Alicia looked back to see where they were headed. She glanced to her right and saw scientists experimenting with things she had never seen before. As she watched, she almost lost herself in the sight until Star-Lion called out to her. They arrived at the meeting room, and the second they entered, every member of the Twelve Knights looked at Alicia with suspicion. Intimidated, she tried to hide behind Star-Lion's back.
Star-Lion: "Greetings, Knights!"
Avalanche: "Leonidas, who is this?"
Star-Lion: "She is Alexander's closest friend. I think she may have some details to share with us."
Destyny: "What is your name?"
Alicia: "My name… is Alicia Jones."
Destyny: "Interesting…"
Tall armored woman: "She does not belong here, Star. Bring her back to Earth now!"
Star-Lion: "Calm down, Gunnr. She really is a valuable help to us here."
Avalanche: "She is right. Even if she is Alexander's best friend, she does not belong here, nor does she have permission to enter the siege of the I.I.H. itself."
Umbra: "Her help is needed. I don't know how you managed to figure out that we were going to talk about your son. This meeting is about Alexander Star."
Gunnr: "Why are you calling the Twelve for that?"
Spit-fire: "You must explain yourself now!"
Umbra: "The main reason is that Alexander has gained the name 'Red-eye,' among many others—such as 'Black-devil.' I have been investigating him for several months now, and he is causing far too much trouble for this not to be an urgent matter."
Umbra displayed images behind him of the cases he had been working on, all related to Red-eye.
Umbra: "Almost everyone around this table knows that I am investigating a case involving an unknown drug that grants superpowers. Surprisingly, Alexander has followed the same path. This has resulted in multiple murders across Avena, along with several strange encounters. He has apparently stolen multiple high-tech devices that originally belonged to us."
Destyny: "And if that wasn't bad enough, Star-Lion, at one of the crime scenes we found residue of demonic magic. This could mean that Alexander has a demonic artifact in his possession."
Umbra: "Destyny and I have come to the conclusion that he is being possessed by the demon and that it now controls his body. I'll hand the floor over to Destyny."
Destyny stepped forward and displayed a painting on the screen. "At the creation of our universe, God in Heaven created a sentient being named Eleanor. According to legend, she possessed attributes similar to the human species. Jealous of Eleanor and God, the Devil created an army of what we now call demons to take over Heaven…"
Gunnr: "We already know the story. Cut to the point, please."
Destyny: "Fine… In the process of making Earth a special place, God granted power to us and something that was long lost: a mask. This mask apparently grants its handler the same physical abilities as a divine being."
Star-Lion closed his eyes, covered his face with his hands, and remained silent. Clair walked over to Alicia and quietly asked if she knew any details about Alexander.
Clair: "Now that you're here in front of everyone, can you tell us anything about Alexander that we might not know?"
Every member of the Twelve Knights stared at her.
Alicia: "So, uhm… I know that Alexander doesn't like to show off too much. So if he's hiding somewhere, it probably won't be in a city or anywhere crowded—maybe a basement or something similar."
Star-Lion: "That's true. Alexander never liked being in high places or crowded areas. When he was a child, he would always come with me to my base."
Umbra: "So you're saying he prefers underground locations? At least we have something to go on, but we need more."
Destyny: "No, that might actually be enough. The typical behavior of a demon controlling a human is to keep the host isolated. The less contact the human has with family or close friends, the easier it is for the demon to maintain control. Any strong outside connection could interfere with the possession and force the demon out."
Alicia thought to herself, Maybe it's possible. Maybe we can still save him…
She looked at Star-Lion, who looked back at her. They seemed to be thinking the same thing.
Star-Lion: "Alright, I think we've covered the major issues here. We're done for now. You're all free to go."
The members of the Twelve Knights left the room. Some took the elevator while others gathered in small groups to discuss the meeting. Star-Lion and Alicia took the elevator together. They remained silent for a while until Alicia spoke.
Alicia: "I'm sorry to bring this up, but if you're thinking what I'm thinking… maybe Alexander still has a chance?"
