Inside the belly of the beast, the worm's acidic gut gurgled violently its walls pulsing, stomach acids sloshing in every direction from the chaos rumbling outside.
A splash of acid hit Felt's arm, burning through his sleeve with a hiss. He winced, yanking his arm back as steam rose from the fabric.
"Tch… that's no good," he muttered, brushing it off. "We've gotta get outta here and help Floris… I wonder if she's still tied up."
Silence.
Felt turned to Zed, frowning.
"Hey. You listening? I said we've gotta get outta here!"
Still nothing.
Zed sat motionless in the shadows, the acidic mist swirling around him. His eyes were locked on the ground, distant, hollow.
Felt stepped closer, voice sharp.
"What's your problem all of a sudden…? What's gotten into you?"
Zed whispered without lifting his head.
"You don't understand…"
Felt narrowed his gaze. "It's the mark, isn't it?"
Zed stayed silent.
"Why are you just giving up?!" Felt shouted, frustration boiling. "People are dying out there!"
Zed clenched his fists. His voice rose cracking under the weight of buried rage.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?!"
His breath was heavy now, trembling.
"It's easy for you," Zed growled. "You're strong… You're a monster. Even now I'm powerless. My sword's gone. I can't even fight."
Felt stood still, then silently grabbed Zed's wrist.
The hunter's mark on Zed's arm shimmered
"You're the one limiting yourself…" Felt said quietly, then leaned in, voice rising with intensity.
"I don't know what happened in your past… but QUIT LETTING IT SHAPE YOUR FUTURE, DAMMIT!"
Zed's breathing slowed as he looked down at the mark… eyes wide.
Flashback
A grand hall. Cheers. Warm light.
"We're pleased to announce Zed is now an official Hunter!"
The room erupted in applause.
Kochi stepped forward, shaking Zed's hand. Banid clapped him on the back, ruffling his hair.
"What's good, newbie?" Banid grinned.
"V-vice captain, sir," Zed stammered.
Kochi chuckled. "Let's go get a drink, huh buddy?"
Then
The scene fractured.
Zed ran through a snowy forest. Blood on his gloves. Panic in his steps.
"Zed has betrayed us and fled…I repeat, Zed has betrayed us and fled!" a voice barked over the HQ's comms.
"He took a weapon, too," Kochi muttered, fists clenched. "Why…?"
"It doesn't matter," Grayslake said coldly. "He's a traitor. Kill on sight."
Back in the present
Zed's eyes flickered with emotion. He looked up at Felt. For the first time in a long while… his voice was steady.
"Heh… you're right." He smirked. "Who would've thought I'd be taking advice from a monster."
He raised his arm slowly.
"I denied who I was… because I made a mistake. But never again."
The mark began to glow violently.
"Wait what are you doing?!" Felt asked.
Zed stepped forward, defiance burning in his eyes.
"Getting us out of here."
And with a flash of power, the entire belly rumbled.