POV: Recruit 79
I stood outside of the base, the sounds of the clanking gates closing behind me very evident. Walking down the path that I took to get here, I was escorted by one of the bases soldiers, who clearly wasn't happy about being here.
'Despite being treated like a celebrity, it seems people still haven't forgotten where you came from,' I thought, thinking back to my times as a weak recruit.
I wonder just how far my strength scales...
"They appear to be approaching now," the soldier scoffed, pointing forward.
Just beyond the fogged and dusty horizon, a group of guards, almost like an entourage, slowly faded into view.
As they quickly walked up, stopping right before us, their presence was undeniable.
Whatever hope I had on being crazily strong was just shattered. Every single one of these 'regular' guards were far beyond my levels of strength, and I could feel it in their aura alone. It makes sense they were personal guards for the future Emperor. if I were Zhang, I would also want these people by my side.
But more importantly, if I couldn't even fair to one of his guards, what all does he expect from me? Surely he hasn't overestimated me?
There was no such way my liege would make a mistake like that.
His decisions are always precise, calculated.
No matter what, he always knows what to do next.
"Are you Recruit 79?" One of the guards spoke, snapping me out of my seemingly self-induced trance that I was in.
"Y-Yes, that is me," I stuttered slightly as I forced myself in a bow, the soldier next to me following close behind my shaky actions.
"Excuse the formalities," another guard barged in.
"Agreed," even another spoke. "You were personally invited to Zhang's manor by the Emperor himself. You are a guest, and we will treat you with such respect," he spoke kindly, his words surprising me.
'The people over here can take some notes,' I thought to myself, grin tugging at my lips.
"Please excuse us," one of the guards hummed as they walked towards me.
"Don't be, it's all g—"
The metal gauntlets that the guard bore sunk deep into my cheek, skin reverberating through my fading vision.
Within seconds, I was falling unconscious, laying in the mud below.
***
Many hours later
I slowly awoke to a painfully glaring headache, as well as slow aching pain on the side of my jaw where I got it.
'God.. couldn't they have been more gentle?' I thought.
As my vision slowly came back to me, I began to recall more of my surroundings, at least previously.
The room around me was dark, and I was... in a bed?
I pulled off the sheets and stood up, a bit of pain laced with every heavy step I took towards the door, or what I thought was the door. I hoped. A slither of bloodied moonlight seeped through the upper windows, just enough for me to properly traverse this room. It was massive, truly.
This couldn't have a bedroom, I don't believe it. 'Who needs a room this big all to themself?' I thought. My quarters before were about 1/15th the size, easily!
After a bit of clueless searching across the walls, I finally found the door.
"Gotcha!"
I pulled the knob and swung it open, multiple dim lights attacking my eyes, which weren't quite adjusted to any light.
As I slowly began looking around, I was bathed in it's beauty.
A long hallway, standing tall and far. Gold outlines encrusted around the walls in swirled, elegant patterns, as different artifacts and paintings hung on the walls as well. Followed perfectly down the center of the floor was a beautiful red carpet to top it off.
"Such beauty..." I whispered under my breath.
"Yes, it is quite a sight," an annoyed voice spoke behind me.
Turning around, my eyes widened at the sight of the man. "G-General Zero," I bowed out of respect. "It is great to meet you for the first time sir!"
He scoffed.
"I don't know what Zhang sees in you," he spat, "but don't keep him waiting."
I looked up slightly, confused.
Meeting Zero's gaze, his shining purple eyes sunk into my soul with a withered expression painted across his face. His lifeless, white hair brushed around with the slight breeze pushing around the hall.
Instead of continuing, he pointed towards a door.
The door stood just a bit farther down, but not far off. It seems like this was where he came from, as the door was marked [ TRAINING FACILITY ]
"Don't make him come out himself," the general remarked, as he walked away.
As I began making my way over to the door, I couldn't help but feel relieved. Despite his attitude, it made me feel better for him to act as such. Ever since the generals sudden shift to a casual tone, and the people around me, I felt like it was all stage. Like it wasn't reality, because I wasn't worth all this attention.
Zero was like a ghost.
No social visits, never doing anything.
However, his strength is said to be unrivaled, second to Zhang only, which makes sense why he lives here it seems.
I walked on over to the door, and the moment I put my hand on the knob, I hesitated.
A sense of dread, fear, pure fear, melted over me.
It was like my body was telling me not to the open the door, like that monster from a children's story you were told to keep you from acting out was behind it, waiting to strike the moment you swing that door open.
"What the hell is behind this door?" I thought to myself.
Was Zero tricking me?
I decided to suck it up, taking another deep breath to properly calm myself down. "Let's see why exactly I've been brought here..."
After a bit more natural hesitation, almost like a natural instinct, I finally opened the door. The emanating, bloodlust aura that I felt seeping through the cracks of the door came rushing through me in a massive wave of energy.
I put up both my hands to cover myself from the blast. "What is this?"
Looking up, I noticed... him.
Zhang.