"So… why did you kill him, Leo?" The man in the suit asked, poking the coal-black body of Vicsen with a stick. "Or was it an 'accident' again, like your last couple of henchmen?"
A boy with neck-length purple hair lay against a fallen tree, lazily sucking on a lollipop. He crushed it between his teeth, spat the stick onto Vicsen's body, and smirked. "No, that was on purpose," he said, pulling out another lollipop, this time cherry-flavored. "That weakling attacked someone when they were tired—and was LOSING! Ha! That fodder's better off dead. Coudnt even see one of my slow attacks coming at a sent 3 turning him into that. At least now he can feed the worms."
"He was paid, and he had a family," the man in the suit retorted, jabbing harder at the corpse.
Leo popped two more lollipops into his mouth—grape and pineapple—and shrugged. "He's like the candy I eat: expendable. And as for his family... who cares?" He crunched on the candy, tossing the sticks onto Vicsen's lifeless body.
"You were supposed to catch the kid." The man poked so hard that the stick pierced the corpse, drawing blood that dripped like syrup.
Leo rolled his eyes. "He was tired. No fun if they're tired."
Crunch. Another candy devoured. Another stick thrown onto Vicsen.
"Whatever. The kid's probably headed to Mornin City its the closest one. Go there and hunt him down—alone! Since Vicsen was the tracker, you'll have to figure it out yourself, boy. And as for his body?" The man sneered. "You fried his insides to McDonald's meat levels. I'll turn him into patties and feed them to the villagers. GOOD LUCK!" He walked off, pulling out a radio to call for his men.
As soon as the man disappeared, Leo slid off the tree, his face turning blue. He clutched his throat, coughing violently, until finally—thank God—the candy pieces dislodged.
"Nox…" Leo growled, catching his breath. "You may have beaten that weakling, but don't think this will be easy. I'm coming for you. AND THE KING WILL FEAST!" His roar echoed exactly like a lion's as he stalked into the forest.
Mornin City
"I'm here… after so much..." I trudged slowly through the streets of Mornin City, taking in the sight of people driving cars, chatting, and kids playing.
As I walked, people stared. I glared back, and most of them quickly looked away.
FOOSH! THUD!
A ball slammed into my back, shoving me forward.
"Ha! You couldn't even catch the ball!" a kid taunted as he ran up to me. "Do you wanna pla—"
Before he could finish, I uppercut him, sending him sprawling. He scrambled to his feet and ran off screaming.
"Tsk." I continued walking, ignoring the wide-eyed stares. The boy's parent came after me, but I ducked into an alleyway. When she arrived, I was gone. Watching her from a rooftop, I resumed my trek.
Standing atop the building, I surveyed the city below.
Spera appeared beside me, glowing faintly. "Ooo, enjoying the view?" he asked.
No, I'm looking at the city to figure out where to go.
Spera's glow shifted into a question mark. "There's no way you can do that! Just go to sleep, man. You only slept for fifteen minutes."
No. I have to find someone to fix the USB. Yawn.
"NO! You just got out of a big fight and barely slept! So—"
I cut him off by unsummoning him and slipped into an open apartment stairwell. I headed downstairs, eventually reaching the lobby.
"Excuse me," I asked the lady at the counter, "where can I get a phone fixed?"
She directed me to Noon Street. I handed her 9,000 Rands as thanks. She cheered, and I left.
After a long sprint, exhaustion set in. My vision blurred, and my legs felt like lead. A few blinks later, I found myself standing on Noon Street.
"Dammit… I'm here…" I muttered, staring at a shop sign: RNR Electronic Fix. I staggered inside, my limbs heavy.
"You... okay?" asked the worried employee. His words sounded distant and distorted, his voice too deep for his slim frame.
"I'm fine…" I managed. "Please... this USB… fix it…"
I placed the USB on the counter. He inspected it, then his eyes widened. "This is the N—! I can… deal?"
I nodded weakly. We shook hands, and instead of taking my money, he handed me 1,000 Rands. I blinked in confusion. He smiled at me—and that's when I noticed his horns. Weirdo....
He waved as I left, promising myself I'd return after some rest.
Outside, I bumped into a large man . When i looked at him my stomach dropped. It was him THE MAN IN THE SUIT IN THE VILLAGE. Beside him stood THE flaming squirrel. The wheezing sound behind me grew louder.
I tried summoning Spera, yelling his name, but nothing happened. Is he mad at me? Is this punishment for shooing him away when he tried to be a friend? Is this what I deserve?
"NOOOOOOO!" I roared, launching myself at the man and landing a punch on his chin. He laughed.
Backing away, I tripped over something and fell. The wheezing grew sharper beneath me. I looked down. Vicsen.
He stared at me with abyss-black eyes, their centers reflecting… my father.
"Join me, son..." he whispered as my soul left my body. I fought to resist, but a featherless black wing erupted from his gaze, pulling me in. A beak—massive and monstrous—opened wide to swallow me.
I glimpsed the man in the suit bending down.
And then, I saw nothing but black.