Heavy rain pounded against the roof of a dimly lit bar known as Rio, the tense atmosphere thick with unspoken words. Behind the counter, a lone bartender wiped a glass, his gaze flicking toward the crowd gathered inside.
At the bar sat a man known only as Mike, a scientist with a crazed glint in his eyes. He turned toward a heavily armored figure—a paladin of the Goddess Malis, feared and respected across all eight realms. His name had long been forgotten, but those who spoke of him referred to him only as Ghost of Replicas.
Among the patrons, a dragon in human form sat stiffly at the bar, flames flickering around his neck like a ring of flames that would never extinguish.
"So, where is he?" the dragon asked, his voice low and simmering with rage.
Mike glanced around before answering. "There's no telling. He's a wanderer. He might show up tomorrow… or thirty years from now. I've only seen him once, and that was by pure chance."
The dragon's claws scraped against the counter, sharpening with each movement. His golden eyes burned with old hatred.
"He slaughtered every last dragon of the Vix clan. I want revenge."
For the first time in four years, the paladin spoke. His voice was rough from disuse.
"You're seriously planning on fighting him?" he muttered, lifting a glass of water. He removed his helmet just enough to drink, then placed it back on with a dull clang. "You'll get your ass kicked in all that is holy and unholy."
Elsewhere, beneath a sky swallowed by darkness, a lone figure stood atop an endless ocean. The water were still beneath his feet, yet above him, the stars rippled as if they were reflections on the surface.
He let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "…Zay Yuso. That is the name I go by in this life," he said to no one in particular. "A mere wanderer of the eight realms."
He exhaled, his breath carrying centuries of exhaustion. Then, as if breaking through the weight of his own deception, he corrected himself.
"No… that's not true."
His amethyst gaze flickered to his hands, scarred by battles across several years.
"There's only one thing I've ever truly wanted."
He paused. Then, almost as if acknowledging something or someone, his gaze shifted.
"What is it that I want?" he asked, the question lingering in the air as he stayed quiet for a long while. His amethyst gaze settling over the endless ocean around him and a wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
He looked up at the endless expanse of stars and his eyes became slightly darker. "For thousands of years, I tried to do things the right way. I upheld morals. I spared whoever I could. I tried to believe in kindness, in justice, in honor. I told myself I wouldn't become like the monsters I fought."
His fingers curled into a fist. "But none of it mattered."
The stars above flickered as the ocean trembled beneath him. A quiet, bitter chuckle escaped his lips. He took a slow step forward. The ocean beneath him trembled, tall pillars of water shot into the sky, twisting as they caught the light of the stars. Galaxies themselves bent and twisted, forming into solid steps before him.
"This is my last attempt. May I live to see it through… or may I finally die without it. Either way, this is my life from the very beginning... this shit is really... just a curse of constant pain and suffering."
Lightning split the sky, momentarily illuminating the dimly lit room. The soft hum of a computer filled the silence as a young man in his early twenties leaned back in his chair, letting out a long sigh.
"Another boring day… this place never changes."
Zay pushed himself up, rolling his shoulders before cracking his neck. "Might as well get this over with." He muttered, heading toward his bedroom door. As he stepped into the hallway, the worn wooden stairs creaked beneath his feet as he made his way down.
"I'm heading out for a bit…" the words however, felt hollow. His voice echoed through the empty house. "Not like it matters. Nobody lives here anyway."
His gaze drifted to the living room, landing on an old photo perched on a table beside a withered flower pot. Dust coated the glass frame, obscuring the smiling faces of a younger version of himself and his parents.
A quiet breath left him as he picked up the photo, swiping away the dust with his thumb.
"…There's no way to bring either of you back." His voice barely broke a whisper. "I've said this thousands of times, but I'm sorry. I always will be."
He placed the frame back down carefully, as if anything more would shatter the fragile past it held.
Shaking off the moment, Zay turned toward the couch, grabbing his jacket. He brushed a layer of fur off it before heading into the kitchen.
As he pulled open one of the three fridges, a low growl rumbled behind him. He turned just as a sleek black panther padded into the room, golden eyes gleaming in the dim light.
She let out a deep roar, her powerful frame shifting as she approached.
Zay smirked. "Yeah, yeah, I know what you want." He reached inside, grabbing a fresh cut of deer and tossing it onto the floor. Luna lunged, sinking her teeth into the meat with ease.
He watched her for a moment, shaking his head. "I still can't get over how perfect you look. Your fur's always so damn clean."
Pulling out his phone, he scrolled through his social media feeds. Every comment, every like—most of them were about Luna. A small smile tugged at his lips.
