CHAPTER 8 — FEAR THE GOVERNMENT / Novel.

CHAPTER 8 “FEAR THE GOVERNMENT”

SPLASH INTRO PAGE —

A burning family photo.

Parents scorched away.

Only the kids remain.

V.1 — The Raid

Rain crushed District 2.

A house burned. A woman screamed.

She crawled—looked up—

three recruits blocked the door.

“W-Who are you?!”

Recruit 11 smiled.

“We’re the government.”

He dragged her by the hair, kicked the door open, and flung her into the mud beside other captives.

“Wait over there.”

He never looked back.

V.2 — Cassy

Across the street, Cassy leaned against a tree.

Rain on her hair. Sword beside her.

Recruit 11 bragged in the storm.

“Thanks to me—doing it my way—we’re all passing this thing!”

She exhaled.

Her watch beeped.

ALERT — SERGEANT. DISTRICT 4.

Her jaw tightened.

“…Sergeant?”

V.3 — Boy in the Alley

District 1.

Recruit 5 ran through puddles, panicking.

Rain slapped his face.

“I haven’t caught anyone yet… sunrise is close…”

He turned a corner—

froze.

A dark alley breathed in front of him.

Trash. Rats.

A torn WUG poster peeling off the wall: POWER IS ORDER.

And in the middle of all that filth—

a boy.

Barefoot. Skin stretched thin.

Eating rotten food with his hands…

then tossing pieces to rats clustered around him like pets.

Recruit 5 recoiled.

“Uhh—…!!”

The boy held out rotten fish.

Tried to smile. Failed.

Rain slid off the grey flesh.

Recruit 5’s stomach twisted.

He covered his mouth.

“Should I… capture him…?”

Recruit 5 suddenly turned away.

Rain hid the tears on his cheeks.

“I’m not cut for this…”

The boy stayed there, arm out, fish still offered—

confused.

V.4 — Interrogation

He turned a corner—

Recruit 4 and 7 blocked him.

Shorter.

Colder.

Staring straight up at him suspiciously.

“Find anyone?”

The boy’s hand flashed in his mind.

Rotten fish. Trembling.

“…No.”

“Better be telling the truth.”

He turned away, jaw tight.

“Otherwise those bastards’ll keep taking all the captures.”

Recruit 7 muttered behind him, annoyed:

“Well at least you have some.”

V.5 — Top Three Recruits

Rain hammered District 1.

In the center of the street, three recruits stood.

Saki (Recruit 1).

Cal (Recruit 2).

Toya (Recruit 3).

Saki stood calm and loose.

Cal confused but smiling.

Toya stood sharp and cool.

Cal scratched his head.

“Ehm… this district has more people, right…?”

The leaderboard glowed beside them:

1. Recruit 1 — 21

2. Recruit 3 — 18

3. Recruit 2 — 16

Remaining 25/30 had just one or two captures.

V.6 — Sudden End of Trial

Toya glanced at Saki, calm even in the storm.

“We’ve circled three times,” he said.

“Barely found anyone…”

“…Did they know we were coming?”

Saki.

“Maybe. Probably left before we got here.”

Then a voice sliced through the rain.

“RECRUITS!”

Every head snapped toward the field.

Ms. Merble stood there with her watch raised,

Urgent.

“The trial has been terminated!”

“Everyone, return to the planes!”

The district froze.

Cal blinked. “…huh.”

Recruit 7 screamed: “WHAT?!”

Recruit 5 nearly collapsing says, “There aren’t even forty recruits yet…?!”

Merble didn’t slow down.

“The Sergeant needs help!”

“I’ll explain everything back at the academy!”

The recruits panic, whisper and complain.

Saki turned away calmly.

“C’mon.”

Cal waved lazily. “Bye…!”

The trio blink as they teleported,

leaving only a fading ring of energy behind.

Recruits stared at the empty spot—

jealous and furious.

V.7 — Artemis

Back in the ruined house, Artemis sat in the dark, half his face hidden in shadow grinning.

Need a distraction, he thought.

A star grew in his palm—aimed at a trembling family.

Yota’s eyes snapped open.

“No!!”

V.8 — Kert Arrives

The room exploded.

A white-flame streak tore through the front wall like a meteor.

KRAK–BOOOOM!

Sgt. Kert burst in—

eyes furious, armor burning—

and his hand was already on Artemis’s collar.

Before Yota could even react,

Kert’s other arm swung toward him like a judgment.

