“Ummm,” Zero’s voice came out rough, forcing him to clear his throat. This bought him much needed time to figure out a way to explain the situation. “Who is Cooper Hayes?”

Sadly, the best he could come up with on the spur of the moment was...lackluster to say the least.

Across from him, the young woman’s fearful expression transformed to one of a blank stare as she processed Zero’s words. “W-what? Cooper. What do you mean? You’re Cooper T. Hayes. Your mom is Meredith Hayes. What’s wrong?”

In the face of the woman’s questioning, Zero’s stoic visage twisted to show a small frown as he shrugged off the girl’s hand and stepped back. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know that name.”

“Cooper! Stop fucking around!” Screaming now, the young woman was almost hysterical as she stepped forward and pushed against Zero’s chest in a shove. “It’s me, Rose! Your ex, your friend. We were just in the tube together!”

Seeing the young woman named Rose’s insistence, a feeling of helplessness arose in Zero. Show him an enemy to kill or a task to accomplish, and he would face the devil himself to finish it. But ask him to interact with people, and he was like a tiny boat in a raging ocean storm. Helpless.

Still, he believed he was in too deep with his lie, so he remained steadfast.

“Miss, I’m sorry, but I’m not...Cooper?” He finished the sentence with a easily noticeable questioning tone. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know who you are, or where I am.”

“What...How is this possible? You...You...”

“Rose,” from behind the woman a nasally voice spoke in a haughty tone. “Leave the freak alone Rose. Look at him. He’s...not normal.”

With a calculative and near predatory gaze, Zero turned his attention to the man that spoke. Only a few years older then himself and the woman across from him, the newcomer had a weasley face and shifty eyes that refused to meet Zero’s own.

Immediately, Zero had a desire to punch the punk in his face. Years of bloodshed teaches people lessons, and Zero’s struggles were far worse than others. The lessons he learned in turn, were much greater. One of those lessons, was never attract the ire of a man ready and willing to kill. However even as the thought entered his mind, it seemed that the same thought popped into Weasel’s head as well, because his darting eyes froze in terror as he took in the blood covering Zero and the ease at which he held himself despite the wounds.

“I’m sorry, but your friend is right. I’m not who you think I am. You probably just got the wrong person anyway.”

“W-what.. But...”

Zero, ignoring the young woman’s stuttering, backed away while keeping a close eye on all those around him. Closest to him were the fifty or so gathered individuals, most of whom stood perfectly fine if not shaken mentally. In their midst however, were the warriors. Seven individuals, five men and two women, whose torn clothes and bloody weapons that rested in their hands spoke of their actions. Zero noted all of their faces before sweeping his gaze further back.

Separated by a sizable gap, roamed two different groups that each looked to be around ten to fifteen people strong. One of the packs contained only men, young and old, whose dirty and layered clothes coupled with their unkempt hair marked them as homeless. The weapons that they gripped in their hands with vice-like firmness however, spoke of their danger. Shuffling between the pack of people near Zero and the homeless, was the smallest group of six women and four men that were tourists as marked by their travel gear and clothing.

All together, they accounted for the 83 surviving members.

As Zero worked his way over their figures, he tried to recall in his memory if any of them were noticeable or standouts. The search was a struggle though, and futile. While he was sure there were some details that stuck out the first time around when he entered the Abyss, after so many years, he could only recall one piece of information.

By the time he left the 1st Zone known as Origin, he had been the sole survivor of his 100-man group.

Walking away from the group, Zero remained steadfast and focused on what to do next. He had to clear of the forest and reach the hill that would eventually be where he would make his defense. Nothing else mattered, especially with the sun setting already. It wouldn’t be long before the night descended, and with it the creature’s.

Turning away, Zero made it only a few steps before a voice behind him called out.

“Wait! Young man, wait. Where are you going?”

The voice, filled with uncertainty, caused Zero to pause as he wondered if he should even answer. But, why should he? He had already saved a number of them by defeating the majority of the Goblins. If they were truly worried, they could just follow him. Thus, ignoring the plea from behind him, he merely half-heartedly waved his hand as he continued on his approach.

