The atmosphere was thick with fog as a large army of soldiers stood on opposite sides of the land, chaos about to erupt into a bloody conflict. Not a living soul would dare forget this day—the day justice would be served to the fallen people.
"Alright, I want you all to prepare yourselves for what's about to come! We are predicted victory!" the Lunaris commander shouted confidently. The army responded with loud cheers and praise.
"Bold of them to assume they have won when the war hasn't even begun," Rander spoke coldly, a low chuckle escaping his lips, a bloodthirsty look on his face.
"Are you sure we can do this?" Fae questioned, slight worry in her tone as she prepared her sword. Her emerald eyes glowed, blending with the green grass yet to be stained crimson by blood.
"Together as comrades, we will prevail and ensure our victory," I added, eyes burning bright red, fire erupting from both palms and traveling up my arms.
"Remember Ren, our people respect you. Don't disappoint," Rander said, placing a hand on my shoulder as both nations closed in.
"Open fire!" Both sides shouted, adrenaline rushing as the battle began.
"Shit, where the hell is he?!" Kenji shouted in panic, checking every cell. Chester came running around the corner.
"He's not here!" Chester yelled, kicking a wall that crumbled under his blow. Kenji's eyes glowed a bright purple as he stared down.
"We'll find him, no matter the cost," Kenji replied, looking out the window toward the fog-covered battle.
"I'm afraid you won't find him here," a familiar voice said. Both turned toward the masculine figure emerging from the shadows.
"Aragon Hunter..." Kenji muttered.
"What the hell did you do to him?!" Chester shouted, charging Aragon with a right hook. Aragon dodged effortlessly and countered with a blow that sent Chester flying.
"Well, that was stupid," Aragon smirked.
Kenji glared in disgust, bringing out his bow and arrow. "You're gonna regret that."
He charged, leaping with super agility and firing an arrow. He missed.
"Personally, I would be embarrassed," Aragon said mockingly.
"Personally, he wasn't aiming there," Chester smirked, catching the arrow. He injected Moonris serum from a hidden vial, convulsing before his body stabilized.
"What a wonderful diversion," Kenji said, landing a punch that sent Aragon flying, though he landed on his feet.
"You alright?!" Kenji asked.
"I'm doing just fine," Chester replied, now faster and stronger. He launched a high kick to Aragon's ribs, but was quickly thrown out a window.
Kenji ran along the walls, attacking. "I like that little power of yours, but can it help you in one-on-one combat?!"
"There's more to me than this damn curse!" Aragon growled, kicking Kenji.
The battlefield was chaotic. Akito covered his mouth from smoke.
"What's wrong? Can't handle the heat?!" I mocked, incinerating soldiers. One soldier begged for mercy.
"Please, I have a family--!"
"So do I," I whispered, impaling him.
Akito counted his kills aloud. "Hah, that's an even number!"
A Lunaris soldier shouted, "You alright, Zack?!"
"Of course I am--" Zack collapsed from an arrow. "The bitch can fly?!" he gasped as Fae hovered above.
"Damn right, I can!" she replied, shooting him again.
Zane flipped through a diary, frowning.
"Fallen magic requires a person of strong will... only one shall possess the source," he read repeatedly. "This wasn't an accident. There were instructions. Either Aragon lied... or didn't know. Then again, I swapped the original diary."
Zane's eyes widened. "The source... it's Ren."
"And the only way to dismantle fallen magic... is to kill Ren Tanaka," Amara said, stepping into view.
"You overheard me," Zane muttered.
"I won't tell Aragon. Big brothers overreact," she teased.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Arthur Hunter isn't dead, Zane. Arthur is Aragon."
Zane's body went stiff. "Everything he told me... was a lie."
Zane backed into a wall. "No..."
""Impossible..."
"How do you know all this?"
"Because I helped create the serum. I wrote that diary."
"You caused my brother this pain?"
"Yes, and that's why I chose you over Aragon. He would hate me."
"I can't hate you. I still hate him. Even if he didn't start the fire, he fled. I'll always remember that."
Zane stared at the blade in his palm.
"What do you hope to achieve?" Amara pleaded.
"Ever heard the saying: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer?"
Zane smirked. "Ren is driven by guilt. We can use that. He hopes to reshape the world. But his actions blur the lines between hero and villain."
"Just know I'm always on your side," Amara said.
Zane tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her. As her eyes closed, his remained open, staring at the blade.
"I know, darling. That's why I have to do this."
He stabbed her. She gasped, collapsing in a pool of crimson.
The world is seen as joyful by the young, but as we grow, we see the truth. Color fades to shades of grey. Evil exists, even if we ignore it. We become more aware, driven by ambition, desire, or necessity.
Acceptance.
When asked my greatest fear, I say spiders. But the truth is more terrifying.
Humans.
A lion may kill, but it does not plan. It does not deceive. It does not exploit. It does not lust or lie.
But a human would.