The bright sky outside mocked the gloom that clung to the walls of the prison. It was just another day at South Grandeur, the kind of place where hope went to die.
“This is Tonhad speaking,” I heard the officer say, his voice clipped and professional as it echoed faintly in the corridor.
“How’s everything holding up?” came the response over his radiolikely the Sergeant.
“All good, sir,” the officer replied, though his voice faltered slightly.
“Well... except for one prisoner.”
“What do you mean?”
I could hear his hesitation, even from my cell. Footsteps followed, steady but cautious, as he approached the second floor. I knew where he was headed. My cell had become the epicenter of his daily routinelike clockwork, he'd show up, making sure I wasn’t doing anything... unsavory.
When the footsteps stopped outside my door, I smirked. I didn’t even bother to turn around as I heard the clink of keys and the groan of the door swinging open.
“Geez, for real?” His tone carried a mix of annoyance and disbelief as he entered.
I stayed where I was, leaning against the cold wall, my hands cuffed and my back to him. “Heh. The hell do you want?” I asked, my voice dripping with mockery.
“Just checking on how you’re doing,” he said, though the words carried no sympathy.
“Considering you want to get out of here so badly, I suggest you improve how you behave.”
His words carried a condescending edge, one that grated against the silence.
He continued, undeterred by my lack of response. “You don’t kill people you save them. So to what extent can one become a villain, huh?”
I could hear him pacing behind me now. “You’re too qualified for that title, and yet here you are... in jail again.”
Finally, I turned my head just enough for him to see the grin on my face a grin that was meant to rile him up.
He stopped, staring directly at me. “Kyrie,” he said, as though my name alone carried the weight of a thousand questions.
The officer scratched his head, clearly done with whatever back-and-forth he thought we were having. “It’s your time out anyway,” he muttered, almost like he was trying to convince himself.
“Doesn’t matter what you’re gonna say.”
He stepped closer, his voice dropping just enough to add weight to his next words. “But the next time you stumble back here, I won’t be nice.”
I didn’t bother responding. Silence worked better it always did.
As he left, the cuffs stayed on my wrists a moment longer, the cold metal biting into my skin. They finally unlatched the shackles as I was escorted out, my steps echoing in the quiet hallway of the station.
The moment I stepped outside, the sun hit my face. Freedom. Well, at least for now. I paused in front of the station, my eyes catching sight of the wanted poster plastered on the wall. My face stared back at me, a smirk frozen in ink, as though mocking me.
With a low sigh, I turned away, my expression serious now as I began walking. The streets of South Grandeur were bustling cars zipped past, indifferent to my presence, while the hum of the city filled the air.
Crossing the Grandeur Bridge of Serenity, I couldn’t help but take in the view. The windmills spun lazily in the distance, their constant motion a stark contrast to the chaos that always seemed to follow me.
Finally, I arrived at the Vonscheider Residence. The modest house stood unassuming as always, but the tension in the air was palpable even before I stepped through the door.
“I’m home,” I called, my voice cutting through the quiet.
“Oh dear God, Kyrie, what took you so long?” Athenaria’s worried voice reached me before I saw her. She hurried over, her hands fidgeting as though unsure whether to scold or comfort me.
“I made your favorite,” she added quickly, her voice softening. “I know you’re hungry. You’ve been there all night. Thankfully, I can always bail you out.”
“Auntie...” I began, my tone sharper than I intended.
Her brows furrowed. “Hmm? Something wrong?”
I stepped further inside, meeting her concerned gaze. “Don’t do it ever again.”
Her expression shifted, a mix of confusion and disbelief. “What do you mean?”
“Letting me out whenever I get in trouble,” I said firmly. “You’re just wasting time and money.”
Her voice wavered as she replied, “No... Why wouldn’t I? You’re my nephew. I care about you”
“Just cut it off already!” My voice raised, surprising even me.
She flinched slightly but stayed rooted in place.
I took a deep breath, forcing my frustration into words. “Let me find my real purpose in life.”
“Kyrie...” she began, but I cut her off.
“I don’t care if I’m at a bigger risk,” I said, my voice steady now. “I need to find out why I’m here. If I can’t find the answer right now, I’ll keep looking. It doesn’t matter if people see me as a villain or a hero.”
The room fell silent.
Her eyes searched mine, but I didn’t have any answers to give her not yet.
I slammed the door behind me harder than I meant to, but I didn’t stop to look back. The conversation with Athenaria had drained me, and I needed the space.
Inside, I heard her sigh, her voice muffled by the closed door. “Why do I feel so uneasy?” she muttered, her worry unmistakable.
She always felt this way hovering between concern and despair whenever I came back like this. “He likes getting involved with violence,” she said to herself, her words a quiet echo in the house. “That’s what worries me the most.”
I could imagine her pacing, wringing her hands. “Whenever I see him like that... it makes me depressed.”
As I reached my room, I paused, glancing back as her voice softened. She was staring at a picture frame on the wall. I didn’t need to see it to know who was in it my father.
The city was alive, as usual. From my room, the distant rumble of moving cars filled the air, the kind of ambient noise you only notice when you’re not a part of it. Serenity Bridge stood in the distance, its silhouette stretching across the river, steady despite the chaos around it. People swarmed the streets, each in a hurry, each with somewhere to be.
