Chapter 133: Hashon

Chapter 133: Hashon

Over the next few weeks, the heroes put themselves through intense training. Zaydra returned to the task force. It is now May, Year 119. A full year has passed since Zeth escaped from the Hawk Clan prison.

The heroes stand drenched in sweat, their clothes slightly torn from relentless training. Their breathing is heavy, and their muscles ache from pushing themselves to their limits.

Sasha finally drops down to the ground, letting her back rest against the dirt. “That was tough.”

Zeth wipes the sweat from his forehead, still breathing heavily. “But it was necessary. We don’t have time to do this slowly. RAG, give us our magic rating.”

RAG holds his device up to Zeth, Sasha, Keith, and himself for scanning. “Zeth, you are a low C-Rank. Sasha, you are a high D-Rank. Keith, you are a high D-Rank. I am a middle C-Rank. Wow, you guys have really caught up to me.”

Zeth clenches his fists, staring at the ground in frustration despite successfully getting stronger. “I just wish I knew what the next step was. We have no leads.”

Sasha hesitates before speaking, her expression serious. “I wasn’t sure if it was right to bring this up, but if they are using people from the Hawk Clan as their subjects, perhaps we should start with the city of Hashon.”

Zeth lifts his head, his resolve hardening instantly. “You’re right. That’s where we will go next.”

***

Meanwhile, with Goma.

Goma stands alone outside the city of Hashon, watching it from a distance.

“So far nothing out of the ordinary,” he mutters to himself. “I would go out in the open, but I don’t want to cause a massive disturbance since the Hawks are very strict when it comes to outsiders.”

His eyes narrow. “However, I do not have time to set an official visit. I’m going to have to sneak in. If in a few more days I see nothing different, then I am going in.”

***

A few days later.

The heroes arrive just outside the city limits of Hashon, gazing at it with determination.

“So what’s the plan?” Keith asks.

Zeth scans the city entrance, focusing intently. “We’re going to have to prepare to fight. We could try sneaking, but I doubt it will work. We’re going straight in.”

“Right!” Sasha says without hesitation.

“Sounds like my kind of plan!” RAG adds with a grin.

The four of them step into the city. A security camera turns, locking onto them. Alarms blare throughout Hashon. People stop what they’re doing, heads turning in unison. As they look toward the heroes, a vivid blue shading is visible along the edges of their eyes.

RAG grits his teeth. “Shit, we’ve been spotted!”

“We have to fight!” Zeth shouts.

The Enigmuses begin closing in.

What the heroes do not know is that every single person in this city is now an Enigmus. The humanity of the Hawk Clan has been wiped out.

A woman suddenly sprints toward Zeth. He readies his fist as she closes in. She dodges his punch with unnatural speed and drives a fist into his gut. Pain shoots through him.

Zeth thinks urgently. “What the…!? She looks like an ordinary civilian and yet that hurt a lot!”

Zeth retaliates instantly, kicking her in the face and sending her flying backward.

“I felt that efficiency in an attack before! These people are all Enigmuses!!” Zeth yells.

Shock spreads across the faces of the others.

“Then that means…” Sasha mutters with her voice trailing off.

“We will be in for one hell of a fight!” Zeth finishes.

The heroes charge their magic energy, ready to fight.

***

Meanwhile, with Goma.

Deep beneath the city, Goma walks through an underground lab, the hum of machinery echoing around him.

“Why do they have these labs in an underground area under the city?”

Hearing two people chattering farther along the lab, he quickly presses himself against the wall, peering around the corner. Two people stand talking. The same vivid blue shading lines the edges of their eyes.

He thinks, “Those people have the same juicy blue shading on the edges of their eyes just like the ones I fought in Flagron.”

He notices the markings on their shoulders. S823 and S2790.

“They’re just like the other two! What is wrong with this city!? Has it gone to hell!?”

***

Back to the heroes.

A wave of Enigmuses rushes Zeth at once. He rapidly punches the air in front of him, leaving glowing, fist-shaped imprints suspended in space. “Here’s a new attack! Star Shine Fists!”

The energy fists launch forward, slamming into the Enigmuses. Bodies crash to the ground, limbs destroyed, many left dead or significantly injured.

“These Enigmuses are efficient but not as strong as Subject 7 was,” Zeth notes.

A sudden force lashes out, catching Zeth off guard. A massive whip made of aura slams into his gut. He is blown backward, smashing through a building wall. His body keeps flying until it finally crashes into a grocery store, debris from the wall falling around him.

Zeth clutches his abdomen, groaning in pain. “Ahh!! Ahhhhh!!”

He takes deep breaths.

“If they are too easy for you, then let me be your opponent,” someone’s voice says.

Zeth freezes, recognizing it instantly. “That voice!”

He looks up. Standing before him is Kurt.

“Kurt!?” Zeth shouts in shock.

“Let’s see how Zeth, the son of the Light Goddess, can handle us,” Kurt says.

Zeth’s gaze locks onto Kurt’s eyes. The vivid blue shading is unmistakable.

“Kurt… You’re an Enigmus…!” Zeth gasps.

His eyes tear up. The tear drops flow down his cheeks. “I can’t believe it… I failed… you.”

Zeth has now learned Kurt’s fate, confronted with an emotionally difficult situation.

Chapter 133 END

To be Continued in Chapter 134: Zeth vs Kurt. The Life of a Friend at Stake!