Zeo

The Azul Factory had once been a prosperous producer of rocket fuel, but due to the costs of the war, the production had halted indefinitely. In a few years, it had become a giant tomb of deadly chemicals stored under tons of steel.

A faint smell of dust and oil lingered as Zeo walked the factory hallways, carrying Stella in his arms. She was unconscious, with cuts on her arms and a contusion on her head, but Ozura assured him she hadn't used lethal force.

Rusted hinges squeaked as Zeo pushed a door with his foot, revealing a cramped storeroom full of broken equipment. He eased Stella onto a pile of crushed boxes, ensuring it was soft enough, and after scanning the room for hidden threats, he dropped to the floor. His body felt light and sore, and the consequences of his confrontation showed on his swollen face.

Neither Ozura nor Karx was trustworthy, but Zeo could trust Remnya and her friendship with that grim lady. She had promised to help him as long as he provided her with information about The Hunters. Such actions could cause conflict with Marakudra's plans, but the only thing that mattered was to protect Amy.

Sacrifices were necessary.

Under a stained fluorescent light, Zeo closed his eyes and rested for five minutes until footsteps from the hallway awakened his vectors. He gripped his gun and slid his vectors between the door and the exterior, analyzing the changes in the air until they recognized Ozura's presence.

"No need for that," the lady said as she opened the door. "We're on the same side now."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Zeo stood up and put his hand on Stella's arm.

She stepped closer with her pupils locked on him. "Even if Remnya says you're a good person, I have no reason to believe her."

"Then, why haven't you killed me yet?" His vectors slithered near her feet.

"Remnya, for one." She crossed her arms. "And because I believe that with your help, our chances of winning this war will increase."

"I don't care about this war. All I want is for my friends to be free from these monsters."

"And that's why this is your war too." Ozura made a pause to look at Stella and then continued. "Hundreds of children will be kidnapped and forced to join The Hunters as canon fodder or breeding material. Even your friend, Amy. What do you think will happen if we allow that?"

Zeo processed her words in silence.

"If we don't stop Azmon soon, the entire world will fall under his rule. He'll raise armies in every country. Every child with Nephilim and Anglish blood will be his." She leaned closer, her gaze heavy like tungsten. "Most civilians see Nephilims and the like as monsters. That's part of Azmon's plan too. Alienate those children from society, making them hate humanity and slowly brainwashing them to be part of a so-called superior army. An army that hates crossbreeds and humans alike.

"Tell me something, young man. Weren't you and Remnya constantly seen as outcasts? Weren't you rejected for being different? Wasn't she called a horned witch? She told me about it."

Zeo gritted his teeth and averted his gaze while her words slowly penetrated his iron shell. "Kids are assholes. You don't need to be a Nephilim to be treated like trash."

"True." Ozura brushed a strand of hair from her face. "But did you know about the Nephilim hunts occurring across the country? Where babies with horns are burned alive and their horns used as relics?" She leaned against the wall and folded her arms. "You and Remnya were the lucky ones. You were allowed to live by the humans who found you. Or perhaps, you two were found by someone else."

"Like who?" Zeo swallowed while his heart rushed into his chest.

"Like The Hunters themselves."

Gelid silence froze Zeo's blood.

"I can't tell you this for certain, but high chances are that either Azmon or his warriors found you. High chances are your parents were Hunters who died during the Blood War. It wouldn't be the first time, and it won't be the last."

Zeo's fists trembled as he assimilated her revelations. "If that's the case. Why would they send us to an orphanage when they could groom and turn us into puppets from the beginning?"

"I can't answer that. I'm just telling you how The Hunters operate under Azmon's rule." Ozura walked up to Stella and stared at her with pity in her eyes. "She's a hybrid, and her parents were hybrids too. She's one of the lowest creatures in their eyes. Even lower than humans. Every one of your teammates is too." Her gaze returned to him. "Haven't you wondered why you're in command of a group of low-class Hybrids?"

He took a deep breath as her words began to make sense and connect the dots in his head. Why did Marakudra choose him? Was she ever honest with him? What was the true reason she had given him so much power? Neither Arkor's, Kristina's, nor Stella's parents were pure Nephilims. They had been Hybrids too, and in their blood, only a meager percentage of Nephilim blood flowed.

"You might be a hybrid Anglish, but at least one of your parents was a pure Anglish, and you inherited a great part of their genes." She gave Stella a sidelong glance. "In The Hunters' eyes, you're superior to them."

"I saved my captain's life," Zeo murmured, clenching his fists. "In exchange for that, I was granted my freedom." He lifted his reddened eyes at her and scowled. "Marakudra told me Azmon was going to do a cleanse of her army. The three of them would be used as guinea pigs anyway, so she allowed me to bring them with me." Zeo punched the metal wall, digging a hole in it. "We all were supposed to die that morning in the Siege of Lacacia."