I wasn’t there to witness this part firsthand, but I could picture it in my mind as clearly as if I were. Athenaria would’ve been walking through it all. Somewhere amidst the buzz of Grandeur City was her destination Zemstan Technology.
She must’ve greeted the staff as she entered, her usual calm and composed demeanor in full effect. “Good day,” she’d have said with that warm smile of hers, the kind that made people stop and pay attention.
“Good morning, Doc!” the employees replied, their respect for her obvious in their tone.
The research rooms were her second home. I knew that, even if I didn’t see it often. She’d have found Yuliesis there, deeply engrossed in her work, probably too nervous to notice Athenaria’s arrival right away.
When she did, though, she’d have scrambled to her feet, bowing slightly as she greeted her. “Good morning, Doc! I’m still trying to figure things out,” Yuliesis would’ve said, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
Athenaria laughed, the sound light and reassuring. “Come on, you don’t need to do that. It’s okay, you can take your time.”
“My apologies,” Yuliesis replied, clearly flustered. “I get nervous whenever I see you, Ma’am.”
“Oh my,” Athenaria teased gently. “Do I look that frightening?”
“N-no! It’s not like that, it’s just because—”
Athenaria cut her off with a smile, one that could disarm just about anyone. “So, how’s everything going? Have you discovered any information about the downfall of Seraph?”
Yuliesis hesitated, her expression falling slightly. “No, Ma’am. Unfortunately, I’m not even sure what to report.” She took a deep breath and continued, “I know you’re counting on me. I’ll try my best! It’s an important matter to you. But... now that I think about it, it scares me too.”
Athenaria hummed thoughtfully, her gaze steady. “Well, if there’s a way to prevent this phenomenon, I’ll surely be the one to stop it. Conduct research regarding its origins.”
“Yes, Doc,” Yuliesis said with determination. Then, after a pause, she asked, “Oh, can I ask a question?”
“What is it?”
“Is it truly feasible to revive a person by incorporating an extraterrestrial organ into the body of a deceased individual?”
Athenaria didn’t flinch at the question. Instead, her smile returned, calm and composed. “So, you’ve heard about the secretive ongoing project of our company?”
Yuliesis hesitated, her nervousness returning. “I’m not sure if I’m allowed to voice my opinion, but—”
“Save it,” Athenaria interrupted with a smile.
She looked at Yuliesis with a rare kind of certainty.
“Believe me, we will find the Destruct System Project necessary in many situations. It may not be now, but definitely someday. With the technology we have, we can make it happen. It’ll save all of us I know it.”
Yuliesis looked shocked, her expression a mixture of awe and uncertainty. She tried to smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Outside the research room, Athenaria would’ve walked slowly, her thoughts heavy. She wasn’t one to share too much of what she carried, but I could always tell when something weighed on her.
Another figure appeared then, breaking through her reverie.
“Lian,” she said, her voice lifting slightly as she noticed him. “Oh, hey.”
Outside The headquarters, It was one of those quiet nights, with the city lights flickering against the darkness. Grandeur City always felt alive, even in the stillness of night. I wandered aimlessly along the streets, my hands stuffed into my pockets. The cold breeze nipped at my face as I turned a corner and stopped in front of a small café the kind of place that promised warmth in a cup. Eternal Serenity.
Before I could step inside, I heard a familiar voice call out. “Yo, Kyrie!”
I glanced over to see Akio standing by the entrance, his usual grin plastered across his face. He waved me over, and I followed him in.
The café was dimly lit, the smell of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the faint aroma of baked goods. Akio ordered a beer typical of him and slid it across the table toward me.
He leaned back in his chair, watching me with a knowing smirk. “Seriously, Sire? It’s not always a good idea to just stumble against them all the time. Are you really that unlucky?”
I let out a dry laugh, taking a sip of the beer. “I know. I’m always alone whenever I encounter those sons of a”
“Where’s your brother, anyway?” Akio cut in.
“He’s probably somewhere southeast of the city with his friend Liv,” I replied, shrugging. “He doesn’t usually come home until Auntie says so. It’s just me and her most of the time.”
Akio nodded, tapping his fingers against the table. “So, what are you gonna do now? I hope those retards don’t come back.”
“They still think I committed a crime I never committed,” I said, my voice tinged with frustration.
“I believe you,” Akio said firmly.
“ I know you weren’t the one who vandalized their place.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, though it was more bitter than amused.
“But, man,” Akio added with a grin, “the vandalism of that place was pretty cool, though.”
“Whatever,” I muttered.
“I didn’t do it. It just happens that I was in front of their quarters when it all went down. I never did it, but they still came at me anyway. And now... most of them are at the hospital.”
I leaned back, staring at the ceiling as the memory of that fight flashed through my mind. While I was in a jail cell, I found myself gazing at the four walls, contemplating whether I would remain a failure for the rest of my life.
Akio frowned, his usual teasing tone gone. “Wait, how about your girl? She’s supposed to support you, right?”
“She dumped me a few weeks ago,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Oh, damn. Sorry to hear that, Sire,” he said, looking genuinely regretful.
“It’s okay,” I replied. “I don’t deserve her anyway. I’m a big mess right now.”
Akio chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood. “Heh, not entirely true.”
