Chapter 6

Arc 2 - Zeta Spirals - Part 2

Sand Vanguard - many years ago:

“The new hero Cosmic Titan is eradicating crime like never before.”

“His team of Alpha Phoenix is a problem.“

“Something must be done about it.”

“No, we cannot do anything except we must stay low. We must stay on the good side of the law to prevent further problems.”

“So, you want us to hide?!”

“Blasphemy! I won’t do such a thing! My pride is on the line.”

“Does not matter, we must survive no matter what.”

“The Zeta Spirals have always been against one another, but from now on, we must unite publicly. We must survive.”

The bickering between the Zeta Spirals continued in this sad bunker in the sand state for a long time without coming to a conclusion.

The hostility in the room was all-time high when they heard maniac-like laughter.

“I had high hopes for your kind, but I am disappointed.”

A dark shape appeared on the grey wall and someone walked out of it.

With a thin smile, the man with short black hair and red flaring eyes continued to mock the Zeta Spirals.

“The chicken is scared of a worm, this is certainly a new story in the history of our world.”

“Who--”

They stood up abruptly, prepared to kill the young man, who might as well be a child compared to these old men and women.

“All of you bragged about how awesome your power is, but all I see is a bunch of chickens running away from a worm.”

The Zeta Spirals clattered their white teeth in anger.

“Cosmic Titan, huh?”

Behind him, a chair of black liquid appeared and he sat on it.

“What if I kill him for you?”

“!!”

The Zeta Spirals inhaled sharply as their bodies stiffened.

“If your intel is correct, then he cannot be killed, right?”

Nobody answered in any way, but the young man did not care.

He had gotten his answer from noticing the transparent salty water streaming down their faces.

In midst of confusion, they did not bother to ask how he had gotten his hands on their internal intel.

“First and foremost… Why is the Zeta Spirals an organisation? It slows down your progress, no?”

Dark liquid oozed on the floor beneath them.

“The world thinks everyone works alone, but why must you be an organisation?” he was sulking in sadness, almost. “It is disappointing because you have broken the heart of a young aspiring villain like myself.”

The smile on his face vanished and was replaced by a serious one.

“And break off this organisation. Zeta Spirals must work alone or else… I will destroy you all. So...”

He clapped his hands together happily.

“In the next few weeks, break off this little silly circus of yours.”

One of the Zeta Spirals shook his head furiously as he clenched his fist.

“You… You dare?! I will kill you--”

He shook his head as he clicked his tongue over and over, “No, no, no, you mustn't do that.”

The dark liquid on the ground hardened like candy.

“You must not kill nor I will kill you.”

Everyone wondered, why?

“I could kill you all at once, but you must know something...”

He spread his arms wide as if they were wings of a fallen angel.

“Lukace Gul… Remember the name.”

The Zeta Spirals finally noticed the black liquid beneath them.

They tried to move but it was as if they had been glued to the floor.

“Because I will turn this heaven into a hell.”

He turned around and faced the wall behind him.

“Just you watch!”

He walked closer to the wall.

As a huge black circle appeared on it, he was about to walk through it.

But suddenly, he stopped and turned around to look at the Zeta Spiral.

“I remember saying that I won’t kill you, right?”

They nodded with stiff movement.

“But I never said you shouldn’t kill one another, did I?”

He giggled.

The whole room turned pitch black as dark liquid covered everything.

“I have created a localised environment for you, which means you cannot leave this place unless 25 of you are dead.”

The Zeta Spirals are a powerful organisation and there is a great trust between them.

They have each other's back and will save one another.

However, that does not mean they will not kill each other to save themselves.

“And Mister Kab, the Zeta Spiral of Silanos...”

With narrow eyes, the gaze of the young man pierced the man in a suit of iron armour.

“I will be the new Zeta Spiral of that place from now on, so please don’t survive.”

Lukace Gul turned around and faced the wall once more.

“Enjoy the show, old bums,” with a thin smile, he walked through the wall black wall.

And so, the story of Lukace Gul began here.

Many years later, he felled the heroes of the world and stood triumphant.

A feat which was deemed impossible by every villain before him.

┈ ┈ ┈ ⋞ 〈 ⏣ 〉 ⋟ ┈ ┈ ┈

Yeah 5650, Cycle 2.3 - Present:

Two days ago, Black Wing’s team, 「The Omegas」 completed their most awaited mission of killing every hero ever on this planet and some potential young heroes.

They have been resting for the last two days, but when they reassembled, their eyes were wide open.

“What...”

Inside the throne room of the castle, which wasn’t painted with blood anymore, Black Wing was sitting on the throne and lazily swinging the sword in his hand.

“YOU DID WHAT?” a few voices shouted out in unison.

Black Wing covered his ear with his left hand due to how loud their question was.

“You are basically starting a war with the Zeta Spirals!” Sel - Red Freak - sounded angry.

It seems, as usual, she is looking for an excuse to be angry at Black Wing.

“I… Look, I get that you want to cause chaos and whatnot, but at least think about it for a brief moment! It’s not THAT HARD, OKAY?”

D’al - Soul Slayer, who was standing next to Sel raised her hand, stopping her.

“Lukace, are you ready to take on them all?”

