Chapter 72
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Age 1978
A young teen stood in front of a group of elders as they all stared at him.
"Yukon... You are the Nation Of Whites burning Hope. Our ancestors came to this land to defeat the Red Emperor... But they were stopped by the Master of the Enforcers. Our ancestors were left stuck here, and so for over a thousand years, our order has existed in enemy territory. Our grudge now rest with the Enforcers. More namely the leader of the Enforcers. Storm... We will exterminate him, and his family... His bloodline must not exist. A Storm is the worst thing in this world. Do you understand Yukon..."
"Yes, Master." The boy said bowing down.
"Yukon rise..." The old man slowly stood up to his full height as he stared down at the boy. "It is up to you know. For over a hundred years we have bred, in order to make the ultimate warrior. Yukon. We gift you with the ultimate rank. We gift you the rank of Zero... From this day on you are the warrior known as Zero. A warrior stronger than any other. You shall be the thing that carries us to victory."
"I accept this title with pride." The boy announced humbly.
"Than still your body. I will perform the ritual on you. I'll turn you into a full Samurai if you can survive it."
"I'm ready..." Yukon said nodding his head.
The old man slowly pulled his sword out as he stood up. Then in a flash, he stabbed the sword straight through the boy's gut. "In order to wield a blade probably, you must be aware of its effects... You must know what it is you will be doing to others. Feel its pain and embrace it. Let it soar through your body and let it grow you. Evolve you. From this day on you can not be a man. A man can feel guilt, fear, lust, greed. From this day you are no man. You are a weapon." The old man reached out placing a hand on Yukon's face as he slowly pulled back pulling the blade out slowly. "If you survive the ritual you will be seen as a full-fledged Samurai. You are now our sword. Our hope."
Yukon nodded as the blade was fully pulled out of him. He dropped to his knees clutching his gut as he coughed out in pain. "I understand..."
"You are now, and forever, Zero. Our greatest weapon..."
Age 1983
"Zero..." An old man said slowly. "We have need of you on the front lines."
"Not now." Zero said quietly as he stared down at a baby in a small wooden crib. "I'm watching the most precious thing in the world to me, sleep." He said quietly as he placed a finger over the baby. "It is small. Helpless. Unable to defend itself. That's why I'll stay with it. I'll watch over. I'll kill anything that touches it."
"Zero we are dying..."
"The entire world can die..." Zero said simply. "I have done more than enough for you for what? We go on to battle, and we die. All of you are useless. If not for me, and One you wouold have all been killed."
"Zero!"
"Leave."
Age 1984
"Zero!"
Zero ran forward towards where his village was. His eyes were wide as he watched it slowly burn down. "W... What happened!"
"Zero..." An out of breath Samurai said.
"Eleven?" Zero turned to look at the man. "Tell me. What happened here?" He asked quietly as the flames outlined the snow and darkness. "This is a trick right..." He asked as his voice quivered.
"The Enforcers... They came in the middle of the night while you guys were gone. They... They completely burnt it to the ground-" Eleven collapsed as he stared at the ground. "There... There was so many innocent civilians... N-Not even Samurai... Just Civilians in general. And the fire... It was just... Oh, God... It was one man and a small group... One of the four sacred beasts of the Enforcers..."
Zero stepped forward slowly as his eyes slowly widened. "My... My daughter." Zero said quietly, with barely any emotion in his voice. "Did she..."
"Zero... I am so sorry..."
Zero watched the flames burn away his home as he numbly reached for his sword. "Enforcers..." He said slowly.
Age 1885
"I'm sorry... I can't let you do that." The old man said giving a bright smile.
Zero stared in shock as he dropped back. "You're-"
"Master Storm! Leader of the Enforcers!" The old man said doing a goofy pose. "I am here to end this silly fight."
"Master Storm... Please stop..." Ward said giving a deadpan stare. "Your poses are lowering the morale of our men..."
"Whoops!" The old man said stopping. "Actually! Wait! Morale doesn't matter. Ward. I told you to leave the Samuria alone. Leave them be and not try to fight them. Why did you disobey my orders?'
"I told you. They are an enemy. I took it upon myself to slay them."
"There's no need." Master Storm said letting out a small laugh. "They are so small and had no funding. We could stop them anytime we want to, but there is no point. They could do us no harm. There is no reason for us to fight. Just leave them be."
"This... This is the strongest member of the Enforcers..." Zero let out a laugh as his eyes slowly widened. "Th-This is what my clan has been trying to beat for the last one thousand years! An old fool!" Zero's laughter stopped as he swung his blade out letting out a loud yell. "I'll fucking kill you old man!"
The old man looked towards Ward as he held his finger out blocking the blade. "Ward. Can we go get something to eat after this?" The old man asked giving a puppy dog look towards the younger man.
Ward frowned as he crossed his arms. "Master Storm you are aware that I am not in charge of your money... Not any more..." He said whispering out the last part as he clutched his fist.
"Look at me!" Zero screamed swinging his sword out again and again as each strike was easily blocked. "We fought in this war for over a hundred God damn years! I lost brothers! I lost sisters! I lost friends! I... I lost my daughter to this war... Take... Take us seriously you bastard! Or else I'll just-"
Zero stopped when the old man turned back to look at him. The air around him seemed to be ripped out of his lungs, as the old man's electric blue eyes seemed to almost glow. Zero could feel his body going limp as his face went pale. He could feel sweat drip down his body as his arms wobbled.
"Wh-I-Wh-" Zero fell back dropping to his knees as he dropped his sword.
And just as quick as the pressure had begun it stopped...
Ward stepped forward raising his hand up but was stopped by the old man.
"There isn't any need for that." Master Storm said quietly. Zero looked up seeing the look of pity on the old man's face. Normally he would have hated that look, but currently, he couldn't even stand up. "He's broken. There is no need to fight in this silly war. They are Red citizens. Even if they refuse to admit it. This war is done. We won."
Age 1990
Zero smacked into the back of the cave wall as the beam of heat slowly stopped. His body slid to the ground as he place a hand over the now blackened and charred hole in his stomach. It was slowly growing back as he struggled to get to his feet. He gritted his teeth as he slipped down.
"That thing... What kind of Bestia Macht is it? An Earl? Or maybe even a close above Earl..." Zero let out a small growl as he stood back up. "Well, whatever... It doesn't matter. One attack is all I'll need to wipe it out."
Over with Hero, the boy was patting the Bestia Macht as he eyed the monster across from him up. He watched Zero slowly get back up. "What do you think?"
The Bestia Macht made several hissing, and cawing sounds as it clicked its jaw open, and closed. Hero nodded his head as he stared at it. He kept nodding as it made several hissing sounds to him telling him what to do.
"Yep. It's just as I thought. I have no idea what you're saying." Hero said nodding. The Bestia Macht's eye twitched as it smacked the boy over the head with its tail. "Oww! Why does everyone do that?"
"Hero!"
