Ryzen barely had time to catch his breath before Gunjo moved again. The once small, cigarette-smoking rooster had transformed into a towering, muscular figure—a monstrous hybrid of avian power and humanoid destruction. His white feathers bristled with raw energy, and his beady, glowing eyes locked onto Ryzen with a predator's focus. White flames flickered around Gunjo's body, licking the air like hungry serpents. His wings unfurled, creating gusts of wind that sent debris swirling around the shattered cafeteria.

Without warning, Gunjo launched himself into the air, his wings beating with a thunderous sound. He hovered for a moment, his body haloed in white fire, before plummeting toward Ryzen like a meteor.

BOOM!

Gunjo's fist slammed into the ground where Ryzen had been standing, the impact sending shockwaves through the floor. Tiles shattered, tables flipped, and a cloud of dust and debris exploded into the air. Ryzen had barely managed to roll out of the way, sweat pouring down his face. His enhanced speed and strength, courtesy of Espen's hair, allowed him to dodge the brunt of the attack, but the force of the impact still threw him off balance.

Gunjo's voice rumbled like distant thunder as he rose from the crater his punch had created, white flames dancing along his arms.

Ryzen grit his teeth, charging forward with his fists glowing with the residual energy from Espen's power boost. He leapt into the air, twisting his body to deliver a flying roundhouse kick aimed at Gunjo's head. The rooster was fast—faster than Ryzen expected—but his kick connected with Gunjo's shoulder, the impact sending a spray of white feathers and blood into the air.

WHAM!

Gunjo staggered back, but barely. The blow was solid, but it wasn't enough. He turned his head slowly toward Ryzen, his eyes narrowing.

Before Ryzen could react, Gunjo's fist came crashing into his ribs like a freight train. The punch was brutal, caving in Ryzen's side with a sickening crunch. Blood spurted from Ryzen's mouth as he was launched through the air, his body slamming into a nearby wall. The impact was so violent it sent cracks spider-webbing across the surface, and Ryzen crumpled to the ground, gasping in pain.

His vision blurred for a moment, but he forced himself to stand, clutching his side. Blood dripped from his lips, and his entire body ached. 'Dammit… this rooster's too strong…' he thought, struggling to catch his breath.

But Gunjo wasn't giving him a moment to rest. The rooster flapped his wings, hovering above Ryzen with a menacing glow of white fire surrounding him. He raised both fists high above his head, and then he plummeted down again, aiming to smash Ryzen into the ground.

Ryzen rolled to the side just in time, the force of Gunjo's fists shattering the floor where he had been lying. Dust and debris filled the air, and Ryzen coughed, his lungs burning. 'I'm fast, but not fast enough. I can't keep dodging forever.'

As Gunjo rose from the crater, Ryzen darted forward, trying to land another hit. His fists swung in rapid succession, each punch aimed at Gunjo's torso. He managed to land a few blows, but they barely seemed to register with the monstrous rooster.

Gunjo swatted him away like a fly, his massive wing sending Ryzen crashing through a row of tables. White flames flickered in the air as the rooster advanced, his eyes glowing with a furious light.

Ryzen groaned, pushing himself up from the wreckage of the tables. His body was covered in bruises and cuts, blood dripping from multiple wounds. He could feel the power from Espen's hair beginning to fade, his muscles already starting to weaken. 'Shit… time's running out.' He gritted his teeth, wiping blood from his mouth.

'I can't win!'

Gunjo didn't give him a moment to think. In an instant, he was on Ryzen again, his massive fists swinging with the force of a wrecking ball. Ryzen barely managed to block the first punch, but the force sent him skidding across the floor.

Gunjo flapped his wings, lifting off the ground and swooping toward Ryzen with terrifying speed. He swung his leg in a powerful kick, aiming for Ryzen's chest. Ryzen crossed his arms in front of him, trying to block, but the impact was devastating.

CRACK!

The kick sent Ryzen crashing through the cafeteria doors and into the adjacent hallway. He tumbled across the floor, smashing through lockers and crashing into the opposite wall with a bone-rattling thud. Blood dripped from his mouth, and he could feel his ribs cracking under the pressure.

