The night sky was swollen.
Hidden within the shadows of the forest, crouched in dense foliage was Zero, his eyes locked on the village entrance ahead.
A cobblestone wall stood between him, and his target with two guards posted at the entrance, gripping long, jagged spears and clad in leather-plated armor.
Alana floated beside him while the other two were further behind observing in silence. …
"So, what's the plan, Zero?" Alana's voice rang in his mind.
"Remember, even if you somehow get past them, you will still have to deal with all warriors and mages, most of whom will be too much for you."
"I know, I know..." He muttered tapping his chin thoughtfully, before an idea flickered in his mind.
A confident smirk formed on Zero's face as he stood up and, without another word, took off his staff, placed it gently on the ground, the weight alone disturbed the earth beneath it, laid his book beside it, then covered both with his enchanted black cloak.
This should conceal them perfectly, he thought.
Alana frowned. "why are you taking your things off?" her voice was laced with curiosity
Zero ruffled his already dishevelled hair, yet he managed to make it look even more unkempt.
Then, he tore sections of his clothes, giving himself the appearance of someone who had barely survived a struggle.
He glanced down at his chest, considering something.
No, too much. That would draw too much attention. he thought
So instead, he clenched his fists resolutely.
This will work.
Without hesitation, he punched his face, again, again and again.
He never flinched, nor did he make a sound, even as his knuckles bruised his face and blood dripped from his mouth.
Alana watched in shock and disbelief,
What is this fool up to? Has Chaos already driven him mad?
Zero stopped abruptly, touching his throbbing face.
"Might've overdone it…"
"You think?!"
Further behind, Arceus and Augustus exchanged confused looks but remained silent.
Now for the act!, Zero thought.
Stumbling forward from the trees, he emerged into the open, posture broken, eyes weary, clothes hung in shreds, face bruised, and his hair was a tangled mess.
Perfect
As if on cue, he tripped into a puddle, and landed face-first in the mud.
Struggling to rise, he let his voice waver, raw with false desperation. "P-please… help me... I'm hurt..."
The guards, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the struggling boy,
Guard one, dropped his weapon, rushing to the boy's aid, guard two on the other hand remained vigilant, his eyes checking the area.
Augustus and Arceus not in sight.
Guard one, knelt beside the boy asking "Are you okay?.." but the other guard, now closer, immediately took charge, his face tense "What happened? Tell us!"
"I-I-I got…" Zero gasped for air, his voice weak. "Attacked… by a monster… horse…" His words trailed off as he fainted, collapsing into Guard One's arms.
Gullible fools, Zero thought, watching the guards scramble in panic as darkness feigned overtook him.
"Boy! Captain, we need to treat him quickly!" the first guard gasped, shaking the boy gently.
The captain, wide-eyed, recovered quickly.
His face now loose he spoke,
"Jackson, take him to the medical area, now! I'll cover this post."
Jackson hesitated only a moment before nodding, picking up his spear and sheathing it on his back, then carefully lifting the boy in his arms.
Guard two shouted, "Hey open up; my lieutenant is entering!"
The heavy wooden gates creaked open as Jackson rushed inside.
Keep watching, Zero thought back to Alana.
As Jackson hurried into the village, Zero, still feigning unconsciousness.
Inside the village, murmured curiosity mixed great unease at the sight of the boy, as Jackson ran through the streets, some even gasped at the sight of the unconscious and battered young boy.
"Stay with me kid! We're almost there!" Jackson urged, his heart pounding.
Zero remained motionless, his act flawless.
After a while, they arrived at a large building constructed of dark oak.
Jackson, in a full panic, burst through the doors.
"HELP! This boy is dying!"
Patients, and nurses turned toward the commotion, startled.
A stout doctor with thick leather goggles emerged from a back room, frowning. "Who is causing such a-"
"Doctor Doopher, this boy needs urgent care!" Jackson practically shouted, his voice clear with emotion.
"Alright, quiet down litenaunt " the doctor sighed but moved quickly.
Jackson pursued his lips, as the doctor checked Zero's pulse his eyes widened in alarm. "Bring him in immediately!"
Zero's performance had been impeccable. He looked completely lifeless, his breathing shallow.
Jackson carried Zero into the operation room, and a pair of nurses rushed to assist.
Some time passed, and Jackson stood pacing up and down a slightly narrow oak hallway, one side had 5 doors spaced out evenly.