Satisfied, he slipped the phone back into his pocket and headed to a door that was in the living room. Opening the bathroom door, he flicked on the light and leaned over the sink, staring into the mirror. His reflection stared back, tired eyes.
He grabbed a cloth and cleaner, running it over the counter.
Zay wiped down the counter, putting everything back in place before stepping out of the bathroom. As he made his way downstairs, he closed his eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply.
"Something feels off this time..."
Luna padded over to him, her golden eyes locked onto his. Without warning, she placed her front paws against his chest, letting out a deep, guttural roar.
Zay opened his eyes. "What is it?"
Luna didn't answer, of course. Instead, she turned and stalked toward a closed door, her claws scraping against the wood as she started tearing at it.
Zay narrowed his eyes. "This hasn't happened before."
He stepped forward, resting his hand against the doorknob. A brief silence. Then, he pushed it open and Luna lunged forward.
A strangled scream tore through the air as her massive body slammed into the intruder, sending him crashing to the floor. Before he could react, her fangs sank into his arm, tearing it clean off. Blood splattered across the floor as she chewed, unbothered by the man's howls of agony.
Zay flicked the light switch on, his gaze settling on the writhing figure on the ground. He sighed.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked, his tone bored, unfazed by the carnage in front of him.
The man gasped, clutching the stump where his arm used to be. "M-My name is—" His face twisted in rage. "FUCK YOU! Get this damn bitch away from me!"
Zay shut his eyes for a brief moment, exhaling through his nose.
"…Yeah, no." He turned toward Luna, giving her a slight nod. "Enjoy the rest of your chew toy."
Without another glance, he walked out of the room, leaving the door open behind him.
The screams that followed were loud. Desperate. Then it was complete silence.
Making his way back into the living room, Zay took one last look around, his gaze lingering on the quiet, empty space. With a quiet sigh, he grabbed his backpack before he slung it over his shoulder and made his way to the front door.
Soft footsteps padded behind him. The sleek black panther emerged from the dimly lit hallway, her golden eyes locked onto him.
A small chuckle escaped his lips. "Guess you're coming too, huh?"
Luna let out a soft rumble, brushing against his leg as he pulled the door open. The night air was cool against his skin. He took a deep breath, savoring it for a moment before stepping outside.
Without a word, Zay locked the door behind him, giving the house one final look before heading toward his truck. He walked to the passenger side, pulling the door open. Luna leaped inside, curling up on the seat like she always does.
Zay shut the door, making his way around the front of the truck. He opened the driver side door and slid into the driver's seat, tossing his bag into the back before fastening his seatbelt. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the keys and stared at them for a second.
Then, with a quiet exhale, he slid the key into the ignition and turned it. The engine rumbled to life.
He let the truck idle for a moment before rolling down the passenger window for Luna. The panther rested her head against the door, her fur catching the glow of the streetlights.
Zay stared at the road ahead, fingers drumming against the steering wheel. "I've seen you sitting in this truck a hundred times, Luna…" He glanced over at her. "But someone breaking into my house? Yeah, that was new."
Shaking his head, he reached for the radio, turning the volume up just enough for the music to hum softly in the background as he closed his door.
He pulled out from his driveway onto the road, rolling to a stop at a nearby red light. As it turned green, he checked his mirrors before merging into the left lane, flicking on his blinker. With a smooth turn, he entered the highway on-ramp, the tires humming against the pavement as the city's lights faded in the rearview mirror.
Zay's grip on the wheel tightened. His foot pressed down on the accelerator.
"This is it, Luna," he muttered under his breath.
The truck surged forward, the speedometer climbing past 90 mph. The cold wind whipped through the open window, the hum of the engine growing into a roar. He looked behind in the rearview mirror as he saw lights behind him. "... This is always the worst part." He muttered under his breath as a semi-truck barreled toward them.
The impact came fast. A violent, bone-rattling force sent the truck spinning, metal shrieking against pavement. The world outside blurred, flashing lights, shattered glass, the deafening crunch of steel twisting in on itself. The truck spun before slamming into the guardrail. Before there was even time to react, another truck came barreling down the highway, brakes screeching as it desperately tried, and failed, to stop.
The semi-truck barreled into the driver's side with brutal force, killing both Zay and Luna instantly. The truck flipped violently, tumbling off the highway before plummeting toward the dark ocean below.
It struck the water with a thunderous crash, metal groaning as the waves swallowed it whole.
Slowly, it sank—deeper and deeper—until nothing remained on the surface but ripples.
On the highway above, several bystanders fumbled for their phones, dialing 911 with shaking hands.