Leonidas: "I was thinking the same thing. Maybe he isn't lost—just misplaced in a world he no longer belongs to. For a long time, I've been thinking about him and the death of his parents. I never understood why he couldn't move past it. Sometimes it felt like he wasn't really there with me. I kept telling him to do things that would help him heal, but nothing worked. It was like talking to a zombie…"
Alicia: "Yeah… I feel the same way about him."
Siny's Note:
Members of the Twelve Knights:
Star-Lion
Avalanche
Spit-fire
Umbra
Destyny
Gunnr (not a god)
Clair
Celerity
Ferrmania
Atlena (not a god)
Mixcoalt (not a god)
Ītzpāpalōtl (also known as the Obsidian Butterfly or simply Butterfly) (not a god)
Red-eye continued down his dark path. While investigating a convicted murderer, the victim spoke to him just before dying: "You can't understand our pain."
Underground Base – Alexander
Red-eye: "They talk like they can understand what real pain is…"
Demon-B: "Pain, you say… huh…"
Alexander: "What?"
Demon-B: "Spoiled brat."
Red-eye: "Repeat that, motherfu—"
Demon-B suddenly appeared in front of Alexander. "Pain was part of my life! You may have lost your parents, but no one in this existence ever supported me. You had an adoptive father and a great friend to help you. You even have the most powerful and wealthiest father in the entire world! I was born with hate. I was born hated by everything—angels and demons in Hell alike despised me. I didn't fight in the war, but my fellow demons did. They rebelled not because they thought they were better, but because we wanted to be accepted as equals. I understand that many people didn't love you… but I was loved by no one."
Alexander: "…"
Demon-B: "So yes, you are a spoiled brat—selfish and a coward. Next time you think about pain, remember that I was born in Hell as a demon. If you were in my place, you probably would have killed yourself long ago…"
Siny: Remember, kids: if you think your life is bad, always remember that some people have it much worse.
Alexander choked back his emotions, silently started the computer, and began searching for his next target. He remained quiet.
In Star-Lion's home, Leonidas returned after dropping Alicia off. He took a bath and went to bed. With his eyes closed, he felt himself slowly sinking deeper into the mattress—until he suddenly fell into a new dimension.
Stars and galaxies swirled around him. He was dragged forward at immense speed, the stars turning into streaks of light. He closed his eyes, then opened them again.
He now stood in the ruins of a city. At his feet was a damaged nameplate that read "Neocity." Moments later, explosions erupted and gunfire filled the air. He was in a war zone, a desolate no-man's-land. A little girl appeared, screaming and begging for her mother. She ran straight through Leonidas—he was nothing more than a spectral observer.
A massive mecha appeared before him and demanded his surrender. Leonidas tried to summon his spears, but they did not come. He fell to the ground. In the blink of an eye, he was back home. He frantically searched for his equipment but couldn't find it. When he stepped into the main living room, he saw a black knight holding a double-bladed sword that crackled with electricity like a star. Then he woke up in a panic.
Breathing heavily, he looked around the room, then stared at the ceiling, thinking about Alexander and what he was becoming.
The next day, Alicia met Laura after school. Laura was waiting for her on the terrace.
Alicia: "Sorry I'm late. I was talking with the professor."
Laura: "No worries. Tell me, how was your trip with Star-Lion?"
Alicia: "A 'trip'? More like a nightmare. I felt completely lost, but… it was fine, I guess."
Laura: "At least you were lucky enough to see the inside of Hero-ville, right?"
Alicia: "Yeah, of course… but I'm dying of anxiety about Alexander."
Laura: "What? What's going on?"
Alicia: "I can't tell you everything, but… I feel like when he was left alone after his parents died, he needed people around him who could support him. I think that's why all of this is happening. He used to have the same smile and the same energy as before the accident. I know he was just a child back then, but even so, something feels off. He never truly recovered from it…"
Laura: "Unfortunately, I didn't know him before or right after, but there's a chance he never really processed the grief over his parents. Maybe it's not only the demon controlling him—maybe his mental state was never okay. He probably kept saying he was 'fine' when he wasn't."
Alicia: "But how could you tell that?"
Laura: "The only way is to ask him directly—and to keep insisting until he opens up."
Alicia: "Yeah… God damn it. Why didn't I see this before?"
Laura: "One day he will have to face it…"
Siny: Alexander's time.
