Days And Nights (Book of Life and Maya and the Three One Shots)

Stronger Than You Know

Zatz finds himself in a battle against a mysterious foe and shows his strength. Warning: mentions of violence, trauma, blood and death. Reader discretion is advised.

Zatz woke up to his head pounding.

All he remembered was walking through the halls of Mictlan's temple, being summoned by the god of war, when he got hit on the head, knocking him out. 

Zatz slowly stood up, taking in his surroundings. Based on what he could see with his night vision, he was in a dark void of emptiness. It was dead quiet. 

Before he could call out to anyone, something suddenly hit him from behind, sending him to the ground again.

Startled by the sudden attack, Zatz quickly stood up and summoned his sword, holding it out as he frantically looked around for his attacker.

"Who's there?" He said in the darkness.

No one replied. 

The invisible attacker swept Zatz off his feet, landing hard on his back and dropping his sword.

"Hello, Zatz." A sinister voice said. 

As Zatz got back up, the attacker stepped out of the shadows. He was a head taller than Zatz and physically stronger, wearing black armor, his helmet hiding his face. All that was visible was the warrior's glowing red eyes.

"Who... who are you?" Zatz asked, his sword back in his hands.

"A friend." The warrior pulled out a large blade, holding it toward Zatz, "So you’re the son of Camazotz. I must say, I'm disappointed. I was expecting more."

The warrior stalked towards him. Zatz didn't move, keeping his eyes on the warrior, while tightening the grip on his sword.

"Such a waste of a mighty god, especially considering the barbarian woman he betrayed us all for. Quite the challenge, that one."

Zatz felt his blood boil at the mention of his mother, "What do you know?" He asked. 

"You mean you don't know?"

"What do you know?!"

The warrior chuckled darkly as he stepped closer to Zatz, roughly grabbing his face in his hand, his armored gloves digging into Zatz's face.

"Foolish boy. I was there when your mother was killed. In fact, Mictlan sent me to chase her down myself."

Zatz's anger was now at a full boil. His father had told him about his mother's demise, but this strange warrior is the one who killed her?

"It was quite the spectacle if you ask me. If I remember correctly, it was something like this!"

Without warning, the warrior kicked Zatz hard in the chest, sending him crashing into a dark wall. 

Despite the pain, Zatz grabbed his sword and charged toward the warrior, the sword and blade clashing against each other, starting the fight.

Zatz didn't know how long the fight went on and he didn't care. He put everything his father had taught him in training to use. He wasn't about to let his mother's murderer walk free, his anger fueled every hit he made. Because Zatz was weaker, the warrior had the upper hand, landing more impactful blows.

Zatz was kicked against the dark wall, his sword knocked out of his hands. He panted as he lay on the ground. His whole body was aching, some fabric on his armor was ripped with some cuts on his body dripping with blood, no doubt that his body and face were covered in bruises. 

With what little strength he had left, he slowly stood up, summoning his sword.

The warrior let out a sinister chuckle, "Give up now, half-breed."