I shook my head, the weight of it all pressing down on me. “This isn’t the life I want. There’s no way I can retrace my steps and start over. One large gang is after me, and now I think my aunt is mad at me for disrespecting her.”
I swirled the beer in my glass, watching the amber liquid catch the faint light of the café. The question I’d been avoiding hung heavily in the air, but I couldn’t hold it back any longer. “How can I pay for my sins?” I asked, my voice low and strained.
Akio leaned forward, his eyes steady. “You just need to prove to everybody that you’re innocent, Sire. It’s a big mistake, but I know you had your reasons for whatever happened.”
I shook my head, letting out a bitter chuckle. “I honestly don’t care anymore. But… if I get the chance to make a change, I’ll grab the opportunity without any hesitation.”
His face softened, and for a moment, the weight between us seemed bearable.
As I stepped out of Eternal Serenity, the cold night air greeted me. The streets were quieter now, the hum of distant traffic fading into the background.
The Vonscheider residence felt eerily still when I got home. Auntie Athenaria was in the kitchen, the rhythmic clinking of her utensils the only sound cutting through the silence. I stood by the doorway for a moment, watching her cook, her movements deliberate and precise.
Her face carried a weight of its own, one that I’d never fully understood.
Remembering The Conversation Between Athenaria and Lian as a Flashback,the lab was dimly lit, the sterile smell of chemicals and metal hanging in the air. Athenaria stood confidently, gesturing toward a covered workstation. “This,” she said, pulling back the cloth, “is the project.”
Lian’s eyes widened as she took a step closer. “So… this is it? The Destruct System?”
“Yes.”
“You really think this is going to help us?” Lian’s tone was skeptical, almost accusatory.
“Well,” Athenaria admitted, her voice calm but firm, “I haven’t tested it yet.”
Lian crossed her arms. “And how exactly are you planning to test it?”
Athenaria’s gaze didn’t waver as she replied, “We need a dead body.”
Lian’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief. “Wait, that’s your plan? This is the ultimate weapon you’ve been talking about?” She shook her head, taking a step back. “I thought the Destruct System was some kind of simulation device to help us deal with the time glitch that’s threatening our world.”
“This is risky, Aria,” Lian said, her voice rising. “You need to postpone this project.”
Athenaria’s face hardened, her eyes narrowing. “But it’s almost done! We can even test it right now if we wanted to!”
“You’re insane,” Lian snapped. “Where are you even going to find a corpse for this? We don’t even know if it works.”
Athenaria’s tone softened, but the conviction in her words remained unshaken. “Still… we have to try. We’re so close to developing a hybrid we can call our own.”
“For what?” Lian demanded. “You really think one superhuman can save us all? This is too risky!”
Athenaria’s voice carried an edge of desperation now. “It’s the only way to stop an extinction event, Lian. If we don’t try… we lose everything.”
Lian’s eyes searched Athenaria’s face for a moment before looking away. The silence that followed was deafening.
Back in the present, the sounds of the kitchen brought me back from my thoughts. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Auntie was keeping secrets ones far bigger than I could imagine.
I remember another conversation between my aunt and uncle Lian.The sharp hum of machines filled the experimentation room, accompanied by the faint, sterile scent of disinfectant. Auntie Athenaria stood beside a sleek workstation, her expression as resolute as ever.
Lian, on the other hand, paced with visible tension, his voice heavy with disbelief.
“You’re adopting a mindset similar to past scientists who failed disastrously. They couldn’t successfully merge a human body with another species, and now you’re walking the same line.”
Athenaria didn’t flinch.
“I know the risks, but think about it you're a skilled exist. You beat morphs with ease, but wouldn’t it be better if we could create hybrids to fight alongside us? They’d make our jobs easier, Lian. You wouldn’t have to shoulder everything alone.”
His brows furrowed, his tone sharper. “We don’t even know how this is going to turn out. Do you honestly believe these hybrids can prevent the downfall of Seraph?”
Athenaria’s voice was unwavering, her determination cutting through his doubts.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“If we can anticipate an extinction event by developing an Exolinguistics Spectrogram capable of deciphering extraterrestrial language, then I’m confident we can make this work too.”
Lian stopped pacing and looked at her, his expression unreadable. “Look, I don’t believe in theories or concepts. I’ll only believe in results when I see it with my own eyes.”
With that, he turned and left the room without another word, his footsteps echoing against the sterile floors.
Athenaria sighed softly as the door closed behind him, her voice a whisper that barely carried in the empty room. “I knew he’d be against this.”
The flashback faded as quickly as it had come, and I was back in the present, watching Auntie in the kitchen. I didn’t know all the details, but there was something she wasn’t telling me something bigger than I could grasp. The weight she carried wasn’t just her own, and somehow, I knew it was tied to the world we lived in.
Night had fallen over the Vonscheider residence. The warm glow from the kitchen light spilled faintly into the darkened hall, illuminating Auntie as she stood near the stove, finishing up the last touches of her cooking.
I lingered just outside the room, out of sight but within earshot. I could hear her murmur to herself, her voice heavy with hesitation.
“Maybe Lian is right... just maybe. Should I really postpone it?”
Her words carried the weight of an inner conflict she’d likely been wrestling with for days. She rarely voiced these doubts aloud, but when she did, they felt like cracks in her otherwise unbreakable resolve.
