Sa:cryd ZERO

Chapter 6

The next day after school, Lexus received a surprising message from the league. Apparently, the message was meant only for him. They were currently on standby, so Vanessa went straight home as Lexus had to go back to headquarters. Waiting for him was one of the captains of the field division. She wore military style clothing and a cap that covered her eyes but one could tell she had a gentle look. “Sorry for calling you on such short notice, but there are some things that I would like to find out if you don’t mind”, the captain said. “No problem, you’re one of the five captains right, your name is…”. “It’s Hana. I’m the third captain of the field division and I’m an expert and caretaker of the mental states of all the guardians, including you”, Hana said with a smile. “By the way, we’re actually six. Ezekiel is also a captain but plays more of a secret role. You’ll get to know soon enough, but for the mean time, only the five of us are officially recognized.” “What?! Really??!”, Lexus almost shouted when he heard that. “Don’t worry about it. Anyways, follow me, there’s a lot to do”, Hana said as she started off in a certain direction with Lexus behind her.

“I’m sure what you’ll see in the room we’re heading towards will give you a big surprise, but I promise you that everything will be fine”, Hana spoke as they walked. “Okay”, Lexus said as the two entered a peculiar looking room. Inside the room were strange devices and contraptions as well as tubes filled with liquid and other things. “Here I do research on various organisms as well as study the peculiar kanizor cells. However, that isn’t what I called you here for…”, Hana said as she stopped in front of a hospital bed with a certain device on it. Lexus gulped as she waited for her to speak again. “You lied to us, didn’t you?”, Hana looked straight into Lexus’ eyes when she asked. Lexus paused a bit before answering. “I don’t know what you’re talking about”. “I see. It can also be that you just don’t remember the reason why you came here in the first place. Though you’re actually more human, you have within you kanizor cells that come about naturally. Almost as if you were born with them”, Hana paused as she raised a small tube filled with a bit of blood as she shook it gently. Lexus’ eyes immediately widened as he checked his right arm. There was a small cut there as the wound was now healing. “When did she…!?”, Lexus thought as he backed away a bit. “Hey, isn’t it a bit too late to be wary. Come on, I mean you know harm. Will you please sit on the bed for me?”, Hana pleaded as she went to the desk to prepare some materials. Lexus reluctantly sat down as he looked at Hana. When she was done, she walked back towards Lexus. “You see…there’s something that I’m looking for. Something out of this world, and the only lead I have to finding it is surprisingly you. A strange kid that was raised by monsters who wouldn’t think twice about killing and eating humans”. Hana placed the helmet-like device as she drew her face closer to Lexus. “Apparently, kanizors do not originate from another world but from one dimension. That place is highly toxic as they are the ones that can only survive there. Meaning, saying you were raised there is definitely a lie. You get where this is going?”, Hana asked gently. “How…how do you know all that?”, Lexus asked. Hana only smiled as she continued. “Here’s what I think. You were raised somewhere on earth by the kanizors after you came here from another world. The kanizors sought to tame your power but you sought to run away and that’s when you ended up meeting them, but that’s not what’s important. I’ll keep quiet about your little lie to the council (they probably saw through it though) if you tell me about that other world”, Hana finally ended as she stared at Lexus, who looked dumbfounded. “What are you talking about? Another world? How was I able to come to earth then? I only remember being raised by the monsters and captured by those men after I tried to escape my fate. I was totally convinced that the monsters raised me in another world. That’s what father said…”, Lexus couldn’t think straight as he kept on mumbling. “By father you mean Adierra, right? That cocky bastard. He lied to you; they all did. No human could survive in their dimension. You, my friend, came from someplace else. Someplace beyond human logic and reasoning and that’s the place I seek and therefore you’re my key to reaching that place…”, Hana spoke in an exhilarated tone. “But I have no memories of such a place, so how can I be your key?”, Lexus said after gathering his thoughts. “Not a problem. We’ll just drag those answers, or say, ‘memories’ out of your brain with this handy little device here. Don’t worry though, I’m an expert”, Hana said with a confident smile as Lexus’ heart nearly sank into his gut. “There’s no way that’s safe”, Lexus thought as he kept eyeing the helmet contraption. “Not to worry. I’ll be with you every step of the way, but that does not mean that it’s going to be easy. There’s a reason why you don’t remember anything, so you must prepare to face that obstacle. With that aside, let’s prepare right away. Please fill in this form in case you die during the process”, Hana said as she pulled out a sheet of paper. Lexus’ jaw almost dropped as Hana laughed and threw the paper away. “I was just joking. Your safety is my priority after all. Lie down for me”, Hana said as she made Lexus lay down on the bed as she strapped him in and calibrated the devices. She finally made him wear the helmet as she said with a sweet voice, “Have a safe trip”.

