The sun's rising on the horizon signaled a new day, and Zack woke up to heavy conflict in the Bluebood Corps. Zack, who slept peacefully in a modestly-sized bedroom, was interrupted by the banging noises on his door.

"H-Huh?" Zack uttered as he was roused to consciousness. He didn't seem completely awake as he didn't register the noise. After a simple eye rub, Zack finally reacted to the noise.

"What the hell? What's all that noise!?"

"ZACK! OPEN THE DOOR!" the feminine voice of an obviously furious individual yelled from the other side of the door. Zack's confusion quickly turned to fright as he flinched in response.

"W-Who is it!?" Zack questioned with an audible stutter in his voice.

"HOW DARE YOU COME BACK AFTER RUNNING AWAY!" The voice yelled. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

Who the hell is this person!? Zack thought as he broke out into a sweat. What did I even do!?

CRACK!

The repeated banging of this ire-fueled woman caused the hinges and door lock to crack, before completely breaking, shocking Zack. Fearing for his life, Zack frantically picked up a metallic rod near his bedside.

The door was blasted from its hinges, revealing the enraged woman. Zack had no time to verbally defend himself, as this unfamiliar person charged at him.

The woman brought back her fist in preparation for striking Zack. This visible retraction gave Zack ample time to react, and he did so by weaving her strike. Before he could hope to counterattack by attacking his opponent with the rod, Zack found his movements stalled.

The ground and walls of Zack's room exploded as what seemed to be several large plant roots burst through and wrapped themselves around Zack's limbs.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Zack exclaimed as he was forced to the ground by the roots. The woman ruthlessly took advantage of his restrained state and jumped onto Zack's chest with a flying knee. "AH!!"

"How dare you come back, Zack!" The woman yelled after putting her face close to his. "Are you insane!?"

"W-Who even...are you!?" Zack asked while having an expression indicating visible pain. "The director...already forgave me! Let...me go!"

POW!

Zack's words provoked her ire to a greater extent, and she executed a powerful right hook to his face, which left a visible bruise on his face.

"Ugh..."

"I don't know why the director would forgive you, but I don't care!" The woman retorted. "You left us just like that! How can I forgive that!?"

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"...If you were in my shoes, you'd have understood why I never wanted to return," Zack muttered. "If you were treated like an expendable soldier, you'd understand..."

"...I knew it. You don't remember who I am, huh?" The woman remarked.

"...What?"

"Yeah, I'm going to kill you, after all," The woman remarked as plant roots wrapped themselves around Zack's neck. Zack's expression strained as the roots began applying pressure around his neck and squeezing.

Damn it, why did I even come here... Zack pondered as he was silently gasping for air while choking. I knew this was a bad idea, developer...But, I just wanted to get stronger, so I could be helpful for once.

The woman gazed at Zack with a weird look of sorrow as he choked. As his air fuel gradually decreased, Zack's eyes rolled upwards and his pupils moved to the back of his head.

Zack's immediate desire for air was finally quenched as he experienced a stroke of good luck. The roots surrounding his throat were strangely sliced apart, much to the woman's surprise.

"Hey, what are you doing to Zack, Rose!?" Octavius, who grabbed Rose and pulled her off Zack, questioned with shock. "Are you trying to kill him!?"

Finally becoming free of the roots, Zack excessively coughed and gasped for the air he was deprived of. Octavius freed his friends of the remaining roots that restrained his limbs by secreting a slimy liquid capable of cutting through them.

"Hey! Don't stop me, Octavius!" Rose, as referred to by Octavius, retorted. Octavius had released Rose and stood in her way to protect his friend. "He's a traitor, and he has no use to us! He can't even use his blessing that well!"

Rose was a young woman in her mid-twenties and fairly tall for her gender. Her light chocolate-colored skin complemented her almond-brown hair in a half-bun style. Her bun was kept together by a red rose hairpin in her hair. Like Octavius and Zack, Rose wore tight-fitted blue overalls which accentuated her curves.

"What the hell do you think the director will do if he hears you're trying to kill a fellow member!?" Octavius questioned. "There's a strict rule about killing your mates, did you forget!?"

"I should be asking how you convinced the director to accept Zack because he was extremely mad when he escaped," Rose argued. "You don't need to help him just because you were good friends! Once a traitor, always a traitor! He'll just run away again!"

"That's not--"

"Cough, cough...I'm sorry, I don't remember who you are...but it seems like you know me...judging by how you're talking," Zack remarked. "But, is there anything I can do...to prove my worth? To get...on your good side?"

Rose gazed at Zack with rage, gritting her teeth and clenching her fist.

"C'mon, just give him a chance, Rose," Octavius pleaded. I don't understand why she's so angry towards Zack. She's usually level-headed.

A portion of the roof fell as the two waited for Rose's response. The plant roots which burst through caused extensive structural damage.

With a loud sigh, Rose's expression relaxed.

"You dare ask for a way to get on my good side, after admitting you forgot who I was," Rose remarked which confused Zack. "But fine, I'll give you a chance to show me how useful you are."

"R-Really!? I'll do anything!" Zack happily stated. "What is it?"

"I was planning on sending others, but you can work," Rose stated. "Sources have told us that the president is looking to jumpstart the Anti-Blessed Malefactor Corps, aka, the super soldiers. There will be a freight train carrying some modification serums later this week. I want you to steal it."

"W-What?"

"I'll give you the details later," Rose stated. "If you fail or refuse to do it, I'll deem you worthless...and you know what will happen in that case."

Without entertaining any questions Zack may have, Rose departed his room.

"Damn it, who even is she to boss me around, anyways?" The frustrated Zack questioned.

"Well, she's kind of a big shot," Octavius stated.

"Huh?"

"There are two underbosses in this organization hand-picked by the director. The underbosses are ranked right under the director, and lead all the regular members," Octavius explained. "I am an underboss, and Rose Thatcher is the other."

"O-Oh..." Zack uttered.