Zeo

The Azul Factory had once been a prosperous producer of rocket fuel, but due to the costs of the war, the production had halted indefinitely. In a few years, it had become a giant tomb of deadly chemicals stored under tons of steel.

A faint smell of dust and oil lingered as Zeo walked the factory hallways, carrying Stella in his arms. She was unconscious, with cuts on her arms and a contusion on her head, but Ozura assured him she hadn't used lethal force.

Rusted hinges squeaked as Zeo pushed a door with his foot, revealing a cramped storeroom full of broken equipment. He eased Stella onto a pile of crushed boxes, ensuring it was soft enough, and after scanning the room for hidden threats, he dropped to the floor. His body felt light and sore, and the consequences of his confrontation showed on his swollen face.

Neither Ozura nor Karx was trustworthy, but Zeo could trust Remnya and her friendship with that grim lady. She had promised to help him as long as he provided her with information about The Hunters. Such actions could cause conflict with Marakudra's plans, but the only thing that mattered was to protect Amy.

Sacrifices were necessary.

Under a stained fluorescent light, Zeo closed his eyes and rested for five minutes until footsteps from the hallway awakened his vectors. He gripped his gun and slid his vectors between the door and the exterior, analyzing the changes in the air until they recognized Ozura's presence.

"No need for that," the lady said as she opened the door. "We're on the same side now."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Zeo stood up and put his hand on Stella's arm.

She stepped closer with her pupils locked on him. "Even if Remnya says you're a good person, I have no reason to believe her."

"Then, why haven't you killed me yet?" His vectors slithered near her feet.

"Remnya, for one." She crossed her arms. "And because I believe that with your help, our chances of winning this war will increase."

"I don't care about this war. All I want is for my friends to be free from these monsters."

"And that's why this is your war too." Ozura made a pause to look at Stella and then continued. "Hundreds of children will be kidnapped and forced to join The Hunters as canon fodder or breeding material. Even your friend, Amy. What do you think will happen if we allow that?"

Zeo processed her words in silence.

"If we don't stop Azmon soon, the entire world will fall under his rule. He'll raise armies in every country. Every child with Nephilim and Anglish blood will be his." She leaned closer, her gaze heavy like tungsten. "Most civilians see Nephilims and the like as monsters. That's part of Azmon's plan too. Alienate those children from society, making them hate humanity and slowly brainwashing them to be part of a so-called superior army. An army that hates crossbreeds and humans alike.

"Tell me something, young man. Weren't you and Remnya constantly seen as outcasts? Weren't you rejected for being different? Wasn't she called a horned witch? She told me about it."

Zeo gritted his teeth and averted his gaze while her words slowly penetrated his iron shell. "Kids are assholes. You don't need to be a Nephilim to be treated like trash."

"True." Ozura brushed a strand of hair from her face. "But did you know about the Nephilim hunts occurring across the country? Where babies with horns are burned alive and their horns used as relics?" She leaned against the wall and folded her arms. "You and Remnya were the lucky ones. You were allowed to live by the humans who found you. Or perhaps, you two were found by someone else."

"Like who?" Zeo swallowed while his heart rushed into his chest.

"Like The Hunters themselves."

Gelid silence froze Zeo's blood.

"I can't tell you this for certain, but high chances are that either Azmon or his warriors found you. High chances are your parents were Hunters who died during the Blood War. It wouldn't be the first time, and it won't be the last."

Zeo's fists trembled as he assimilated her revelations. "If that's the case. Why would they send us to an orphanage when they could groom and turn us into puppets from the beginning?"

"I can't answer that. I'm just telling you how The Hunters operate under Azmon's rule." Ozura walked up to Stella and stared at her with a hint of pity in her eyes. "She's a hybrid, and her parents were hybrids too. She's one of the lowest creatures in their eyes. Even lower than humans. Every one of your teammates is too." Her gaze returned to him. "Haven't you wondered why you're in command of a group of low-class Hybrids?"

He took a deep breath as her words began to make sense and connect the dots in his head. Why did Marakudra choose him? Was she ever honest with him? What was the true reason she had given him so much power? Neither Arkor's, Kristina's, nor Stella's parents were pure Nephilims. They had been Hybrids too, and in their blood, only a meager percentage of Nephilim blood flowed.

"You might be a hybrid Anglish, but at least one of your parents was a pure Anglish, and you inherited a great part of their genes." She gave Stella a sidelong glance. "In The Hunters' eyes, you're superior to them."

"I saved my captain's life," Zeo murmured, clenching his fists. "In exchange for that, I was granted my freedom." He lifted his reddened eyes at her and scowled. "Marakudra told me Azmon was going to do a cleanse of her army. The three of them would be used as guinea pigs anyway, so she allowed me to bring them with me." Zeo punched the metal wall, digging a hole in it. "We all were supposed to die that morning in the Siege of Lacacia."

Ozura's pupils dilated. "Were you there?"

"Of course I was!" Zeo raised his voice. "You should already know that. Your boss was there. Didn't he tell you?"

