'I have to run..!' Lex thought while gasping for air. His lungs on fire.
Having been running all day.
His body wanted rest, but he couldn't unless that creature stopped chasing.
With a bleeding arm and nowhere safe to run, his fate became miserable.
The obsessed Named zombie, 'Little Red Riding Hood', was a twisted tale.
Mixing aspects from a woman called Anya Orchid, who took on that monicker as a codename, and the children's tale spoke of in stories. It was really diligent.
Similar to a red hooded girl… who went to meet her grandma deep in the forest.
It ignored the other zombies while chasing after him. Killing all in its way.
Lex felt his throat burning.
This couldn't go on. He needed to find a way to survive regardless of his feelings.
'Mom would cry in heaven if I died.' Lex didn't want to sadden her at this point.
Moreover, his primal instincts to survive had come knocking and he realised dying hurts. The twisted emotions he'd felt while sacrificing himself initially all gone.
Making him wonder what he was doing while his mind was tired out of sanity.
Did he have to work so hard?
It was like telling a police officer if there was any point to fighting crime after their parent died. There were so many reasons why he should be bitter about everything.
Maybe that would fix his broken heart.
Realistically, his thoughts didn't matter.
To the current Lex, he was unaware of how his school changed their opinion on him. Thinking they must be happy the weakest among them acted as bait.
'They are like that…' Lex knew them well.
The students of St Martha would likely be happy that he did the job he was blessed.
Being a real 'Hero'.
One that got chased all over Deanfold City until he was cornered in a car park.
He smashed through the windows and tried controlling his heavy breathing.
Hiding behind a van.
The zombie didn't have any amazing smarts or sensory abilities. When he got out of its sight, the Named zombie looked around slowly to find its fleeing prey.
Like a cat chasing a small mouse.
The sickles on the zombie's spider-like arms touched the ground of the car park.
Spreading out to check behind cars.
"Hah… Hah…" Lex tried his best, but he couldn't stop himself from gasping.
Making his voice silent was impossible right now. Not able to be done.
The dreadful creature seemingly noticed him. Moving closer to where he was.
It circled around the van while keeping and path of escape filled with sickles.
Moving closer and closer…
Lex used both his hands to hold his breath, but his success was too late.
The monster was certain of his location.
It looked around the corner of the van.
Expecting to see its prey.
However, all of that was for nothing.
Behind the van was only an empty space.
The sounds were gone. Only leaving a deathly silence as it looked around.
A menacing look its eyes.
It started to retreat. Showing no signs of rage upon its prey having successfully fled. The creature had a mysterious and patient temperament. Looking around.
It once again faced the van in question.
A sudden attack cut through the van from top to bottom. No one had screamed.
No blood was spilled.
Lex, who had moved under the van, was holding his breath when the blade struck in front of him. The gas tank of the vehicle was accidentally cut open.
He had to make a choice right then.
Either move, or continue to hide while trying to not breath in the smell of gas.
The strong odour of fossil fuels were getting to him. He chose to act fast.
'This should be fine. I might die if I stay like this.' Lex chose the practical choice.
He touched the back of his right hand and twisted. Releasing a certain lock.
His own Limiter deactivated shortly.
When he did that, a surge of power finally flowed through his body once more.
The strength he'd cultivated.
Lex felt an evil power flowing through his body. It originated from his breathing.
However, this wasn't the famed 'Internal Arts' of eastern origin many heard about.
This was entirely different.
It had been a while, but Lex was finally breathing the power of curses and evil.
All born from one technique:
'Redwind Taming'.
His father acquired this incomplete technique that brought forth the power of the apocalypse. The stories of this evil energy being spoken of in Islam.
There was a Hadith (statement made by the prophet Muhammad) saying that when the world ended, a 'Red Storm' would engulf the world just before the Day of Judgement. When all life will end.
Once that the red winds engulfed the world, it would be followed by fire.
Consuming all life on Earth.
This was also known as the 'Red Wind of Yemen' (Country of the South).
Thus, his father named this power. He called it 'Redwind Qi' to give it clarity.
An wicked power that could only be controlled thanks to his special earring.
It was called 'Secure Embrace'.
An earring possessed by an spirit known as Peri. The most angelic of Jinns.
Able to purify his mind.
This was the only reason a non-Muslim with Red Wind flowing through him could stay unharmed. Not being infected by the negative effects it brought upon his body.
The earring was the key.
'Time to move properly.' With his F Rank power circulating, he used his technique.
Illusionary Step.
Going far beyond simple misdirection and being able to hid himself with his shadow.
Blending into the darkness.
Immediately, Miasma started to spread through his body. Lex felt his body limp.
He hid under another car, and quickly locked his Limiter again straight after.
Trying to handle the consequences.
He couldn't let out groans. Having to wait until the Named zombie to leave first.
Experiencing agony in forced silence.
It didn't matter if his body was filled with Red Wind. Death Force was more potent.
Because unlike the fear humans had towards evil, the fear of death was a bigger constant. Much more dreadful and widespread among all living organisms.
That fear engraved into their base instinct to survive. Simply a higher tier.
In the face of death, good and evil were irrelevant. This was an enlightenment.
When the Dark Muse left, Lex finally let out a cough and groaned from pain.
Crawling out from under the vehicle and into a corner. Trying to keep hidden.
'What a weird situation…' Lex thought while trying to stabilise his condition.
Objective thinking was really strange.
When he thought of things from another perspective, all of this seemed absurd.
