“Where does seeking justice end, and seeking vengeance begin?” - Paula Stokes (This is How it Happened)

* * * *

What am I even doing here?

That is the question first and foremost on the mind of Leroy as he sighed inwardly for what seemed to be the umpteenth time ever since he received a sudden summons from the Premier, the overall head of anything underground related for a meeting.

The fact that the messenger had even found him and Alisa at their hiding place had caused the pair to panic initially, and almost caused them to shoot the messenger. Thankfully, said messenger had managed to say what he had come to deliver before either one of the two had managed to reach for their guns.

It has to be over a year now, since the attack on Zephys and Blade respectively, and whatever few survivors there are of Blade have scattered, and have gone into hiding.

Leroy has no idea if there are even any survivors apart from himself and Alisa. He knows, more than anyone, how terrifying and brutal the hunters can be when they perform a ‘subjugation’. And considering the amount of power and influence that they currently hold in this country, there isn’t much that anyone can do at the moment.

Leroy sighed again, raking a hand through his untidy reddish-orange hair—thus causing it to stand on end more than it already did.

He looked around his surroundings; seeing a few people seated on the ground and chatting with each other. There were even two guys in another corner, seemingly having a brawl or a simple spar—with a few others surrounding them, cheering them on.

The Abyss.

The term was coined by those of the underground for the very heartland of underground society. From how Sera had described it the first time that she had mentioned the Abyss to Blade, it is located underground—in the old underground shelters and tunnels that were used centuries ago as refuges or even escape routes for the Eldario of old. In the years that followed, however, those tunnels were all but abandoned, and hardly anyone knew of their existence anymore. The people of the underground however have fixed those tunnels up and have used it as the heartland of Abyss.

The location, however, is kept a complete secret, even to certain members of the underground. As far as Leroy knew from what he had heard from Sera a few years ago, only the leaders of the street gangs and information brokers knew the location of Abyss. Along with the Enforcers, of course.

Considering that Abyss is also where the Premier resides, it is of no surprise. Records of the street gangs and even those that have come to Abyss for refuge are also kept here. Hence why information about this place is kept under lock and key.

Leroy’s lips twisted into a grim line even as his eyes fell onto the blade tattoo visible on the under wrist of his left hand. He covered it with his right hand, worrying at his bottom lip.

“…You’re alive, right?” Leroy whispered. “Sera…”

“…But it doesn’t matter anymore. One more time. This will be the night that Blade fights our final battle. And regardless of what happens, you will always be my best friends—”

“Leroy?”

Leroy managed to restrain the urge to jump when the voice startled him, looking up only to see the visage of a familiar man with spiky silver-grey hair making his way towards Leroy. The man even had a black eyepatch over his left eye and a visible scar on the cheek beneath his eyepatch that seemed to be made by some kind of knife.

And from the black trench coat that he had on, Leroy could have identified him as one of the Premier’s Enforcers, if not for the fact that Leroy is well acquainted with him, thanks to Hayder Beck having often made visits to Zephys in the past to meet with Sera.

“Hayder.” Leroy nodded to the man, getting to his feet.

“She’ll see you now. Follow me.”

Leroy’s eyes went from right to left even as he followed Hayder, taking in the sights of the few underground vendors, and even that of a few houses used by the people that have sought refuge in Abyss.

“Your first time here, I’m guessing?” Hayder commented from in front of Leroy, who shrugged. “Zest is always the one with Sera whenever she comes to Abyss.” Leroy grimaced at the mention of Zest. “I heard from her that she was going to bring you with her when she gets called for the usual meeting this year. But well…” He trailed off slowly, clearing his throat even as they approached a door located at the end of the passage that they were walking down.

A young woman with long black hair and blue eyes who was also dressed in a similar black coat as the one that Hayder has, had just stepped out of the door as they approached. Blue eyes narrowed themselves at Leroy, who frowned inwardly.

“Leaving, Ebis?” Hayder asked, and the woman—Ebis, nodded.

“I got something to do,” Ebis said, eyes trailing towards Leroy. “I’ll see you when I return.”

