(Flakenwell – Occupation: RoT/Lit) (Zero)

  Two Days Later

  Three hours after RoT declared war on Lit, much of Lit’s southern forces were forced to gather along the trenches of Flakenwell. The unexpected rush caused them to lose miles of territory. Despite being the largest clan with five thousand members, their forces are spread too thin across the south, the water, the west, and now the east. Winning has turned into merely prolonging, and only time will tell.

  BOOM! Ten cannons fire in nearly disorganized unison. In a tent, Lieutenant Zuraba slams his fist on the table. “FUCK! Tell King Zul that General Kang can wait for the extra supplies! Sanity isn’t even attacking them yet! We need the cannonballs now!” BOOM! Dirt crumbles from the tent walls, as the tent can only cover so much. “Fucking hell, it’s like he’s sabotaging us!”

  A man with rusty steel platelegs and a plain shirt stands up from his chair. “If we keep spamming Zul’s office, they’ll block our messages for a while! You know this!”

  Zuraba grabs and tosses part of the broken table while yelling out his frustration. “ALRIGHT! Get a count of the remaining cannonballs within each platoon and slow down the raining steel to a one-to-one ratio. Only ramp up the fire if the RoT bastards come within three hundred yards. Four hours to hold off RoT... what a damn joke.”

  Five of the six men in the tent stand and salute. “Sir!” they say in unison.

  “Sorry, but that plan isn’t going to work!”

  Zuraba locks eyes with the man wearing full steel armor, holding a steel warhammer, and a strange cape draped over his back. “Name and rank! You better have a good reason for interrupting!” Zuraba steps toward him.

  “Name’s Zero...” the man says a second before slamming his warhammer against the lieutenant's chest, sending him flying into the dirt wall. He killed him with one swing—after all, the man was at a lower level.

  Eyes widen as they puzzle out what happened and where this guy came from.

  Without wasting any more time, Zero clears out the rest of the men in the tent in no more than ten seconds. Exiting the tent with blood splattered across his armor, he scopes out both paths.

  BOOM! The cannons shake the ground. Without their new orders, they continue firing at the same wasteful speed.

  Zero turns left and begins to take on his next victims. One by one, he has yet to find a challenge. After clearing out two cannon squads, Zero faces his next target.

  A squad of four men works in unison. One disarms the rear hatch and places an imbued gunpowder pack inside. The second man runs a mop-like stick inside the barrel. The third slides the cannonball into place, locking it down. The fourth man aims the cannon as the hatch closes and fires. They wait for the torchlight to flash by the tent, signaling their cue. After hours of firing, this is the first time they haven’t seen the flame.

  “Fire when!?” the first man calls out.

  “Uh...”

  “I said, fire when!?” he shouts to the next cannon over. “Fucking hell, fire it anyway! If they write me up during this crisis, then fuck 'em.”

  The fourth man stares down the trench, noticing the other two squad members are missing. “Our platoon leader left their post—”

  Zero drops onto the man, shoving his face into the dirt and cracking his skull under his palm. Before the others can react, Zero bashes his warhammer into the cleaner's chest and kicks the fourth man’s leg before driving the handle of his warhammer into the man’s eye socket.

  The last man falls over, barely missing Zero’s strike, whimpering as he starts to realize what’s happening.

  Nowhere to dodge, the Lit member is helpless as Zero prepares for another strike.

  “Lucid Dread…”

  In an instant, the atmosphere around him turns gray, and his body feels heavy as breathing becomes difficult. What the...

  Immense power nearly brings Zero to his knees. But as he attempts to finish his strike on the Lit member, the man vanishes. Zero’s mind scrambles, but his body moves on its own, leaping back.

  A colossal blade, twice his size, slams down on the spot where he stood. If he could widen his eyes in shock, he would, but the pressure prevents him from doing even that. Landing, his gaze meets a man standing above the trench.

  The man holds the massive sword with one hand while gripping the Lit member with the other. Their eyes meet, and the atmosphere returns to normal.

  Everything seems calm until Zero attempts to reconnect the dots in his brain. “Yep, a curse for sure,” he mumbles incoherently before standing up. He’s never seen a curse like this before, so it’s safe to assume it’s new, like the five-fingered caps. He better beware and play his next moves carefully. However, the next thing that catches his eye is the massive sword, which should be impossible to swing—or at least too slow to be worth it.

  The man drops the Lit member. “Go...”

  Grunting, the terrified Lit member scrambles to his feet and runs toward the next cannon squad.

  Zero’s mentality is still disoriented, but his body seems to have returned to normal. “Who are you!?”

  The man doesn’t say a word but gazes down at Zero as though he isn’t worth speaking to.

  “Bet you think you're edgy and mysterious for not introducing yourself.”

  Again, the man doesn’t respond.

  “Right… I’ll make you talk then,” Zero says, pointing his warhammer at him.

