BAB3 -Chapter 3

# Chapter 3: Making Plans

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“Why does he live in the sewer again?” Ezra asked, grimacing. “You’d think he could live literally anywhere else.”

“Well, it’s called ‘Sewer Samurai,’ not ‘Anywhere Else Samurai,’” Lexi laughed.

Xay was currently lying on the sectional, buried beneath a pile of women dressed only in lingerie. Lexi, Kimi, and Tyra were cuddled up on his back, while Ezra sat right next to the heap.

Dragon and Willow were both on the loveseat to the side.

They were watching “Sewer Samurai 3: Flush with Danger,” having already finished the first two.

“They talk more about his origins in ‘Sewer Samurai 4: Pipe Dreams,’” Xay explained. “He doesn’t just live there—he gets his powers from the sewer.”

“Surely there has to be a better way,” Ezra said, shaking her head.

“But where’s the fun in that?” Tyra exclaimed.

“He’s the hero the sewers deserve,” Kimi deadpanned.

Xay laughed, shaking everyone on his back.

After a bit, the front door slid open and Rox burst in. “Hey, Sunshine!” she bellowed.

She strutted into the living room, eyeing the group suspiciously. “Did I miss out on a good time?”

“Pajama movie marathon,” Lexi answered.

Rox nodded and immediately began stripping.

She shrugged off her signature red combat jacket, pulled off her crop top, and peeled down her skin-tight black leggings.

Glancing at her chiseled body, Xay swallowed hard.

Now down to only a strapless sports bra and a tiny red thong, Rox hopped onto the other side of the couch. “What’re we watching?”

“‘Sewer Samurai 3,’” Tyra said, passing Rox some hard candy.

“Oh, is this the one where he finds out the water treatment plant is an alien?” Rox asked, chomping on the hard candy like it was gum.

“Rox..” Xay groaned. “Ezra hasn’t seen it yet.”

Lexi tsk’d, shaking her head. “Spoilers.”

“No, no—it’s fine,” Ezra laughed, throwing her hands up. “The twist would’ve been wasted on me anyway. I still don’t quite understand why the ninja mouse girl with the large breasts keeps having such unfortunate wardrobe malfunctions.”

“Ancient ninja curse,” Xay explained with a grim tone.

Lexi nodded sadly. “Tragic, really.

“Oh, I see,” Ezra replied, biting her cheek.

By the end of the movie, Tyra was in tears, Rox was laughing, and Ezra looked more confused than when it started.

As comfortable as Xay was—and as much as he wanted to launch straight into the fourth movie—he couldn’t. He’d promised to have dinner at the Blakes that night.

Begrudgingly, Xay teleported out from under the pile of lingerie-clad women.

“Thanks for all of this,” he sighed, forcing himself to look away and go get dressed.

The ladies chuckled at his distress as he vanished into his room.

Rox pulled her clothes back on, and Xay soon returned in a fresh black hoodie, dark wash jeans, and white, black, and red high-tops.

“Have fun,” Lexi said, giving him a quick kiss goodbye.

Kimi followed, her soft lips lingering on his just a moment longer.

Xay hugged Tyra and Ezra, then stepped out of the apartment with Rox—and Dragon, who had just woken up.

Rox sent the up command to the elevator instead of down, causing Xay to squint at her in confusion.

“Making a quick stop first,” she said with a grin.

They exited onto one of the staff residency floors, and Xay followed Rox down the dark, circular halls.

The staff floors were just a bit nicer than even the best student ones. It had more plants in sleek planters, soft, matte-finished walls, and calming music playing on a loop.

Rox knocked on a door halfway down the hall. After only a moment, it slid open to reveal Shifu Wu.

She was Xay’s martial arts master, the instructor who had replaced Piper Laurent after her firing, and Rox’s longtime friend.

Shifu Wu was a short woman with an odango hairstyle, a notably muscular lower body, and a fondness for tight pants with martial qipaos.

“You ready, Li-Li?” Rox asked, throwing an arm around her shoulders.

Shifu Wu shook her head with a grin, nodding at Xay. “Hello to you both. And yes, I’m ready.”

The three of them headed back down the hall and took the elevator to the ground floor.

Outside, Rox turned to Xay expectantly.

