Zeo

The sound of metal against flesh and bones resounded throughout the arena as Pyon whipped Zeo's back with a spiked chain. His blood rolled down his skin, staining the ground, while the shackles around his wrists cut his skin. However, Zeo remained stoic and still on his knees, with his mind focused on the next battle. No matter what that beast did to him, he would never own his fate.

Most of his companions had been dismissed, except for the losers of each battle, alive and dead. They watched the punishment with aversion, knowing their fates would be worse. Much worse. Zeo pitied them more than himself and thought the mangled corpses lying on the ground were the luckiest.

"What are you doing?"

Zeo recognized Marakudra's voice echoing in the distance.

Pyon stopped immediately and bowed to her. "My lady," he said. "I'm punishing the disobedience of this recruit."

"Is that so?" She furrowed her eyebrows and twisted her lips. "What order did he refuse to follow?"

"He refused to end the life of his defeated opponent, displaying great cowardice and disrespect for our sacred rules."

Marakudra stared at the scene in silence for a tense moment and then spoke coldly, "Release him now."

Pyon nodded and rushed to unlock the shackles around Zeo's wrists. Zeo ignored his open wounds and stood calmly. He bowed to Marakudra and straightened his blood-stained back.

"How many died today?" Mara asked, scanning her surroundings with disgust.

"Eleven and five more will be sent to the Devil's Mouth." Pyon spoke pridefully, a smile spreading across his face.

Mara's eyes displayed a tempest of hatred. She strode toward Pyon and snatched his neck, burying her claws into his skin. "I told you to get rid of the weakest ones." Her voice deepened into a suppressed roar. "So tell me, why is it that I see some of our most promising soldiers dead or on the verge of dying?"

"My lady," Pyon mumbled, struggling to breathe but locking his pupils on his captain. "They were incapable of coping with the pressure of a real battle. We need no such burden in the battlefield. Especially not when facing the forces of Debrin Kavram."

"Stupid bastard! We're in no conditions to dispose of valuable canon fodder. I thought you were smarter than this." She glanced at Zeo and then glared at Pyon, increasing the pressure around his neck. "Now, go make sure that each one of the wounded ones survive because if a single one of them die, you'll lose way more than one eye and an arm." She shoved Pyon away from her and walked toward Zeo. Pyon bowed and rushed to Stella, who bled on the ground, unconscious.

Mara stood before Zeo, inspecting his wounds, and asked, "Can you walk?"

Zeo nodded. The adrenaline in his body had numbed the terrible pain.

"Good." She shoved a black pill in his hand. "Swallow that, or the poison will destroy your nervous system." Mara whirled and began to walk away, her steps long and firm and her intense peach perfume leaving an obnoxious aura behind her.

Zeo swallowed the pill, which tasted sour and bitter, and turned to look at Stella. Pyon picked her up and shouted angrily at the doctors to rush to the battlefield. He hoped she would survive, even if part of him wanted to see Pyon tortured if she died.

*°*°*

Remnya

Remnya's arms trembled, her veins bulging as if about to explode. Sweat ached on her skin while the kicks of her heart resounded in her brain. Yet the imposing silhouette of Ozura stood unscathed behind a curtain of fire and smoke.

"Not even a single one of your attacks have managed to touch me." Ozura tilted her head, looking disappointed. "Are you sure you are the fire child Debrin claims you to be?"

"You're just too fast!" Remnya shouted with frustration. No matter how fast she charged and launched her energy, that lady moved swiftly like a feather through the wind. Ozura's feet seemed of cotton, and she reacted before Remnya could think.

Brisa stared at them from a safe distance and rooted for her sister. However, Remnya felt undeserving of such fearsome power.

"Remember, ten fails, and you get hit." Ozura smirked.

Remnya took a deep breath and tried to focus. Even though that lady didn't use her hands to hit her, her wind whip attacks felt like the slap of rocks against her cranium. She had been close to losing consciousness twice but, driven by sheer will, managed to recover. Plus, not only Brisa was watching, Karx was too.

Biting her lower lip, Remnya charged another crimson fireball. Unbearable heat filled her body, causing her blood to boil, and with a violent jerk of her arm, she threw it at Ozura as fast as possible.

The flames hissed by the lady as she moved aside, searing grass and soil and leaving a trail of glowing embers. It exploded in the distance, shaking the ground and shooting burning debris everywhere that set aflame new trees.

