(City of Bell – Occupation: Lit) (Zero)

  End times are near. The four horsemen have consumed this world of a hundred thousand people. Death for countless lives lost. Conquest for control of land and resources. Famine for a kid who hasn’t had a meal in weeks. War… All because a ruler knows better. Truly evil, one his mother must have spoken of. Half good and half… He must protect his friends no matter what. Flashes of his brother bleeding before him return to the white room and back to reality.

  Zero makes his way down a dark alley, holding his breath as Lit members run through the streets, building barricades as if they would stop a cannonball. He holds back to conserve his energy. An hour after being confronted by Cazel, he has avoided every conflict he would usually plow through. But just a few blocks away, he will finally meet his goal. King Zul will grovel at his feet before being slain. He craves it so much it could drive him crazy.

  As Zero checks the coast to be clear, he leaps across the street, alley to alley. Taking a left, a right, and a final left, he slides his gauntlets along the brick building while crouching behind a dumpster. Many people enter and exit the capital building, and Zero realizes that not all are Lit members. Most are solo or in small clans, unrelated to this war. “Damn…” Taking on innocent Lit members is one thing, but dragging others who have nothing to do with the powerhouse clan is shameful. An energy bar appears out of thin air as Zero turns his back on the brick wall. He chuckles a bit before taking his first bite. A man who hops out of bed forces himself to take a break.

  The energy bar wrapper hits the ground as the wind blows down the alley, causing it to fly under the dumpsters and up the stairs. As soon as the wrapper hits the door, Zero leaps to his feet and launches himself toward the four guards at the top of the stairs.

  One Lit guard goes down, and the second follows a moment later as his blood splatters across the double doors. The sudden change causes the guards to freeze despite being warned of Zero’s arrival.

  A group of smaller clans waits inside as they try to avoid being caught in the crossfire. The front desk attempts to calm the already deafening crowd. Finally, the crowd goes silent as a body is slung through the double doors and two concrete pillars. The body is now a bloody mess of what once was a man.

  Zero walks through the open doors, glancing at the people he finds uninteresting, including the Lit members at the front desk who aren’t prepared for battle. He heads toward the council chambers, ignoring everything around him.

  A golden crown and a few magic rings lie on the table. The King sighs as the last council members quickly disperse, leaving only King Zul, who holds his locked fists to his mouth, contemplating something unknown to those around him.

  Merak stands by Zul’s side as he always has. “You can’t stay here; he will kill you. There is still time…”

  Zul cuts him off. “No… We know he won't stop until he gets me. You leave.”

  Merak sighs. “I’ve been by your side for five years, since we took land from RoT. I'm not leaving you now.”

  Another sigh escapes Zul. “It’s been an honor.” He drops his fists, revealing Zero among the hundreds of chairs. Zul stands as the chair squeaks back. “May I ask why WAL decided to betray Lit?”

  “They didn’t; I'm not in their clan anymore,” Zero responds.

  “Then why wear the cape?” Zul asks.

  Zero touches the frayed string of the worn-out cape draped over his back. “It’s imbued. It offers more protection, that’s all.”

  Zul crosses his arms before sitting back down. “Let me rephrase my question… Why did you betray us?”

  Zero takes a deep breath. “Do I even need to explain my actions?” After a few seconds, he continues. “It’s because you are the reason Amos was almost assassinated…”

  Merak’s eyes widen as he shifts his gaze between the two.

  “And before you deny it, it was General Kang who leaked the plans to me.”

  Zul’s expression remains unchanged.

  “Nothing to say, huh?” Zero chuckles. “You dug your own grave the moment you wrote something down with our name on it. WE ARE LORDS, ASSHOLE!” The lack of response causes Zero’s smile to widen. “After how many years did you know the name and still think you could get us killed? What kind of shit is that—” Zero is cut off by another voice.

  “SHUT UP!” Merak yells. “You know nothing of Zul! He would never, not even…”

  “It’s true, Merak…” Zul interrupts.

  Merak’s eyes widen in shock.

  “We attempted to buy RoT’s support to eliminate some of WAL.”

  “And Amos’s students of all people…”

  Zul shakes his head. “We didn’t send them money. They acted on their own accord.”