The star in Artemis’s palm sputtered, carving a glowing trench across the floor as Kert dragged both of them—

through the bedroom,

through the hallway,

through collapsing walls.

The house disintegrated behind them.

V.9 — Through Houses

Kert didn’t slow down.

He tore through house after house—

wall… wall… wall—

dragging Yota and Artemis by their necks.

Pipes burst.

Floors collapsed.

Furniture exploded around them.

Yota choked out,

“The… hell—!”

Artemis’ half-formed star scraping across the floorboards.

Then—

the final wall shattered open.

KRRR-KOOM!

They blasted into open air,

rain swallowing them as Kert shot upward in a streak of white flame.

V.10 — The Flame’s Grip

Kert landed hard in the open street.

He lifts both Artemis and Yota higher by their throats—

letting the rain sizzle against their burning skin.

Yota gagged. “…ahh…!”

Artemis choked. “Grhh—”

They fought back on instinct.

Artemis smashed an elbow into Kert’s arm.

THMP!

Yota kicked Kert in the chest.

WHUD!

Kert didn’t move.

Not an inch.

Their necks kept burning in his grip.

Yota’s voice dropped to a low, pained mutter.

“…that— didn’t work…”

Artemis, somehow still smirking.

“You’re the Sergeant… right…?”

Kert said nothing.

Cold. Unreadable.

V.11 — The Hurl

He then hurled them across the town hall like they weighed nothing.

FWOOOM—!

Yota and Artemis spun through the rain,

slamming into a row of food carts.

KRRAAANG!!

Metal folded.

Yota hit the ground on all fours, gasping, shaking.

“What was that…?”

“I can’t… breathe…”

“Too much pain…”

Artemis coughed, trying to stand.

Then—

Kert appeared between them without a sound.

White flames trailing behind him.

“…Hm.”

He stepped forward toward Artemis.

Slow. Heavy.

Each foot sank into softened stone.

V.12 — Eternal Sleep Fails

Kert loomed over Artemis.

“How do you know me?”

“You must be responsible…”

Artemis couldn’t stand.

Yota stumbled, but still slid in front of Kert, one arm clutching his stomach.

“Hold on a second…!”

Yota’s face as he forced a shaky smirk.

Hope you’re not still mad at me…

…Life…

His jaw clenched.

“ETERNAL SLEEP!”

Nothing happened.

Just rain…

Kert standing over him— unmoved.

Yota’s expression cracked.

“Ehh… ah…”

That was all he managed

before Kert’s hand dropped onto his shoulder—

WHUD.

Yota hit the ground on one knee.

“…my shoulder’s—burning…”

V.13 — The Challenge

Artemis staggered upright—

barely— blood on his mouth.

He still grins.

“…Not so fast…”

“You asked me a question.”

He leaned back catching his breath.

“Haa… I’ll answer…”

“…if you defeat me…”

Kert said nothing.

He vanished.

No sound.

And then—

he was beside Artemis.

His foot was already buried in Artemis’s torso.

BWOOOM—!

Air warped in a circle around them.

Artemis folded around the kick like his bones disappeared.

V.14 — The Kick

The kick sent Artemis shooting across the town hall.

THOOM!

Rain exploded outward from the impact, pavement ripping.

Mid-air, Artemis twisted—

trying to recover.

“Grhh…!”

He slammed down, sliding back.

SKRRR—!

His feet skidded across the ground sliding until friction finally caught him.

He planted his feet—

barely—

Steam rising from his rib.

And still…

He grinned.

“Oh— I know you’ve got more than that!”

He slapped his chest once, like his own deranged applause.

PAP!

Stardust burst off his palm.

“Don’t hold back on me, Sergeant!!”

V.15 [FINAL] — Abundant Blessing

Artemis went wild.

He slammed his chest again and again—

PAP! PAP! PAP!—

like a deranged silverback.

Each hit birthed a miniature star behind him.

“ABUNDANT BLESSING!!”

Across from him, Kert didn’t move.

He reached behind himself—

into his own flames—

and pulled out a white engulfed shield.

Sora’s name was burned faintly across its surface.

Sora…

He stepped forward.

Each step melted the ground.

Above him, Artemis rose into the air—

arms spread like a predator, claws bared,

radiant star-swords blooming behind him like a divine arsenal.

Lightning cracked.

KRAA-BOOOM.

Kert’s face lowered to the sheild.

“…farewell.”

⸻

TO BE CONTINUED…