'Why the hell am I even doing this?' Ryzen thought, staggering to his feet. His vision swam, and he wiped blood from his eyes. 'It's just a damn rooster! Why should I care about his stupid eggs anyway?' He stumbled forward, his body screaming in pain with every step.

But even as he thought that, something inside him wouldn't let him give up. 'I could run, run away right now, forget everything, use Espen… cut this bastard down…' He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his own selfishness. 'But that's not me… right?'

As Ryzen stumbled through the school, Gunjo was relentless. The rooster crashed through walls and ceilings, his fists glowing with white fire as he pursued Ryzen. Each time Ryzen tried to get up, Gunjo was there, slamming him into the ground or smashing him through another wall. Blood splattered across the floor, and Ryzen could barely stand. His body was breaking down, and the power from Espen's hair was fading fast.

'I'm not a hero,' Ryzen thought bitterly as he was thrown through another wall, crashing into what looked like a biology lab. He coughed, blood spilling from his lips. 'I'm just a guy who likes making clips. I don't care about saving the day…'

But as he lay there, staring up at the ceiling, something caught his eye. A glint of something small, something round.

An egg.

One of Gunjo's eggs, nestled in the corner of the room among the shattered remains of lab equipment. Ryzen blinked, his vision blurry, but there was no mistaking it. The egg was still intact, glowing faintly in the dim light. There were other empty egg shells around them, with blood flowing through them which meant the worst. But there was one sole surviving egg of Gunjo's.

'He came to me for help about this…thinking and trusting we could help him…that's why I felt bad for some damn rooster?'

Ryzen thought, forcing himself to his feet. His entire body screamed in pain, but he staggered forward, reaching for the egg. 'This whole time… it was about his kids. I can even tell he's fighting against the True One's blood…I know I can't beat this rooster in this state, there's another way I can win! Let's just hope this works..'

Just as his fingers wrapped around the egg, Gunjo appeared behind him, his eyes burning with fury. "What are you doing?!" the rooster roared.

WHAM!

Gunjo's fist collided with Ryzen's face, sending him flying through another wall. Ryzen slammed into the ground, skidding across the floor, the egg still clutched tightly in his hand. Blood poured from his nose, and he was barely conscious, but he refused to let go of the egg.

Gunjo landed in front of him, his body radiating heat from the white flames that surrounded him. His eyes were wild, filled with rage and desperation. He advanced slowly, his fists clenched, ready to finish Ryzen off.

As Gunjo drew closer, Ryzen, barely able to move, raised the egg in front of him. His hands were shaking, his body broken, but he held the egg up like a shield. Blood dripped from his fingers, staining the fragile shell.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Gunjo froze, his entire body trembling. His fists were still clenched, his wings twitching with the urge to strike, but he couldn't move. His eyes locked onto the egg, and for a moment, the white flames around him flickered.

"Don't… you… dare..." Gunjo growled, his voice low and dangerous. But there was something else in his voice now. Fear. Desperation.

Ryzen, panting heavily, looked up at the towering rooster. His vision was fading, but he could see the conflict in Gunjo's eyes. The primal urge to protect his offspring battling against his rage.

"Come on… chicken…" Ryzen muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know you don't… want to do this…"

'Please work, please work. Please calm the hell down.'

Gunjo's fists trembled, the white flames around him flickering wildly. His beak clenched, and his eyes narrowed. He took a step forward, but then stopped, his entire body shaking with restraint.

The air in the room was thick with tension, the silence deafening. Ryzen held the egg up higher, his blood dripping onto its surface, his eyes locked onto Gunjo's.

"Remember what the hell you came to me for. To find your eggs, right? All the others are..destroyed. But we managed to save one. You can raise this brat."

Gunjo stood still, his massive frame casting a long shadow across the debris-strewn floor. His feathered hands trembled as he gently cradled the egg, white feathers brushing against its fragile surface. The earlier rage that had driven him into a frenzy melted away, replaced by a deep, primal tenderness. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Gunjo felt something other than the heat of battle or the weight of survival.

