Dante tuned it out, and as the dome over him fell off, his palm touched Crystal's, and she yanked him inside the cave. Darkus and Gilgamesh rolled a giant boulder over it, sealing them in. "What was that? Do you have a death wish?" Crystal's eyes looked panicked and as she hit his chest with her fist, he noticed that her body was shaking uncontrollably. "I'm sorry. I didn't know…" Dante trailed off because his excuse sounded bogus even to his ears. He didn't plan to make a big deal out of it, but he didn't expect such a thing to happen. His life flashed before his eyes on various occasions, and it felt… exhilarating. What are you, a battle junkie? "You survived. That counts for something," Cincinnati said and walked past him, returning to the rock where she was seated earlier. Darkus nodded at Dante just once and didn't look at him again. It felt like being acknowledged by a higher power. Before, Darkus didn't even show regard for Dante's existence, and now… he got a nod of
The threat of a civil war was enough to get everybody on the run, and the news of the factions being formed did nothing to assuage the growing feeling of unease circling through the country. But some people were looking forward to the mayhem and madness."The meeting will begin," Alistair said, his voice lulling the members of The Order into silence."Now, tell us what the king asked of you, Fred," Alistair called a random name, and a young man walked in, along with a Direhuman who seemed to be his companion."What's this? Are we fraternising with those below us now? Is this the level we've fallen to?" A smallish man with an abnormally long beard spoke up, his eyes sizing up the new faces. "Hold your peace, and wait for him to finish," Alistair chided, his eyes brokering no room for argument. He was a scary man whenever he wanted to be."Hmph," the smallish man said at last and sat down without a word, still fuming. He was casting death glares at Fred and his attendant. "Now, tell
"This is the Purge; that none be left alive, and that I carry the will of the gods." As soon as he said that, the room descended into pandemonium, but Fred didn't care; he brought out his mana-enhanced weapon, a wicked-looking sword with deadly precision. It earned him one too many titles. But this wasn't the time for reminiscing. Fred slashed, his strike meeting the empty air. The members of The Order were staring daggers at him, none of them remotely hurt."Ah, so this is the demonstration you meant. It falls a little short, a lacklustre performance." Fred didn't need to be told that he'd been had, but he was the hand of the king for a reason. He couldn't falter even when faced with immense danger."How did you find out?""Did you think we were stupid? You walked into a well-armed base and caused a nuisance. But now we know that the president deserves to die. And so do you, for your little stunt. But? I'll play with you later. I want to see how far you bend before you break." Ali
Zero hated the smell of mouldy bread, and it didn't help that he had to be undercover, either. The Order used him for their dirty jobs, and on some days, he wanted to bash his head against the wall until he drew blood. But on days like this, he didn't have the luxury to feel sorry for himself, not when he had a lot riding on him. In Alistair's words, "Do not be found out, and return when it's done," which wasn't vague in any way.And, of course, I have to be the one to do it."Now, now, boy. Remember, do not be seen," Alistair said as a parting word, and he noticed the backdrop of the office; something lingered. Or was it… someone? "You won't let me down, will you?" Alistair rarely asked such questions, and whenever he did, the consequences were usually dire. "I won't," Zero said, left the office, his mind reeling. There was another aspect to the executive named Alistair, one that few people rarely got to see.And when Zero stared into his eyes, many things became abundantly clear;
How was he supposed to take them out? What exactly did they do to deserve such a harsh verdict?Zero was lost in thought and declined to be driven home, promising to arrive early the next day to continue his internship. His actions weren't clear to him, but he couldn't bring himself to end their lives. However, if he didn't do it, someone else was going to. And the person would not be as kind. Especially if it was one of the Enforcers, they were monsters with no qualms about taking lives, even if it meant burning a district to the ground. They did whatever they were asked to, and their clean-up crew handled the rest.He didn't want to drive home, so he took a longer route and left with his thoughts. He wasn't scared of being jumped; there was no reason for anyone to jump him. And even if there was, he could hold his own in a fight. Maybe not to the mastery level, but few desperados became martial arts masters."Down in the dumps, I see," Zero turned towards the direction the voice ca
Dante Stormborn was hungry. Scratch that, he wasn't. He was confused, as most people are wont to be. The pocket world, that's how he'd come to know it. But did it have a name? Was it sentient? There was a lot he didn't know and a lot more he needed to learn. But who'd teach him? Cincinnati had warmed up to him a little, Darkus still refused to care about his existence, and Gilgamesh was a bastard as always.He was basking in the sunlight, unable to believe such a beautiful day could turn into an unforgiving nightmare in a flash. He needed to understand the world, but he didn't even understand his body. It was pathetic."You look like someone threw up in your coffee," Crystal observed, taking a sip of what seemed to be poorly made tea."That looks like it'd kill you before this world does," Dante shrugged and returned to his watch. "I don't mind; it tastes like depression, though," she made a face, one that Dante had never associated with her at all."What are you doing here, anyway?
"What does it mean to be good?" The question she didn't voice, the one she was scared of finding a response to. Because deep down, she knew;She was a hypocrite.~~Cincinnati notched her arrow, letting it fly free as it whizzed into the distance and lodged itself in the branch of a tree before flying past it. "Shit," she cursed as her companion took its original shape, that of her childhood friend."You seem to be struggling. Do you need help?" He asked, but she shook her head. She missed the smell of trees and the feel of grass beneath her feet. The landscape of the mikrós kósmos annoyed her to no end. "I could have done it, I swear," she ranted, but the hologram just stared at her, not moving to help alleviate her worries."This isn't real; none of it is." She went on her knees, overcome by the despair that's begun to take root in her psyche. The scenery she created fizzled in and out of existence, the barren landscape making a showing of itself once more "There's no way out, i
Five years earlier…Cincinnati stood under the cherry blossoms and knew deep down that her life was coming to an end. She could do nothing about it, nothing short of putting on a brave face and moving forward."Hello, big sis," Cincinnati groaned as soon as the voice spoke and turned around to see her little brother in school uniform, grinning from ear to ear."You're a student at Stone High now, aren't you?" She asked, her shoulders slumped."You asked yesterday and the day before. Yes, I'm officially a part of Stone High." Mark seemed excited, even though Cincinnati's standing in the school was as good as ruined since her brother was, for lack of a better term, weird."Well, might as well get this over with," she said, walking ahead. Mark had always been a bright child, and being in the same high school with her was his dream. Even though she'd told him times without number to steer clear of her, he never listened."Big sister!!!" He followed, and Cincinnati knew deep down that she'