Legend of the Misfit

They sprinted through the woods, the thick air brushing against their skin. Their bodies screamed for rest, but they ignored the pain and pressed on.

Snarlers marched past them to join the war. Though they slew a few that crossed their path, they avoided most of them, focusing on their main goal—reaching the leader. 

A day into the journey, the snarlers began appearing more frequently than before.

They slowed their pace and began lurking in the shadows. 

Within less than an hour of searching, they came across a castle—a fortress of twisting bones and stone. The walls were a fusion of blackened rock and gnarled roots, exuding an eerie, ancient presence.

Berserk giant snarlers were chained around the fortress, their snarls echoing through the air as they thrashed and struggled to break free.

"I didn't know their castle was this far from the border," Killian muttered, scanning the ominous structure.

They continued lurking in the shadows, keeping to the darkness with the castle looming to their left.

The atmosphere was eerie and Killian's heart kept pounding relentlessly, though he felt hollow inside, but he needed to see it through.

[I can't think about Raiden… no… no. He just has to be safe.] He shook his head.

Killian glanced at the others, their eyes darting around cautiously. Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself for what lay ahead.

"We stick with the plan. Our target is the leader." Killian said firmly, his voice barely above whisper. 

They moved cautiously through the shadows, their steps light and deliberate. As they passed the berserk snarlers, they kept their reflexes sharp, anticipating their erratic movements and slipping past unnoticed.

Killian's body trembled with each passing second, his mind urging him to surrender before the fight even began. But he had come too far to yield to doubt.

In no time, they slipped past the giant snarlers. At the entrance, two guards stood watch—moderate in size but fully alert.

They pressed their backs against the walls, moving cautiously in measured sideways steps.

As soon as they got close enough, Morningstar and Zeya slit their throats, while Kira and Killian caught their lifeless bodies before dragging them into the darkness. 

They cautiously entered the castle. It was an empty, dark, enormous hall. The shades of the dark moon streamed through the windows, casting their glow upon an empty skeletal throne.

They exchanged glances.

[Could it be that the fox was their leader?]

Despite the questions, they entered, and with their backs pressed against the walls, continuing to take cautious steps. 

A powerful aura suddenly loomed over them. Killian's body froze in place, he struggled to motion and he was drenched in relentless sweat.

"What is that?"

Killian's inked hand began to pulsate with energy, as electricity shot through his entire body. 

He clutched it tightly and leaned on the wall for stability, but the aura forced him on his knees as it neared. 

A gate in the floor began to open, and the aura intensified. It felt as if his soul was being torn from his body.

Killian's head spun with dizziness, but jolts of electricity from his inked hand forced him to stay conscious. Zeya collapsed instantly, while Kari keeled over, puking uncontrollably.

A figure began to rise from the ground—it was small at first, until a huge wolf snarler emerged behind it.

"Raiden?"

The sudden fear of his aura faded. The aura was overwhelming, but Killian's confusion dulled its effect.

[He is strong… really strong.]

Raiden stood before Killian, his body unmarked by ink. A black, elegant cloak draped over his shoulders, and in his hands, he held two distinctive orange leather-laced daggers.

The cold, eerie look in Raiden's eyes had already shattered Killian's spirit a billion times before he even realized it.

"Oh, it's you. I expected the king."

"What? What had Lucid done to you?"

Before Killian could make sense of it, his inked hand tensed, ready to grab Raiden. Raiden didn't move, but Killian was hurled backward before his hand could reach him.

Killian lay on the ground, tilting his head slightly towards him. Morningstar and Kari were completely immobilized by Raiden's aura.

"What are you doing, Raid?"

Killian murmured, barely moving a muscle.

Raiden sighed. "You still don't remember anything, do you?"

His gaze darkened with disgust as he signaled the wolf snarler to finish them off.

Before he left, he turned to the wolf. An intense gaze from Raiden, the wolf dropped to its knees.

"Do not call me here again." His voice, cold and firm.

The wolf nodded.

Raiden gestured at Killian. "Make sure he is dead. Else I will kill you myself."

He began descending the underground entrance. 

"Wait, Raid!"

Killian forced his hand up, but Raiden didn't spare hi

 even a moment's hesitation.

[I knew it… I am still weak. And Raiden? How?] He clenched his fist.

The wolf snarler strode toward Killian, laughing uncontrollably.

He grabbed Killian and slammed him hard into the ground. 

"You dare make master Raiden angry," he mocked.

Agony crushed Killian's body, but his mind refused to acknowledge it. The only thought that kept repeating in his mind was how Raiden had become so powerful.

He always knew he was strong, but this moment made it undeniable. His fears began to consume him from the inside out.

