Miko gasped, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she bounced on the balls of her feet. Then, with a burst of energy, she rapidly pointed at each of Ven's friends… and Grey.
"OM-MORPG!" Miko exclaimed dramatically, pointing at Ven. "You guys are going to work here?!"
"U-uhh, y-yeah, of course," Casey stammered nervously. "Th-they explained so much at our base too."
"And wow, you guys got some new looks," commented Five, the tall teen rubbing the back of his head.
The new arrivals certainly sported noticeable changes in their attire. To Miko, their outfits looked like modified Glitch Tech uniforms with a personalized flair.
Typically, a Glitch Tech uniform consisted of black plated armor on the chest and knees, a white suit with a belt and blue stripes, and other practical details like pockets and storage containers. Most importantly, every uniform bore the H-symbol representing Hinobi.
From what Miko could see, these new suits were similar but with some key differences. The recruits wore black suits with a crystal emblem replacing the usual company logo. The color of their stripes seemed to vary individually.
Grey's suit featured light green stripes, reminiscent of his hoodie, along with matching gloves. Ven's suit had purple and bright green stripes, also paired with green gloves.
Meanwhile, Prism and Casey shared a preference for white. Casey's suit sported rusty orange stripes, while Prism's had green stripes on the torso and red and blue accents on the arms and legs.
"Hold it! We already have enough noobs around here—including Phil," snarked Mitch, stepping into the group's path.
"Well, joke's on you," Prism replied with a smug smirk and a shrug. "We've already been allowed in."
Ven waved his hands, trying to ease the tension. "Err… actually, what my friend meant is that Mr. Altiere allowed us to join as part of a joint project between our superiors."
"Correct," confirmed Phil as he entered the room, his expression deadpan. The red-haired man added firmly, "Also, Ven, you don't need to call me by my last name. Phil is fine."
Mitch scoffed, clearly unimpressed, while Miko noticed there were more newcomers than just Casey, Ven, and Grey.
"Grey!" Miko yelled, tackling him to the ground. "I didn't think I'd see you here, dork!"
Five, while used to Miko's antics, was shocked. "Miko, you know this guy?"
"Yeah, we worked on a school project together," Grey managed to say as he gently pushed Miko off of him. "And, uh, I work for these guys—the Spectra Guardians."
"Spectra Guardians?" Mitch scoffed. "Now that just sounds made up. What do you guys even do?"
"We search for light- and ink-based anomalies," Ven explained with a nod.
"Oh, in simple terms, we're kinda like the Ghostbusters," added White eagerly. "We fight ink monsters."
"Whoa, that sounds a bit far out," Haneesh replied doubtfully.
"To be fair, we literally fight physical manifestations of program code made of Plixels, which themselves are meso-bots and probably taste like copper styrofoam beads—and I'm rambling again," Zahra said, blushing.
"M-my uncle is a-a cool one t-too!" Casey stuttered, gushing. "H-he fights the toughest mon-monsters and cri-criminals with ease, and—"
"Anyway, back on track," Phil interrupted, cutting Casey off before he could ramble further. Zahra patted Casey's shoulder sympathetically.
Phil continued, "As I said, these guardians will be assigned to help all of you. Each team will get their own group of guardians."
"This is because new anomalies—beyond glitches—have been appearing worldwide," BITT explained, as Prism attempted to poke the floating robot. "Hence the alliance between the Techs and Guardians."
BITT displayed holographic diagrams of the bizarre ink creatures. These anomalies looked even stranger than base glitches—blobby black masses with neon accents, some dripping ink.
The creatures varied wildly in shape and size. Some resembled mythical beasts, nocturnal animals, arthropods, or even plants and fungi. Others had yokai-esque traits: shadowy figures, small cyclops-like beings, or floating blobs. Despite their eerie appearances, they behaved animalistically, lacking intelligence.
At the end of the day, they were easier targets than higher-level glitches.
"Alright, I get it," Mitch said dismissively, waving away BITT's hologram. "Seemingly magical threats are out there. But we haven't even seen what these guys can do yet."
"Oh, I assure you, Williams, the guardians can demonstrate their abilities," said a voice. Suddenly, a tall man in a cloak, suit, and brown hat with pale blonde hair appeared out of nowhere. "Greetings. Aurum is the name, and I run this faction. I came to visit Phil."
Miko and Five stared at the newcomer in surprise. The man was thin, his pale blonde hair almost ghostly.
"Uh, hey—Aurum, yeah—you kinda spooked us," Miko greeted bombastically, while Five waved nervously.
"My apologies," Aurum replied, bowing slightly. Mitch and Phil rolled their eyes at his theatrical entrance.
"Yeah, everyone, this is Aurum," Phil said dryly.
"Greetings, everyone. Nice facility you have here," Aurum said, tipping his hat.
While most of the Techs found him strange, Miko and Five—especially Miko—found him amusing.
"Uh, hey," Bergy said nervously, waving. "You seem like a fun guy."
"Hi! Uh, can we see what the guardians can do?" Haneesh asked eagerly.
"Of course," Aurum replied smoothly. "Ven, show them something impressive."
