Zemaku’s dad ponders about how Ren's training is going when he hears the door open.
"Zemaku?" he thought to himself. "There’s no way he could beat Goki. He’s not ready yet. Maybe it’s one of Thumb’s troops."
Zemaku’s dad gets ready to attack with a baseball bat in hand. He knew he was not a natural-born fighter—he was only a leader. But he readied himself. Just as he was about to attack, he stopped.
"Zemaku? What are you doing back?" he asked his son.
"Well, Dad—um, I mean, Commander Bill—I had help."
"Help?" Zemaku’s dad asked.
"Yes," Zemaku responded.
"Hi, I’m Toji," Toji said, introducing himself to Zemaku’s dad.
"So does that mean you helped my son defeat Goki?" Bill asked.
"Actually, um, I tried to beat Goki, but Goki survived," Toji admitted.
"What?" Zemaku’s dad said in shock.
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Neon War Chapter 7: Zemaku Returns to Base
Toji and Zemaku explained everything to Bill and showed him an unconscious Goki. Commander Bill understood and felt some sympathy for Goki’s upbringing under the Kratosian family.
"So, Dad," Zemaku asked, "where’s Ren?"
"He’s in the Lucid Room," Commander Bill responded.
"WHAT???" Zemaku said with a hint of anger. "You let Ren go into that room of suffrage?"
"Zemaku," Bill said sympathetically, "the room is not just a room of suffrage. It’s to help people."
"Bullshit!" Zemaku exclaimed. "You can’t choose the training—it chooses for you!"
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
"That’s because the AI of the room knows your issues," Commander Bill responded.
"Zemaku, I think it’s time I give you information I’ve been holding from you," Commander Bill said.
"I’m sure you know about what Thumb’s been doing and his motivations, but I don’t think you know the full extent of what he’s doing," Bill continued.
"Under Thumb's rule, Earth became more polluted as he bombed the larger countries that resisted him and stole any ancient weapons from the advanced society of the Kyozans. He also began capturing certain people who defied him, forcing them into slavery to work in his chemical plants.
As Thumb’s rule spread, underground resistance cells formed worldwide, often hiding in ruins, forests, or abandoned industrial zones to avoid detection. These bases were built from repurposed ancient technology, usually incorporating Kyozan relics to shield or protect against Thumb’s forces. These groups varied widely, each with their own rules, technologies, and tactics. Some operated in the shadows, plotting sabotage missions or gathering intelligence. Unfortunately, Thumb crushed all resistance using sheer force.
The Kyozans left behind mysterious artifacts and weapons that Thumb and others attempt to harness. Some devices are too advanced for modern science to fully understand, and attempts to use them often backfire, creating disasters or even 'cursed' zones. Thumb’s chemical plants might be exploiting Kyozan tech for his benefit, causing strange mutations or environmental hazards in areas surrounding the plants—but that’s just speculation on my part.
I’m sure you know the legend of the Plasblade and Plasrows. Well, those are Kyozan tech. Thumb’s men have been gathering this tech for years since it is far more advanced than our own, and he’s been devising ways to harness the Kyozans' technology.
Remember Goki’s Aura Manifestation Device? It’s part of a larger range of aura-based weapons or techniques lost to time. Some rare techniques might be hidden within ancient texts or known only by a few people, such as aura cloaking to avoid detection or merging tech with a Kyozan relic to enhance one’s abilities. By combining different Kyozan tech, one could create the ultimate weapon. Thumb has plenty of weapons just like that, and your normal laser gun is nothing compared to a Plasgun—the Kyozan equivalent.
You’ll need to find a Plasgun of your own one day," Zemaku’s dad stated.
Meanwhile, during Ren’s training…
"What’s going on? Why am I still here? Why are you tormenting me, Lala? Why did you do what you did?" Ren demanded.
"You know why, Ren," Lala said coldly. "It’s because I had a lot to gain—your former friends, a better life, all your money in a lawsuit. There was so much I just had to take from you."
"All I ever wanted was a man who could support me, and you could," Lala continued. "You did it so well, I just had to take it all for myself!" Lala let out a cruel laugh. "Hahahaha!"
"Damn it!" Ren complained. "I just don’t know how I’m supposed to do this training. I don’t even completely know why I betrayed Thumb. Zemaku just sorta reminded me of myself before I gave up on who I was—at a time when I thought I could seek justice for what had happened to me. He reminded me of a version of me who wasn’t tainted by Thumb’s goals. But what can I make out of this information? How do I go along with this training?"
"Hey, you're going about this all wrong," said the same female voice from earlier, the one that made Ren sing in his dream. "I’ll tell you what—I’ll give you a hint."
To be continued...