EPISODE 5 — "The Bull's Rampage"
Night settled over the city like a bruise — dark, heavy, and tense.
Kael sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the Serpent Fang Relic on his desk. Every pulse of purple light felt like a heartbeat from some ancient nightmare, echoing in his room.
Aria had gone home under Pisces' protection. Riven disappeared as suddenly as he came.
Kael was alone.
Except… not really.
Libra floated silently near the window, its glow dimmed like a dying star.
Kael whispered,
"Libra… is it true? Taurus killed someone?"
Libra's tone was grave.
"His awakening was… violent. Uncontrolled. He is overwhelmed by the Zodiac force."
Kael shivered.
"What's Taurus like?"
"Strength. Endurance. Unshakeable force. When balanced, he is a guardian. When unbalanced…"
Libra paused.
"…he is destruction incarnate."
Before Kael could reply—
A distant BOOM shook the night.
Kael stood instantly.
"What was that?!"
Another explosion thundered.
Screams echoed faintly from the direction of downtown.
Kael grabbed his jacket.
"I need to go!"
Libra blocked the door.
"You are not ready."
Kael glared.
"Doesn't matter! People could be dying!"
A long silence.
Then Libra stepped aside.
"Very well. But do not face Taurus alone."
Kael ran out the door, sprinting into the night.
---
Downtown — The First Impact
The city was chaos.
Cars flipped.
Streetlights shattered.
Concrete torn apart like sand.
Kael skidded to a stop, eyes wide with horror.
A massive crater split the road. At the center stood a boy — maybe 17 — tall, muscular, breathing heavily like an enraged beast.
His fists were covered in stone-like armor.
His eyes glowed red-gold.
And on his forehead…
A massive bull-shaped sigil burned like molten iron.
Kael whispered,
"Taurus…"
The boy turned slowly, his aura crackling like an earthquake.
"You… Libra."
His voice was deep, broken, trembling between humanity and raw power.
Kael stepped back.
"Taurus, please — calm down— we don't have to fight!"
Taurus roared, slamming his foot down — the ground SPLIT, sending a shockwave ripping toward Kael.
Kael barely raised a barrier —
The silver shield cracked instantly —
He was launched backward, crashing into a shattered car.
He groaned, coughing blood.
"H-He's too strong…"
Libra materialized urgently:
"Kael, fall back! Your energy is still weak from the last battle!"
But Taurus was already charging.
Each step cracked the ground.
The air shook.
Kael rolled aside just as Taurus' fist obliterated the car behind him in a single strike.
Aria would have died instantly.
Kael would have died instantly.
Anyone would.
Kael whispered, trembling,
"Is… Is he even human anymore?"
Taurus stomped forward, panting like a furious animal.
"I can't control it… I can't—
The spirit keeps pushing—
It wants to fight.
It wants to BREAK things—"
His voice cracked into a scream.
"MAKE IT STOP!!"
Kael's heart clenched.
This wasn't an enemy.
This was a boy drowning in uncontrollable power.
Kael raised both hands.
"Taurus, listen to me! I don't want to hurt you!"
Taurus roared again, gripping his head as if fighting something inside.
"THEN KILL ME—
BEFORE I KILL EVERYONE—"
Kael froze.
Taurus charged with tears in his eyes and terror in his voice.
Kael whispered,
"…He's asking for help."
Libra's tone softened.
"Then help him find balance."
Kael stood straight, wiping the blood from his lip.
"No more running."
Taurus leapt toward him—
Kael thrust his hands forward—
"LIBRA— BALANCE FIELD!"
A shockwave of silver light exploded outward.
Taurus crashed into it —
The ground shattered —
Kael screamed from the strain —
Taurus roared —
The barrier bent—
But it held.
Barely.
Kael's bones felt like they were cracking under the pressure.
"Taurus—" Kael yelled, "you're not alone— you don't have to lose yourself— I know what it feels like to be scared of your own power—"
Taurus' eyes flickered, just for a moment.
"Shut up… shut up… SHUT UP—!!"
Kael poured everything he had into the barrier.
Libra's light enveloped him.
For the first time since awakening—
Kael pushed back Taurus' unstoppable force.
The shockwave burst outward, sending Taurus flying into a broken wall.
Kael collapsed to his knees, gasping.
Libra flickered weakly.
"You… balanced him. Temporarily."
But Taurus rose again.
Slower.
Breathing harder.
Bleeding from the forehead.
His voice was hoarse.
"You…
You're different from the others…"
Kael stood shakily.
"Taurus… I'm not your enemy."
Taurus stared at him for a long time.
Then—
He grabbed his head, screaming again.
"No…
HE'S COMING!
HE'S—
HE'S INSIDE MY HEAD—
HE'S—"
He suddenly froze.
Like a puppet yanked by invisible strings.
Kael stepped forward cautiously.
"Taurus…?"
Taurus' eyes rolled white.
His mouth opened.
But the voice that came out—
Wasn't his.
A deep, monstrous whisper echoed from his throat—
"Seven vessels awakened.
Balance crumbles.
The Serpent stirs."
Kael's blood turned to ice.
Libra's glow dimmed.
"Ophion…"
Taurus collapsed to his knees, panting, shaking violently as if being strangled from the inside.
Kael rushed toward him—
But a black symbol burned onto Taurus' skin, searing through his clothes.
A message.
A curse.
A mark of the Serpent God.
Taurus gasped—
"He's… coming for you… Libra Vessel…"
Kael whispered,
"Taurus— stay awake—"
Taurus looked up with desperate eyes.
"Help me…
Kael… please…"
But before Kael could reach him—
A shadowy hand erupted from the ground, grabbing Taurus by the leg—
Dragging him into darkness—
Kael screamed,
"TAURUS—!!"
But Taurus vanished.
Gone.
Taken.
The street fell silent.
Libra hovered beside Kael.
"Ophion has made his first move."
Kael clenched his fists, tears of helpless anger burning his eyes.
"Taurus…
I'll save you.
I promise."
Above them, the sky cracked faintly — purple lightning spidering across the clouds.
The war was escalating.
And Kael was running out of time.