Ozura rushed to smoother the fire using her wind, and then with a stealthy movement of her hand, fulfilled Remnya's punishment. A gust of wind smashed Remnya across the face, sending her to the ground with her mouth bleeding.

"That's it for today," Ozura said, stretching her neck, and wiping the dust off her beautiful Karx uniform.

"I can still fight!" Remnya yelled, placing her fists against the ground and forcing her body to stand up.

"You can, but it'll be a waste of time." Ozura sauntered over to Remnya and looked down her nose at her. "Your attacks are becoming slower and clumsier. Go rest and recharge your energies for tomorrow."

The last sun rays faded on the orange horizon, which meant they had been training for six hours. Remnya lowered her head and bit her lower lip, tasting the blood of defeat. She knew Ozura was right.

"Food will be ready soon, so make sure you clean yourself before sitting at the table." As Ozura began to walk away, Brisa rushed to Remnya's side.

"You did great, Rem," Brisa assured, wiping the blood from her face with a soft handkerchief. "And I mean it! I was astonished to see how fast and skillful you are now! It's like you're a completely different person compared to that time in the mansion."

"Really?" Remnya asked vacantly. "It's still not enough."

"Perhaps, but you've progressed a lot. It's just a matter of time before you unlock your true potential. Trust me!"

Remnya stared at Brisa for a moment and smiled. "If you say so. But tomorrow, I plan to do it. I will finally get her!"

"I'm sure you will."

Remnya returned inside with Brisa and took a shower to remove the layers of ashes, sweat, and blood from her body. As the water washed away the battle marks, her mind wandered away, wondering how Zeo was holding back in The Hunters. She didn't care what they said, she would return for him and fulfill her promise, no matter what.

When the night settled in, Remnya and Brisa ate with the rest of the army outside. Ten men and three women remained with them in the camp; respectful people with a tendency to drink too much, except for Ozura, who only drank tea and water. Brisa shifted awkwardly in her seat as suspicious stares landed on her once in a while, but Remnya could not see malice in them, only justified concern.

They finished, thanked for the food, and moved far from the ruckus the warriors had started as they drank, shouted, and played unfamiliar yet upbeat music.

A pale crescent moon peeked at them from behind the Crysalton hills, reflecting on Brisa's golden eyes. As they caught up with each other and the events from the past months, Remnya finally dared to ask about that night when Ronner saved her sister's life.

Brisa didn't hesitate and revealed every detail, making Remnya shiver with her heavy words.

A long silence lingered in the forest.

Her sister stared deeply into her eyes and grabbed her hand. "Rem, nothing will change the horrible things he did . . . but neither will I live the rest of my life with hatred in my heart."

Remnya nodded, squeezing her sister's hand, and thought for a moment before speaking. "If you forgave him . . . " She took a deep breath. "Then I forgive him too."

Brisa gaped at her. "Are you sure about what you're saying?"

"I am." She raised her voice and narrowed her eyes. "I want to focus on the future too, not the past. Even if I hated Ronner, I'm still grateful he kept his word and protected you two." She smiled, caressing Brisa's abdomen. "Now we have a lot of things to look forward to, don't we?"

"We do." Brisa beamed at her. "And I'm convinced everything happened for a reason, but soon, life will smile upon us again."

"It will. Soon, you, Zeo, and I, will be together again."

*°*°*

Zeo

Four days passed, but the promised one finally arrived.

Heavy fog covered the dawn, freezing Zeo's nostrils as he stood still in front of Aerodrome Number 3, from where he and his companions would depart toward an unknown fate. He was clad in his new uniform; a dark-blue Aramix jacket with the cobalt emblem of The Hunters, boots, and combat pants with multiple pockets to hide every indispensable item for the battlefield.

The potent lights of the aerodrome drew gold lines through the mist, yet Zeo could barely see beyond the reach of his arms. Arkor stood beside him with his unreadable smile and two guns on his back. Kristina stood behind him next to Myrian: the two never left each other's side. Zeo thought they were like conjoined twins.

After an anxious wait, Marakudra emerged from the fog, accompanied by Pyon and Edo. Over her uniform, she wore a long black coat that resembled an exotic gothic dress while her Hunter emblem gleamed on her left shoulder. Her buckled hair was held tightly by a carmine bandana, and her serious face displayed rock-hard determination. Zeo had never seen her fight, but Marakudra truly looked like a vicious panther ready to tear off her enemies.