She stepped away from the stove and moved toward the sleek console on the counter. “Alicia, turn on the radio and switch to the news channel,” she said, her tone steady, though her hands fidgeted slightly as she waited.
The AI’s smooth, automated voice replied instantly. “Turning on the radio and switching to the news channel.”
The faint crackle of the radio filled the room, followed by the crisp voice of a news anchor, but my attention shifted. From the kitchen window, I caught a glimpse of the house’s exterior. The stillness of the night was almost suffocating. The Vonscheider residence, with its solid structure and carefully maintained garden, stood like a silent sentinel in the dark.
Yet, inside these walls, there was nothing but questions and uncertainty.
AT GRANDEUR CITY MAIN STREET NIGHTTIME THE STREETS OF GRANDEUR CITY STRETCHED OUT BEFORE ME, DARK AND UNWELCOMING. THE FLICKER OF BROKEN STREETLIGHTS CAST ERRATIC SHADOWS ON THE PAVEMENT, AND THE OCCASIONAL RUMBLE OF DISTANT TRAFFIC FILLED THE SILENCE. I SHOVED MY HANDS INTO MY POCKETS, WALKING AIMLESSLY BUT ALERT, MY SENSES TUNED TO THE SURROUNDINGS.
It didn’t take long for trouble to find me.
A voice cut through the stillness. “Looky who we have here... one of the most wanted men in the city.”
I stopped in my tracks, turning toward the source. A figure stepped out of the shadows, his face partially illuminated by the dim glow of a nearby streetlamp.
He grinned, revealing a set of teeth that somehow looked more menacing than reassuring. “Kyrie Sieg. Fascinating.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, sizing him up. “Who the hell are you?”
He chuckled, as though my question amused him. “Seriously? You should already know who I am by now,” he said, gesturing at the intricate tattoos that snaked across his arms and neck. “Just take a good look, man.”
I stared at the markings, their patterns sparking a long-buried memory. My stomach twisted. “What the f***… Knox?”
His grin widened, and he stuck out his tongue, almost mockingly. “Surprise!”
I took a step back, disbelief flashing through me. “I thought you died by the morph’s grip during the last extinction event.”
“Yeah, that’s what everyone thought,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “It’s a long story how I managed to escape. But hey, this isn’t about me. This is about you getting your ass kicked.”
I clenched my fists, tensing. “Tsk. What are you plotting?”
Knox’s grin turned sinister, his eyes glinting in the dim light. “Oh, come on. It’s obvious what I want.”
AT GRANDEUR CITY MAIN STREET NIGHT TIME THE SHADOWS AROUND ME THICKENED AS UNFAMILIAR FIGURES EMERGED FROM THE DARKNESS. SLOWLY, THEY SURROUNDED ME, CUTTING OFF ANY CHANCE OF ESCAPE. MY HEART STARTED POUNDING IN MY CHEST, BUT I REFUSED TO SHOW FEAR. THEY WERE CLOSING IN.
Knox was at the center of it all, his grin still plastered on his face, his eyes gleaming with malice.
“You see, Kyrie,” he said, his voice slow and taunting, “we both know that you’ve killed people in the past, were talking about a dozen”
The words struck me like a slap to my face, but I kept my composure, trying to figure out what to do. The odds were stacked against me. The gang members crowded around me, and two of them grabbed both of my arms, holding me firm.
“This is your time, boss,” one of them called out, his voice dripping with excitement. “Beat the sh*t out of him!”
Knox stepped forward, the grin never leaving his face as he circled me like a predator eyeing its prey. “Among the people you’ve eliminated, one of them happened to be my brother, Rocco.”
I froze. Rocco. That name hit me like a freight train, and for a moment, the world felt distant. I didn’t want to believe it. I never meant for any of this to happen.
As Knox approached, his gang members tightened their grip on me, their hands like iron clamps around my arms. The blood rushed to my head, and I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breath.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered, my voice low but sincere. “I swear, I didn’t mean to kill him…”
Knox’s face twisted with anger. “Do you honestly believe that just apologizing can fix this?!” His voice rose, filled with a venomous rage. “It’s too late for that now!”
The gang members stood back, revealing the weapons they had been holding each one more terrifying than the last a tetsubo, a chainsaw, and a revolver. I swallowed hard.
“I’ll choose one of these for you to experience the pain of losing a loved one,” Knox said, his voice dripping with malice.
My heart raced. He picked the chainsaw.
“Oh!” Knox’s grin widened. “I know. I’ll pick the chainsaw. Let me kill you slowly by cutting one of your limbs off.”
I felt a knot form in my stomach. Anxiety surged through me as I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. There had to be a way out of this. I couldn’t let this happen.
The chainsaw roared to life in Knox’s hands, the sound of the engine vibrating through my bones. He stepped closer, the machine’s buzzing filling my ears as he raised it toward me.
“Come on, boss,” one of the gang members shouted eagerly. “Just get it over with! Cut his head off already!”
STILL AT GRANDEUR CITY MAIN STREET NIGHTTIME THE SHARP SOUND OF THE CHAINSAW FILLED THE AIR AS KNOX BROUGHT IT DOWN WITH BRUTAL PRECISION. MY LEFT HAND WAS INSTANTLY SEVERED, AND I SCREAMED IN AGONY. THE PAIN WAS OVERWHELMING, A FIERY SENSATION COURSING THROUGH MY BODY AS BLOOD POURED FROM THE STUMP. I COULD BARELY FOCUS ON THE WORLD AROUND ME, THE PAIN DROWNING EVERYTHING OUT.
