GODGAME

The Hunted

'I can't imagine it! How is it possible?'

Arcus kept his head bowed, his eyes fixed on the floor as he tried his best not to tremble.

A cold sweat rolled down his face.

'How is it possible? Twenty years ago, when the first portal opened, I made sure I left the Monsterverse. I made sure I left that place! But why... how did he find me? After being so careful for twenty years, how did Zagaroth track me down?'

Arcus gulped, forcing his voice to steady. "I am truly blessed to be in the presence of one of the five greatest monster fighters and the right-hand man of our wonderful ruler."

Za sat down, resting his chin on his palm as he looked down at Arcus. "You speak as though you aren't part of the ranking of the best fighters yourself... Arcus."

Hearing his name sent a fresh wave of fear coursing through his body. "You flatter me with your praises, my Lord!"

Za stood up. "Why wouldn't I flatter one of the strongest fighters, huh?"

"No, I mean—" Arcus stammered, searching for words. "I mean, I'm—"

Za cut him off, "What do you think of the beetle head?"

"Eh?" Arcus blinked, glancing up, "It suits you?"

"I know right, I needed to find a disguise instead of being a human, I decided to take on a beetle head, quite ironic right?"

Arcus raised a brow, "I guess—"

Za spoke up immediately, his voice crushing whatever word Arcus was about saying. "You disappeared for twenty years."

Another cold sweat rolled down Arcus's face. "Well..."

Za reached out, and for a terrifying second, Arcus thought he was dead. Instead, Za yanked him upright, forcing him to stand straight. "I don't value the formalities here in the human realm. Bowing down, No! No! You can keep them when you return to the Monsterverse."

Arcus nodded so fast he feared his head might snap off. "Oh, okay, my Lord—"

"I said you should call me Za!"

"Right, I'll definitely call you Za from now on," Arcus said, though uttering a superior's name so plainly left a dread in his soul.

Za clasped his hands behind his back. "So? Those twenty years... were you using them to sophisticatedly rot away here in this... human world?"

Arcus didn't know whether to answer or nod, so he stayed quiet and let his superior continue speaking,

"It's quite sickening in a nauseating way to see our best fighter playing house," Za said calmly. "I could have gone straight to beheading you if I didn't still have a use for you."

Arcus's eyes widened as thoughts raced through his head. 'Beheading? Wait, he actually came here to kill me? But I didn't sense any bloodlust from him.'

Za turned his back, gazing at nothing in particular before taking small steps across the cramped apartment. "But before I get straight to the point, please do amuse me, rather, do bore me with how you survived in this downgraded world for twenty years."

"Oh, sure," Arcus quickly started. "Twenty years ago, I left the Monsterverse and came here through the portal. I survived by making money in underground fighting rings. The paper currency humans use for commerce was enough for everything. That's how I've managed until now."

Meanwhile, Arcus's mind raced elsewhere:

'The Monsterverse was nothing but survival of the fittest. Standing in the highest ranks, there was nothing those higher-ups ever had to think about.

'Although I was ranked among the strongest fighters, the entire place was a relentless cycle of sweat, blood, and competition.

'Death is a daily reality there. You always knew you were waking up just to face potential slaughter—especially for the low-ranked monsters who get trampled by the strong.

'I won't deny that ruthlessness is in my nature, too, but... it grew exhausting.

'When THEY came, and the portals opened to the mortal realm, I used the opportunity to leave the Monsterverse and everything behind.

'I knew all about the ZZE, but I never stood up to fight against the humans. As a matter of fact, I found them rather interesting. Funny creatures with weird personalities, but fascinating nonetheless.

'All this time, I made sure my true form stayed hidden and my monster scent remained deeply locked away...'

Arcus looked up just in time to catch Za's head tilting, staring at him as though he could look right through him and peel away the layers of his existence.

Arcus swallowed hard. "Lord Zagaroth... I mean, Za, is something the matter?"