Jackson stopped pacing and leaned against the wall, in front of the last door in the hallway.
His feet tapped with impatience, he bit his lips, thoughts spiralling toward the boy's beaten body.
"Once i see that he is fine, i am going to find that monster horse and kill it"
He slid down the wall.
Seated against it he took off his helmet, putting it aside; revealing long ears, short beige hair and blue eyes.
Body restless, and eyes locked intently on the door in front.
Voices could be heard beyond it.
"Quickly, Nurse Quin, the AST (Arcane Sustainment Tube), and Nurse Bridget tell the lieutenant he can go back to his post."
"Yes, Head Doctor," the nurses responded in unison.
They left the room, as the doctor continued to examine Zero.
Nurse Bridget 's face sparkled as she approached Jackson while nurse Quin went her own way.
"Jackson, Doctor Doopher says you can go back to guarding" she said confidently.
Bridget, who had just entered the room, was tall with puffy ginger hair tied back in a bun.
She wore a long white nurses uniform, and her brown freckles complemented her bright bronze eyes.
Jackson hesitated. "Is he really going to be okay?"
Bridget's eyes softened on Jackson.
"Come on jackson, it's Doopher. He's never lost a patient" Bridget said with a smile, placing her black rubber gloved hands on her hips.
After some contemplation Jackson spoke,
"You're right. He's the best doctor in the village, even though he's not a healing mage. He always manages to work wonders."
Bridget smiled in agreement.
"Alright!" Jackson said with a renewed sense of relief.
Bridget nodded. "Exactly. Now go before your captain scolds you." she teased
Jackson grinned, stepping closer. "I'll see you later, Miss Bridget."
Bridget's face turned a shade of pink as he leaned in, their faces mere inches apart.
"I-It's Nurse Bridget to you!" she stammered, flustered.
With a knowing smirk, he turned and walked off. As soon as he was gone, she buried her face in her hands and let out a muffled scream of embarrassment.
"Uh... what's wrong, Bridget?" a voice asked.
She looked up to see Nurse Quin holding the AST, which was made of glass. The petite nurse wearing the same outfit smirked. "Don't pretend we didn't just see that."
Bridget sighed in defeat. "Fine… we've had something going on for a while now."
"REALLY?!" Quin gasped excitedly. "You better tell me everything!"
Bridget giggled. "I promise I will. But let's help the doctor first."
Still grinning, they turned to enter the operation room....
A skeletal hand holding a scalpel shot out from the doorway, plunging it into Bridget's throat. The force of the strike pushed her back until she slammed against the wall, facing the door.
Quin's joyful expression gradually morphed into pure terror. As the realization hit her, the happy memories she shared with Bridget dissolved, replaced by the haunting image of her lifeless face.
"BRI-BRIDGET!" But it was too late. Bridget was already long gone…
A skeleton emerged from the room, pulling its scalpel from Bridget's throat. Blood sprayed from the wound, splattering across the floor. The skeleton turned its fiery blue eyes toward its next victim.
"NO, GET AWAY FROM ME-AHHH!" Quin screamed as she tried to run, throwing the AST at the skeleton. The glass shattered on the floor, releasing the MRF(Mana Restoration Fluid) onto the ground below it. The skeleton lunged at her, but its foot slipped in the mana fluid, causing its head to fly off, collapsing inanimately…
"Pathetic," a chilling voice said, dripped with annoyance.
Zero stepped out of the room, his dark purple aura swirled around him. He raised a hand as he approached Quin.
I will avenge you, Bridget. Once I tell everyone, you'll be avenged. she thought as she ran
"Grave Pull."
A searing pain shot through Quin's left leg as it contorted beneath her, forcing her to the ground.
"AHHHH!"
The pain was unbearable. Zero used his power again, her body outlined with his mana, as he dragged her back with the curl of his finger while charging a withered mana bolt in the other.
Then Zero stopped his telekinetic pull for a moment looking up at Alana, "You didn't tell me bone walkers were this weak!" he remarked, walking toward Quin, who struggled to crawl away, he instinctively while ranting curled his finger pulled her back closer then stopped.
Quin's thoughts spiralled. DAMN IT! This monster keeps pulling me back every time I try to crawl away. Is this really my fate?
"Well," Alana said with a shrug, crossing her tendrils across her form. "Bone walkers are fragile and fall apart under strong hits. But in this case, it was just clumsy. Usually, they're mindless attackers and they're figuratively the weakest undead type."
