"That's how he usually gets," Andre remarked to Isis as he watched Dante with a mix of curiosity and concern. "No, I've never seen him like this… happy, but with a sinister edge," she replied, barely finishing her sentence before being shoved backward by the mechanical birds. She tumbled several meters, rolling over the rocky ground as her bandages partially unraveled.
"I'll show you that sports are good for everything and solve everything, just like my favorite soccer stars," Dante declared with unwavering confidence, his voice resonating with childlike determination while his eyes sparkled with excitement. Without missing a beat, he pulled a soccer ball from between his knees. It was an impeccable ball, gleaming under the dim light of its surroundings, as if it carried a glimmer of hope.
He began drawing the attention of the mechanical birds by swiftly kicking the ball toward them, retrieving it with agile and playful movements. Dante weaved between the creatures, performing spectacular maneuvers that left the birds baffled, clumsily chasing after him in their attempts to catch him. "And the great Dante takes on one and then the other! These metal buzzards can't handle me!" the boy exclaimed with a mix of pride and mockery, skillfully maneuvering the ball between the birds' legs. "Nutmeg!" he shouted, laughing mischievously.
But the fun soon gave way to something more serious. Dante's expression shifted; he furrowed his brow slightly, adopting a focused demeanor. A faint, macabre half-smile crept onto his face as he held the ball in front of him. "It's time to get serious," he announced firmly, his tone charged with intent. He launched the ball toward the metallic birds and yelled, "Magnetic Ball!"
The ball exploded midair, releasing a black sphere that seemed to absorb everything around it, like a dark void devouring light and space. The birds, caught in its magnetic pull, were yanked together, unable to separate. Their metallic bodies screeched and groaned under the invisible force, their blinking lights flickering desperately as they struggled in vain to break free.
Dante didn't stop there. He pulled five more balls from his body and, launching them one after another, shouted, "Fire!" The balls blazed with devilish eyes that seemed to take on a life of their own. Upon impact, they incinerated the birds with relentless fury. "Take that, stupid robots!" he exclaimed as another ball spun in circles like a boomerang, returning to his feet with deadly precision. Each strike reverberated like metallic thunder, shattering pieces of the machines.
"It's time to finish you off and win the match with grace and elegance," Dante announced with a mischievous grin. With feline agility, he leaped into the air, spinning in an impressive Rovesciata (or bicycle kick, depending on where you're from). "Lethal Ball!" he cried as he struck the ball with superhuman force. It shot toward the trapped birds, moving erratically between them. With each hit, it tore through their metallic frames. The machines screeched and groaned, fragmenting bit by bit until they finally collapsed into a heap of smoking scrap.
Isis and Andre were left astounded by the boy's display of power. Andre swallowed hard and murmured, "I'll never again doubt that kid's attacks or his passion for soccer." Meanwhile, Isis reflected silently: "How strange… I think he needed some kind of push. He's never shown such determination or control over his abilities before."
The ball spiraled upward into the sky, shining like a shooting star before descending with one final devastating move, ensuring the total destruction of the robots. Dante raised his arms triumphantly. "Yes, I did it! I won the game! I'm the best player!" he exclaimed, approaching Isis and Andre with a radiant smile. But before he could finish his sentence, his eyes closed, and his small body collapsed onto the ground.
"Whoa! I think his battery ran out," Andre commented, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the unconscious boy. Isis, however, gazed at Dante with admiration. "You surprised me, Dante. You have potential," she said softly, though she knew he couldn't hear her. Then, shaking her head, she added firmly, "Alright, it's time to move on and take down the rest of those crazy robots."
Andre was still in a daze, processing what he had just witnessed. "Hey! Did you hear me?" Isis asked, snapping her fingers in front of his face.
"Yeah, yeah… What were you saying?" Andre replied, shaking his head as if waking from a dream.
"I said we need to keep pushing back against the robots," Isis explained, feigning patience.
"Oh, right. You're correct. Let's go," Andre nodded, straightening up.
"Hey! Andre, you can carry our champion who saved us on your back," Isis suggested, pointing to Dante, who still lay sprawled on the ground.
"Sure, I'll carry him," Andre responded, carefully lifting Dante onto his back. He used his dreadlocks like improvised ropes to secure him, making sure he wouldn't fall off. Together, they pressed forward with determined steps, ready to face more robots while their little hero slept soundly.
The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and one of my favorite structures. "A lady as beautiful as me, but I think she could use a bit more gold," stated a confident female voice. "You're going to start with that, huh? I think silver would suit her better," replied another female voice, crossing her arms.
