Zeo

The Siege of Lacacia was the name given to the mission carried out by The Hunters, and its main goal was to undermine Debrin Kavram's army by cutting off their supplies and slowly killing their soldiers. The Great Leader of The Hunters, Azmon, knew someone like Debrin would never abandon their people to suffer such a pitiful fate, so he had planned ahead.

Debrin's army had already been reduced to half in the past two nights. The Hunters had the upper hand, and the remaining soldiers had no escape. Time was running out for them, while The Hunters had all the time in the world.

The army led by Marakudra gathered around an ancient sequoia tree. Zeo lifted his gaze at the canopies hiding the sky like an umbrella intertwined with branches and foliage, where thousands of birds announced the advent of a new day. The last morning for many, and Zeo wondered if it was his last one too. However, he had stopped fearing his last day long ago.

Myrian stood behind Zeo, tightening her fists nervously, while the Captain paced around them, shooting piercing glances in search of doubts and fear.

Finally, Marakudra halted before them, took a deep breath, and spoke too calmly. "I've already explained the details of our current mission, and I need you to focus on your own commands and nothing else." She locked her gaze on the recruits, who couldn't stop trembling. "The main goal of group number one is to track and locate any soldier from Karx. However, you must avoid combat unless absolutely necessary. Group number two will take care of the offensive. Proceed the way we've trained before. Lastly, us, group number three," she looked at Zeo, "will remain in the rearguard and cover your asses while we wait for orders from Lord Azmon. Are we clear?"

"YES, CAPTAIN!" the army shouted in unison while Zeo only nodded.

Group one marched forward, leaving a trail of dust and leaves behind them. One minute later, group two did the same.

As most of the group split, the silence of the forest filled the void. Marakudra ordered her soldiers to set up a camp and then sat on a tree stump, crossing her legs as she adjusted her radio and earphones for eventual new orders. Myrian and others built tents inside the gigantic trees while the rest climbed them to set up observation points. Zeo and five more were tasked with patrolling the surroundings for any suspicious activity.

Twenty minutes passed.

Zeo was feeding a deer when he spotted a red flare hissing in the sky; they had found Karx's soldiers.

Immediately, Marakudra eased from her seat and raised her hand, ordering them to remain still and silent. A few seconds went by until the radio beeped in her hand.

"Captain, captain?" someone said on the radio.

"Speak." Marakudra scowled.

"Fourteen individuals, mostly hybrids. I don't detect any large source of energy, though. Level of danger: B."

"Alright. Proceed as planned. Distract them and avoid direct confrontation until group number two begins the attack."

"Roger, captain."

Marakudra lowered the radio from her face and smirked. "Pay attention to the sky. Ambushes are likely," she whispered and pointed in different directions for her army to move. "Zeo." She locked her gaze on him, and Zeo quickly stood before her. "I need you to use your Vectors to detect the presence of enemies. You can do that, can't you?"

Zeo widened his eyes and nodded. "I can't fully control it yet, but I can do it."

"Good. I need you to focus. I want to reduce our casualties as much as possible."

"Understood," Zeo said, hitting his chest with his fist to salute his Captain. He walked up to a tree and used its roots as aids for his Vectors. He had done it before to detect enemies when he and Ronner looked for Remnya. However, his motivation had changed, and hesitation seemed to invade his body.

As the minutes passed, the uneasiness in Zeo's chest intensified. His hands sweated as he buried them into the moist soil and focused on the sounds of the earth. From the books he had read at The Hunters' library, he knew Air and Earth were closely related, almost symbiotic. Unlike elementals like Fire and Electricity, Air wasn't a manifestation of a chemical reaction but a manipulation of the environment.

An electric current traveled through his body.

Zeo felt multiple presences right beneath his feet.

"Captain!" he shouted, pointing north from where the energy emanated abruptly like magnetic waves.

"Those pathetic fools!" Marakudra hissed, burying half her arms into the ground.

The fresh atmosphere of the forest turned into a heavy and hot fog that engulfed the army. Waves of vapor oscillated in the distance, blurring reality while the heat intensified, almost burning Zeo's skin.

Marakudra let out a feline roar and shot two streams of fire from her hands.

The ground shook, and every tree began to burn as her fire traveled underground like magma.

A piercing scream was heard in the distance, and a massive wall of molten rocks erupted from the ground like a volcano. Multiple bodies shot into the air, burning and screaming in pain.

Mara took her arms from the ground, her hands still glowing and smoking, and shot a man in the sky, blowing him up with a fireball. Burnt corpses rained over the battlefield, along with flaming body parts.

Zeo grimaced at the reek of burnt flesh, hair, and bones as he dodged a burning leg that landed next to him.

"Pitiful," Mara said, stepping on a roasted torso and crushing it with her boot. "They truly believed hiding underground would work against me?"

. . .

"It did, you stupid bitch."

Mara and Zeo turned toward a dying man whose body smoked on the ground. He smirked at them and pressed a trigger he held in his remaining hand.