She pushed past Hayder and Leroy, with the latter looking at the back of the woman until she’d disappeared.

That woman…

She seems strangely familiar…

Leroy snapped out of his thoughts when Hayder knocked on the door to announce their presence before he opened it. “Larissa, Leroy’s here.”

“Leave us.”

Hayder nodded to Leroy even as he stepped past the older man and entered the room—which surprisingly, seems to be some sort of office, with modest furnishings. A beautiful woman with auburn red hair falling to mid-back is currently leaning against the side of the desk, being dressed in a dark blue dress that showed off her shoulders, with fishnet stockings and stilettos. Despite that, however, Leroy knew that this woman—the Premier, is not someone to be underestimated.

She most definitely didn’t get to her current position for nothing after all. From what Leroy knew, she was the one to fix the countless problems in the underground after the end of the civil war over a decade ago and is also the one to create the system that they have today.

Larissa gave Leroy a rare smile even as she uncrossed her arms from across her ample bosom. “It’s been quite some time, Leroy,” she greeted. “Some…three years, I guess?” She mused, and Leroy nodded. “I was relieved when I received word that you and Alisa survived the purge on Zephys.” She had a scowl on her face.

“Larissa? Premier?” Leroy interrupted. “Why am I here?” He wanted to know.

Larissa said nothing for several moments before wordlessly motioning towards the chair in front of her desk that Leroy took before the older woman sat on her leather chair across from Leroy. She then picked up a file on her desk.

“Have you heard what had happened to Zalfari?” Larissa asked instead.

“Who hadn’t?” Leroy murmured, recalling the angry buzz that had swept across Eldario—to be specific, amongst the underground society, when news of what the hunters had done to Zalfari and its guardians had spread. There were even rumours that the bodies of the hunters involved were all sent back to the hunter headquarters. And it seems like none of those hunters have died painless deaths.

Larissa looked at Leroy carefully, before she sighed. “I’ll be frank with you, Leroy,” she said bluntly. “I know I can trust you. Sera did. And she’s an excellent judge of character.” Leroy can’t deny that. Sera just has this way of looking at someone and being able to read them. He guessed that it comes with being a street kid. “First, there was the attack on Blade and Zephys. Then Dragonfly is stupid enough to give up one of their own to the hunters when they come calling. Then there was what happened with Zalfari and Whirlwind barely a month ago.” Larissa ticked off points on her fingers. “Are these all really coincidences? And I know for a fact that Whirlwind and Dragonfly are steadfast allies with Blade.”

At least, Dragonfly had been before Yusa’s death.

“You think that the hunters are targeting Blade’s allies for a reason.” Leroy reasoned, and Larissa nodded. Her expression screamed ‘Why’? “I don’t know the full story. I only heard titbits from Zest before the attack.” Larissa nodded again. “I know that there is something about the hunters that Sera had been digging into. I don’t know what. Zest probably does though.”

“And the hunters probably learned about it, which in turn, leads to the attacks?” Larissa guessed, and Leroy shrugged.

“Your guess is as good as mine. If it’s hunters, Sera won’t say anything—probably her attempt to keep us safe.” Leroy pointed out, a frown on his face. He knows better than anyone how much danger the Gifted are in from the hunters. “And then again, do the hunters need a reason to attack the street gangs or the Gifted? They’re the reason why the underground is in the mess it now is.”

Larissa let out a groan. “Okay, let’s put the hunters aside for now,” she said at last. “The main reason why I’d called you here is because of Zalfari.” Leroy raised a brow. “I am not losing Zalfari to the ESA, or Goddess forbid, the hunters.” She had a look of fury on her face. “Thus, I need another guardian for that town. And I want you to be that guardian.”

Leroy stared at Larissa for several long moments without speaking. When he finally found his tongue, he only let out a sigh, with his eyes going towards the ceiling before focusing back on the Premier.

“Why me?” he asked instead. “I know that you will need someone to take charge of Zalfari now that Klein and Whirlwind are…” He trailed off slowly, before coughing. “Well… You know? But why me? I don’t run with a gang anymore.”

He will join no other, either. His loyalty is to Sera and Blade alone. No one else.

