Biohuman

Chapter 176 Price For Curiosity

Manny sighed and removed his finger from the 'send location' button. He tapped on the text box and started to write a message to the Creator..

Manny: Why do you want to do this? Will this help Lee Seng in the long run? There's four other people with us, not including me and Lee Seng. I need to know that we'll be safe.

Unknown Number: Are you interested in why Lee Seng looks the way he does? Why does he look like a fox-human hybrid? Why does he have odd abilities? Why can he easily adjust to the grueling path of being a powered individual? Lee Seng is an anomaly I must push to his limits. If he isn't pushed then what use will he be in the future?

Manny looked up at Lee Seng and sighed. He could hear Liz and the others behind him quietly chatting amongst themselves. He glanced around to make it look like he was doing his casual checks. His finger tapped a couple of times on the screen. He looked down and noticed his screen was still on and had tapped 'Send location.'

'Shit.' Manny clicked his screen off and held the phone up for light. He stared at Lee Seng's back for a while. The white tail quietly moved behind Lee Seng like he was used to the weight.

'Are you interested in why Lee Seng looks the way he does? Why does he look like a fox-human hybrid? Why does he have odd abilities?' The Creator's voice echoed in his head. Manny couldn't shake off his voice. He knew how Dr. Chang treated Lee Seng. He was hard on his only child. On the only kid he had. But despite knowing how Dr. Chang treated Lee Seng, Manny actually felt like it was for Lee Seng's own good. He wanted to know what Lee Seng was hiding.

Lee Seng was bright. He was the perfect child who quickly picked up on new subjects and grew to appreciate the dull chores Manny didn't want to do. Lee Seng was hotheaded and someone who always spoke his mind, but he was similar to the Creator. That's what Manny appreciated the most out of Dr. Chang and Lee Seng. They were go-getters, so Lee Seng would obviously show some results.

The group wandered out of the first tunnel as the bridge quickly came into view. The sounds of water trickling made Manny's skin crawl.

'When were they going to drop and attack us?' Manny thought. 'Would all of Dr. Chang's questions be answered?' He was curious at the mention of secrets. 'What kind of secrets did Lee Seng hide all these years? Is he hiding any now?'

The group moved into the next tunnel. Lee Seng glanced back to look at the others. Manny and Ritsuka seemed attentive. Ritsuka flagged the rear and was paying attention to where they were going while Liz, Evan and Olivia made small talk.

"What happens after we get out then?" Olivia asked.

"We'll pop out a little ways out of the Academy district walls. We'll have to go back towards the walls and get help if they weren't alerted." Liz explained.

"And what if they're gone?" Evan asked.

"Then we stay away until we're notified." Ritsuka answered. Lee Seng turned back.

'I'm glad they aren't on edge like I am.' Lee Seng ran his fingers through his hair. His hair felt like it was getting longer and he would have to get a cut soon. Lee Seng's ears twitched and he stopped. The sound of something clicking alerted him and he threw his arm up. Manny and the others collided into each other as Lee Seng stumbled forwards. He turned his head and lifted his finger to his mouth. He made a quiet hush noise before turning to listen, again. A loud explosion echoed around them and the group immediately crouched and covered their heads.

'Shit, they're fast.' Manny shook his head. He grabbed Lee Seng and Liz behind him.

"Come on! We need to go!" Manny shouted, standing up.

"Do you think they found us?!?" Evan stood up and summoned his shield.

"I would assume so!" Ritsuka answered, spinning around and pulling out Obsidian Glass. "I hope closed spaces are good for you guys cause it is for me!"

"Let's just try to get outta here before I literally bring down the whole district." Lee Seng shouted, pulling out his katana.

"We're gonna get attacked from both sides!" Liz shouted. "This isn't the smartest idea!"

"We'll split our power. The red hounds aren't that tough!" Manny shouted. "You go with Ritsuka and Evan, they'll need range. Lee Seng, Olivia and I will handle this side. If you need healing, I'll help!"

"Well, well, well. If it ain't the man of the hour!" A low voice chuckled in front of him. A golden hound stepped out of the smoke. The hound wore a similar outfit to the red hounds but had metallic balls attached to his belt. The golden hound had three horizontal lines through his helmet. The golden hound tossed a metallic ball in his right hand and shook his head.

"Let's play a game, alright?" The golden hound chuckled. He tossed the ball up again and the metallic noise of metal colliding with each other echoed throughout the ruined tunnels. "Hounds, go." A pulse flew out and red hounds flew out towards the teenagers. A bolt of purple-black electricity flew out and chained against the hounds. The red hounds scrambled over the other hounds and leapt for the group.

"Black Void." Ritsuka's sword dropped into the ground and in an instant, the large area in front and behind Ritsuka was covered in black energy. Swords ripped out of the ground and impaled red hounds as they flew closer. Evan pulled to the front of Ritsuka and Liz and threw his shield up.Red hounds slashed at the shield as the aura on Evan's shield started to glow brighter.

Lee Seng, Manny and Olivia, on the other hand, were struggling to keep up with the red hounds. The pulse had made the red hounds faster and the golden hound with the metallic ball was just watching them as the red hounds attacked. Lee Seng slashed at the red hound and watched the hound go flying backwards. The walls cracked and Lee Seng gritted his teeth as he swung at another hound.

'I can't use my powers here or else I'll bring down the whole place. What do I do then?' Lee Seng dodged one swipe only to go into another red hound swipe. Manny pulled Lee Seng just as the red hound sliced where he was. Lee Seng felt a sting on his nose for a second before it closed.

"Is this a time to be distracted?" Manny swung at the red hound. He followed up with an uppercut, sending the red hound flying upwards and into his teammates.

"I can't use my powers here!" Lee Seng shouted. He dashed forward and slashed at the red hound before pulling back into a block. Three red hounds slammed at his blade. He gritted his teeth and pushed away as Olivia flew in and slammed a palm on each of them. The hounds froze in place and Lee Seng slashed down at one of the hounds.

"Doesn't mean you're not useless!" Manny shouted. "Dad keeps telling me stories about you! Your insane strength and speed should be enough!" He bobbed his head downwards, avoiding a slash to the face and grabbed a kick coming his way and instantly turned and threw the hound away from him.

Lee Seng followed up with Olivia's stuns, slashing at the red hounds one by one. The golden hound grabbed the metallic ball out of the air and shook his head.

"I guess it's time." The golden hound grabbed two more balls from his belt and watched them crackle and hiss. He rotated the two balls in his hand and tossed the right ball straight for Lee Seng. The ball blasted straight through one of the red hounds heads dropping the lifeless body to the ground. Lee Seng threw his katana up, blocking the ball. The metallic ball rotated faster, creating sparks, sliding Lee Seng backwards.

The golden hound tossed one of the crackling balls at Olivia. The ball started to spark and rumble as it flew straight for her. Olivia watched as lightning whipped out at her, stunning her as the ball slammed into her gut.

"Olivia!" Manny shouted, turning to watch his teammate fly past Liz and the others and into the crowd of red hounds. Before Manny could even turn, the golden hound threw the third ball at Manny. This one rippled its metallic casing and expanded in mid air. The metallic casing grew larger and wrapped itself around Manny's body, forcing him backwards into a wall.

"Get Olivia!" Manny shouted. Liz arced another blast towards the red hounds, clearing a straight shot for Olivia. Evan shoved the shield against the red hounds and watched the kinetic energy disperse and send them flying.

"I'll get her. Protect me." Evan dashed away from the group. The golden hound flicked his fingers and watched as the electric ball flew off of Olivia, releasing her from its grasp and flying straight for Evan.