Kazen's Dilemma
Kazen's phone buzzed. When he checked the message, his face went pale. His hands trembled as he read it.
"Oh no…" he whispered.
He stepped away from the group, his heart pounding. Thoughts raced through his mind.
"What should I do? I can't tell anyone… Jim is my friend. I can't just leave him. I have to go. I'll find a way to fix this myself."
Without another word, Kazen quietly slipped out of the city and began his journey toward the secret organization's headquarters.
The Search for Kazen
Back at their camp, Izaki looked around. "Hey, Kazen? I need to—" He stopped, frowning when he didn't see him anywhere. He asked a passing soldier, "Hey, have you seen Kazen?"
The soldier scratched his head. "Who?"
"Red, clumsy hair. Wears a yellow shirt and light blue jeans."
The soldier's eyes lit up. "Oh yeah! I saw him taking the car that almost crashed into us."
Izaki's stomach dropped. "What?! Why would he take the car? Where's he going?"
He ran to find Zenix and Hellesa.
"What?!" Zenix's voice was sharp. "Why would he leave without telling anyone?"
"I don't know!" Izaki said. "He just disappeared!"
Hellesa's eyes narrowed. "Call him. Now."
Izaki nodded and dialed Kazen's number. The phone rang… and then—
Declined.
Izaki cursed under his breath. "He's not answering!"
Zenix's expression darkened. "We need to track him. Ask that soldier which direction he went."
Izaki ran back to the soldier. "Which way did Kazen go?"
The soldier pointed. "He went the same way you guys came from."
Izaki's heart sank. "He's going back to the city… to the organization's headquarters!"
Zenix's eyes flashed with urgency. "We need to stop him. Fast. Before they kill him."
Kazen Falls Into the Trap
Kazen reached the ominous building and stepped inside, his nerves on edge. In the dimly lit room, a lone figure sat on a throne-like chair—Council Member 0.
Kazen's voice was steady, but his heart pounded. "I'm here. Where are they?"
Council Member 0 smirked. "You really are as foolish as I hoped."
Kazen's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
The smirk widened. "You fell right into my trap."
"What?!"
Kazen turned to run, but guards swarmed in. He drew his blade, slicing through them with swift, practiced movements. For a moment, it seemed like he had a chance—
—until Council Member 0 struck.
A single punch.
It hit Kazen's stomach with crushing force, and the world spun. He hit the ground hard, vision blurring, and the last thing he heard before darkness took him was the mocking voice of his captor.
"How weak. Pathetic. Is this really the best they've got? Who trained these morons? It's like they were born with two brain cells—and they're fighting for fourth place."
The Race Against Time
Zenix floored the gas pedal. The car roared as it sped down the road.
"We need to get there fast," Hellesa urged.
"This is the fastest car I've got," Zenix said. "Hold on."
The Organization's Basement
Kazen woke up with a groan, his head pounding. His wrists and ankles were shackled to a cold, metallic wall. He tugged at the restraints, but they didn't budge.
"Where… am I?" he muttered.
Council Member 0's voice echoed from the shadows. "You're right where I want you."
Kazen glared at the voice. "What do you want from me?!"
"You? Nothing. But you're useful bait. Thanks to you, Zenix and his little group will walk right into my hands. And then… I'll finally get my revenge for the damage they've caused my organization."
Kazen spat on the floor. "I'd rather die than be your pawn."
Council Member 0 chuckled. "Oh, I won't let you die that easily. And don't expect your friends to save you. They don't even know where this location is. And even if they did, the council members guarding this building would destroy them."
Kazen's mind raced. How does he know everything I'm thinking? Is he reading my mind?
Confrontation at the Headquarters
The car screeched to a stop in front of the headquarters. Zenix, Izaki, and Hellesa jumped out—and were immediately met by two figures blocking the entrance.
Council Member 2 grinned. "I knew you'd come for the boy. That's why we took him."
Council Member 3 cracked his knuckles. "Are you ready to fight, Kemiri Zenix?"
Zenix's face hardened. "Izaki, Hellesa—go find Kazen. I'll handle these two."
Izaki's eyes widened. "Are you sure? They're powerful!"