"No, definitely gold suits her better, not silver," they retorted to each other, starting an intense argument. "Hey! You two fight way too much," interrupted a youthful voice. It was a young boy watching them with a mischievous expression.
"Oh no, you stay out of this!" both snapped, glaring at him with looks full of disdain.
"Hey, don't talk to my little brother like that in a disrespectful tone," interjected another female voice, this one more mature and authoritative.
"Thanks, sis," the boy said, distractedly wiping something green dripping from his nose. "But you should really clean that up, little Timothy."
The light flickered on, revealing the four protagonists.
The boy was Timothy Starwood, or Timmy to his friends, also known by his alias, Agent E-12, at just 8 years old. He wore a black sailor-style school uniform, had short brown hair, and lime-green eyes that sparkled with childlike curiosity. Despite his age, Timmy had already proven himself to be a valuable member of the team.
The girl who insisted gold suited the statue better was Rayna Solis, Agent D-6, capable of creating technological structures out of gold and its derivatives. With her long, sun-golden hair, dark yellow-almost-golden eyes, and a determined attitude, Rayna radiated confidence. She wore a yellow hoodie and black leggings, and at 15 years old, she was already an expert in her field.
The other girl, who preferred silver, was Arryn Sterling, Agent D-7. Her steel-gray hair reached her shoulders, and her dark silvery eyes reflected determination. Arryn crafted weapons from silver and was always ready for action. She wore a white hoodie and black leggings, and at 15 years old, she shared the same age as Rayna.
"Ugh, what am I going to do with you two? You're always fighting, girls," remarked Galea Starwood, also known as Agent D-2. She was the second-in-command of the team led by Adrian. With her chestnut-brown hair styled into two neat side braids, apple-green eyes that highlighted her natural beauty, and a flirty yet friendly demeanor, Galea was the eldest of the group at 20 years old. She wore an impeccable white suit paired with a blue skirt that complemented her elegant appearance.
"We're NOT girls!" protested Rayna and Arryn in unison.
"Well, you sure act like it," muttered Timothy under his breath, though loud enough for both to hear.
"Who asked for your input, snot-nosed kid?" they shot back, sticking their tongues out in a playful yet annoyed gesture.
"Hey! Enough, both of you. Now is not the time to fight," Galea intervened firmly. At that moment, a transmission crackled through Galea's communicator. It was Marie, calling because a greater threat was approaching, and they needed to respond immediately.
"Alright, everyone stop bickering. We've been called in from headquarters. We have work to do," Galea instructed seriously.
"Again, sis? Didn't we just take down the 'controlled' ones?" asked Timmy innocently, scratching his head.
"Yes, but this time it's something different. The people need us, little one," Galea responded with a warm smile as she ruffled her younger brother's hair.
Suddenly, the ship they were on began to rock violently. A massive robot emerged from the depths of the ocean, initially the size of the Statue of Liberty, but as it advanced, it grew exponentially until it reached a size ten times larger than the iconic structure.
"Holy mother!" exclaimed Rayna, her eyes wide as she pointed at the colossal robot before them. "What is that?" she asked, her trembling voice filled with awe and concern.
"That thing is ugly," Arryn commented with a grimace of distaste, crossing her arms as she stared at the imposing mechanical giant.
The robot was a grotesque amalgamation of recycled parts and industrial structures. Its legs were made of compacted cars, twisted like metallic muscles, while its torso appeared to be constructed from the remains of a collapsed building. One of its arms was an enormous crane with a sharp claw at the end, moving slowly like threatening fingers, and the other arm ended in a massive wrecking ball, capable of crushing anything in its path. Its face was even more unsettling: a rusted washing machine served as the base, adorned with toaster parts that simulated distorted facial features. In the center, an LED screen glowed brightly, displaying a digitized face that seemed to mock them with a menacing expression.
The robot turned its head toward the surroundings, scanning every corner with cold precision. Its digital eyes flickered as it processed the information. Finally, it focused its attention on several ferries floating nearby. The screen on its face flickered before displaying a chilling message: "Humans detected. Initiating human destruction protocol." In a slow but relentless motion, it raised its arm with the wrecking ball, preparing to attack the vessels.
"That's what I was trying to tell you guys!" Galea shouted, her voice ringing with urgency as she gestured desperately toward the colossal robot. "The machines have gone berserk! They're completely out of control and attacking humans without mercy."
Time seemed to stand still as the massive machine lifted its arm with the wrecking ball, aiming directly at one of the nearby ships. The panicked screams of the passengers echoed through the air, mingling with the metallic hum of the robot. Everyone's hearts beat in unison, as if the entire world was holding its breath.
And just as the wrecking ball began to descend with relentless speed, everything fell silent.