2024-07-22 18:56:55"One thing though, you can't spook them. You'll remain silent until they permit you to speak," Crystal laid down the ground rules, and Dante nodded, unsure what else he was supposed to say. It sounded like a military camp, but he didn't mind.
"Good, you're learning," Crystal replied when Dante said nothing. He walked after her until they got to a clearing. Something felt different, but he couldn't place it. It was neither cold nor hot. I can hear the birds chirping. Dante laughed out loud then, unable to believe how much he'd missed them. The Graveyard felt dead, as the name implied. "Everything here is alive," Dante whooped with glee, and Crystal didn't stop him; she just gave him a small smile, and he noticed a bunch of people huddled together, wearing the same jacket Crystal gave him earlier. "Hel—" he tried to speak but remembered what Crystal told him a few moments before. Crystal never did anything just for the sake of it; that's what made her stand apart from the people he'd met in his life. She had a purpose, and he wasn't sure he'd ever had that. "Who's that?" Dante heard a small voice, and a girl hiding behind Gilgamesh stepped out. Dante's heart shattered. He went on his knees. She looked to be about nine years old and missing an arm. She wasn't complete; whoever messed with her body didn't care enough to make sure she was able to defend herself at the very least. Crystal bent down, too, meeting his eye level. Then she spoke in a whisper, "I knew you'd react this way; that's why I didn't say anything earlier. This is what they did to her and so many others. Her parents were behind on payment, so she became the scapegoat. You don't hate this world more than I do; nobody does. Look at her, burn her image in your memory. Esme, that's her name. It took a while to get her here from The Graveyard, but I managed it." Dante noticed Crystal's use of I, and something struck him. "You were the first one here, weren't you?" He felt nauseated at the thought. "Yes, I was. Barely seven years old, I found myself here. It's been over twelve years since then, and I have learnt to survive. I stuffed my belly with sand, hid from the darkness and contemplated eating my flesh. I created The Renegades. So, treat Esme with respect. She's a warrior, surviving everything thrown at her." Dante couldn't look up at Crystal; he couldn't because while she fought tooth and nail to survive, he ogled her body instead. He didn't know her origins, yet he treated everything like a quest, not understanding the stakes. "Why didn't Alan come with you?" Dante asked, still unable to get his legs to rise from the ground. "I came for him many times, he declined. He chose to stay; there was nothing I could do," Crystal had a despairing look in her eyes, and Dante felt sick to his stomach. "Can he talk?" Dante felt a finger poking his cheeks, and he turned to lash out, but standing before him was Esme, her smile as wide as the ocean. "It's a pleasure to meet you," Dante said, and Esme shirked in shock. "Give her a little space; she's not used to you yet," Crystal explained, and Dante didn't mind; he was ready to do whatever it took to protect Esme, even from himself. Crystal was the ultimate mother hen, but Dante couldn't bring himself to poke fun at her; her existence was filled with pain and even more pain. She had no one to depend on and survived alone. Dante couldn't imagine it being the only one in the world. It felt like a nightmare. "Don't worry, she'll come around," Gilgamesh nodded at Dante, who nodded back. The others in the group weren't so welcoming. There was a girl with black mascara over her eyes and a boy who looked like he was revving for a fight. "I'll introduce you to everyone," Gilgamesh tried to explain, but Dante tuned him out. The world was darker than he'd expected, and he took everything for granted. How does one survive alone in the world? With no one to call, nothing to reach for. Abyss. Void. Hell. He looked at Crystal again as she calmed Esme down and ground his teeth. I won't be pathetic anymore.