Back at Alexander's base, Demon-B spoke again.
Demon-B: "Hey, kid."
Alexander: "Hm?"
Demon-B: "I was looking through your memories. You're quite the liar."
Alexander: "What makes you say that?"
Demon-B: "When you were a kid, you were crying in your bedroom, telling the maid that everything was alright. In my opinion, they were pretty dumb for believing it."
Alexander: "So what? Now you want to be my psychological support?"
Demon-B: "No. I was just fascinated that humans—mortals—never admit when they're not okay. They hide it so they don't worry others, but it only makes things worse. Ahahaha."
Alexander: "Look, let me tell you about my shitty life. Now shut your mouth about mine. We're different. We grew up differently. We have our own traumas. So shut the fuck up, because right now you're laughing about my life!"
Demon-B: "Chill, chill. I didn't mean to offend you that badly."
Alexander: "I swear, if I didn't need you… ugh. Anyway, we have heavy work to do."
Siny's Note:
Hey kids, if you're not feeling well, don't be ashamed to seek help, okay? The only people who will blame you are sick themselves. Take care of yourself.
At his underground hideout, Alexander had discovered something interesting. During his nightly patrols, he had encountered many criminals who were now trapped inside his weapon. Most of them had told him the same thing about a secret haven for criminals located in Asia—specifically, a hidden place that normal people could not find. Even the I.I.H. was unaware of its existence.
The person Alexander had found could help him obtain that kind of information. He was famous as the greatest smuggler in Asia. If anyone knew where this secret haven was, it had to be him.
Alexander: "Can you see that…?"
Demon-B: "Of course. But apparently he left this continent a long time ago. We'll have to find a way to get there… in… hmm, Korea?"
Alexander: "Yeah, we have to make it there…"
Demon-B: "Sorry, buddy, but unfortunately that won't be possible."
Alexander: "Why?"
Demon-B: "First of all, you now have the entire Twelve Knights searching for you, along with many other organizations linked to the I.I.H. You've also started gaining a reputation for using demonic and blood magic, so…"
Alexander: "They can detect us?"
Demon-B: "Yes. Now that you're wanted in this city, whenever they think you might be nearby, they're probably sealing off the perimeter and scanning for any trace of demonic or blood magic."
Alexander: "Do you have a better plan?"
Demon-B appeared and floated over to a bag Alexander had stolen from a drug dealer.
Alexander: "And?"
Demon-B: "We can probably take an illegal transport and go wherever we want. We should check the docks. Don't you think?"
Alexander: "Yeah, whatever. But if something goes wrong, I'll rip your head off."
Red-eye headed to the docks to find whoever was in charge of the shipments. He saw a middle-aged man giving orders to the crew. Wearing a cloak and without his glowing mask, Red-eye approached with his face fully covered.
Red-eye: "Hey, you…"
Shipper: "Who are you?"
Red-eye: "My name doesn't matter. What matters is me getting on that ship."
Shipper: "Hold on a minute. You think you can just get on that ship like it's nothing? Look, pal, I don't know who or what you are, but you're definitely not getting on that ship. Ah, ahahaha…"
Red-eye tossed a heavy bag of money at the man's feet—more than enough for him to never work again. The shipper fell silent instantly, looked up at Red-eye, and quietly asked one of his colleagues if a container was empty. He then motioned for Red-eye to follow him, showed him an empty container, let him inside, and sealed it behind him.
Red-eye sat down inside the dark container and felt the ship begin to move. For now, I'll let Siny take over the rest of the story.
Siny: "Finally, I can speak directly to you, reader. Anyway… hmm, yes. During this time, right after Alexander left the city by boat, Avena—the city where he had gained his reputation—was put under lockdown in order to track and capture him. The Twelve Knights were taking every precaution to find him. At that moment, they were searching the underground areas of the city with the valuable help of Celerity."
Celerity: "I'm looking everywhere. I hope he's not hiding in the sewers…"
At the communication station, Umbra said, "Look, I'm pretty sure he's somewhere with an energy source or power supply. Try the old train tunnels. I think they were used by train company personnel back in the day."
Celerity sped through every restricted "staff only" area and eventually found the place where Alexander had been hiding.