Za waited a second before answering. "I've been looking for you for twenty years. But now that I've found you—"

"I beg your greatness to forgive the interruption, but... how did you locate me?"

Za's cluster of eyes seemed to narrow. "You've been careful all these twenty years, but even monsters make mistakes. You're quite good at playing the hiding game, but you're a monster through and through. Sooner or later, you have to transform, and your transformations always leave behind that scent. I locked it down immediately, tracking the scent."

Arcus's eyes widened. 'In the alley when I tried to save that female, I only transformed part of my body... Wait, are you telling me that gave me away?!'

Za continued, "Now, where was I? Ah, yes. I spoke about my displeasure at having to spend twenty years hunting you down while facing our Emperor's wrath. I bled, Arcus. Because of your disappearance, I bled from the Emperor's wrath. Do I ever bleed?"

Arcus felt every beat of his heart slow to a crawl. "No, Za..."

Za sucked in deeply, a breath that seemed to ground him before he lost control. "Losing control is unethical, am I right, Arcus?"

Unable to speak, Arcus nodded slowly.

Za continued, "So, before we talk about anything else, I need to repay you with a little 'thank you'."

The air seemed to change after that sentence.

Arcus's eyes widened instantly. 'BLOODLUST!'

He slammed his arms together, instantly triggering a partial transformation:

"SHIELD OF A THOUSAND-LAYERED CHITIN!"

His arms folded into a thick, protective barrier of black scales just as Za vanished in the blink of an unseen speed, activating his ability:

"CRASH PUNCH: 10% METEOROID PUNCH!"

Arcus's pupils dilated. 'He's truly angry! A 10% punch?! Does he... does he want to kill me?'

Before he could fully process the blow, Arcus felt his shield crack and shatter under the impact.

"Huh? Za broke through my shield—?"

A devastating shockwave blasted him out of the apartment, reducing the entire room to splinters. He went flying through a tenement complex, soaring miles before crashing straight into a public park.

The sheer force slammed him into the earth, carving out a massive crater surrounded by cracks.

Arcus pushed himself up, only to violently cough up a mouthful of blood. 'If I hadn't formed that shield around my body, that blow would have been fatal...'

He staggered out of the crater, hacking and coughing, only to see Za standing casually beside him.

'HE'S TOO FAST!' Arcus thought before coughing again.

"I feel much better now," Za said, nodding almost to himself. "Now, onto the main information."

Arcus coughed, wiping his mouth, but listened attentively.

"There have been many changes, and while we've conveyed the information to the humans, the bottom line is this: you are participating in the ZZE, Arcus."

Arcus's eyes widened despite the agonizing pain radiating through his torso. "Pardon?"

"Do I need to repeat myself?"

"I'm sorry, Za, but the ZZE is five months away! Only a fool practices for five months instead of years, and I haven't been training properly at all," Arcus protested.

"You are a monster—start acting like one. Do you really think a mere date can keep you from getting back in shape? Though, don't worry about that," Za said, tapping a button on his collar. "We're going straight back to the Monsterverse."

Arcus took a step back. "M—"

"And," Za grabbed Arcus's wrist in an iron grip, "I'm participating in the ZZE, too."

"WHAT?!" Arcus yelled out.

"Stop yelling; it doesn't suit a man of your caliber," Za chided smoothly. "Our Emperor wants to see you as well. He has a lot to discuss with someone who abandoned the Monsterverse."

Arcus tried to wrench his arm free, but Za's grip was immovable. Panic flashed in his eyes, knowing there was no way to escape, "Please, don't take me to him!"

His voice trembled. "I don't want to go back, please!"

"Stop struggling and accept your fate. You don't have a say in this, Arcus," Za said, pressing the activator on his collar.

In a flash of light, both figures dematerialized, teleporting back to the Monsterverse and leaving behind a ruined park, shattered concrete, and the distant wail of sirens.