  Without a word, the man—now revealed to be Birdman Yankers—flashes from his position, swinging his colossal blade at Zero. He is fast.

  Zero dodges, leaping from the tent into the open.

  Birdman follows, slamming the ground with each swing, just missing Zero by a hair.

  Zero realizes he has a distance disadvantage, though each tempting move to get closer beckons. Pointing his palm at Birdman, crystal shards form around him, releasing one by one.

  Birdman flips his blade up, using it as a shield.

  Zero follows the shards, leaping just over him, palm still glowing as he casts a tier-four Fire Bolt.

  Flames engulf Birdman, but he doesn’t burn. He activates his magic-protection syndesis just in time. Leaping back to grip the sword, he lifts it like it’s a stick.

  Zero rushes at Birdman with a strike of his warhammer, but the blade meets his attack. As the blade pushes him back, it lifts him off the ground, ejecting him far into the sky. How is this even possible? No one can lift this weight without being as slow as a sloth. The only thought running through his mind is: a ring of lightness. But even that wouldn’t be enough to lift this weapon, nor would it last long after repeated use.

  Zero leaps out of the way, rolling to the ground, narrowly dodging a slash. The tree behind him isn’t so lucky.

  BOOM! The cannon echoes through the forest as Birdman forces Zero farther back, away from the trenches.

  The breaking sound of a gem follows as Birdman slams his blade into a large boulder. After a few swings, the man’s speed begins to slow.

  Zero takes advantage, sidestepping the sword as it crashes into the ground. He stands on the dull blade, balancing himself, and begins to close the gap between him and the Lit member.

  Birdman gathers his strength, lifting the blade from the ground over his head and slamming it into the earth behind him.

  Zero spins from the blade mid-air, just a foot over Birdman. Warhammer charged back; Zero cannot miss.

  Birdman activates his melee-protection syndesis as the warhammer bashes him in the chest. Syndesis depletes as he is sent flying back into the brush and spun into a spiral after his left arm hits a tree trunk.

  Zero charges him as the drained Syndesis weakens Birdman for a moment. Leaping, Zero’s eyes widen as the weakened man breaks his fingers into a large boulder, lifting it and chucking it at him. Unable to dodge, Zero activates his ranged-protection syndesis before the boulder smacks him back. Slamming his knees and elbows into the rock, Zero lifts himself from it before hitting the ground. He deactivates his protection Syndesis; luckily, that hit didn’t drain him.

  All he has to do is… An arrow flashes from the bushes and lodges into his shoulder, teleporting him thirty yards away. His body hits the tree, nearly knocking the wind out of him as he falls to his knees. Steps quicken as he forces himself into a roll, gasping for air. Their hands brush against a tree, and a vibration shapeshifts the trunk into a large wooden shield, blocking another strike from whoever is beside him.

  As the tree loses its foundation, the top begins to tumble down. Finally creating distance between them, Zero catches his breath, choking on the sweet sensation of air. Suddenly, the aura of eight people circles him.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  “So, WAL has betrayed us…” Standing on the toppled tree trunk, Nani Yankers crosses her arms. “Evil bastards. I knew we should have just killed you after what you did to Dulman.”

  After a calming breath, Zero scans his surroundings.

  A girl with the nero bow stands next to Birdman. The nero bow is a weapon that shoots two fast arrows, and the first arrow that hits a target instantly teleports the target to the second arrow. Dangerous if used with good teamwork. Zero touches the shaft of the arrow as a vibration shapeshifts the tip out of him without tearing a chunk out.

  Next to her is Birdman, but this time, he is without his colossal blade. He must have had an inventory full of rings of lightness to wield that thing. It looks like he’s out, though.

  “Birdman, are you out of them?” the bow lady asks.

  “Yeah…” Birdman quickly responds.

  Looks like a tough bunch. Zero’s eyes finally land on Yankers. She looks familiar…

  “What do you have to say for your sins?” Yankers asks.

  “Sins?” Zero chuckles slightly. “We all are sinful. I just—” But before he can finish, Yankers speed-blitzes before him.

  Shoving a knee towards his groin, Zero blocks with his palm. She extends her leg again, and he blocks. With a swipe of her sword for his neck, he ducks.

  Locking her ankle under his armpit, he rolls over, slamming her into the ground before leaping out of the way from multiple attacks. Being unable to finish her off frustrates him as he is on a time crunch. Zero needs to end this fast, sidestepping a flashing arrow, shoving his metal fingers into one of their eyes, kicking the knee, shattering a sword, and smacking one across the helmet. Zero retreats from a final kill strike. Their teamwork, despite failing, is impressive, as if they had rehearsed this fight for a long time.

  Yankers lunges her sword for Zero’s chin. Leaping back, her blade pierces his shirt, into his Adam’s apple. It's a blow she can’t miss this close.