“I need someone I can trust that has both the power and influence to take charge of Zalfari, and not worry that they’ll run down the town. Or worse, use the connections there for their own personal gain.” Larissa stated. “Even if Blade is no…more—” Her breath hitched, “the members each have reputations to their name. And from what I know, you acted as Blade’s intelligence agent. You have connections and influence on the same level as Sera. Blade didn’t get to where they are on Sera alone. Sure, she did the bulk of the work, but she didn’t do it alone. Please do this for me.” Larissa pleaded.

Leroy was silent for several moments, going over the pros and cons in his mind.

He is happy enough to not be in a position of power. But it also can’t be denied that the situation with the hunters is getting out of hand, and there is also a possibility that they have attacked Zalfari in order to gain access to the connections and to the black market vendors that are available within that town.

And that is not to mention the extreme damages that Zalfari had taken when the hunters attacked.

Leroy let out a long, low sigh. “…I’ll take charge of Zalfari,” he said at last, also mentally going through the names of his contacts and connections, and wondering who he could approach to help fix up the town.

“Thank you.”

“I just have one question that I want answered, though,” Leroy said, and Larissa raised a brow. “Sera.” Larissa gave a minuscule twitch at the mention of his old leader’s name, but it was enough to answer any questions that Leroy had. “Is she alive?”

Larissa said nothing for a long time, picking up the cup sitting by the side of her desk for something to occupy her hands with. “She’s your leader,” Larissa said at last just when Leroy felt his patience thinning. “Surely you know what she can do better than I do.”

“Dragonfly’s demise,” Leroy said slowly. “And even the complete annihilation of the hunters that have attacked Whirlwind and Zalfari…” He closed his eyes briefly. “I only know of one person who is capable enough to pull off something like that.”

“Then you have your answer,” was all that Larissa said. “I owe her a debt, Leroy. Something that I can never repay. I owe it to her to keep her survival and location a secret. Even if I do know where she is—which I don’t, I will keep Sera’s location a secret. Besides, like I said before, she’s your leader. If there is anyone who can find her, it will be fellow Blade members.”

Leroy got to his feet.

“…That’s all that I need to know,” he said at last before turning on his heel and heading towards the door. “I’ll take care of Zalfari, as promised. But before that, there are things I need to do first.”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

* * * *

Alisa Frazier was waiting for Leroy when he returned to their current hiding place—a garage owned by a mutual friend of theirs in a small town. Everyone in this town kept to themselves, and wouldn’t interfere even if something happened—hence, it made it the best hiding place for Leroy and Alisa at the moment.

Alisa was assisting Jeff with the repairs of a motorbike when Leroy had ridden up on his own, with the girl cleaning her hands with the rag in a corner. Grease stains were already visible on her cheek, and her raven hair was tied back in a ponytail.

She is currently in just a plain white tee and black jeans, with her jacket currently draped over the back of a chair in the corner.

“How is it?” Alisa asked immediately, the moment that Leroy removed the safety helmet from his head. “Why were you called to the Abyss, to begin with, anyway?” She added with a frown.

Not far away, their friend, Jeff, looked up with interest. He was never really officially part of Blade, but was acquainted with them, and thus, knew the workings of the underground. In fact, Blade was the one to assist him to kickstart his mechanic business.

“The Premier asked me to take charge of Zalfari,” Leroy said after a pause. “I agreed.”

Jeff’s eyes were wide. “Well, that’s a surprise,” he remarked. “Though I can see why she needs a new guardian appointed immediately, especially with Whirlwind…” He trailed off slowly and coughed. “Well, you know? And Sera?”

Leroy fidgeted before sighing. “She’s alive.”

Alisa let out a breath that she hadn’t realised that she had been holding. “Thank the Goddess for that,” she murmured. “At least we know she’s alive.”

“Yeah.” Leroy sighed, rubbing at the sides of his temples. “And well, neither of us did believe that she’s dead anyway from the very beginning.” He pointed out, with both Alisa and Jeff nodding in agreement. “And if Sera is alive, then chances are that Zest survived as well.”

