He waited for a few seconds but didn't feel like he was getting run over. He opened his eyes slowly and suddenly found himself on a table in a dark room, surrounded by some people in lab coats.
He tried to move his limbs but he was strapped to the table.
Zen's eyes widened slightly as he realized where he was.
It only got worse as he heard a voice from the back of the room,a voice that caused his body to instinctively react defensively.
"Beginning experiment X3 with new test subject"
Lilith who was watching from the shadows watched Zen's reaction curiously. She had felt the entire soul realm tremble as Zen heard that voice.
Zen suddenly started tugging at his bindings even harder, trying anything he could to escape but he had been pinned down.
His efforts only intensified as the scientists in the room strapped a strange looking device to his head, carefully making sure all the wires and tubes were properly attached.
"Beginning experiment,phase one in 3...2...1"
One of the scientists suddenly pushed a button somewhere, and instantly, Zen felt like he brain was being electrified from the inside.
"Grrrrhhhnnnn!!!"
He jumped and convulsed in pain, trying his best to control his screams, but in the end, his body was that of a ten year old and he couldn't hold it in for a minute before before he screamed out at the top of his lungs, and in response to the pain started pulling and trying to break free and stop this.
The people in white coats ignored his screaming,in fact they didn't even look at him as they were all focused on a either a machine, some chemicals,or a holo screen.
Zen managed to grit his teeth and get himself under control a few times, but never permanently, and ended up screaming again.
After about thirty minutes, one of the scientists looked at a screen and opened up a log.
"Obtained sufficient data for phase one, beginning phase two"
Zen's eyes shrunk to the size of a pin as the pain multiplied exponentially, causing him to scream even louder, than before, still to the indifference of the people in the room.
Lilith didn't know what to say. She was a creature that fed on humans,she knew cruelty, but this...just seemed like too much.
She suddenly took in a sharp breath. A suspicious look appeared in her eyes and she suddenly disappeared.
She immediately realoeared in Zen's soul realm, although it had almost completely been corrupted by her blood essence.
She appeared floating above the ocean of blood and looked into it.
"He hid something here"
She waved her hand and the sea began to part according to her will, but after it had reached a certain depth,it suddenly stopped.
"What?"
Lilith tried again but was still unable to get to the bottom.
Now she was interested. She quickly decided to attack personally, and flew down with her fist covered in a blood red energy.
She struck at it with all her might but was sent flying backwards and into the castle.
*Cough,cough*
Lilith got up and dusted herself off.
She looked at that part of the ocean and closed it back. It didn't matter what was there,once Zen was gone, she could spend as much time as she wanted to find out.
**********
Zen huffed and panted, exhausted. How long had he been here? Days? Weeks? He couldn't tell.
"Beginning phase six"
"Aaaaaagggghhhh!!!"
Lilith suddenly reappeared above him and pointed at him.
A red blood mist was suddenly released from her finger towards Zen as it started to seep into his body.
Zen's body once again started turning into the red blood crystal, however at a more rapid pace this time as his entire lower body crystalized in under a minute.
On the outside, Zen suddenly opened his eyes, but something was wrong. They were both glowing completely red.
"Finally, I'm back!"
"Not so fast" She suddenly heard a voice.
"I never thought a vampire queen would resort to such cowardly tactics"
"It doesn't matter. Soon the boy will be gone, and i will be all that remains"The voice suddenly started laughing like it was amused.
"Ha! Looks like you really are gullible. The boy hasn't even been fighting you"
Lilith didn't buy it. That made no sense,why wouldn't he fight her.
The voice sighed.
"I know what you're thinking, and all i can say is the kid's complicated... but I'm here to make things simple, He lacks fear for his own life? I'll give him a reason to fight "
Zen who at this point was almost completely crystal suddenly found himself somewhere else.
His eyes suddenly widened!
*******
Neo opened his eyes and found himself in the familiar gym, with a goth looking kid at the other side.
«Are we going to do this or what?» His lips moved involuntarily, speaking with a bit of venom in his tone.
The boy walked a bit closer to him, indifference written all across his face.
This must be him. That Zen the other one was talking about. Neo waited in anticipation for this one to help him somehow, but he only walked closer to him.
«You're weak» Zen said straight to his face without a hint of emotion
«what?»
«I know what you're planning. It won't work. You'll eventually give in and do the smart or cowardly thing»
«i don't know what you're talking about »
Zen sighed
«The ability, your sister. You know what I'm talking about»
Neo heard himself gasp from suprise before replying defensively.
«So what?»
«so you're going to fail. You're weak,i can see it in your eyes»
Neo internally felt angry. Who was this person and why was he insulting him?"
«who do you think you are anyway?»