The leaders stopped in front of the army, but Mara stepped forward. "Unlike the men here, I don't like losing my time with pointless, flamboyant speeches," she said, twisting her thick lips. "Many of you will die today, I hope you know that. Kavram's army might be weakened, but they won't go down without a ferocious fight. Our job is to back up Medeo's Army and secure the south region of Lacacia by annihilating the remnants of Karx." Marakudra made a pause as three crimson lights in the sky turned the fog into a bloody mist.

The roar of three aircraft shook the ground like an earthquake as they landed behind Marakudra, who stood unfazed with her pupils locked on her army. A gust of violent hot wind hit Zeo in the face as the metal beasts came to a halt and lowered the power of their massive jet engines.

"It's time to go." Marakudra cracked her neck from both sides and smirked. "I've divided each army based on your experience and skills. You can check your phone, there is all the information you need." She turned her back to them. "Team A comes with me, Team B with Pyon, and Team C with Edo. Now stop lazing around and follow your assigned leader." She strode toward the planes.

Zeo didn't need to check his phone; he knew where he belonged. He was the first to advance toward his fate, keeping his gaze locked on Marakudra's imposing figure. Yes, dear Captain . . . You're right. Many of you will die tonight.

The first aircraft was a combat jet designed to transport soldiers. Its aggressive shapes, matte black color, and crimson blinding lights on both wings made it look like a metal bat from hell. As Zeo approached it, the intense heat of its two engines made him forget the gelid morning. Either from the heat or anxiety, Zeo began sweating when he stood next to the plane. Marakudra gave him a sidelong glance and smirked before hopping on the wing and stepping into the aircraft.

"There's no stairs . . . " Kristina murmured behind Zeo. She had been separated from Myrian and looked terrified.

"I'll help," Zeo said, turning to her and summoning his vectors. They grabbed the hot metal of the wing and pulled Zeo over it. "Hold my Vector, I'll pick you up," he told Myrian, who looked back at him in disbelief.

"I can't see it," she whispered.

"Right in front of you."

She swatted the air until his spectral arm touched her hand. Zeo grabbed and pulled her with him over the wing. She didn't seem to react, but her dilated pupils told him everything he needed to know.

Zeo helped the rest of the team to get on, and finally, he walked toward the door. The smell of jet fuel and burnt metal had permeated his nose when he glimpsed the first sunbeam through the thick fog.

He stepped into the plane, and the heavy atmosphere from the exterior changed. The air inside felt light and clean, and the temperature was much more comfortable. Two long rows of seats lay on each side of the plane corridor. Zeo saw no windows but small LED screens on each side to look at the exterior.

Marakudra sat on the first seat alone. Her eyes were closed as she relaxed, listening to music. However, the rest of his companions were a tangled mix of anxiety, fear, and hyperactivity. Zeo walked the corridor to the last seat, where he sat alone and lay his head on the cold digital window.

The door closed with a loud clank that silenced the loud buzz of the idle engines outside. Everything felt eerily quiet until the first engine started. The whole aircraft vibrated, and Zeo could see the crimson flames of the afterburners coming out of the right-wing. When the second engine started, the vibration became almost unbearable, and the sound loud enough to deafen him. Zeo became dizzy but held his own. However, some of his companions looked on the verge of a breakdown.

There was a short moment, and then Zeo's felt as if a mountain had smashed against his whole body. The crimson afterburners turned blue, and the aircraft took off, burying Zeo deep into his seat. The G forces were such that he couldn't move a single part of his body, and his eyes felt like they were blowing up.

In three seconds, the aerodrome and the lights from the Hunters Headquarters disappeared, and the ground was covered by gray and white clouds. Zeo could barely appreciate the transition because of the intense headache and burning sensation in his eyes.

Finally, the G forces stopped when the aircraft reached its maximum speed, and Zeo could finally move his head to observe his surroundings. The gloomy gray atmosphere outside had turned into a light blue sea of tranquility with a white cotton bed covering the earth.

Murmurs started around the plane as his companions began to relax and play jokes on each other. But Zeo focused on his mission: killing every Karx soldier in sight.

Only twenty minutes had passed when the plane began a steep descent into enemy territory.

Zeo felt like floating as gravity disappeared, and his body lost all its weight, held only by his seat belt.

Marakudra stood, imposing herself in the middle of the plane, unfazed by the forces pulling at their bodies. Her heels were glued to the ground.

"In one minute, the war will start," her voice boomed through the plane. "Give it your all and fight until the end and I'll make you a promise."

Silence.

"I'll grant freedom to the warrior who brings me Lieutenant Vladimore's head."

*°*°*

: January 1