Meanwhile... on the other side of the world.

Completely unaware of the thunderous execution that had just occurred in the quiet, rural mountains they'd just left behind, Kai and the others stepped out from the yawning mouth of the Spatial Rift.

The tragedy of what befell Sayuri wouldn't reach them until long after. But when it did, it was the first time they saw a crack in the elegance of this sword-wielding companion.

In the meantime, they were hit with cobblestone.

Well, not literally, but almost.

Because when the swirling vortex of space spat them out into an alleyway drenched in mist and shadow, they were greeted not by steel towers or scorched ruins, but by the gothic charm of a city lost in time.

Bucharest.

"Wait... is this... Romania?" Kai blinked, taking in the surroundings as the Spatial Rift sealed shut behind them with a soft hum.

The narrow alleyway opened into a sprawling plaza just up ahead - stone-paved, lantern-lit, and surrounded by aged architecture that told tales of both elegance and ancient bloodshed.

Towering cathedrals, baroque rooftops, and thick, ivy-wrapped walls framed the city centre like a picture book from a forgotten era. There was a quiet stillness in the air, broken only by the distant clatter of hooves and murmured voices from vendors at a late-night market.

Kai squinted at the mist curling through the air like tendrils.

"I wasn't sure what to expect," he muttered, "but... this is actually kinda nice."

Lenny grunted in agreement. "Way better than the shithole that New York has become."

Nadya smirked before explaining. "It's one of the few places that barely got touched by the Z-Virus. They dealt with monsters, beasts, and rampaging mutants quickly and mercilessly. No hesitation."

"Efficient," Sven added, eyes scanning the rooftops for threats.

Even Shadow seemed oddly relaxed, for once.

And that's when he revealed who they were here to see.

"Vance might be the guy for gadgets," he said, glancing at Kai and Lenny, who would know the least. "He can tinker with and make anything. He helped make where we're going to and he's currently working on Isaac's arm. But there's someone else in the Outlaws you should know about. Another genius."

"Another?" Kai asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Her name's Elara. Or... Dr Elara, if you want her to respond to you. She's not just a tech whiz, she's one of the few in the world who could actually compare somewhat to Nyx in his knowledge."

That got Kai's attention. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he couldn't help but doubt the claim. "With Nyx? You serious?"

Shadow nodded. "Barely. But yes. She's a researcher, a biomechanical and genetic savant. She's relatively new to our crew and doesn't show up for any of the meetings or missions. Keeps to her lab, which is why most haven't met her."

"She might even be able to help some of you," he added.

That seemed to excite Lenny, who had seen hope after experiencing the effects of the Mutant Suppressants. On the other hand, Kai was unnerved by another supposed genius like Nyx.

No one should know and be capable of that much. It just felt... unfair.

'You can't be that intelligent without having a few screws loose,' he thought to himself.

And when he finally met her, he realised just how right he was about that.

However, despite his reservations, he was still somewhat curious and excited to meet whoever this Elara was, and so were the others.

They followed Shadow out into the old square, the lamps casting long shadows across the weathered stone. The city was quiet but alive in its own way, like an old soul watching from behind lace curtains.

However, before they set off, Shadow paused momentarily...

-

In a rare move that made the entire group pause mid-step, Shadow did something entirely unexpected.

The ever-present veil of darkness that clung to him like a living shadow - his shroud - began to unravel, dissipating into the air like smoke caught in a breeze. It peeled away from his body, revealing the figure underneath. For the first time, the others saw him not as the ominous silhouette that bent space to his will, but as a man.

And what a man he was.

Beneath the darkness, Shadow stood tall - well over six feet - with dark skin, broad shoulders, and a calm, commanding presence. He wore a pristine dark suit that clung to him like it had been tailored by God himself. His hair was neatly cropped, his jawline sharp, and every part of him screamed composed elegance. There wasn't a wrinkle on his coat, not a speck of dust on his polished shoes.

Even his tie was perfectly straight.

"Wait… to think Shadow was handsome," Nadya muttered, genuinely baffled.

Sven blinked. "No wonder you were hiding it. Trying not to give us an inferiority complex?"

Kai let out a snort. "What's with the suit? Did you just crawl out of a wedding?"

Shadow turned slightly, his tone bone-dry. "More like a funeral."

He said no more.

