Part III–JUSTICE
-The Next Morning-
Ali:Wakey wakey...time to get up, Georgie. Ouch...it still hurts...
Ali shaked George gently.
George:Oh Ali, you're awake already...
George blinked, hearing birds chirping and the gentle rush of water from the nearby river.
Philip:Josh had cooked some food, go get them before it's cold!
Philip ate meat cooked by Josh while exploring the forest.
George:Wow Josh, you really cooked, it smells absolutely amazing!
Josh:Yeah I told you I'm tough, here's some freshly cooked meat I found this early morning just for you.
Josh smirked, and handed out a plate of sizzling meat to George.
George:Amazing! You really cooked, this is scrumptious!
George bit into the meat, savoring it, but his thoughts drifted to Kaito. There was no time to grieve—justice awaited.
Josh:Sucks to lose a bravo like Kaito...We had been friends for two to three years already...and we lost him...
Josh puts out the campfire with water using his bare hands.
George:We must keep moving on without Kaito, I'm going to join A.A...and kill every anomaly!
Ali:Are you really going to apply for the mage school, Aetheria Academy of High Sorcery (A.A in short)?
George:Yes...I'll be the pillar who saves lives and avenge Kaito Takahashi.
As George said while tears flowed down to his cheeks.
Ali:I thought we were hating on the mages earlier, I guess you changed your mind after all...
George:This is for...Justice. For Kaito.
Philip:Ugh...this back pain is killing me!
Philip groaned, stretching his back.
Josh:It's the perfect time to keep going. Guys, let's get out of the forest today! Let's take this route!
Josh points towards a random direction of the forest.
-The Warehouse-
Kaito's eyes snapped open.
Pain surged through his body—but not the sharp agony he expected. Instead, a dull, restrained ache pulsed beneath layers of bandages wrapped tightly around his wounds.
Kaito:Why...am I still alive...?
His voice came out barely above a whisper.
Wilson:Killing you would be a waste, but turning you into one of us might be a step forward towards our Ultimate Plan…
Wilson's smile widened.
Kaito tries to move his muscles, he glances at Wilson's lifeless face.
Kaito:I'd choose to die rather than working with you...fool.
Kaito spits at Wilson's face.
Wilson:You never learn…I never said you had a choice. Your fate has already been sealed…in my hands from hell itself.
Wilson steps closer to Kaito.
Kaito giggles.
Kaito:I believe that my friends will defeat you one day! You'll eventually die one day!
Wilson:How naïve of you, Kaito.
Wilson pulls Kaito's head towards his face and whispers in his bleeding ears.
Wilson:They'll probably be dead by the time we meet again… Now, obey my orders and work with me! Kaito Takahashi!
Kaito:N...Never...I'll never...obey...you!
Wilson:Goodbye once again.
Wilson grins at Kaito.
Wilson injected a syringe filled with anomaly's DNA. The fluid flowed through Kaito's bloodstream. His skin became pale and cold in an instant, veins popping out and eyes turning bloody red.
Wilson:Welcome, Kaito Takahashi. Obey me…and fulfil my wish…of defeating the mages…! You'll be our triumph card, The New Prince of the anomalies…Anomaly Prince Kaito…
-The Forest-
George:Come on...We're almost there! Keep going!
George forces his body to keep going even though his energy was all drained.
Philip:Someone please carry me...
Philip collapsed to his knees, groaning in pain.
Ali:Thanks for carrying me last night, now it's time for me to carry you, Phil.
Ali carries Philip and continues the journey of escaping the forest.
Philip:Thanks Ali, you're my savior.
Josh:Our parents must be very concerned for us. We must get back as soon as possible!
Philip:No...I think the whole town's concerned and they probably deemed us dead since they couldn't find us.
Ali:Looks like we will be in serious trouble after we get out of here.
George:Guys...Is that a wolf?
George points towards a large wolf in front of their path, growling aggressively.
Josh:Yep, that is a large wolf, stay behind me, watch how I handle a simple wolf attack.
With precise strikes, Josh jabbed the wolf's eyes with a wooden stick, then followed with a rapid series of punches. The wolf yelped in pain and retreated into the shadows.
Josh:Hah! Easier than cooking a Beef Wellington!
George:We're so close...We can do it guys!
George clung onto a tree while gasping for air.
Josh:It's already evening...we must get out of here before night arrives!
Josh glanced at the fading sun.