Ozura's pupils dilated. "Were you there?"

"Of course I was!" Zeo raised his voice. "You should already know that. Your boss was there. Didn't he tell you?"

"My boss?"

"The man with white hair. The disgusting one who reeks of alcohol."

"Merle."

"Yeah, I believe that was his name."

"He never mentioned you."

Zeo thought for a moment and spoke carefully. "And I'm guessing Merle didn't mention he sent his army to die there either, did he?"

"What are you talking about?" Ozura bore her eyes on him and walked toward him slowly, her face turning pale.

"Merle told me sacrifices were necessary, so he sent his people to die. That way, Debrin Kavram and himself could defeat The Hunters." Zeo hissed bitterly. "So you didn't know? C'mon!"

Ozura shook her head. "If I knew about that, I wouldn't be here doing exactly what he ordered me."

"Well, now you know." Zeo crossed his arms. "I heard rumors the last man standing was called Vladimore, but I still don't know who ended his life."

Silence.

Ozura stood still as a statue with her vacant stare lost in nothingness.

"Now you understand why I don't trust anyone." Zeo observed her briefly, wondering if she would try to kill him again.

A fake smile crossed the lady's face, and she let out a lifeless chuckle. "I see, so Vlad was right, after all."

Zeo blinked in confusion.

"Thank you for telling me." Ozura sighed and put her hands on her hips. "Unfortunately, it's too late for a change of plans now. The Hunters will arrive soon."

Zeo caressed the tiny wound in his neck, where his tracker used to be. "Why did you choose this place to face them?"

"Because I know this place like the back of my hand." She opened the door and walked outside. "However, you and that girl should leave as soon as possible."

"Are you gonna stay here and die fighting alone? Just like your friends at Lacacia?" Zeo furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head. "You don't have to follow that bastard's orders anymore."

"This is not for him." She cracked her knuckles, and her eyes revealed a fiery determination that sent shivers down his spine. "I came here to save as many hybrids as I could. I came here to honor my brothers and sisters, who died like caged animals that day. This is my last mission, young man."

Zeo walked to her and tried to say something, but words never came out. He realized that no matter what, that lady wouldn't rest until The Hunters felt the horrors of the war they had started.

Ozura seemed to notice the concern on his face and smiled tenderly. "Regardless of the outcome of my endeavor, I want you to fulfill your mission, Zeo."

Zeo tightened his lips, locked his eyes on her, and nodded.

"There's a complex net of underground tunnels beneath this factory. You must use that to escape." She drew her phone from her waist and dialed a number. "Let's get moving. This place will turn into hell soon."

"Understood." Zeo rushed to Stella's side, slid his arms under her body, and picked her up.

As they left the room, he briefly stared at her sleeping face and wondered why he cared about her life. However, the only answer he could find was an unexplainable will to save those who had believed in him despite all his mistakes.

*°*°*

Zeo followed Ozura through a series of rusted stairs, descending to the underground while the temperature slowly dropped. Despite the dire situation, that lady remained immutable and patiently explained everything he needed to know to make it out of there alive.

She revealed the Azul Factory had once been her workplace, but the government, fearing a new war, had forced them to halt the production. Not long after that, the building of underground bunkers and tunnels started to hide the large amounts of fuel produced.

She explained how the complex worked and gave him instructions to escape. He listened carefully and schemed an alternative plan in case things went wrong.

They stopped before a massive circular door, and a thermometer on the wall marked the temperature had dropped below freezing point. Ozura entered a code on a touchscreen, and the door opened, shaking the ground to reveal an immense warehouse full of liquid hydrogen tanks. They hissed and emanated white fog while multiple frozen pipes pumped cryogenic gas into them.

The gelid ambient made Zeo shiver as he squeezed Stella, trying to provide heat to her body. Ozura walked toward a small room in the middle of two massive tubes, and he rushed after her. She unlocked the door and invited him inside.

As Zeo crossed the door, the temperature returned to normal. However, in a corner, he recognized the face of a traitor: Arkor. He lay blindfolded on the ground, his limbs and neck chained to the wall. He had been stripped from all his weapons and clothes except his underwear and shifted awkwardly, causing the metal to chime.

Zeo eased Stella onto the ground and rushed to his ex-teammate, feeling his stomach revolting with disgust and pity. Ozura removed the blindfold from his face, revealing his dark deceiving eyes and bruised face.

"Zeo, she's a liar!" he shouted, shaking his body desperately. "She's only using us to lure The Hunters into her trap!"

"Is that so?" Zeo asked, clenching his fists while his blood boiled.

"I don't know what she told you, but her only goal is to destroy us! You have to believe me!"

"Shut up!" Zeo roared, threatening him with his vectors, which grabbed his face. "Don't try to fool me anymore. I know the truth."

