It was quiet in the room. The only noise there was, was the sound of the air conditioner. It made a decent amount of noise but it wasn’t really that loud. Arsène slowly opened his eyes, the eyes still getting adjusted to the light of the ceiling. He slowly rubbed his eyes as got up, sitting down on the bed. He looked to his front and saw the familiar figure, Yami, his adoptive ‘father’. The same man that threw Arsène into danger and into that mission to stop Agares, the demon who manipulated earth.

Arsène looked around the room, recognizing it as the same room he had woke up on the first day of his awakening. And the day he met Yami for the first time, or at least that’s what Arsène thought. Since Arsène didn’t have memories of his past, he wouldn’t know if this was the first time he has met him. But one thing he is sure is that, him as Arsène, doesn’t trust Yami. After all, on the very day he woke up, Yami dropped Arsène into a battlefield and made him fight.

At one point, Arsène even almost died. Thankfully some miracle happened and the armor was there to ‘protect’ him. Though that begged the question. What was this ‘Prototype’ or armor? It didn’t seem like a tool at all. More like..

Yami chuckled, looking at Arsène while reading a really old looking book. He closed the tattered and worn out book, putting it aside on the table. He looks at Arsène, an smile was painted on his face. Despite the gentle smile, there was some sort of malice hidden behind it. It was hard to spot but he definitely had ulterior motives.

“It seems your battle with that demon ended on a rather… destructive not.”

Yami said, the smile still playing on his lips. He looked at Arsène, his eyes tearing into Arsène’s soul. Its as if the gaze was penetrating Arsène on a spiritual level and stabbing into his soul. Arsène glared back at Yami, still quite exhausted.

“You knew this would end like this, didn’t you..?”

Arsène asked, clutching onto his shirt. He knew Yami wasn’t worth trusting and that anything he said or will tell you to do will most certainly lead you to your demise. Yami just chuckled, nodding in reply as he looked away from Arsène for a moment.

“Yes Yes, I knew it would end like this. I knew exactly how it would have ended.”

Yami looked to his side, looking at the worn out book that he was reading. His smile slightly faltered but he immediately composed himself, looking back at Arsène with a smile.

“So, how did it go? Did you gain a new ability?”

Arsène rose an eye brow, confused.

“How do you know about me gaining abilities from killing or devouring demons? Did Kami tell you?”

Arsène asks, clearly curious on how Yami knew. Yami in response just shook his head, smiling wider.

“I don’t need to told stuff in order for me to know things. I just know things others aren’t supposed to know. Consider it.. a skill of mine.”

Yami chuckled as he finished saying that. A drop of sweat rolled down Arsène’s face. Sure, Kami could’ve told Yami this information and Yami was just bluffing. But some part of him told him that Yami wasn’t merely bluffing.

“Don’t be startled or panicked, I won’t tell anyone or anything about this. Your secret is safe with me, son.”

Yami said he closed his eyes and smiled with kindness as he place his palm on his chest. Arsène looked down at his legs, unsure whether to trust Yami or not. Truth to be told, Arsène was unsure where or how he would be if it wasn’t for Yami. Plus, Arsène had a lot of questions that needed to be answered. Arsène rose his head, looking at Yami confidently with a frown.

“Then, will you answer my questions truthfully? If you do, I will put my trust in you.”

Arsène insisted. Yami’s eyes slightly widened but he just laughed it off, slapping his hand on his lap.

“Of course! Of course! Why wouldn’t I answer my son’s questions? Please, go ahead by all means.”

Arsène’s face slightly twitched but he just shook his head and clutched onto the sheets.

“First of all, what are these.. ‘demons’? What is their purpose? What do they want?”

Yami’s eyes widened at the question but he just nodded his head, wrapping his hands in front of his chest.

“That is a very good question. Even most of the scientists and researchers have been wondering that for a while now. What are these demons? But in all honesty. Even we are unsure what these.. creatures are..”

Yami replied, putting his hand to his chin for a moment to think as he continued.

“But one thing is for sure, these demons, they want to destroy the city of HK-36. And take away everything we have and will have in the future.”

Arsène looked at Yami, quite disappointed that even he didn’t know what these demons were or what they truly wanted. But an an idea popped into his mind.

“What if… These demons are attacking us because we are progressing too quickly and evolving too fast?”

Arsène asked, seeing if his theory held some form of credibility. Yami looked at Arsène, smiling.

“I did assume that for a moment, but I am unsure myself.”

Yami scratched his head.

“The demons may also be here to put an end to humanity and its population for once and for all. Since only a remnant of it exists now. Not to mention the Mass Extinction Event took place decades ago.”

Arsène looked at Yami, a question floating around and itching to be answered.

“That did make me wonder… You said you are more than a 100 years old… Does that mean you were there when the Mass Extinction event took place in real time?”

Yami’s smile faltered, as he looks down at his legs. These are one of the few times Arsène felt like he saw real human emotion behind the man’s demeanor and facade. Its quite the rare sight and even surprised Arsène.

Yami nodded silently, looking back at, his eyebrows were a bit farrowed and his eyes looked rather emotional and his smile felt forced.

“I was there when it all happened. When the skies turned black and the ground beneath our feet crumbled like paper. The screams, the chaos… I still hear them, even after all these years. Its as if they are edged deep within the corners of my mind.”

Arsène looked guilty, as if he was the reason Yami remembered an age old fear or trauma. Memories resurfacing because of Arsène’s question. But Arsène couldn’t stop. There was a question that he wanted answers to.