He gazed down at the egg, his sharp, beady eyes softening. His breath hitched in his throat as he felt it—a faint but unmistakable heartbeat. The pulse of life beat gently against his palm, fragile yet persistent, like a soft drum in the distance.

Gunjo's chest tightened, and without realizing it, a tear slipped from his eye, rolling down his beak and landing softly on the egg's surface. He quickly wiped it away with the back of his feathered hand, but the moment was undeniable. He embraced the egg closer, his massive wings folding protectively around it as if shielding it from the chaotic world around them.

Ryzen watched from a distance, leaning against a broken wall, his body still aching from the brutal fight. Blood caked his face, but for now, he let the moment belong to Gunjo. Hell, he wasn't used to seeing anyone vulnerable like this. But there was something oddly comforting about it.

Gunjo's voice broke the silence, gruff and low. "I need a cigarette," he muttered, his voice cracking slightly as though he was still fighting to control the storm of emotions raging inside him.

Ryzen chuckled, pushing himself off the wall. "Glad you're back to normal, chicken."

Gunjo, still holding the egg like it was the most valuable thing in the world, shot him a sideways glance. "Tch. Don't get all sentimental on me. I'm not about to throw you a parade."

Ryzen smirked, wiping the blood from his forehead. "Didn't ask for one."

Gunjo sighed, shifting the egg in his arms. "But... I guess I owe you. You saved my ass—and the egg. So... yeah. Thanks." His tone was rough, but there was genuine gratitude buried beneath the layers of gruffness.

Ryzen raised an eyebrow. "Wow, you almost sounded like a decent guy there for a second."

Gunjo scowled. "Don't push it."

Gunjo's eyes narrowed as he continued, his tone more serious. "You know, I didn't realize how much of a coward I was. Not until now." His grip on the egg tightened slightly, his feathers ruffling in agitation. "I've been running for so long, hiding behind my own anger, my own bullshit... But I need to move forward. No more running. Saw my chicks earlier and mutated into those zombie beings, but I was too scared to confront them, I probably could've saved them."

Ryzen stared at him, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. "Yeah? So what are you gonna do about it?"

Gunjo glanced at Ryzen, his beak twitching in what could almost pass for a smile. "I wanna join your group. Your ragtag team of freaks or whatever. I'll be useful."

Ryzen blinked, taken aback. "Wait, seriously? You want in?"

Gunjo nodded. "Yeah. I've got nowhere else to go, and I need to get stronger. I'm not letting anything happen to this egg. Not ever again. And I need a group who can help me."

Ryzen waved his hands, "Whoaaaa! Whoaaaa! Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Forgetting what?"

'The 100 clips! The 100 clips! The 100 clips!' Ryzen thought, spazzing out. But he didn't let the words slip.

Ryzen sighed, "Forgetting that I will beat you next time. You're lucky I was underpowered, chicken."

"You just have to train more. If you want a body like this—."

"—Your body is cursed! You didn't work for that!"

"Jealous aren't you?"

"Hell no. But still, it's possible to suppress the True One's blood, that's a good sign. Still need to figure out why you talk and why you have powers."

"We're in the same boat, pal."

Before Ryzen could respond, a familiar voice cut through the air. "RYZEN!!!"

Ryzen barely had time to react before Espen came barreling toward him at full speed. Her eyes lit up with manic glee as she tackled him to the ground, both of them rolling across the floor in a tangle of limbs and laughter. Espen's arms wrapped tightly around Ryzen's neck, hugging him with concern and care, but squeezing far too hard. "You idiot! You left me! I told you never to leave me again!"

Ryzen gasped for air, his face turning red as her grip tightened. "Espen! The floor split! We didn't exactly have a choice!"

They tumbled across the floor, Espen still clinging to him, her wild laughter filling the room. Finally, she loosened her grip just enough for Ryzen to catch his breath, though she was still straddling him, her legs wrapped around him her face inches from his. "I don't care! Never leave my sight again, got it?!"

Ryzen groaned, rubbing his neck. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say..." he muttered, still wheezing slightly.

"I was so lonely, Ryzen. I hate fighting by myself."

"Me too, and back then I really needed you here so I could cook this rooster."

Gunjo rolled his eyes, "Whatever, brat."