"Ken?" Hero turned seeing Ken was now standing up and moving around again. "You can regenerate too. Cool."
"N-No..." Ken said shaking her head slowly. "Maudite healed me."
Hero slowly shifted his gaze over towards the other girl. "Hi Maudite-"
"Can it."
"Oh... You're the scary Maudite now..." Hero said nodding his head. "I don't like you."
"I don't like you either," Maudite said letting out a hiss.
"D-Did she just hiss at me..." Hero slowly stepped behind Ken as he eyed the scary twelve-year-old girl, holding a massive energy scythe that she swung up and down. He was rarely certain he probably couldn't take...
"Look, idiot. I could spend forty minutes explaining the ins and outs of this entire plan, or you could shut up and help us finally kill that annoying asshole over there." Maudite said gesturing over to Zero.
"Oh, by all means, keep arguing," Zero called out. His hand was over his stomach as it slowly patched itself up. 'My regeneration has really slowed down... I must be at the very edge of my power. And now I have to fight a three, plus Hero, on one... This could be trouble.' Zero raised his arm up pointing it at the three teens, and Bestia Macht in front of him.
"Look likes it is go time..." Maudite said giving a slightly sinister smile. "You two... Be sure not to get in my way."
"I liked the other Maudite better..." Hero muttered out.
"Yeah well, the other Maudite was weaker!"
"Power isn't everything." Hero said shrugging.
"Says the weakest member of this team of four..." Maudite muttered out. "Seriously. The fourteen-year-old midget-"
"I'll kill you!" Ken announced. "Also I'm older than you so ha!"
"-is stronger than you now. I thought Seraphines were supposed to be all-powerful." Maudite shook her head as she turned away from the two Enforcers, and the Bestia Macht.
"I don't like you..."
"Stop ignoring me!" Zero roared out snapping all the kid's attention back over to him. Zero took a deep breath as he began to walk forward. "This is getting ridiculous... I am Zero. The Greatest Samurai. I will defeat you all!" He shouted out. "I am the weapon of hope. I am the burning will of the land of White!"
Dark Maudite smirked as her scythe grew bigger. "God she's such an edge lord..." Hero muttered only to shut up when the girl shot him a look. "Yeah... I'll stop talking now." Hero muttered. He slowly sat the Bestia Macht on the floor as he backed up. "How am I the weakest one here... I'm older than both of them..." The Sixteen-year-old boy said in a salty tone as the two young girls walked forward.
"Girl... I'll put you back down." Zero said glaring at Ken. Ken simply raised Jackson's sword up.
"Will you stop talking and just attack already?" Maudite questioned. "Only a coward simply stands around waiting-"
Zero flashed forward with a look of rage on his face as he slashed his sword out. Maudite jumped back avoiding the attack as she slid back. Ken, on the other hand, managed to raise the greatsword up blocking the strike.
The Bestia Macht shot forward, but Zero was ready for it, and jumped away avoiding it. And just like that, the fight had begun, as everything broke out into chaos. Zero's wings flapped taking him into the air, as he prepared a powerful attack.
Maudite slashed her scythe down-firing out a ball of red energy! The Bestia Macht fired its own attack out by shooting out a beam of concentrated heat. Zero struck fast however and sent out a wave of yellow flames that blocked both attacks. He dropped down to the ground and was instantly met by a powerful slash from Ken.
Zero gritted his teeth as his sword blocked hers, and for a second the two fought for dominance as they tried to out power one another.
'She's gotten even stronger... Has her body already undergone an enhancement after our last clash? Or... Maybe I'm just getting weaker every second...' Zero slashed his arm out sending Ken flying away, but before he could recover Maudite shot forward swinging her own weapon out. The scythe dug into his side and nearly ripped him in half. 'And then there's this girl!' Zero slid back as his body began to put itself back together. He frowned when he saw the sinister smile on Maudite's face. "That Attribute." He said out loud. "I've seen it before. Now I see... An Alazir. So that explains why you're so powerful..."
"Okay seriously? Does everybody know about my family but me?" Maudite hissed out. "Screw it!" She raised her weapon up as it grew even bigger. Then she slammed it down as hard as she possibly could.
'No time to block-' Zero gritted his teeth as the attack slashed over his normal arm, and blew half his body clean off. He smirked as he slid back. "That was close... Thankfully I moved the crystal down further into my body before you threw that out... Otherwise, that could have been the end-"
"You can do that?" Hero yelled out from the sidelines.
"Apparently."
"That... That seems kind of unfair."
Zero gave an awkward half body shrug, as the rest of his body began to grow back.
Maudite shot forward along with Ken, and the Bestia Macht. Maudite swung her scythe out but right before it could reach him, Zero kicked his leg up allowing the weapon to stab straight through it. Then he pulled it up as far as he could lifting Maudite up with his leg. Then as hard as he could he brought it down slamming her straight into the stone floor. He raised his sword arm up, easily blocking a strike from Ken as he brought his head back, and slammed his skull straight into her's dropping her to the floor. Finally, he slashed his sword out stabbing the blade right through the Bestia Macht as hard as he could.
The thing let out a pained hiss as it withered out. Zero frowned at it as he threw his arm out throwing it off of his blade, and slamming it straight into the stone wall as hard as he could.
"Silky!" Hero shouted out.
Zero's leg shot out kicking Ken in the chest throwing her away as she smacked into the back wall. Then he raised his sword up bringing it straight down on Maudite.
Maudite threw her arms up in an attempt to stop the blade as it dropped down. Her eyes widened as she realized she wouldn't be able to stop it in time. Right as it was about to hit her she saw a shadow go over as blood splattered to the floor.
Hero let out a pained gasp as he stood in front of Maudite stopping the sword from reaching her as it stabbed straight through him. "Oww..." He gasped out as the blade dug deeper into his gut. He grabbed onto it doing his best to stop it from hitting the girl underneath her.
Maudite stared up in shock, as she watched Hero let out another pained gasp. For a second neither of them were in the cave. For a second, they were both outside, in the cold, with a Bestia Macht beating down on Hero, as he stopped it from reaching her. For a second time, Hero was saving her.
"I... Why would you do that?" Maudite asked shocked.
Hero let out a gasp as he gave a slight smile. "Do I need a reason?" He questioned as he hissed out in pain.
"I'm... I'm not the Maudite you know. I'm evil. I am the part of her that hates you! Hates this world! Why would you go out of your way to save me you, idiot!"
Hero turned away from her as he stared back at Zero. "You aren't evil. I've seen evil. You're a child playing pretend-" Zero slammed his fist straight into Hero's face smacking him straight to the floor as he ripped the blade out of the teen.
He raised his sword up once more bringing it down as hard as he could.
'It's okay, if you are doing something good, even for the wrong reasons... I wonder if the opposite is true?'
'-sometimes, people will do good things for themselves... And that isn't wrong, at least I don't think it is? It can be hard to try and be a hero for others, but it's easier if you are doing it for yourself.'