Xay looked around, confused. “What?”

Rox sighed. “You’re our ride, Sunshine.”

“I am? Uh, okay,” Xay shrugged, summoning his A1-X Comet onto a clear patch of pavement.

The bulbous dragonfly-shaped hover bike materialized from the ring on his finger, its subsystems flaring to life as it hovered silently in place.

Xay had received it after agreeing to be a brand ambassador for Solaris, and it was one of his most prized possessions.

He currently had the seats set up into a single, forward-leaning row.

The glass canopy slid open, and Rox jumped in—slipping forward, just in front of the yokes.

“Can I pilot?” she asked, already settling into position.

“Oh, no thank you,” Xay replied, gently sliding her back with *Psychokinesis*.

Rox’s eyes narrowed as she resisted his pull. “I’m an excellent pilot.”

“I’m sure you are,” Xay said calmly, applying more psychic force. “But so far, I’m the only one who’s ever flown her, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

Rox continued to push back until Shifu Wu placed a hand on her shoulder. “Rox,” she said gently.

Rox exhaled sharply and stopped resisting. “Fine,” she grumbled. “But I want one.”

Xay grinned, settling into the pilot’s seat in front of her. “I don’t think I can get you one for free—but I can probably get them to bump you up the waitlist.”

Shifu Wu climbed in behind Rox, and once the glass canopy slid shut, the A1-X lifted into the air and took off, leaving a streaking tail of light behind them.

The flight to the Residential District was relatively uneventful. Rox holding on to Xay’s waist, pressing her body into his, was slightly distracting, however.

Rox’s parents lived in one of the cookie-cutter vertical suburban communities—each home an isolated, multi-floor cube with inward-facing balconies.

Xay landed just outside a pedestrian zone. Rox and Shifu Wu hopped out, and Xay stored his A1-X once Dragon flew to his side.

They followed the trail up a vine-laden staircase beside a wall thick with greenery.

Xay snickered to himself at the cheerful doormat, decorated with bright fruits that spelled out: “Welcome.”

The first time he’d come here, he thought he was in the wrong place. It didn’t fit the aesthetic of his aggressive advisor, or the no-nonsense Vice Headmistress.

Before Rox could unlock the door, it flew open.

“Xay, my boy! Welcome back!” Rox’s happy-go-lucky dad, Theo, burst out as he threw an arm around Xay’s shoulders, pulling him into a loose headlock.

He was a tall man with shaggy dark hair and possibly the brightest disposition of anyone Xay had ever met.

He’d lost his left forearm in the military, but had replaced it with a sleek black prosthetic that subtly pulsed with red cybernetics.

Xay laughed, freeing himself. “Hey to you too, Theo. Happy to be back.”

Rox scoffed. “We’re here too, Dad..”

Theo turned and his eyes widened. “Lian! What a welcomed surprise.” He rushed over to Shifu Wu and swept her into a hug.

“It’s good to see you too, Theo,” Shifu Wu said, returning the hug with a warm smile.

Rox moved to stomp inside, but Theo caught her from behind in a bear hug. “I’m always happy to see my little girl,” he said, poking his head over her shoulder and dramatically pointing to his cheek.

Rox rolled her eyes but finally kissed it.

“So, Lian, to what do we owe the honor of your presence?” Theo asked as they walked inside.

“I invited her,” Belladonna, Rox’s mother, called from her chair in the living room. “My apologies—it must’ve slipped my mind.”

She looked like an older version of Rox—same sharp green eyes, though her red hair was a slightly lighter shade.

Normally stern, her expression always noticeably softened while at home around her family.

“Ah,” Theo nodded. “No worries. There’s plenty of food for everyone.”

“Good, because I’m starving,” Rox said, plopping down on the couch.

Xay leaned in closer to Theo and whispered, “The black hole.”

Theo whispered back, “I know, right? I’m afraid to buy turkey legs.”

The two of them laughed quietly while Rox narrowed her eyes.

“Something you two want to share?” she asked menacingly.

“Huh?” Xay blinked innocently. “We were just talking about what a beautiful day it was. No need to get rowdy.” He completely failed to stifle a laugh.

Rowdy Roxana was the nickname Rox had as a kid—and she was not currently a fan of it.