Celerity: "Hey everyone at the station, do you hear me?"
Umbra: "Affirmative."
Celerity: "I have bad news…"
Umbra immediately called every member of the Twelve Knights, along with the special units, groups of heroes, and the Legion. They all gathered, and Celerity informed them that the location where Red-eye might have been was empty.
At the hideout, Destyny said, "I have checked the whole place and…"
Clair: "At-chum… At-chum… At-chum…"
Destyny: "This place was indeed his base of operations."
Star-Lion: "Any other details we haven't discussed?"
Ferrmania: "The last thing we found was evidence of hardware that requires a massive amount of energy. It might be connected to the computers and tech stolen from Ratospki Petovich."
Avalanche: "That would explain a lot…"
Gunnr: "Yes, but I still think this is a waste of time."
Gunnr flew away. Atlena: "I'll talk to her. Don't worry." She stepped away as well.
Star-Lion: "This situation is getting worse by the minute."
Star-Lion punched the wall with his fist. Umbra, who had been staring at him, went to the bathroom to wash his hands. Looking in the mirror, he noticed an injector resting on a box behind him. He grabbed it immediately and regrouped with the others.
Destyny: "What did you find…?"
Umbra: "Alexander had this too!?"
Avalanche: "Did he take it?"
Ferrmania examined the object and concluded, "Unfortunately, Alexander never used it."
Clair: "Maybe he was investigating the same case? At-chum…"
Destyny took the injector from Umbra's hands and disappeared through a portal. Star-Lion ordered everyone to return to the I.I.H. and lift the lockdown on the city.
Siny's Note:
As explained before, some magicians have different reactions to dark magic, which can sometimes cause allergic-like symptoms. In Destyny's case, she always carries an amulet to counter it, but Clair does not.
The I.I.H. holds enormous influence worldwide—almost like a second government. They have the authority to impose lockdowns on any place or country that is part of the U.N.E.
Celerity Profile:
Powers:
Celerity is a speedster with superhuman speed (often called superspeed). She can run at velocities far beyond human capability and possesses resistance to the effects of such speeds.
Physical Aspects:
Name: Celerity (real name: unknown)
Age: 37 years old
Height: 1.78 m (5.8 feet)
Eyes: Green
At the Department of Magic, Destyny walked over to a table and placed the injector on it. She stared ahead for a couple of minutes before speaking. "I can't see you, but I can sense you."
Umbra: "In God's name, can you help me with these tricks?"
Destyny: "Sorry, but magicians don't reveal their secrets."
Umbra walked toward her and noticed the injector on the table.
Umbra: "How in the world did this kid manage to get involved in all of this?"
Destyny: "I don't know, but I need to tell you something important. Walk with me, if you please."
Umbra: "Of course."
Destyny: "I don't usually talk about this, but because of many things in my life, I never really wanted everyone to believe in prophecies. I used to believe in them—until some became personally relevant. However, many of the latest prophecies from the oracles suggest special attention should be paid to someone."
Umbra: "Alexander?"
Destyny: "My thoughts also lead to him, but you can never be sure with these things."
Umbra: "And what do they say?"
Destyny: "Many things. Some say he will take over the world, killing everything and everyone in this universe. Another claims he will find true love, and that will unleash a great savior. Yet another foretells that a great black knight will come to Earth and become none other than the guardian of the universe. Now the question is whether any of this is true or just made-up stories. Personally, I don't know."
A few days later, Alicia had planned to meet Laura. The two had agreed to go to the local park near Sten-Arc School. Alicia was walking around, hoping to spot Laura, when she suddenly appeared behind her.
Alicia: "Wow! I almost had a heart attack."
Laura: "Haha, I hope that wasn't too much for you. So? Did you see the I.I.H.?"
Alicia: "Oh! Yes, I was stunned by everything there. They have all sorts of things made for heroes and more—special apartments that some don't even need stairs for (you can only reach them if you can fly), special stores, and cafés too."
Laura: "Really? That sounds cool. But tell me, this isn't the only reason you called me, is it? And it's definitely not the only reason you were allowed inside the I.I.H., right?"
