BOOM!

Zack's sneaky strike produced a large explosion from his gloves, and the roar of the blast garnered the attention of his two allies. William's despair-filled look slowly morphed to fright as he was tossed by the cannon he was struck by.

The crushing sounds of wood and concrete were audible as William rag-dolled through the walls of his own mansion, through the bark of a tree, and finally into another.

This was the blow needed to put down the already critically injured William, as he leaned on the tree with contorted limbs, tattered garments, and a deep visible discoloration in his stomach from Zack's blow.

With his arm steaming from the heat of the explosion, Zack staggered towards William.

Heh, I actually did it. Zack pondered as he walked. And the gloves are perfectly fine. It's not burned in the slightest. This is why the developer gave these to me.

Ah...shit. I can't feel anything. William thought as he reflexively coughed up blood, staining his already-tattered suit. He didn't even have the strength to keep his head up. Is this why...that bastard is S-Class?

Zack approached and stood before him, and William still kept his gaze to the ground.

"Ugh, sorry about sneaking you while you witnessed your brother...you know," Zack muttered. "But I wasn't going to lose. I'll do anything for my friends--"

"Shut...up," William muttered as he slowly closed his eyes.

"...To be honest, I kinda understand why you hate the boss," Zack continued. "Because of some unfortunate events while I was in school, I got forced to work under the director. I suffered quite a bit too--"

"Uh, Zack. He's already dead," Rose while approaching him, remarked, snapping Zack out of his monologue.

William's ever-so-still body told Zack he had passed on from his injuries.

"...Oh," Zack replied before shoulder shrugging. "Well, the poor guy gets to see his bro again."

"Pfft, those two will be burning in hell. I doubt they will have time to enjoy their reunion," Rose responded as Octavius approached them.

"Lol, that's pretty mean," Zack responded. "How did I do, though? I was pretty useful, right--"

As he spoke, Zack witnessed a Silverdust gang member picking up the handgun of the deceased Noah before aiming at Rose's back.

"You bastards...ruined everything..." The gang member muttered, causing Zack's eyes to widen as he observed his actions.

"...Yeah, yeah. You did good," Rose responded after rolling her eyes. "It would have been even better if you didn't get yourself so damn injured through--"

"Get down!" Zack uttered as he leaped towards Rose. Her expression morphed to shock as Zack pushed her to the ground. The gang member was simultaneously fired.

The power and recoil of this enhanced handgun were far greater than the gang member expected. Torn tissue, shattered bones, and excessive blood were visible as the hand that the gang member used to fire the handgun was torn off his person due to the recoil.

At the very least, he did find a target as the silver bullet tore through Zack's shoulder.

"AAAHHHHHHH!!!" The gang member uttered as the intense pain of his destroyed hand coursed through his body.

"You bastard!" Octavius angrily exclaimed as he immediately tossed crimson slime onto the perpetrator's body. His screams became far louder and more intense, and he began writhing around in agony as the slime released raging flames all over the covered portions of his body.

"Are you guys okay!?" The concerned Octavius questioned as he ignored the burning enemy.

"Urgh...that bastard got my shoulder," Zack muttered as he clenched his bleeding clavicle. He was on top of Rose, who seemed flustered by their proximity. Good thing I took those painkillers...

"Tsk, we need to get you some treatment quickly," Octavius remarked as Zack removed himself from Rose and stood up. "Those injuries are pretty nasty."

"It's fine...this means nothing," Zack stated. "I'm just glad that I can help out this much."

"...Tsk, that was pretty idiotic. You're lucky it was just your shoulder," Rose said to mask her flustered demeanor. "You don't need to push yourself to be helpful, you've already done enough. I'm not the director, after all."

Zack's expression immediately became dumbfounded after hearing her words. It was as though something clicked inside him.

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"Jeez, you could have at least told him thank you," Octavius said with narrowed eyes. "He saved you, you know? Or do you hate him that much?"

"Sigh, thanks I guess," Rose relented as she turned her head away while thanking Zack. His lack of response surprised the two, however. "Huh? Zack?"

The two stared with raised eyebrows as Zack gazed blankly at Rose. Strangely enough, the memory of a younger Zack encountering a weak and injured woman pleading for assistance in the ruined district surfaced in the current Zack's mind.

Wait...where did I hear those words from Rose before... Zack thought. I...I think it's coming back to me.

*

Zack's thoughts wandered to a certain point in the past, to a younger version of himself. This Zack was similar to the man who rescued that weak woman and contrasted with the current Zack; his expression was devoid of joy as if he was a broken man.

The setting he currently resided in made no effort to help Zack's mental state, as he was locked inside a small prison-cell-like room.

"Damn it...when will I be treated like a member here. Why am I...treated differently from everyone else...?" Zack muttered to himself. "I thought things...would have turned around...when my stupid blessing...awoke in me. I just want...to feel needed...for once..."

KNOCK, KNOCK!

Tapping sounds were audible on the other side of the cell's metal door, snapping Zack out of his self-pity.