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Lexus felt like he was in a pitch-black void as a dim light suddenly pierced the darkness. The light grew stronger as it blew the darkness away and revealed a barren land. The land was filled with craters and signs of explosions and impact. As if someone had been fighting here all their lives. Lexus decided to take a few steps forward as he eventually reached the edge of the barren land. Beyond, it was total darkness like before by the saw a strange individual. When Lexus looked closely, he immediately saw that he was staring at himself, who looked more like a humanoid beast.

“I didn’t think you would come here directly. You had help, right?”, the other Lexus said as it slowly turned towards him. Lexus immediately recognized the voice as he heard it during his fight with his father.

“I know you. You’re… me?”, Lexus asked. “Right and wrong”, The other Lexus answered. “I’m precisely the embodiment of the chaotic cells living inside you. In other words, I’m the source of your power”. “What!?”, Lexus was given another shock when he heard that. “I’m also the one responsible for sealing away your memories. I won’t be releasing them till you’re strong enough to handle the truth that lies within you”, the other Lexus said. “Well, that explains it…”, Lexus thought as he looked at his other self. “Since you’re here I might as well tell you something worthwhile”. Lexus’ heart jumped as he waited for him to speak again. “The fact that you’re here on earth means that we were both rejected…”, the other Lexus said in a slightly irritated tone. “Rejected? Wait, what do you mean by that? Tell me more?”, Lexus desperately tried to get more answers to the many questions that had now popped up within him. “That’s all I’ll say. A word of advice, you’ll have to become far stronger than you are now. In order to control us, that is. When you’re ready, I’ll personally drag your a*s back here and tell you everything. Oh, and please don’t die…”, the other Lexus ended with that as he walked away and disappeared like a mist. “Wait a moment! There’s so much I don’t know…wait…what did you mean by us?!”, Lexus felt his vision fading as he finally woke up once more. “Uhh what? Where am I?”, Lexus had to take a while to stabilize after returning from his inner self. “Oh, welcome back Lexus. I see your trip was successful, or at least so. Tell me what happened”, Hana said. Lexus told her all that happened. “Hmm I see. This is quite worrisome. Well, he definitely is right that you have to become stronger if we should ever get close to finding the truth. That’s all for today. Let’s be partners from now on, just between the two of us. I’ll be tough okay, safe journey back home”, Hana said as she took her leave all while waving. “What a day”, Lexus thought as he left the premises and made his way back home. On his way he couldn’t help but to think about all that had happened as his soul felt even more perturbed. When Lexus arrived back home, Alice noticed that he was looking a bit downcast as she spoke to him. “What’s the matter, Lexus? Did you get rejected by a girl or something?”. For some reason, when Lexus heard those words he blushed heavily and waved his hands. “No, no, and no. Nothing of that sort happened. I’ll go wash up and come eat my dinner!”, Lexus quickly rushed to his room and slammed the door. Alice was very surprised by his behavior as she transitioned into a devilish grin. “So, there’s a girl he likes. Oh, this’ll be fun. He’s already at that stage then”, Alice smiled as she set down the plates. “I’m glad he’s able to have fun now. I really am. He’s changed for the better and I’d like things to stay this way”, Alice thought as she poured the food. Lexus came down shortly after, as the two sat down to eat. Lexus kept looking away while he ate as Alice kept smiling at him as she ate. “So, what’s her name?”, Alice couldn’t hold herself back. “I said there’s no one. If there was, I definitely would’ve told you…”. Lexus said, as the last part was almost inaudible. “Well, if you say so. The only thing I’ll say is that fighting hard for her is okay. I know you can do it”, Alice smiled teasingly. Lexus felt like digging into the ground and burying himself. “Don’t tease me please!”, Lexus almost cried. “I can’t help it”, Alice winked as she then laughed. Alice wanted these moments with Lexus to last forever as the two ate together while the charade continued.

Hana stopped by her private quarters as a woman appeared from within the very shadows. “Well, how did it go?”, the strange woman asked. Hana only giggled as she then answered, “So far so good. Well, seeing as this was our first meeting, he definitely kept some things from me, but it won’t be long before I milk him of all he knows. For now, we will wait”. The strange woman bowed and then disappeared back into the shadows as Hana then took a seat, all while spotting a very evil grin…