Alisa looked surprised, but Jeff nodded slowly. “Makes sense,” he murmured. “He’s your second-in-command.” He pointed out. “All those in the underground know how capable he is. For a Normal, his skills are enough to match up to any Gifted.”

That is true, and everyone in the underground knows it. Those who underestimated Zest just because of his lack of ability normally don’t survive long enough to regret it. Heck, Leroy still has an alarmingly clear memory of the very first time when they met Zest.

To this day, he remains the only person that Leroy remembers able to go toe-to-toe with Sera to the point that the latter was forced to use her Gift to subdue him without killing.

“We need to find them, Leroy,” Alisa said at last. “Or at the very least, Sera.”

Leroy only shook his head. “The chances of us doing that are slim to none. Sera wouldn’t be found if she doesn’t want to be. We know that better than anyone else.” He pointed out. Alisa looked ready to argue with Leroy until she noticed the stubborn set to his jaw. “But I know someone that might know where Sera is. And I know just how to make him talk.”

* * * *

The gentle night breeze always managed to soothe Sera’s mind better than any balm could, even as she sat atop the rooftop area of the boathouse, listening to the gentle waves lapping against the sides of the boathouse.

The rest of Aegis knew by now not to bother Sera when she was up here unless they needed something.

In the several months that had passed since Aegis’ formation, the rest of the members had been busy getting things ready for their ‘grand debut’, as Ness had sarcastically put it once.

Raul, as it seems, is surprisingly skilled with technology and computers. To hear Sera and even Timo put it, it seems that there is no network or device that Raul can’t access. No one in Aegis knew what Sera had asked Raul to do; but whatever it was, it seemed like their resident hacker had been busy with his portable computer since, even building some kind of device to be setup in a corner of the roof that most of the other members have assumed to be some kind of anti-tracking device.

Sera gave out a long exhale from her position; leaning against the railings of the boathouse, tilting her head backwards to see the stars above her.

“I hope I’m doing the right thing here, Zest,” she whispered, reaching up with one hand to finger the plain black choker around her neck. “Don’t let this be a mistake.”

The sounds of faint footsteps approaching the door of the rooftop caused Sera to turn her attention towards the entrance just then. The door to the rooftop swung open only to admit a frowning and perplexed-looking Tatius.

“What’s up?” Sera questioned with a frown.

“There’s somebody at the door for you,” Tatius answered, tilting a thumb backwards over his shoulder. “Says his name is Leroy.”

Sera’s eyes widened.

“…What?”

* * * *

More than one pair of eyes followed the guy with the reddish-orange hair even as he headed up the stairs of the boathouse that would take them to the rooftop. His stance is casual, and he navigated the boathouse easily; like he had been here before.

“Who is he?” Neil was the first to speak, looking around at all the others who were all gathered on the ground level of the boathouse. Raul is currently half-hunched over his portable computer in a corner of the couch that they were all occupying, his knees drawn up to his chest. But Neil knew that he was paying attention to their conversation.

“Leroy. A former member of Blade.” Raul was the one to answer without looking up from his computer. “I was wondering just how long it’ll take them to find Sera.”

Ness frowned at Raul, cupping his hands around the warm cup of coffee that each of them had. “You’re not surprised,” he noted.

“Heck no, I’m not.” Raul finally looked up. “It’s only a matter of time. Blade is the most infamous street gang in all of Eldario. All of us knew that there were survivors. Sera can’t be the only one who survived. I will guess that at the very least, half the members of the inner circle would have survived too. I’m not surprised that Leroy is one of those.” He jabbed one finger upwards at the ceiling. “If I have to guess, I’ll guess that he’s likely been searching for Sera since the attack on Blade.” He sighed, shaking his head, looking from face to face. “Apart from Letha, and maybe Laura, I think I’m likely the only one who will understand the feelings that a street gang member would have towards their leader. That sense of loyalty and trust… It’s not something that can be discarded easily. Whether Blade is no more or not doesn’t matter. For as long as they lived, I can guarantee you that the survivors of Blade will always trust Sera, and still see her as their leader.”

Laura and Letha both nodded solemnly. Along with Raul, they too have lived on the streets all their lives and even ran with a street gang or two. They understood the ways of the underground and how the street gangs think.