Alicia: "Yes, you're right. You know it's my friend again. I'm sorry if the only thing I talk about is him, but he's my best friend."
Laura: "Don't worry, Alicia. Since I'm your friend too, I want to help. In this case, as your friend, I think you should take a step back and chill out a little. You're becoming too submerged in what's happening to him, and you're forgetting about yourself. I'm not telling you to stop caring about him, but you need to take care of yourself too. I'm pretty sure this whole situation is poisoning you."
Alicia: "Yes… you're right. Thank you, Laura."
Laura: "No problem."
Alicia: "You know, just to stop talking about him for a second—it would be great if he could go back to normal. I would love to see you two together."
Laura: "Really!?"
Alicia: "That's for sure!"
Deep in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Gunnr was summoned to the palace of the Aquaryss Queen, Atlena. Two guards opened the grand hall for her. The palace shone with gold and white marble. Fountains bubbled everywhere, surrounded by colorful flying fish. Atlena emerged from another door, descending a staircase in a flowing blue dress (similar to a traditional Chinese dress in your world) while holding a chalice filled with a glowing green liquid.
The Aquaryss are a humanoid fish-like species. They do not need to remain underwater to live. They have pale blue skin reinforced with scales in some areas, gills for underwater breathing, and dark eyes that adapt to the pressure and darkness of the ocean.
Gunnr: "For what reason did you call me here?"
Atlena: "To check on you, of course. Would you like some?" She offered the chalice.
Gunnr: "No thanks. If that was the only reason, you could have just contacted me to see if I was okay."
Atlena: "Hear me out, Gunnr. I wanted to know why you reacted like that during the meeting—and also on the day Alexander left the mansion."
Gunnr: "It just irritates me. This kid has everything at his fingertips and still manages to get himself into these weird schemes."
Atlena: "You know it's not entirely his fault. He's being manipulated."
Gunnr: "Maybe. But that doesn't excuse him for choosing this path. Every time I was with Leonidas, he was always complaining about his son: 'He doesn't know what he's doing,' 'I want him to be happy,' 'He doesn't trust himself.' I'm so done with this kid. If I get the chance to reach him, I'll have a serious talk."
Atlena: "He… he remembers you… right?"
Gunnr: "…Yes. I never had the chances he had. I wish I had lived the life he had. For many reasons, I can hate him."
Atlena: "Your past doesn't have to follow you forever. I unfortunately don't know what it feels like to be in your position, but your hate can also destroy you."
Gunnr: "I… hope not…"
Gunnr left the palace and flew away without another word.
Siny's Note: Heroes who are part of the I.I.H. can keep their identities secret, but they must pass tests and provide certain classified information.
The Aquaryss are a species that was discovered relatively recently. They were found during the construction of a hyper-loop system designed to travel the entire globe and make transportation safer and easier for normal people. During first contact, Leonidas (Star-Lion) approached them in peace to prevent any conflict. They turned out to be very friendly and great-hearted. Together with Leonidas, they have built much infrastructure to help each other. In contrast to the Sanctuary, Aquaryss territory is under restricted access due to cultural values that favor remaining underwater. They still maintain connections with the outside world, are part of the U.N.E., and their leader sits among the Twelve Knights.
After a couple of days, Alexander felt the cargo ship come to a stop. Workers had begun moving the containers. He broke open the door of the container he was hiding in and slipped out carefully. He scanned his surroundings, then immediately jumped down and climbed to the highest vantage point he could find. He was indeed in Busan—specifically, the Port of Busan.
Demon-B: "Well, here we are. South Korea. Got nothing to say, kid? Or rather, what does it feel like to be in a country you've never visited before?"
Alexander: "Why would I feel anything about being in a different part of the planet? People are the same wherever you go. They might speak different languages, follow different traditions, or have different manners, but deep down they're all the same. They think the same thoughts and repeat the same mistakes over and over. So why should I feel anything about being in a new place with people who are fundamentally no different?"
Demon-B: "Well… now you're getting it, kid. You're… right." (The corruption is working pretty well on him.)
Alexander: "Anyway, I need to find a place to stay undercover. Just because I'm not in Avena anymore doesn't mean people won't recognize me."