Then Ryzen said to Espen, "Stay together from now on, I got a little lonely too."

Espen grabbed his cheeks, "Awww you missed me?!"

"Damn, you're pinching too hard!"

'I wanna tell her I felt worthless fighting in this state. I did miss her. Man, I missed her. I feel like some god when she's with me. Are these feelings or something? Nah, it can't be. Maybe? Me? Having feelings for another person?'

Espen stared deep into Ryzen's eyes, her face getting flustered. Then she stopped herself.

Espen's eyes suddenly locked onto Gunjo and the egg cradled in his feathered arms. She froze, her eyes widening in curiosity. "Wait, is that... an egg?" She leaped to her feet, dashing over to Gunjo with unrestrained excitement. "Oh! Gunjo, can I hold it? Please, please, please?!"

Gunjo immediately took a step back, clutching the egg tighter to his chest. "Hell no."

"Wait, we only got one? Where are the others?"

"All the other eggs are cracked, meaning they're out there. I don't wanna see them in that horrible zombie state. But I managed to preserve one. I won't cry about it, because now I got something to keep me from being a coward."

"Nice nice, let me hold the egg now, or die."

"Nope."

Espen pouted, her eyes wide and pleading. "Come on, just for a second! I won't break it! I'm really good with eggs, I swear!"

Gunjo narrowed his eyes, taking another step back. "Not a chance."

Espen's grin returned as she lunged toward him, her arms outstretched. "I just wanna hold it! I'll be it's auntie!"

Gunjo dodged to the side, flapping his wings to create some distance. "Back off, psycho!"

The two of them continued to dart around the room, Espen chasing after Gunjo with a maniacal grin while Gunjo kept dodging, his feathers ruffled in agitation.

Suddenly, a garbled voice crackled through the school's old intercom system. The sound was eerie, distorted, and dripping with malice.

"Attention students... this is your principal speaking," the voice slurred, the words dragging out in a grotesque parody of a school announcement. "I see bad kids aren't in class where they're supposed to be..."

The voice gurgled with what sounded like a mix of zombie moans and static, as if the speaker was choking on their own words. "Detention... for all... who break the rules..."

Ryzen, Gunjo, and Espen froze, their heads snapping toward the intercom. The distorted voice continued, rambling about school punishments and ominous threats, but before it could finish, a loud crash came from down the hall. The trio exchanged glances, already knowing what was coming.

Ryzen said, "No way…a speaking zombie."

"Probably got engaged in those nasty horrific marriage thingies by one of the Monarchs, or touched by the True Ones blood." Espen mentioned.

Gunjo said, "Who is the True One?"

"Ehhhhh, I have to explain later. Too long. Too dark. Disturbinggg." Espen whispered that last word.

In the blink of an eye, Ryzen, Gunjo, and Espen found themselves standing in the principal's office. The walls were cracked and decayed, the smell of rot thick in the air. And there, sitting behind the broken desk, was the zombie principal. His once-human face was twisted into a grotesque mask of decay, his eyes glowing with a sickly green light.

The principal screeched, his voice filled with sudden fear as he realized who had entered his office. "No! Get away!"

Ryzen, Espen, and Gunjo shared a look of silent agreement.

And then they lunged.

The sun was beginning to set as Ryzen, Espen, and Gunjo made their way back to Ryzen's hideout. The small building was tucked away in the city's industrial district, a low-key base of operations for their... questionable activities. They each carried large bags, zombie meat dripping from the bottom as they walked.

Espen, ever the ball of chaotic energy, kicked the door open and burst inside, her voice echoing through the empty space. "Rooster! Use those flames! We're gonna have a feast tonight in Ryzen's shack!"

Ryzen scoffed, "IT'S NOT A SHACK! IT'S MY PLACE OF BUSINESS, FOOL!"

Gunjo, carrying the egg in one arm and his bag of zombie meat in the other, rolled his eyes. "You're all insane. I shall create a warm bed for my egg to rest."

Ryzen, seemingly tired, said, "I want to sleeeep. Do we really have to cook zombie meat now?"

Espen slapped him on the back, "Of course! We need to get stronger! We want to kill more Monarchs!"