"Uh?" Code's eyes widened in shock.
The man took a deep, calm breath. "That's what you are, Code."
Code's chest heaved. "H-how do you know that?!" he shouted.
"Well… I'm a god," the man replied flatly, pride filling his tone.
"And you expect me to believe that? We've never even met, and you claim I'm a zero? What do you even know about me?" Code's anger flared.
"I don't need to know your past. It's obvious—"
"Don't give me that!" Code snapped, rising to his feet.
'I thought I'd finally met someone different… only to be disappointed again,' he thought bitterly.
"Everywhere I go, everyone I meet, they've all said the same thing…" His voice trembled as tears welled in his eyes.
"You're different from us."
"Eh...loser."
"What are you?"
"You're better off dead."
"We don't want you."
"There's something strange about you."
Sniffling, Code gritted his teeth. "So you're telling me it was all true? That I really am a monster?" His voice cracked.
He looked up, desperate. "That they were always right?"
The man said nothing. His gaze drifted skyward.
"Uh?!" Code grabbed his collar, shaking him. "Answer me!"
At last, the man sighed, his eyes cold and distant.
"Yes. You're a monster. You shouldn't have lived. You should've died. But you didn't."
"Why?" Code whispered, eyes wide.
The man raised a finger and pointed at him.
"Because you're a Zero. That body isn't yours. It belongs to a demon. You regenerated from a demon's flesh. Only a Zero can do that."
To Code, those words weren't an explanation; they were a curse.
He fell to his knees with a thud, forehead pressed to the dirt.
"Ahhh!" he cried, clawing at the sand. "Why does it always have to be me?"
"Because you are you," the man said, his voice slicing through Code's wails.
Code lifted his tear-streaked face.
"You weep, you regret, you despair, and yet, you refuse to stand and fight? Then you'll remain a loser until you change your way of thinking," the man said grimly.
A cool breeze swirled around them, rustling leaves into the sky.
'I never asked myself those questions,' Code thought. 'All I ever wanted was to live. I have no memories of my childhood, no parents, no goals. Nothing's ever worked out for me. I just wanted to live... maybe never die.'
"I guess I was wrong all along," he whispered.
"So tell me, Code," the man asked, "why do you fight? What do you live for? Do you want to remain the loser everyone says you are?"
The sunlight seemed to blaze brighter as Code's eyes hardened.
"Obviously not," he muttered.
"Then this is your chance," the man said. "You survived. Life has given you another chance. Don't waste it."
Code clenched his fist, determination burning in his gaze. "This time… for sure."
Silence lingered between them.
"We've stayed long enough," the man finally said, standing.
Code rose too, brushing dirt from his torn clothes.
"The W.A.S. will arrive any moment."
"Thank you," Code said, smiling genuinely.
"Just another side effect of being a god," the man replied casually.
"Eh?" Code raised a brow. What's this guy rambling about gods for?
As he turned to leave, the man called out.
"Where are you going?"
Code stopped. "Home."
"Home?" The man looked puzzled.
"Yeah, home," Code repeated. 'If the slums even count as one,' he thought bitterly.
The man suddenly burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Code asked, frowning.
"Didn't you hear me the whole time?"
"Hear what?"
"That you're a Zero."
"I heard that," Code said quickly. "But what does that have to do with home?"
The man facepalmed. "Don't you get it? A Zero is treated like a special disorder."
Code froze. "What?"
"It's true. And in some cases, even worse."
In Tenebrous, demons were ranked by their strength. At the top stood the special disorders, beings whose very existence could shake reality. First seen during the Great Tenebrous War, they were second only to Sou Aidra himself.
"So…I can't go home?" Code asked weakly.
"You can," the man said with a wave, eyes narrowing dangerously. "But you'll never return. You'll be dissected, experimented on, turned into a specimen for scholars, and—"
"Enough!" Code interrupted, horrified. "I get it. No more details. So… what do I do now?"
The man tapped his chin thoughtfully.
'Great, just great,' Code groaned inwardly. 'Am I really a universal threat now? What if they take my heart? Or my kidney? I've already sold one… if they take the other—'
He gulped. 'No, I don't want to die.'
Before his thoughts could spiral further, the man spoke.
"Why don't you join my guild?"
Code froze.
Time itself seemed to stop.
'Did I hear that right? This has to be a dream. But… I'm awake.'
"Hey!" the man called.
"Uh?" Code blinked rapidly. "What did you—"
"Would you like to join my guild?" The man extended his hand.
Code's breath caught.
"No one's ever wanted me in a guild. I'm useless," he whispered.
"You haven't answered," the man said firmly.
"I… I would love to!" Code exclaimed, gripping his hand tightly. "Yes!"
'Finally, a guild. After all these years!'
"Good," the man said, slipping his hand free. "Then let's go."
"Wait," Code said quickly.
The man stopped and turned.
"I never asked your name," Code said. "I should've asked earlier. My mistake."
"My name?" The man raised a brow.
"Yes," Code said nervously.
"I thought I already told you," the man said, stepping closer.
"You did?"
"Yes. I'm god." He smirked, flicking his hair back.
"Oh, for crying out loud, stop with the delusions!" Code snapped, a vein bulging. "Your real name."
"Oh, that," the man chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Does it really matter? But if you insist…"
Wind howled across the terrain, bending trees sideways.
"…Van."
Code's eyes widened.
"…Van Ackerman."
"What?" Code exclaimed. "V-v-Van—"
His legs gave out, and he collapsed in a faint.
***
To Be Continued...