Chapter 1 — A Monster
Zed trudged through the dense forest, branches cracking beneath his boots. His cloak clung to his sweat-soaked back, but his mind was elsewhere. Monsters... I hate them. Evil incarnate. His grip tightened on his sword as he shoved through a curtain of leaves. The rustling bushes ahead revealed a shape — furred, snarling. Zed didn't hesitate. In one motion, his blade plunged into the beast's chest. Its dying hiss pleased him.
Then—
"HELP ME!!"
A human voice? His eyes widened. A human? Out here? Zed dashed toward the sound, heart pounding, and stopped at a grim sight: a lifeless body sprawled in the grass, blood soaking the earth.
"Too slow," a lazy voice mocked.
Zed's gaze shot up. A boy perched on a low branch, swinging his legs. He looked human — almost too human.
"Wait... you're human? Are you hurt—?"
His words died as unease crawled up his spine. He stepped back, eyes narrowing.
"No way... but you look—"
"You talk too much," the boy cut in, eyes gleaming. "Name's Felt. Nice to meet you."
"I don't need your name." Zed glanced at the corpse, stomach twisting. "Did you kill her?"
Felt grinned. "A monster did."
Zed raised his sword, pointing it at Felt's throat. "The only monster here... is you."
Felt sighed. "Again with this?"
"Enough!" Zed lunged. His blade flashed at Felt's neck — but Felt vanished. Zed's swing cut empty air.
"You never listen, do you?" Felt's voice came from behind. Shit—when did he—?
A crushing fist slammed into Zed's back. His vision blurred as he crashed through a tree trunk, splinters flying.
"You're annoying," Felt said coolly, eyeing Zed's crumpled form. "I didn't kill her... but you—"
Zed pushed up, spitting blood, laughter bubbling through the pain. "Like hell."
He lunged, dragging his sword through the dirt until sparks danced along its edge. With a roar, he swung at Felt's face.
"—!"
Dust burst in Felt's eyes. He cursed, stumbling back. "Tch—!"
Zed didn't waste it. His blade carved a shallow cut across Felt's chest.
Felt hissed, touched the wound, then chuckled as lightning flickered in his palm. "Stronger than I thought. Guess I'll stop holding back."
"What... are you?" Zed rasped.
"Watch." Felt raised his palm. Sparks crackled, then exploded in a beam of lightning. Zed barely blocked it with his sword. The blast hurled him back, boots tearing trenches in the dirt.
"Agh—!"
Before he recovered, Felt dropped from above, smashing Zed's head into the ground.
"Eerk—!"
Felt peered down, faintly smiling. "You don't know when to quit."
Zed's shoulders shook, then he laughed hoarsely. "Quit... to a monster? Never."
"You'll die at this rate."
Zed forced himself up, sword steady again. "That's not happening."
Felt's grin widened as clouds darkened overhead, thunder growling deep within them. "Good. Don't disappoint me."
Another lightning attack—?!
"."
Bolts rained from the sky, splitting trees and earth alike. Zed dashed through the chaos, weaving desperately.
Felt folded his arms, watching calmly. "Tell me, swordsman. What's your goal?"
Zed gritted his teeth, sidestepping a bolt that singed his cloak. "To wipe out every monster in this world."
Felt's brow twitched. 'All monsters'?
A bolt struck near Zed's feet, tripping him. He fell, dirt spraying. Felt appeared above him, shadows flickering in the lightning's glow.
"All monsters, huh? Look at you — you reek of hatred, like a beast yourself."
Zed glared up, voice dripping with disgust. "You look human, but you stink of rot. A monster. I won't stop until you're dead."
Felt's smile faded. "Persistent fool."
One decisive blow...
Zed vanished into the trees, leaping from trunk to trunk in a blur.
"What now?" Felt muttered, tracking him lazily.
"All you monsters are the same!" Zed's roar cracked through the storm. "You killed her for nothing! Heartless!"
"SHUT UP!" Felt's voice cracked like a whip. "She attacked me — just like you!"
Memory flickered behind Felt's eyes:
An hour before—
A woman found him by the riverbank. Her eyes widened. "A monster...!"
"Don't fight," Felt warned. "Go home."
She lunged anyway. A blur. A scream. Silence.
—Memory faded.
"She did the right thing!" Zed's shout snapped him back. White-hot fury burned on Zed's blade.
"She died fighting a monster — now I'll finish her job!
A storm of slashes ripped through the forest, cleaving trees and battering Felt with countless strikes.
"ARGHHH—!"
Zed dropped to a knee, panting. Smoke and broken branches blanketed the ground. "I... did it..."
Slow, mocking claps echoed through the clearing. The haze cleared — Felt stood, blood trickling from his temple, grin unchanged.
"So?" he chuckled. "When will you fight me for real?"
Zed's eyes widened. His vision dimmed. His sword slipped from numb fingers as the forest spun. No way...
Darkness swallowed him as he hit the ground.