«Someone who can read you like an open book. You will fall, and in the end you'll let both yourself and your sister down and -»
«okay, shut the fuck up! I don't care who you are or where you came from, but no one decides to just come and walk all over me and expect me to stay silent » Neo wasn't the one speaking, but he agreed with this memory as he stared into Zen's eyes.
«oh really? And why is that?» Zen asked as he stared right back into Neo's eyes.
Neo felt a visible pressure as he looked into Zen's eyes. Even the mere memory seemed to carry a faint killing intent with it
Neo stared straight back and answered.
«Because i say so»
Zen raised a brow at the slightly cringey statement and asked.
«Is that so?»
«yeah, and you can try me if you don't believe it»
Zen stared at him, maintaining eye contact for a few seconds before turning around and leaving.
«Good choice»
«huh?»
***********
A large... something suddenly took up Zen's entire vision.
Zen was a bit defensive and tried to find out where he was but he couldn't move.
Zen tried squinting his eyes to see what it was but he could barely even do that. What was going on? Zen felt even more helpless than before.
Whatever it was got closer and Zen managed to see it was someone's face,more precisely the face of a girl who looked around five to ten years old.
"Hehe. Hi Azrael"
The girl squealed and lightly poked his tummy with her fingers, tickling him.
"Am i a baby?"
Zen asked himself, but the next second, he got his answer as the girl started lightly rocking his crib back and forth while singing to him.
Zen's eyes widened. That was the same song playing on the record. He knew it.
"Who is she?"
The memory suddenly changed as another one started playing.
Zen suddenly found himself on a large bed. It looked like it was night time.
He suddenly looked to his side and noticed the same little girl soundly sleeping next to him with her hand wrapped around him.
Zen's movement seemed to have stirred her from her sleep as she opened her eyes slowly. As soon as she saw Zen, she smiled.
"Hey little bro. Can't sleep?"
"Little bro?" Zen asked but she couldn't hear him.
She lightly tickled him again before she started to sing for him.
A few more similar memories passed by, and by the end of them, Zen realized something.
This girl really liked him.
The memories suddenly twisted to a not so friendly one.
The sky was dark despite it being day, the winds were howling horrendously and the sound of screaming was everywhere.
Other than the sounds of his own crying,all he could hear was the sound of thunder over and over and over again,an experience that was not at all pleasant for him.
"Az? Az, where are you? Azrael!!!"
The memory suddenly went blank.
"Oh so that's what happened?"
For some reason, Zen didn't doubt that those were actually his own memories. Perhaps he had been too young to remember and this whole ordeal had unlocked those memories.
"Is that good enough?"
Zen looked around to see who was talking but didn't see anyone.
"Does this count as a purpose? A mission? A reason to live?"
"Who's there" Zen asked.
"You'll find out soon enough, but until then, fight little player,do what your kind does best. Burn your soul for power and then the world "
Zen thought about what the voice said. Did this count as an actual purpose for him? A game?.
It was petty, selfish, and almost certainly pointless...
A small smile suddenly appeared on Zen's almost Completely crystal body.
.... but it would suffice.
[New quest recieved]
[Your journey begins: A reason to live
[Objective: Find and speak with your sister]
[Reward: ???]
[Hint: She's six years older than you]
Zen took in a deep breath and released it slowly.
"Alright, fine"
White cracks suddenly started spreading all over the crystal covering his body.
A loud boom suddenly rang out as the blood crystals on Zen's body all flew into seperate directions like shrapnel from an explosive.
*************
Jesse was still holding Neo up against the wall and laughing maniacally.
"You're finished, peasant"
Neo suddenly opened his eyes. Suddenly, something seemed different, like Neo had remembered something important.
"And who exactly decided that?"
Jesse suddenly frowned. Something was different.
Neo placed his hand on Jesse's huge hand that was pinning him to the wall and started prying it off easily.
Neo remembered Zen's message. It hadn't taught him anything,it had little practical value.... but it had reminded him of something important, something that Zen had also just remembered.
This was his world. Underneath the illusion, it was still his domain.
Neo held Jesse back with one hand. A strange sense of liberation filled him. He felt like he could see everything. With every second that passed,Neo reverted back to his original appearance: His rough and dirty hair became clean and organized, his clothes turned back to the academy uniform that doubled as a military combat suit. An aura of refinement eminated from his body.
Neo looked at Jesse's army and clicked his tongue
"This won't do"
He snapped his fingers and Jesse's entire army suddenly disappeared into thin air.
Neo looked at his sister. He already knew she wasn't real, but it still pained him to do this.
"This trial is over" He snapped his fingers and the entire illusion was wiped as only he and Jesse appeared in his true soul realm.
*************
Zen stretched his muscles. It felt good to be free.
He looked around him at the scientists , staring at him in shock.
"This trial is over"