  Zero falls silent at this new revelation. Zul could be lying, but why would he? He just revealed the truth about his actions to Merak. If that’s true, then why would Amos’s students try to kill him? Before Zero can speak, he is cut off again.

  “Zul. Please—please tell me you’re lying,” Merak pleads.

  Zul lowers his gaze.

  “Zul…” Merak says.

  “I’m sorry, Merak. I was only thinking of my people.” He struggled to lift his gaze to Zero. “And I did it because of how awful you are. The plan was cemented the moment you killed Dulman, the clan that emerged from a rebellion against your people's legacy. WAL is an awful clan, no matter how you try to twist it.” Zul uneasily turned to Merak with a shameful stare. “It wasn’t easy, but I really care about my people.”

  “Declaring war on two clans and causing the death of thousands is caring…” Zero said.

  “Only God will judge me for my methods, and I pray He shows me mercy,” Zul responded.

  Silence… Not even the faintest yells from the outside world. Just three young men and their confessions. But surely Zero wouldn’t have to kill Merak now that Zul let the cat out of the bag.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “I don’t care…” Merak said.

  Both Zul and Zero’s eyes widened.

  Tears appeared at the corners of Merak’s eyes. “I mean, I do, but I trust and respect you, Zul, far beyond my judgment. I never grew up with a dad or brother, just an abusive mother. You became that figure to me, and I will forever be thankful!” Merak wore a heartfelt smile.

  “Merak…”

  “You’re just going to ignore that he wants Amos dead,” Zero said.

  Merak shook his head. “No… But I refuse to let you kill Zul.”

  Zero blankly stared at Merak. Yet another student of Amos was willing to betray him again. Guess he really will have to…

  “May I request one last thing before my death?” Zul said, interrupting Zero’s thoughts.

  Zero listened.

  “My friend here will fight you… Please don’t kill him, as he is innocent in all of this. Everything here is my fault,” Zul said.

  Merak stared at King Zul in horror. “Zul, I won't…” Turning back to Zero, a bronze dagger appeared out of thin air, drawing the blade near his empty palm.

  Zero nodded. “No promises. But I’ll do it to honor Amos, as Merak is one of his students. Not a bastard like you.”

  “HEY!” Merak shouted as he circled Zul’s desk. “You know nothing of Zul… He is honorable and genuine! He only thinks of his people before himself! Not that a murderer like you would know what any of that means.”

  Zero cracked a smile, a chuckle escaping him.

  Merak narrowed his eyes. “Why are you laughing?”

  Zero locked eyes with him. “Takes one to know one.”

  Merak sliced his palm but midway changed the direction from the middle to down his arm. He switched his dagger for a brazer claymore. It was a large blade of the finest metal.

  Zero held his steel warhammer by his knee, silent as they became sensitive to the slightest movement.

  Merak flips his blade up, and the two launch at each other. Clashing metals, they crash through walls and down narrow hallways. Merak easily swings his long blade through tight spaces, slicing the stone walls around him. Blood drips from the hilt.

  Zero randomly casts tier-five Fire Bolts around them as they move from room to room, breaking through many walls.

  Circling back into the stadium, they plow into layers of chairs and desks.

  Only a little study is needed, as Merak is merely a copy of Amos. As expected from his student, the guy is slower with more focused attacks.

  Zero leaps onto a desk, sliding until his foot hits a chair.

  Merak swipes his claymore through the air at Zero, sending a distorted, focused line straight for him.

  Leaping aside, the wall behind Zero crumbles, cut in half from corner to corner. His predictions were correct; he could catch Merak off guard if he strikes after a focused attack.

  Merak slashes the air again at mid-air Zero.

  Eyes widening, he must act fast. Releasing his grip on the warhammer, he raises both hands and casts a tier-three Fire Comet, launching himself down onto the desk below. The force of his impact splits the desk in half and breaks his fall, allowing him to twist to his feet. Leaping back as Merak charges, Zero backflips off a destroyed wall, dodging another focused attack.

  Rolling, Zero snags his warhammer between two chairs. Pulling it back, he tosses a chair at Merak, only for it to be sliced in half.