“Even amongst the common populace, Blade is relatively well known,” Letha revealed. “Like most of us in the underground, they took on contract jobs from time to time. Mercenary contracts.” She added, seeing the lost look on Kailey’s face. “For bounty hunting contracts, however, whenever someone heard that Blade, or Sera, is after the same target they are, they normally scrapped the contract completely. No one is insane enough to go up against them. Sera especially. She got her reputation for a reason.” Letha’s lips quirked. “The Death Reaper.”

“No one crosses her and comes out alive.” Raul agreed. “Those of us who allied with Blade knew who she was and what she could do. Even the hunters are wary of her. Even without her Gift, Sera is not someone to be underestimated.”

“I think I understand now why the underground is in such a big mess after the attack on Blade,” Claudia said slowly, starting to understand the workings behind the underground system. “So that guy. Leroy, is it?” Raul nodded. As one, the members of Aegis looked upwards. “So, he’s a survivor from the most feared street gang in Eldario.”

* * * *

“I was worried for Raul when I heard about Dragonfly. Guess I didn’t need to be.” Leroy said as a way of greeting the moment he had emerged onto the rooftop of the boathouse. He reached into the bag that he was carrying—having made a stop at a nearby grocery store before his arrival to pick up a few items. Sera caught the canned beverage that Leroy tossed to her easily. “Another year before you turn eighteen, and thus, will be of legal age to drink.” Leroy raised the canned drink in his hand to reveal that he was holding a can of alcohol. “But in the meantime, it’s soda for you. Cheers.”

Sera said nothing even as she clinked her drink together with Leroy’s, opening the can of soda with a light pop. Several moments of long silence fell between the two even as they stood at the side of the boathouse, just staring out at the pitch-black darkness.

“How did you find me?” Sera asked at last.

“It’s not like you’re trying all that hard to keep yourself hidden.” Leroy scoffed. With one look from Sera, he sighed. “I asked Alexis.” He admitted. “It took me twisting his arm and having to swear to him that I mean you no harm before he relented. Besides, there have been rumours over the past year ever since the entire attack at Zephys.” He shot Sera a look. “Dragonfly and Whirlwind.” Sera’s fingers twitched. “I knew then that you must be using some sort of method to get around unnoticed, and the only thing I can think of is the sea. That means the boathouse that we’ve helped to build. All that I have to do is to keep a close eye on the waters.”

“Any of the others with you?” Sera questioned, not all that surprised with Leroy’s deductive skills. He’s her third-in-command for a reason.

“Just Alisa.” Leroy sighed, tilting his head backwards to look at the night skies above him. “We went to Jeff for help. He’s been helping us for the past year. I have no idea if any of the others even survived. Lleucu is probably alive too. I can’t imagine him dying, honestly.” Leroy grimaced. To this day, he still has no idea why Sera allowed Lleucu to join Blade. Leroy has never been able to fully trust the guy, and he knows he isn’t the only one. “Probably even Jamie. Maybe Earl too. Wasn’t he out of town the day the attack happened?”

Sera was silent for several long moments, just nursing the can in her hands. “Zest is alive too,” she said at last. Leroy only made a non-committal noise in his throat. “You’re not surprised.”

It’s a statement, not a question.

Leroy gave a loose shrug of his shoulders, causing the long, silver chain that he was wearing around his neck to rattle slightly with the movement. “I was there the first time we met him in the streets of Zephys,” he reminded Sera. “I know exactly how terrifying Zest could be in a battle. And you were only what, twelve or so at that time? Zest was fourteen. Alisa and I were sixteen. And he’s a terrifying demon in a battle. I find it difficult to believe that hunters can get the better of him when he survives everything he does. If you’re alive, I know that Zest is likely alive as well.”

“Well, I have no idea when he’s going to wake, at least,” Sera admitted, a small frown visible on her face. “He was in pretty bad shape when I first had Alexis take him to Reina.”

Leroy sighed, nudging Sera in the side with his elbow. “He’ll be fine,” he said. “It’s Zest. He’s survived worst. They called Zest the Black Demon for a reason.”