Zero lowered the blade down right as Maudite threw herself over Hero's body. The blade stabbed straight into her, and went all the way through, stabbing into Hero as well. Both teens gasped out as the blade was thrusted through them both and stabbed into the ground below the twoo kids.
"Sorry... But I'm tired of people jumping in the way of my sword... So that time I put a little more effort into it." Zero hissed out as he ripped the blade out of the two of them. He brought his foot up and slammed it down stomping on Maudite as she cried out in pain.
Hero glanced up past Maudite, who was still on top of him, as his vision began to go blurry. His eyes darted over to an orange gem placed in Zero's stomach. 'Th... That's the crystal. He must have moved it there... I just need to break it... But I can't move my body-' He thought. 'I... I need to get up, but it's hopeless... I can't move... Is... Am I going to die? Ken, Kitsune, North, Cloud? Will they die too?'
"Red-Flash!" Zero raised his sword up reflecting the attack away from him as he turned to see Ken was back in a standing position.
"And so it comes to you," Zero said sighing. "The last warrior standing." He walked forward slowly as Ken jumped at him bringing her sword down!
'The heroic spark. Some people have it. Others don't...'
Ken slashed her sword down but Zero wordlessly blocked it unable to meet her eyes as he parried her sword away.
'You are the Nation Of Whites burning Hope.'
Ken slid back as her sword was slammed down, but she raised it back up swinging it out once more.
'The test was actually about not giving up. As an Enforcer the odds will almost never be in your favor.'
Ken slammed Jackson's sword down again, and again, as Zero blocked them all. His face slowly grew more, and more annoyed as he let out an audible growl. He raised his sword up deflecting another blow, as his leg shot up kicking Ken in the gut hard enough to drop her to her knees.
'We gift you with the ultimate rank. We gift you the rank of Zero... From this day on you are the warrior known as Zero. A warrior stronger than any other.'
"Do you know what I hate about you Enforcers the most..." Zero questioned. His face became one of rage as he slammed his sword down. Ken blocked it, but her arms shook, as Zero wouldn't stop slamming his blade down onto her's. "I hate the fact that we are so alike!" He shouted out as he brought his blade down again, and again, and again! "You guys never give up! But that was supposed to be our weapon. Our burning spirit! Our desire to rise above everyone else... And you guys took that from us!" Zero slammed his sword down, as a loud crack echoed out. Ken's eyes widened in horror as she watched the mighty, and powerful greatsword in her hands snap in half as the blade shattered breaking apart... And with it Ken's hope shattered.
'Hey, kid. Wanna be a badass Enforcer like me?'
Zero let out a heavy breath as he raised his sword up. "But look at you know... Broken... Without a spirit-"
"If you're going to kill me just get it over with..." Ken said as her dull red eyes dropped. She stared down at the ground as she waited for him to finish her off.
"I... I am Zero..." Zero felt his arm wobble slightly as he stared at the girl.
'Your grip is wrong...'
'Also that isn't how you hold a sword. You can't just swing it as if it is a bat... Lower the blade down towards your hip. When you swing step forward and put your arms, and back into the swing. This will allow you to deliver more power, while using less of your Attribute.'
'You will usually only have a 1% chance of winning a fight, maybe even less. But even despite those odds, you are required to stand back up. Being an Enforcer means getting back up no matter what happens to you. Even if you used up all your power. Even if your legs won't allow you to stand up. You haven't truly lost until you have given your final breath!'
Zero took a deep breath as he held his sword up. He got ready to deliver the final attack. The least he could do was ensure that it would be painless for the girl.
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.
Zero looked down at her one last. "Goodbye..." He said swinging the sword out.
Blood dripped onto the stone floor. Ken stared up in shock, as Zero's eyes were wide. There was nobody in front of Ken. No one was blocking the strike from hitting her. But despite that, she wasn't the one who got hurt.
Because the strike never even happened.
"I'm sorry..."
"No!" Zero hissed out when he saw who was stopping the strike.
"-but I can't let you do that."
Zero's eyes widened as he saw the old man, but suddenly the image faded, and he was no longer looking at the old man he feared... No. Now he was staring into the glowing silver eyes of Hero Otoko!
Hero's hands were out wrapped around the blade as he planted his feet in the ground! He was using everything in his power, to stop that sword from being raised, as blood dripped down from his cut open palms! He flashed a sheepish smirk at Zero who stared there in shock.
"Ken! Now! Aim for his stomach!"
As if a switch had been flipped Ken instantly acted. She raised up bringing up the broken sword as she brought it up.
Zero stared down at her as everything seemed to move in slow motion. Slowly, his face managed a small smile.
'Crack!'
The blade stabbed forward, stabbing straight through the orange crystal...
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Age 1978
A young teen stood in front of a group of elders as they all stared at him.
"Yukon... You are the Nation Of Whites burning Hope. Our ancestors came to this land to defeat the Red Emperor... But they were stopped by the Master of the Enforcers. Our ancestors were left stuck here, and so for over a thousand years, our order has existed in enemy territory. Our grudge now rest with the Enforcers. More namely the leader of the Enforcers. Storm... We will exterminate him, and his family... His bloodline must not exist. A Storm is the worst thing in this world. Do you understand Yukon..."
"Yes, Master." The boy said bowing down.
"Yukon rise..." The old man slowly stood up to his full height as he stared down at the boy. "It is up to you know. For over a hundred years we have bred, in order to make the ultimate warrior. Yukon. We gift you with the ultimate rank. We gift you the rank of Zero... From this day on you are the warrior known as Zero. A warrior stronger than any other. You shall be the thing that carries us to victory."
"I accept this title with pride." The boy announced humbly.
"Than still your body. I will perform the ritual on you. I'll turn you into a full Samurai if you can survive it."
"I'm ready..." Yukon said nodding his head.
The old man slowly pulled his sword out as he stood up. Then in a flash, he stabbed the sword straight through the boy's gut. "In order to wield a blade probably, you must be aware of its effects... You must know what it is you will be doing to others. Feel its pain and embrace it. Let it soar through your body and let it grow you. Evolve you. From this day on you can not be a man. A man can feel guilt, fear, lust, greed. From this day you are no man. You are a weapon." The old man reached out placing a hand on Yukon's face as he slowly pulled back pulling the blade out slowly. "If you survive the ritual you will be seen as a full-fledged Samurai. You are now our sword. Our hope."
Yukon nodded as the blade was fully pulled out of him. He dropped to his knees clutching his gut as he coughed out in pain. "I understand..."
"You are now, and forever, Zero. Our greatest weapon..."
Age 1983
"Zero..." An old man said slowly. "We have need of you on the front lines."
"Not now." Zero said quietly as he stared down at a baby in a small wooden crib. "I'm watching the most precious thing in the world to me, sleep." He said quietly as he placed a finger over the baby. "It is small. Helpless. Unable to defend itself. That's why I'll stay with it. I'll watch over. I'll kill anything that touches it."
