Chereads / Grey - Of Black and White / Chapter 12 - Recollection

Chapter 12 - Recollection

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As Zanno regained consciousness, he found himself surrounded by the sterile walls of a makeshift hospital. The faint smell of disinfectant lingered in the air, and the soft hum of medical equipment provided a constant backdrop of sound.

He was confused while struggling to piece together the fragments of his memory. How had he ended up here? What had transpired since he last remembered? Gazing around the room, Zanno noticed a familiar face approaching him, her kind eyes filled with concern.

「 Nurse Jasneeta 」

"Welcome back, Zanno. You had quite a scare earlier."

"Do you remember what happened?"

Zanno shook his head, his voice still groggy as he responded.

「 Zanno (confused) 」

"I..."

"I don't remember anything."

"What happened to me?"

"Where am I?"

The nurse offered a gentle smile, her voice soothing and reassuring.

「 Nurse Jasneeta 」

"You're in the temporary hospital."

"You nearly had a heatstroke."

"Luckily your dad brought you here just in time."

Zanno's brow furrowed, trying to make sense of the nurse's explanation.

「 Zanno 」

"Heatstroke?"

"Dad? Is my dad here?"

The nurse nodded, understanding his confusion.

「 Nurse Jasneeta 」

"Yes, your father is here."

"He's been by your side since you were brought in."

"He was quite worried about you."

「 Zanno 」

"Where is he? Can I see him?"

Nurse Jasneeta smiled warmly at Zanno's eager request.

「 Nurse Jasneeta 」

"Of course, let me inform him that you're awake."

"Just give me a moment."

The nurse turned and walked out of the room, leaving Zanno to contemplate the events that had led him to this hospital bed. As he waited for his father's arrival, fragments of memories began to resurface, like scattered puzzle pieces slowly finding their place.

He remembered the intense heat, the feeling of his blood boiling within him. And then, the darkness, the void where his consciousness seemed lost. It all started with his regretful words, uttered in despair and frustration.

Zanno pondered the repercussions of those words, the consequences that seemed to have unfolded as a result. Had he summoned some unknown force with his plea? Or was it simply a coincidence, an unfortunate sequence of events?

Soon, the door opened, and Zanno's father entered the room. Worry etched on his face, he rushed toward his son, his eyes welling up with tears.

「 Jengo 」

"Zanno, my dear boy!"

"Thank the heavens you're awake!"

"I've been so worried about you."

「 Zanno 」

"Dad?"

"You are not my dad!!!"

"What happened to me?"

"I can't remember everything clearly."

His father sighed, gently stroking Zanno's hair.

「 Jengo 」

"You had a heatstroke."

"Your body was trying to reject the parasites in your blood."

"It pushed your body to its limits, but finally gave in."

Memories further filled Zanno's mind piece by piece. He sat in utter silence, closing his eyes while trying to figure out the predicament.

Everyone else in the room remained anxious, ready to offer support when necessary. Moments later, Zanno opened his eyes and looked straight into his dad.

「 Zanno 」

"Dad… Do you have my Ki card?"

「 Jengo 」

"Of course son."

「 Zanno 」

"Can I see it?"

Jengo pulled out his wallet and took out Zanno's Ki card.

「 Jengo 」

"Hmm… That's weird."

"I'm sure the card has already been activated."

「 Zanno 」

"Let me see!"

Zanno snatched his Ki card from his father's hand. To his surprise, the card was blank. It has never been activated before. He drifted into his own world again, as if calculating an unsolvable equation.

"I need to activate my Ki card."

He opened his eyes again with a determined look, knowing what he should do next. Zanno observed the room thoroughly as if trying to find something.

「 Nurse Jasneeta 」

"What are you looking for, dear?"

Looking at the restless boy, Nurse Jasneeta tried to offer some assistance. But before anyone realized it, Zanno unexpectedly jumped out of his bed. He fell on the floor as his left leg was not strong enough to support his weight.

「 Zanno (agitated) 」

"I need to activate my Ki card!"

「 Jengo 」

"Calm down Zanno."

"I will do it for you later."

"You just rest for now."

Jengo was trying to calm his son down while slowly carrying him in his arms. After resting Zanno back on the bed, he was suddenly filled with curiosity.

"Why do you want to activate it so badly?"

Ignoring his dad, Zanno answered with a question of his own.

