"Where am I?" Liam inquired, experiencing an unusual feeling. He gradually lifted himself into a sitting position, causing the ring on his chest to fall to the ground. As he reached out to retrieve it, he paused in disbelief for a few seconds before springing to his feet. He looked at his body in astonishment, noticing that his arms and other body parts had returned to their natural state, with the robotic components vanished. He frowned, attempting to recall what had transpired.
"Micheal, Micheal!" As he recalled the events that had brought him here, his expression shifted immediately, glancing around in bewilderment. The devastation was overwhelming; nothing remained upright, everything lay flattened on the ground. No reaper, Creeper, or scraper was visible; all he could see was barren earth. His brother was also missing, leaving him to ponder what had occurred, for he distinctly remembered having died.
"Is this limbo?" he pondered, remembering that he had died in his brother's embrace. The surroundings resembled the descriptions of Limbo, with a palpable aura of death permeating the atmosphere. It also seemed fitting, given that his body had somehow returned to its former state.
"Micheal! Micheallll!" Liam, anxious to determine his brother's presence, called out but was met with silence.
"You will not find him here." A voice emerged from behind, causing Liam to turn around in surprise. His gaze fell upon a striking young man, likely of similar age. With long, wavy hair, green eyes, and a perfectly symmetrical face, he possessed a physique akin to Michael's. He was clad in a black trench coat that reached his ankles, and a black hat rested on his head.
"Who're you? And where is this?" Liam inquired with caution, adopting a defensive posture.
"A friend, my name is James. I believe your brother may have mentioned me at some point. As for our location, we're at the zone, or at least what's left of it," James replied, walking over to Liam, who remembered that Micheal had spoken of James when they left the rest of the team with Trevor.
"He mentioned you were a kind of guardian. Anyway, let's put that aside. Where is he now?" Liam inquired with concern, a troubling sensation gnawing at him from within.
"Let me show you; I think that will clarify things," James said, tapping Liam on the head so quickly that he didn't comprehend what had occurred until it was already done.
"What did..." Before Laim could respond, a surge of unfamiliar memories flooded his mind—memories of Micheal transferring his lifeforce to Liam and the brave act of defeating Gravix and his army.
"No, no, no, no." Liam fell to his knees, disbelief etched across his face as he struggled to comprehend the horrifying truth: his brother was gone. He had sacrificed his life to save the entire world. Though it was a brave and honorable act, it did nothing to diminish the anguish that consumed him. Tears streamed down his face as he clutched his head, his heart heavy with the weight of his thoughts.
"I understand that you're facing a difficult situation at the moment, but we must leave. Your brother's actions were driven by the necessity of the moment; it was the only option that could give humanity a fighting chance against what lies ahead. Whether you believe it or not, Gravix isn't the end; he is merely the beginning." James picked up the ring from the ground and spoke to Liam, who paused and then looked up at James with a puzzled expression.
"What? No, no, that's not possible. We stopped Gravix, we defeated his army, we saved the world. That was meant to be the conclusion." Liam stood up and addressed James, who responded with a resigned shake of his head.
"I wish that were true, but unfortunately, it's not. Your actions here successfully prevented a segment of a larger catastrophe. Gravix wasn't the true mastermind behind all this; there exists a far more perilous enemy orchestrating events from the shadows. Because of this enigmatic figure, in three months, the earth will face destruction, and everyone will perish." James twirled the ring around his finger as he spoke, his words hitting Liam with the force of a bullet, shattering his current state of mind.
"..." Liam was left speechless by what he had heard. He recalled how his brother had attempted to make Gravix reveal who was behind it, which confirmed what James had just stated. Additionally, he remembered the words Michael kept muttering during his insight—death, killing, murder.
"If what you're saying is true, what was my brother's death for? If his death meant nothing, then why did he do it?" Liam spoke, his voice tinged with incredulity. If the threat still lingered, it signified that his brother's death had been in vain.
"Please refrain from saying that. Micheal's death is the sole reason the world has not been overrun by an army of mind-controlling worms. His death was not in vain; because of him, we now understand what we are facing, and we have time to prepare. If it comes, we will fight it, and we will prevail." James grasped Liam's shoulders, fully aware of the turmoil Liam was experiencing, yet this was not the moment for sorrow. Three months was a brief span, and considering the adversary they were about to confront, it would require an army to achieve victory. However, that was a tale for another time.
"WHIRR, WHIRR" The distant sound of a chopper's rotating wings echoed from the direction of the rest of the team.
"Backup has arrived; we must go to them. They can assist us in the battle against what lies ahead," Liam stated, turning to James, who let out a sigh and clicked his tongue.
"That's not backup, Liam" James replied, his words laden with unspoken implications that Liam grasped immediately, his eyes widening in alarm.
"We have to go help them, the team, the survivors, Trevor," Liam remarked, eager to assist his friends, but James held him back, shaking his head in disapproval.