The ground glowed and then expanded as a powerful blast engulfed everything and everyone in sight.

Zeo thought his end had come.

But Marakudra jumped over him and summoned her fire to shield them from the blast.

Nonetheless, the explosion sent them into the air, flying several meters away, while the rest of their army vanished into hell.

Silence.

The next thing Zeo knew was that he lay on the ground, and his skin burned as if melting. As he forced himself to sit up, he saw his arms red and throbbing, covered in blood.

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"Damned bastards!" Marakudra roared, standing up with part of her coat torn apart and blood across her face, yet she looked mostly unscathed. She turned to Zeo, her eyes sending shivers down his spine. "Get up, soft boy. You're alive."

Zeo ignored the pain traveling throughout his body and obeyed. Staggering, he regained balance and took a deep breath. He noticed his nostrils blocked by ashes and began coughing and sneezing.

"It seems like those sisterfuckers managed to halve my army. Curse them all!" Mara strode toward the crate left by the blast, and Zeo followed her.

The sun had been completely blocked by the smoke and dust rising into the atmosphere, turning the morning into twilight.

At the core of the explosion, the ground still glowed like the mouth of a volcano, and multiple corpses rested buried under molten rock and ashes. Zeo remembered Myrian was nearby and began calling for her and the rest of his companions unsuccessfully.

"There's no use," Mara said and sighed. "She and the rest must've been obliterated too."

Zeo tightened his lips and clenched his fists. "Why did you save me?"

Mara chuckled and looked at him with contempt as if he were asking the most stupid question. "Because you're not disposable like the rest. Why else?"

Zeo expected that answer, yet he still felt pathetic and disappointed.

"I wonder if this shit still works." Marakudra tried to get her radio to call the rest of her army, but it never turned back on. "Well, dammit!" She smashed it into the ground.

"We should gather with Pyon and Edo," Zeo suggested, looking left and right for enemies. "We're completely exposed here."

"Nonsense." Mara cracked her knuckles and neck and then pointed at the horizon, where an orange glow embraced the forest. "The battle has already begun. No matter where we go, death is everywhere." She smirked. "We'll fight and tear apart those Karx's bastards today."

Zeo swallowed and nodded, knowing he had no other choice. He was a Hunter, and Karx wanted his head too.

They strode through the forest, following the glow in the darkened, cloudy sky. Dismembered corpses lay under Zeo, some still moving and moaning in agonizing pain. Amid the death toll, he recognized Myrian's remnants buried under molten rocks, and his body halted on its own. Zeo grimaced in frustration as he witnessed the gruesome image but shook his head and forced himself to continue.

As they drew closer, Zeo overheard the screams of the battle, and the ground quaked under his feet.

A short silence.

A cobalt flash blinded Zeo, similar to Ronner's energy.

Marakudra stopped abruptly and pushed Zeo away.

An explosion destroyed the forest in front of them, shooting burning wood and rocks like bullets. A few hit Zeo, but most were deflected by Marakudra's energy.

From the black smoke lingering around them, a prominent figure emerged. Zeo widened his eyes when he recognized a Nephilim: a tall, bulky man with slicked-back silver hair and multiple scars. His eyes glowed silver too, and a smirk was plastered across his face.

"You two are the only ones left?" he asked, folding his arms. "Damn, I thought this would be funnier."

"Who the fuck are you?" Marakudra took a fighting stance, and her hands began to glow red.

"Oh, pardon my manners." He bowed and then winked at them. "My name is Merle, captain Merle."

"Captain Merle?" Marakudra's face turned pale as her eyes dilated.

Zeo was taken aback by her reaction and scanned the man from head to toe. He emanated an imposing aura, and his eyes seemed to penetrate his soul like blades. But the strangest thing about him was his nauseating reek of alcohol.

"Why? Why are you here?" Marakudra shouted desperately. "You sent your army to its death! You betrayed Debrin Kavram, then WHY? WHY ARE YOU HERE?"

"So, you are the coward who betrayed them?" Zeo spat, driven by fury. That man's actions could lead to Remnya's death, he knew.

Merle chuckled and brushed a strand of silver hair aside from his face. "I betrayed no one. You people really thought Debrin would show up?"

"You are the one who revealed the location of each one of your armies!" Mara roared, her clenched fists shaking. "You murdered most of the people who followed you. Isn't that a betrayal?"

"Is it?" Merle scratched his chin and tilted his head. "My army chose to fight for our cause, no matter what. Part of it required sacrifices; whether they knew it or not, it didn't matter. All their deaths had a purpose, which was, luring the stupid hunters into our party." He guffawed.

"You sent your people to die? Did they even know?" Zeo asked, gritting his teeth.

"Most didn't know. However, they admired us as their leaders. We gave them a reason to live and die. Their lives served a purpose, and the fall of The Hunters is around the corner." He smirked. "Right now, Debrin is taking advantage of this distraction to annihilate everyone in The Hunters' Headquarters. Not even Azmon could predict this."

