Void stood over Zeru's body, perfectly still but every inch of him radiating a quiet threat, like a storm barely contained, ready to strike.
Without warning, Zeru was yanked up by the collar, pain flaring through his poisoned body and his vision spinning wildly.
Zeru muttered, pain cutting through his voice as he asked.
"Who... are you?"
Void slammed him into the stone floor again and again, until blood poured from Zeru's mouth.
"Where is it?"
Zeru gasped, coughing violently. His mind was foggy, and nothing made sense.
"What... do you want?"
Void dropped him. Zeru fell to the ground, limp and lifeless.
"I won't ask again."
Void said, voice low and cracking.
"Where is the weapon?"
'Inferno... he's after Inferno? Why?'
Fighting the dizziness, Zeru cracked his eyes open and stared up at Void's blank mask.
"That weapon... belongs to the Fire Clan. The most powerful clan in this world. It's not yours to take."
The silence weighed heavy until Void snapped sharply, barely containing the anger sparked by Zeru's words about the Fire Clan.
Void staggered back, clutching his mask like it was burning his skin. His breath came in short, desperate bursts.
"No... no..."
His body twitched. Then he screamed.
"IF THAT'S TRUE... WHY... WHY DID THEY..."
"AGHHHHH!"
He dropped to his knees, slamming both fists into the ground again and again. Blood sprayed with each punch.
"IT HURTS. IT HURTS SO MUCH."
Zeru stood frozen, unable to look away as Void broke down right in front of him.
'He's breaking... this is my chance.'
Trembling, Zeru reached out to the wall and dragged himself up. His limbs refused to obey, his breathing was shallow.
Step by step, he backed away from Void, every nerve in his body screaming with pain.
***
"Taro, come in."
"What is it, Agent 5?"
"It's not looking good for Void. He snapped out of nowhere."
Taro's chest tightened.
'If I don't reach him now... he'll take everything down with him.'
"Agent 5, how many floors between me and Void?"
"Three floors down. Take the next right."
'Three floors? Damn it. If the maze rotates again, I'll never reach him.'
"Can you clear me a path?"
"Leave it to me."
Agent 5 crouched behind a damaged wall opening, loading a glowing bullet into the chamber. She flipped her scope open, took aim, and fired.
The shot vanished into the air.
Seconds later, the maze rumbled and part of the floor collapsed ahead of Taro, forming a bridge of broken stone.
"Nice shot."
Taro muttered, already sprinting.
"Taro, Kai and his friend just reached the top."
"Already?"
"Orders?"
"Just watch for now."
"One more thing."
"What?"
"The King and the clan leaders, they're planning something."
Taro didn't answer. He launched down the passage, falling three levels before landing hard and steady right in front of Void.
He was a mess. Blood covered his hands, and his breath came in uneven gasps.
Taro approached slowly.
"Breathe, boss. You're losing control."
Outside the maze, together Draven and Archer slaughtered countless royal guards, turning the once-green river beneath the hovering maze into a vivid red stream.
They held the line outside, pushing back every guard who tried to get inside.
Agent 5 adjusted her scope, wind dragging at her mask until she tore it off. Her golden hair spilled across her shoulders, catching the sun, but her eyes stayed locked on the battlefield below.
Her expression remained calm, but her sharp green eyes followed every movement on the battlefield below without blinking.
***
Agent 5 slung her sniper rifle over her shoulder and slipped away from her shooting spot to a new position closer to the others.
Taking those shots was nearly impossible from so far away. No ordinary rifle could've done it. But Agent 5 carried the legendary weapon, Echo.
Echo was created by the V clan to rival the other legendary weapons. It lived up to its name, the last thing you'd hear was the bullet piercing its target. Nothing could stop it.
The bullets that worked with Echo were made from iron crystals, each infused with a power of Agent 5's choosing.
Echo was deadly, but Agent 5's unique ability turned it into something far more dangerous, and that's what made her one of the world's most wanted assassins.
Second only to the Cry Laughing Ghost, she was a highly skilled assassin, feared and respected.
Moving with steady purpose, Agent 5 closed the gap between herself and her allies.
The royal guards moved into formation, encircling her with military precision. She stood at the center, perfectly still, not so much as a flicker of concern crossing her face.
"Don't let her escape."
Her voice was calm but firm.
"I don't want to hurt you. Please, just leave before this gets worse."
"You're outnumbered, and soon the king will have your head on the wall."
"Agh... I warned you."
The rest surged forward, but she took them down just as easily, sweat and dirt clinging to her hair and clothes when it was over.
When she was done, she felt the sweat and dirt on her hair and clothes.
'That's why I hate fighting.'
She shook her head slightly, pushing the frustration aside. Then she moved to her strike position to await Taro's orders.
YOU ARE READING
UNIFIED W
FantasyIn this world where people have crystal powers, fate chose Kai to once again reunite the seven clans, who are in a constant civil war with each other for centuries. Although Kai were chosen, his path is full of despair and pain, but a voice keeps te...