"Another day, another battle. For now, we must take our leave. I regret having to do this," James said to Liam, who frowned as an unexpected force struck him, rendering him unconscious.
"Sigh, I suppose this is farewell, old friend. Let's meet again in three months," James said with a smile, gazing at the ring that appeared to respond as a streak of lightning illuminated the sky. Observing this, James seized Liam's body, cast a look toward the chopper, and then vanished.
*********************************************
A few minutes later, several quad cars arrived at the ruins of the zone, after which several soldiers disembarked, fanning out in all directions.
"Please return anything you discover, keep your eyes out for a ring featuring an inscription of a snake consuming its own tail." The soldier in the lead, addressed the others as four elegantly dressed figures, and the guard also stepped down from their Quad, Milena and the others, with the suited guard. The soldiers carried out a meticulous search throughout the devastated area, looking for anything of significance. After approximately 2 hours, they all came back empty-handed.
"Not even a single item was found; that half-blood brat truly wreaked havoc on this place. He could be as strong we are. His death is a positive development." The man with a ponytail-shaped hairstyle frowned as his eyes surveyed the devastation wrought by Michael's self-destruction.
"General, we discovered this buried beneath some rubble underground, alongside several firearms." A soldier hurriedly approached, gripping a canister in his hand.
"What does it contain?" Milena asked curiously.
"It appears to be a creature, resembling a worm, and it seems quite dangerous." The soldier responded with a hint of trepidation, observing the worm inside the canister as it attempted to attach its sucking mouthparts to the sides, as if it yearned to break free and launch an assault on him.
"Open it." One of the masked men standing next to Milena spoke, removing his mask to reveal a strikingly handsome youth, likely in the range of 25 to 30 years old. His eyes shimmered with an otherworldly light, and his long hair cascaded down to the middle of his back.
"What?" The soldier responded with trepidation; his gaze fixed on the canister. He looked back up to find Milena's eyes shimmering with a crimson light.
"Open it," Milena said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. The soldier's eyes trembled as if caught in a moment of hesitation. Unconsciously, he twirled the cover sealing the canister shut, pulling it out and allowing the worm to fall onto his palm. Upon landing on his skin, the worm immediately burrowed into his palm and surged through his body, forcing the soldier to his knees. Pain radiated throughout him, reaching his neck as he screamed in agony. The four masked figures observed calmly, while the other soldiers looked on with expressions of fear. Eventually, the screams faded away, leaving a profound silence in their wake.
"Welcome back, Gravix" The young man with long hair spoke, prompting the soldier to open his eyes wide. Almost immediately, he sprang to his feet and leaped toward Milena, who smiled warmly.
"WHOOSH, SHRR" A sword pressed against his neck stopped the soldier in his tracks as he turned to face the suited guard, who had his weapon pointed directly at him. A subtle gesture from Milena prompted the guard to nod and sheathe his sword.
"After such a long time apart, our first encounter leads to an attack. How stubborn you have become, Gravix." Milena approached, halting directly in front of the soldier, whose hands remained tightly clenched in frustration.
"Why did you make me commit those acts, those murders and deaths?" Gravix inquired with a trembling voice, his eyes glistening with remorse.
"My dear Gravix, I was merely imparting a lesson; you referred to me as a monster, so I transformed you into one," Milena leaned closer and whispered, her hand gently caressing Gravix's cheeks.
"You'll pay for this," Gravix replied angrily, gripping Milena's hand and stepping back with an irritated expression. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced through his head, forcing him to the ground as he clutched his skull, feeling as though it was being ripped apart.
"Know your place, halfblood," The man with the ponytail said, stepping forward with glowing eyes.
"It's alright, Karlos. He's merely a bit stressed; after all, he just triggered the end of the world. It's only natural to feel a bit exhilarated." Milena spoke, causing the glow in the man's eyes to fade away.
"On behalf of the Valerion race, I want to express my gratitude. Your support has been invaluable to us, even considering your halfblood status," Milena said as she crouched down, looking at Gravix, who was breathing heavily.
"What do you intend to do? You understand that bringing the Hunter to Earth signifies the annihilation of all humanity; this was not the intended plan," Gravix expressed to her, bewildered.
"This was not part of the plan? Hahaha, this was the plan from the very beginning, just not the plan you were aware of. I recognized your abilities would be invaluable, so I 'convinced' you to assist us in 'saving' humanity. The strategy involved bringing the Hunter here, allowing it to eradicate the human race, and then eliminating it, after which the Valerian race would be reinstated on Earth; that was the strategy. Don't get me wrong, though; I never forced you to do anything. The guilt existed originally; I just amplified it a teeny tinny bit and used it to our advantage," Milena replied with an innocent smile, causing Gravix's eyes to open wide in disbelief.
