she moves deeper into the village, making her way to Boa's towering house.
Just as she's about to step inside, two guards block her path.
"No one is allowed in," one of them warns.
Before Jen can protest, Prekayda steps out and says,
"It's alright. She may enter. She's one of our leader's companions from the sky."
Prekayda gestures for Jen to follow her. They walk down a long, echoing hallway until they reach a massive chamber, where Boa sits in deep meditation, surrounded by swirling spiritual energy.
"He should be done at any moment now," Prekayda whispers.
Jen's eyes widen in awe.
"If he's connecting to the souls of those closest to him... then he must be working on the project that we left with Yunbam! Project Soul...."
As she watches him, memories rush back—her time with Boa on their home planet Isha. They had wandered through the slums together, recruiting those in need to form the BOAS. She remembers returning to her childhood home with Boa, only to find the skeletons of her parents still sitting on the sofa.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she turns to Boa and says
"There's one more friend I need to visit."
They enter the upper levels of the Slums, making their way into the entertainment district. Eventually, they arrive at a small building where a man sits behind the front desk.
Jen steps forward and asks, "Is Wade here?"
The man looks up and replies,
"The former owner, Wade? He sold me this place a long time ago. Became a bounty hunter himself after the passing of his old friends."
Jen frowns. "Where is he now?"
The man shrugs. "He goes after higher-level bounties these days. Moved on to another guild that deals in the tougher bounties. This place only handles low to mid-level contracts."
Jen nods in understanding. As they exit the building, she and Boa head toward the high-tier district of the entertainment sector, stopping at each building that offers more dangerous bounties. After a series of dead ends, they reach a small shop run by an old woman.
"You looking for Wade?" she asks, squinting at them. "Information like that don't come cheap. You'll need to pay a hefty sum of Digicoins."
Boa reaches into his coat, pulls out a thick stack of Digicoins, and places them on the table.
The old woman blinks in surprise. "Well then... that should do. Your Wade does work with us. He's currently on this bounty."
She points to a high-level bounty poster pinned to the wall. It shows a crooked-looking man with piercing eyes.
"His name is Otter," she continues. "A dangerous figure from the undercity. Word is, he's got ties to a few corrupt Nobles over in Oasis. But Wade's not working alone. How should I put this... ever since he joined, he's rarely been alone. Over time, his son began helping him out."
Boa and Jen exchange a shocked glance.
"Wade has a son?" Jen asks.
The old woman nods. "Yes, and his name is Yunbam. Quite gifted for someone so young."
Moments later, Boa and Jen meet up with Officer Hank near the prison gates. He's holding a folder and looks exhausted.
"That was a lot of work in a short amount of time," Hank says, handing them two sleek pass cards. "But since it's you guys, I'd say it was worth it."
With the new credentials, they board a transit railcar and travel through the depths of the undercity. The train screeches to a halt, and they step out, greeted by a maze of dim alleys and eyes of many well dressed armed men.
They ignore them as Boa scans the narrow streets and asks,
"How are we going to find them in a city this massive?"
Suddenly, a large screen on a nearby building lights up with breaking news: Yesterday night Otter was killed.
Jen stares at the screen.
"Looks like they've already completed the bounty," she says. "That must mean they're heading back now."
She turns to leave, intending to return to the Slums on the transit railcar, but Boa grabs her arm.
"Wait. Look."
They both glance back at the screen. The report continues: Otter's men have vowed to take revenge on whoever killed their boss. They will do whatever it takes to pass judgment on those responsible.
Jen and Boa turn their eyes toward the transit station nearby. Dozens of armed thugs—Otter's men—are patrolling the area, rifles and clubs in hand.
Boa narrows his eyes.
"They must be covering all the stations through out the undercity. They must be waiting for Wade and his son. The transit routes are their only direct way back to the Slums."
The news feed shifts again. This time, it shows grainy security images of two figures: a middle-aged man and a teenage boy. The announcer declares them as the prime suspects in Otter's death.
Jen exhales sharply, her voice tight with concern.
"No doubt about it now... They'll avoid every transit station. The only safe way back is on foot." She thinks for a moment. "They'll stay away from the main gates too. Which means..."
Her eyes widen.
"The only path left... is underground."
Moments later, they descend into the sewers. The air is damp, the tunnels echoing with distant drips and muffled footsteps.
