Episode 3- The Free World
Kibo starts to think to himself as he walks towards Grandoria, "This power, what is it exactly? How does it work? Can it consume me?" The night sky glows and the air gets chilly. The tattered robes do little to cover Kibo from the dropping temperature. Kibo begins to walk faster in order to reach shelter in Grandoria sooner. "If only I had armor, the temperature wouldn't bother me", he thinks. A familiar black smoke starts to arise all over Kibo's body. Black flame ignites all over Kibo, but there is no pain and no injury. The flame is warm and almost welcoming. Even the tattered robes are not burned. The black flame hardens quickly into lightweight but very dense dragon scales. On Kibo's fingers form crude, sharp claw tips. A black, thin, dragon scale helmet forms over his head resembling the mouth and jaw of a dragon. The scales cover Kibo, layering symmetrically together. Dense dragon scales extend from the back of the armor with the ends having razor sharp tips. The dark robe that was already worn by Kibo gently cascades on the top of the newly obtained armor. "Perfect", Kibo curdles. The crude nature of the armor seems to have an effect that gives Kibo a dark, curdling voice.
"Low Sun" Inn and Brothel
It's early but the morning sun is yet to shine. A thin woman in a worn, light brown, hooded dress is seen walking towards the town brothel. A single droplet of rain lands on her shoulder. Her hair is matted and her brown eyes reflect an empty stare from underneath the hood on her head. She enters the brothel, moving large black and gold curtains that block out all light from the road outside. A refined gentleman with a bald head in a black tuxedo stands behind a thin counter facing the large curtains. The entire room is lit with purple lighting from chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. "Zino", says the thin woman, "i need to speak with Mr. Nakamura". The thin woman looks over the shoulder of Zino to see booths and tables full of half dressed women laughing, drinking with, and entertaining young and older men in rich attire. "Mr. Nakamura is not here I'm afraid. You'll have to come back another time", says Zino. "I know how things work here Zino. I've worked here for years on and off. Please Zino, for old times sake, please do me this favor. I really need to speak with him.". Zino reluctantly waves his left hand over a small crest on the left side of the breast pocket on his tuxedo, with the emblem of a carved dragon on it. A small blue magical symbol glows over the crest, then fades away. From a nearby stairwell walks a thin man in a light blue tuxedo, with a matching light blue top hat. His skin is a pale white, his hair is light brown and flows straight downward and stops at the small of his back. The gold trimmed monocle on his right eye reflects the purple light in the room as he steps closer. He holds a golden cane with the carving of a dragon head at the top of the cane. "Chizu Watanabe, what brings you to my fine establishment" the man asks. Chizu musters up courage and begins to speak, "You promised to pay me for the last five times I worked here before you threw me out. I can't work anywhere with the rumors going about. I just need the coin you promised me so I can eat until I can find more work somewhere." Mr. Nakamura smiles a large smile, "Well. Fair is only fair Miss Watanabe. Hold all of my appointments for today Zino. Please. Follow me Miss Watanabe," Nakamura insists. The monocle on the eye of Nakamura reflects a sinister purple light as he turns around to walk back up the stairwell. A long hallway follows at the top of the stairwell. Several red doors with gold doorknobs and gold trimming on each side can be seen. Laughter of women and men, noises of pleasure, and soft thumping sounds can be heard from within the doors. Chizu thinks to herself as she walks in silence, "This is Senju Nakamura. A man as sharp and as cold as ice. He made a fortune extorting the rich and dangling opportunities of pleasure in exchange for money from the desperate poor. Just his presence alone is frightening, despite his pressed suit". The two reach the end of the hallway and stop at a solid black door with soft, black soundproofing insulation mended around the perimeter of the door. Senju reaches into his pocket and pulls out a large golden key and unlocks the door with a loud "clink". Senju gestures Chizu to enter, "Ladies first?". Chizu enters as Senju locks the door behind them. "Well. Let's get to business, after we have a drink", says Senju. Senju pours wine into two glasses and gently hands one glass to Chizu. Chizu takes the glass and looks around. The room is an office space adorned with three glass windows. There is no light in the room except for a lamp at a nearby desk. There is only one wooden chair behind the desk and no other chairs in the entire room. A fine, ruby red carpeting covers the entire floor. Chizu lets off a nervous smile, then slowly starts to drink the wine.