"Zero we are dying..."
"The entire world can die..." Zero said simply. "I have done more than enough for you for what? We go on to battle, and we die. All of you are useless. If not for me, and One you wouold have all been killed."
"Zero!"
"Leave."
Age 1984
"Zero!"
Zero ran forward towards where his village was. His eyes were wide as he watched it slowly burn down. "W... What happened!"
"Zero..." An out of breath Samurai said.
"Eleven?" Zero turned to look at the man. "Tell me. What happened here?" He asked quietly as the flames outlined the snow and darkness. "This is a trick right..." He asked as his voice quivered.
"The Enforcers... They came in the middle of the night while you guys were gone. They... They completely burnt it to the ground-" Eleven collapsed as he stared at the ground. "There... There was so many innocent civilians... N-Not even Samurai... Just Civilians in general. And the fire... It was just... Oh, God... It was one man and a small group... One of the four sacred beasts of the Enforcers..."
Zero stepped forward slowly as his eyes slowly widened. "My... My daughter." Zero said quietly, with barely any emotion in his voice. "Did she..."
"Zero... I am so sorry..."
Zero watched the flames burn away his home as he numbly reached for his sword. "Enforcers..." He said slowly.
Age 1885
"I'm sorry... I can't let you do that." The old man said giving a bright smile.
Zero stared in shock as he dropped back. "You're-"
"Master Storm! Leader of the Enforcers!" The old man said doing a goofy pose. "I am here to end this silly fight."
"Master Storm... Please stop..." Ward said giving a deadpan stare. "Your poses are lowering the morale of our men..."
"Whoops!" The old man said stopping. "Actually! Wait! Morale doesn't matter. Ward. I told you to leave the Samuria alone. Leave them be and not try to fight them. Why did you disobey my orders?'
"I told you. They are an enemy. I took it upon myself to slay them."
"There's no need." Master Storm said letting out a small laugh. "They are so small and had no funding. We could stop them anytime we want to, but there is no point. They could do us no harm. There is no reason for us to fight. Just leave them be."
"This... This is the strongest member of the Enforcers..." Zero let out a laugh as his eyes slowly widened. "Th-This is what my clan has been trying to beat for the last one thousand years! An old fool!" Zero's laughter stopped as he swung his blade out letting out a loud yell. "I'll fucking kill you old man!"
The old man looked towards Ward as he held his finger out blocking the blade. "Ward. Can we go get something to eat after this?" The old man asked giving a puppy dog look towards the younger man.
Ward frowned as he crossed his arms. "Master Storm you are aware that I am not in charge of your money... Not any more..." He said whispering out the last part as he clutched his fist.
"Look at me!" Zero screamed swinging his sword out again and again as each strike was easily blocked. "We fought in this war for over a hundred God damn years! I lost brothers! I lost sisters! I lost friends! I... I lost my daughter to this war... Take... Take us seriously you bastard! Or else I'll just-"
Zero stopped when the old man turned back to look at him. The air around him seemed to be ripped out of his lungs, as the old man's electric blue eyes seemed to almost glow. Zero could feel his body going limp as his face went pale. He could feel sweat drip down his body as his arms wobbled.
"Wh-I-Wh-" Zero fell back dropping to his knees as he dropped his sword.
And just as quick as the pressure had begun it stopped...
Ward stepped forward raising his hand up but was stopped by the old man.
"There isn't any need for that." Master Storm said quietly. Zero looked up seeing the look of pity on the old man's face. Normally he would have hated that look, but currently, he couldn't even stand up. "He's broken. There is no need to fight in this silly war. They are Red citizens. Even if they refuse to admit it. This war is done. We won."
Age 1990
Zero smacked into the back of the cave wall as the beam of heat slowly stopped. His body slid to the ground as he place a hand over the now blackened and charred hole in his stomach. It was slowly growing back as he struggled to get to his feet. He gritted his teeth as he slipped down.
"That thing... What kind of Bestia Macht is it? An Earl? Or maybe even a close above Earl..." Zero let out a small growl as he stood back up. "Well, whatever... It doesn't matter. One attack is all I'll need to wipe it out."
Over with Hero, the boy was patting the Bestia Macht as he eyed the monster across from him up. He watched Zero slowly get back up. "What do you think?"
The Bestia Macht made several hissing, and cawing sounds as it clicked its jaw open, and closed. Hero nodded his head as he stared at it. He kept nodding as it made several hissing sounds to him telling him what to do.
"Yep. It's just as I thought. I have no idea what you're saying." Hero said nodding. The Bestia Macht's eye twitched as it smacked the boy over the head with its tail. "Oww! Why does everyone do that?"
"Hero!"
"Ken?" Hero turned seeing Ken was now standing up and moving around again. "You can regenerate too. Cool."
"N-No..." Ken said shaking her head slowly. "Maudite healed me."
Hero slowly shifted his gaze over towards the other girl. "Hi Maudite-"
"Can it."
"Oh... You're the scary Maudite now..." Hero said nodding his head. "I don't like you."
"I don't like you either," Maudite said letting out a hiss.
"D-Did she just hiss at me..." Hero slowly stepped behind Ken as he eyed the scary twelve-year-old girl, holding a massive energy scythe that she swung up and down. He was rarely certain he probably couldn't take...
"Look, idiot. I could spend forty minutes explaining the ins and outs of this entire plan, or you could shut up and help us finally kill that annoying asshole over there." Maudite said gesturing over to Zero.
"Oh, by all means, keep arguing," Zero called out. His hand was over his stomach as it slowly patched itself up. 'My regeneration has really slowed down... I must be at the very edge of my power. And now I have to fight a three, plus Hero, on one... This could be trouble.' Zero raised his arm up pointing it at the three teens, and Bestia Macht in front of him.
"Look likes it is go time..." Maudite said giving a slightly sinister smile. "You two... Be sure not to get in my way."
"I liked the other Maudite better..." Hero muttered out.
"Yeah well, the other Maudite was weaker!"
"Power isn't everything." Hero said shrugging.
"Says the weakest member of this team of four..." Maudite muttered out. "Seriously. The fourteen-year-old midget-"
"I'll kill you!" Ken announced. "Also I'm older than you so ha!"
"-is stronger than you now. I thought Seraphines were supposed to be all-powerful." Maudite shook her head as she turned away from the two Enforcers, and the Bestia Macht.
"I don't like you..."
"Stop ignoring me!" Zero roared out snapping all the kid's attention back over to him. Zero took a deep breath as he began to walk forward. "This is getting ridiculous... I am Zero. The Greatest Samurai. I will defeat you all!" He shouted out. "I am the weapon of hope. I am the burning will of the land of White!"