But Knox wasn’t done.
His eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure as he surveyed the damage. “Wait,” he said, almost thoughtfully. “I think that scream wasn’t enough. I’ll cut off your left arm.”
He raised the chainsaw again. Before I could react, the sharp teeth of the saw tore through my arm, and I screamed once more, my voice breaking with pain. The blood gushed from the wound, splattering the ground beneath me. The world around me spun as I collapsed to my knees, trembling uncontrollably.
My vision blurred with tears. I shut my eyes, trying to block out the agony, but I couldn’t escape it. The pain was all-consuming, my entire body shaking with distress. My breath came in desperate gasps as I sobbed.
And yet, the pain was still not over.
Knox’s voice rang out, cold and mocking. “Next weapon would be oh!” He laughed, the sound dark and filled with glee. “The tetsubo would be nice to destroy that pretty face of yours.”
I tried to focus, to stand strong, but it was hard. My body was failing me. The pain was too much.
“You’re a dangerous guy with a nice, pretty face,” Knox taunted, his voice filled with venom. “But too bad. That pretty face is about to become ugly.”
The words stung more than any physical blow. He lifted the tetsubo high above his head and swung it down with terrifying force. The weapon struck my face, sending me reeling backward, the impact making my vision blur as blood poured from my nose and mouth.
I gasped for air, trying to steady myself, but Knox wasn’t done. He kicked me in the ribs, sending me crashing to the ground. The force of the kick made the two gang members release me from their grip, and I slumped to the cold pavement, barely able to hold myself up.
My face was a mess bruised and battered. I coughed up blood, the metallic taste filling my mouth as I struggled to stay conscious.
Knox stood over me, a look of satisfaction on his face as he watched my suffering. “This is for all the people you killed, Kyrie,” he sneered. “And you have no idea how many.”
The words hit me harder than the blows themselves. I couldn’t respond, couldn’t defend myself. My body felt like it was falling apart, and the world around me seemed to fade.
I chuckled lightly as I leaned against the doorframe. “He’s probably just wandering around those skyscrapers like Spider-Man.”
Auntie’s worried expression deepened. “I’m having a bad feeling. Could you go look for your brother?”
I hesitated, not wanting to overreact. “Auntie, are you sure? It might be a waste of time.”
Auntie’s eyes narrowed in determination. “Wait, no. I’m coming with you. Let’s go.”
She grabbed her coat, preparing to head out. “And bring your Arnis stick just in case.”
I scratched my head in frustration. “Auntie, wait. Damn it.”
AT GRANDEUR CITY, PINE TERRACE ALLEY, NIGHT MY VISION WAS BLURRING AS I LOOKED UP AT KNOX. THE PAIN WAS NEARLY UNBEARABLE. THE WORLD SPUN AROUND ME, BUT THROUGH IT ALL, HIS FACE WAS CLEAR, SNEERING DOWN AT ME.
“Look at that,” he taunted. “You’re still alive. Be thankful. That’s only the half of it.”
I managed to grin, even though blood was pouring from my wounds. I laughed weakly. “What are you laughing at?” Knox sneered, his voice thick with disgust.
“What, you think I’d beg for my life?” I scoffed, even though every muscle in my body screamed for rest. “Come on, I’m not that naive.” I spat out more blood.
Knox’s hands balled into fists, his anger palpable. “You made me do this, Kyrie! You know that!” His voice shook with rage. “Why couldn’t you just be on my side when I needed you the most?!”
I felt my expression harden, and despite the excruciating pain, I managed a deep, bitter laugh. “I tried to be good, honestly... but then I got bored.”
Knox’s face contorted with fury. “You’re a piece of sh*t!”
He swung his fist, and my face absorbed the full force of his punch, sending another wave of blood gushing from my mouth.
“I still possess some admirable qualities within me,” I muttered through gritted teeth.
Knox’s fury only grew. “You’re laughing, and now you’re pretending to be innocent?!”
“Go to hell, Kyrie!” he shouted, his voice full of venom.
The tetsubo came crashing down into my face again, and everything blurred. My skull felt like it might cave in. But somehow, even through the haze of pain, I couldn’t help but laugh again. It was a twisted reflex, but it felt like the only thing I could still control.
“Why are you laughing?!” Knox screamed, his face red with rage.
I lifted my head slightly, grinning through the pain. “Is that all you got?”
Knox’s grip on the tetsubo tightened, his rage reaching a boiling point. “That’s it. I’m ending your life right here, right now!”
He raised the weapon high above his head, ready to strike me down. Just as he swung it down, a voice echoed through the alley
AT PINE TERRACE ALLEY NIGHT I COULD BARELY HOLD MY HEAD UP, FEELING THE WEIGHT OF THE BEATING IN EVERY INCH OF MY BODY. BUT THEN I HEARD IT, A VOICE CUTTING THROUGH THE CHAOS.
“Enough!”
I blinked, trying to focus, but the silhouette of someone familiar appeared in the alley. It was Auntie Athenaria, and right behind her was Kiyon.
Knox and his gang turned to face them. “Who the hell are you?” Knox growled.
