Lost Aletheia

Chapter 2: Who You Must Save

Kazuki: “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH”

It felt like life as I knew it was crumbling before me. I just couldn’t figure out why I’d been put in this nightmarish situation. What else could I do besides scream and cry? I’m gonna die. I’ll never see anyone again. Daisuke, Ema, Shiori, Azumi… I’ll never see any of them again. And for what?! What did I do that was so wrong?!

“UROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH”

As if howling in response to me, the spider-like creature made its presence known once more. Flaunting a bright crimson colour, its loud cry caused even more of its foul liquid to secrete, which seemed to heat up its entire body. It looked as if it was preparing to do something… But it wasn’t the same stance it had prior to the lunge. No, this was something fatal, something done to a now helpless prey. As if locking eyes with me, I could tell it knew I feared it, and it would use that against me. I could do nothing but continue to scream and pointlessly beg for my life.

Gamus: “Dammit!... Listen, forget about the STELLA, you need to run! It has its mark on you now, if you don’t get out of here you’ll die!”

Whatever words Gamus was spouting didn’t matter. My mind had already given in and accepted my fate. I couldn’t move from the pain. Any movement I was making was just a panicked induced pathetic crawl. But now… it’s all over. I can see the creature has finished preparing whatever it’s been charging. I’m sorry I was a failure of a brother, Azumi…

Kazuki: “I don’t…”

Shut up.

Kazuki: “want…”

Shut up shut up shut up! Nothing I say here will help! At least die with dignity! Can’t I even do that in my final moments?!

Kazuki: “I DON’T WANT TO DIE!”

Gamus: “...Shit!”

But my desperate cry didn’t matter. As if in response to my shout, the creature blasted a wave of fire orbs from its mouth that zoomed toward me. Upon impact, they would instantly obliterate me, leaving nothing but ashes - the ashes of an unremarkable person.

But before that could happen…

Gamus appeared in front of me.

Gamus: “And after I called you an idiot… Ah well…”

Kazuki: “Wh-”

Before I could even formulate the question, they had grasped my body with unexpected strength and thrown me across the room. In that instant, what could only be described as terrifying masses of death barreled towards them. It felt as if time slowed down. The waves of death whirled through the air, their intention still locked towards me, but now with a critical obstacle in their path. However, no matter what I could possibly think up at this moment, nothing I could do would stop the wave of death as it collided with my surprise savior.

Kazuki: “NOOOOOOOOOOO”

THUD

My body had once again collided with a wall, albeit with far less force than the spider had subjected me to. But the pain no longer mattered. I had to see. I had to make sure Gamus wasn’t dead, but it was impossible to tell with the smoke from the blast coating the entire area. As crumbling rubble continuously fell from the wall of the impact, I could do nothing but drop to my knees in helplessness.

It was only then that I noticed. Debris that must have come from Gamus after their impact with the fire orbs. In particular, a pure red ribbon stood out to me. It was bloodstained, losing whatever beauty it may have held before.

Kazuki: “Blood…”

Blood… Blood! That had to mean they were still alive! If they were incinerated then surely nothing would have survived, much less have blood on it!

Kazuki: “Blood?..”

Blood… That still means they’re injured though… and probably badly. And it’s… all my fault…

Kazuki: “...”

No more. I’m sick of this. What did I do to deserve this? I just want to go home…

But more than anything…

I don’t want anyone else to get hurt tonight.

Don’t you already know what you must do to accomplish that?

A young boy with blue hair not unlike mine appeared in front of me. His voice however resided purely in my mind. It felt as if time itself had stopped, although I knew this wasn’t the truth. Everything about this situation should have been strange, yet my mind was not focused on the oddities - rather, my mind was desperately focused on trying to stop me from hearing this boy out, but I couldn’t let go of what he’d just said.

Kazuki: “What I… must do?”

You have to remember what you really are, and… who you must save. Remember what your dream was!

My dream… It’s been so long that I almost forgot. I did have a dream once. I told everyone I ever knew about it too… But every time we moved, my life changed, and eventually, my life became taking care of Azumi. There was no way I could ever achieve my dream, it was an illogical one from the start but… is this what you wanted me to remember Gamus? Because in this situation, with the chance that you risked your life to give me… Maybe I really can be…

A hero that saves everyone.

——————————————————————————————————————————

The smoke was clearing and I could feel that the monstrous spider was growing impatient. The moment its vision was unobscured, it would finish its assault on me., meaning these next few moments were crucial in figuring out my course of action. But I already know what I have to do. It’s what I always do, after all.

Kazuki: “Clear your mind… Focus…”

I had been dreading doing this since the brutal air of this facility truly fueled a feeling of death, but if it’s what I need to live, no, to give meaning to the chance Gamus gave me, then I’ll withstand it.

CREAAAAAAAAK

My mind starts to break as it's overloaded, like the air itself is trying to enter my mind and kill it from the inside, but I will hold on… I won’t let Gamus’ judgment be wrong.

“URRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRH”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

The creature’s growling signaled it had grown tired of waiting. Perhaps it could tell that it shouldn’t let me finish, or rather it couldn’t let me finish - regardless, it didn’t matter. As thousands of feelings and images coursed through my brain, I searched and searched for the answer. So many unfamiliar scenes came to me, indistinct enough that I couldn’t understand what they were showing me, yet clear enough to provide me a sense of nostalgia. But this wasn’t what I needed, so I cycled to the next, and the next, and then next, until-

“UROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH”

It was ready to terminate the only threat left, however it was too late… Gamus…

I will be the hero you want me to be.

Kazuki: “Awaken my STELLA… Pegasus!!”

Raising my open palm to the ceiling, I called out the name I needed to. The name of one I had no memory of, but one that would help me become a hero. At the same time however, the spider launched at an unimaginable speed, on a self-imposed mission to stop me.

It sensed its impending death.

“Biometric authentication confirmed. STELLA system activated. Pegasus formation acknowledged.”

The suit had spoken with a female sounding robotic tone, although it had spoken the words directly into my mind.

The hideous spider approached, but alas, the STELLA had already activated, and with it came a massive blast of pure energy exploding from the suit, ejecting the creature at a startling speed. But the blast wasn’t a defense mechanism, it was the suit’s ability to transform.

The bulky space suit instantly closed in on me, squeezing tightly to my body shape and providing my neck with strange pinching sensations. While this occurred, the soft mesh of the suit transformed into what seemed like millions of small cold metallic bits, or perhaps that’s what it originally was. The metallic bits swirled around my tightening frame and started bulking together, creating a new suit, no, creating armor.

It started with my arms receiving sleek black metallic pointed protection, then moved on to my legs, before giving me a strong but bodytight chest piece, and finally changing the shape of my visor. In the seams between the armor flow a blue light, proving the STELLA system is active. Only after this was my open hand rewarded as all of the remaining metallic bits came together to form a black katana, with blue running through the edge of the blade.

Even though I couldn’t see myself, I knew exactly what I had become - my own personal image of a hero. Even when I forgot my dream, I still promised Azumi, didn’t I?

Kazuki: “Azumi, forgive me… your foolish knight will be back soon.”

I readied my sword in a ko gasumi stance I shouldn't even know, yet felt like second nature, as if wielding a sword was as natural as breathing is to me.

Kazuki: “And I apologize to you too, Gamus… But I won’t let you be hurt anymore. I’ll save you!”

With a vigorous step, I moved to attack the creature, who’s still recovering from the blast it received not long ago.

CRASHHHHHHH

That’s odd. Somehow the creature is now on the opposite wall. But it can’t have been long enough for it to recover that much. Meaning… I’m on the other side??

I’m not sure what the most confusing thing here is: the fact that one step sprung me this far or that this doesn’t hurt at all.

While pondering this, crackling began to come through in the speaker of my helmet.

Gamus: “I see you’ve… joined the party…”

Kazuki: “Gamus!! You’re okay!! Thank god!”

Gamus: “Don’t thank him yet. We’re both dead if you don’t beat that thing in the next two minutes.”

Kazuki: “Huh? Why? I can fight fine.”

Gamus: “You idiot! Did you forget the wounds you received earlier?! The only reason you can fight now is because your STELLA injected drugs akin to adrenaline into you.”

So that’s what that sensation was…

Gamus: “Not to mention you’ve already taken all the kinetic energy you can store.”

Kazuki: “Wait, what do you mean?”

Gamus: “No human can just walk off that hit to the wall you just took! Your suit just absorbed the impact of it, but it’s not magic. The next one will be painful. And considering the damage you took from before you activated… You have two hits left, MAX!”

I’m gonna let them keep believing I was hit into the wall and not that I… crashed into it.

Kazuki: “So… I just need to take it down without getting hit twice, right?”

Gamus: “You make it… sound so easy…”

Their voice started to fade as that sentence reached its end.

Kazuki: “Gamus? Are you okay?”

Gamus: “Your idiocy… tired me out… I’m still recovering here…”

Kazuki: “Ah…”

Am I a dumbass? Of course they’re in pain, they took a flaming ball of death for me.

Kazuki: “I’m sorry… But, you don’t have to worry. I promise I’ll save us.”

Gamus: “That’s a big claim… Just this once, I’ll put my faith in you… Don’t disappoint… hero…”

That was the last bit of encouragement I’d ever need. A hero’s at their strongest when they have someone to save after all.

Kazuki: “But in order to save us, that abomination must die.”

I readied my stance once more. This time I would not misstep. I don’t know if I can kill it in one hit, but I’ll sure as hell try. I could tell it was ready to attack me, flexing itself as if it couldn’t wait to obliterate me, but that cannot happen.

Taking one step forward, I jump towards it at a speed I can control. It seems the suit has adapted to my movements much better this time. This time, it felt like I was in full control of my body. I felt as free as a kite soaring through the sky, but I had a destination: the head of this atrocity. No matter how fast it may move, I’m faster.

Or at least, that’s what I thought.

“OROUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH”

But I made the mistake of forgetting that all creatures are at their most dangerous when death is near.