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter Fifty Seven
"That was dangerous. If he sensed you, you'd have died," Number 4 chided Number who just shrugged. She bent the burglary bars and grabbed the boy inside. Then she knocked him out with a well aimed hand chop. That was the only way she could reach him, and that was the only way she could stop the disaster that was coming for them.Number 9 looked up to see Moriarty, but ignored him. That wasn't the time for it. In that young boy, an ancient being slept. And it was being roused from its slumber by the extreme emotions the boy showed. It was one of the most dangerous situations she'd ever seen."Is he fine?" Number 4 asked and she nodded in affirmation. Number 4 wasn't part of The Executives of The Order. But she was pretty handy to have around. Her sigil was Precognition/Foresight and in her words, everybody was going to die if that boy was left unchecked. "Still can't believe a small child like this could be the problem of the world," Number 9 admitted and 4 just shrugged. Her sigil
Chapter Fifty Six
Moriarty’s mouth tasted like ash. The world below him was revved up for the morning, their bodies swinging like pendulums to the tune of the new day.But, they were all going to die.At first, he had qualms about it, but thinking deeply, he became able to use more sigils when his mind dissociated from his emotions and let him create havoc without hassles."Funny, they act like they are gods. Walking about without a care in the world," Luka, his vice commander, stated, and Moriarty mirrored the sentiments. "You can't blame them, they don't know what war is," he replied, eyes forward. There were just two other people with him, but those two were enough."I feel guilty for wanting to kill them," Asher, his subordinate and one of the most ruthless women he'd ever seen, spoke. "Zip it, Ash," Luka chided, all good-natured. They always had a banter going on and Moriarty suspected they were going out, but he had no proof. "Okay, let's turn this place into a playground," Moriarty raised his
Chapter Fifty Five
They needed each other and the sooner they realised it, the better for everyone involved. It didn't seem that way though, especially since Crystal was meant to be pissed off at Dante for killing her half-sister. But what Dante needed to learn, Crystal had already perfected. The ability to pick her fights with clarity and avoid senseless mistakes that would jeopardize the lives of others.Dante was young and needed to be guided. She felt like she was watching Mark all over again, and he was giving her a second chance. Darkus was… complex. He played both sides, and she didn't know if it was because Crystal ordered him to, or because he wanted to.A lot of things were going on, and she wished she had someone to talk about these things with. Dante was bashful and acted unsure of himself, and she wanted to pat his head and tell him everything was fine but she didn't know how he'd take it. He acted like he was sure of himself, even though his inner child was confused and scared, trying to
Chapter Fifty Four
Cincinnati was hungry. And doing her best to look out for Dante too. At first, she didn't see anything worth mentioning in him, his broodiness was starting to irk her. But she got to know him more and she could see that he was just someone who needed love.A lot of it.He didn't know because he acted self-sufficient, but she could see through the bullshit. He reminded her of Mark, the way he put on a brave front even when he knew nothing about what he was doing. She found it endearing, and maybe a little bit sad.That was the problem with people like Dante, they didn't know when to ask for help and when to be independent. She could see that he wasn't comfortable in his skin, and she didn't blame him, she once wasn't comfortable here. But things had changed, and now she was someone who could face the inevitability of a future and smile through it all.What Dante didn't know though, was that the world that'd been revealed to him was little compared to the truth. Gilgamesh wasn't the sec
Chapter Fifty Three
The room smelt damp, and Fred felt like his mouth had turned sandpaper, so dry from thirst, it felt like he hadn't had a drink in days.He tried to speak, but the words didn't come.Pathetic.He couldn't move, his arms shackled to something. It felt ice cold on his wrist, and he could feel the cold seeping into his skin like a virus, shutting down his body system."That is to keep you from having any ideas," Alistair was framed in the bars of the cell, his pearly white teeth shining in the dim light of the cell."Don't bother to talk, you'd just progressively get weaker. I wouldn't mind that in the least. But, I wouldn't want you passing out on me." Fred could make out a figure close to Alistair, a figure dripping with blood. "This is your pet, eh, boy? Doesn't look like much," Fred could vaguely make out the shape of Saphrana, and he tugged at his chains but they didn't budge in the slightest."I wouldn't do that if I were you. Those are mana-restrictive chains. The more you fight,
Chapter Fifty Two
Zero didn't like calling people assholes, but Terry was downright insufferable. If only he listened, but no. There were many things wrong with the Enforcers, but Terry was one of those things that irked Zero to no end. Which is why he decided to talk to Terry. He came out of his room and saw the military base looking deserted and lifeless. It was early in the day, at least 2 A.M, and he never really bothered to check. He made his way soundlessly down the hallway and took a right turn, where he climbed a flight of stairs. He was downstairs, whereas Terry was on the upper floor. Third floor, if he remembered correctly. The stupid place's elevators weren't even working.But Zero wasn't deterred, he had always lived in uncommon odds. And a flight of stairs were the least of his worries if he was being honest. He made his way to the landing, spotting Terry's room. The numbers didn't lie, it was 1,990-1200. He heaved a breath of annoyance. Terry was being a child, and Zero needed to sho
