— I'm impressed, Bakuran said to himself out loud. This city looked gigantic. How did it come to this?
— You have to admit the mutants hit hard this time, Sakolomé replied.
— And to think that humans mix with those repulsive creatures!
A noise alerted the three brothers: it came from an abandoned room. This area had many deserted buildings, and it was very likely that mutants were hiding there.
— Let's be very careful, guys, Bakuzan said.
— Yes, we don't know what mutants we might run into here.
— Meh, Bakuran objected. The one we're looking for is repulsive and it stinks: it can't hide very well in this area.
Bakuzan was the most wary of the three. He was constantly on guard, as if imminent danger were about to appear.
— You're right, but we don't know whether it's capable of masking its smell.
They continued walking, vigilant. After an hour, they stopped in front of an abandoned building.
— I'm starting to think it's not in our search area, guys, Sakolomé sighed.
Bakuran and Bakuzan exchanged a look and sighed.
— Maybe, but we should keep going anyway, Bakuran said. I'm still surprised that, after all this time, we haven't come across any.
— Well, guys, Bakuzan continued. Let's use our mana to detect presences: at least we'll know for sure.
Sakolomé frowned, visibly disagreeing.
— But… I don't know how to use my mana.
— So what? What's the problem?
Bakuzan's tone was direct. Sakolomé lowered his eyes.
— Yeah, yeah, act smart.
— I'm still very surprised that Sakolomé still doesn't know how to use his mana, Bakuran interjected. Usually, it awakens from a very young age.
Sakolomé stared at his hands.
— I've tried everything, but I can't do it. The only thing I can manage to use is my energy.
— Energy is too limited, Bakuzan explained. It stops at the aspects of the body, whereas mana goes much further.
— What really differentiates them? Sakolomé asked, intrigued.
— Energy and mana both release an aura, that's certain, but they are different. The aura of energy emanates like steam around the body. It draws on the power accumulated by the muscles and the rest, and allows one to use one's physical strength, or to reinforce it. And that's all. Mana, on the other hand, is far superior: its aura manifests as blazing flames, it allows the use of magic, and it can even reinforce energy. Energy, however, can never reinforce mana.
— So, energy comes from what is purely physical, Bakuran summarized with interest, whereas mana rises above it and even touches the spiritual.
— Exactly. With mana, one can accomplish great feats. With energy, no matter what you do and no matter how you use it, you will never be able to use magic or resist certain mana attacks, because energy only works for the physical.
Sakolomé suddenly seemed to feel guilty.
— Don't worry, Sakolomé, Bakuzan said. One day, you'll manage to awaken your mana, and you'll finally be able to use magic.
— Don't pity me! Mana or not, nothing will stop me from becoming overpowered!
Bakuzan smiled.
— At least you always have your mind made up.
— Hey, you three!
The voice, feminine, came from above. The three brothers turned: a young girl stood at the top of a building.
— What are you doing in a place this abandoned?
Bakuzan thought it best to answer.
— We have no particular reason to tell you, you know.
The girl felt insulted. She jumped off the building and landed on the ground with great elegance. She was of medium height, with a dog collar around her neck, from which hung a long chain, like a leash. Her hair was white, gathered in a long ponytail, and her eyes were violet. She wore a short skirt, an enormous black jacket, and underneath a mini T-shirt decorated with a skull. Her nails were black, a tattoo adorned her stomach, and a long line of stitches, remarkable, crossed it. Her style evoked that of a goth.
— Kid, you should watch how you answer, okay?
— I don't see why I would.
She frowned.
— I see that you're the most annoying of the three!
She stepped slightly closer.
— Strange: I've never seen you around here. Are you new?
— Well, we…
Bakuzan cut Sakolomé off.
— Sakolomé, don't say anything. This girl has stitches on her stomach.
She looked down at herself, then raised her head.
— Don't pay attention to that, it's an old wound. But you, the brunette, why are you so defensive? I just want to get to know you.
— Very well.
Bakuzan stepped toward her.
— What's your name?
— My name is Zeltania, and you?
— I'm Bakuzan Satsujin Otoko.
The young girl's eyes widened.
— Awesome, a Satsujin Otoko!
Bakuzan stopped, surprised by her reaction. So were Sakolomé and Bakuran.
— You… You're really human?
— Half!
— How so? the three brothers asked together.
She burst out laughing.
— You see? You said it at the same time, ha ha ha!
Then she calmed down.
— My mother is human, and my father is a mutant. I come from a mix.
— Yuck, Bakuran said, disgusted. What could this woman possibly have seen in a mutant?
The young girl took offense.
— Hey, you, I won't allow that! My father is a humanoid mutant, like me!
— And is your father still alive?
Zeltania sighed.
— Yes. I know that, for you humans, a good mutant is a dead mutant. But know that some mutants in City C are very kind. It's even us who protect the inhabitants of Monor City from the migration of evil mutants.
The young Satsujin Otoko were astonished.
— And how do humans manage to live in such a strange place? Sakolomé asked.
— Very good question. What's your name?
— I'm Sakolomé Satsujin Otoko.
— Sakolomé Satsujin Otoko, Zeltania repeated proudly. Here, we also have a civilization, hidden in the heart of all this chaos. Appearances can deceive you. And for what we lack, we buy it in Monor City, like everyone else.
— That's way too much all at once, Bakuzan murmured.
Zeltania smiled.
— Bakuzan, is that right? You know, you don't have the right to reject us: you too, the Satsujin Otoko, are not well regarded by the whole world.
— You're not entirely wrong. What do you think of the mixing between humans and mutants?
— Excellent question. From my point of view, I would naturally say that it's very good. But careful: there are evil mutants and good mutants, just as there are good and bad people. Don't think that mutants are only at war with humans. There are mutants at war with other mutants, just as there are humans at war with other humans.
— I don't much like the way you justify everything by citing similarities with humans.
— Ha ha, I'm sorry, Bakuzan. I like you. Say, do you have a girlfriend?
— Hmm… Anyway, we didn't come here for that, we have other fish to fry. Bakuran, Sakolomé, let's go.
Zeltania approached Bakuzan.
— Can I come with you?
— No! he answered immediately, without thinking.
— I know you're looking for Mutreph, the decomposing mutant. I can lead you to him, since, with my friends, we're looking for him too.
— What? And what do you want with him? Sakolomé asked.
— To kill him, that's all. He's very dangerous: he even feeds on other mutants.
Bakuran, annoyed, replied:
— Mutants are really repulsive, and to think there are humans who have children with them… Yuck!
Zeltania, nervous, retorted:
— You, Bakuran, is that right? I won't allow you to say that!
— How do you know my name?
— I heard it when Bakuzan said it earlier, hee hee!
— Very well, Bakuzan said. You're coming with us, Zeltania.
Delighted, Zeltania jumped like a child in a schoolyard.
— Yay! I love it when you call me by my name!