“Of course,” his reply was confident as he looked at the sword.

“And what about Cosmic Titan? What if his powers return?”

Black Wing stood up as he sighed.

“He won’t. I have made sure of that.”

“Is that so…?”

“Mm-hmm.”

The serious look on her face vanished as a smile flourished.

“That’s good. I will stand by your side.”

Sel looked at her in reflex.

With her half-open mouth, she tried to speak, but D’al waved her hand, stopping her.

With her mouth half-open, Sel looked at Black Wing and then to her sister.

She was not sure how to feel about this.

What about their dream? What about her dream?

“Sel, we will talk later,” D’al spoke without even looking at her.

She knew what Sel was thinking about.

D’al narrowed her eyes and looked at Colossal Ibis, the man who can grow as big as a mountain.

“And you… Stay out of it.”

Black Wing rolled his eyes under the robes.

“Wh-what? What do...” Colossal Ibis, the tall man wearing a light orange top, black pants and a blue helmet, blurted out in a confused manner. “Why do… No, no, no. I will--”

“Do as she says.”

Black Wing’s cold words caused the tall man to drop to his knees.

His vision blurred because of fear.

He is a villain, but he cannot control his fear. He gets scared of the smallest thing.

Ibis massaged his forehead a little to calm himself down.

“I don’t want you to get hurt in any way,” D’al truly cared about him.

Like Black Wing, she had known him for years. So, she does not want him to get hurt.

Black Wing, on the hand, had different motives.

He let Ibis into his team for one reason but most of the time, he is a liability.

“In any case… What will you do about Cosmic Titan? You cannot just leave him to run around freely.”

He grinned in return.

“I have plans for him.”

“As long as he does not get in the way,” she was serious and worried, but Black Wing scoffed, finding her worries amusing.

Black Wing ignored her and looked at Green Storm.

“Will you be okay?”

On the surface, it sounded like he was concerned about Green Storm, but everyone knew that was not the case.

Green Storm wanted to say; “Don’t worry, I will not be a liability like certain someone.”

Instead, she swallowed her thoughts and nodded.

“Of course.”

Her words brimming with confidence assured Black Wing.

“Good. But what about your 「Fairy」?”

Some people around the world - and everyone on Vordar - is born with a fairy. Through that fairy, these so-called magicians can use magic to bend reality to their will with spells.

“She is...” on her shoulders, a fairy which looked like a blue butterfly became visible, “more than fine. Thanks.”

He moved his head to the right a little and looked at Sad Barbarian.

“And you?”

“Worry not, my black friend, I will not let you down. My blade is as sharp as ever and my grip on it even tighter than before.”

He nodded.

“And your ability… Will it fail?”

With a wide grin like an idiot, the Barbarian shook his head left and right.

“Of course, not.”

Black Wing stood up and spread his arms wide.

“I want no opposition, so tomorrow, we get to work. It’s time… The Zeta Spirals must either kiss my hand or I will paint the rivers red with their blood.”

"Huh, but I thought--"

Black Wing laughed, causing her to trail off.

"I would rather have no surprises. It's better this way."

From under his feet, dark liquid spread like a blooming flower.

“But before that, I must visit the Celestial Reader.”

The blooming flower swallowed him whole.

“Alright,” D’al said while nodding.

The black flower continued to swallow itself from within until nothing was left of it.

“Green Storm,” she to her left and faced the green witch, “can we talk?”

Confused, Green Storm nodded.

“Then take us away.”

Everyone looked at D’al in a confused manner since they could not figure out what she was trying to do.

┈ ┈ ┈ ⋞ 〈 ⏣ 〉 ⋟ ┈ ┈ ┈

In the city of Walgi, which was supposed to be a small utopian city at the outskirts of Silanos, Cosmic Titan walked like a normal in the streets at night.

To hide himself, he was wearing a dark hoodie so people don’t recognise him.

Although his real name was unknown to the public, people still knew his face and he was a celebrity. So, he did not want anyone to know he is the greatest hero of this world.

He lived high above the clouds so when he looked at the perfect world, he did not see the dark spots that were hidden in the shadows of the light.

He was seeing a different aspect of the world.

This was his hometown yet he had never seen this side of it.

He had never seen people beating each other on the street.

He had never seen people doing drugs under a street light.

He had never seen someone begging for money before.

This was a new world to him.

What kind of utopia is this?

He was mistaken.

These dark shadows did not exist before.

No, these dark spots that ruined a utopia began just recently.

Throughout the world, Black Wing had set up drug distribution weeks in advance. The rise in drug cases began a few weeks ago, but the heroes did not take notice.

It was noticed by the authorities so they were busy with that.

Their involvement in a worldwide drug case meant one thing; Black Wing was outside of their view.

The authorities did not amount to anything when it came to Black Wing and his team, but he still avoided them.

How can I save...

He stopped moving and looked at his palm.

I can’t save anyone.

Closing and opening his fist, he bit his lip in anger.

I couldn’t save anyone… Not Moon Halo nor Fallen Angel nor...

In the middle of the street, he crouched down and held his head between his palms.

What am I supposed to do now? How can I...

In his heart, he swore to defeat Black Wing and save his world.

But how?