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Chapter 14-3: Echoes of the Past

Chapter 14-3: Echoes of the Past

Back on Earth, humanity had moved forward, evolving into a future filled with advanced technology. One day, a group of scientists stumbled across what appeared to be Moxie’s body. Despite their efforts to find any information about the Null race, they found nothing. Frustrated, they discarded his body, leaving it to rot beside a dumpster.

Forty years passed.

A young woman named Snow, around 22 years old, walked through the city streets. As she passed a forgotten alley, she noticed Moxie’s decaying body lying there. His skin was rotting, and the stench of death clung to him. Assuming he was long dead, Snow reached out and tapped his shoulder, feeling a wave of pity for the unknown figure.

Nothing happened.

Just as she was about to leave, a sudden, overwhelming presence washed over her. She froze in place, her heart racing as she felt the intense aura. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced—a suffocating, endless bloodlust. Slowly, she turned around, and to her shock, Moxie’s eyes opened, glowing faintly as his aura engulfed the entire city.

The pressure was unbearable, sending a shiver through the air. But just as quickly as it appeared, Moxie compressed the aura, regaining control. Snow stood frozen, staring at him in disbelief. Moxie, feeling guilty for his outburst, bowed slightly as if apologizing for the scene. When he stood, Snow got a good look at him for the first time.

He towered over her, at least 7'6" tall. The sheer size of him was intimidating, yet there was something broken in his quiet, cold expression. Snow cleared her throat and introduced herself, “My name is Snow,” she said, hoping to break the tension.

Moxie nodded, his voice low and gravelly. “Do you have food?” he asked, his eyes distant, but the hunger in his body undeniable.

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Snow smiled softly, offering to show him a nearby restaurant. As they walked through the city streets, people stared—some at their broken technology, others at Moxie’s imposing figure. His presence seemed to cause disruptions in the city's electrical systems, leaving lights flickering and machinery malfunctioning. Snow couldn't help but feel the weight of every gaze on them.

When they arrived at a small, quaint restaurant, things quickly escalated. A girl leaped at Moxie from the shadows, her movements fast and lethal. Moxie dodged effortlessly, and Snow yelled out, “Xero, stop!”

Two others nearby turned their attention to the commotion. One was lounging atop a table, while the other sat drinking coffee. Xero’s attacks were relentless, but Moxie dodged with precision until she managed to slice his already torn clothes. Before Moxie could retaliate, Snow stepped between them, a knife now pressed against her throat.

Xero, clearly furious, demanded to know why Snow was defending "this monster." She accused Moxie of being the reason the city’s lights had gone out and why their technology was failing. But Snow stood her ground, still defending him despite the danger.

The man on the table calmly approached them, introducing himself as Auforus. “The girl with the knife is Xero, and the one sitting around is Afuwafus,” he said nonchalantly, grabbing a slice of cake and a cup of coffee as he approached Moxie.

Auforus offered the food to Moxie, and Xero took that moment to strike again, determined to kill him. But as she swung, she stopped dead in her tracks. Moxie’s face had twisted into a sinister smile, a grin that sent chills down her spine. His eyes, once filled with sadness, were now cold and merciless.

Snow, still between them, pleaded for everyone to stop. Auforus sighed and handed Moxie the cake and coffee, which Moxie devoured as if he hadn’t eaten in days. Auforus, watching Moxie, commented, “These two are the Monochrome Sisters. I’m their caretaker.”

As Moxie ate, Auforus continued, his voice softening as he glanced between the sisters and Moxie. “Seeing you three... it reminds me of when I was with my own group. Back when Liza and Insanity were still around.”

Moxie paused for a moment at the mention of their names. The memories of his fallen companions stirred within him, but he said nothing. Snow and the others, oblivious to the weight of Moxie’s past, watched as he continued to eat in silence, each of them wondering just who—or what—they had brought into their lives.