In the heart of the sprawling megatropolis, a building rose from the cityscape, its soaring height defying the laws of gravity. As it pierced the sky, the structure transformed from a colossal edifice into a breathtaking tower, a testament to the architectural mastery of its creators.

  The base of the building was a monolithic mass, its steel and glass facade reflecting the hustle and bustle of the city below. The tower's midsection, though equally imposing, began to taper, shedding its bulk to reveal a delicate, intricate design.

  As the tower ascended, its form transformed into a work of art, with ornate spires, balconies, and statues adorning its exterior. The pinnacle of the structure, crowned with a magnificent golden orb, reached for the heavens, unyielding in its claim as the tallest structure in the entire city.

  The Hi-Tower, a beacon of progress and ambition, stood as a symbol of the ingenuity and determination of this world's civilization, a sight to behold and marvel at amidst the chaos of the metropolis.

  As Kaito approached the colossal tower, he could feel the weight of the situation bearing down on him. The building was a private one, not open to the public, and it was abundantly clear that the area was heavily guarded. Techno City police cars patrolled the perimeter, making it quite clear that unauthorized entry would not be tolerated.

  "Crap, this is going to be harder than I thought."

  Despite the daunting obstacles, Kaito's determination to find Starfire persisted. His eyes scanned the tower, and he noticed the building's elevator had an outside architecture. It provided a potential means of ascent, and he quickly formulated a plan. A steel cable hung below the elevator, and Kaito took a deep breath, gripping it tightly with all his might as the elevator ascended to the topmost floor.

  "I'm afraid this is the only way up, so..." the boy complained to himself, "Why do my dreams always have to be so wild?"

  Hanging on for dear life, Kaito's mind drifted back to his past life on Earth. He thought about his father, his friend Chinami, and Marie. Memories of their laughter, their struggles, and their shared moments flooded his mind.

  Then, a voice suddenly interrupted his reverie.

  "Courage is the noblest of virtues!" said that familiar voice, as if speaking directly into his mind.

  "Huh?!" he exclaimed, looking around frantically, avoiding as much as possible to look down and see how high up he already was, "Where did that voice come from?!"

  "Be careful, Immortal Ghost. The fall from up here is terrible, even for an immortal being like you."

  Still holding on, the young man looked everywhere to find the source of those words.

  "That voice…" the young man couldn't accept the familiarity of that beautiful and ethereal voice, "Who are you? What do you want from me?"

  "Have you forgotten about me, my dear champion?"

  It was Hedda. Or, at least, it sounded like her. He thought it must have been a hallucination, brought on by the extreme situation he found himself in. But as he looked around, he realized the voice was coming from the book he had brought with him from Earth.

  "T-The book?! Hedda?!"

  The book, still in his bag, was somehow communicating with him.

  "You are really brave." the voice from the book said, "You are the true champion of Hope and Rebirth, I couldn't be more satisfied with my choice."

  "H-How did you end up in this book?!"

  "Being an ancient deity, I have the power to embody inanimate objects. It's normal for me."

  "I-... I no longer doubt anything after all the strange things I've seen recently."

  "Do not worry, for only those I deem worthy can hear me."

  "It's fine with me." he sighed, feeling the wind coming from above on his face, "I suppose, anyway..."

  "Excellent, my brave champion. I must now return to my rest, for our communication consumes much arcane energy."

  "Okay, it's good to know you're here. Bye for now, I guess...?"

  Shaken by the unexpected communication, Kaito realized he had reached the top floor. He released the cable, landed on the roof, and moved as stealthily as possible to find Starfire. The words from Hedda rang in his ears, giving him a renewed sense of purpose and determination.

  If he was the true champion, he would do everything in his power to help Starfire and, ultimately, find his way back home.

  ***

  Tal Maendar, the silver-haired and purple-eyed Drow, sat regally on his cyberpunkish throne-like chair in the opulent suite of his own business skyscraper, the extravagant Magnum Building. His luxurious attire exuded power and wealth, as his piercing eyes scanned the neon cityscape outside his window.

  Two masked henchmen entered the room, dragging three terrified mercenaries by their collars. The captives were disheveled and bruised, clearly having suffered during their capture. They knelt before their captor, their faces a mixture of fear and desperation.

  "Please, Lord Maendar, we swear we'll do anything to make it up to you. We'll complete the mission, we promise!" one of the mercenaries pleaded, his voice shaking.

