Chapter 185: The Stalkers

A second and important Note: If you started reading this story after I started the novelization process, but decided to continue into the not updated yet script chapters anyway, you should be aware that this is the second of two arcs that I'm rewriting, joining the Poacher Arc. If you read this arc before I have finished rewriting it all, it may lead to confusion, so it would be better that you wait until my edits posted in Chapter 1 and the story author notes says I have made the changes up through Chapter 232 (the end of this arc).

Chapter 185: The Stalkers

In the middle of Harmone lies Reign City where Harmone’s government is located.

Zeth is in the office of Harmone’s governor. He is speaking to a man that has well-kempt gray hair and wears a suit and tie.

Governor of Harmone – Drane Hoff

“Governor, I need you to put out a search order for a man who calls himself RAG,” Zeth requests.

“You could have given this request to my secretary,” Governor Hoff replies. “Was it really necessary to demand to see me personally?”

“Yes!” Zeth says, raising his voice. “This is urgent! I can’t have peace of mind while not being sure how long it will take for the search for RAG to start.”

“Okay, okay. I understand,” Governor Hoff says, trying to calm Zeth down. “But first, we need to know what he looks like.”

Zeth pulls out a picture of RAG, one of him smiling while standing in front of the magic club in Flagron.

“Here, take this.”

“Thank you. I will pass this along to our Missing Persons Department.”

“Please keep me up to date.”

“We will contact you if we find out anything related to RAG’s disappearance.”

“Thank you. I will be leaving now.”

Zeth leaves the office and looks around the main room of the building. People are sitting in chairs, waiting around, reading books, or leaning back with their eyes closed.

He thinks, “I’m starting to feel uncomfortable.”

He leaves the building entirely. Outside, it’s nighttime and raining. He pulls up his umbrella as he looks around.

He says to himself, “I have this strange feeling that I’m being watched.”

He brushes that thought off and starts walking down the sidewalk of the city, keeping his vision straight in front of him.

***

Elsewhere in the city.

Sasha is sitting on the roof of a tall building, just staring down and looking out toward the rest of the city, even in the light rain. She is trying to come to terms with who she is as she looks out with her Dark Divine Eyes.

Talking to herself, she says, “This is who I am. No amount of wishing otherwise will change that. I really am the daughter of the Dark Goddess.”

She thinks of the two times she has been called the devil’s spawn, first by her step-parents, and then by Kogen.

“Is my power… is my blood a curse?”

She hears a woman’s voice. “No, I wouldn’t say so.”

She is alerted, looking behind her, but she sees no one.

“Who’s there!?” she shouts.

She looks forward again. A silhouette appears behind her and leans forward, revealing the bottom half of her face, and most importantly, Dark Divine Eyes.

“It’s me, your older sister, Hamura.”

Sasha’s eyes open as wide as possible.

Hamura smiles wickedly as she says, “I can feel your fear, my sister. You don’t need to worry though.”

Sasha doesn’t turn her head, still staring ahead with worry etched on her face. “What do you want!?”

“I was sent here by Mother to retrieve you and bring you home. But I’m not going to do that.” Hamura replies with a sly tone.

“If you’re trying to trick me, I’m not going to buy it.”

“No, I’m being honest.”

“Then why would you disobey the Dark Goddess and risk severe punishment?”

“Because, my sister, I’m over 100,000 years old and am seeing something I have never seen before. Something I believed would never happen again.”

“And what is this that you have never seen?”

“From behind the scenes, I have watched you. What I have never seen is the mixing of light and dark.”

“You mean…!?”

“Yes, your little love interest with Zeth. When I’m curious about something, there is nothing that will stop me from finding out. Not even Mother’s orders.”

“You stay away from him!”

“Relax. I have no intention of harming him. I want you to stay with him of course. I even hope that he consumes Crimson. Let’s say your love goes somewhere. What would a baby that is of both light and dark be like?”

Sasha’s eyes open wide as she blushes. She then swings her fist behind her, trying to hit Hamura. However, she hits nothing more than a shadow as the silhouette fades away.

Hamura reappears farther behind her, and Sasha gets her first look at Hamura in the conversation. Hamura looks similar to Sasha with various scars and has Dark Divine Eyes. She wears a dark gray uniform with some dark red in it too. The uniform has demonic markings on it.

“My interest in a divine being that is both light and dark couldn’t be higher,” Hamura says with a smile. “Would that divine being be the ultimate being? I want to see.”

“Mind your own damn business!” Sasha shouts.

“We shall see each other again,” Hamura assures. “Farewell for now.”

Hamura completely vanishes, fading away as if she was never there.

Talking to herself, Sasha says, “How dare she get all up in my business and whether I love someone or not…”

***

Back with Zeth.

Down on the streets, Zeth is crossing a street to reach a sidewalk on the other side, his umbrella still up.

“Damn it. That feeling is coming back,” he says as he walks on the sidewalk.

The mysterious boy appears behind Zeth. His glowing orange eyes stand out in the darkness and rain.

“Hello, Zeth,” the boy says in a low and serious tone.

Zeth is alerted, eyes widening before turning around to see the boy.

“You!” Zeth snaps.

“I’m here to tell you what happened to your friend,” the boy says with a sly smile.

“What did you do to him!!?”

“I’ve taken him hostage.”

“What did you have to gain!?”

“To force you to participate in the Chaos Tournament.”

“Chaos Tournament!?”

“Yes, a team-based tournament. You will need to gather five other people to be teammates. Gather five other people and then come back here. I will lead you to where the tournament is.”

Sasha had a conversation with her curious sister and Zeth has encountered the mysterious boy who is forcing him into a tournament!

Chapter 185 END

To be Continued in Chapter 186: Setting The Stage