Alexander searched the surrounding region until he found an old, nearly abandoned barn. After checking it carefully for a few minutes, he decided it would serve as a temporary hideout.
Not far from the barn, an old farmer heard screams coming from the direction of the barn. It sounded like people were being tortured or tormented. He slowly got out of bed, walked to his closet, grabbed his rifle, and headed to the front door. He peered outside, then cautiously approached the barn and opened the door.
Red-eye spotted him instantly. He grabbed Omega — (Siny: "Black gun") — and aimed it at the old man. For a long moment, the two stared at each other in silence. Demon-B screamed inside Alexander's mind to kill him, but Alexander remained completely still, gun pointed at the farmer. The old man, with an ashen expression, slowly closed the door and returned to his house.
Demon-B: "I don't know what you're doing, but if you don't take that old man down, we're going to have serious problems!"
Alexander: "We're not staying here. Besides, we don't normally kill innocent people — and right now, we're also avoiding heroes."
Demon-B: "Wait, what?! You must be kidding! After all our effort and pain to finally get your vengeance, you decide not to do it?!"
Alexander: "Yes! As long as I'm in control of this body, they're my rules and my decisions about whose life I take or spare!"
Demon-B: "Kid, if you're not going to avenge your parents, then what the actual fuck are you doing?!"
Alexander: "What I want is to deliver justice by killing the ones who actually killed my parents — you know, that so-called family of doctors. So if we find this criminal haven, this villains' paradise, whatever you want to call it… I'm going to burn it to the ground. Not just him — every last pest hiding there. Now get the fuck out of my way, because I'm in charge!"
Demon-B fell silent inside Alexander's mind. Alexander began searching for the last known location of the greatest smuggler in Asia. According to his sources, the man had last been seen in the city of Cheongju. The journey would be long and dangerous; Alexander now had to move carefully to avoid detection, as he was considered a global threat.
After several days of traveling through forests and any terrain that provided cover, Red-eye finally arrived in Cheongju.
For the next few hours, he scouted for any signs of crime or suspicious individuals. He interrogated every criminal he could find, asking if they knew the man he was hunting. They all directed him toward another person — a construction worker currently detained by smugglers. This man had apparently been involved in a massive criminal network spanning the globe and might be able to lead Alexander to his target.
For many days, Red-eye investigated every lead. He even hacked the local police and heroes' communication channels, hoping the smuggler or his minions would surface. Nothing appeared — until one day. Red-eye learned that his target and his associates shared a distinctive tattoo: one resembling a koi fish.
(Note: The screaming coming from the barn was caused by the artifact Alexander had created.)
Siny's Note:
For a little fact: thanks to the mask, Alexander no longer needs basic necessities such as eating or sleeping. That doesn't mean he can't do them — he simply doesn't have to. If he chooses to sleep, it has no real effect on him.
Hey Siny here. Hum, the creator, for more style and to add some realism, is using real known cities and countries, so don't be mad, okay? :)
Red-eye waited on a rooftop for a drug dealer to appear and make an exchange. He soon noticed that the dealer had the distinctive koi tattoo. Red-eye dropped silently from the roof, landing beside the man. With a powerful kick, he sent him flying out of the pool of light cast by a streetlamp, then grabbed him with his Hell Claws.
Red-eye studied him closely and knocked him unconscious with one hand.
Later, the man woke up tied to a chair in a dark, unknown location. A single bare bulb hung above his head, casting a harsh circle of light while everything else remained in shadow. He felt watched. From the deep darkness, two glowing red eyes appeared and slowly approached. The man panicked and struggled to free himself. As the eyes drew closer, they revealed the full figure of Red-eye. In that moment, the man broke free, bolted toward the door—but in the blink of an eye, Red-eye stood in front of him.
The man staggered backward, staring in terror, then collapsed to the floor. Red-eye extended his Hell Claws, seized a chain, and heated it until it glowed red-hot.
Red-eye tortured the man for several hours, extracting the information he needed. Once he had what he wanted, he killed the man in cold blood.
Alexander made his way toward the smuggler known as Koi's hideout, located in an abandoned factory. As he traveled, Demon-B finally spoke.
Demon-B: "…"
Alexander: "…"
Demon-B: "…"
Alexander: "What do you want?"
