"Darian…? HAHAHAHAHA I'LL REMEMBER YOU, DARIAN!!! YOU MEAN NOTHING TO ME — YOU AND EVERYONE YOU KNOW WILL BE MASSACRED BY ME. REMEMBER ME, DARIAN!"
Crack. Darian planted his foot on Matu and twisted to the right, knocking him out.
"If I weren't part of something bigger than anything you've experienced so far, you wouldn't have the privilege of getting on my nerves. Hah — I expected more."
Darian slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a white oscillating device, white energy swirling around it. Pressing the side button, Darian threw the device over Matu's head. The machine extended on its own and fastened around Matu's neck.
Darian's gaze shifted to Danilo, Martina, and Tanas.
According to his calculations, the woman whose pelvis he'd just shattered was Matu's accomplice, while Danilo and Tanas were the ones who had defeated Matu. Darian couldn't understand how those kids had beaten Matu — he had no way of knowing that Matu had started the fight fat and drunk, slowly losing weight and regaining form the longer the fight dragged on.
Placing his hand to his ear, Darian activated the comms. "Matu is neutralized. Three unexpected factors: female, child, and adult male — all awakened. Woman is near death, the child is injured, and the man is neutralized. I await further orders."
"Hello Agent Darian, congratulations on another successful mission. As informed, Matu should be taken into custody… please hold for a moment—"
The operator speaking to Darian cut off mid-sentence.
"Ah, right. Agent Darian, by order of higher-ups you must detain the man and the child. A vehicle is en route to your coordinates. We wish you safety."
The operator dropped the line.
"Hah… I should've just killed them. At least I wouldn't have had to linger here for a few kids…"
Darian thought to himself.
"Hm… maybe I should just kill them."
He rose from his seated position and began walking toward Tanas.
Tanas used all the mental strength he had to stay conscious despite the massive pain.
Of course he had no muscle power to move, let alone stand; watching Darian—approaching as always—he didn't know what might happen. Fear: Tanas was terrified. Darian was a monster. That speed, that strength, that precision…
"He's not even tired… his breathing is steady and his eyes show that whatever happens, it's nothing to him," Tanas said aloud.
"If I were as strong as him—"
Tanas' eyes filled with tears. Not from fear, but from pity for himself… things could be different. Things would be different — if only he had the power that the agent in white had demonstrated in those moments of arrival.
Darian drew the revolver from his hip, looking at Tanas with disinterested eyes.
Darian didn't care that Tanas was crying. The world is a place of constant war between people living in it. Mercy is for the privileged.
"H-… how are you so strong?" Tanas stammered.
Darian had no intention of answering his question, regardless of whether Tanas was "awakened" or whatever had triggered that change. The fact was that Tanas knew why he lived, and because of that he did not fear death. Such people have no trouble dying — for they have found meaning in life.
Those last words from Tanas were nothing but childish immaturity.
Darian was right in believing this so.
But Darian was wrong.
Tanas looked at Darian, wearing his indifferent expression.
He accepted his fate. His life meant nothing. A merciless decision would be sufficient to end it.
Tanas opened his mouth, wanting to say something — not knowing that the next words would change the future forever.
"Just kill me… I lived for nothing anyway. I fought for something I knew I would never get. Stupid hope."
Darian was deeply unsettled — the child before him showed signs of doubt. Something that's erased as an emotion from all the awakened.
"No chance," his eyes narrowed; sweat beaded on his face.
"Child… why do you live?" Darian asked in a trembling voice.
Hah? What is this guy asking me to move? Tanas thought.
"You don't know me. You have no right to ask me."
"Start talking if you plan to die."
Tanas was nervous from within, but if there was any chance to get out of this alive, there was no reason not to answer.
"I don't know—"
Tanas' words were cut off.
BAM. Darian fired into the ground at Tanas' head, simultaneously grabbing him by the throat and lifting him into the air.
"Don't lie to me, child… You can't fool someone like me."
"I-I'm not lying—" Tanas barely managed to say, coughing as the pressure tightened on his neck.
Darian released his grip on Tanas.
After several calculations, Darian decided to leave them alive.