Chapter 3: The Awakening of the Dead

  [Year: 2032 – Knight Association Headquarters]

  The office was silent, save for the hum of the air conditioner and the rhythmic ticking of a clock. On the wall, a digital calendar glowed: October 2032. The Chairman of the Knight Association sat behind a heavy mahogany desk, his eyes fixed on the city skyline.

  The door opened, and his Right-hand man entered, placing a thick, black file on the table. "Chairman, you need to see this. We found a knight with a... peculiar record."

  The Chairman opened the file. A photo of a young man with messy dark hair and tired eyes looked back at him.

  NAME: Xyron GozzakiAGE: 20D.O.B: 30/10/2012RANK: 6FAMILY: Maki Gozzaki (Sister), Ziom Gozzaki (Father - Deceased), Mother (Deceased).

  "Ziom Gozzaki..." the Chairman whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "He was my best friend. And this... this is his last son."

  "Sir, there’s more," the aide said, placing 26 more files on the desk. "Xyron has participated in 32 raids. In 26 of those raids, he was the sole survivor. Every high-ranking knight with him was slaughtered, yet he somehow crawled out alive every single time. It doesn't make sense for a Rank 6."

  The Chairman leaned back, rubbing his temples. "The Gozzaki bloodline... once the strongest in history, now reduced to ghosts. His elder brother, Lucifer, was a monster. At just 13, he wiped out the entire Gozzaki clan, including his own parents. He was about to kill Maki and Xyron before the Association stepped in and executed him. Now, only three Gozzakis remain in this world: Maki, who isn't a knight; Xyron, a weak Rank 6; and... the other one."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  [The Cave – Present Time]

  Blood was everywhere. Xyron lay paralyzed against the rock, his vision blurring. He watched in horror as the monster turned its attention to Jin.

  "Jin... no..." Xyron croaked.

  The monster didn't hesitate. It plunged its rusted blade directly through Jin’s chest. Jin’s eyes went wide, blood bubbling from his mouth. His last gaze wasn't on the monster, but on Xyron—a look of pure sadness. With a final gasp, Jin’s body went limp. He was gone.

  "NOOOOO!" Xyron’s scream tore through the cavern.

  Fueled by pure rage, Xyron tried to stand. He grabbed his broken sword, his knuckles white. But the monster was faster. With a single swipe of its claws, it shattered Xyron’s blade into dust. Before Xyron could even react, the monster’s sword swung again—slicing through Xyron’s right hand.

  The scream that followed was silenced as the monster brought its blade down one last time, clean through Xyron’s neck.

  Xyron Gozzaki was dead. His severed head rolled onto the cold stone, his lifeless eyes staring at nothing.

  But then, the air changed.

  Inside Xyron’s chest, his heart began to pulse with an eerie, rhythmic thrum. A violent explosion of Blue and Purple energy erupted from his body, lighting up the darkness. The energy surged toward his severed head. Suddenly, the dead eyes of Xyron Gozzaki snapped open—now glowing with an intense, celestial purple flame.

  [The Other Side of the Cave]

  Yuhima and the Captain were back-to-back, surrounded by hundreds of monsters. Every other knight in their team lay dead, their bodies torn apart.

  "Is this the end?" Yuhima whispered, her sword shaking.

  The monsters let out a unified roar and lunged at them all at once, a tidal wave of claws and teeth.

  Editor’s Comment:The impossible has happened. Xyron Gozzaki has been brutally killed, but the ancient blood in his veins is refusing to stay cold. As the blue and purple light consumes his corpse, the world is about to witness the rebirth of the Last Gozzaki. But can Yuhima and the Boss survive long enough to see what Xyron has become?

  Editor’s Comment:The impossible has happened. Xyron Gozzaki has been brutally killed, but the ancient blood in his veins is refusing to stay cold. As the blue and purple light consumes his corpse, the world is about to witness the rebirth of the Last Gozzaki. But can Yuhima and the Boss survive long enough to see what Xyron has become