Suddenly, the eyes of Senju glow a bright blue. A magical symbol appears at the face of the dragon head on his cane. While Chizu is trying her best to finish off the cup of wine with her eyes closed, the wine in the cup freezes into a solid. The cold density applied to the glass causes the glass to shatter, making shards fly into several pieces. Pieces of glass cut the skin on the face of Chizu. Chizu screams out in horror as blood drips from cuts on her face. A strong left hand from Senju grips the neck of Chizu as glowing blue eyes meet her gaze. Thin blue veins start to form on the neck of Senju as his gaze turns into rage. "You THING. You useless speck of trash", says Senju while getting more enraged. "An old, used man-glove thinks she can walk into my place of business and demand my blood, sweat, and tears!? Do you know who I am!?" Chizu starts struggling to breathe as the grip tightens. "You ant! You pebble! You pebble-ant! You will be paid! Definitely! I'll put your days to rest and turn you into an offering to the lowest dragon!". Chizu starts to lose consciousness as her eyes start to close and open repeatedly.
A dark figure bursts through the middle window. A figure in full pitch black dragon scales stands from a kneeling position. Senju throws Chizu across the room with one hand making her hit the wall. In slow motion, Senju begins to turn his head to look at the dark figure, but in an instant feels the heavy force of a kick to the right side his face that sends him flying right into the wall next to Chizu. The force of hitting the wall knocks the monocle and top hat off of Senju. Senju calmly picks up his monocle and stands up. He carefully puts the monocle back on, then pulls out a handkerchief from a pocket within his suit to wipe the blood from his nose and mouth. After putting the handkerchief back in his suit pocket, he dusts himself off and straightens his suit. He spits out blood then exclaims, "Well done Mr. Black Knight. Nonetheless, that will be the only free strike you get. Anything else, will in fact cost you". Senju studies the black figure in front of him. He notices the dark armor, clad in dragon scales, with sharp claws, and a helmet in the shape of a furious dragon. "Well, you aren't one for fashion are you? Is there a name for the one that would throw away his life for breaking into the office of what could be said is the most powerful man in Grandoria?" asks Senju.
Kibo looks over at the thin, unhealthy woman that is his mother. Kibo had actually followed his mother quietly through the city, sticking to the shadows and rooftops. Her presence here confirmed that the people around him during his childhood were not simply being mean, they were being honest. Kibo remembers the betrayal of Aki, then thinks about his childhood, and how he never asked for any of it.
He died. There was never a better point in life. There was nothing to hold onto to fight against being an evil person. It was all a waste. Hard work didn't pay off. It killed him. There were no special moments to remember and nothing to look forward to. There was nothing.
Zero finally looks at Senju and responds to his question, "Zero". Senju looks puzzled. "I'm sorry, and pardon me, but did you say zero?" Kibo pauses and recalls the last words he spoke before the town executed him like an unwanted dog. "Zero...Justice", Kibo says as the helmet curdles his voice. Senju starts to chuckle lightly to himself, "If you are Zero-Justice, then I suppose I should call myself Illegal-One". Senju laughs hard for a moment, then continues, "Well then Mr. Zero Justice, I believe it's time I end this charade". Senju's eyes once again glow a light blue and a magical crest forms on his cane. The air in the immediate area around Kibo drops to freezing temperatures encasing Kibo in a pillar of ice with only his head unfrozen. Senju charges quickly at Kibo with amazing speed as blue veins form on his neck. Senju freezes his golden cane, and crashes it into the helmet of Kibo, knocking the helmet off. Senju and Chizu look in shock as they gaze at the face of a man the city watched die. Senju looks at Chizu then looks back at the silent Kibo. "The cursed child. The town watched you die! How!?", Senju asks. Kibo continues to stay silent. "Look wench! It's your boy! What a joyful family reunion! Still got the scar on his head to prove it!", Senju exclaims. "Zero Justice has come to your rescue after you watched him die". Chizu looks away from Kibo in shame while her face drips more blood from the glass that cut her.