As Paulo, Riku, and Rajin were making their return journey to the cosmic base, Paulo, with his extraordinary hearing, detected a voice from over a thousand kilometres away.
The words he distinctly heard were "the Hypno killer."
Simultaneously, Momo Yokoyama materialized before them in her spectral form, visible only to Paulo.
"My appearance in this state now signifies that a significant event now has transpired," Momo communicated in her incorporeal voice, inaudible to Riku and Rajin.
Paulo paused his steps, a sudden realization dawning upon him as he identified the Hypno killer.
"You've figured out his identity, haven't you? It is our former 'try' who has now bifurcated himself into two distinct entities," Momo explained, walking alongside Paulo.
Noticing Paulo's abrupt halt and his backward glance, Riku and Rajin inquired.
"Rajin and Riku, you two need to head back to the base immediately. I have a pressing matter to deal with," Paulo instructed, his voice resonating with a growing chill.
Without further delay, Paulo dashed off, harnessing the lightning abilities he had acquired from Tetsuya. Momo, remarkably, kept pace with Paulo's accelerated movement, even running alongside him.
During their rapid transit, Paulo questioned Momo about the origin of the moniker "Hypno Killer" for their former self, and Momo elucidated that he had systematically annihilated a specific race an astounding one hundred billion times.
"Which race did he decimate?" Paulo inquired, his speed intensifying.
"They were the Hypnocranites, a species possessing the power of hypnosis and distinguished by the horns adorning their heads,"
Momo replied. "And for what reason did he commit such an act?" Paulo pressed, coming to a stop. "The Hypnocranites established a formidable organization known as the Hypno Gang, and the Hypno Killer was brought into existence with the sole purpose of eradicating them. To put it in perspective, the Hypno Gang's malevolence far surpasses that of the Ghostface group," Momo elaborated, a hint of disdain in her voice.
"They are the ones responsible for our mother's demise," Momo declared, her fists clenching with emotion.
"What do you mean by 'our mother'?" Paulo asked, a sense of confusion clouding his expression.
"The Hypno Killer and his wife were our parents. When the Hypno Gang discovered us, they attempted to kill us, but she intervened, saving us from their clutches at the cost of her own life,"
Momo explained, tears streaming down her face as she buried them in Paulo's hoodie.
Paulo, his jaw clenched tightly, expressed a growing suspicion that the presence of hypno gang members extended far beyond their current awareness, indicating a potentially larger network operating across all twelve universes.
"I have a strong feeling," he declared through gritted teeth, "that within the vast expanse of the twelve universes, there are still numerous hypno gang members lurking."
Simultaneously, both Paulo and Momo recognized the urgent necessity to revert to their original, true forms as swiftly as possible.
"We absolutely must return to our true forms immediately, the hypno gang does not deserve to breath after what they done to use" they both then exclaimed in perfect unison, their own voices tinged with a huge amount of urgency as they began a rapid sprint towards the location Paulo had identified as the place where he had heard the hypno killer's name be mentioned last.
***
In the dimly lit lab, a low hum resonated from the machines, casting flickering shadows against the walls filled with blueprints and glass vials.
A faint smell of metal and ozone hung in the air as Seuta Hargrove and Shoto Honō leaned over a cluttered workbench.
Their horns glimmered slightly under the fluorescent lights, giving them a hint of an otherworldly aura that matched their Hypnocranites heritage.
"Okay, so let's go over this again," Seuta said, her voice casual yet laced with a tension that hinted at the weight of their task.
She then tapped her fingers rhythmically on the countertop, a distant part of her always aware of the buzz outside their secluded hideout. "We need to take out Paulo and Momo before they become a threat. If they revive the hypno killer, it will be game over for us."
Shoto nodded, adjusting the goggles perched on his forehead before pulling them down over his eyes. "Right, right. So, we ambush them before they even know what hit them. Simple enough, but we have to make sure we do it quietly. The last thing we want is to attract attention."
He flipped through a notebook filled with hastily scrawled plans and diagrams, scribbles that ranged from elaborate traps to outright chaos.
Seuta snorted, leaning back against the workbench. "'Simple'? Do you think it is easy taking down the son of the hypno killer? And his sister? Those two are practically walking powerhouses. We are not just dealing with some random targets here; they come from a legacy of chaos."
"Legacy of chaos?" Shoto scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. "Please. I have seen chaos. These two are just kids playing dress-up in their family's shadow. They may have those cool titles, but they are still figuring things out, just like us. We can outsmart them if we play our cards right."
Seuta raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet unconvinced. "You sound overly confident today. What is your plan, then? Lure them into a trap? We would have to find a way to separate them first. Momo's got that whole 'monarch of death' mojo going for her, and who knows what Paulo is capable of with his cosmic ties. It could end badly for us."
"Well, that's why I was thinking—" Shoto paused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "What if we use our hypnosis on one of them first? Make it look like an accident. We keep the other one distracted, and once they are vulnerable, that is when we strike."
Seuta leaned forward, the gears in her mind clicking. "Hypnosis… Do you mean to trick them into turning on each other? That could work. But we need to time it perfectly. One slip-up and it is all over. Plus, we have to be careful not to let the hypnosis backfire. If Momo somehow senses it, she might retaliate before we can react."
"Alright, let us break it down. We need to draw them out first," Shoto continued, his excitement evident as he scribbled down possible locations on a notepad. "Somewhere remote, but not too far from where they usually hang out, draw them away from any potential backup."
"Hmm, how about that abandoned warehouse by the docks? It has secluded, and we can set up enough distractions to keep them busy," Seuta suggested, tilting her head. "Plus, if anything goes wrong, we could make an easy escape into the water."
Shoto grinned, the glimmer of mischief in his eyes. "Perfect! We set our traps, lure them in, and then, boom! One hypnosis spell on Paulo, while you take care of Momo. She might not see it coming if you play nice first."
Seuta chuckled, her eyes gleaming with both excitement and disbelief. "Playing nice? You know that is not my style. But fine, I will give it a shot. Just be ready to back me up if things get tense."
"Always," Shoto replied, flashing a confident smile. "When we pull this off, the hypno killer will not have a chance to come back. We will finally be free of that shadow looming over us."
As they revealed in their calculated approach, a sudden surge of laughter echoed down the corridor, jolting them from their strategizing. Seuta shot Shoto a knowing glance, and they exchanged a tense silence.
"Let's hope they stay oblivious a little longer," Shoto said, pushing his goggles up onto his forehead and returning to the notepad.
"Yeah, and let's hope our luck holds out," Seuta replied, her tone lighter now, but the weight of their undertaking hung heavily between them. They had a mission, a dangerous one, but together, they felt invincible. After all, they were Hypnocranites, experts in manipulation, and they were not about to let two vessels mess up their plans.
With that thought lingering in the air, they dove back into their scheming, unaware of how imminent danger loomed right outside their sanctuary.