“Hey! Bitch-boi! You finna get hit? Stop walking and open your trap. Where ya think you going?”

As Zero heard the voice accompanied by the rapid shuffle of feet pounding on dirt, he stopped and allowed his fingers to trace against the handles of the dual blades that hung snuggly against his belt. His fingers tapped against the handles in a odd and rapid repetition, as was his habit when faced with a possible confrontation.

Turning slowly with total ease at the situation, he saw a gang of nine young men and four women, of whom Rose and the Weasel were apart of, stand just out of swords reach. Behind them, the large group and two smaller groups of people all watched in nervous and fearful anticipation.

“Ya Coop,” a short, muscular man that looked to be 20ish who rocked a mullet spoke while sizing up Zero with a measured look, “that’s right. I’m talking to you. Don’t think you be steppin away wit-out us.”

Around the short man, the others in the group nodded and watched while postering for confidence. In Zero’s eyes though, it was pathetic. The fools thought they were tough. Thought they were the shit. Tch...

Smirking at their antics, Zero remained calm and let the smirk sit easily on his face. It was patronizing smile, one that Zero showed with a hint of mockery.

“Oi, bitch. You betta not-”

“First.” Zero’s sharp and even words interrupted Mullet’s as he laid bare his ire on Mullet and his crew while holding up his index finger. “My name is not Coop, or Cooper, or anything else. It is Zero. Say it, or don’t say anything. Second,” he raised his middle finger, “I am walking out of this death pit. I don’t know what is happening, but I am not staying here, in this open forest, to find out. Third,” a third finger joined the other two as he proceeded speaking and continued to address the entire gathered crowd. “You are all free to join me or to go your own way. I do not care. But, it would be wise to grab a weapon before you make your choice. And fourth,” he spoke in a chilling tone while leveling his gaze at the 13 young men and women before him that now backed off under his scrutiny. “Threaten me again, and I will gut you as easily as I did those creatures.”

As he saw his message get delivered and fear build in people eyes, Zero nodded to himself in satisfaction before resuming his walk. Silence reigned behind him, bringing with it satisfaction that he wouldn’t have to deal with them as long as he inspired fear. This wasn’t what Jasmine would want, or even Reginald, but they weren’t here. Hell, even Omar and Reaper would have taken a different approach and probably killed the lot of them. In fact, Omar even did that to as to gain their Runes. But, he wasn’t them. He would walk his path. What that path was though, even he didn’t know.

But, Zero thought with a firm resolve for the future, it would not be like the past. He had been weak, forced to clutch at those more powerful than him for saving. They used him then, and tossed him aside. Now, he would gain his own power. As for who he would save along the way, that would be up for another day to decide. Besides, he thought with a slight morbid humor, the lot of the people behind him wouldn’t see past Origin anyway. Dead, before they even clear their ‘origin story’.

Laughing at his own joke, Zero proceeded onward. Behind him, whispers and arguments built as people became lost in what to do. It didn’t take long though for Zero’s form to drift further away, before people decided to follow the man that had ripped through the creatures with a terrifying ease. After all, they had no clue where to go, but they’d rather go with the man that could protect them, versus roaming around without a plan. Of course, the idea of camping around a bunch of dead Goblins in the middle of a forest opening also didn’t sit well with most of them.

Thus, lead by one of the Heroes of Humanity, the group trekked forward in the dying light of the day that had yet to be finished.

In a long, winding line, the survivors trailed after Zero as he walked with purpose. It wasn’t until over an hour passed, and the sun had only become a sliver of light that illuminated his steps, did Zero clear the overgrowth of the forest and see his destination before him.