Dark Maudite smirked as her scythe grew bigger. "God she's such an edge lord..." Hero muttered only to shut up when the girl shot him a look. "Yeah... I'll stop talking now." Hero muttered. He slowly sat the Bestia Macht on the floor as he backed up. "How am I the weakest one here... I'm older than both of them..." The Sixteen-year-old boy said in a salty tone as the two young girls walked forward.
"Girl... I'll put you back down." Zero said glaring at Ken. Ken simply raised Jackson's sword up.
"Will you stop talking and just attack already?" Maudite questioned. "Only a coward simply stands around waiting-"
Zero flashed forward with a look of rage on his face as he slashed his sword out. Maudite jumped back avoiding the attack as she slid back. Ken, on the other hand, managed to raise the greatsword up blocking the strike.
The Bestia Macht shot forward, but Zero was ready for it, and jumped away avoiding it. And just like that, the fight had begun, as everything broke out into chaos. Zero's wings flapped taking him into the air, as he prepared a powerful attack.
Maudite slashed her scythe down-firing out a ball of red energy! The Bestia Macht fired its own attack out by shooting out a beam of concentrated heat. Zero struck fast however and sent out a wave of yellow flames that blocked both attacks. He dropped down to the ground and was instantly met by a powerful slash from Ken.
Zero gritted his teeth as his sword blocked hers, and for a second the two fought for dominance as they tried to out power one another.
'She's gotten even stronger... Has her body already undergone an enhancement after our last clash? Or... Maybe I'm just getting weaker every second...' Zero slashed his arm out sending Ken flying away, but before he could recover Maudite shot forward swinging her own weapon out. The scythe dug into his side and nearly ripped him in half. 'And then there's this girl!' Zero slid back as his body began to put itself back together. He frowned when he saw the sinister smile on Maudite's face. "That Attribute." He said out loud. "I've seen it before. Now I see... An Alazir. So that explains why you're so powerful..."
"Okay seriously? Does everybody know about my family but me?" Maudite hissed out. "Screw it!" She raised her weapon up as it grew even bigger. Then she slammed it down as hard as she possibly could.
'No time to block-' Zero gritted his teeth as the attack slashed over his normal arm, and blew half his body clean off. He smirked as he slid back. "That was close... Thankfully I moved the crystal down further into my body before you threw that out... Otherwise, that could have been the end-"
"You can do that?" Hero yelled out from the sidelines.
"Apparently."
"That... That seems kind of unfair."
Zero gave an awkward half body shrug, as the rest of his body began to grow back.
Maudite shot forward along with Ken, and the Bestia Macht. Maudite swung her scythe out but right before it could reach him, Zero kicked his leg up allowing the weapon to stab straight through it. Then he pulled it up as far as he could lifting Maudite up with his leg. Then as hard as he could he brought it down slamming her straight into the stone floor. He raised his sword arm up, easily blocking a strike from Ken as he brought his head back, and slammed his skull straight into her's dropping her to the floor. Finally, he slashed his sword out stabbing the blade right through the Bestia Macht as hard as he could.
The thing let out a pained hiss as it withered out. Zero frowned at it as he threw his arm out throwing it off of his blade, and slamming it straight into the stone wall as hard as he could.
"Silky!" Hero shouted out.
Zero's leg shot out kicking Ken in the chest throwing her away as she smacked into the back wall. Then he raised his sword up bringing it straight down on Maudite.
Maudite threw her arms up in an attempt to stop the blade as it dropped down. Her eyes widened as she realized she wouldn't be able to stop it in time. Right as it was about to hit her she saw a shadow go over as blood splattered to the floor.
Hero let out a pained gasp as he stood in front of Maudite stopping the sword from reaching her as it stabbed straight through him. "Oww..." He gasped out as the blade dug deeper into his gut. He grabbed onto it doing his best to stop it from hitting the girl underneath her.
Maudite stared up in shock, as she watched Hero let out another pained gasp. For a second neither of them were in the cave. For a second, they were both outside, in the cold, with a Bestia Macht beating down on Hero, as he stopped it from reaching her. For a second time, Hero was saving her.
"I... Why would you do that?" Maudite asked shocked.
Hero let out a gasp as he gave a slight smile. "Do I need a reason?" He questioned as he hissed out in pain.
"I'm... I'm not the Maudite you know. I'm evil. I am the part of her that hates you! Hates this world! Why would you go out of your way to save me you, idiot!"
Hero turned away from her as he stared back at Zero. "You aren't evil. I've seen evil. You're a child playing pretend-" Zero slammed his fist straight into Hero's face smacking him straight to the floor as he ripped the blade out of the teen.
He raised his sword up once more bringing it down as hard as he could.
'It's okay, if you are doing something good, even for the wrong reasons... I wonder if the opposite is true?'
'-sometimes, people will do good things for themselves... And that isn't wrong, at least I don't think it is? It can be hard to try and be a hero for others, but it's easier if you are doing it for yourself.'
Zero lowered the blade down right as Maudite threw herself over Hero's body. The blade stabbed straight into her, and went all the way through, stabbing into Hero as well. Both teens gasped out as the blade was thrusted through them both and stabbed into the ground below the twoo kids.
"Sorry... But I'm tired of people jumping in the way of my sword... So that time I put a little more effort into it." Zero hissed out as he ripped the blade out of the two of them. He brought his foot up and slammed it down stomping on Maudite as she cried out in pain.
Hero glanced up past Maudite, who was still on top of him, as his vision began to go blurry. His eyes darted over to an orange gem placed in Zero's stomach. 'Th... That's the crystal. He must have moved it there... I just need to break it... But I can't move my body-' He thought. 'I... I need to get up, but it's hopeless... I can't move... Is... Am I going to die? Ken, Kitsune, North, Cloud? Will they die too?'
"Red-Flash!" Zero raised his sword up reflecting the attack away from him as he turned to see Ken was back in a standing position.
"And so it comes to you," Zero said sighing. "The last warrior standing." He walked forward slowly as Ken jumped at him bringing her sword down!
'The heroic spark. Some people have it. Others don't...'
Ken slashed her sword down but Zero wordlessly blocked it unable to meet her eyes as he parried her sword away.
'You are the Nation Of Whites burning Hope.'
Ken slid back as her sword was slammed down, but she raised it back up swinging it out once more.
'The test was actually about not giving up. As an Enforcer the odds will almost never be in your favor.'
Ken slammed Jackson's sword down again, and again, as Zero blocked them all. His face slowly grew more, and more annoyed as he let out an audible growl. He raised his sword up deflecting another blow, as his leg shot up kicking Ken in the gut hard enough to drop her to her knees.
'We gift you with the ultimate rank. We gift you the rank of Zero... From this day on you are the warrior known as Zero. A warrior stronger than any other.'
