The black-cloaked man leaped from the rooftop, his cloak twisting like a shadow in the wind. He landed smoothly on his right leg, not a single stumble, not even a hint of struggle.
Zen narrowed his eyes. Alright. That was way too graceful. This guy was just as skilled as the Astral Knight—maybe even worse.
"You!" Zen snapped, taking a step back. "Was it you?"
The man in black tilted his head, confused. "What?" His voice was deep, and heavy, like it carried the weight of too many secrets.
Zen swallowed. God, does everyone around here have to sound this intimidating?
"The voices," he clarified, his fingers curling into fists. "The ones in my head."
For a split second, the man tensed. It was subtle, but Zen caught it.
Oh. So that actually means something.
"So… it has started already," the man mused, almost to himself. "That is quite surprising."
Zen blinked. What has started? My descent into madness? My villain arc? Can someone, for once, just explain things like a normal person?
Zen sighed, rubbing his temples. "No offense, but you're really bad at making sense. Do you guys take classes on being cryptic or something?"
The masked man didn't reply, but Zen could tell—behind that mask, he was definitely smiling.
"We have to go," the man said.
Zen folded his arms. "Go where?"
"Leave that up to me."
Oh, for fuck's sake. Of course. Another cryptic answer. Zen sighed, rubbing his forehead. This was becoming a theme.
Before he could protest, the man flicked his cloak, the fabric swirling around Zen like a living shadow.
The world blacked out.
For a moment, there was only darkness. Then—light. Walls. Furniture. A familiar scent in the air.
Zen's stomach dropped.
Wait. I know this place.
He turned stiffly, eyes scanning the room. It couldn't be. The Astral Knight's lair?!
Zen swallowed hard, his heart hammering against his ribs. No—no way. How can this guy just teleport? And worse—why would he bring me straight to the person I was literally trying to escape from?!
I guess this is it. This is how I die.
Meanwhile, Muki sat comfortably on Zen's shoulder, completely unbothered, flicking her tail like nothing happened.
Zen glanced at her, his eye twitching. "You don't give a fuck, do you?"
Muki turned her head slightly, gave him an innocent stare, then continued inspecting the new surroundings.
"Who is it?"
A voice.
A familiar voice.
Zen's blood ran cold.
The Astral Knight.
He barely had time to process his impending doom. I am so done for.
Zen barely had time to process what was happening before the Astral Knight stepped into the room.
The moment the Knight laid eyes on the man in black, his entire demeanor shifted. He straightened, then bowed deeply, clenching his fist and thumping his chest before touching his forehead and repeating the motion.
A sign of respect.
"Master," the Knight's voice held hesitation. "How do I serve you?"
Zen blinked. Master? Who the hell is this guy?!
The man in black chuckled. "How are you, Crime?"
The Knight—Crime—stiffened and shot Zen a sharp look. A look that screamed You weren't supposed to hear that.
Well, well. So the big scary Knight has a name.
"I am fine," Crime said, his tone carefully neutral. "I trust all is well with you."
The man ignored him and turned to Zen. "This is Zen."
Zen raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Never met him before."
Crime's jaw clenched. Zen smirked.
The last time they did meet, Zen had tricked Crime and ran for his life. Clearly, fate had a messed-up sense of humor. They both started on the wrong foot for sure, but some fate kept them engaging with each other.
"Crime, explain Zen everything", the man said, "I have some work in Ingara".
Aren't we in Ingara? Zen thought as he exhaled. Somehow he felt he was protected.
The man swirled into his cloak and vanished into thin air as if he was never there.
Crime shot a look towards Zen and nodded his head in disappointment.
"Too bad I couldn't kill you," he said
"Oh yeah? I escaped you twice, you are too easy", Zen said as Crime laughed.
"What is this anyways?" Zen questioned.
"Well for starters I am not an actual Knight, I am just like you, a person wandering with a lot of hidden power", Crime said as Zen stood there listening
Zen frowned. "Not an actual Knight? So what, you just cosplaying as one? Gotta say, the whole 'mysterious warrior' thing is getting old."
Crime smirked. "Says the guy who ran around scamming the Astral Order. Twice."
"Correction," Zen said, raising a finger. "I outsmarted them. There's a difference."
Crime let out a dry chuckle. "Right. And now you're here, trapped with me. Real genius move, that one."
Zen sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright, whatever. So you're not a real Knight. Then what are you?"
Crime leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Someone like you. A guy with more power than he knows what to do with."
Zen scoffed. "Yeah, well, I've got nothing but a headache and a death wish from all this."
"That's because you don't understand what's inside you yet," Crime said. "But trust me, kid—once you do, you won't be running from guys like me anymore."
Zen's eye twitched. "Wow. That's so reassuring."
Crime pushed off the wall and walked toward the door. "I'd explain more, but I'd rather see you figure it out yourself. More fun that way."
Zen groaned. "Oh great. More cryptic nonsense. You guys seriously can't just talk like normal people, huh?"
Crime grinned. "Where's the fun in that?"
Zen crossed his arms. "Alright, genius. What's the plan now?"
Crime leaned back casually, as if he was about to suggest grabbing dinner. "Oh, nothing much. Just killing God and wiping out the entire Astral Order."
Zen blinked. Once. Twice.
"Yeah, sorry, I must've misheard," he said, rubbing his ears. "It almost sounded like you said killing God. Like, actual God. The big guy upstairs. The one people worship."
"That's exactly what I said."
Zen stared. Then burst out laughing. A full, wheezing, out-of-breath kind of laugh. "Oh, you people are insane. No, really. Absolutely unhinged. You know what? Good for you."
Crime tilted his head. "So you're in?"
Zen wiped a tear from his eye. "Oh, I was never in. But considering my other options are dying painfully or running for my life again... yeah, screw it. Let's go kill a God."
Great. Just great. First, I was a fugitive. Now, I'm part of a rebellion. What's next?
He sighed. "Why do I attract this kind of trouble?"
What a change in Fate, what are these games GOD is playing with me…