Killian's mind barely registered what the wolf was doing as the wolf kept slamming him into the ground and stomping on his limbs.

"I don't want to give you an easy death," he said proudly. "Remember the name—I am Zero, the one who killed you."

He dropped Killian onto the ground, turning his attention to the others.

To his surprise, Morningstar and Kira had vanished.

Zero's eyes darted around, searching for them. Before he could react, a crimson blade sliced through the air, severing his hand. 

He jerked his head upward, confusing flashing across his face. Before his eyes, they hovered in their demonic forms—their young horns sharp, tails hung loosely behind, wings rustling against the ground.

He began to laugh uncontrollably as his hand instantly regenerated.

"I am Zero—I can't die, you stupid prick."

They had no time to react before Zero shot into midair and drove them into the ground.

Killian tilted his head to the wall as Zero effortlessly beat them in their demonic forms.

[Why is he playing with them? I hate this.]

A strange sensation coursed through his body, and before he knew it, he began to laugh.

"I've felt this way before…the day of my promise."

He surrendered to the laughter, letting it echo through the hall.

"I want to conquer the world, and that's that. I don't care if Raiden got strong in just a day—I will make you all bow, no matter what."

Killian said, pushing himself against the ground, fighting through the pain.

His laughter echoed through the walls, jolting Zeya out of her concussion.

With her mind barely focused, she instinctively coiled threads around the wolf's legs, while Killian dashed for his dagger, his limbs screaming in agony with each step. 

As soon as he grabbed it, I launched himself forward, rolled across the ground, and slashed Zero's eyes.

Before Zero could react, Morningstar unleashed dozens of blades slicing him into pieces. Kira swooped in immediately, scorching the remains to ash.

Its body was reduced to ashes, yet it felt too easy—for someone Raiden would trust to handle Killian.

Zeya and Killian took their stance as Morningstar and Kira hovered in midair. It was safe to say they were prepared for any potential sneak attack.

Killian's eyes flickered back and forth, scanning for any movement.

A voice began echoing through the room—soft at first, then rising into an unmistakable, mocking laughter.

Killian turned sharply, searching for the source of the laughter. 

As he tilted his head, he spotted Zero's head hovering midair, regenerating—and before he knew it, a gaping hole had torn through his chest.

[How can we kill that thing.]

He left nothing—not a single trace of pain from the hole. Yet, it was undeniably there. He collapsed to the ground, watching the others fight, yet hearing nothing—only silence. It felt as if he was already dead.

Killian watched as Zero slammed them into the ground and tossed them around as if they were nothing.

Morningstar managed to land a few attacks and even attempted to manipulate the blood in the wolf's head, but before he could succeed, he was sent slamming into the ground. 

Kari had her wings torn, but she refused to go down easily—before falling, she left him with a gaping hole in his chest.

[That's a pay back, you moron.]

Zeya refused to embrace her demonic form, but the moment she saw them fall, she had no choice but to unleash it.

With rage and anger coursing through her veins, she managed to slit his throat. But as she turned to check on Killian, she was brutally slammed into the ground.

It was clear they stood no chance, but they fought well. That was enough to make Killian's mind cheer for them all the way.

Killiam could see his eyes wanting to close, yet he felt no need for sleep. 

As he lay there, wondering how to keep himself from drifting into unconsciousness, he caught something in the corner of my eye.

It was Master Ash in his demonic form. 

[Finally, they will be saved.]

Killian smiled and took a better look at Master Ash. His horns curved perfectly over his bald head, his long reddish tail striking the ground with each movement. His massive black wings stretched wide across the entrance, and his aura, infused with hellfire, was overwhelming—the very building began to melt.

[Whoa… baldy is actually impressive.]

A few soldiers hurried to hm while the rest rushed to aid the others. He could see them tending to his wounds—but he felt nothing.

Killian's vision finally blurred but he needed to see the fight through. He forced his eyes open and saw Master Ash slamming Zero into the ground—but before he knew it, everything blurred.

[That's too soft Master Ash.] 

Killian forced his eyes open again and saw them locked in a fierce stalemate, their fists colliding with devastating force.

[Damn you get blurry.]

Killian forced his eyes open once more and saw soldiers dragging him from the castle.

Master Ash stood firm, Zero's fist buried in his chest—yet he clung to Zero in an unrelenting grip as flames consumed the entire place.

[I knew baldy would die. I guess he also doesn't get to conquer the world. Did he ever wanted to?]

Killian's vision faded, but one thought burned stronger than the flames before him—

[If I ever see you again, I will kill you, Raiden.]

[I will get stronge…]