"I paid a heavy sum for you so don't embarrass me out there!"

The pig-like lady who bought purchased a small group of slaves, which included Zodiak and Forne, was currently warning them repeatedly, her hands moving randomly in the air, showing off her expensive and loud jewelry. The over-sized bracelets, pendants as big as her hand, and the clothes made from the finest silk showed how wealthy she was. There was a decently-sized Colosseum in the city and almost daily, the nobles would buy slaves then pit them against each other. However, the cruel thing is that there will never be a winner since the last surviving individual will have to fight a monstrous beast.

Zodiak purposely let himself be captured so that he can show the happy spectators what it means to fight for your survival. Not long after the 'encouragement' talk of the rich madam, Zodiak, the quiet Forne and a few other slaves were thrown in the wide battling area.

Along with them, there were at least forty other 'contestants', all wearing shabby clothes and holding rusty armors. There were a few exceptions such as a tall and muscular man wielding a large ax, still, Zodiak didn't feel threatened. Actually, he didn't even plan on attacking them.

Though he quickly backed away to a corner, the rest started a gory fight for survival, even Forne was no exception. The young boy was as agile as a cheetah, leaping from one target to another, slashing their necks with a blade that was merely four to five inches tall.

The desperate and angry shouts of slaves echoed inside the Colosseum while the safe nobles watched from above, drinking their wine and enjoying their grapes. There was a magical barrier erected around the battlefield, rendering it impossible for any of the slaves to reach their masters.

Unfortunately, Dark Magic wasn't affected by the barrier so, after merely five minutes, Zodiak started acting. In total, there were twenty or so nobles, some sitting alone and others enjoying the show while chatting. Unbeknownst to them, an ominous energy crept toward them from underground and before they, or they bodyguards could react, they were all, simultaneously thrown into the pit. Their unpleasant cries reached the fighting slaves, momentarily halting their savage battles.

"Only like this would it be equal."

Zodiak grinned and stared at the dumbfounded nobles, very much enjoying their expressions. Of course, their loyal bodyguards attempted to jump and save them, however, the whole place seemed to have disappeared as a jet black dome enveloped the area, blocking anyone from entering.

As he saw the pale-faced nobles and the confused slaves, Zodiak knew that there was no going back to the quiet life now. He had to purge the nobles. Seeing that they were trapped in this dark dome with no one to interfere, they found the perfect opportunity to rid of the filth claiming to be their masters.

Some slaves noticed Zodiak's strange action and knew he was behind all of this yet they didn't say anything. In fact, only he remained standing in the same position, all the rest charged at their masters and started a truly frightening massacre.

Anything awful thing that can happen occurred that day, inside the dome. Some were directly beheaded, others tortured and a few were even raped by slaves who already became twisted. One truly needed a strong will to witness what happened and still remain sane.

Zodiak leaned against the wall and watched everything, uncaring about what happens to either parties. Approximatively thirty minutes later, all the nobles died and all that remained were the slaves.

"We've finished everything, can you let us out?"

The muscular slave from before walked closer to Zodiak and flashed a friendly smile. He didn't dare to act overbearingly as the boy before him was clearly a mage, and a powerful one, at that.

"Why should I do that? I'm not some humanitarian. Finish what you already started."

Hearing this, the axe-wielding slave frowned and glanced at the remaining slaves. Even though they were not all strong, some were exceptionally dangerous. Seeing the cold look Zodiak was giving him, the man's smile broadened as he raised his arms and continued approaching him.

Sadly, when he was but ten steps away, a formless darkness sprung from the ground and enveloped the man. It soon disappeared but it took with it the whole body, leaving nothing but absolute nothingness in his place. Even his armor and weapon vanished, making the slaves shake from dread.

The only way out is to kill so the slaves continued their previous battles, stepping on the dismembered bodies of the nobles and their puddles of blood.

…

"P-please do-"

The slave knelt before the boy, begging him while bowing his head but Forne showed no mercy. He slashed the man's neck, causing a fountain of blood to gush out.

At last, everyone but him were killed, so, the quiet boy faced the motionless Zodiak, his blade raised, clearly ready to fight.

"Strong but… it isn't enough to destroy everything."

Zodiak chuckled and walked toward Forne, who wasted no time and jumped at the former, his weapon aimed at the heart.

Just when the weapon connected with the target, Zodiak transformed into a black cloud which vanished soon after, taking with it the black dome. The little kid, Forne, raised his head, staring at a tiny black dot far away in the sky.

…

That day, it wasn't catastrophic for only the Colosseum but the whole city. Zodiak headed for the castle of the lord, planning to eradicate all the abominations, nonetheless, he was going to spare the presumably young daughter, who's said to be kind and caring. Unfortunately, the rumors about her were baseless and false.

He came through the main door, slaughtering everyone who dared to raise a weapon. The guards were engulfed in the ominous darkness and the protective magic was either destroyed or easily bypassed. It wasn't as hard as he had imagined, however, he was stopped when he stumbled upon a small, remote shack.

He didn't willingly stop but because he faced a rather particular 'being'. It looked completely disgusting, multiple arms, an eagle's wings and the head of a lion-like creature. The one who created this monstrosity? A young girl who hasn't even reached 15 years old, younger than Zodiak!

Her face looked exceptionally ugly as she snickered at the young intruder, mocking his idiocy and promising him that she'll take 'good' care of him. She wasn't too knowledgeable about the monster the creature she created so when she released it, it immediately attacked her. It ripped her arms then ate her head, leaving nothing but her bloody chest and bent legs.

"I do want to sympathize but I can't."

The creature was sentient but it suffered too much damage, in fact, even breathing seemed hard and agonizing.

Zodiak faced the monster, who glared back at him, his aura rising to its maximum, quickly corrupting the earth and enveloping him in a semi-transparent black sphere which floated inches above the ground.

Not even Zodiak imagined that his battle with the desperate monster would obliterate half of the city, killing countless of people. No matter how much he attacked it, the creature refused to attack and persistently retaliated.

When it reached it stalemate, Zodiak, who held his chest and coughed blood, started laughing loudly. He was oblivious to the dead bodies all around him or the half-conscious monster meters away, crouching down, ready to leap at him.

"I get it… I finally get it."

He raised his head and glared at the entity with his inky pupils

"So you want to live? Looking like that? In such a world? I wanted to relieve you of the pain and suffering. You were artificially made, something that should not have existed. Even if I do not finish you, there will be a time when someone will."

Ironically, that time, Zodiak didn't know that his situation was exactly the same, if not more pitiful. Just like that chimera, he was an existence that should never have existed, a human being devoid of any emotions, a killing-machine.

As for that monster? Despite what the young Zodiak said back then, it managed to outlive him and become an infamous being, a ruler. Sure, it suffered many tribulations and fought more times that it had lived yet it managed to persist.

Its encounters with Zodiak were brief and always ended up in dispute but it cannot be denied that it felt grateful for that boy, who saved it that day, although unwillingly. That is exactly why, at the present, that 'chimera' had awakened again and started acting, however, unlike back then, its appearance changed and it was given a name: The Void Behemoth.