Arkor shook his head. "What's wrong with you? We're in this together, remember? We made this team to reclaim our freedom and survive! C'mon, man!"

"Stop lying, you fucking bastard!" Zeo kicked him across the face, breaking his teeth and drawing blood.

"Enough." Ozura stepped in and pushed him away from her prisoner. She crouched before Arkor and grabbed his face, forcing him to look at her. "Speak truly, young man," she whispered. "It might be your last chance."

"I got nothing to tell you." He averted his gaze and spat blood on the floor. "You're our enemy."

"Listen." She placed her hand on his shoulder and bore her eyes on his pitiful figure. "This place will turn into hell soon, so whether you live to see another day or burn along with The Hunters here depends on you only."

Arkor ignored her and looked at Zeo. "You fool. You fell for her tricks." He chuckled. "Such a disappointment. You're just a pathetic sheep, after all."

"You piece of shit!" Zeo stomped toward him, but Ozura stopped him again, holding him firmly.

"Hurting him is not going to do you any good." She scowled.

"We don't know that." He summoned his vectors and grabbed Arkor's foot.

"Stop it!" she shouted.

Zeo didn't listen, and his violent energy reached his vectors. With a yank of his spectral arm, he twisted Arkor's ankle, breaking it in half. The traitor let out a shriek of pain and contorted against his chains.

Zeo tried to tear his foot off his leg, but Ozura sent him to the ground with a punch, forcing him to release Arkor.

"Don't be stupid!" Her calm voice had turned into thunder. "Are you trying to use the methods of The Hunters on this boy? Acting by rage will only get you and the people you love killed!"

Her words barely reached him. He wasn't angry Arkor had lied to him, but his actions had put Amy's life at risk. Unforgivable. "I don't care what method I have to use." Zeo stood up and locked his pupils on his prey. "If he refuses to speak, I'm gonna kill him."

A loud thud echoed throughout the place, shaking the ground and causing dust to fall from the ceiling.

Ozura looked up and twisted her lips. "Time is over," she said.

Zeo cursed under his breath and glared at Arkor but noticed his face had changed: a hint of joy mixed with bloodlust flashed in his eyes. "It's too late now," Arkor murmured, twisting his broken ankle, trying to fit his foot back in place. "Once they arrive, it'll be over for you and her."

"You're gonna die here anyway." Zeo stepped closer under the attentive look of Ozura. "So why don't you just admit who you're working for?"

"No one." He shrugged.

"No one?" Zeo chuckled bitterly. "You're a loyal dog to The Hunters. Your only purpose was to watch us closely and ensure we couldn't desert!"

"Half true." Arkor grimaced in pain as he dragged himself closer to the wall. "Zagado knew Marakudra was too volatile and prideful to follow orders, and her ideals differed from Lord Azmon's, so he asked me to keep a close eye on her and keep him informed about all the decisions in our army."

"Zagado?" Zeo asked, blinking in confusion.

"Captain Zagado Rain," Ozura added, crossing her arms. "One of Azmon's most trusted allies."

Arkor snickered. "With all the information I've gathered for them, Marakudra's days have come to an end."

"You're a despicable rat," Zeo spat while Ozura held him by the arm tightly.

"If you're revealing us this, that means you're confident enough that they'll come to your rescue. Am I wrong, young man?"

"Oh, maybe." Arkor gestured with his eyebrows toward the surface.

His words sent a shiver down Zeo's spine, yet Ozura remained unyielding and walked out of the room to scan the ceiling.

"Yeah," she whispered. "They're here."

Zeo stood next to her and swallowed through a closed throat. "What's next?"

"The stairs at the end of this place lead to the first tunnel." Her muscles tensed, and a purple aura emanated from her body. "Take door number six. The codes are UQL639 and RJW944. A trusted friend of mine called Manzur will be waiting for you at the orphanage, so get there before it's too late. Understood?"

Zeo nodded, clenching his fists. "Are you gonna fight alone?"

She smirked. "Believe it or not, I can handle a few Hunters on my own. You don't need to worry about me."

"Why are you helping me?" he asked while his vectors perceived The Hunters' presence getting closer.

"Because Remnya believed in you." Ozura looked at him tenderly and smiled. "And so do I."

Silence.

"Please, go now."

"Thank you," Zeo said and bowed to her.

He rushed to Stella, kneeled beside her, and picked her up, and before leaving the room, he glanced at Arkor. The traitor winked at him and sneered. Whatever that meant didn't matter; he could only pity him.

Zeo walked past Ozura, exchanging a silent goodbye, and sprinted toward his destination, finally understanding why Remnya had befriended that lady. A mix of shame and pride filled his heart as he looked at Ozura for the last time, knowing that he would never be able to repay her.

Nonetheless, his fate was his again, and he vowed not to disappoint her and save those who still believed in a pathetic boy with long ears, the same boy who had once feared death.

*°*°*