Aurum conjured a metal block seemingly out of thin air. Ven balled his fist, dark energy swirling around it, and struck the block, leaving a massive dent.
"Straight up… awesome!" Miko and Five gushed.
The other Techs were either impressed or intrigued, some clapping in approval.
"Cheap party tricks," Mitch muttered under his breath.
Ven noticed but chose not to react, simply smiling warmly as he thanked the Techs for their compliments.
Phil raised a hand, silencing the chatter. "Alright, now that we've all been impressed, let's assign teams."
Miko perked up, curious about which strange new guardians would be joining her team.
For her and Five, they got Casey, Ven, Prism, and Grey.
For Mitch's group, they were assigned Pyre, Astra, Cyane, and Vex.
Nix and Bergy's team surprisingly received Red, Hemlock, Blue, Seki, Serue, and Roxias.
Red had striking red hair and stood at an average height for a male, with fair skin and two distinctive ahoges atop his head. His red eyes gave him a fiery appearance, though his demeanor seemed calm. Hemlock, in contrast, had green hair and tanned skin, accessorized with green goggles that hinted at his tech-savvy nature. Blue was a young woman with fair skin and long, flowing blue hair, making her presence both vibrant and serene.
Seki and Roxias were two females who couldn't have been more different. Roxias, a fair-skinned girl of average height, sported orange hair, purple eyes, and freckles. Her bored expression was accompanied by a frequent yawn. Seki, on the other hand, had a slightly tanned complexion and teal hair, which, along with her petite stature—almost matching Five's height—made her stand out. Her curious nature was unmistakable as she darted her head around the facility, bombarding her surroundings with questions Miko couldn't hear.
Meanwhile, Serue had been promptly transferred to Dabney HQ. From what Miko could glimpse, he had dark skin, much like Hemlock, and was sent through the headquarters' portal to his new assignment.
This motley crew—the Guardians and Techs—made for an unusual group as they chatted among themselves. However, their conversations were abruptly cut short when Phil cleared his throat, silencing the room.
"Okay, now that we're all acquainted, I'll be sending the Guardians to different tutorial chambers," Phil announced, pausing to glance at Aurum. "Meanwhile, Aurum and I need to have a chat."
Aurum gave a curt nod as the Guardians were guided down the hall toward the tutorial chambers. Ven waved to his new teammates, Five and Miko, who waved back before returning to the tech lounge to discuss their impressions of the newcomers.
"Well, they seem like an interesting bunch," Five remarked, watching Ven and his unusual companions disappear into the hub.
"Of course, I'm stuck with new rookies," Mitch groaned. "It was bad enough dealing with you two blueberry brains."
"Take a chill pill, Mitch," Miko said, rolling her eyes.
Five nodded. "I mean, they all seem friendly enough."
"I think Roxias is pretty chill," Zahra added with a smirk. "She's got a nice fashion sense."
"Red? Seriously, Red?" Mitch snarked. "Who names their kid that?"
"Says the guy who unironically calls things a 'Mitch-ution,'" Miko shot back with a grin. The techs burst into laughter as Mitch sulked in his seat.
"Whatever the case, these guys seem interesting," Nix said, breaking the humor with a neutral observation.
In Phil's office, he pressed a button, closing the shutters and ensuring privacy. His robotic partner, BITT, hovered nearby, ready to assist.
Phil's office was surprisingly tidy, though it still bore his signature stash of coffee and donuts. BITT's constant efforts to keep the space organized often led to humorous squabbles between the two—"almost like an old married couple," as Zahra liked to joke.
"So," Aurum began, settling into a metal chair and adjusting his tie. "What's on your mind? Anything that might change the status quo?"
Phil rolled his eyes. "Ha. Ha. My superiors already caught me up on these ink monsters."
Aurum's AI, Shard, projected a holographic video showing one of the creatures materializing and then being destroyed by the Guardians. "Yes, these guys. We didn't create them, but they've been a persistent anomaly in our world. That's enough, Shard." The video ended.
Aurum continued, straightening his coat. "Ink is quite similar to the anomalous Plixels your team uses. While it acts like regular ink, it's far more unpredictable, capable of granting powers or creating monsters—as you've seen. The recent influx of these creatures is why this collaboration was initiated."
Phil leaned forward. "I get the gist of the ink monsters. What I don't fully understand is how your Guardians work."
"They function similarly to your Techs," Aurum explained. "Just as Hinobi tech resonates best with gamers or tech-savvy individuals, the Guardians' power stems from their heroic and creative spirits. That said, there's still some ambiguity about how the power-granting process works."
"Ambiguity?" Phil asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Some say it's accidental; others believe higher beings are involved. Either way, Ink is a powerful and unpredictable material, much like Plixels."
Phil sighed. "Let me guess—not-so-friendly parties are interested in this Ink too?"
"Correct," Aurum confirmed. "We've noticed collaboration between our threats and yours. They're using… Plixels, as you call them."
Phil rubbed his temples. "Great. Well, at least your group reached out."
Shard chimed in. "Indeed, hues and inks are commodities both our enemies and allies utilize extensively."