Around 500 feet in front of him, towered a rocky cliff that hung imposing in the fading orange and yellow light of the day. Like a curtain closing against the like, the last vestige of warmth and safety that the glow of the sun permitted fell against the rocky cliff that jutted out from a small hill. Cliffs surged from the ground to the sky, piecing high and steep as its grey facade acted as the guiding beacon for Zero and the other survivors. With his destination in sight, Zero’s speed decreased as he approached with an even stride. In eyes, hooded by strands of hair that swayed before his eyes, took in the surrounding open terrain of endless fields of lush grass and plant life. Fields, that roamed far beyond his vision, were only blocked by the immense cliff-face.

As he walked closer, Zero took in more and more of his surroundings. Noticing the food that would be edible, the resources that he and the others would need to construct some safe zone, and the stream of water that cut across the landscape just East of area he would defend.

By the time he reached the small hill and turned to overlook the vast landscape, he was quite pleased with his decision. On his first occasion through the Abyss’s 1st Zone, Origin, he didn’t know such a place existed and never even reached it. Only after talking with other survivors, especially those members of The Corps, did he understand such a bastion of safety existed. However, there was more than just safety that brought him here.

“It will be a pain to climb,” he mumbled under his breath as he craned his neck to look at the peak of the cliff.

“Oi, da hell is this? You telling me-”

From Zero’s side, Mullet threw a pebble at the cliff’s wall as he spoke snarky words. With a sharp and taunting look from Zero though, Mullet boy stopped. As he saw the fear creep into his eyes, Zero smiled at Mullet, wishing he would finish the sentence. Instead though, Zero watched as the young man coughed violently before continuing in a more reserved manner.

“I meant, that this is what we is supposed to sleep under? It don’t make no sense brotha...er, I mean Z-zero. The forest probably had plenty of food and stuff, plus we could’ve slept in the trees or made huts. Instead, we out here in the fucking cold, wit nothin but ourselves.”

Behind him, others nodded in agreement. Watching it, Zero had to suppress the smirk that threatened to break his ‘dont-mess-with-me’ face and attitude. His first time through Origin, he too had the same thought and in fact he and the 75 survivors of his first Trail did in fact do that. Even now, over a dozen years later, that scene of nightmarish horrors and terror still chilled his bones. The Goblins were the first test, but the second test, the true test, came at night.

“You’re right. So go on back to the forest and stay there.”

“Cooper, please, he -” Rose, stepping forward to stand next to Mullet let the frustration in her voice threw as she spoke in a lecturing tone. Before she could finish however, a hand from Weasel rested on her shoulder as he pulled her close to his body.

Zero watched with growing irritation at their lack of urgency, but remained steady. While he wouldn’t need them, especially considering what his true goals were for the coming three days, they would be of help. Besides, he thought with a clear resolution, he wouldn’t throw people to the wolves. He couldn’t help everyone, but he would help enable those who were willing to save themselves and those they cared about.

“I mean, Zero,” Rose’s voice attracted Zero’s attention. The loud whispers of their group had subsided and Rose spoke once more with fake, honeyed words of sweetness. “Is there a reason for coming here?”

“I don’t know. You followed me. What was your reason?”

As Zero’s words spread loud enough for all to hear, curses of irritation and anger surged through many in the crowd. Zero remained calm though, awaiting an answer to his question that he thought was well reasoned.

With her chest heaving up and down, Zero watched as Rose fought to control herself but failed before she threw her hands up and turned around. Yet before another member of Mullet’s gang could voice their frustration, a new and very light voice asked from behind them.

“Please sir, can you tell us?” The voice, carried forward by the rapidly cooling wind of the plains, was followed by mid-twenties woman with a noticeable American accent. The same accent, Zero noted in remiscience, that Jasmine had. “We are thankful for your protection, and for God’s hand in guiding you to us. But can you tell us why we are here?”

A dozen different answers popped into Zero’s mind as each vyed to be spoken. Instead of being rude or cynical though, he was honest. “Because, you would’ve died in the forest. Out here, with the cliff to our backs, you have a fighting chance. Now come. Prepare and rest. The night will be long.”

Dismissing the woman and the rest of the crowd, Zero trotted back towards the forest. He had work to do before the Moon rose to its peak.