"Zack, can you hear me?" On the other side of the door, a slightly younger Rose Thatcher questioned.

"R-Rose?" Zack replied with surprise. "W-What are you doing here?"

"Don't we normally talk to each other around these times?" Rose questioned. "We don't get much time to talk in the day, since we're busy with work-related stuff."

"...H-How much of what I said did you hear?"

"All of it," Rose bluntly responded, causing Zack to become embarrassed.

"How embarrassing...I didn't want you to hear that," Zack said. "I couldn't even keep my mouth shut..."

"You're pissing me off. You think I'd ever laugh at you for feeling that way?" Rose angrily questioned. "You're the one who saved my life back then...and you're the only one in this world I can trust and rely on."

"...I don't know what you mean by the last part, but I'm the one who nearly got you killed in the first place," Zack questioned. "Because you were caught in the collateral..."

"I don't care about that. It's the director to be blamed for using you like a slave to eliminate his rivals," Rose retorted. "But you won't understand how terrible my life was before meeting you."

"...You shouldn't talk like that about the director," Zack muttered. "Someone might hear you."

"Truth be told, I'm only on your side. I hate how you're treated...which is why I'll change it," Rose declared.

"Huh?"

"Don't worry, Zack. If the director doesn't want to acknowledge you, I'll force him to," Rose explained. "I'll work hard and become an underboss, where I can negotiate for your better treatment."

"Y-You don't...have to do that," Zack said. "It won't even work. I'll just be regarded as a useless tool anyways...that's how I've been seen my whole life."

"Quit talking like that. You saved me from death. You're the most valuable person in my eyes. You don't need to push yourself to be helpful, you've already done enough. I'm not the director, after all," Rose expressed with a slight blushing on her face. "As long as you stay by my side, I promise everyone will realize that you are an amazing person, Zack."

The depressed Zack's cheeks flushed red as he listened to Rose's declaration. That was the first time he truly felt like someone cared for him.

*

"Uh, earth to Zack?" Octavius remarked as he waved his hand in front of Zack's face.

"I...I remember now," Zack suddenly responded.

"Remember what?" Rose questioned. Before Octavius and Rose, Zack suddenly bent his body forward into a bow.

"I am so sorry Rose...I can't believe I forgot who you were," Zack suddenly stated, shocking Rose. "It's only recently that I found myself remembering my past. I must have repressed my memories unintentionally..."

"W-What?" Rose uttered in pure bewilderment. "Y-You remember me?"

"You've always been there for me. Helping me when I'm at my lowest in that dark cell room," Zack responded. "You even became an underboss like you said you did. I'm so glad I saved you back then."

"S...So you do remember. Do you know how angry and betrayed I felt when you left?" Rose remarked. Octavius spectated with a raised eyebrow while the two conversed.

"Yeah, I can only imagine. I'm sorry...for leaving without telling you anything," Zack apologized. "Well, I doubt the developer would allow me to say anything anyway..."

"...Fufu, it's fine, you damn bastard," Rose stated before turning around and walking. She had a smirk and a slight blush became visible on her face. "I never expected this, but I feel much better now that you remember."

"Where are you going?" Zack questioned.

"I gotta make sure these Silverdust members won't try anything like that again," Rose replied. "I must confirm which of them truly wants to live and join our organization, or die here."

"Hmpf, so you guys knew each other," Octavius said. "I feel annoyed when you said she was there for you when I was your first friend in this damn organization."

"Lol, we used to talk whenever I'd get time to leave my damn prison cell of a home," Zack said. "You and Rose are both my great friends, haha!"

"Tsk, so...do you like her or something?" Octavius questioned.

"H-Huh?"

"You heard me. You sounded a bit too sorry for forgetting her," Octavius said. "So? Do you like her?"

"...I don't know," Zack responded.

"What?"

"Come on, let's go see if Rose needs any help!" Zack responded before quickly running off, despite his injuries.

"Tch...you can try keeping it to yourself," Octavius muttered before following.

I do like her to be honest. She's the first person who treated me like a human...and the only one who cared for me so. But I can't tell her that, I don't deserve to. Zack pondered as he approached Rose. Not after how useless I was as a game character...and everything I've done...with Ada.

Rose stood before the remaining Silverdust members. Judging by the number of deceased men, the Silverdust gang members were cut in half.

"Well, these are the remaining ones who pledged their loyalty to us," Rose stated. "The director will be glad he'll get more members."

"For cybernetic enhancements..." Octavius muttered under his breath.

Ah...this mission was a success, and I recovered my repressed memories of Rose. I've become a slightly bit more helpful. Zack thought. I'm one step closer to being able to fight with and protect Nathan and the rest of my friends...and avenge Jack. I can't wait for whatever next task the developer has in store for us!

Zack truly played a crucial part in the toppling of the small Silverdust criminal organization. He deserved the time to celebrate, but it was only a short time. Little did Zack know, the developer's 'next mission' would not be so rewarding for him.