Zenix's smile was grim. "I can take them."
Before anyone could argue, Zenix launched himself at the two council members—and the fight began.
Izaki grabbed Hellesa's arm. "Let's go. We have to find Kazen—fast."
And they ran into the building, hoping they weren't already too late.
Kazen reached the towering structure, its dark silhouette looming over him like a predator waiting to strike. His gut churned, but he shoved the unease aside and stepped through the heavy doors.
The interior was dim, the air thick with something unspoken—danger, maybe even death. At the far end of the room, a lone figure sat on an elevated throne-like chair.
Council Member 0.
Kazen's grip on his blade tightened. His voice remained steady, but his heart pounded. "I'm here. Where are they?"
Council Member 0 smirked, fingers steepled under his chin. "You really are as foolish as I hoped."
Kazen's muscles tensed. "What are you talking about?"
The smirk widened. "You fell right into my trap."
What?!
The realization hit Kazen like ice water. His instincts screamed at him to move. He spun on his heel—too late. Shadows lunged from the corners of the room as guards flooded in, weapons drawn.
Kazen didn't hesitate. He slashed through the first wave, his blade carving through the air with lethal precision. One down. Two. Three. He ducked, sidestepped, struck again. For a moment, just a moment, he thought he had a chance—
—until Council Member 0 struck.
A single blow.
A fist crashed into Kazen's stomach, stealing every ounce of air from his lungs. Pain exploded through his body. His knees buckled. The room blurred.
He hit the floor hard. His fingers twitched, reaching for his weapon, but his body wouldn't obey. His vision dimmed.
The last thing he heard before unconsciousness swallowed him was that mocking, sneering voice.
"How weak. Pathetic. Is this really the best they've got? Who trained these morons? It's like they were born with two brain cells—and they're fighting for fourth place."
Zenix floored the gas pedal. The car roared as it sped down the road.
"We need to get there fast," Hellesa urged.
"This is the fastest car I've got," Zenix said. "Hold on."
The Organization's Basement
Kazen woke with a groan, his skull throbbing as if it had been split open. His vision swam, but the biting cold of metal against his skin grounded him. His wrists and ankles were shackled to a frigid, unyielding wall. He tugged, testing the restraints. No give.
"Where… am I?" he muttered, his throat dry.
A voice slithered from the shadows. "You're right where I want you."
Kazen's eyes snapped toward the sound. Council Member 0.
He scowled. "What do you want from me?!"
Council Member 0 stepped forward, his face barely illuminated by the dim overhead light. His smirk was infuriatingly calm. "You? Nothing. But as bait? You're invaluable. Thanks to you, Zenix and his little rebellion will march straight into my hands. And then…" He spread his arms. "I'll finally have my revenge for the damage they've caused my organization."
Kazen clenched his jaw, disgust curling in his gut. "I'd rather die than be your pawn."
Council Member 0 chuckled, the sound oozing with amusement. "Oh, I won't let you die that easily. That would be too kind. And don't hold on to any hope—your so-called friends have no idea where you are." He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "Even if they did, the moment they set foot in this building, my council members would rip them apart."
Kazen's mind raced. How does he know everything I'm thinking? Is he reading my mind?
His fingers curled into fists. He had to find a way out—before it was too late.
Confrontation at the Headquarters
The car skidded to a stop in front of the towering headquarters. Before the dust could settle, Zenix, Izaki, and Hellesa leaped out, their hearts pounding.
Two figures blocked the entrance, their expressions smug.
Council Member 2 smirked. "I knew you'd come for the boy. That's exactly why we took him."
Council Member 3 cracked his knuckles. "Are you ready to fight, Kemiri Zenix?"
Zenix's eyes darkened. "Izaki, Hellesa—go find Kazen. I'll handle these two."
Izaki hesitated. "Are you sure? They're council members! They're strong!"
Zenix's lips curled into a grim smile. "So am I."
Before either of them could argue, Zenix surged forward, colliding with the two council members in a blur of motion. The force of impact sent shockwaves through the ground as the battle erupted.
Izaki grabbed Hellesa's arm. "Come on! We have to find Kazen—now!"
Without looking back, they sprinted into the building, hoping they weren't already too late.