"Do you know what I hate about you Enforcers the most..." Zero questioned. His face became one of rage as he slammed his sword down. Ken blocked it, but her arms shook, as Zero wouldn't stop slamming his blade down onto her's. "I hate the fact that we are so alike!" He shouted out as he brought his blade down again, and again, and again! "You guys never give up! But that was supposed to be our weapon. Our burning spirit! Our desire to rise above everyone else... And you guys took that from us!" Zero slammed his sword down, as a loud crack echoed out. Ken's eyes widened in horror as she watched the mighty, and powerful greatsword in her hands snap in half as the blade shattered breaking apart... And with it Ken's hope shattered.
'Hey, kid. Wanna be a badass Enforcer like me?'
Zero let out a heavy breath as he raised his sword up. "But look at you know... Broken... Without a spirit-"
"If you're going to kill me just get it over with..." Ken said as her dull red eyes dropped. She stared down at the ground as she waited for him to finish her off.
"I... I am Zero..." Zero felt his arm wobble slightly as he stared at the girl.
'Your grip is wrong...'
'Also that isn't how you hold a sword. You can't just swing it as if it is a bat... Lower the blade down towards your hip. When you swing step forward and put your arms, and back into the swing. This will allow you to deliver more power, while using less of your Attribute.'
'You will usually only have a 1% chance of winning a fight, maybe even less. But even despite those odds, you are required to stand back up. Being an Enforcer means getting back up no matter what happens to you. Even if you used up all your power. Even if your legs won't allow you to stand up. You haven't truly lost until you have given your final breath!'
Zero took a deep breath as he held his sword up. He got ready to deliver the final attack. The least he could do was ensure that it would be painless for the girl.
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.
Zero looked down at her one last. "Goodbye..." He said swinging the sword out.
Blood dripped onto the stone floor. Ken stared up in shock, as Zero's eyes were wide. There was nobody in front of Ken. No one was blocking the strike from hitting her. But despite that, she wasn't the one who got hurt.
Because the strike never even happened.
"I'm sorry..."
"No!" Zero hissed out when he saw who was stopping the strike.
"-but I can't let you do that."
Zero's eyes widened as he saw the old man, but suddenly the image faded, and he was no longer looking at the old man he feared... No. Now he was staring into the glowing silver eyes of Hero Otoko!
Hero's hands were out wrapped around the blade as he planted his feet in the ground! He was using everything in his power, to stop that sword from being raised, as blood dripped down from his cut open palms! He flashed a sheepish smirk at Zero who stared there in shock.
"Ken! Now! Aim for his stomach!"
As if a switch had been flipped Ken instantly acted. She raised up bringing up the broken sword as she brought it up.
Zero stared down at her as everything seemed to move in slow motion. Slowly, his face managed a small smile.
'Crack!'
The blade stabbed forward, stabbing straight through the orange crystal...
Age 1978A young teen stood in front of a group of elders as they all stared at him."Yukon... You are the Nation Of Whites burning Hope. Our ancestors came to this land to defeat the Red Emperor... But they were stopped by the Master of the Enforcers. Our ancestors were left stuck here, and so for over a thousand years, our order has existed in enemy territory. Our grudge now rest with the Enforcers. More namely the leader of the Enforcers. Storm... We will exterminate him, and his family... His bloodline must not exist. A Storm is the worst thing in this world. Do you understand Yukon...""Yes, Master." The boy said bowing down."Yukon rise..." The old man slowly stood up to his full height as he stared down at the boy. "It is up to you know. For over a hundred years we have bred, in order to make the ultimate warrior. Yukon. We gift you with the ultimate rank. We gift you the rank of Zero... From this day on you are the warrior known as Zero. A warrior stronger than any other. You shall be the thing that carries us to victory.""I accept this title with pride." The boy announced humbly."Than still your body. I will perform the ritual on you. I'll turn you into a full Samurai if you can survive it.""I'm ready..." Yukon said nodding his head.The old man slowly pulled his sword out as he stood up. Then in a flash, he stabbed the sword straight through the boy's gut. "In order to wield a blade probably, you must be aware of its effects... You must know what it is you will be doing to others. Feel its pain and embrace it. Let it soar through your body and let it grow you. Evolve you. From this day on you can not be a man. A man can feel guilt, fear, lust, greed. From this day you are no man. You are a weapon." The old man reached out placing a hand on Yukon's face as he slowly pulled back pulling the blade out slowly. "If you survive the ritual you will be seen as a full-fledged Samurai. You are now our sword. Our hope."Yukon nodded as the blade was fully pulled out of him. He dropped to his knees clutching his gut as he coughed out in pain. "I understand...""You are now, and forever, Zero. Our greatest weapon..."Age 1983"Zero..." An old man said slowly. "We have need of you on the front lines.""Not now." Zero said quietly as he stared down at a baby in a small wooden crib. "I'm watching the most precious thing in the world to me, sleep." He said quietly as he placed a finger over the baby. "It is small. Helpless. Unable to defend itself. That's why I'll stay with it. I'll watch over. I'll kill anything that touches it.""Zero we are dying...""The entire world can die..." Zero said simply. "I have done more than enough for you for what? We go on to battle, and we die. All of you are useless. If not for me, and One you wouold have all been killed.""Zero!""Leave."Age 1984"Zero!"Zero ran forward towards where his village was. His eyes were wide as he watched it slowly burn down. "W... What happened!""Zero..." An out of breath Samurai said."Eleven?" Zero turned to look at the man. "Tell me. What happened here?" He asked quietly as the flames outlined the snow and darkness. "This is a trick right..." He asked as his voice quivered."The Enforcers... They came in the middle of the night while you guys were gone. They... They completely burnt it to the ground-" Eleven collapsed as he stared at the ground. "There... There was so many innocent civilians... N-Not even Samurai... Just Civilians in general. And the fire... It was just... Oh, God... It was one man and a small group... One of the four sacred beasts of the Enforcers..."Zero stepped forward slowly as his eyes slowly widened. "My... My daughter." Zero said quietly, with barely any emotion in his voice. "Did she...""Zero... I am so sorry..."Zero watched the flames burn away his home as he numbly reached for his sword. "Enforcers..." He said slowly.Age 1885"I'm sorry... I can't let you do that." The old man said giving a bright smile.Zero stared in shock as he dropped back. "You're-""Master Storm! Leader of the Enforcers!" The old man said doing a goofy pose. "I am here to end this silly fight.""Master Storm... Please stop..." Ward said giving a deadpan stare. "Your poses are lowering the morale of our men...""Whoops!" The old man said stopping. "Actually! Wait! Morale doesn't matter. Ward. I told you to leave the Samuria alone. Leave them be and not try to fight them. Why did you disobey my orders?'"I told you. They are an enemy. I took it upon myself to slay them.""There's no need." Master Storm said letting out a small laugh. "They are so small and had no funding. We could stop them anytime we want to, but there is no point. They could do us no harm. There is no reason for us to fight. Just leave them be.""This... This