BOOK 1 - Destiny (Shonen Anime Style)

Chapter 18: Ishtar Sink

As Leah was doing all she could in her power in order to gather with Ravi as soon as possible. The blue-haired trainee and his loyal ghost were already close to planet Venus. "Is that it?" Ravi asked Wire after coming out of hyperspace and staring directly at the yellowish planet in front of them.

"Yes" Wire bluntly stated. "That's Venus... better known as the jungle planet"

"Jungle planet?"

"You'll understand soon"

After entering the atmosphere, Ravi finally realized the reason for that nickname: almost the entire planet was covered by jungle. Of course there were also other types of environments like beaches, wastelands, ruins of old human cities, large esplanades, etc. However, the most impressive ones were these geometric-style constructions that seemed totally out of place.

Some time later, they finally landed near one of the old city ruins and headed outside. "So, this is Venus's Ishtar Sink region?"

"That's right. This place used to shelter thousands... or maybe millions of humans. At least until the Collapse"

"Well, this planet sure is different than the Moon and Earth" Ravi couldn't be more right. Venus's environmental temperature was higher than that of the Earth, and the sky wasn't blue... but yellow with a few orangish parts. "Damn it, this place is really hot" the blue-haired boy complained while trying to cool himself.

"Hey, it was your idea to come here, remember? So let's hurry up and meet this Stranger already"

After that they spent some time exploring the city ruins and its whereabouts, Ravi even had to fight some fallen that attacked him out of nowhere. And when he was done with them, he discussed with Wire what the Ishtar Academy really was... and where they could even find it to begin with.

"Ishtar Academy is... or was... one of the greatest research centers in the whole system" Wire explained. "It belonged to one of the greatest scientific corporations that ever existed in the Solar System: the Ishtar Collective"

Ravi was surprised. "So, the Ishtar Collective was the greatest of them all?"

"Well, not exactly... There was actually another scientific group that rivaled with them"

"And what was its name?"

"Clovis Bray" Wire answered as Ravi widened his eyes in surprise. "Now that I think about it, you once said you heard about Clovis Bray before, didn't you?"

"Well, not exactly. I just happened to find this really cool building one day... and apparently, it belonged to this 'Clovis Bray'"

"I see... And I suppose that's where your passion for technology began?"

Ravi chuckled a bit. "You sure are sharp"

They kept on walking and talking without worries, until Wire finally changed the topic. "Hey, Ravi... Are you really ok with this?" the tiny droid asked in a concerned voice.

"Mmmh? What do you mean?" Ravi answered while raising an eyebrow.

"I'm talking about Leah. You 2 haven't talked since the Moon incident. Have you not considered that maybe she's right? That maybe coming here was... a bad idea?"

The bluenette took a long sigh. "Of course I have, but... if we do nothing, then maybe whatever lurks in here can become a threat for the Last City later"