Subtitle: Someone
We were running through the forest without stopping. My breath was steadily fading. Despite that, Odasaku and Atheron looked completely at ease. Odasaku was leading when he suddenly raised his hand. Atheron pulled me with him and threw us behind a massive rock. Odasaku came to our side and whispered:
Odasaku – Shhh.
I swallowed silently. I took my sword into my hand and closed my eyes to gather my courage. I leaned my back against the stone.
Atheron – Who is that up ahead?
Odasaku – It is certain that he is a mage.
Atheron – Then let's just charge in.
Naiadler and Odasaku – IDIOT! Can't you see he has at least nine rings?
Mages form rings in their hearts to transform their inheritance into mana or to manifest it physically in the world. But because there is a limit to what a mind can bear, reaching even the fifth ring is extremely difficult. And yet that mage… the ninth ring…
An involuntary chill ran through me. Naiadler was biting his hand to restrain himself.
– What do we do now?
Atheron – Then let's choose one of us to go talk to him.
Odasaku – What if he is the one who raises the dead? Since you're so curious, be my guest.
Naiadler – Lower your voices! What if he hears you?
The three of them were already arguing. As I stepped closer to silence them, I felt a breath at the back of my neck. The mage who was supposed to be in front of us was no longer there.
Odasaku, Atheron, and Naiadler fell completely silent. They stood frozen in place.
Mage – Tick tock.
Just as the mage was about to strike, Naiadler moved faster and saved me.
Odasaku and Atheron – Nice one!
They aimed their weapons at the mage. He did not look afraid.
Odasaku – Everyone knows that only five people in the world possess the ninth ring. Even if you try to run, I will find you sooner or later!
Mage – Of course. It must be easy for you to say that as the king's right hand.
Odasaku ignored his words. Atheron suddenly lunged at the mage. In that instant, Odasaku threw Naiadler and me over his shoulder and began to run.
Naiadler – WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
As Naiadler struggled to break free, I saw the mage coming after us.
Odasaku quickly set us down and drew his sword, easily blocking the mage's attack. It was as if a wall stood before us.
Odasaku – You go. This is a playground for adults.
Naiadler drew his daggers. There was a smile on his face mixed with fear.
Naiadler – Don't worry about the age issue.
Odasaku raised one eyebrow. A warm smile appeared on his face.
Naiadler and Apollon – Protecting a madman is still kindness, isn't it?
After saying that, I prepared to attack as well. Odasaku smiled sincerely and brought out his ancient artifact.
Naiadler – What are you doing, you lunatic?!
As Odasaku forced us away with swirling sand, he said:
Odasaku – So you've grown, have you? Then I'll leave the corpse on the mountain to you.
The sand kept pulling us in. Before being swallowed completely, the last thing I saw was Odasaku's back. With my final breath, I shouted at the top of my lungs:
– IF YOU LOSE, I WILL NEVER ACCEPT YOU AS MY MASTER!
Odasaku – If you lose as well, then you are not my students!
After a while, the sand scattered around us. Naiadler looked around anxiously.
Naiadler – Apollon, if you don't reach them in under a minute, I'll tear you apart.
Just as Naiadler was about to run, I grabbed him by the shoulder.
– They will win! I believe in that. I will remain my master's student, and he will remain my master.
Naiadler looked embarrassed but turned his head aside to hide it.
Naiadler – Of course I believe it too. Just not in that carrot-head next to him.
– Then what?
Naiadler began to stretch lazily. I tried to sense the living beings around us. He looked at me as if asking, ready? I nodded.
The two of us started running through the forest. At that moment, I locked eyes with Li. Time seemed to slow for an instant. In that moment, Naiadler leapt over my head.
Naiadler – So here you are!
Poison examined me with one eye. He had understood that I was not Zero.
Poison – Who are you?
– Apollon.
Naiadler – If you try to leave—
Poisoncut him off.
Poison– Just because my master is gone doesn't mean I will abandon my mission.
For some reason, it felt like there was something deeper beneath his words.
Li – Since things have turned out this way, what do we do?
Naiadler – We gather up and put my brother back in his grave!
Though he said it eagerly, he knew he could not truly harm him. As the four of us moved around, I tripped over a tree root. As I slowly rose from the ground, I heard that voice.
Zero – There is a scene I wish to watch. So—
Before he could finish, I kicked him in the face. Without pulling my foot back, he grabbed it.
Zero – It seems…
The moment he said that, he tore apart the leg he was holding.
Zero – You seem to be underestimating me. But do not forget that I am "Zero."
He let go and hurled me aside. He began walking toward me slowly.
Zero – I cannot enjoy anything with a broken leg.