"Rem . . . " Zeo murmured, his heart sinking in his stomach. "Maria . . . "

"No way!" Marakudra took one step backward as her whole body glowed.

"Yes, way!" Merle stepped forward with a creepy smile. "Now, it's time for you two to say goodbye too."

Marakudra seemed to hesitate, but Zeo stepped forward, driven by unknown emotions. "I sent Remnya with you because I thought you were better than The Hunters! But it turns out you're just as miserable, you disgusting piece of shit!" Zeo's eyes burned, and his vectors spread across the forest, glowing green and slicing everything in their path.

"Remnya?" Merle widened his eyes. "You know the crimson knucklehead?"

"What?" Zeo froze for a moment.

"Oh!" Merle grinned and bobbed his head to himself. "It makes sense. You're the Anglish boy she was talking about."

"Where is Rem?" Zeo asked, invaded by confusion.

"Don't worry, boy. She's safe and sound. Debrin made sure to take good care of her."

A strange relief eased Zeo's heart for a moment, yet he couldn't trust a man who had just sent his army to a horrible death.

"Once I'm done with this hunter rat, I'll take you to see your friend." Merle smirked and then gave Mara a death stare. "Let's finish this quickly, darling."

"As if!" Mara bellowed while massive flames engulfed her right arm.

She tried to shoot her energy at Merle, but the big man charged at her faster than lightning, closing the distance, and smashed his giant fist against her jaw, sending her to the ground.

Marakudra sprang from the ground and tried to retaliate but was met by multiple blows to the face and body. Blood spurted from her nose and mouth as her body was buried into the ground by the brutal force of Merle's punches.

Overpowered, she let out a groan of pain as Merle sprawled over her and snatched her neck with his left hand while his right arm began to glow white with blue sparks. A thick layer of ice formed around his muscles, creating a blade he pointed at Mara's head.

Marakudra's face displayed resignation, and her eyes dilated, knowing she couldn't fight anymore.

Merle lunged forward to sever her head from her body.

Moved by sheer instincts, Zeo charged at Merle and, using all the strength of his vectors, managed to push him away, causing his ice blade to miss Marakudra's neck by inches.

Merle turned to him and staggered with wide-open eyes and a smile. "What you doing, kiddo?" he asked with a hint of amusement.

Zeo stood between him and Marakudra while his vectors hissed through the air. "Paying my debts," he said firmly, with no hesitation in his actions.

He glanced at Mara as she struggled to sit up and looked at him in disbelief. "Why are you doing this?" she murmured.

"Life for life," Zeo replied, knowing he could be making the biggest mistake of his life. But he had decided to be the owner of his own fate. No matter what Merle said, he couldn't trust him. On the other hand, even if Marakudra was a monster, she had saved his life twice. "What kind of warrior would allow his savior to die such a pitiful death?"

"This is a huge mistake, boy." Merle shook his head, disappointed. "Are you sure you want to go against me? You gonna give up your friend again because of these people?"

"I'll see my friend again, regardless of you or anyone." Zeo spat, glaring at him. "I'll write my own fate, and so will Remnya. I still have a mission here, so fuck you!" His vectors went crazy and hissed like thousands of bees.

Merle stifled a chuckle. "You got guts. I'll give you that, but," he cracked his knuckles, "can you protect her? I can get through your vectors and end her life easily. You know that."

Zeo held his ground while his vectors covered Mara's body. "I'll still try."

Merle let out a deep sigh, smiled, and shrugged. "As you wish, kid." He charged at Zeo.

Zeo clenched his fists and awaited the impact.

However, Merle stopped inches away from him and turned his gaze toward the horizon.

A powerful presence invaded the forest, crushing Zeo's chest with its harrowing aura. The sky darkened, and heavy fog and the scent of death fell over them.

"Such bad timing," Merle murmured, not taking his eyes away from the horizon.

"Azmon Infernoz," Marakudra whispered in Zeo's ears, holding his shoulders to stand up.

"The leader of the Hunters?" Zeo's jaw dropped.

"I guess this is your lucky day, hunter lady." Merle chuckled, glancing at them with amusement. "Unfortunately, I'm not crazy enough to stay and fight that motherfucker on my own." His silver orbs scanned their pitiful states as he smirked. "Though, remember my words. When the day comes, Azmon and The Hunters will meet their demise. The time is running out for you, and Debrin Kavram will be the name you all will remember for the rest of your brief lives." Finally, his gaze locked on Zeo. "You're really something, kid. I'll tell Remnya you've turned into a man already."

He winked at him, and then the ground exploded under his feet, sending Zeo and Mara to the ground with a powerful shockwave. Like lightning, Merle sprinted through the forest, leaving a trail of sparks and fire behind him until his body vanished into the dark mist of a dead land.

*°*°*

Next Chapter: January 7