Ali:Ah yes I could totally feel the pain of Phil...It's harder than I expected!
Ali shouts out of exhaustion.
Philip:I'm glad you could see the pain I have been going through since last night. Judging from the distance I can see...I suppose we need one more hour to the exit of the forest.
Ali:Great.
Josh:That leaves us an hour before nighttime, no stopping tonight-we push through!
George:I can't wait to get out of here and return to my heavenly bed.
Ali & Philip:Can't wait to consult the doctor to fix our back pain
Ali & Philip sighed heavily, relief and exhaustion mixing in the cool evening air.
Meanwhile…
Wilson:So when do we carry out our Ultimate Plan?
Wilson gathers his team in a shadowed corner of the warehouse.
Scientist X:Our target tonight is Hoshizora Town! Longman, you'll be our main weapon by carrying out the assault of wiping out the entire town. The mages are expected to intervene-me and Wilson will engage with them directly. Shapeshifter, you'll call out your army of skinwalkers and wipe out the survivors of the town.
Scientist X mutters the plan.
Wilson:The plan is solid but…what if Master Zen arrives? He is our greatest obstacle after all.
Scientist X:Since Prince Kaito has amazing potential, it would be a good opportunity to put him against Master Zen, you could also join in the fight with him to put more pressure against Master Zen as well.
Wilson:Well…Master Zen is faster and stronger than us…he might just use his ultimate move and finish us in like what- Seven seconds-?
Scientist X:It's the only option we have for now, we were lucky enough to stay hidden for so long, but if we stay longer, we'll be discovered eventually.
Wilson:Well if we need more numbers…I've got a perfect solution.
Wilson snaps his fingers.
Scientist X:Good, the more numbers we have, the more the success rate of the plan is.
Wilson brings the team into the basement of the warehouse, introducing the anomalies he thinks has potential.
Wilson:Allow me to introduce…Chair, a literal chair but it is quite strong when facing tough enemies.
Scientist X:It's okay even if the anomaly is weak, they could be a good distraction unit.
Wilson:Ahem, next we've got The Boogeyman. He is extremely durable and would be a great choice for a tank. His chainsaw would deem useful in close combat.
Scientist X:Perfect, we got a good tank and distraction. What else do we have?
Wilson:Well lastly we've got my "friend", Zyo Hakashima. His level is just slightly below me.
Zyo:Nice to meet you, Scientist X.
Scientist X:Perfect...This is absolutely perfect! We might finally defeat the mages this time...
Scientist X was absolutely pleased to have strong units added into the team.
Zyo:I'll work with you, under one condition.
Zyo crosses his arms.
Scientist X:Well what is it?
Zyo:You must bring me fifty human corpses. I'll give you a week of time, this should be more than enough.
Scientist X didn't hesitate.
Scientist X:Deal! Anything...for the Ultimate Plan!
-The Forest-
George:Guys...I-I can see...the...exit...!
George points towards the exit of the forest.
Josh:Finally...Our suffering is going to end soon!
Josh was panting for air, his leg trembling with every step he takes.
Ali:Just a little more...
Ali uses his full strength while carrying Philip.
George:Come on...This is it! This is the end!
Josh:Finally, we've made it back into Hoshizora! I feel like an angel ascending into heaven!
Ali collapses along with Philip.
George:Whew...They made it right before they collapsed.
Josh:We will have to carry them back into their home...but I've got no energy to do that...
George:Well we got no remaining options anyway, we can't just ditch them here.
Josh:We're in sheer luck since the path we took was near our houses.
George:Sigh, it feels like we're burning in hell.
George stares into the crowded village.
George:Hmm-Wait! I've got an idea!
Josh:Spill the beans.
George:We could ask a villager to help us carry Phil and Ali!
Josh:They could charge us money though.
George:We will just tell them that we'll pay tomorrow but we don't.
Josh:Isn't that scamming?!
George:Who cares?! We've got no choice anyways.
Josh:In case we get in trouble, I'm putting the responsibility on you.
George:Fine, I won't be caught anyways.
George rolls his eyes.
George:Let's just get this done quickly!
-Thirty minutes later-
George:Thank you for your help, kind man!
George was the last passenger of the cab of a kind villager that offered to send them back home.
Villager:No worries! It's on the house, as long as you kids get home safely is all that matters!
George steps out from the vehicle and stretches his body, preparing to face his parents.
END OF PART III-JUSTICE