Trascender : The Fourth Gust

Chapter 5 : The Man Who Never Misses

The figure beneath the archway shifted almost imperceptibly. "Thank you for your compliment, sir," the deep, resonant voice replied, its tone calm yet carrying the weight of stone. "We found you heavily injured within the impact crater. Yet, it seems you healed completely within six minutes. An astonishing rate." Those luminous gold eyes, piercing the perpetual gloom shadowing the face, fixed on Shinji with unnerving focus. "It suggests you hail from a world renowned for highly regenerative abilities?"

Shinji forced a casual chuckle, the sound brittle in the vast quiet. "I guess so, hahaha." Inside, his mind raced. Merus's warning echoes: 'Never tell them.' He met the golden gaze, projecting an easy confidence he didn't feel. *Act natural. Just a guy from a tough planet.*

The figure inclined its head slightly, the movement economical. "I see. That is... marvelous." There was no hint of disbelief, only a warrior's pragmatic acceptance of observed fact. A beat of silence hung, filled only by the distant cry of some soaring creature. "Oh, how rude of me," the voice continued, the apology delivered with the same stoic calm. "I am Tamago. Head of the Eastern Region of Suchumus."

"Head?" Shinji echoed, feigning polite curiosity. "Eastern Region?"

Tamago nodded once, a sharp, precise motion. "Yes. Suchumus is divided into four sovereign regions, each governed by a Head and protected by dedicated Guardians. Our villages and strongholds lie within their borders." He gestured vaguely towards the sprawling landscape. "This structure, coupled with our planet's... unique properties, makes us one of the most protected worlds in the entire multiverse. Gods find no purchase here." The final statement carried a distinct edge of pride and warning.

"Interesting," Shinji murmured, filing the information away. The structure offered both sanctuary and complexity. Four powers. Four potential points of contact... or conflict.

Tamago's gold eyes remained fixed on him. "Did you come here seeking refuge from such entities? Or perhaps merely for a visit?" He paused, a fractional tilt of his head suggesting genuine, if detached, hospitality. "If it is the latter, allow me the honor of accompanying you."

Shinji's mind flashed back to the sterile confines of Merus's ship, the God's voice low and urgent: 'If they question your powers... never tell them. Saganbo's soldiers could be anywhere, undercover. Reveal nothing. If pressed, attribute it to your homeworld. Your goal is training, refuge, anonymity.'

He met Tamago's unnerving gaze. "I'm actually here seeking refuge," Shinji admitted, keeping his voice steady, "and to train. I've heard the training regimens possible on Suchumus are incredibly beneficial."

Tamago remained silent for a moment, the stillness profound. "I see," he finally rumbled. "But why bother with training?" The question wasn't dismissive, merely probing, like a physician assessing a symptom. "If survival is your primary concern, refuge alone should suffice."

Shinji shrugged, the movement feeling stiff under the heavier gravity and Tamago's scrutiny. "I just... want to get stronger." He kept it simple, vague. A universal desire, easily believed.

Tamago seemed to accept this. "Oh. You must have your reasons." He didn't press. "Very well. If training is your aim, the finest instructor I know resides in the North. Yamato. He is the Northern Head."

"Yamato," Shinji repeated. "So he's quite far, then? From the East?"

"Significant distance," Tamago confirmed. "Traversing the Inter-Regional District will require approximately eight days. We will utilize Riders for speed, while also transporting essential supplies."

"Riders?" Shinji asked, unfamiliar with the term.

"Our fastest planetary transport," Tamago explained. "Swift, durable, and capable of navigating the varied terrain between regions."