is the strongest member of the Enforcers..." Zero let out a laugh as his eyes slowly widened. "Th-This is what my clan has been trying to beat for the last one thousand years! An old fool!" Zero's laughter stopped as he swung his blade out letting out a loud yell. "I'll fucking kill you old man!"The old man looked towards Ward as he held his finger out blocking the blade. "Ward. Can we go get something to eat after this?" The old man asked giving a puppy dog look towards the younger man.Ward frowned as he crossed his arms. "Master Storm you are aware that I am not in charge of your money... Not any more..." He said whispering out the last part as he clutched his fist."Look at me!" Zero screamed swinging his sword out again and again as each strike was easily blocked. "We fought in this war for over a hundred God damn years! I lost brothers! I lost sisters! I lost friends! I... I lost my daughter to this war... Take... Take us seriously you bastard! Or else I'll just-"Zero stopped when the old man turned back to look at him. The air around him seemed to be ripped out of his lungs, as the old man's electric blue eyes seemed to almost glow. Zero could feel his body going limp as his face went pale. He could feel sweat drip down his body as his arms wobbled."Wh-I-Wh-" Zero fell back dropping to his knees as he dropped his sword.And just as quick as the pressure had begun it stopped...Ward stepped forward raising his hand up but was stopped by the old man."There isn't any need for that." Master Storm said quietly. Zero looked up seeing the look of pity on the old man's face. Normally he would have hated that look, but currently, he couldn't even stand up. "He's broken. There is no need to fight in this silly war. They are Red citizens. Even if they refuse to admit it. This war is done. We won."Age 1990Zero smacked into the back of the cave wall as the beam of heat slowly stopped. His body slid to the ground as he place a hand over the now blackened and charred hole in his stomach. It was slowly growing back as he struggled to get to his feet. He gritted his teeth as he slipped down."That thing... What kind of Bestia Macht is it? An Earl? Or maybe even a close above Earl..." Zero let out a small growl as he stood back up. "Well, whatever... It doesn't matter. One attack is all I'll need to wipe it out."Over with Hero, the boy was patting the Bestia Macht as he eyed the monster across from him up. He watched Zero slowly get back up. "What do you think?"The Bestia Macht made several hissing, and cawing sounds as it clicked its jaw open, and closed. Hero nodded his head as he stared at it. He kept nodding as it made several hissing sounds to him telling him what to do."Yep. It's just as I thought. I have no idea what you're saying." Hero said nodding. The Bestia Macht's eye twitched as it smacked the boy over the head with its tail. "Oww! Why does everyone do that?""Hero!""Ken?" Hero turned seeing Ken was now standing up and moving around again. "You can regenerate too. Cool.""N-No..." Ken said shaking her head slowly. "Maudite healed me."Hero slowly shifted his gaze over towards the other girl. "Hi Maudite-""Can it.""Oh... You're the scary Maudite now..." Hero said nodding his head. "I don't like you.""I don't like you either," Maudite said letting out a hiss."D-Did she just hiss at me..." Hero slowly stepped behind Ken as he eyed the scary twelve-year-old girl, holding a massive energy scythe that she swung up and down. He was rarely certain he probably couldn't take..."Look, idiot. I could spend forty minutes explaining the ins and outs of this entire plan, or you could shut up and help us finally kill that annoying asshole over there." Maudite said gesturing over to Zero."Oh, by all means, keep arguing," Zero called out. His hand was over his stomach as it slowly patched itself up. 'My regeneration has really slowed down... I must be at the very edge of my power. And now I have to fight a three, plus Hero, on one... This could be trouble.' Zero raised his arm up pointing it at the three teens, and Bestia Macht in front of him."Look likes it is go time..." Maudite said giving a slightly sinister smile. "You two... Be sure not to get in my way.""I liked the other Maudite better..." Hero muttered out."Yeah well, the other Maudite was weaker!""Power isn't everything." Hero said shrugging."Says the weakest member of this team of four..." Maudite muttered out. "Seriously. The fourteen-year-old midget-""I'll kill you!" Ken announced. "Also I'm older than you so ha!""-is stronger than you now. I thought Seraphines were supposed to be all-powerful." Maudite shook her head as she turned away from the two Enforcers, and the Bestia Macht."I don't like you...""Stop ignoring me!" Zero roared out snapping all the kid's attention back over to him. Zero took a deep breath as he began to walk forward. "This is getting ridiculous... I am Zero. The Greatest Samurai. I will defeat you all!" He shouted out. "I am the weapon of hope. I am the burning will of the land of White!"Dark Maudite smirked as her scythe grew bigger. "God she's such an edge lord..." Hero muttered only to shut up when the girl shot him a look. "Yeah... I'll stop talking now." Hero muttered. He slowly sat the Bestia Macht on the floor as he backed up. "How am I the weakest one here... I'm older than both of them..." The Sixteen-year-old boy said in a salty tone as the two young girls walked forward."Girl... I'll put you back down." Zero said glaring at Ken. Ken simply raised Jackson's sword up."Will you stop talking and just attack already?" Maudite questioned. "Only a coward simply stands around waiting-"Zero flashed forward with a look of rage on his face as he slashed his sword out. Maudite jumped back avoiding the attack as she slid back. Ken, on the other hand, managed to raise the greatsword up blocking the strike.The Bestia Macht shot forward, but Zero was ready for it, and jumped away avoiding it. And just like that, the fight had begun, as everything broke out into chaos. Zero's wings flapped taking him into the air, as he prepared a powerful attack.Maudite slashed her scythe down-firing out a ball of red energy! The Bestia Macht fired its own attack out by shooting out a beam of concentrated heat. Zero struck fast however and sent out a wave of yellow flames that blocked both attacks. He dropped down to the ground and was instantly met by a powerful slash from Ken.Zero gritted his teeth as his sword blocked hers, and for a second the two fought for dominance as they tried to out power one another.'She's gotten even stronger... Has her body already undergone an enhancement after our last clash? Or... Maybe I'm just getting weaker every second...' Zero slashed his arm out sending Ken flying away, but before he could recover Maudite shot forward swinging her own weapon out. The scythe dug into his side and nearly ripped him in half. 