Boa breaks the silence.
"I never asked you—back when we were prisoners together—but I'm guessing you used to be a bounty hunter. Since you know how one thinks."
Jen gives a soft chuckle.
"You guessed right. Wade trained me when I was younger. He's not just a close friend—he's practically family."
Boa smiles.
"Then we're in this together. Your family... is my family too."
They share a quiet smile before distant voices echo through the tunnel.
They crouch near a dark intersection. Ahead, a dozen of Otter's men search the tunnels with flashlights and rifles, sweeping their beams across the damp walls.
Jen whispers,
"Of course they thought of this too. But the sewers is their highest chance of survival."
Suddenly, the men's earpieces light up. One of them shouts a command, and the group quickly moves in a single direction.
Boa stands, tense with urgency.
"They must've found them. Let's go!"
They follow Otter's men down a dirt tunnel, stepping cautiously through the uneven path until they reach a large, open chamber. Makeshift houses and shelters fill the space, home to dozens of homeless people huddled in quiet survival.
Otter's men gather together, their voices low and tense as they speak.
"They came through here," one of them says, gesturing toward the shelter. "Otter's killers are hiding among them."
The soldiers raise their rifles and begin forcing the homeless out of their way at gunpoint, kicking over furniture and tearing through the fragile homes.
Suddenly, Wade bursts out of one of the shelters, cutting down two of the thugs before they can react. Chaos erupts as the other homeless residents leap into action, grabbing pipes, boards, and whatever weapons they can find.
One of Otter's men shouts,
"They're all in this together! Kill them all!"
The man raises his rifle at an unarmed homeless man—but before he can pull the trigger, Boa charges in from the shadows. His katana flashes, slicing the weapon in half before slamming the hilt into the thug's face, knocking him out cold.
Jen joins the fray, her daggers slicing through the thugs from behind with swift, silent precision.
In the middle of the fight, she spots a teenage boy clashing blades with one of the thugs. Despite his youth, he holds his ground with practiced ease. Something about him strikes Jen—it's the way he moves, the fierce determination in his eyes.
Then she realizes:
"That's Yunbam..."
He looks just like Wade.
After a fierce skirmish, the last of Otter's men are defeated. The chamber falls quiet, save for heavy breathing and the distant trickle of sewer water.
Wade turns, spotting Jen among the crowd. His eyes widen with emotion as he strides forward and pulls her into a tight embrace.
"I thought you were going to be in prison for another 55 years," he says, voice shaking.
Jen smiles.
"Thanks to Boa here, we earned enough credits through the prison system to buy our freedom back."
Wade turns to Boa and clasps his hand firmly.
"You must've worked hard to rack up that many credits."
Boa nods with a grin.
Wade then bows deeply to the gathered homeless.
"I'm sorry we dragged you all into this. We'll take our leave now."
One of the residents waves at them with a warm smile.
"No worries, Wade. We'll be moving out anyway. If you need anything, you know where to find us."
Soon after, the group moves through the sewers together. At a major intersection, the homeless residents split off, heading in a different direction to find a new home. Wade, Yunbam, Jen, and Boa continue toward their exit.
As they walk, Wade gestures to his son.
"This is Yunbam. Yunbam, meet Jen and Boa."
Yunbam nods respectfully at Jen.
"My dad's always talked about you—and Yen. The stories he told inspired me to become a bounty hunter too."
Wade chuckles.
"Let's save the catching up for later. We're almost at the exit."
Just as they near the end of the tunnel, they spot movement up ahead. More of Otter's men are stationed near the exit, weapons drawn and ready.
Jen and Boa make quick work of the remaining thugs, dispatching them within minutes. Their movements are fluid—calculated and in perfect sync. Wade and Yunbam watch in awe from the sidelines.
"So it was true..." Yunbam breathes out, eyes wide. "You really are amazing, Jen!"
Wade grins, still catching his breath.
"You two are so strong. Even top-tier bounty hunters would struggle against you. Jen, you've really gotten stronger in that prison."
One of the wounded thugs, barely clinging to consciousness, snarls from the ground.
"It's already too late for you... Otter is coming!"
Wade scoffs.
"We already killed him!"