Sera let out a long sigh. “The Black Demon, huh? I hate that name.”

She didn’t explain why. To be honest, even within Blade, not many really knew of Zest’s background before joining Blade. The only one who does, apart from Sera, is more than likely Jamie, and perhaps even Lleucu. And that is only because those two don’t like leaving mysteries unsolved and had likely gone poking into Zest’s background.

“So, all those guys down below…” Leroy trailed off slowly, looking at Sera meaningfully. “They’re all Gifted, aren’t they?” Sera made a non-committal sound in her throat, not looking at Leroy. “Seeing Raul amongst their midst is enough for me to understand the entire situation. As well as Letha from Whirlwind.”

Leroy sighed. He won’t deny that a part of him is jealous that Sera has found other people to be with. People whom she didn’t have to hide a part of herself. Fellow Gifted. People who can understand what she had gone through.

“…I’m not trying to replace you lot,” Sera said sharply, able to read the look on Leroy’s face. “No one can do that. I just…” She trailed off slowly. “I just thought that maybe I can do for them what I couldn’t for the others who didn’t survive.”

“You know that it’s not your fault. They would have come after us whether you were there or not.” Leroy pointed out bluntly. “Blade has been massive thorns in the sides of the hunters for a long time. And probably even the ESA. It’s only a matter of time before they try to get us out of the picture.”

Sera let out a huff. “I know it in my head,” she tapped two fingers against the side of her temple, “but in my heart, I can’t help feeling like there’s something more I could have done. Something that I could have done to save them all.”

“Sera, unless you’re trying to tell me that you’ve suddenly developed a Gift over foresight, I don’t see what you could have done,” Leroy said almost sarcastically, making Sera let out a light huff of laughter, and Leroy grinned—pleased that he’s able to make her laugh. He missed hearing Sera laugh. “We followed you because it is the right thing to do. And because we believed in you. You gave us a chance—something that most people wouldn’t. You didn’t care about our backgrounds at all and just accepted us. Most people in the underground wouldn’t do that. I can’t speak for the dead.” He shook his head. “But all those that have died that night? I know they would have no regrets.”

Sera said nothing for several moments, and Leroy sighed. Sera needs to learn to forgive herself first before she can move on. And he only hoped that those guys with her would be able to help her do it.

“I think I know what you’re here for, anyway,” Sera said at last. She shifted so that she was looking at Leroy right in the eye, even though she was at least a head and a half shorter than he was. “Hunters.”

“Hunters.” Leroy echoed, nodding. “The incident with Zalfari and Whirlwind… That was you, wasn’t it?” Sera nodded. “Figures. Klein would have called you for help. And speaking of Zalfari, the Premier—Larissa asked me to take charge of it. To be the new guardian.”

“Congrats, I guess,” Sera said politely. “You’re going to have a lot to do to clean up the mess that the hunters left behind for you, though.”

“I’m up to the challenge,” Leroy said bravely. “Alisa and Jeff are going to help me. And I have contacts still that I can reach out to. But the rise of hunter activity lately…” He trailed off slowly, an uneasy look on his face. “It’s not normal. And it happened right after the attack on Blade.”

“I know.” Sera sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “It’s been over a year since the attack. I’ve been making inquiries, and I don’t like what I’m hearing. After the incident with Alan and Dragonfly, all those with Gifted in their midst have retreated into the Abyss. But the hunters chose to attack Blade when they know what we do to those that hurt our people.” Leroy resisted the urge to shive at the glint in Sera’s eyes. He knows that look on her face. Whenever Sera had that look on her face, someone always suffered. “They want to start a fight? Then I’ll finish it with them. They have gone unchecked for too long, as it is. I’ll end this war that they started. If they want to call me a demon, then I might as well do something to earn that name.”

* * * *

Faster! Run faster!

That was the only thought in the man’s head as he crashed through the underbrush, almost tripping over his own feet as he did so in his haste.

Away.

He had to get away.

Far, far away.

He had to run, to get away faster, as far away as possible from the demon currently close on his heels.

