UNIFIED W

Chapter 15: Reality

Two days before the attack, the Pillars, a group led by a man named Void, gathered in a dungeon high in the mountain chains of Buur City.

Void stood in the center of the dungeon, surrounded by others wearing identical masks and cloaks.

"It's finally time for us to put our plan into action."

One member expressed his frustration out loud.

"Finally, we can stop sitting around and do something."

"You're right, Archer. The time we've been waiting for so long has finally come."

Void went quiet for a bit and then started dividing the members into groups.

"We'll divide into two teams and regroup at stage two when everything is over."

"Draven, you're with Agent 5, and..."

Suddenly, Draven shouted before Void could even finish his sentence.

"I can't work with someone I don't trust, and I definitely don't trust her."

Draven's voice darkened and echoed through the dungeon, expressing his frustration with Void's decision.

Void approached Draven and placed his hand on his shoulder. Draven noticed tears falling from Void's eyes.

Everyone in the room exchanged confused glances, trying to understand what was happening.

"Draven, don't say that. Remember, we are the world's last hope. We are the pillars holding it up."

Archer walked over to Draven and Void.

"I'll go with this idiot, boss. You can go with Agent 5 and 'magma boy.'"

Void turned to Archer, wiped the tears from his face, and then smiled at him.

"Thank you, Archer, for your understanding. Let's all meet in stage two, including Taro."

"Wait, is Taro finished with his mission?"

"Not yet. We'll catch up with him before the finals. He's still undercover, guarding the king."

Agent 5 suddenly interrupted Archer and Void.

"What do you want us to do now, then, boss?"

Suddenly, Void's smile disappeared, and he became serious.

"I need you guys to find a participant named Kai."

"What?"

Archer and Draven stood in silence, both looking confused.

"You want us to bring you one of this year's worst participants? For what?"

"To join us when we're saving the world."

Draven laughed at the thought.

"If you desire someone, I recommend the fire clan kid wielding the legendary weap..."

Before Draven could finish, Void grabbed him by the throat and began strangling him.

"Don't you dare mention the Fire Clan in my presence."

Void released Draven, turned to Archer to give him the meeting location, then walked toward the exit.

Void and his team exited the dungeon, disappearing into the darkness, leaving Draven and Archer alone.

"The boss lost it this time."

"Let's go, you idiot."

"You're the idiot here, you bastard."

After the argument, Archer and Draven rushed out of the dungeon, racing toward Von City to make it in time.

***

Three days after the attack on Von City, Kai finally woke up.

"Aaaaargh... Aaaaargh."

"Hey... take it easy, kid."

Vin stood next to where Kai was lying.

"Where am I?"

"You're in a safe place now. Try to calm down."

Kai looked around and realized he was in some kind of bunker.

He tried to stand but collapsed from the pain in his arm.

"Ahhhhhh."

"Stay still, or your wound will get worse."

"What happened to me?"

Vin raised an eyebrow.

"You're telling me you don't remember what happened?"

"I remember we were running from someone... and..."

"And then..."

Vin interrupted Kai as he tried to remember.

"You don't remember anything? Or are you just not ready to talk about it?"

When Vin said that, there was a brief silence, and Kai just ignored his question.

"How did you find me, Vin?"

"I saw everything that happened."

Although Kai didn't want to listen, tears filled his eyes as he trembled in pain while Vin told him what had happened.

"I don't believe you. Zeru would never do this to me."

"If you don't believe me, how do you explain the scar on your left arm?"

Kai removed the bandages from his arm.

"What are you doing? You're just going to make your injury worse."

Kai removed all the bandages and panicked when he saw chain marks all over his arm.

He screamed in anguish before finally passing out.

Two hours later, Kai regained consciousness and saw that Vin had treated his arm again.

"Please tell me this is just a nightmare."

"I wish I could, kid, but this is the sad reality of our lives."

Vin paused for a moment, then continued his conversation with Kai.

"This world is beautiful, and we humans don't deserve it."

Kai cried out again as Vin tried to calm him down.

Once Kai regained control of his emotions, he looked at Vin.

"What happened to you? I thought you made it to the finals."

"I gave up on the test because things unfolded in a way I didn't want them to."

"It's a shame you won't get to see the outside world."

Vin gave Kai a look, leaving him confused.

"Trust me, kid, you have no idea how ugly the outside world is."

"What do you mean?"

"We'll talk more about it later, so try to get some rest now."

Vin stepped outside to get some fresh air, leaving Kai in the bunker.

He took a deep breath and gazed at the night sky.

'The night sky is really beautiful.'

Vin sat outside the bunker for the rest of the night, lost in thought.

'Mother, I've finally found someone with a good heart.'