One of his gang members squinted and pointed. “Boss, I know her!”
“Who?” Knox’s voice was filled with disdain.
“She’s the current CEO of Zemstan Technology,” the gang member said, voice shaking slightly.
Knox seemed taken aback for a moment. “Oh, you’re~ her, the one who’s constantly improving today’s technology? Huh.” He sneered. “I didn’t expect you to show up.”
I didn’t have the strength to sit up, but I could feel my brother’s shocked gaze landing on me. Kiyon was staring at me, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“Auntie, just go get Kyrie,” Kiyon said, his voice firm. “I can handle it from here.”
I couldn’t stop myself from coughing up more blood. “I didn’t ask you and Auntie to come here...” My voice was weak, barely a whisper, but the pain of seeing them here made me feel even worse. “Just get out of here. I don’t want any of you to get hurt.”
Knox scoffed, shaking his head. “The Vonscheider family is full of sh*t.”
Kiyon, however, wasn’t having it. His usual cocky attitude surfaced. “You better watch your mouth,” he said, stepping forward. “You think you’re tough, huh? You think we’re outnumbered?”
Kiyon grinned. “So it’s 1 vs 5, huh? This is going to be fun.”
I could feel my brother’s determination. He cracked his knuckles, sticking his tongue out in that cocky, defiant way of his. I couldn’t help but feel a little pride.
Knox didn’t seem to back down, though. “Oh, this kid has guts. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Suddenly, Kiyon lunged into action. I couldn’t keep up with every move, but I saw him dodge one of the gang members’ attacks with ease, his Arnis stick coming down to knock the guy from behind. Then, he twirled to avoid another strike and took out the third member with a swift swing from below. He was fluid, like a well-oiled machine, always one step ahead.
I tried to focus, but it was hard. Everything around me felt muffled. Kiyon wasn’t just a fighter he was good at it. As the two gang members who had attacked Kiyon struggled to get up, Kiyon was already dodging their grabs. He moved like lightning, and soon enough, one of them was knocked unconscious.
Gang Member 2 was dazed, stumbling around. The third member, clearly rattled, shook in fear. “I’m out of here!” he yelled, turning tail and running away from the fight.
“What the?!” Knox yelled, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Kiyon, always the show-off, stuck out his tongue again. “Surprises, eh?” he said with a smirk. “I’m a fighter too. Too bad for you, man.”
I wanted to laugh, but the pain was too much. Instead, I could only watch as Kiyon took control of the situation, knocking down more of Knox’s goons. Despite everything, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of relief.
My body was a wreck, pain surging with every breath. I could barely focus on the fight, but somehow, I saw Kiyon’s smug grin as he faced off with Knox. The tension in the air was thick, and the fight felt like it was nearing its peak.
Knox clicked his tongue in annoyance. “Tsk.”
Kiyon didn’t miss a beat, his voice sharp and confident. “So it’s only you and me now.”
I couldn’t move, but I was still vaguely aware of the scene around me Athenaria beside me, Kiyon standing tall. I could feel the vibrations of the chaos, the tension between the two.
From above, the whole scene unfolded like a distant painting. The alley, the people, the sounds of the night everything felt so far away, like I wasn’t really there.
The clock tower’s bell rang in the distance, its chimes sharp and eerie. The birds flying above made an uncanny noise, like an omen.
“It’s about to happen,” Knox muttered, his gaze narrowing. “This ain’t over!.”
Without warning, Knox turned and fled, disappearing into the darkness. I heard Kiyon shout after him, “Hey!”
Kiyon ran after him, but by the time he reached the spot where Knox had stood, he was already gone. “That bastard!” Kiyon yelled, frustrated and angry.
Athenaria, sensing the shift in the air, turned to Kiyon. “Forget it. Let’s go.” Her tone was firm, but there was a hint of worry beneath it.
I barely had the strength to speak, but I tried to push myself up. “Auntie...” My voice came out cracked, weak. “What’s happening? Why is the sky turning purple?”
Athenaria glanced up at the sky, her expression grave. “We ran out of time. It’s the downfall of Seraph.”
The words barely made sense to me, but the heaviness in the air, the unnatural hue in the sky it all felt like a warning. I could barely focus, my vision blurring more and more. My body felt like it was fading from my control.
As Athenaria rushed to pick me up, everything seemed to slow down. I could feel her arms around me, lifting me up, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
I was slipping, the world around me becoming more distant with each passing moment. I could hear Kiyon’s voice, but it felt like it came from miles away.
Meanwhile at W.E.S Headquarters Night time, Lian stood at the edge of the building, his gaze locked on the sky above. It was quiet too quiet. The calm before the storm. he could feel it in the air, thick with tension. The night was darker than usual, the city lights barely cutting through the shadow.
"Prepare for battle," Lian's voice, firm and cold, cut through the silence.
"Yes, sir!" one of them responded, his voice full of adrenaline.
Lian tightened his grip on his own weapon, his heartbeat quickening. Whatever theye were about to face, it wasn’t going to be easy. But that’s how they liked it.they never been one to back down from a fight.
The W.E.S squad gathered together, preparing for whatever chaos the night was about to throw at us. They all had the same look in their eyes determination mixed with a hint of unease, as if they were ready, but unsure of what exactly was coming.