He huffed, trying to catch his breath back as he hid behind the trunk of a nearby tree. He can’t hear anything. No rustling of the leaves or anything. Does that mean that he had managed to shake his pursuer off?

Snap!

He froze, straining his ears.

Did that demon already catch up to him? But how did he manage to do that this fast?!

The sounds of leaves crackling beneath feet echoed around the forest just then, and the man froze. He whirled around, eyes frantically searching the darkness and the shadows for his pursuer even as he drew a gun with shaking hands from the holster by his side.

It’s him. He’s here.

“This…is impossible…” The man murmured, muttering prayers to the Goddess for her protection. “No one said…that it’ll be this way…”

The rustling of bushes from behind him caused him to whirl around once more, his heart pounding so frantically in his chest that he wouldn’t be surprised if his pursuer could hear it.

Nothing.

The bushes are still swaying, but there is no sight of anyone.

His pursuer is playing with him.

“Come out here and face me like a man!” He screamed, his voice echoing around the forest. He tried to sound menacing, but the quaver in his voice and his trembling hands betrayed his inner turmoil.

A light chuckle echoed around the forest, sounding as if it came from nowhere, and yet everywhere at once.

“Who are you?!” The man screamed again.

Who are you? Who are you…? Who are you…?

His screams echoed back at him.

“Come out here and face me!”

Face me… Face me… Face me…

His screams continue being echoed back at him, only adding to the man’s fear.

There was a low, unfamiliar chuckle just then. The man whirled around, firing at where he thought the demon was.

The bullet however veered off course and struck the trunk of a nearby tree, no thanks to his shaking hands.

“Not so much fun when it’s you being the hunted, right? Hunter?”

The voice came from somewhere behind him this time.

Bang!

Another bullet veered off course.

“Come out here and fight!” The hunter screamed with fear, eyes almost bulging out of his eye sockets. He whirled around, trying to find his pursuer. “Where are you?!”

Then, from out of nowhere, a hand then grasped the wrist that was holding the gun and snapped it. Hard.

The hunter let out a cry of pain as he felt the bones in his hand snap cleanly, dropping the gun that he had been holding onto the forest bed. But whoever is standing behind him right now, they aren’t done with him just yet.

The hunter froze when he felt the cold steel of a blade resting against his cheek.

“W-Who are you?” His voice shook.

“I’m disappointed. You’ve forgotten about us, have you?” The low, silky voice almost whispered into his ear. “Forgotten about us after the havoc that you wrecked on our home and territory, and put the underground into the mess that it now is?”

The hunter’s eyes widened.

“Y-You are…”

The hunter never got a chance to speak. He won’t be saying anything at all for a long time.

He let out a gurgle as the sharp steel of a blade slashed at his throat, and his lifeblood flowed out like a fountain, staining his shirt and trousers red before he collapsed to the forest bed, clutching at his slashed throat, and struggling to breathe.

“…W-Who…?” The hunter wheezed, trying to get a good look at his attacker.

The moon came out from behind the clouds just then, with some light streaming in from above.

The face of his attacker is unknown to the hunter, but his focus is on something else.

“You should never have started something you can’t finish.” His attacker almost whispered, cleaning the blood on his blade with the downed hunter’s shirt. “And if anything, you shouldn’t have targeted us. Our name is as such for a reason. Blade is like our name; sharp and unyielding. Cruel when we have to. And a protector if necessary.”

The light in the downed hunter’s eyes was starting to dim.

“…M-Monster…” he gaggled, before the light finally went out of his eyes, and his breathing stilled.

“Monster, huh?” The sole living human left in the forest murmured, unconcerned with the fact that he had just ended a life as easily as breathing. “We’re only what you made us. My friends… My comrades… I will protect them as long as I draw breath. Especially to the leader that I swore fealty and loyalty to.”

The moonlight from the rays of the moon above shone down onto the young man, revealing a head of dark hair with an unusual strip of white through the fringe. He slipped the dagger that he was holding back into the holster strapped to his thigh.

Even as he turned to leave the forest and the already cooling body of the dead hunter on the forest bed, the rays from the moon caught the skin on the side of his neck.

A visible tattoo of a blade.