Izaki and Hellesa stared at Zenix, their eyes wide with shock.
"What?! You were a former council member of Meteosity?!" they exclaimed in unison.
Zenix's gaze was steady, unreadable. He nodded. "Yes. I was one of them… but I left when your mother died."
Izaki frowned, still processing the revelation. "Why did you leave? But first… how did you even become a council member?"
Hellesa, equally intrigued, crossed her arms. "Yeah, tell us about your past."
Zenix exhaled deeply, his expression darkening as if dredging up memories long buried. "Alright. I'll tell you everything."
He tilted his head toward the night sky, the stars reflecting in his cold eyes, as if seeking comfort in their distant glow.
Zenix's Story
**"It was the year 2020 when I first learned about Meteosity. They wanted me because I was a highly skilled fighter at the time. I was independent, strong, and making a name for myself. One day, I received a proposal to join their ranks. But I turned them down. Their rules didn't sit right with me.
A month passed. I was broke. No money, no food, nowhere to go. Then, a man approached me again—this time with a more tempting offer. He told me they could provide everything I needed: wealth, security, purpose. At that point, I had no choice but to consider it. But I wasn't going to accept just any role. I made a demand—I wouldn't join unless they made me a council member.
To my surprise, the man agreed. He handed me a thousand dollars upfront and said, 'You'll receive an email with the location of our headquarters. We'll also provide you with an apartment in the city. Pack your bags and get ready.'
At the time, I didn't know who he was. But when I finally arrived at the organization, I learned the truth—he was Council Member 0, also known as The Creator himself. The leader of Meteosity. He had come in person to recruit me.
That shocked me. The other council members told me how rare it was for him to make such an appearance. One even whispered to me, 'Council Member 0 must've seen something special in you.'
For the first month, I worked as a council member. But I hated it. The other members were ruthless, aggressive, and completely loyal to The Creator. There was no freedom, no individuality—only obedience and control. I considered leaving, but a fellow council member warned me, 'If you try to leave, they'll kill you.'
He told me that Council Member 0 demands complete devotion. If he doesn't like you, you disappear. Permanently.
I thought about reporting them to the authorities, but I knew that would only get me killed. So, I stayed. And then, a month later… I met your mother."**
A Familiar Name
Izaki and Hellesa gasped.
"Our mom was a part of Meteosity too?! She was a council member?!"
Zenix nodded solemnly.
**"Yes. She joined as a new council member, and we quickly became close friends. We went on missions together, confided in each other, and shared the same frustrations about the organization. We both dreamed of escaping. But we knew the consequences… so we stayed.
And then, a new assassin emerged. He rose through the ranks at an alarming speed—far faster than anyone before him. Within a single month, he became the most feared assassin in Meteosity. His name was Aremaki.
At first, we didn't trust him. He was too skilled, too precise, too cold. But over time, the three of us—me, your mother, and Aremaki—became a team, even though he wasn't a council member. We worked together on the most dangerous missions, and we started to believe we might actually change the organization from within.
But then… he left. He walked away. Just like that."**
Izaki narrowed his eyes. "Wait. If he left, why didn't they kill him?"
Zenix smirked, though there was no humor in it.
**"Because he was the most loyal assassin they ever had. Before leaving, he made a deal with Council Member 0—he would return to complete a mission whenever they called upon him. In exchange, they allowed him to go free.
Months passed. Then… disaster struck. Your mother died. And the worst part?
The mission to kill her… was given to me."
A Haunting Truth
The words seemed to suffocate the air around them.
Hellesa's breath hitched. "What…?" Her voice trembled.
Zenix clenched his fists. His knuckles turned white. "I was devastated. I didn't want to do it. But orders were orders. I was given no choice."
Izaki's hands curled into fists. "Then… did you do it?"
Zenix shook his head, his eyes distant. **"No. I failed. Or, perhaps, I succeeded in my own way. I never fought back. I never raised my weapon against her. But I also failed to protect her. She was surrounded, outnumbered. I watched as they ended her life.
Before she died, she made me promise something:
She asked me to train you, Hellesa. She wanted me to make you strong enough to wield both claws. She believed you were destined to finish what she couldn't."**
Hellesa's hands trembled, her body stiff with emotion.
Zenix continued, his voice heavier now.
**"After that… I left. I disappeared from Meteosity. I created my own group to fight against them. We launched attacks in secret, striking at their operations, weakening their influence. But in the process, I lost two of my closest allies. Even with all our efforts… the organization still stands.
That's why I need you both.
Together, we can finish what I started."
A New Mission Begins
Silence fell.
Then—
"Oh my god! That was the most insane backstory I've ever heard!" Kazen blurted out.
Izaki sighed and punched him lightly on the arm.
"Kazen, be serious."
Hellesa scowled. "This isn't a joke."
Kazen rubbed his arm sheepishly. "Sorry."
Zenix raised an eyebrow. "Who is this guy?"
Izaki smirked. "This is Kazen."
Kazen quickly straightened up, offering a nervous salute. "Nice to meet you, sir!"
Zenix nodded. "Same to you."
Meteosity's Basement – A Sinister Plan
Deep within Meteosity's headquarters, Council Member 0 sat in a dimly lit chamber, staring at two captives—Jim and Nemi.
His voice was cold, devoid of mercy. "If you want to live a happy and rich life, do exactly as I say. If you refuse… you both die."
Jim and Nemi exchanged terrified glances before nodding frantically. "We'll do whatever you say, sir."
Council Member 0 smirked. "Good. Now listen carefully. You're going to act like you're about to be executed. Beg for help. Look desperate. I'll take care of the rest."
Jim and Nemi hesitated but obeyed.
Moments later, a recording played on a large screen.
In the video, Jim and Nemi sobbed, struggling against unseen captors.
"Please! Someone help us! They're going to kill us!"
Council Member 0 nodded in approval. He added his own message at the end:
"If you want them alive, come to the secret organization's headquarters. If you tell anyone… they die instantly."
Satisfied, he pressed SEND—
And the message was delivered.
To Kazen.