Zero only muttered, "Whatever."
Now switching his focus, picked up his pace. His aura grew even more intense, seeping from his body like violet smoke.
Why has he stopped talking? This must be my chance! Quin thought, her hope flickered back to life as she moved faster.
"Still trying to crawl, huh?"
Quin froze, knowing he was right behind her.
"I said… are you still trying to crawl?"
Zero's smirk grew as he placed his foot on her back, halting her progress.
No! I was almost at the door, DAMMIT!
"Hey, you answer when I speak to you!" Zero whispered in her ear as he leaned closer.
This hurts so much... I can't move. I need to do something... Quin cried quietly as she desperately struggled.
Alana, watched from the side lines, seeming pleased. "So evil, hehe, just like me in my prime."
If I can't move, then I will…
Zero smirked, his voice dripped with sadistic amusement. "Well, this is no fun if you don't speak. Maybe something like 'No, don't kill me!' or 'I'm finished!' or-" He stopped, considering. "-or even-"
Just then, Quin cried out in desperation, "HELP! HELP!"
"YES! PERFECT! HAHAHA! THIS IS GREAT, NURSE! HAHA!" Zero grinned, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes, before raising his hand with a stern tone.
"Now, shut it."
He unleashed the withering bolt, he charged, point blank.
In an instant, Quin was struck, and her body collapsed as necrotic decay spread, consuming her flesh, and leaving only her skeleton behind.
Bravo. Alana clapped mockingly.
"Now, it's time for the raid preparation." she added.
Zero quickly resurrected two new skeletons, commanding the first one, "Put your head back on." It obeyed without hesitation.
"Mm, three bone walkers and me…" Zero walked confidently into the lobby, flanked by his new army.
Zero used his dark telekinesis to rearrange all furniture to barricade the front door.
The lobby was filled with terrified screams.
"Medical area? More like a resurrection area!" he scoffed, raising both his hands up mana circulating around his body.
Zero unleashed a barrage of withered bolts of mana, sending chaos through the building's lobby.
Some managed to escape to other parts, but Zero wasn't concerned as all were trapped.
"Five more bone walkers!" he said with amusement.
"This is fun…" he muttered to himself.
"Time to turn this medical area into a resurrection area!" he declared again, as he summoned more bone walkers from the dead.
Terrible joke, Alana thought, unimpressed.
"Alright, bone walkers," he ordered, "Go kill everyone in this building and bring them here for resurrection. Don't let them make too much noise."
Zero then took a seat, pulling out a book from the head doctor's desk.
Alana, watched him, with a raised eyebrow.
"Are you really reading a book?"
"Yeah. What else can I do?" Zero replied, flipping through the pages.
"Maybe think about what you're going to do next? You've got an entire village to take over, and you're just sitting here reading!"
"I'm not just reading any book. It's a record book. It's got all the info for this medical area. So, in simple terms, I know exactly what I'm doing."
"That still doesn't help."
Zero sighed in irritation. "Alana, why do you keep asking questions? I already told you my plan."
"First, you never told me any plan, you just started doing random things. Second; What you said might solve the problem right now, but will it solve your future problems? Have you thought that far ahead?"
Zero, now visibly annoyed, waved his hand dismissively, "Whatever alana just trust me. I've got this. So sit back and watch."
Alana, giving up, vanished.
An hour later, after countless screams and trails of blood, the medical area had lost its light, now it was gloomy and dark, the stench unbearable.
The skeletons dragged the bodies of doctors, nurses, and patients back to the lobby, forming a massive pile of dead flesh.
"Alright, time to resurrect everyone," Zero said, setting the book down and standing.
He channelled his mana into his hands, touching the pile of bodies. "first, let's prepare by getting rid of the flesh."
Didn't expect this much… Alana thought, surprised by the sheer number of bodies.
The blackened mana infected the pile, rotting away the flesh and withering the muscles, leaving only the skeletons intact.
Suddenly, a loud bang came from the door.
"Zero, better hurry up!" Alana's voice shook with urgency.
The banging grew louder, more intense.
Zero remained completely focused, ignoring the noise.
"Souls of the Abyss, heed my call. Inhabit the bodies of the fallen, walk among the living … and serve me eternally."
The skeletons began to stir, reanimating.
The door shook violently as if the attackers were doing more than just knocking. Alana's ghostly form began to sweat.
"Zero, hurry!!" she urged.
Tension was mounting…