Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Old Friends
Mass release In honour to the support {15/10}
Axel took another long, frustrated stare at his phone, re-reading the message for what felt like the hundredth time. "They said ten, where the hell are they?" He hissed in pain, jerking his head back, exhaustion etched across his face. The fatigue had settled deep in his bones, making his body feel heavier with each passing second.
"Be patient, Axel," Trisha insisted, though her tone betrayed her own weariness. Her eyelids drooped, and she shifted her weight from one foot to the other in an attempt to relieve the ache in her legs.
They both stood before the large facility meant for testing, the towering structure looming over them like a silent sentinel. The hum of the busy road behind them barely registered as they focused on their growing impatience. They were waiting for the arrival of Thor, Loki, and Roman, but the minutes stretched like hours.
Axel sighed and ran a hand through his hair, glancing briefly at the screen of his phone. Annie had texted earlier, giving him a quick update. She was swamped with a school project and couldn't make it to the binding ceremony in person, but she had assured him she would stream the event online.
That wasn't the only thing on his mind. He'd wanted to ask Annie more about her recent life — specifically about the baby she had just given birth to. He had so many questions, so much concern bubbling beneath the surface, but something else gnawed at him. A thought that took precedence over even his sister's well-being.
The Fates had spoken to him not long ago. Their cryptic words echoed in his mind like an unfinished puzzle. And now, this year's Binding... Something about it felt different. Children who had reached the age of ten were receiving *double bindings*, and it was happening at an unprecedented speed. Just within the span of a month, the world seemed to be shifting.
It wasn't just the new generation of awakened that had Axel on edge. The A-ranks, S-rank hunters, and even the elite SS-ranks had discovered something even more significant. A new form of power, something they called the *True Form of Binding*. Axel had seen glimpses of it in others, but he couldn't fully grasp its scope. It was untapped potential, lying dormant in only a select few.
Axel had bugged Trisha a few times, trying to coax her into showing him this elusive power, but she had brushed him off every time with the same excuse: "I haven't unlocked it yet."
Thor, on the other hand, had activated his true form but was far too childish to take anything seriously. Axel had learned not to rely on him for anything other than banter. Thor was the epitome of a "baby man," despite his immense strength.
Yet, for all the banter and avoidance, Axel couldn't shake the feeling that this new form of binding was the key to something much larger. The world was changing, evolving, and he wasn't sure if he was ready for the full magnitude of it.
Yawning, Axel stretched his arms high above his head, scanning his surroundings with a sluggish gaze. His eyes finally locked onto three familiar figures in the distance—Thor, Loki, and Roman—approaching at a leisurely pace. He waved at them, his expression lukewarm, though their response was far more energetic.
"What took you so long? My legs are killing me!" Trisha, who had been preaching patience moments ago, now found herself ranting, her voice sharp with irritation.
"Blame Roman," Loki muttered with a scowl, his razor-sharp gaze landing on the culprit. Roman shrugged, looking sheepish. "His house is on the other side of town, but he kept telling us he was close. Meanwhile, he was still in the shower."
Axel chuckled to himself. Roman's behavior wasn't surprising. Humans in his former world had the same quirks—always stretching the truth about their whereabouts. At some point, it was more of a joke than an actual annoyance.
"Let's just get inside," Thor boomed, clapping Axel on the back with a hand that felt like a boulder. "I can't wait to see you finally get that S-rank. Once you do, we're having that fight."
Axel groaned inwardly. He had managed to avoid the promised duel for months now, but getting an S-rank meant his excuses would run out. "Fine, but you're paying for drinks tonight," he grumbled, earning a hearty laugh from Thor.
As they moved toward the entrance, Axel felt a strange sensation creep over him. A prickling at the back of his neck, like he was being watched. He glanced around, eyes narrowing, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Still, the unease lingered.
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Meanwhile, at the VIP entrance of the facility, a sleek Lamborghini Model Gf—a futuristic masterpiece driven by only the wealthiest—pulled up smoothly. The doors lifted open with a soft hiss, revealing the lavish interior.
Only those of extreme importance, like S-ranks or major donors, could access the VIP entrance, making the area quiet and exclusive. From the driver's side emerged a woman, stunning and dangerous in her beauty. She wore a skin-tight gown that left little to the imagination, her every movement calculated to attract attention.
Her striking features were framed by dark curls, and her eyes glimmered with a seductive allure.
On the other side, a man stepped out, his aura oozing wealth and power. Muscular and impeccably dressed, he sported glasses and wore a series of expensive gold and diamond jewelry. Everything about him screamed class and sophistication.
"It's been ages since I attended a Binding ceremony," the man said, his voice smooth and enthralling.
"Who are you kidding?" the woman replied, her lips curving into a playful smile. "The last time we were at one of these was for our own Binding."
She paused, her smile fading slightly. "And that's exactly why we're here now."
The man nodded, his expression growing more serious. "Yeah... Axel Teras. I saw him in the news the other day. Now he's getting retested."
The woman looked at him with curiosity. "Do you think something went wrong with his original Binding? A malfunction, maybe? Or could he be the first one to receive a double Binding?"
The man's eyes gleamed behind his glasses. "We won't know for sure until we see it ourselves. But one thing is clear: he's different, and whatever happens today could change everything."
The woman hesitated, a flicker of something akin to concern crossing her face. "It's strange, isn't it? That we're here... after all these years."
"Yeah," the man agreed, his tone darkening. "It's time we finally reunited with our old friend."
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