  Swinging the brazer claymore overhead, Merak brings the blade down onto the base of Zero’s warhammer before touching the ground himself. A strong pressure sends both weapons flying back. It feels like Merak used too much force in that hit. But it doesn’t matter; they will clash again…

  Vibrations travel from Zero’s hand to his fingers as the metal splint on his right forearm reshapes into a short, pointy rod. Swinging it into a rugged grip, Zero launches the rod at Merak’s eye.

  Missing by a hair, Merak saves his sight, but the skin and part of his skull are grazed. Despite the injury, he focuses on Zero, who leaves himself wide open. Zero activates his melee-protection Syndesis as the brazer blade vanishes. As Merak brings his hands between them, a brazer crossbow appears out of thin air.

  It's too fast for Zero to react; his mind is still on the ghostly impact on his shoulder that never came. “En—” The bolt strikes Zero in the chest. “ENVY MY PAIN!”

  Vibrations exit Zero and transfer to Merak as they both cough up blood, coating each other's faces in red. Their knees shake before collapsing.

  Except for Zero, who catches himself midway, driving his knee into Merak’s chest.

  More blood spurts from Merak’s mouth as he falls back.

  Zero doesn’t stop there; he pulls Merak’s leg towards him and drives his fist into Merak’s chest. After a few seconds, Zero's breathing becomes difficult, as half of the bolt is outside him while the other half is in his lungs, drowning him.

  Zero grips the bolt and shapeshifts it into a safe stick to remove it from his chest. There are no sharp edges as it exits his body, protecting him from tearing out chunks. The straps that held the splint fall to his wrist before dropping to the ground along with the bolt. A mixed brew appears out of thin air with a pop of its cork. Zero downs it after a few rough coughs.

  Merak lifts his head, ready to jump up.

  “Stop,” Zero demands. “You know you won’t win, so why risk your life? Take my gift and live.” Zero begins to walk towards Zul, who sits with his hands locked as if praying.

  “I know I can’t win,” Merak says. “Even though I’m just twenty-two, my life has been good—up until now…” He stands tall. “And I’ll be damned if…”

  In a flash, Zero plunges his fist through Merak’s chest without hesitation. “Sorry…” Zero slides back his bloody forearm.

  Weak breaths escape Merak for a few seconds before he falls to his knees, slumping over with his spine protruding.

  Zero looks over Merak, forcing himself to remember the few times they spoke, but he just doesn’t care.

  Zul’s eyes tremble as he covers his mouth. Without a word, he kicks back his chair and slowly approaches Zero, crouching by his friend. “Why…”

  “Is there really a point in explaining any of this to you?”

  Tears run down Zul’s cheeks. “No… there isn’t.”

  “Let me ask you, though.” Zero pauses. “Why were you so eager to go to war against the other clans? Why was killing for land and resources your first option?”

  “It really wasn’t for any of that, I guess…”

  Zero kicks Merak back from his knees. The body plops across the desks. “Then what was it for?”

  Zul’s eyes wander to Merak’s lifeless body before being pulled up by Zero.

  “What was it for!”

  Zul’s eyes lower. “The same reason you killed off the Dulman clan. To ensure the safety of my family.”

  Zero grinds his teeth as he drops Zul to his knees. “You lie…”

  “When I first heard that if we died in real life, I didn’t take it seriously. But when more of my men didn’t return, I began to believe it. That and the worried looks from five thousand lives I was meant to lead.” Zul clenches his fist against the desk. “I mentally broke and decided to take it all upon myself.” He looks up at Zero, biting his lip and drawing blood.

  “Five years after taking land from RoT, Sanity, and Fools builds resentment. Even if it’s for fun, a game, or whatever you call it! An enemy is an enemy.”

  Zero lowers his shoulders as he gazes at his enemy. No, this is just an act.

  Zul drops his head. “Welcome to my kingdom of ashes, once that of a great people.”

  Zero interrupts, “I’ll tell you what you really are. A lying sack of shit who sends his own men to battle while he sits back in safety. All because he’s power-hungry. Am I right?”

  Zul remains silent.

  Zero scans the room as flames engulf many walls. As thoughts of killing Zul cross his mind, the aura of three familiar individuals approaches within a dozen yards. Reacting, Zero grabs Zul by the neck and the brazer claymore with the other hand.

  Zero leaps onto Zul’s desk, putting Zul in a headlock with the claymore blade against his Adam’s apple.

  Amos gazes at his lifeless student, speechless.