  Zero accepts the situation; sacrifices are necessary to move forward. Jerking his head right, she slices his jugular, narrowly missing his windpipe. Pain zaps through his body as he ducks under her arm, redirecting her blade toward one of her squad members.

  Blood splatters as her mistake charges for his heart. Horror fills her eyes before she’s kneed in the abdomen and kicked away.

  Zero yanks the sword from the man’s chest before he collapses to the ground. One down, seven more to go.

  The horrified expressions around him leave others frozen in shock. A member they considered family now lies dead before them.

  “BASTARD!” cries the girl with the bow. Twenty arrows materialize as if conjured together. It’s a charged attack, but one that will drain her of all her syndesis.

  Yankers raises her hands from the ground. “Mist! NO!”

  The girl, known as Mist, releases her string as the twenty arrows whirl around Zero.

  But for Zero, it’s just like the other day. From the outside, it appears the arrows phase right through him.

  Mist drops to a knee as her Syndesis wanes. She just needs a moment to recover, but that moment is quickly stolen as Zero raises his warhammer to her chin. He knocks her back; teeth shatter, and her jaw nearly dislocates.

  Zero jumps over her as he attempts his finishing strike. Birdman rushes him from one side, and another man from the other. A double split kick knocks them back as Zero brings his warhammer down on her chest plate.

  The metal bends until both sections meet at the spine, killing her instantly.

  Three more follow suit as Zero quickly dispatches them.

  Again, Birdman tries for a one-on-one without his colossal sword. Dual-wielding daggers slash and stab at Zero but fall short as he blocks them with his warhammer. Sparks fly, and Fire Bolt spells scatter.

  The third guy helps Yankers up before getting caught between Zero and Birdman. His body lands on Yankers. “Sorry, sis…” A pained grunt escapes him as his back is left wide open for multiple strikes to his spine. Still alive, he’s accidentally dropped by Yankers.

  Only thirty seconds after having his jugular sliced does Zero’s vision blur. He can no longer hold up his neck; he needs to heal! There are a few more exchanges before Zero sweeps Birdman off the ground and brings his warhammer down with him.

  Birdman crosses his daggers, blocking the strike just before he hits the ground.

  Zero leaps back before turning to the trenches. Creating distance, a mixed brew appears in his hands before he pops the cork and downs the whole thing. The wounds in his shoulder and neck quickly seal as he hops toward the trenches. He has to finish them off before RoT loses their push.

  BOOM! The echoes of the trenches become clear to his ears. Trees fly past as if expanding in his vision. He forgets how fast he is going, but not fast enough.

  All is well until Yankers cuts him off, causing Zero to plant his heels into the ground. Zero charges back with his warhammer, but it’s all for naught as Birdman tackles him from behind.

  A broken dagger stabs Zero multiple times just before they begin to roll. Birdman loses his grip on the weapon, grabbing Zero by the armor and throwing him into the dirt wall of the nearest trench.

  Despite the pain and breathlessness, he has been slammed against something before.

  Yankers leaps at Zero with her sword mid-slice.

  Dodging the blade, Zero misses more than just a cut. Hundreds of pounds of dirt cloud the area around them. It was a powerful attack; he would have lost his torso if it had hit him… and everything else.

  Zero raises his hand as crystal shards form around him. Releasing them, they shoot straight for Yankers.

  Birdman yells as he blocks her path with the colossal sword he’s not supposed to be able to lift anymore. The crystal shards chip away at the sword until the last one. Veins along his arms say it all as he uses all his strength to lift it. Too much energy for just a single swipe?

  Yankers shakes her head as she leaps over the blade. “I could have avoided those on my own.”

  “Sorry,” Birdman says as he holds out his palm. An energy bar appears out of thin air. “Gimme thirty seconds. I’ll kill him in a single swipe.”

  Yankers nods as she readies her sword.

  Birdman begins to eat his energy bar without hesitation.

  Zero flashes forty yards toward Birdman, only to be blocked by Yankers’ slash.

  Yankers lands clean blows left and right, forcing Zero onto the defensive. If only she knew he was holding back. He leaves her defense down before landing a critical blow on her torso. Eighty yards away, rolling across the ground, she can only cough up what her lungs allow.

  But as Zero stares down Birdman, his eyes widen before launching himself at him.

  Muscles tense, and veins press against his skin as the colossal sword lifts into the air. Birdman activates his charged attack as he drops the heavy weapon. Just like Amos’s attack, a sharp gust of air slices a glowing blue line toward Zero.

  It is so fast that the reaction speed to move out of the way is nearly impossible. Zero activates his melee-protection Syndesis, despite its limited power, while side-stepping the blue wave. His left arm gets caught in it as his Syndesis drains. Blood flows deep from his shoulder to his wrist as a crack rings in his ear. Armor is ripped to shreds, and Zero slides along the ground. Dropping his warhammer, Zero topples while clutching his arm. He comes to a stop, unable to feel his left arm.