"My boss?"

"The man with white hair. The disgusting one who reeks of alcohol."

"Merle."

"Yeah, I believe that was his name."

"He never mentioned you."

Zeo thought for a moment and spoke carefully. "And I'm guessing Merle didn't mention he sent his army to die there either, did he?"

"What are you talking about?" Ozura bore her eyes on him and walked toward him slowly like a corpse, her face turning pale.

"Merle told me sacrifices were necessary, so he sent his people to die. That way, Debrin Kavram and himself could defeat The Hunters." Zeo hissed bitterly. "So you didn't know? C'mon!"

Ozura shook her head. "If I knew about that, I wouldn't be here doing exactly what he ordered me."

"Well, now you know." Zeo crossed his arms. "I heard rumors the last man standing there was called Vladimore, just before Pyon and Edo ended him."

Silence.

Ozura stood still like a statue while her vacant stare got lost in nothingness.

"Now you understand why I don't trust anyone." Zeo observed her briefly, wondering if she would try to kill him again.

A fake smile crossed the lady's face, and she let out a lifeless chuckle. "I see, so Vlad was right, after all."

Zeo blinked in confusion.

"Thank you for telling me." Ozura sighed and put her hands on her hips. "Unfortunately, it's too late for a change of plans now. The Hunters will arrive soon."

Zeo caressed the tiny wound in his neck, where his tracker used to be. "Why did you choose this place to face them?"

"Because I know this place like the back of my hand." She opened the door and walked outside. "However, you and that girl should leave as soon as possible."

"Are you gonna stay here and die fighting alone? Just like your friends at Lacacia?" Zeo furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head. "You don't have to follow that bastard's commands anymore."

"This is not for him." She cracked her knuckles, and her eyes revealed a fiery determination that sent shivers down his spine. "I came here to save as many hybrids as I could. I came here to honor my brothers and sisters, who died like caged animals that day. This is my last mission, young man."

Zeo walked to her and tried to say something, but words never came out. He realized that no matter what, that lady wouldn't rest until The Hunters felt the horrors of the war they had started.

Ozura seemed to notice the concern on his face and smiled tenderly. "Regardless of the outcome of my endeavor, I want you to fulfill your mission, Zeo."

Zeo tightened his lips, locked his eyes on her, and nodded.

"There's a complex net of underground tunnels beneath this factory. You must use that to escape." She drew her phone from her waist and dialed a number. "Let's get moving. This place will turn into hell soon."

"Understood." Zeo rushed to Stella's side, slid his arms under her body, and picked her up. As they left the room, he briefly stared at her sleeping face and wondered why he cared about her life. However, the only answer he could find was an unexplainable will to save those who had believed in him.

Zeo followed Ozura, who strode ahead of him, displaying the immense aura of a true warrior. Despite the dire situation, her presence removed all fear from his soul, and he finally understood why Remnya had befriended that lady.

*°*°*

Remnya

Crimson flames illuminated the forest, charring the grass beneath Remnya's feet and revealing the faces of those who wanted her life. The voices of her mind muffled the battle cries engulfing the calm of the night. Even though her life could end, her heart pumped an unbreakable will to live through her veins.

Remnya thought of those who had left her behind to look after her from the other side and lifted her gaze to stare death straight in the eyes.

I won't lose today.

Silence.

A tree collapsed.

And a Hunter charged at her, closing the distance before she could blink.

Remnya dodged a fist to the face and a kick to the stomach while an energy ball blinded her from the side.

She waited until the last second to dodge the attack, which hissed by her shoulder and then counterattacked with her fire.

An incandescent snake sparkled with crimson lightning from her right hand. Her attacker evaded it, but she shot another one from her left hand.

The man leaped aside desperately, groaning as the fire burned his arm.

From behind, a woman tried to kick her head, forcing her to block with her forearm. Soon after, a punch reached her jaw, shaking her surroundings.

Tasting blood, Remnya snatched her wrist tightly, and flames erupted from her body like gas torches.

The woman shrieked in pain as the fire wrapped around her arm and spread to her torso. Remnya recoiled in disgust when the smell of burning flesh reached her nose; it reminded her of Persen.

A lightning bolt impacted her shoulder, pushing Remnya against a tree with a stinging pain on her side. A shadow in the distance charged another skill, but before he could attack her, Remnya shoved her palms forward, gritted her teeth, and shot a fireball.

When her enemy tried to react, it was too late.

BOOM!

A fire mushroom rose to the sky, and a flaming body flew through the night, falling in the distance. Smoke and embers covered the sky while the ground where her attack impacted glowed like magma.

Remnya rushed to extinguish the fire devouring her enemies, avoiding their deaths, and glared at the remaining Hunters. The woman panted while deep burns smoked on her arms and chest. Part of her uniform had turned into ashes, revealing a charred bleeding torso.

However, the masked one was unscathed and smirked at her; only his dark lips were visible. "Impressive," he said. "The rumors about the crimson fire seem to be true."

"Why aren't you attacking?" She scowled as flames intertwined with her hair.