“What.. What exactly caused this event? The event in which millions.. No, billions of people have randomly disappeared into thin air..?”

Arsène gulped.

“Was it the doing of the demons... or us?”

Yami’s gaze snapped back to Arsène, and the malice from earlier returning to his smile.

“Oh, my boy, humanity’s downfall has always been humanity itself. Greed, ambition, and hunger for knowledge- those were the seeds we sowed long before the demons appeared.

Yami continued as he snapped his fingers.

“The demons? They were merely the harvesters.”

Arsène looked at Yami with widened eyes, then looking down and scratching his head.

“So these demons… They are here because of us? For what we had done?”

Yami frowned, closing his eyes for a moment as he spoke.

“Well it depends on how you see it. Humans have always hungered for knowledge and power. But there are certain doors that are better left unopened. Now that those doors are broken…”

Yami opened his eyes, conflicted.

“You have seen the result of the hunger for more power and knowledge.”

Arsène clenched his fists, his mind racing with questions as he scratched his head aggressively.

“So, it’s our fault. We’re the reason they’re here. And yet, you throw me into this fight without even telling me why?”

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Yami’s smile widened, but his eyes remained cold.

“Why do you fight, Arsène? Is it because I tell you to? Or is it because, deep down, you know there’s no other choice? Whether or not I push you into the battlefield, those demons will keep coming. The question isn’t ‘why’ you fight, rather it’s how you’ll win.”

Arsène’s grip on the sheets tightened. He hated how Yami twisted every argument, how he always seemed to have the upper hand. But beneath his frustration, he couldn’t deny the truth in Yami’s words. If he didn’t fight, who else would? Yami knew damn well that if Arsène didn’t fight, no one else would step forward. There were exceptions like Kami but he was already a skilled fighter, plus he was a Mech Aegis pilot.

“Fine, then answer me this.”

Arsène glared at Yami.

“What is this ‘Prototype’ spine? What is with this armor?”

Arsène asked, eager to know the real answer behind this mess. Yami smiled, coldness in his eyes and body language. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Ah, the Prototype. Its quite the thing, isn’t it? Its an enigma and an invention that fascinates even the other most top-tier scientists.”

Yami then smiles wider, raising a finger.

“But here’s the thing. This thing, this spine, is alive and sentient. In other words…”

Arsène’s eyes widened, continuing what Yami was about to say.

“It has a mind of its own..?”

Yami snapped his fingers, pointing at Arsène.

“Bingo!”

Arsène felt uncomfortable for a moment, at that moment, Arsène felt his spine.. move. It was as if it was squirming around under his skin. This thing, it was alive and it had a mind of its own. The idea repulsed Arsène but he thought for a moment. Despite being a living thing, it had saved Arsène before, twice in fact. The armor was capable of moving on its own despite Arsène going unconscious and being on the brink of death.

“You… What kind of sick prank is this?! You didn’t even bother telling me before…”

Arsène snapped back, clenching both his fists and grinding his teeth.

Yami shrugged, unbothered by Arsène’s anger as he replied.

“Would it have mattered? You’re still alive, aren’t you? Besides, you’re the only one it chose. That has to mean something.”

He continued.

“You gotta thank it, its the reason you’re still alive and healthy.”

Arsène took a deep breath, trying to calm him down. Despite Yami’s ignorance and lies, what he spoke right now was the truth. Arsène’s head swam with questions, but he knew Yami wouldn’t give him straight answers. Not yet, anyway.

“What happened after I went unconscious? After the battle with Agares- Argh.. I mean, the demon in the mountain range.”

Arsène asked, wishing to know what happened after he lost his consciousness.

“Well it was quite the mess…”

Yami replied, trying to sound as trustworthy and honest as possible. He looked at Arsène, smiling.

“After you or well, the prototype destroyed the core of the demon. It self destructed, causing an explosion that wiped out everything in a 100 meter radius. Fortunately, the demons ability I think, caused the prototype to create a shield or small structure in which it hid in.”

Arsène gulped.

“And after that?”

Yami shurgged his shoulder, looking at Arsène.

“The rest is quite the mess. According to the team on the aircraft, you went on a rampage, destroying everything around you. You even tried to attack the aircraft it seems.”

Arsène’s eyes widened. He tried to attack the aircraft with allies in it…?

“But besides that. According to the soldiers, you later passed out after using the earth manipulation. Immediately crashing down and falling down the mountain range.”

Arsène looked at Yami as Yami continued. He gulped.

“I fell down the mountain…?”

Arsène asked, curious and confused. To which Yami calmly nodded.

“Thanks to the armor and earth manipulation, you were able to survive the fall and crash. You gotta be thankful for your gift.”

Arsène’s head was swarming with questions but he had heard enough for today. He then looked at Yami.

“Fine. One last question,”

He said, glaring at Yami.

“What are your real motives? Why are you helping me? What do you really want?”

Yami’s smile returned, sharp and calculated. He stood, towering over Arsène as he clasped his hands behind his back.

“What I want, my dear boy, is to see this game to its end. To see what kind of man you’ll become when all the pieces are in place. Until then…”

He turned toward the door, his voice echoing as he walked away.

“You’ll just have to trust me or don’t. Either way, the game continues.”

The door clicked shut, leaving Arsène alone with his thoughts. He stared at the spot where Yami had stood, his mind swirling with frustration and doubt. Yami’s words lingered, heavy and haunting.

“Trust,”

Arsène muttered to himself, his voice laced with bitterness.

“As if that’s even possible.”

As his fists clenched and gripped on the sheets.