  Tal Maendar's cold expression didn't waver. He lifted his fancy cane, the crystal at its tip glowing with menacing energy. Without hesitation, he unleashed a continuous laser beam that tore through the mercenaries, reducing them to nothing but ashes.

  "NO PLEASE, I BEG OF YO-! ARRGHHHH!!!" one of them screamed, moments before turning to dust, leading to a truly peaceful and eerie quietude.

  The room fell silent, save for the faint hiss of the dissipating arcane energy. Maendar stood, towering over the scene of carnage.

  "The next time I give you an order, it will be done. Now, loyal servants, proceed with the plan."

  His henchmen bowed and departed, leaving Maendar alone with his ruthless determination. He gazed out at the neon glowing horizon, his piercing eyes fixed on a distant point, plotting his next move. Techno City, and all its inhabitants, would soon feel the full force of his clan's wrath.

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  The Drow's eyes scanned the cityscape, as his mind raced with plans to execute his next move. He knew that he needed to strike quickly and decisively, lest his enemies find out about his hidden agenda. He pondered the best way to infiltrate the city's defenses, and his thoughts turned to a certain someone.

  The sinister leader remembered the tension between them, and a wicked grin crept across his face. He ordered his remaining henchmen to track down this person's location and prepare for her abduction.

  "Yes, sir!" they all shouted in unison, in response to their new orders.

  As Maendar's plan began to take shape, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. The city was about to witness the true power of the Maendar Clan, and there was no one who could stand in his way. He was determined to see his vision come to fruition, no matter the cost. His "heresy" would be the bane of his enemies.

  The world of Techno City and the Neon Cult, its governing entity, was about to be plunged into chaos, and Tal Maendar would be the architect of this new reality.

  ***

  Kaito, having successfully made his way to the top of the tower, found Starfire perched on the edge of the roof's railing. Concerned for her safety, he called out to her, as he approached the edge.

  "Starfire, be careful! You don't want to fall from here."

  She turned to face him, a mix of surprise and relief on her features.

  "Ghost?! How did you find me?"

  The young man decided to play along with her nickname for now, and replied with a sly grin, "Let's just say a 'gray bird' told me where to find you..."

  "Ah, so it was him..."

  Starfire let out a soft laugh, but her expression quickly turned somber.

  "I'm feeling terrible, you know. I left Mallas like that, and he's just trying to protect me. He's right, I've been so reckless lately. I should have known the Maendar Clan would come after me."

  The human empathized with her situation, and nodded in agreement.

  "I share some of the blame as well... If it weren't for the help you gave me in the ruins of the Techno Tomb, you wouldn't be in this mess."

  The bittersweet girl looked at him, her eyes filled with gratitude.

  "Thank you, Ghost. You're a good guy." she then turned to the glowing horizon, "But it was actually you who saved me on that occasion."

  Both of them shared a smile of relief, the weight of their worries beginning to dissipate. In that moment, Starfire decided to reveal a part of herself she hadn't shared with anyone before.

  "My name is Adira. You asked me before, but now I feel like sharing it with you."

  The boy listened intently as she continued, her voice heavy with the past.

  "I used to be part of the Maendar Clan. They had become so ruthless and corrupted over time that I had to leave. When I fled their headquarters, I took an ancient scroll with me. That's why they're after me now."

  Kaito's heart ached for Adira, realizing the true extent of her troubles. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, offering her the support she needed.

  "We'll get through this. You went out of your way to guide me and find a place for me to stay, so I promise you won't have to face this alone."

  He took a deep breath, unsure of how Starfire, now known as Adira, would react to his revelation. But the young man felt that now was the time to share everything that had happened to him up to that point.

  "Adira, there's something I need to tell you. I'm not from this world. I'm from another place called Earth, where the sun shines bright and the sky is blue."

  Adira raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical.

  "Earth?! What's that? I've never heard of a world with that name before..." the Drow girl approached him slowly, and then looked away, "And please call me Starfire, since I need to keep my identity a secret."

  Kaito nodded, watching as a mix of disbelief and curiosity crossed her face.

  "I know it sounds unbelievable, but it's the truth. I was transported here by accident, and I'm trying to find a way back home."

  "I... I don't know if..."

  The young Drow shook her head, unable to fully accept the story. Just as it seemed she would dismiss Kaito's claim, the book in his backpack let out a soft chime. The voice of Hedda, the book's spirit, spoke clearly, confirming Kaito's words.

