Last Son: Book One

Chapter 37 Welcome To Zahirtopia

Samael had spent days at sea, battling treacherous waves and a ship on the verge of falling apart. Exhausted and weary, he finally caught sight of the magnificent city of Zahirtopia on the horizon. As the ship docked, he eagerly disembarked, his eyes widening at the bustling scene before him. Walking through the crowded streets, Samael found himself amidst an enormous crowd, all seemingly barricaded from the other side. Confusion and curiosity filled the air, as whispers of tension and unease circulated among the people. Soldiers, adorned in heavy black-tinted armor and armed with state-of-the-art firearms, patrolled the streets, their presence both intimidating and foreboding. Samael couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and apprehension as he made his way through the city. The atmosphere crackled with an undercurrent of mystery as if Zahirtopia held secrets waiting to be unveiled. He wondered what could have led to such heightened security and the division between the people. As Samael delved deeper into the heart of the city, he noticed the stark contrast between the opulent architecture and the tension that permeated the air. Glorious skyscrapers reached for the heavens, adorned with intricate designs, showcasing the city's prosperity. Yet, the people seemed burdened, their expressions tinged with anxiety as if they were cogs in a machine they didn't fully understand. "Get back in line! You peasant." One of the soldiers is roughing up one of the slaves, and the slave fights back but the soldier opens fire, and kills the man. As chaos erupted on the streets of Zahirtopia, Samael stood frozen, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and anger. The deafening sound of the gunshot echoed through the air, drawing the attention of both the soldiers and the civilians. Panic spread like wildfire as people scrambled to find safety, their voices blending into a cacophony of screams and cries. In the midst of the pandemonium, Samael's instincts kicked in, propelling him forward. He darted through the crowd, utilizing his Azureus orb, dodging desperate individuals and obstacles that seemed to materialize out of thin air. The city that once held the promise of a new beginning had transformed into a battlefield, and Samael found himself caught in the crossfire. Bullets whizzed past him, the sharp cracks filling his ears as he weaved through the chaos. Explosions erupted around him, sending shockwaves that threatened to knock him off his feet. The air was thick with smoke and debris, obscuring his vision and making it difficult to fight his way through to find a secure location. As Samael pushed forward, his mind raced with questions. Who were these resistance fighters? What had led them to rise up against the forces of Zahirtopia? The answers seemed elusive, hidden amidst the chaos that enveloped the city. Suddenly, a deafening blast rocked the ground beneath Samael's feet. His body was hurled through the air, his senses overwhelmed by a blinding light and a wave of heat. The force of the explosion sent him crashing into a nearby building, his body battered and bruised. As the dust settled and his vision cleared, Samael found himself surrounded by devastation. Buildings stood in ruins, their grandeur reduced to rubble. The streets, once filled with life, were now transformed into a somber graveyard. Gathering his strength to rise, shots were fired from a Zahirtopia troop, resistance fighters took cover behind a vehicle that was blasted from the explosives, and Samael used his Azureus orb to equip his Pterodac sword, the bullet that was shot from the Zahirtopia troop gun barrel, the bullet deflected off Samael's Pterodac sword and killed the trooper who pulled the trigger. Zahirtopia trooper shouted; "He is with the resistance. Kill him!" One of the resistance-covered Samael, by firing his weapon at the Zahirtopia forces, and Samael made his escape through the alleyway. Then two Zahirtopia troopers came onto the scene and fired their weapons, Samael deflecting the bullets with his Pterodac sword utilizing his teleportation techniques, and killing the soldiers. Samael made his way back onto the streets, a crowd of civilians running, and a loud voice calling out to Samael but Samael pressed forward from all the chaos as his name was being called. "Hey! Buddy. Samael! It's me." The individual who is calling out to Samael can no longer hear him utter the name Samael due to the crowd screaming, and guns firing. Samael managed to escape all the chaos but stood before a café sign that was marked with a mysterious red arrow pointing down, and the ground began to vibrate. Abbie appears in front of Samael and says to him; "Adventurous! I've scanned the line—and I found a secret passage." The ground continued to vibrate, Samael heeded her words and answered back with a calmness in his voice. "Okay. Lead the way, Abbie." Abbie then said to Samael as she pointed out the café sign, and said to him. "Adventurous! The café sign! It leads to an underground pathway." Samael nodded and then proceeded to the café sign, removed the sewage plate, climbed down the ladder, and dropped into the nasty water, infested with rats, and the smell was horrendous. The walls were covered with fungus and the underground was misty due to the war above but Samael had his Azureus orb to light his path. As Samael cautiously navigated the underground pathway, his senses on high alert, a low growl resonated through the tunnel, sending a chill down his spine. He turned his head, searching for the source of the sound, only to be met with a pair of glowing eyes peering at him from the darkness. The eyes belonged to a massive, snarling creature, its fur matted and stained with blood. Samael's heart raced as he realized he was face to face with a ferocious, unknown beast. Before he could react, the creature lunged towards him, teeth bared and claws extended. The last thing Samael saw before the jaws closed around him was the glimmer of a strange symbol on the creature's collar. And then, everything went dark.