Before the thug can reply, Yunbam steps forward and ends it with a quick strike. But then, a low buzzing hum fills the air. Mechanical. Ominous.
They freeze.
Suddenly, a violent explosion rips through the tunnel behind them, hurling everyone out the exit onto the waste lands. Dust clouds rise, choking the air. Wade coughs hard and scrambles up.
"Yunbam!" he shouts, eyes darting wildly until he sees his son nearby.
A figure emerges from the smoking tunnel. Heavy footsteps echo across the cracked ground as a metal body steps into view—sleek, brutal, and unmistakably hostile.
The robotic figure speaks, its voice distorted and filled with malice.
"You killed me like cowards... and now you flee like cowards. That is unforgivable!"
Wade's eyes widen.
"That voice.. no way... it's Otter!"
He draws his pistol and fires a full clip into the machine, but the bullets ping harmlessly off its armored plating. Otter rushes forward and delivers a crushing blow, sending Wade flying into a nearby brick wall.
"Where's the little brat who stabbed me in the back?" Otter growls, scanning the group.
He spots Yunbam and lunges. Yunbam dashes forward with a dagger, but Otter catches him by the throat and lifts him into the air. The boy chokes, struggling against the crushing grip.
Before Otter can tighten his hold, Jen and Boa comes flying in—Jen slashes at Otter's arm while Boa slams him from the side with his blade. The force knocks Otter back a few feet.
Jen catches Yunbam mid-fall and holds him close.
"Stay with your father. We've got this."
Yunbam coughs, eyes still defiant.
"No! You're going to need our help too!"
Boa steps forward with calm authority, his voice steady and proud.
"We've slain a dragon before, kid. Stay... and witness our honor."
Yunbam blinks, stunned by the weight of Boa's words. He nods and rushes to Wade's side, kneeling beside his wounded father.
Otter glares at them, metal fingers twitching with anticipation.
"I know who you two are... 'The Honorable Boa' and the druggy bounty hunter. Your stories have already reached the ears of the Nobles, and I've heard all about that little dragon fight."
He steps forward, his mechanical voice growing more twisted with glee.
"You're the perfect test subjects for this new body of mine!"
With a metallic roar, Otter charges. He swings his reinforced arm at Boa, who blocks with his katana. The sheer force of the impact sends Boa sliding backward, feet skidding across the dirt.
Jen dives in, her daggers flashing in rapid strikes. Sparks fly as her blades scrape against Otter's armor, but no real damage lands. She barely evades a sweeping backhand, flipping away and landing beside Boa.
"His body's tough. Can't break through it with simple strikes!" she says, panting.
Boa steadies his stance, katana at the ready.
"His strength... it matches Crank's."
They glance at each other, eyes locked in shared resolve. Then, in perfect unison, they shout:
"But he's no greater than a dragon!"
With a roar of determination, they charge together. Otter meets them head-on, and the air shakes as their weapons clash against his unrelenting metal form.
Otter stumbles back, surprised by the precision of their teamwork. Each of their strikes flows seamlessly into the next—Boa's katana slashes setting up Jen's spinning dagger strikes, and vice versa. The force of their combo sends Otter sliding across the dirt.
Suddenly, they land a synchronized blow. Boa slashes down while Jen strikes from the side, and with a loud crack, a small fracture forms on Otter's robotic arm.
Otter snarls and thrusts out his palm.
"Get off me!"
A massive blast erupts from his hand. Jen and Boa leap away in opposite directions just before the explosion hits. Smoke fills the air, and as it clears, a giant bronze shell clangs to the ground.
Otter chuckles, stepping forward.
"Come on, dragon slayer—show me your true strength of honor. And you…" He points at Jen. "I know you're faster than that. Take your drugs. I want to see your max speed!"
His damaged arm begins to glow. The empty socket whirs as it forms a sharp, golden crystal cone. When it seals shut, the entire arm pulses with golden energy.
Boa's eyes widen.
"That's a Nova crystal… Only a Noble would have access to that kind of resource!"
Without another second, Jen pulls out a syringe and jabs it into her arm. Her veins glow faintly as her eyes flash an intense blue.
Boa tightens his grip on his katana, every muscle in his body twitching with focus.
"This fight would be so much easier with the others..." he mutters, then raises his blade.
"...but our honor is on the line!"
The two stand side by side, ready to face Otter