"You've got to be kidding me!"
Kairo screamed aloud, his voice ricocheting across the silent road.
Fear flooded his entire being. Unlike other boys who might jump up and down in reckless excitement if they found themselves in a bizarre situation like his—becoming the husband of a grown woman at his age, sleeping with an entire empire of women wasnt something he would do.
He felt a hollow sting coil in his stomach at the mere thought of it.
"I swear, that's exactly what they want with you."
Magnum continued while staring at the visibly disturbed Kairo, who clenched his fists as though he had just swallowed something foul.
"Be happy, Kairo. If they succeed in kidnapping you, you're going to have the time of your life… it does depend on how strong your body is. But an Oxide never disappoints, so I reckon you'll have a blast!"
"You sure know a lot about them for an outsider."
Kairo fired back, crushing Magnum's wild energy as his expression hardened. Wrinkles creased his forehead—a look that did not suit him in the slightest.
"I used to date the Queen's daughter. She told me everything about their culture."
He said it with the weight of something serious, something shadowed by a past he wasn't ready to unfold. Kairo saw it clearly in Magnum's eyes.
"Besides! I'm one of the Hydrogens. It's our job to know everything about the empires we protect."
"Yeah, about that—what's 'Hydrogen'? I heard that woman at the beach say it."
Kairo steered the conversation elsewhere, shifting toward ground where Magnum stood confident.
"It's the name of the group of friends I told you about. We're a specialized team—Null extermination and Hunger Beast elimination."
"So… you kill them and people pay you?"
"Nah. It's free. The only exception is when it involves people from outside Africa, especially if there's cargo involved. For example, the soldiers who arrived at the beach—they brought a ship, weapons, and mining equipment the Sisters of the Sea can use or resell. In cases like that, they pay us."
"That's smart."
"It is. Our operations require significant resources. We have to secure funding wherever we can—without compromising our integrity."
As Magnum spoke, a massive highway began to emerge ahead of them, swarming with vehicles.
"Woah…"
Kairo's eyes widened, gleaming with wonder. The highway was beautiful—clean, innovative, lined with tall light poles and medium trees planted on carefully designed patches of land along both sides.
At the far end of the road stood what looked like a modern metropolis. Skyscrapers. Glittering lights. In the distance, a towering chimney pierced the sky, signaling industrial advancement. A massive electrical fence surrounded the city from afar—a standard of security, perhaps.
Everything one would never expect to exist under such harsh global conditions stood proudly within that city.
"Welcome to Amani City,"
Magnum muttered like a tour guide addressing tourists.
But Kairo's awe was short-lived. A thought pierced through him.
This would've been so much better if Amanda were here.
A different reality. A better one.
And magnun saw it on his face.
he liked to read on how Kairo reacted to scenarios, didn't want him feeling bad after everything he'd passed through.
"Take it from someone who's faced a lot of bad things in life—don't let them block your path. Use the pain. Rise every time the world tries to push you down."
His voice carried a quiet weight. Simple words, yet they struck deep kairo deep.
"Alright!"
Kairo replied,shaking his head in agreement and understanding .
The car accelerated, merging into the flow of highway traffic.
Soon, Kairo would step into one of the first cities Africa rebuilt.
…...…
The city was divided into three sectors.
The Marketplace—the first section one encountered upon entering Amani city.
The Institutions—home to health facilities, educational centers, security divisions, and the Hydrogens' headquarters.
And finally, the Industrial District—where companies manufactured their products.
They were currently driving through the Marketplace.
It was enormous and alive. Buildings lined both sides of the road, shops stacked tightly beside one another, each selling something different. Between them, narrow, brightly lit pathways were deliberately constructed, guiding people toward the inner market that stretched behind the storefronts.
Near the tarred road where vehicles flowed into the city, vendors conducted business with relentless energy. It was astonishing how Magnum maneuvered through it all—one wrong move and he could hit a pedestrian.
"Catfish! Get your fresh catfish here! Good quality, low price!"
Vendors waved fish through the air with glowing smiles that masked years of hardened street experience.
"Church robes! One hundred percent original robes!"
"Man empowerment herbs! Drink this and you'll last longer in bed!"
Magnum smiled as they drove, like a groom staring at his bride on their wedding day.
Who could blame him? He was home.
Far from the badlands—where lowering your guard meant certain death.
Kairo gazed through the window, watching families, children laughing freely, faces unburdened. The sight stirred warm memories of his mother and sister… followed immediately by a crushing wave of guilt.
He repeated Magnum's earlier advice in his mind, forcing himself not to sink.
"So… Nulls don't come here?"
"They do. But we kill them before they even touch the city."
Magnum tapped a button near the window. It slid open slowly.
"Those wires you saw earlier—they're sensors. They scan everything. Underground, skyward. We get warnings minutes before an enemy even approaches."
"You guys have revolutionary technology."
"You can thank Rasmouse. He's the brain behind all of this. You'll meet him at HQ."
"Mr. Magnum."
A cracked, aged voice interrupted from outside.
Magnum stopped the car immediately.
Kairo leaned over to see who had called out. An elderly man stood behind an apple stand. He looked far too old to be working in the market— and he was, many people offered their help for him to stop but the old man insisted.
"I want to die doing what I like!"
He liked to say.
"Yes, Grandpa Willad!"
Magnum beamed. They clearly knew each other. That must have been why he had lowered the window in the first place—he expected the old man to speak.
"Was the mission successful?"
"Yeah. No one's getting our gold."
"That's wonderful. What would we do without you Oxides?"
Suddenly.
BOOM!!!
A violent explosion tore through the air—not far, still within the city's perimeter.
Every head turned.
Dark smoke rose into the sky.
"An explosion in the city?"
"Where did that come from?"
Questions erupted, fear clawing at throats. The air thickened with tension.
"It's coming from Hydrogen HQ!"
Magnum's eyes widened. His jaw tightened.
He restarted the engine and slammed his foot onto the accelerator.
VROOM!
The engine roared, tires spinning as civilians leaped out of the way.
They knew that look.
Serious mode.
"I've never seen Magnum this serious before. Whatever's happening… it's something he hates."
Kairo stared at Magnum's face. It looked like a hunter locking onto prey.
"Buckle up, Kairo. This is going to be one he'll of a ride."
Magnum's eyes burned with fire.