CHAPTER 44: REIGNITED DRIVE

Everyone in the room went quiet, their eyes fixed on Ren. None of them really knew what had happened when he faced Kade before Kaien and Valen arrived.

"After I beat Zarveth, Kade showed up out of the shadows. It felt like he’d been watching the whole fight and only stepped out once it was over." Ren began. "I don’t think he wanted to kill me or take me."

"How can you be so sure?" Aeri asked.

"It just doesn’t add up. If that was his goal, he could’ve done it easily. I used my core release and hit him with everything I had, but he still outmatched me. It felt more like he was testing me than actually fighting me." Ren explained.

"That makes sense but what about your family?" Valen asked.

Ren lowered his voice. "From what I knew, my parents were killed in a gang war they had nothing to do with. At least, that’s what I saw when I was little. But Kade told me the truth, that my parents were killed by the very gang they once belonged to."

The moment he said that, everyone’s faces became serious and the mood turned heavy.

"How do we even know if what Kade told you is the truth?" Valen questioned.

"There’s no way to verify it." Ren admitted. "But I think he was. Kade isn’t weak, far from it. Even before our parents died, he was already strong, already awakened. Now that I think about it, it’s almost impossible for some random thugs to get past him and kill my parents."

"What are you trying to say?" Kaien asked.

"I mean," Ren continued. "If there’s any group capable of getting past Kade, it’s either ZEAL or the Shikkoku. But ZEAL would never do something like that. Which leaves one possibility, maybe our parents left the Shikkoku and moved to Crux. I’m not certain, but the chances are high that my deductions are right."

Kaien folded his arms. "I see. We’ll take that into consideration. After all, there’s no way to know for sure unless Kade tells us himself."

As if on cue, the door swung open and in walked Ayato, his orange eyes glistening under the light.

"Well, your brother is telling the truth." He muttered, shutting the door behind him.

Of course. Ren thought. Someone just has to barge in with news every time we’re in Valen’s office.

Before Ren could dwell further, Kaien suddenly grabbed his head and forced him into a perfect 90 degree bow as everyone else in the room followed, except Gale.

"O c’mon, I told you not to get so formal with me." Ayato sighed.

"No can do, sir." Valen replied firmly. "We have to show respect when there’s someone outside of ZEAL present. Otherwise, it ruins our image."

Ayato pouted. "So you only respect me when there’s a non member around?"

"Yes, sir." Valen answered without hesitation. "After all, you just sit around watching TV shows all the time."

"C’mon, Valen, don’t be like that. Gale and I go way back." Ayato smirked while throwing a wink at Gale.

"No, we don’t." Gale replied.

Everyone rose from their bowing positions. That’s when Rago leaned forward with a grin. "So, you know about Kaien’s girlfriend?"

"Kaien’s what?!" Ayato and Aeri shouted in unison.

Uhm, guys? Ren thought helplessly as the room drifted from the subject at hand.

After the ruckus, Ayato regained his composure as he straightened his back.

"Ahem. So, going back. Ren’s brother is telling the truth. Their parents were part of a gang back then, and not just any gang. They were members of Benio."

"Benio?" Ren muttered, dumbfounded.

"It was a gang annihilated by one of their own members." Ayato replied.

The room fell silent. For all of them, it was their first time hearing the name Benio.

"Benio were like the Shikkoku of their time." Ayato continued. "Twenty five years ago, they were one of the most destructive gangs to ever exist. Nearly impossible to track, moving like shadows. According to my findings, passed down to me by the first generation leader of ZEAL, Benio had two mad scientists who developed a core bleed technique. A technique so devastating that it turned the former 14th, 15th, and 16th Ward into what we now know as the abandoned zone."

Valen frowned. "I knew that place used to be a ward but I never realized it was destroyed by something like that."

"So did I." Ayato admitted, his voice heavy. "I only learned of it two days ago. The former leader had always refused to tell me, until he said he smelled deep danger approaching. I don’t know what he meant, but I’m glad he finally revealed it. Anyway...." His gaze shifted toward Ren. "Your parents were the ones who made that technique possible. But after seeing its true power, they chose to abandon Benio and disappear to ensure that the monstrosity of a technique would never be used again."

Ren stayed quiet as he listened to Ayato’s words. His head felt heavy with thoughts spinning in a continuous spiral. My parents, part of a gang? And they never told us? Not even once?

"Benio were furious back then." Ayato continued. "They tried to track down your parents, but no matter what they did, it was almost impossible. Then, a few years later, Benio suddenly vanished, saying that the gang was annihilated by one of its members."

"Does this have something to do with what we took down ten years ago?" Kaien asked.

Ayato gave a small nod. "Yes. But according to the former leader, what we destroyed was only half the power of the real thing."

Aeri stood up from the couch, eyes wide. "Half?! That monster of a power was only half?!"