Demon-B: "I want an explanation for that sudden change in our plan."
Alexander: "I do what I want. Is that not clear enough?"
Demon-B: "No, it isn't. Tell me why."
Alexander: "Back at the deal in Avena's port, I saw the children there. One of them reminded me of myself. I wasn't sure at first, but I needed to know why they were taking kids. I can stomach killing bad people, but not kidnapping children. They are our future. If we don't let them live their lives, explore, and see how incredible the world can be, they'll end up like me—and that's my worst nightmare. They don't deserve this. None of them do."
Demon-B: "Maybe you're not as insane as I thought. In this case, I agree with you. Children must be protected, or we are all lost forever in the void."
After swinging through the city, Alexander reached the hideout. He searched for a secret entrance and spotted an open window. He slipped through it and dropped into a canalization pipe. From this hidden position, he could observe the goons without being seen. As he moved along the pipe, he heard screaming. He crawled toward the sound, clinging to the wall with his Hell Claws. Through a small window, he saw a man tied to a chair being punched and kicked by another.
Alexander noticed a large ventilation shaft above. He opened it quietly and climbed inside. From his vantage point in the vent, he watched the scene below.
Construction Worker: "Ah!"
Unknown Man: "What did I tell you about foreigners? We don't deal with them!"
Construction Worker: "Ah!"
Unknown Man: "I'm the only reason you're still alive and have so much money. If it weren't for me, you'd be dead on the fucking ground by now!"
Construction Worker: "I was just… trying to help…"
Unknown Man: "You're not helping. You know what? Maybe I don't need you anymore. After all the shit you've let through, you're going to meet the Devil right now."
The man grabbed a gun from the table and pointed it at the construction worker. At that exact moment, Alexander burst through the ventilation grate and took the bullet meant for the prisoner.
The man was stunned to see Red-eye. He raised the gun toward the ceiling, revealing the colorful koi tattoo on his arm—the only one with color. In a panic, Koi grabbed the door handle, but Red-eye seized his hand, lifted him, and hurled him across the room.
Alerted by the noise, Koi's goons rushed toward the room. They entered one by one, only to be sliced apart and slaughtered by Red-eye. He showed no mercy, amputating limbs and breaking bodies without hesitation. For the last man, Red-eye transformed Alpha and Omega into scythe form and tore him apart right in front of Koi, who was paralyzed with fear.
Koi begged for mercy, but Red-eye offered none. He chopped off Koi's head, then turned to the construction worker.
Construction Worker: "I… I'm already dead. If you're here to kill me… just do it…"
Red-eye: "Actually, no. I need you alive—and in better shape."
Construction Worker: "So… you're not going to kill me…?"
Red-eye: "Not for now. If you're not a villain like them, you might get to live."
Construction Worker: "Thank God… I'm no villain. Actually… I was trying to bring them down. I'll tell you about their heaven… I'll tell you about Chikamachi."
Siny's Note:
Koi (real name unknown to the public) was one of the most respected smugglers in Asia and the world. He was famous not only for knowing many hidden operations but also for his deep connections with major mafia leaders and powerful organizations.
Why, why can't I win, why do I have so many struggles?
Why all of this? I put in the effort it needs, even more, and nothing.
Hey, kid.
Hey, who the hell are you?
Why are you here?
To help you.
Ho, help me? I get help from everyone and I still can't do shit.
I feel like a fraud, someone who takes from everybody and gives to nobody.
What am I supposed to do? I've spent 8 years struggling. I don't want this anymore. I want the light at the end of this tunnel.
Let me tell you something, kid. You're a writer, right?
Yes...
Tell me, is it better to see the main character of a story win every time he tries, or to see someone you can imagine as yourself, struggling through life, at the edge, at the point where he can't see the point of no return — and after that, win, maybe not great wins but small victories, and as time passes, he wins mini victories until he finally wins everything?
Tell me now, would you create a character who wins every time, or one who can express everyone?
Thank you. I know I complain a lot about everything, but every time I need you, you always show up to help me. Thank you again.
Like us, we've already seen what you're going through. This isn't easy, but you're greater than you might think, so don't give up — because if it wasn't you, we wouldn't be here.