——————————————————————————————————————————

Raising one of its back legs in the air, it prepared to attack. It wouldn’t be a clean death, but it wants to crush me before I could do anything to fatally wound it. The only deciding factor would be if I could react fast enough.

It brought its leg down with the force and velocity of a lightning bolt cast by Zeus himself. I had to move. If I didn’t move, I would die, and my promise would be a lie.

Kazuki: “MOVE!”

Although my body could not do it on its own, the STELLA-no, Pegasus, responded. As if forcing my body past its limits, it ripped my arm from its settled position forcing it to counter the incoming leg, at a speed no human limb should ever go.

SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING

SPLAT

A large mass collided with the ground and spewed blood. It was the spider’s leg. My sword had cut through, just barely in time.

“UREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH”

I immediately jumped back and to the left in an effort to avoid any counterattack it may have. But I was a fool to think the onslaught would stop there. Before I could even process what was happening, a wave of what felt like pure death flew and flew until it tracked me down and rammed into me, sending me flying across the room once more.

CRASHHHHHHHHH

The wall once again crumbled, creating patches big enough for a body to fit.

Kazuki: “Damn it… That was the… flame blast. If I get hit one more time… I’m definitely dead.”

Even with all the drugs in the world, I would probably still feel this pain. It hurt to even move, but I had to.

Kazuki: “Judging off the last time this happened, I have about thirty seconds to figure out what the hell I’m gonna do to kill this thing before it attacks me again…”

But that’s okay. I only have a minute left before the full brunt of this pain kicks in anyways. So, for one last time, today… I’ll focus and find my way forward.

——————————————————————————————————————————

Kazuki: “...It’s risky but it’s all I can think of with my body in this state.”

My body ached all over, and I’m not sure I could even properly move my arm with what I had just done moments ago, making my ability to kill this monster exceedingly slim.

Kazuki: “Then this is the only way.”

Saying this, I jumped up into one of the holes in the wall, aligning myself in a position to face this curse of a spider. The plan was based on the last attack that I received. Despite specifically moving out of sight, its flames still found me, meaning there must be something to track me. Then I finally realized that this is a spider, not just in appearance. If it attaches something to its prey then it should be obvious what it is: a web. Using the web as a trajectory to the spider is the first part of the plan. The second part relies on the fact that this suit collects kinetic energy.

Kazuki: “Hey Pegasus, just to confirm, this suit does have a kinetic blast right?”

“Affirmative. Using neural programming, the user may fire it at will. Once used, kinetic energy must once again be built up before another use.”

Well, that’s the answer to my movement query. The only other worry is my immobile arm but-

“URRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH”

Looks like time’s up. I only have maybe ten seconds before it incinerates me for the kill. In this last moment, I must think about what I need to be. Right now, what will get rid of this horrid creature? It’s not a hero, and it’s not a knight. No… The only thing that can get rid of something like this is death. Death itself. That is what I must become, in order to save Gamus and return to Azumi. I cannot be a human with desires. I can’t have anything that could possibly cloud my judgment. I must be the essence of death. My sole purpose is to kill.

As if responding to the change in my purpose, my armor’s lights shone a royal blue, while my eyes also glowed the same color. Both Pegasus and I became one, but at the same time became nothing. Because we were simply a tool in this moment, with our only purpose being to kill.

“UROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH”

Fearing for its life, the arachnid screamed and prepared to fire its annihilation wave one last time, and this was my signal. With my heightened focus as a weapon of death, I instantly felt the web attach to my suit. At a speed only achievable through the use of STELLA technology, I grabbed onto the web, securing my trajectory.

Kazuki: “Activate kinetic blast!!”

Now came the most crucial part of the plan. Because I couldn’t move my arm, I had to abandon being human in this instant. By positioning myself in the exact angle Pegasus specified, we achieved what should be impossible.

WOOSH

WOOSH

WOOSH

We were spinning. Spinning at an inhuman speed. But I was not human. I am a tool of death. In this instance, I am akin to a shuriken in the form of a human. I am the essence of death.

FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH

The wave of fire caught up to me. But it was of no relevance.

Creating a wheel of fire, I spun so fast that I cut through the blasts. The suit could not have taken another direct hit, but it didn’t need to. The flames could never touch me. And through the flames lie the true target. The being that breaks every law of nature. The one that only death can stop.

Kazuki: “It’s over.”

“UROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH”

Despite one last battle cry, it could do nothing but cower before the impending death spiraling towards it. Even a last minute attempt to run proved futile.

Kazuki: “UWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH”

SLICEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

No matter where it ran, its web, which had been a mark for its target, had become its own mark of death. Immediately upon impact, I sliced right through it, cutting it clean in half. Its body could never hold up against Pegasus’ might. Covered in the guts and blood from slicing right down its middle, I had neither the control nor the strength to stop my spiral, which landed me straight into the opposing wall.

THUD

Although I could now feel the unimaginable pain of every attack up to this point, only one thought ran through my mind. The truth that today proved:

Kazuki: “So… even monsters can’t run from death.”