Chapter 20: Why Me!?

Chapter 20: Why Me!?

Back to Zeth’s and Sasha’s battle against Crimson.

Zeth is still in tears. He shouts, “Why me!? All I wanted to do was to go home!! That’s all I wanted!! All I ever did growing up was live a normal life!! I didn’t get involved in anything dangerous!! I went through hell in a rival clan’s prison for an entire year, and when I finally got out, this is what I have to go through!!? Why is it my destiny to be consumed!!? Why am I this random freak’s target!!?”

Crimson groans, “Just stay quiet. It won’t take too long.”

Crimson dashes toward Zeth, readying his fist for a punch. It initially looks like he is about to punch Zeth with a lot of force, but he holds back as he reaches point-blank range, hitting Zeth with a lighter punch to the face. It’s just enough force to knock him onto his back.

Crimson walks up to Zeth and grabs him by the neck, lifting him up.

“Go to sleep,” Crimson demands with a cold tone.

Zeth opens his eyes wide in sudden anger. “No!! I’m going home!!”

He flails his arms as he struggles to break free of Crimson’s grasp. After a few moments, he successfully breaks free.

“You’re making this harder on yourself,” Crimson states.

Crimson punches Zeth three times in the face, grabs him by the back of his head, and drives his face into the concrete. Finally, he kicks Zeth into a fence, destroying it.

Despite the wounds adding up, Zeth stands up, breathing heavily. “Why are you hitting me so lightly? What’s the matter? Can’t consume me if I’m fully dead?”

“So you noticed?” Crimson responds with a low, annoyed hum in his throat. “It’s true. If you die, I can’t consume you, and you won’t go willingly, so I intend to knock you unconscious. I will satisfy that voice in my head. I want it to stop.”

Zeth’s eyes narrow, taking in Crimson’s confirmation with deep focus. “Is that so?” He then thinks to himself, “Then I should focus my power on defense and find a way to escape! I have to accept that I can’t beat him in a direct confrontation and get someplace far away from him!”

Zeth raises his hands in the air and shouts, “Starlight Shield!”

A star light-emitting magic energy barrier forms all around his body, his glowing body standing out in a vastly dark area like he is the world’s light.

With renewed determination, Zeth says, “I never thought I would have a reason to use this since it decreases the strength of my attacks, but I guess I do now. My defense is increased.”

“It sure is bright, though,” Sasha notes.

Crimson smirks. “You may have increased your defense, but now in this darkness, you stick out like a sore thumb. You will be much easier to hunt.”

With no hesitation, Zeth turns 180 degrees and runs inside a run-down house.

Crimson narrows his eyes as he thinks, “He knows I can destroy the entire house with one attack but knows I won’t because I wouldn’t risk killing him. Clever.”

Crimson enters the house as Sasha watches on, her teeth clenched and her eyes trembling with worry.

“Why would Zeth run into a house? Zeth, I don't know what your plan is but please be careful...”

In the house, Crimson looks around for just a few moments before he sees a glowing light around a hall. He uses his magic to create glowing marks, and blows that area up, destroying parts of the walls and floor. He checks the hall, only to find nothing.

Farther down the hall, he sees the glowing light coming from upstairs so he walks over to the staircase and starts walking up the steps. As he reaches the top, he hears something drop down. He sees a hole in the floor with the glowing light moving down.

He drops down into the hole and then sees the light go into the basement. He follows it, his patience decreasing. “Zeth, this is pointless. You are not escaping me down here.”

As he searches the basement, he sees a cluster of gas tanks. He inspects closer and sees a glowing red star next to them, releasing sparks of energy like it’s about to explode.

He opens his eyes wide, knowing what’s about to happen.

Meanwhile, Zeth runs completely out of the house just before the red star explodes. Once it does, the whole house explodes with flames erupting into the air.

“I hope you enjoy my Super Nova attack!” He yells just before turning toward Sasha. “Quick, Sasha! Let’s get out of here! I doubt that explosion killed him but it should at least slow him down!”

“But where?” Sasha asks.

“Anywhere but here!”

With no time to waste, they start running toward the town’s exit. However, a flame launches out of the exploded and burning house, and lands in front of Zeth and Sasha. The flame dissipates right after, and standing there is Crimson. Even so, his body is covered in many wounds.

Zeth’s eyes tremble with fear once again, the newly acquired confidence and determination extinguished. “What does it take to slow you down!?”

“He has to be a monster!” Sasha utters in despair.

Panting heavily, Crimson glares at them, his eyes narrowed and brows furrowed. “You have not only hurt me, but you have also angered me! And now I will attack you with most of my strength!! I’m sure that Starlight Shield will defend you enough just so you only go unconscious! This is your end, ZETH!!!”

Crimson rushes toward Zeth, magic energy flowing through his fist for a powerful attack.

“What do we do!?” Sasha shouts in panic.

“This can’t be happening!” Zeth shouts, utterly hopeless.

As they expect the worst, magical energy surrounds their bodies, and then they vanish as if they were never there.

Crimson stops his forward charge, darting his eyes around.

“Where did they go!!? Damn it!!!!!” He screams with rage as he slams his magic-powered fist into the ground, causing it to rupture around him.

Zeth and Sasha were unable to do anything to Crimson! Their sudden disappearance leaves Crimson in frustration!

Chapter 20 END

To Be Continued in Chapter 21: What Lies in the Great Falls