'And then there's this girl!' Zero slid back as his body began to put itself back together. He frowned when he saw the sinister smile on Maudite's face. "That Attribute." He said out loud. "I've seen it before. Now I see... An Alazir. So that explains why you're so powerful...""Okay seriously? Does everybody know about my family but me?" Maudite hissed out. "Screw it!" She raised her weapon up as it grew even bigger. Then she slammed it down as hard as she possibly could.'No time to block-' Zero gritted his teeth as the attack slashed over his normal arm, and blew half his body clean off. He smirked as he slid back. "That was close... Thankfully I moved the crystal down further into my body before you threw that out... Otherwise, that could have been the end-""You can do that?" Hero yelled out from the sidelines."Apparently.""That... That seems kind of unfair."Zero gave an awkward half body shrug, as the rest of his body began to grow back.Maudite shot forward along with Ken, and the Bestia Macht. Maudite swung her scythe out but right before it could reach him, Zero kicked his leg up allowing the weapon to stab straight through it. Then he pulled it up as far as he could lifting Maudite up with his leg. Then as hard as he could he brought it down slamming her straight into the stone floor. He raised his sword arm up, easily blocking a strike from Ken as he brought his head back, and slammed his skull straight into her's dropping her to the floor. Finally, he slashed his sword out stabbing the blade right through the Bestia Macht as hard as he could.The thing let out a pained hiss as it withered out. Zero frowned at it as he threw his arm out throwing it off of his blade, and slamming it straight into the stone wall as hard as he could."Silky!" Hero shouted out.Zero's leg shot out kicking Ken in the chest throwing her away as she smacked into the back wall. Then he raised his sword up bringing it straight down on Maudite.Maudite threw her arms up in an attempt to stop the blade as it dropped down. Her eyes widened as she realized she wouldn't be able to stop it in time. Right as it was about to hit her she saw a shadow go over as blood splattered to the floor.Hero let out a pained gasp as he stood in front of Maudite stopping the sword from reaching her as it stabbed straight through him. "Oww..." He gasped out as the blade dug deeper into his gut. He grabbed onto it doing his best to stop it from hitting the girl underneath her.Maudite stared up in shock, as she watched Hero let out another pained gasp. For a second neither of them were in the cave. For a second, they were both outside, in the cold, with a Bestia Macht beating down on Hero, as he stopped it from reaching her. For a second time, Hero was saving her."I... Why would you do that?" Maudite asked shocked.Hero let out a gasp as he gave a slight smile. "Do I need a reason?" He questioned as he hissed out in pain."I'm... I'm not the Maudite you know. I'm evil. I am the part of her that hates you! Hates this world! Why would you go out of your way to save me you, idiot!"Hero turned away from her as he stared back at Zero. "You aren't evil. I've seen evil. You're a child playing pretend-" Zero slammed his fist straight into Hero's face smacking him straight to the floor as he ripped the blade out of the teen.He raised his sword up once more bringing it down as hard as he could.'It's okay, if you are doing something good, even for the wrong reasons... I wonder if the opposite is true?''-sometimes, people will do good things for themselves... And that isn't wrong, at least I don't think it is? It can be hard to try and be a hero for others, but it's easier if you are doing it for yourself.'Zero lowered the blade down right as Maudite threw herself over Hero's body. The blade stabbed straight into her, and went all the way through, stabbing into Hero as well. Both teens gasped out as the blade was thrusted through them both and stabbed into the ground below the twoo kids."Sorry... But I'm tired of people jumping in the way of my sword... So that time I put a little more effort into it." Zero hissed out as he ripped the blade out of the two of them. He brought his foot up and slammed it down stomping on Maudite as she cried out in pain.Hero glanced up past Maudite, who was still on top of him, as his vision began to go blurry. His eyes darted over to an orange gem placed in Zero's stomach. 'Th... That's the crystal. He must have moved it there... I just need to break it... But I can't move my body-' He thought. 'I... I need to get up, but it's hopeless... I can't move... Is... Am I going to die? Ken, Kitsune, North, Cloud? Will they die too?'"Red-Flash!" Zero raised his sword up reflecting the attack away from him as he turned to see Ken was back in a standing position."And so it comes to you," Zero said sighing. "The last warrior standing." He walked forward slowly as Ken jumped at him bringing her sword down!'The heroic spark. Some people have it. Others don't...'Ken slashed her sword down but Zero wordlessly blocked it unable to meet her eyes as he parried her sword away.'You are the Nation Of Whites burning Hope.'Ken slid back as her sword was slammed down, but she raised it back up swinging it out once more.'The test was actually about not giving up. As an Enforcer the odds will almost never be in your favor.'Ken slammed Jackson's sword down again, and again, as Zero blocked them all. His face slowly grew more, and more annoyed as he let out an audible growl. He raised his sword up deflecting another blow, as his leg shot up kicking Ken in the gut hard enough to drop her to her knees.'We gift you with the ultimate rank. We gift you the rank of Zero... From this day on you are the warrior known as Zero. A warrior stronger than any other.'"Do you know what I hate about you Enforcers the most..." Zero questioned. His face became one of rage as he slammed his sword down. Ken blocked it, but her arms shook, as Zero wouldn't stop slamming his blade down onto her's. "I hate the fact that we are so alike!" He shouted out as he brought his blade down again, and again, and again! "You guys never give up! But that was supposed to be our weapon. Our burning spirit! Our desire to rise above everyone else... And you guys took that from us!" Zero slammed his sword down, as a loud crack echoed out. Ken's eyes widened in horror as she watched the mighty, and powerful greatsword in her hands snap in half as the blade shattered breaking apart... And with it Ken's hope shattered.'Hey, kid. Wanna be a badass Enforcer like me?'Zero let out a heavy breath as he raised his sword up. "But look at you know... Broken... Without a spirit-""If you're going to kill me just get it over with..." Ken said as her dull red eyes dropped. She stared down at the ground as she waited for him to finish her off."I... I am Zero..." Zero felt his arm wobble slightly as he stared at the girl.'Your grip is wrong...''Also that isn't how you hold a sword. You can't just swing it as if it is a bat... Lower the blade down towards your hip. When you swing step forward and put your arms, and back into the swing. This will allow you to deliver more power, while using less of your Attribute.''You will usually only have a 1% chance of winning a fight, maybe even less. But even despite those odds, you are required to stand back up. Being an Enforcer means getting back up no matter what happens to you. Even if you used up all your power. Even if your legs won't allow you to stand up. You haven't truly lost until you have given your final breath!'Zero took a deep breath as he held his sword up. He got ready to deliver the final attack. The least he could do was ensure that it would be painless for the girl. Find authorized novels in Webnovelfaster updates, better experiencePlease click www.webnovel.com for visiting. Zero looked down at her one last. "Goodbye..." He said swinging the sword out.Blood dripped onto the stone floor. Ken stared up in shock, as Zero's eyes were wide. There was nobody in front of Ken. No one was blocking the strike from hitting her. But despite that, she wasn't the one who got hurt.Because the strike never even happened."I'm sorry...""No!" Zero hissed out when he saw who was stopping the strike."-but I can't let you do that."Zero's eyes widened as he saw the old man, but suddenly the image faded, and he was no longer looking at the old man he feared... No. Now he was staring into the glowing silver eyes of Hero Otoko!Hero's hands were out wrapped around the blade as he planted his feet in the ground! He was using everything in his power, to stop that sword from being raised, as blood dripped down from his cut open palms! He flashed a sheepish smirk at Zero who stared there in shock."Ken! Now! Aim for his stomach!"As if a switch had been flipped Ken instantly acted. She raised up bringing up the broken sword as she brought it up.Zero stared down at her as everything seemed to move in slow motion. Slowly, his face managed a small smile.'Crack!'The blade stabbed forward, stabbing straight through the orange crystal...
