Chapter 1: Loved One's
In the middle of the night where even the dead falls asleep. A city covered with the stench of fresh and rotten blood. Waking up the sleeping banshees.
At the end of the road in between. A path lies, which corresponds to the next barren city. On top of a huge debris where the moon continued to show it's glow. A lone teenage boy rose up atop the pile of humongous rocks and concrete.
His hands are filled with callouses. His face shown with deep worries. Heavy breaths taking appearance at the cold night as he sighed *SIGH*.
Once done stabilizing his breathing, the boy shouted to find his blood."HUFF... HUFF... EVERYONE! PLEASE! IF YOU'RE STILL THERE...!"
He attempted to call out as many times as he can and at his 5th attempt, a familiar voice kept echoing under the stream of the moonlight.
"BROTHER! WE'RE ALL HERE!" A voice belonging to a young boy around his age shouted in reply for his urgency.
The boy who almost thought he have lost everything regained new found hope as he silently cried in relief "Hick... Thank Goodness... They're all fine..."
As the distance between them grew closer and closer until they're finally at each others reach. Upon their reunion the young boy who have been grasping straws since earlier immediately rushed to tell them and important news.
"Everyone! Listen carefully. There will be a small unit of Arts users arriving at the rooftop of the capital of San City. They're soon to be inbound, and the survivors of the surviving cities will be flooding there so before that happens, you must go there before the Daybreak"
With the record of how trustworthy the young teenager is, noone from his family voiced their opinions and looked at each other nodding in agreement.
"Alright Brother Zeis, we should depart as soon as possible just like you've said"
A young boy a few years younger than him spoke with conviction but was refused."Sorry Sai but I will be staying behind..." He spoke while turning his head away avoiding an eye to eye contact.
Hearing his reply, another young boy much younger than the last one who've spoken questioned in confusion."But why?! Brother Zeis?!"
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Zeis averted his gaze towards the night sky and spoke, answering their questions."Sorry but someone has to do it else many other innocent people might be sacrificed tonight..." He pondered and sighed in relief as he looked at the others with firm resolutions."I'll be leaving everyone's safety to you Brother Khenli, Brother Thrix, and Brother James. Lastly my younger Brother's... Sai and Pete, you must take good care of the little ones for me, you must promise me to safely escape from here."
Hearing him say this, the others gritted their teeth and some cried in silence. Zeis then smiled at the sight of his loving family and saw one of the youngest sisters crying her heart out."Brother.... Sob... Sob... Why are you doing this to us..."
Seeing his younger sister cry in so much pain for him made him realize how selfish of a decision he has decided to accomplish.
He then kneeled down on one knee and softly touched her little cheeks, sweeping away the tears."I'll follow soon after, okay?" He smiled innocently."I promise you after this is all over we'll all eat at a big restaurant with the entire family."
The young girl then spoke with a low teary voice."Promise...?" Zeis answered reaching out his pinky finger "Promise" his eyes smiled along with his lips as he swore his promise to the young girl.
The young girl then reached out her small hands and instead of reaching out her hands to answer the promise, she instead touched his cheeks lowering his head and gave him a kiss on his forehead.
Zeis was caught off guard in that moment and just silently smiled accepting it as a sealed promise. He then slowly stood up and patted her head as he look at his family one last time.
More than the good and bad days before the apocalypse, this one moment was what completely etched into his mind.
A second later, he spoke with a commanding expression."Everyone must go into different directions to avoid being overrun by the Alien Beasts" he then picked up a sharp stone and stabbed his hand with it.
The others felt pained to see him bleeding for their sake but can't utter a single sound. The efforts his giving into saving them weighed more into their minds and so they can only hope that Zeis will be able to return back alive.
Zeis then drew on the ground using his blood and after a few minutes, the layout of the city and the path which are safe to travel along are marked out with a slightly bigger stone. Zeis then pointed out the hidden dangers and as to which path they should take if something were to go out of plan.
Upon memorizing the detailed roughly made map, the families bid him goodbye and quickly rushed inside the forest heading to San City as per his instructions.
He then waved his hand out expressing his Goodbyes. As they slowly disappeared within his sight, Zeis lowered his hand and turned around facing the inside of the ruined city.
Under the basked of the moonlight he walked around in silence.
Before arriving at his destination, Zeis faced a countless number of Alien Beasts along the way, which have taken form of the corrupted plants and animals as well as the dead human bodies.
Seeing their numbers, Zeis wasn't even fazed at all and started to chant his Unique Art's Technique.
"Rise, the sword of immemorial"
A unique warm light similar to the light of the morning sun came rushing into his right hand.
"PLEIADES!"
Shouting it's name, a sword made of the first dew of light came to be. He then strongly held onto it and came rushing towards his enemies.