With a soft sigh, he began walking, his shoes clicking softly against the cobbled path. The group watched him for a moment longer before following. His refined look and towering height still drew attention, but at least he didn't look like a walking mass of darkness anymore.

Well... not counting the actual walking mass of scales and muscle that was stomping along beside them.

However, despite Lenny's massive frame and reptilian features, not a single passerby screamed, ran, or even gave him a second glance. It was almost unsettling.

'Is this place crazy? Whatever it is... I love it,' Lenny thought with a toothy grin.

Almost like he'd heard the lizard's internal joy, Shadow spoke calmly over his shoulder. "Romania is among the few countries that treat mutants differently. Here, they're just people. It's reduced a lot of the smaller mutant-related crimes by giving them freedom and treating them like humans, though the big ones still happen."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "So it's a lawless zone?"

"No, not exactly. They have systems, government, and contingencies in place for mutants. But the Association has no authority here," Shadow replied, weaving through the narrow streets with the ease of someone who'd walked them a thousand times.

It explained a lot. The group definitely didn't blend in. Between the muscled lizard-man, the red-eyed freak and the others, they looked more like a hit squad from a mutant mafia than travellers.

And yet, no one challenged them. No authorities. No security drones. Just a couple of odd glances that didn't last long.

As long as they didn't stir trouble, there wouldn't be a commotion. Or at least that was what Shadow assured them, though it was hard to believe considering they were wanted dead or alive by the Association.

Meanwhile, Kai couldn't help but stare at Shadow's back and think, 'So he could have just walked around in his dark form without causing any trouble if mutants here are welcome.'

But seeing a droplet of sweat coursing down the back of the tall man's neck, he surmised the elusive Shadow was drained and also had his limits. Though he didn't bother mentioning it.

He could only imagine the strain of using the Blood Amour constantly. He doubted the dark shroud was draining to that extent, but it must have taken its toll alongside coordinating such a spread and volatile group.

Thankfully, since the country had its own laws that kept them somewhat free as long as they abided by them, they didn't run into any trouble.

It felt like the perfect place for one of the Mutant Outlaws to hide in broad daylight, though, of course, the country couldn't completely protect them from the Association. Kai also highly doubted they were keen on having renowned mutant criminals residing in their territory.

But they didn't seem to know of this Elara person, and they had to keep it that way.

Eventually, Shadow stopped in front of what looked like the least conspicuous building imaginable.

A small vet clinic-slash-pet store.

The sign above the door read, in cheerful pastel letters:

Elara's Petcare.

Kai blinked. "This is it?"

"Maybe she's one of those gentle scientist types," Nadya offered with a shrug.

"Probably a cutey who loves animals," Sven smiled just thinking about it, internally wondering what kind of woman she would be.

'I wonder what her measurements are...'

They left him in his lustful thoughts and headed inside.

Within, it was exactly what the sign suggested. Clean floors, the faint scent of antiseptic and pet shampoo, cages with sleepy cats, birds chirping in the back. Employees in white coats tended to the animals, none of whom looked remotely like a dangerous mutant or a hidden genius.

But Shadow didn't stop.

He led them past the counter, past the rows of pet food, and down a narrow hallway toward the back. There, tucked in a corner, was an unassuming steel door with a keypad mounted beside it.

Without a word, Shadow tapped in a code.

Kai's eyes narrowed slightly. Most didn't bother paying attention, but he couldn't help but be curious, and maybe the code would come in handy. His eyes tracked the tall man's hand movements, following the rhythm and sequence with surgical focus.

'That looked like... catlover123? Seriously?'

That was her password?

'Probably just a fake front. There's gotta be a deeper security system...'

Before he could finish the thought, the door slid open with a ding, revealing a wide, reinforced lift lined with sensors.

As they stepped inside, a series of mechanical arms extended from the ceiling, each equipped with cameras and scanners. They whirred softly as they swept across the group, pausing on Shadow.

A green light blinked.

IDENTIFIED. ACCESS GRANTED.

The lift doors slid shut.

And then it dropped.

Fast.

Kai had to brace himself against the wall as the platform shot downward with dizzying speed, the lights on the sides blurring into a stream. Lenny let out a quiet "woahhh," and even Nadya grabbed the handrail.

Then...

Bang!

It stopped.

No warning. No gentle deceleration. Just a dead halt.

They all glanced at one another, bracing for what was to come next.

And whatever lay below...

It definitely wasn't going to be some cuddly animal clinic.

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