The individual known as Lex Lindbum, a youth given the Job Class of 'Hero', was dying not because he learnt a wicked technique, but because of death itself.
How ironic that was…
Did it mean his posture of good or evil were worthless? That he was simply him?
Lex once thought himself as a gear in a larger picture. That his role was destiny.
After all, wasn't he chosen by Graces?
And yet here he was. Not dying by bleeding or wounds, but poison.
Miasma was looking for his Life Force.
Attempting to snuff it out.
Ironically, the oh-so-holy 'Hero' relied on evil powers to misdirect the Miasma.
Trying hard to avoid death.
Like an evil villain, choosing survival over letting his life end in a heroic moment.
If he died here, Lex would be a 'Hero'.
If not, he'd be a tragic person.
His consciousness started to wane. The world turned a familiar colour of grey.
The apocalyptic world had returned.
That man, Simon Rainglow, continued to show composure while looking at him.
As if he wouldn't lift a finger to help.
"It's… fault…" Lex barely spoke this out.
"You say it's my fault?" Simon seemed to understand him despite lacking clarity.
The youth's face spoke everything.
He didn't necessarily need words.
"I'm dying… My mom… She's dead… It's just like you said." Lex used his strength.
Fighting to say these words.
He didn't have much time before the Miasma would find his source of life.
"What happened to you was… just a simple tragedy. It's a common story not necessarily belonging to a Hero." Simon explained, but Lex didn't want excuses.
His glare was pressuring.
"If I was stronger… She wouldn't have died. I could-" Lex's cries were halted.
Simon raised his arm to gesture him to stop. Knowing what he was thinking.
"She died away from you. Accept it. Even if you had power, you couldn't have saved her. That's just how life works." These words held a heavy sense of reality.
Something Lex didn't expect.
For a good while, the youth looked at the old man with a completely stunned look.
The silence was overbearing…
It didn't make sense that someone on the level of a Grace would say such a thing.
Especially the maker of the 'Hero' Class.
He shouldn't be allowed to say that there were people who couldn't be saved.
He couldn't say that!
"I know what you're thinking." Simon didn't force him to speak in this moment.
Answering the growing number of questions in Lex's heart towards him.
What was the point?
If good and evil, heroism and selfishness was useless, then why even pursue them?
Why save people if good people he cared for ended up dead? What was the point?
"There is no point." Simon sighed in response to the look in his eyes, saying:
"In the many who had been born in the world, I chose you not because you have a destiny. You were chosen specifically because of your personality. You are a strong child." He had complimented him.
However, this much was nothing.
"I'm weak…" Lex disagreed.
"No. You're stronger than most." Simon shook his head: "Not many know how to sacrifice for another. To show kindness to people while knowing the world's evils."
"I had given up." Lex confessed to the old man in response. Not giving him excuses.
He didn't listen to anything Simon said.
Instead speaking his heart: "I didn't risk my life purely out of heroism. I was just sad. Lost. The only thing left of my mum is an arm. I wanted to die a good person.
But then I croaked. After leading that monster away, I realised that… that…"
Tears started to fall from his eyes when he spoke: "…that I wanted to live as well!"
That tortured shout reverberated into the solace of this apocalyptic background.
He became a teenager at that moment.
Not a hero of justice. Simply a youth who had lost his family and acted recklessly.
He was no hero.
He couldn't believe himself to be a hero.
And even if he died by this Death Force poisoning him, he'd still be nothing.
Just a reckless and suicidal young man.
"Lex Lindblum…" For once, Simon stood and approached him with a heavy heart.
He put his hand on the youth's shoulder.
"…Heroes aren't always ideal. They are simply people who made the choice to save others. Regardless if it was from the best mindset. You are… a Hero." Simon might say this, but Lex was unwilling.
Unable to let go of his own imperfections.
"You heard my story, right?" When the old man asked, the youth looked up.
Nodding his head firmly.
"I was just a butler, but ended up taking the mantle of a hero because the world needed me. For you, this is the same issue. Your world NEEDS a Hero."
"It doesn't have to be me…" Lex argued.
Realistically, there could be several hundred people that fit that description.
Anyone thinking objectively would understand that he wasn't that special.
Merely a pebble among other heroic people that had appeared in the ages.
However, Simon shook his head.
A rare smile forming on his face.
"You have awakened quite the amazing Innate Gift. Although you've neglected training it, the power should still be able to save you." The man said mysteriously.
"Wait…" The apocalyptic world quickly vanished, and Lex was left talking to air.
What did Simon mean…?
His Gift, 'Empty', was simply the 'ability to have an empty Gift'. It was just that.
Not having any amazing functions.
He couldn't shoot fire, bring the dead back to life, or experience a change.
Lex had heard and seen so many vast Innate Gifts. All of them being special.
Some were like curses, others weren't that useful, but nothing was 'useless'.
Everything had a function.
If what Simon said wasn't nonsense to console him, then what function did Empty have? What was this power, and why couldn't he sense it within him?
The only thing he could sense was the location, his body, not having a power.
Being empty…
Being… empty…
'No way.' Lex suddenly had an outrageous thought. His mind moved to execute it.
If his power was emptiness, then…
Lex exhaled a breath, and the Death Force that was within was expelled.
Allowing only the Red Wind to remain.
He got up and patted the dust off his clothes, then tried something insane.
He unlock his Limiter again.
This time… nothing happened?
Even though he was vulnerable, Death Force failed to penetrate into his body.
Realising he was able to use his power.