Unfortunately for her, Xay thought it was hilarious.

Rox hurled a small, sharpened red crystal shard at Xay.

He caught it mid-air with *Psychokinesis*, laughing even harder.

“No intent to maim in the house, please,” Belladonna said casually.

Smirking, Theo stepped back into the kitchen. Xay and Rox traded a few jokes and half-threats while Shifu Wu chatted with Belladonna.

After just a few minutes, Theo popped his head back through the door. “Alright,” he clapped. “Everyone to the dining room—it’s time to eat!”

Xay followed the delicious scent into the next room, taking his usual seat across from Rox. Shifu Wu took the seat beside her.

The center of the table was already set with warm tortillas, guacamole, pico de gallo, queso, salsa, shredded cheese, and sour cream.

Theo soon reappeared from the kitchen, holding two skillets—each still sizzling loudly.

He placed them on wooden planks at either end of the table.

Both were packed with juicy strips of marinated beef. One was cooked with onions and bell peppers, while the other was cooked with onions and mushrooms.

Theo winked at Xay as he set the onion and mushroom skillet near him—he knew Xay hated bell peppers.

“Build your own creations, people!” Theo cheered, finally taking his seat at the head of the table. “Enjoy!”

Everyone dug in, piling their tortillas high with every topping.

Dragon had her own plate of steak, but kept trying to dunk her snout into the queso bowl.

Theo was one of the best cooks Xay had ever met—even compared to the professional chefs at the penthouse.

After everyone got a few incredible bites in, Belladonna turned to Xay.

“So, in the wake of everything that’s happened, how are you holding up?” she asked pointedly.

Xay’s excitement dimmed, his expression falling. He hadn’t been thinking about it at all.

But she deserved an answer. She and Rox were the ones who got the A.S.I.U. to back off—Joan Thaxton had been far too aggressive.

Xay sighed, searching for the right words. “I’m okay.. just tired,” he finally said. “Exhausted with people.”

Theo clutched his chest and gasped dramatically.

Xay snorted. “No, not you all, of course,” he quickly clarified, still thinking. “I mean the public. Being seen. Being known.” He shook his head. “I just want to go invisible for a while.. recharge and meditate.”

The table grew quiet for a moment, before Shifu Wu spoke. “I planned to return to my home in the mountains over the break,” she said, looking kindly at Xay. “You and your friends are welcome to join me.”

Xay considered it for a moment. She was from a monastery outside the city. He’d never been to one before—he’d never even been outside the city.

But the idea of getting away from everything appealed to him. Maybe a few weeks beyond the reach of New Meridian was exactly what he needed.

“It sounds like a good idea,” Rox said, nodding. “I’m in. Let’s leave this weekend.”

“It does sound interesting,” Xay added, rubbing his chin. “How long is the trip? I’ve never been to the Wilds before.”

Shifu Wu nodded knowingly. “My home is just under eight hundred miles away. I can usually run the distance in about 8 to 10 hours, depending on monster activity.”

Xay snorted. Of course she was just casually running a hundred miles an hour for eight hours straight.

He and most of his group could probably match that pace now, just off their stats alone. But they had Bloodlines—and in Lexi and Kimi’s case, the bond—boosting them.

Even then, it would still be grueling. Their bodies hadn’t fully adapted to the stat increases yet.

They could travel even faster using movement techniques, but that would burn through their mana far more quickly.

Rox shook her head. “We don’t have to run,” she said, grinning menacingly. “This’ll be the perfect chance to break in my new A1-X.”

A devious grin spread across Xay’s face. “And I bet, since we’re heading into the Wilds, Solaris might even be willing to fit some weapons on for us.”

Rox let out a shaky breath, biting her lip. “Fly real fast. Blow up a lot of stuff.”

Xay nodded eagerly, miming explosions with his hands.

“Oh, we used mana busters during my time in the service,” Theo added. “They were a pain to keep charged,” he said, frowning. “And honestly? Not much good against anything higher than D-Rank or over Level 30.”

Both Xay and Rox frowned, but didn’t let it dampen their mood.

“While this does sound like an excellent opportunity,” Belladonna cut in, “you and your friends have just broken through. You should spend more time getting familiar with your new abilities before braving the Wilds.”