AT GRANDEUR CITY MAIN STREET NEAR ZEMSTAN QUARTERS I COULD BARELY KEEP MY EYES OPEN AS KIYON HELPED CARRY ME DOWN THE STREET. MY VISION WAS BLURRY, AND EVERY MOVEMENT SENT WAVES OF PAIN THROUGH MY BODY. MY LEFT ARM HELL, MY ENTIRE BODY FELT LIKE IT HAD BEEN TORN APART. BUT I WASN’T ABOUT TO LET THAT STOP ME. I HAD TO MAKE IT TO ZEMSTAN. WHATEVER WAS HAPPENING, I NEEDED TO BE THERE.
"Wait, what are we doing here?" Kiyon’s voice broke through the haze in my head. He sounded confused, but there was a hint of worry too.
I could barely turn my head to look at him. My body felt so heavy, like I was wading through quicksand. "You don’t need to know right no Kiyon," Athenaria responded, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. "There’s something I need to do. Help me carry your brother."
Kiyon hesitated for a moment, clearly not understanding what was going on. I didn’t have the energy to explain. The less he knew, the better.
"Okay, I don’t know what’s going on, but…" Kiyon said, his tone full of uncertainty.
I felt him adjust my weight slightly, and I tried to keep my mind focused. It was hard. Everything felt like it was slipping through my fingers. But Athenaria’s presence was like a tether pulling me back. She had always been strong always knew what to do. I trusted her.
As we continued toward the Zemstan Quarters, the city seemed to blur around us. The familiar sights of Grandeur City now felt distant, like I was watching someone else’s life unfold. I couldn’t keep track of time, couldn’t keep track of anything. My thoughts kept slipping, but I couldn’t afford to let go.
AT GRANDEUR CITY ZEMSTAN UNDERGROUND LABORATORY FLOOR 1, I DON’T KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET HERE, BUT I COULD FEEL IT THE MOMENT WE ENTERED THE UNDERGROUND LABORATORY. THE AIR WAS THICK WITH ANTICIPATION, AS THOUGH THE VERY WALLS WERE HOLDING THEIR BREATH.
Yuliesis was there, standing in the shadows, eyes wide with disbelief as he took in the sight of me.
"Ma’am, it’s here," he muttered under his breath, his voice a mix of awe and anxiety. "I can’t believe it’s going to happen!"
Something in his tone caught my attention, but the pain in my head made it hard to concentrate. I could barely focus enough to process his words.
"Wait what happened to Kyrie?" Yuliesis’s voice snapped me back to reality.
Athenaria stepped forward, her expression determined as ever. "I will tell you everything later," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Right now, we need to focus on what's coming."
I tried to push myself up, to say something anything but the world was spinning. My vision blurred again, and I couldn’t tell if I was awake or if it was just a nightmare I couldn’t escape.
Athenaria’s words echoed in my mind, and I knew whatever was about to happen, I was right in the middle of it.
AT GRANDEUR CITY ZEMSTAN TECHNOLOGY OPERATING ROOM I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I’VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT IN MY LIFE, BUT THERE ARE MOMENTS THAT STAND OUT MOMENTS THAT CHANGE EVERYTHING. AND THIS... THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS.
The room around me was sterile, too white, too bright. I felt like I was floating everything moving in slow motion as if time itself had slowed down to give me one last chance to take it all in. The scent of metal and chemicals hung heavy in the air, and I could barely make out the forms of Kiyon and Athenaria in my blurry vision. My body had failed me, and I knew it.
Kiyon, in particular, was standing there in shock, his mouth slightly agape as he took in the sight of the machine.
"Whoa, what is that?" he asked, his voice shaking with confusion and fear.
Athenaria, always calm in the most tense situations, stepped forward. “It’s advanced equipment I’ve been working on,” she explained. “It’s called the destruct system.”
I couldn’t even lift my head to look at it didn’t really want to. All I knew was that the heart on display this ominous black symbol wasn’t just a symbol it was a warning, an indication of what was to come.
Athenaria's voice broke through again, sharp and direct. "Help me put your brother on the operating bed."
Kiyon’s voice was strained, still holding onto the hope that this wasn’t really happening. "Wait—don’t tell me—?"
Athenaria sighed, clearly trying to mask her own growing concern. "I have no choice, Kiyon."
She wasn’t giving us a choice, not really. The way she spoke, the way she moved, it was clear this wasn’t something she had planned for, but something she had no control over now.
I could feel myself being moved, the bed beneath me cold and unforgiving. I felt lightheaded, disconnected. Was I even awake? Or was this just some kind of twisted dream? The lack of movement, the lack of breath, made me wonder.
Kiyon’s voice was shaking now, full of panic. "Auntie, is he...?"
Athenaria didn’t answer right away. She just hooked up the futuristic health scanner to my body, moving with a speed that was too quick for me to comprehend. The beep of the machine was the only sound in the room for a moment, and then came the dreaded result. The silence that followed was suffocating.
Kiyon, his voice barely a whisper, asked, "Kyrie?"
I wanted to say something, to reassure him, but I couldn’t. My body was a lifeless shell, lying there without even the strength to open my eyes.
Athenaria stared at the scan, her face hardening as she read the results. She didn’t want to believe it. I knew she didn’t. But she wasn’t the type to lie, even to herself.
