The Cobra King's Return

Sector Gamma Adventures 3

The stars shimmered above, endless and kind, a stark contrast to the bruised desert sky of reality. Peti lay under the twin moons of a peaceful world, surrounded by a profound warmth that seeped into his bones. The tiny Luthari baby girl, with her glowing purple veins, was curled up like a kitten at his neck, her breathing in perfect sync with his pulse. The black tsundere baby boy, ever dramatic, grumbled softly in his coat pocket—though even in sleep, he clutched Peti's robe tightly, an unspoken bond of trust.

And in his dream? It was wild. It was beautiful. A world reimagined from the ashes of war.

In the distance, the silhouette of a beast once feared stood proudly among the dunes. It was Gortel, but his massive shell shimmered with a soft, bioluminescent light. From behind him, dozens of tiny little Gortels waddled out of cracked eggs, each no bigger than a watermelon, cooing in an otherworldly harmony. They ran toward Peti, not to fight, but to play. They climbed him like a living jungle gym, their tiny hisses and cosmic giggles filling the dream with a new kind of music. One chewed on his glove, another snuggled under his arm, and a third bonked his forehead with its little head, as if it were a cherished family tradition.

Then, she appeared: Gortel's partner. A female Gortel with softer curves and a gentler aura, but with an immense power that radiated from her. Her glowing chest fed the newborns without hesitation, without shame, only with love. She blinked slowly at Peti with enormous, maternal eyes, and Peti—gentle as ever—reached out and stroked the side of her face. She let out a low, happy rumble, a sound of peace and contentment.

From behind her, Gortel shuffled in, like a giant, embarrassed dad who wanted attention too. He didn't say anything, but slowly leaned his massive head forward, a silent request for praise. Peti chuckled, the sound a pure melody in the dream world. "Come here, you big spiked teddy bear," Peti said, his voice full of a deep, heartfelt affection. He patted Gortel's horned head. "You fought hard. You earned this."

Gortel let out the smallest, most satisfied growl-snore the universe had ever known. Together, the Gortel family, the Luthari babies, and Peti watched the stars swirl above them, a beautiful, swirling cosmic dance. 

They would fight together. They would face Zalgayna. They would face Yukogorax. And this time, they wouldn't do it alone.

The red-gold light of sunrise touched the sand like fire kissing glass. Peti slowly blinked his eyes open, his arms wrapped protectively around his coat-pocket where the black Luthari baby still slept. The white baby, with its glowing purple veins, yawned atop his chest, stretching like a kitten. Peti let out a long, warrior's stretch, cracking his shoulders, spine, and sending a leftover soundwave vibrating through the air.

He turned to his loyal beast. Brutalito lay nearby, a god-sized, curled-up dog, his new shell and horns gleaming in the dawn. Peti's hand gently pet his monstrous head, and a deep growl rumbled in his throat—not a threat, but a morning purr. It escalated into a beastly yawn, then a roar that shook the desert dunes.

"Good morning to you too, buddy," Peti smirked, brushing sand off his shoulder.

Nearby, Hokori stirred. Mimosa, the soft-furred cat-fox fusion, was still curled against his neck, eyes closed, her tail flicking contently. Hokori sighed. "She's still asleep," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "Lucky furball."

Peti stood, pulled up his sleeve, and tapped the flickering dial on his multidimensional watch. The screen lit up with a soft pulse of light, revealing a glowing path across the world—a sacred map. He turned the dial as the hologram hovered over the sand, projecting their long and perilous journey.