"Anything else I need to know?" Phil asked.
Aurum leaned forward. "Well, let me elaborate…"
Elsewhere, at an Unknown Location and Time...
A bright yellow glitch, Hazard, sat in his hidden base, waiting for his subordinates and allies to report in. His drones had already scouted the city and surrounding towns, allowing him to move undetected and possess glitches at will. Most believed him to be nothing more than a rogue game anomaly—how wrong they were.
Using stolen Plixels, Hazard had constructed an elaborate underground base concealed beneath an abandoned, dilapidated house. To a passerby, the house seemed untouched for years, but below it lay a labyrinth of advanced rooms. One room housed a portal system for discreet travel. Another, filled with monitors, allowed surveillance of key locations, including Bailey. The largest room served as a command center, complete with a massive computer, a teleportation device, and human-sized capsules—one of which contained Hazard's new vessel.
The screen flickered to life, revealing Dr. Glitchsty, a short, round humanoid with glasses and a wide grin.
"Ah, Hazard, admiring your new vessel?" Glitchsty teased. "I tailored it to your specifications."
Hazard chuckled. "I suppose I am, though I'd prefer my true form. A shame I must blend in with these flesh bags. Now, any news?"
"Yes, my prince," Glitchsty replied. "Your partners and subordinates are ready to assist."
A green portal opened, and through it stepped eight lanky energy beings similar to Hazard. Nine, including Hazard himself. He grinned, baring his serrated, glowing teeth.
"Brother Spyware, where is… Hybrid?" Hazard asked, placing a clawed hand on the green being.
Spyware chuckled nervously. "He's tied up on a mission. Don't expect him soon."
"Good—I mean, a minor inconvenience," Hazard muttered.
The static-haired being interjected. "Did you hear about the Guardians teaming up with the Techs?"
"Yes, yes. Those ink-and-light users won't pose much trouble. Glitchsty has already reached out to the Inkseers for assistance."
A dark portal opened, and a teen with glowing yellow eyes, sharp teeth, and blue hair stepped through, carrying a large suitcase.
"You rang?" he sneered.
"Ah, Prince Abbonox. Did you bring the ink?" Hazard asked.
bbonox placed the suitcase on the main table. With a sharp hiss, it opened, revealing rows upon rows of vials. Each vial was filled with ink, the substance swirling ominously as if alive. The suitcase was packed to the brim, more than enough to meet Hazard's needs—for now.
"As I said, Hazard, your group's collaboration with us will not go unrewarded," Abbonox declared, bowing with self-important flair.
Hazard noted Abbonox's theatricality, though he couldn't fault him; he shared a similar flair for dramatics. "Speaking of which, has your group heard anything from the others?"
Abbonox shook his head, his expression darkening with mild irritation. "Not yet. Until one of us does something big enough to grab their attention, they won't consider joining us. But… have you heard from The One?"
Hazard's face darkened with a mix of shock and bitterness. "Them… no. I wish. Not only could our faction use the juggernaut themselves, but their reputation precedes them. Unfortunately, we haven't found them—or rather, they haven't seen fit to find us."
Abbonox sighed in frustration. "Curses. Well, we don't need them—not for now, at least. This plan will work without their aid. Besides, my Marauders have been busy spreading our master's influence and assisting with his new form. My group will arrive soon, and when they do, we'll make our mark in the criminal underworld."
Hazard smirked and turned back to the screen, his gaze fixed on Glitchsty. "Our days of suffering are over," he growled, his voice dripping with malice. "And Glitchsty will soon have vessels ready for my team."
Glitchsty chuckled darkly. "Of course, my liege."
The screen went dark, leaving Hazard standing with his allies and Abbonox. He turned to the pink-haired woman beside him, noting the sly smile playing on her lips.
"Get in touch with anyone who can help us build our factions," he commanded.
"Of course, Hazy," she replied with a teasing lilt.
Hazard sighed, irritation flashing across his face, before turning to his brother. "You—contact Hardbite."
"Consider it done, bro," his brother replied with a casual nod.
Hazard continued giving orders, his tone firm and authoritative. To the red-armored figure, he said, "Guard the base." The figure gave a silent nod.
To the blue one, he instructed, "Monitor the other vessels and facilities."
The figure complied without a word.
Turning to the one with wires snaking from their form, Hazard said, "Meet with Ultravox to secure materials."
"Yes, yes, of course," the wire-laden figure replied, nodding hastily.
Finally, Hazard addressed the last figure, whose hair crackled with static energy. "Keep an eye on our new enemies."
"Will do, Hazard," the static-haired figure replied with a confident smirk.
Abbonox grinned slyly. "And don't worry—my group has ways of bringing others to our side. With the ink flowing through my veins, their resistance won't last long."
"Perfect," Hazard said, his voice tinged with dark glee. "Together, we'll bring Lumise and Hinobi crashing down in one fell swoop."
A low, malevolent chuckle began to escape Hazard's lips, growing into full-blown laughter. His allies and Abbonox joined him, their cackling echoing through the base, relentless and foreboding.
It seemed Hinobi wouldn't just be facing video game monsters anymore.