He grabbed my leg again and grinned. My mind felt like it had shattered. Everything went dark and Zero once again—
Naiadler – Apollon, what are you staring at like that?
Zero stood up with a grin.
Zero – Nothing. Just like that.
He brushed the hair from his eyes and walked calmly between them, pretending.
Zero – There!
He pointed toward a plain caught between trees and stones.
Everyone except Zero took battle positions. Naiadler held his connected daggers, poison gripped a finely crafted silver sword, and Li relied on brute strength.
Zero – Then when we count down from three, we attack together.
Naiadler – Three.
Li – Two.
Poison – One.
Zero – And zero.
Li moved first, charging through the trees. He gathered all his strength into his fist and struck Naiadler's brother. Yet the General stopped the punch with a single hand. As he was about to retaliate, poison tried to slash his waist with the silver blade.
The sword shattered easily, yet poison wore a victorious smile. The poison from the blade began to seep into the General's skin. Realizing it, he forced them both away.
Just as Naiadler was about to retreat, he bound his brother with the rope tied to his daggers.
Naiadler – For a general, you seem to have shrunk.
General – And you have grown…
Naiadler froze. Normally, those who were resurrected could not possess consciousness. The General seized the moment and tore apart the ropes. As he aimed a punch at Naiadler's face, Li's kick altered its direction.
Seizing the chance, Zero cut his own hand and spread his blood everywhere.
Zero – MOVE!
Everyone fell behind him. Zero opened his ancient artifact and began turning the pages while the General slowly approached.
Naiadler – What are you doing?!
Zero – I learned a new technique. I will try it.
Naiadler – IS THIS REALLY THE TIME TO TEST A NEW TECHNIQUE?!
Zero ignored him. Just as the General was about to crush Zero's head with his palm, his entire body was suddenly covered in blood. Zero grinned.
The General could not move.
Zero – ATTACK!
Li to the left, Naiadler in front, poison to the right, all prepared to expend their remaining strength. Zero stood behind them, covering his face to hide his laughter, though he could not suppress his giggles.
Suddenly the General screamed, and a massive explosion erupted. When the dust cleared, he stood stronger than before, attacking wildly. All composure was gone. He had clearly lost his mind.
Naiadler turned sharply. Zero was gone.
Naiadler – Damn it!
Li and poison barely restrained the General, knowing they had only seconds.
Li and poison – NAIADLER, NOW!
Naiadler took a deep breath and raised his dagger to strike when he heard a voice.
Xiu – I am proud of you as your brother, Naiadler.
He froze. He fell to his knees like a condemned man and bowed his head.
Naiadler – I… cannot do this.
Li and poison were frustrated, yet they pitied him. Zero appeared again. The General seized the opportunity and attacked Li. Li barely defended himself. As his breath faltered, poison used his inheritance to face the General alone.
A green mist spread, restricting vision and slowly poisoning. Snakes slithered across the ground until there was nowhere to step. Poison emerged, ready to fight with his fists.
Poison – Do you like it? This is my inheritance. Queimada Grande Island.
He unleashed a relentless barrage of punches. The General kicked him away. Poison wiped the blood from his mouth.
Poison – As the elder ones, we must guide our younger siblings, mustn't we?
The snakes surged like a tidal wave. Poison appeared behind him, drew a sword from a serpent's mouth, and struck with all his might.
An explosion followed.
General – Are you not the heir of the Tang Clan? Why did you not learn their techniques?
Poison laughed.
Poison – Wouldn't that have been unfair? If I had accepted the training, would my sibling not have been kept away from me? Simply because of her gender, she was not treated as human. Because of me. If I had not been born, at least there would have been a chance.
General – You…
Poison – Yes. It was me. The one who poisoned everyone that night.
He gripped his sword until his hand bled and attacked again. In the end, both withdrew, exhausted.
Poison raised his hand and shouted:
Poison – AS LONG AS I LIVE, NEVER!
A tremendous explosion followed. When the dust cleared, the General stood tall, soaked in blood. Li was nearly crushed. Poison struggled to breathe.
Naiadler still knelt in terror. The General approached and was about to tear out his heart when Zero stepped in front.
Zero fell. Naiadler's pupils widened in horror. Naiadler stammered as if his throat were knotted shut. The light in his eyes vanished in that instant. All he could do was sit there and simply watch.
General – Naiadler… Please kill me.
With his final will, he spoke. Naiadler rose, gripping his hands so tightly his nails cut into his skin.
Naiadler – Unforgivable. UNFORGIVABLE!
He lifted his head, his gaze fearless.
Naiadler – THEN ALLOW ME TO GRANT YOUR WISH!