CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43 – CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES (PART 3)

Chapter 43 – Choices And Consequences (Part 3)

The hours rolled by quietly, the hum of the train providing a rhythmic backdrop to the otherwise uneventful journey. Zane sat in his seat, flicking through the interface of his system now and then, and occasionally glancing out the reinforced window. The landscape had changed gradually—verdant fields gave way to arid stretches of land, cracked and dry like a forgotten wound. Then, a shimmering lake spread wide, its glassy surface reflecting the sun like molten silver.

It was a peaceful atmosphere—almost too peaceful.

’Strange...’ Zane thought, narrowing his eyes as he gazed at the horizon. ’Most people report spotting at least a handful of abominations when leaving the city, if not more. But I haven’t seen a single one.’

His instincts tugged at him, sharp and persistent. Something was wrong. He couldn’t explain what it was, but the silence outside the train didn’t feel natural. It was the kind of quiet that came just before a storm—false calm wrapping itself around tension.

He leaned back and stretched his arms, letting his gaze fall on Elizabeth. She sat across from him, her head resting against the seat, a book half-open on her chest and a few cookie crumbs dusting her lap. Her chest rose and fell with a calm, steady rhythm—completely at peace.

Zane exhaled slowly and stood. ’Might as well use the bathroom while I’ve got the chance.’

He slipped past her quietly, making his way down the aisle of the train car. The automatic door connecting the two cars opened with a faint hiss. On the left wall just beyond it was the bathroom—door wide open.

He stepped inside and reached for the handle to close it when—

"Now, now... Hold on there."

Zane froze. That voice was unmistakable.

He turned with a slow, irritated expression. "Of course," he muttered, coming face to face with Emilio’s smug grin. His very presence seemed to suck the warmth from the air.

’Does this idiot seriously follow me everywhere?’ Zane felt his energy deflate in real time.

"Do you usually loiter around public bathrooms looking to harass people?" he asked dryly.

Emilio’s smile twitched. "What? Hell no! You arrogant little—" he snapped. "You’ve been mouthing off all day like you’re somebody. I don’t know where that sudden confidence came from, but I’m about to rip it out of you."

He grabbed Zane by the collar and yanked him out of the bathroom. Zane let it happen, sighing through his nose.

"You think I forgot what you said earlier? You’re lucky we were being watched. Out here, no one’s watching—so go ahead, run that mouth again!"

"I already said what I wanted," Zane replied coolly. "If your hearing’s bad, that’s not my problem."

"You bastard!" Emilio’s rage boiled over. With a snarl, he slammed Zane against the corridor wall and reared back a fist, glowing faintly with Core Energy. "Remember the last time I hit you? Multiply that by ten. I’m about to break your face."

Zane’s expression shifted in an instant. His red eyes gleamed with a chilling glint—cold, focused.

Emilio didn’t notice. "You’re finally scared, huh? Now you realize who—"

BANG!

The impact echoed like a thunderclap—but not from Emilio’s fist. Zane had caught the punch mid-air with his bare hand.

"What...?" Emilio’s face twisted in disbelief. His fist was trapped, completely immobilized in Zane’s iron grip. He tried to push forward, but it was like trying to move a mountain.

"You done?" Zane asked. His tone was quiet, but behind it was steel. He shoved Emilio’s fist aside with a flick of his wrist and launched a sudden punch straight into Emilio’s gut.

THUD.

"Blurgh!" Emilio’s breath burst from his lungs, his body folding as he stumbled back, choking.

"I’ve had enough of you," Zane muttered as he stepped forward and hit him again, this time square in the chest.

Emilio hit the ground with a groan, gasping and coughing violently.

"You insulted me. Humiliated me. Made everything worse than it already was. And I let it slide... for a time." Zane crouched beside him, voice low and venomous. "But when you insulted my dead mother... that was the last straw."

His eyes sharpened, two glowing embers burning with a terrifying calm. "I won’t forgive you. Not now. Not ever. I will end your life, Emilio—maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But you won’t walk away from this test alive. You won’t see the light of day as a Dimensional Knight. That, I can promise you."

Emilio’s blood ran cold. That same overwhelming pressure from before—no, worse than before—descended upon him like a suffocating weight. Zane wasn’t just threatening him. He meant every word.

"Y-You... You bastard!!" Emilio spat, panic rising in his voice.

Zane ignored him. He reached out and grabbed Emilio’s collar, ready to knock him out cold. "Goodnight."

SWISH!

But just as his fist rocketed toward Emilio’s face—

BOOM!

The entire train shuddered violently. Zane lost his balance and fell backward, skidding across the floor.

"What the hell—?" he muttered, eyes darting upward. The train tilted left, then right, screeching on the rails as though it had been hit by something massive.

"AAH!" Elizabeth’s scream pierced through the corridor.

Zane bolted upright, heart thudding. But then—thud-thud-thud—a series of heavy stomps echoed above him. Not footsteps. No, too fast. Too strong.

He looked up at the ceiling, breath catching.

Whatever was running across the roof of the train wasn’t human.

Eyes narrowing, he rushed to the nearest window and stared outside. Shapes—dozens of them—darted along the armored shell of the train, effortlessly matching its high-speed velocity. Their outlines were barely visible through the blur of motion, but Zane saw the glint of multiple legs, twitching like spider limbs.

"Shit..." he whispered. "We’re under attack."

"Huh?" Emilio coughed, still dazed on the floor.

"Get up and find the conductor! Tell him we’re being attacked by monsters—GO!"

Before Emilio could respond, another violent slam rocked the train.

Zane fell hard onto his side but quickly rolled to his feet, sprinting toward the passenger car. The pounding on the roof intensified. More limbs. More bodies.

"Z-Zane?!" Elizabeth’s terrified voice rang out as he returned to his seat. She was curled up in her chair, trembling, eyes wide with confusion and fear.

"Don’t just sit there!" he barked. "Head for the conductor’s cabin—NOW!"

But she didn’t move. Paralyzed by fear.

Before Zane could try again—

CRASH!

Clawed limbs shattered through the glass, spraying shards across the aisle as a horrid screech split the air. The monster forced its way inside, grotesque and swift, its many legs clattering against the metal floor as it lunged straight for the frozen girl.

"MOVE!!" Zane roared, energy bursting from his legs. He blitzed forward, a blur of motion, just in time to snatch Elizabeth and roll across the floor with her.

THUD!

The monster smashed into the spot where she’d just been, claws tearing through seats like paper.

Zane landed hard, shielding Elizabeth with his body as they skidded to a stop. His heart pounded, adrenaline roaring through his veins.

As he looked up, the creature—pale and spider-like, its many black eyes gleaming with hunger—whipped its head around and locked onto him.

Zane narrowed his eyes.