"You wretch! ARRRG!" Gravix, consumed by rage, attempted to strike Milena but was abruptly halted as he clutched his body in agony. His skin gradually turned red, and an unusual seal emerged on his forehead.
"While I find it a tad bit excessive to…label me a
wretch, I will overlook it since you are assisting us with our plan. In recognition of your deeds, I confine you to this new form. Your capacity to shift between bodies is rendered ineffective; without your former vessel, your power has diminished considerably. I recommend that you observe the situation closely. Should you attempt to interfere, I will not hesitate to handle it personally." Milena sighed as she spoke to Gravix, rising to her feet. "It's a pity we didn't get to use your army. No worries, though; that won't matter now. It makes me wonder—everything else was destroyed except for this canister. Could it be a coincidence, or did that brat intentionally leave you alive? I guess we'll find out soon. Lock him up with the others. Let's move; there is much to be done."
"You heard the general; apprehend him and escort him away." The Captain addressed two soldiers who swiftly sprang into action, securing Gravix with a set of ability-inhibiting cuffs. They hoisted him to his feet, ready to escort him away, but he forcefully pushed them aside and turned to Milena, who was walking away with the others.
"You're aware of the hunter's immense power. What's your strategy for defeating it?" Gravix inquired with a frown, causing Milena to pause; she turned her head slightly, her back to him, and let out a chuckle.
"What do you believe I was occupied with for 500 years? I have crafted a weapon formidable enough to eliminate the Hunter, but there's no need for concern; you likely won't be around to witness it." Milena responded with a wicked smile before turning on her heel, leaving Gravix in a state of shock as he was lifted onto a quad bike and taken to the helicopters. As each soldier boarded their helicopters, the engines roared to life, elevating the aircrafts into the sky.
Milena, along with the three others and the suited guard, stood inside one of the helicopters, observing the remnants of the once-prominent Zone.
"Soon, the earth will lay bare like this zone, and we'll reign as the kings of a new world," Milena declared, prompting laughter from the two others who all imagined such a future unfolding. Yet, the final masked figure and the suited guard, remained silent and motionless, gazing intently at the ravaged area, their thoughts a mystery.
*********************************************
On a dark star, situated somewhere in the expansive universe, four cloaked beings, their features hidden from view, sat in a semi-circle formation within a structure. The only visible part of them were their eyes, which remained closed beneath the cloaks.
Suddenly, a circular section of the ground opened up, and a small orb emerged, coming to a halt at the chest level of the cloaked figures, where it began to glow red. In an instinctive reaction, the eyes of all the figures opened simultaneously, showcasing a myriad of colors that blended into a single hue within their pupils.
"A planet has transgressed," Figure One spoke in
an unsettling tone.
"They must be punished," Figure two spoke in a voice that mirrored the first.
"Restoration of balance is essential." Figure three was also presented in a similar manner; it felt as though they all conveyed a unified voice.
"Which planet is it?" The final figure inquired in a tone that seemed more seasoned than the rest.
"Planet 2095, Earth 9" The orb illuminated, a voice emanating from within it.
"Summon the regulator" The fourth figure spoke, after which a figure abruptly materialized in the center of the room, resting on his right fist and left knee, with his face lowered towards the ground.
"What was your initial purpose?" Figure one inquired.
"To kill and murder," The Hunter replied in a chilling voice.
"What is your current purpose?" Figure 2 asked.
"To restore balance to the universe," The Hunter replied once more.
"Who are you?" Figure three inquired.
"I am....the restorer of balance, and the bringer of death; Thanatos," The Hunter replied.
"A planet has disrupted the balance of the universe; what actions will you take?" Figure one inquired once more.
"I will eliminate, eradicate, and vanquish all, restoring order and harmony to the universe." The Hunter responded with a tone of agitation.
"Alright, you have the blessing of Immortality." Figure four finally spoke, his eyes radiating a warm glow, infusing the hunter with a surge of energy.
"You have the blessing of strength." Figure one similarly transferred his energy into the Hunter.
"You have the blessing of speed," Figure two also declared, channeling his energy as well.
"You have the blessing of resilience," Figure three remarked, channeling his energy into the hunter.
"Travel to Earth and complete the necessary tasks. You have three months to finish your work before returning. Do you understand your assignment?" Figure four spoke, staring intently at a hologram of Earth projected from the orb.
"Indeed, guardians, in three months, Earth will cease to exist, like Valerion" The hunter responded, lifting his head to expose his facial features. The face, colored black, resembled that of an eagle, and at the center of its forehead was a large eye that remained closed. As soon as he finished speaking, his form gradually dissolved into nothingness while the guardians returned to their deep slumber. Anticipating the return of balance in three months.
What fate awaits Earth in three months?
Can the heroes prevail, or will they meet their end at the hands of the Hunter? It seems we will discover the answer soon enough.