「 Zanno 」

"How do I activate the card?"

「 Jengo 」

"Well… to activate your card, the people at the registrar will need your blood sample to be infused with..."

「 Zanno 」

"You mean like this?"

" Prraaaanggg!!! "

Zanno punched the mirror next to his bed, holding his Ki card in a firm grip. His wounded hand drenched the card with his blood, coating it entirely.

「 Jengo 」

"Zanno!"

"Nurse, please get the doctor!"

Nurse Jasneeta ran out of the room in a panic to find the doctor, leaving Zanno and his father behind. Blood dripped from Zanno's wounded hand onto the now blood-soaked Ki card, a bold and impulsive act driven by an unexplained urgency.

As Jengo tried to comprehend his son's actions, worry etched deep lines into his face. He reached out to comfort Zanno, but the boy's focus remained fixated on the now-stained Ki card clutched tightly in his hand.

Moments later, Nurse Jasneeta returned with the doctor in tow. They rushed to Zanno's side, assessing the situation and tending to his injured hand. The doctor examined the blood-soaked Ki card, realizing the significance of what had just occurred.

「 Doctor 」"What happened here, Zanno? Why did you do this?"

Zanno's gaze was determined, his voice filled with conviction.

「 Zanno 」

"I needed to activate my Ki card."

"I couldn't wait any longer."

The doctor exchanged a concerned glance with Jengo, their eyes reflecting both confusion and curiosity.

「 Doctor 」

"Activating the Ki card requires a proper procedure, Zanno."

"It's not something to be done impulsively."

"We need to ensure your safety."

Zanno's determination was unwavering.

「 Zanno 」

"I can't explain it, but I know this is right."

The doctor sighed, recognizing the intensity of Zanno's resolve. With a mix of caution and understanding, the medical team proceeded to stabilize his injury.

As they worked, Jengo stood by his son's side, grappling with concern. It was then that something extraordinary happened. The air seemed to crackle with energy as Zanno's Ki card emitted a radiant glow, casting rays of light that danced across the walls.

The intensity of the glow intensified, and the card grew hotter in Zanno's hand. Overwhelmed by the heat, he involuntarily dropped the card onto the nearby table.

As it made contact, a surge of power resonated through the room, causing everyone to instinctively step back.

To their astonishment, the Ki card activated, revealing a never-before-seen emblem etched onto its surface. The emblem bore an uncanny resemblance to the zak'nagis, their twisted forms now transformed into a symbol of unknown significance.

Jengo's eyes widened in disbelief, his concern mingling with amazement. He exchanged glances with the medical team, who shared his bewilderment. This unexpected turn of events only deepened the mystery surrounding his son and the connection to the zak'nagi.

As the emblem on the Ki card continued to pulsate with a mysterious energy, a sense of both wonder and trepidation filled the room. Zanno's injured hand, once bleeding and wounded, now rapidly healed before their eyes, leaving no trace of scars or injury.

Gasps of astonishment escaped from the lips of the medical team as they witnessed this miraculous transformation. Jengo's concern shifted to a mix of relief and amazement, his eyes fixed on Zanno's now perfectly healed hand.

「 Jengo 」

"Zanno, your hand..."

"It's healed!"

Zanno looked down at his hand in awe, flexing his fingers with newfound strength and vitality. The power emanating from the activated Ki card seemed to have an inexplicable ability to restore and rejuvenate.

The medical team, now caught between scientific curiosity and a sense of wonder, quickly conducted a thorough examination. Their instruments confirmed what their eyes had already seen - Zanno's hand was completely healed as if the injury had never occurred.

「 Doctor 」

"This is extraordinary, Zanno."

"The healing properties exhibited by the Ki card are unlike anything we've ever seen before."

"It's as if it possesses the ability to restore not only physical wounds but also the core essence of vitality within you."

"We must report this discovery at once!"

Upon hearing the doctor's words, a surge of emotions coursed through Zanno's veins. His eyes turned a fiery shade of red. Goosebumps prickled across his skin as if his very being resonated with the immense power, his voice deepened.

「 Zanno 」

"NO YOU WON'T!"

The room was engulfed in a tense silence as the medical team exchanged bewildered glances. The atmosphere shifted, anxiety replacing their scientific curiosity.