Ayato’s expression turned serious. "Back then, I had just become ZEAL’s leader. But now, looking at the pieces, if that same Core Bleed technique ten years ago came from the Shikkoku, then the one leading them today is probably the same person who wiped out Benio. And if that’s true...." He glanced at Ren. "Your parents may have been killed by that very same guy as well while trying to recreate the perfect formula for that same Core Bleed, the one that erased the abandoned zone."

They sat in heavy silence. Everyone knew just how vast the Abandoned Zone was. And for something to twist it into the wasteland it had become now, that was terrifying beyond what they could even imagine.

"Well, one thing’s certain." Ayato spoke, breaking the silence. "Ever since Ren’s parents went into hiding from Benio, no one has been able to recreate the Core Bleed Technique."

"But...." Ren muttered, his fists tightening. "Why did Kade join Shikkoku? If their goal is to revive that destructive technique, then why would he side with them? Our parents gave up everything, risked their lives, just so it would never be used again."

Ayato lowered his gaze, his voice heavy. "I don’t know, Ren. Kade’s the only one who can answer that. I’m sorry."

Ren took a shaky breath, then gave a faint nod. "It’s fine. I understand."

"But that’s not the only reason I came here today. I have new orders for you. I’m sorry to burden you right after you returned from war, but this mission cannot wait."

At once, all the Wardens rose to their feet. Whatever Ayato was about to say, they were ready to accept it.

"Invasions are breaking out across Aetherpolis as we speak. The threats themselves aren’t particularly strong, but their sheer numbers are overwhelming our allied wards and spreading chaos throughout the city. Wards 9, 12, and 10 ever since your squads left, are being overrun by Ashes and Shikkoku soldiers, leaving nothing but havoc and destruction in their paths. Even with the support of our allied gangs, we’re still heavily outnumbered. The other wardens and their squads have already mobilized since this morning. If it’s not too much to ask, I’d like your squads to join the fight tomorrow and help push back these threats."

Rago’s expression sank as he replied with a heavy sigh, his face clearly painted in sorrow. "We want to help, truly, but our men’s morale is shattered right now."

"Gather your men." Ayato ordered.

As soon as Ayato gave the order, Aeri, Valen, and Rago rallied their squads at the training grounds of Ward 7. Compared to the days before the war, the difference in numbers was painfully obvious, rows that were once filled with vibrant, confident fighters now stood thinned, shadows of what they once were.

Ayato stepped onto the platform, followed by Valen, Aeri, Kaien, Gale, Rago, and Ren standing firmly at his back. The remaining members of ZEAL straightened at once, bowing deeply in respect as their leader took his place before them.

"There’s no need to bow to me." Ayato said, his voice calm but heavy. "I don’t deserve it."

The wardens and squad members looked up, their faces puzzled. Then his next words landed like a heavy blow.

"I’m a failure of a leader after all."

A wave of shock rippled through the crowd. Murmurs stirred, eyes widened, and expressions stiffened. For the first time, many of them saw Ayato not as the unshakable leader who carried them through countless battles, but as a man standing bare before them haunted by the weight of lives lost under his command.

"I know all of you have lost someone precious. Many of you are still carrying wounds, wounds I forced onto you. As the leader of ZEAL, the one who gave the orders, I should have protected you all. Yet despite my planning, despite my commands, this is what we’ve come to." Ayato’s voice wavered at first, but it grew steadier with each word.

"But let me remind you of something, ZEAL has always been the underdog. We’ve always been outnumbered. We’ve been beaten down more times than I can count. And yet, not once have the wings on our backs ever disappeared. Every time we were crushed, we rose again. Every time the storm tried to drown us, we lit a flame that refused to die. We carried hope through a world drowning in darkness. We gave people a reason to believe in peace. We fought, and we struggled, not for glory, not for power, but so that every generation in Aetherpolis could see even the faintest glimmer of light!"

Ayato suddenly dropped to his knees, bowing low before them. His voice echoed across the silent training grounds.

"And now I ask of you, I beg of you! Let us keep fighting for that freedom our wings have always stood for. With all of my respect, please lend me your strength! Together, let us save Aetherpolis once more!"

His forehead touched the ground as the weight of his words lingered. For a moment, the training ground was silent. Then, one person began clapping. Another followed. Soon, the sound swelled into thunderous applause.

And then came the voices, shouts of determination, of loyalty, of burning resolve.

"Stand up, Leader! We’ll fight with you!"

"We’ll follow you no matter what!"

"For ZEAL!"

The cheers grew into a chant that shook the entire ground, echoing into the sky.

"ZEAL! ZEAL! ZEAL!"

Their voices weren’t just cheers anymore. They were wings, spreading wide, ready to soar back into battle.

"Gather every fighter who can still fight! We march to battle tomorrow!" Rago yelled, and the crowd exploded in loud cheers.

"Hey, can I ask you something later?" Ren leaned closer and whispered to him.

"Huh? What did you say? I can’t hear you!" Rago shouted back.

"I said, can I ask you something later?!" Ren yelled.

"Huh? Forget it, let’s talk later! Can’t hear a thing!"