  His body weakens momentarily from the Syndesis depletion. Muscle and skin vaporize in an instant. Shaking, Zero pulls his knees to his belly. His left arm is useless. “Help…” Zero mumbles.

  Remote.

  Birdman charges at Zero, bringing both daggers down on him.

  Zero’s left arm moves on its own as vibrations circulate throughout his body. Missing the dagger slices by a mile, he looks at his arm. Blood has stopped leaking, but the sight of bare bone intensifies the pain. Zero grinds his teeth.

  Birdman spins, grabs Zero’s warhammer, and tosses it three hundred yards away.

  Without his weapon, Zero has few options, especially considering the limited resources around him to shapeshift. He has no choice… Flashing into the white room, Zero holds his palms to his mouth. “Welp… Do you have any ideas?”

  Envy my pain…

  The real world abruptly pulls him back. Zero immediately knows what to do after learning those three simple words.

  Birdman rushes Zero, who crosses his arms and readies his daggers.

  Slicing yet missing, Zero waits for his moment.

  Frustration grows as Birdman can’t land a single hit. After all he has done to weaken the man, he opens his mouth, risking everything, even if it means hurting himself. “LUCID DREAD!” The atmosphere around them becomes heavy and hard to breathe. Giving Birdman an opening to slice an X across Zero’s chest would be a quick victory to end this fight fast.

  Despite the distress Zero is under, from the pain of his mind burning out, he opens his mouth. “En…”

  Birdman slashes deep into Zero’s chest as blood spurts around them.

  Locking his foot into the ground, he shouts, “ENVY MY PAIN!” Vibrations at an atomic level begin to shake his whole body. Lifting into the air, yet his feet remain grounded, the vibration transfers from him to Birdman in a flash.

  The cut on Birdman's chest mirrors Zero's, leaving him breathless.

  Not done, Zero’s left arm vibrates up and grabs Birdman’s neck, strangling him. Leaping, Zero slams Birdman into the ground. Vibrations crack the earth around them.

  “BIRDMAN!” Yankers yells while charging at Zero.

  With little effort, Zero tosses the broken man at Yankers. She drops her sword and catches her squad member.

  From one direction of motion to the opposite, the air nearly gets knocked out of Yankers. Losing her footing, she slides on the metal plating of her rear before coming to a halt. Releasing her friend's grip, she takes in sharp breaths. After a few seconds, she stares at her last remaining…

  “Birdman! Birdman!” Shoving her head into his bloody chest, she hears a slight beat of his heart. “Birdman… Kyle…” A crunch of a leaf sends her head shooting up at Zero, who is only eight yards away. “Bastard…” Laying Birdman down to her left, she stands. No weapon, just her fists.

  BOOM! Cannons fire off just a short distance away, causing Zero to redirect his attention. He needs to finish this fast… She alone is weak. He is the dominant… Chains spring from the ground, locking his ankles, knees, arms, neck, and wrists. As quickly as they appeared, they force him down to his knees, directing his gaze downward. What the–!

  Yankers charges Zero with a kick, only to be blocked seconds later by a man in the same cape.

  Yankers leaps back to get a full view of him. “Another WAL bastard!”

  A mask covers his face, and Ship scans the area around them. “I don’t know what is going on here, but Lit has to fall back to the eighteenth parallel.”

  Fists still up, Yankers tries to speak, but is cut off.

  “Little lady! Don’t argue; right now, you need to get you and your friend to safety,” Ship advises. “RoT will be crossing this trench in less than an hour… Half at most. WAL will assist until you all are safe.”

  Yankers grinds her teeth as she shifts her gaze from Birdman. “All you bastards do is kill… Monsters, all of you… So why should I trust you?”

  Ship removes his mask. “You shouldn’t… Because this persona WAL has always carried was never real. We are just the bad guys. But this is my gift to you, so leave…”

  Yankers lowers her fists. Her eyes water at the corners as she leaps back to Birdman. She stumbles, putting one arm behind his neck and the other under his knees before taking off into the woods.

  Chains fade from Zero, as do the chains on Ship's ankles and wrists.

  Ship turns slightly to Zero as a mixed brew appears in his hand. “Duke…” Ship says as he drops the brew in front of Zero. “Let's talk about this when we get home.” Ship begins to walk away.

  Zero remains silent, as Ship is the last person he wants to see in this world. Even more than Amos… So unfair. So damaging. “Why…”

  Ship halts.

  “Why do you have to chase me? Why don’t you forget about me?” Zero says as he lifts his gaze.

  Character turns to Zero to meet his gaze. The sun just peeks over the mountains to the east. “Because.”

  BOOM! Cannons fire.

  “You're my little brother.”