  "It's all true, my dear Drow. I can vouch for the boy's story. I was with him when he arrived in this world, and I was the one who summoned him here in the first place."

  "Is the book talking to me?!" Adira's eyes widened, and she staggered back a step, her hand going to her chest, "This can't be real... I almost fainted from disbelief."

  Kaito and Adira exchanged a look, both knowing the gravity of the situation. The Drow girl's world had just been turned upside down, and they would need to help her process this new information. But for now, they could only watch as she tried to make sense of the incredible truth they had just revealed.

  "Look, Starfire, I promise I will explain everything to you calmly once we safely return to Greyforge."

  "R-Right..."

  While the two were standing on the rooftop, the girl pointed towards a nearby ventilation system, its metal sheen glinting in the dim light.

  "That's a better way of getting down, I'm sure. The elevator is too risky."

  Shirai nodded in agreement, relieved that he had an alternative to the treacherous elevator ride he had endured earlier.

  "Alright, let's do it. We'll have to move fast, though. I don't know how long it'll take for the security to find us."

  "Let's go." she nodded, her determination clear in her eyes, "We'll need to be quick and silent, so they don't catch on to our escape."

  The two of them made their way to the ventilation system, their footsteps light and their movements fluid. Kaito was grateful for the new information Adira had shared, and he knew that their bond had only grown stronger.

  Together, they navigated the maze of pipes and vents, their hearts pounding in unison as they made their way down to the city streets below. They were one step closer to unraveling the mysteries that plagued them, and they would do whatever it took to protect one another and uncover the truth behind who was looking for that old scroll.

  ***

  Approximately an hour later, Kaito and Adira emerged from the old repair shop entrance, their hearts sinking as they beheld the devastation that had befallen the Greyforge. The once-orderly workshop was in disarray, tools and equipment scattered across the floor, some of them visibly damaged.

  "W-What happened here?!" asked the boy, jumping over the rubble on the ground.

  "It can't be..." the girl stopped, her eyes were wide, the sight was really frightening.

  In an instant, their worst fears were confirmed. The scoundrels had found them. They called out for Mallas, their voices echoing through the shattered remnants of their sanctuary, but their cries were met with silence.

  "Mallas, where were you? Hey, Mallas?!"

  Adira's eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of the old Duergar. Her gaze eventually fell upon a scrap of paper, tucked away beneath a toppled workbench. She hurriedly retrieved it, her heart racing as she unfolded the note.

  Upon it was a single, ominous emblem: the insignia of the Maendar Clan. Adira's hand trembled as she read the accompanying message, her voice shaking as she shared its contents with Kaito.

  "The Maendar Clan... They have tracked my location, and they took the old man with them!"

  Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she held them back, her expression one of fierce determination. Kaito placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, his own fury simmering beneath the surface.

  "We'll find Mallas, somehow. He is a tough guy..."

  As the human boy and the Drow girl left the Greyforge in a state of panic, unsure of where to turn next, the voice of Hedda, the spirit of the book, spoke up from within Kaito's backpack.

  "Calm yourselves, both of you. Panicking won't help you in this situation. You need to think clearly and come up with a plan to rescue the Duergar and put an end to the Heretic Clan's tyranny."

  The two of them paused, their frantic energy momentarily replaced by a more focused determination. Kaito removed the book from his backpack, its pages glowing softly in the dim light.

  "The goddess is right. We need to gather our thoughts and come up with a strategy. We can't let the Maendar Clan get away with this."

  Adira nodded in agreement, wiping a stray tear from her cheek.

  "We need to find out where they're keeping Mallas! Then, we can devise a plan to rescue him and bring them down."

  Hedda's ethereal voice filled with confidence.

  "Trust in yourselves, and in each other. You're a formidable team, and together, you can overcome any obstacle. I think you'll find something useful for your next step inside my temple, which is buried beneath a certain ruin."

  "Okay, Hedda. We're counting on you." the boy replied, with certainty in his eyes.

  With renewed resolve, Kaito, Adira, and Hedda set out to formulate a plan to rescue Mallas and bring an end to the Maendar Clan's ruthless rule. They were ready to face whatever dangers lay ahead, knowing that they had each other's backs and the spirit of the book to guide them. Their bond strengthened, and their hearts filled with purpose, they forged ahead, ready to face the challenges that awaited them.