"I didn't want to interrupt your magnificent display of power." He chuckled. "But tell me, why are you holding back?"

"I don't wanna kill any of you," she murmured, clenching her fists. "I just want you to get out of my sight!"

"Is that why my pets are still alive?" He sneered and looked at the woman next to him. "If you don't finish them, I will, for you."

"Pets?" Remnya glared at him, her eyes glowing. "What kind of sick game is this?"

"You could call this their baptism of fire." He giggled, glancing at his other subordinate, who slowly limped away from the ashes with his body falling apart. "Quite literally."

Her fists trembled, and blood boiled in her veins. "You coward! Don't send them to do your dirty job!" She stepped forward and took a fighting stance. "Fight!"

"Do you wish to continue?" he asked the woman.

She hesitated, her eyes displaying fear as she stared at Remnya for long seconds. "Yes, Lieutenant Ferron," she whispered, gritting her teeth due to the pain. "Please, let me continue."

"As you wish." He shrugged.

"Stop fighting!" Remnya shouted at the woman, pride and anger taking over her heart. "You're no match for me, and he doesn't even care about your life. This is a pointless fight!"

"Shut up!" the woman retorted and charged at her clumsily.

Her stubbornness cracked the last bit of patience left in Remnya. Ultimately, her only goal was to eliminate her obstacles and reach Brisa as soon as possible. She had no time for games anymore.

"Sorry," Remnya murmured and darted toward her enemies, her eyes locked on their lieutenant. The woman tried to hit her, but Remnya crushed her nose with a violent punch, knocking her unconscious, and then advanced toward Ferron while flames engulfed her body.

A stream of fire shot out of her hand, and the man shoved his hands forward. The attack exploded against his palms and diverted in multiple directions, forming crimson tongues that crossed the sky and impacted the ground across the battlefield.

Remnya focused on his movements; decided to end that battle once and for all. Her body temperature increased drastically, and vapor came out of her mouth as she bared her teeth.

Ferron chuckled, and a harrowing smirk deformed his mask. "Marvelous."

A flash turned the night into day, and her fist impacted his forearm as he blocked it. The next one smashed his shoulder, and he counterattacked with a jab that scratched her chin.

Remnya remembered Ozura's advice and used the temperature of her body to wear the enemy's stamina. They engaged in a fast exchange where their knuckles clashed into small shockwaves that spread across the battlefield.

Several impacts landed on Remnya's face and body, but she had gotten used to Merle's brutal strength, and despite the pain, they weren't enough to stop her. Plus, her fire mitigated his attacks and cauterized her wounds.

Sweat shone on Ferron's skin as the battle progressed, and Remnya combined her punches with fast fireballs he diverted with great dexterity. But when the Hunter backed away, Remnya summoned a large fire sphere in her hand.

However, a lance made of ice emerged from the ground and lunged at her face. She evaded it by inches, but two more lances rushed at her from both sides. Remnya ducked the first and jumped over the second one.

As she tried to resume her attack, she saw Ferron looming over her.

A fist heavy like concrete buried her head into the ground, and blood came out of her mouth. The impact made everything turn around her, and her ears whistled, but despite the confusion, Remnya found an opening and threw a fireball at Ferron as he tried to hit her again.

He leaped aside, evading her attack, but Remnya caught his ankle. He tried to crush her head with his boot, but she released an explosion of energy through her body. Flames shot in his direction and covered Ferron, who protected his body with a thick ice layer.

Remnya stood and focused all her energy on finishing that fight. A profound anxiety and melancholy filled her body, and her heart kicked in her chest violently. She groaned as a crimson mist emerged from her back and grew into the sky until it turned into a monstrous skeleton.

It had taken her several months to control the crimson ghost, and Merle had advised her not to use it unless necessary. But Remnya knew her sister needed her.

Ferron widened his eyes at the monumental sight, and his ice layer began to melt.

"I don't want to kill you . . . " she muttered and let out a roar of anger and frustration. "I DON'T WANT TO!"

The beast in her pounced on the Hunter, covering him in a blaze of thousand degrees. He said something, but his body disappeared behind the crimson ghost.

BOOM!

The explosion pushed Remnya away, throwing her violently against burning trees. She flew against trunks and rocks while a giant mushroom of plasma, smoke, and lightning rose like an atomic detonation.

Her body finally stopped, but the ground still vibrated under her. Remnya coughed blood and smoke as the flames of her body crackled furiously against the pile of wood and rocks she lay on. Recoiling with pain, she pushed herself back to her feet and staggered like a zombie until her legs collapsed.

She buried her knees in the ground and lifted her eyes to witness the chaos she had caused.

The place had turned into an inferno, with fires surrounding everything in sight. Embers and molten rocks showered the battlefield and painted the sky crimson and orange. Nonetheless, Remnya's only concern was to find her sister.

She locked her eyes on the west and stood up, gritting her teeth. "Brisa, wait for me," she murmured, ignoring the pain as her tired, sore legs moved toward an unknown destination.

*°*°*