"So the scanner indicates that he had arrhythmias," she said, her voice flat but full of grim understanding.
Kiyon’s face twisted with confusion. "What the hell does that mean?"
His words were barely audible to me now. My mind was drifting, but I could still hear him. Still feel his fear.
"Is he dead?" Kiyon asked, desperation clinging to every syllable.
Athenaria paused, looking at me for a moment before speaking. "Abnormal heart rhythms," she said.
"Ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia those kinds of rhythms can lead to an ineffective pumping of the heart and subsequent organ failure."
I could hear Kiyon’s breathing grow rapid, his chest heaving with panic as he looked down at me, his brother. "So he’s dead?" he repeated, the words hanging in the air like a death sentence.
And for a moment, everything felt still. My body didn’t move. The machines didn’t beep. The world outside didn’t exist. I was just... gone.
And then Kiyon broke. He cried out, the sound of his sobs filling the cold, sterile room. It was a cry that felt like it could shatter anything in its path.
The clock tower outside began to ring, echoing through the building. The sound was haunting, resonating deep inside me, but it wasn’t enough to bring me back. I was already somewhere else. Far away.
Athenaria stood up, wiping her eyes, but I could still see the tears welling in her gaze. "It’s time," she said softly, almost to herself.
Timem Time for what? Was it really too late?
Athenaria didn’t wait for an answer. She turned to the machines, the desolate, unfeeling equipment, and for the first time, I saw something in her face that I’d never expected uncertainty. "To bring your brother back," she said, her voice heavy with what I knew was both a burden and a hope.
And just like that, I was being pulled back into something much bigger than myself. But I wasn’t sure if it was a second chance, or just another twisted path leading to something even darker.
But one thing was clear I wasn’t done yet.
AT GRANDEUR CITY, THE DOWNFALL OF SERAPH IT ALL HAPPENED SO QUICKLY. ONE MINUTE, I WAS LYING THERE, BARELY CLINGING TO LIFE, AND THE NEXT, THE WORLD ITSELF SEEMED TO TREMBLE BENEATH MY FEET. THE GROUND SHOOK VIOLENTLY, SENDING A RIPPLE THROUGH THE CITY. I FELT THE SHIFT IN THE AIR, THE HEAVY VIBRATIONS BENEATH ME AS IF EVERYTHING WAS SHIFTING INTO CHAOS. I COULD ALMOST HEAR THE EARTH CRYING OUT, THE CITY’S VERY BONES CRACKING UNDER THE PRESSURE.
The planet... it was like it had finally reached its breaking point.
I could barely understand what was going on as the buildings around us began to crumble, one by one. Towering structures that had stood strong for years were now reduced to rubble, falling like sandcastles in a storm. It was as though the whole world was folding in on itself. People screamed in panic, running in every direction, but it was too late there was no escape from this.
Serenity Cafe. I thought I’d never see it again. A place that had always seemed so peaceful, so safe, now reduced to the backdrop of utter destruction. The cafe’s windows cracked as the tremors shook the ground, and the air was filled with dust and debris. It was a strange sight, watching something that had once been so familiar, so comforting, crumble before my eyes.
And there, standing amidst the chaos, was Akio.
He was just standing there, frozen, staring up at the sky. His expression was unreadable his eyes scanning the heavens like he was waiting for something. Maybe he knew what was coming. Maybe he didn’t. But one thing was for sure: this wasn’t just some natural disaster. This was something far worse.
I could feel the weight of it all, the weight of everything crashing down. Not just the city, not just the buildings, but everything we had fought for, everything we had hoped for. It was all coming to an end.
And for the first time in a long time, I felt fear. Real, deep-rooted fear. Fear of what was to come.
Because the downfall of Seraph had begun. And there was no turning back now.
AT GRANDEUR CITY MAIN STREET, AS MY UNCLE LIAN STUMBLED THROUGH THE STREETS, HIS BODY BATTERED, BROKEN FROM THE BATTLE. EVERY STEP SEEMED LIKE IT COULD BE HIS LAST. THE PAIN WAS WRITTEN ON HIS FACE, HIS MOVEMENTS SLUGGISH AS IF THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD WAS CRUSHING HIM WITH EVERY BREATH.
He didn’t deserve this. None of us did.
Lian’s vision seemed to blur, his gaze unfocused as if the world around him was starting to slip away. My heart clenched as I saw him falter. He didn’t fall gracefully like someone who had accepted their fate it was more like he was forced to collapse, pulled down by some invisible force.
He whispered something about the sun, and in that moment, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow. Was that it? Was he truly seeing the sun for the last time?
"I’m glad I came to see it... for the last time," he murmured, his voice barely a breath.
The words didn’t make sense, but the pain in his voice did. It was like the world had already been taken from him, and all he had left was the fleeting image of the sun before everything went black.
I couldn’t do anything but watch. I wanted to reach out, to stop him from losing consciousness, but there was nothing I could do. He was too far gone, surrounded by the Morphs that closed in on him.
Lian’s eyes fluttered, but they didn’t open again. As he collapsed fully, his body finally giving in to the exhaustion, I felt something inside me break. The city was falling apart around us, and I couldn’t stop any of it. The world was spinning, but here we were, powerless to save him.
And with his last breath, the light in his eyes went out. And with it, the last shred of hope for all of us.
.