“Good point,” Rox said, clicking her tongue. “You all should clear the dungeon under the academy.” She tapped her fingers on the table. “Let’s say.. by this Friday, you clear all ten floors.”

Xay chewed his lip. “Are we even ready to clear the whole thing? We’ve only done the first floor so far. How long does a full run even take?”

Rox scoffed. “Of course you’re ready. And the time it takes is up to you,” she said, looking at him with a weight he could feel. “Just don’t take more than two days.”

Xay narrowed his eyes. “Why only two? There’s still three days until Friday.”

“Because you’re going to be busy tomorrow,” she replied nonchalantly.

“I am?” he asked, confused.

“Don’t worry about it.” Rox waved him off. “So we’ve got a plan: you clear the dungeon by Friday, we hit Solaris on Saturday, and we leave Sunday.”

Shifu Wu nodded in agreement, and Belladonna raised no further concerns.

Xay just shrugged in acceptance. His group would have to clear the dungeon eventually anyway.

Besides, he was eager to really push himself after his second awakening. He wanted to see what his team was capable of as well.

And if they got more Auric Diamonds, he was sure Solaris could use them in the mana weapons.

“That gives us a full seven weeks at my home,” Shifu Wu said with a soft smile. “I’m sure you’ll enjoy the change of pace. And it will also be an excellent opportunity to continue your martial arts training, my Tudi.”

“I look forward to it, my Shifu,” Xay said, bowing his head.

“And do remember to let the Awakened Association know you’ll be out of the city so you’re not assigned any rift closures,” Belladonna reminded them all.

“Right, right,” Rox nodded. “It’s like two clicks in their portal. No problem.”

“Great!” Theo shouted, jumping up from his seat. “Now who wants dessert?!”

***

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Back at the apartment, Kimi, Tyra, and Ezra helped clear a space in the second living room.

At some point after Xay and Rox had left, someone had pulled out wine and started playing music.

The impromptu movie marathon had become a full blown girls night, but right now, everyone was completely serious—moving as if they were in a rift.

Lexi stood at the front with her NoirWood bow held at the ready, raising a finger to quiet the room before officially beginning the operation.

Once everyone was in position behind her, Lexi activated *Dark Passage*, conjuring a narrow tunnel of darkness in front of them all.

***Dark Passage (Prowler Sphere)** - Conjure and navigate pure darkness.*

It connected to a space just above her *Lingering Darkness* target.

With Kimi’s assistance, light slipped through from the other side, revealing an image of Gideon in his room.

He was fondling a nude blow-up doll that looked suspiciously similar to Vice Headmistress Blake.

All four women recoiled in disgust, struggling to stay silent.

Once they got a hold of themselves, Lexi conjured four more dark tunnels—each opening into a different corner of Gideon’s room.

She drew back her bowstring and formed a small, blunted bolt of hardened darkness.

Aiming for the first corner, Lexi loosed the bolt.

The women watched as it struck Gideon’s lower back shoulder, launching him forward into the wall, where his face bounced off the plaster.

“Ahh?!” he screamed like a frightened child, stumbling to his feet and spinning around in fear.

Lexi fired again from a different corner. The second bolt of darkness slammed into the same spot on his back.

It forcefully pushed him into the nightstand, where his aroused lower half bounced him back into the doll.

He let out a piercing screech, but before he could regain his balance, Lexi rapidly fired two more shots from opposite corners, flipping him over.

As he groaned on the floor, face-down, dazed, and tangled in the limbs of the blow-up doll, Lexi sent the final bolt from above—then closed all five tunnels.

The mark exploded on the fifth consecutive impact, sending a small tremor through the middle of the tower.

Gideon’s resulting scream was loud enough to echo five floors up.

As Lexi stored her bow, all four women burst into laughter.

“Did you see his face?” Tyra doubled over.

“Serves him right,” Kimi said, snorting.

“He’ll be lucky if the vice headmistress doesn’t find out about his little doll,” Lexi grinned.

“I’m not usually one for revenge,” Ezra said between her laughs, “but that was deeply satisfying.”

Even Willow nodded in approval from her perch on the windowsill.

Lexi hadn’t used enough power to seriously injure Gideon, but he’d definitely need to visit a care station—and soon.