I wake up on a couch, my head throbbing and my body bandaged.
"You're awake." I hear a familiar voice say.
"I am but..." I sit up and turn towards the voice. I see Zin sitting at a table with his legs crossed, sipping tea. "Why am I here? With you of all people..."
He places his hand on his chest.
"I just healed your wounds and you treat me like this? I'm just so heartbroken-"
I cut him off, "cut the crap... What do you want?"
I walk over and sit across from him.
"Well, out of all the people in this city..." He starts, "you are the strongest. In all aspects of the word."
I swallow hard "So...?"
"So... I'll reward you generously. Maybe even upgrade your skill..."
"You'd do that?!"
He chuckles "of course."
I notice a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"You know what? I'm good on that... It was kinda painful y'know..."
He laughs. "You were probably too weak then, but I already upgraded your skill. Didn't notice?"
I stand up. "You dirty dog!"
"I watched that fight, you know. The whole thing. I was just about to finish off the last beast because you guys took too long, but boom, there you are. I thought you died, but wow."
I slowly sit back down. "Well, uh... Thanks."
He materializes a cup of tea in front of me, his face suddenly turning more serious.
"So, Zay. Tell me about yourself."
I freeze, my body instantly tensing up. 'How does he know my name? WHY DOES HE KNOW MY NAME!?'.
'Zay' is my legal birth name, people would normally call me 'dude', or 'bro' when they wanted to address me. And as for Usato, he calls me 'Z'.
"W-Who told you that...?"
"We have our ways." He smiles in a bittersweet way.
I swallow hard. "Take me back. I refuse to tell you anything about me, considering you may be my enemy in the future."
I stand up. "Now."
His facade cracks slightly "I could kill you right now if I wanted." He opens a portal. "Ordering a god around like this... I'll send you away with one last gift."
He walks over. "See ya." He pushes me through the portal, my consciousness cuts out.
***
"Look at how you've grown..."
'The same voice as before!'
"I plan on supporting that Usato human. So do try to protect him. And if he does under your care..." The voice laughs malevolently "I'll leave the rest to your imagination."
'RUN!' 'HIDE!' 'LEAVE!' 'GET OUT OF HERE!' I repeat I'm my mind, fear rushing through my brain, then I just stop.
'Get out of my mind. You won't cloud my visions with fear anymore. Those who use fear to control others are cowards, and most likely fodder who are all talk.'
My mind suddenly feels constricting more and more.
"You shouldn't have tested my patience, boy."
A loud voice booms from somewhere far out.
"Did you not hear my earlier orders? Do not interfere with this ['######']!"
I try to speak, but my voice won't come out.
"Let him rest."
Everything goes dark.
***
I lay alone on the train floor, drenched in blood and sweat. But just as Zin had said, no wounds anymore.
I stand up.
Instantly I feel like a brick smashes into my head. My head is pounding relentlessly.
"AGHHH!"
I immediately fall back down to my knees.
'I guess being in his realm made the pain almost unnoticeable. Just... how strong is he?'
After about another hour or so, I carefully stand up, wincing from the pain. "Ah, crap..."
I slowly make make my way back to where I came from.
'Don't tell me I die like this... What about Takanaka and Rin...? All those people I swore to protect?'
I chuckle out loud, though it sounded more like a cough than anything. "I'm thinking of Rin while I'm on my deathbed now? How pathetic am I that I'm actually starting to consider her my friend?'
I burst out laughing, clutching my head.
"Ah, it hurts!"
Regardless of the pain, I stand up and walk back to the tent, albeit slowly.
''Hero' this, 'live' that. Screw that 'friends' shit, screw that 'heroic' shit!'
I stop by the train window and look at my reflection. 'Woah, I can make that face?'
As I look in the mirror a malevolent grin awaits my eyes, though they were not the eyes of a jester, nor a devil. That was my smile. 'Even as I'm on practically on my deathbed, I'm enjoying this-?'
'That's right! I used to fantasize about something like this happening to the earth... I'm absolutely fucking ecstatic!'
I continue walking, eventually stumbling into the tent.
"HOLY HELL, BRO!" Usato leaps up and catches me from falling.
I pass out again, but for real this time.