Zanno's sudden transformation had left them at a loss for words, unsure of how to proceed. The doctor took a step back, trying to maintain composure in the face of Zanno's unexpected defiance.

「 Doctor 」

"Zanno, we understand your apprehension, but we must approach this discovery responsibly."

"We can unlock vital knowledge that could help countless people."

"We won't exploit you..."

"We want to collaborate with you in understanding this power."

Zanno's red eyes flashed with a mix of anger and desperation. His connection to the Ki card and its mysterious abilities had awakened something primal within him, a fierce protectiveness over the source of his power. His voice trembled with a potent combination of anger and desperation as he confronted the doctor's words.

「 Zanno 」

"Stop the charade."

"I can see right through it!"

"I am nobody's lab rat."

The room fell into a tense silence once more, the degree of Zanno's accusation hanging in the air. The medical team exchanged uneasy glances, realizing that their intentions had been misconstrued by Zanno's heightened senses.

「 Doctor 」

"Zanno, please understand that our primary goal is to understand and harness this power for the greater good."

"We have no intention of exploiting you or taking away your autonomy."

"We simply want to explore the potential benefits and ensure the responsible use of this extraordinary gift."

As Zanno abruptly stood, gasps echoed throughout the room. All eyes were drawn to his once-crippled left leg, now miraculously healed. The astonishment on Jengo's face mirrored that of the medical team, who were witnessing firsthand the extent of the Ki card's regenerative abilities.

「 Jengo (astounded) 」

"Zanno... your leg!"

"It's healed too!"

Zanno's expression softened slightly as he looked down at his renewed limb. The realization that the Ki card held not just healing powers, but the ability to restore what was once lost.

「 Zanno 」

"It's not about the power."

"It's about who you really are…"

"Like I said before, I can see right through it."

The medical team was still acting surprised, just right before Zanno revealed their identity.

"Say hi to Nihillius for me, will you?!"

As Zanno's stern accusation echoed in the room, a creepy silence settled over the medical team. Something shifted in the atmosphere as if the very air had thickened with an otherworldly presence. The doctors and scientists shed their human façades, their true forms revealed.

Before Zanno stood a group of beings, their appearance ethereal and otherworldly. The servants of Nihillius, God of the Void, unveiled their true identities. Their appearances were unsettling and mystical, evoking a sense of dread and darkness.

Their bodies seemed to defy the laws of nature, their forms elongated and twisted as if they were composed of shadow itself. Their skin was pale and translucent, almost intangible, revealing the weird sheen of pulsating veins beneath the surface.

Their eyes, the windows to their malevolent souls, cast a cold, eldritch light. They glowed with an unnatural intensity, emitting a dreadful effulgence upon their surroundings. The irises were abyssal voids, devoid of color or humanity, drawing one's gaze into an endless expanse of darkness.

Their limbs, long and sinewy, moved with an unsettling grace as if they were mere extensions of their sinister will. Fingers tipped with razor-sharp claws twitched with anticipation, ready to enact their master's bidding.

Cloaked in tattered, black robes that seemed to blend seamlessly with the shadows around them, the servants of Nihillius exuded an aura of premonition. Whispers of darkness trailed behind them as if they were accompanied by an unseen horde of malevolent spirits.

As they stood before Zanno, these entities emanated an overwhelming presence, a tangible force that sent chills down one's spine. It was clear that their allegiance to the God of the Void had infused them with supernatural powers, making them formidable adversaries in the battle between light and darkness.

「 Servant of Nihillius 」

"Impressive, little boy."

"You have seen through us. It seems your connection to the Ki card has granted you insights beyond our expectations."

Zanno's red eyes narrowed, his newfound power pulsating within him. He braced himself, ready to face whatever awaited him, even if it meant confronting these enigmatic beings that served a deity of darkness.

「 Zanno 」

"Dad, please get behind me…"

One of them stepped forward, a sinister smile stretching across his face.

「 Servant of Nihillius 」

"We are the loyal servants of Nihillius, the God of the Void himself."

"You are to come with us as our master wills it."

"It would be wise for you to just..."

"Obey..."

A surge of defiance coursed through Zanno's veins, his determination bolstered by the revelation before him. He would not allow the forces of darkness to exploit him and plunge the world into chaos. The room crackled with tension as the clash between light and darkness loomed.

「 Zanno 」

"Bring it on!"

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