Shun Zhang: The Red Beast

"My brother, Wen Zhang, is everything a Shaolin Monk aspires to be. Humble. Reserved. Peaceful. And though he and I both studied Shaolin, I am nothing like him, because I will do whatever it takes to win. If that means becoming a demon. To become arrogant. Ferocious. Merciless. This is the Kung Fu taught to me by the Red Circle Triad."

- Shun "The Red Beast" Zhang

First Stance

In school, I was once asked to fill out a career questionnaire. Many didn't think much of it, but I had taken a lot of time to think: what kind of person would I be?

But for a ten-year-old Zhang Shun, a boy who was as naive and mentally deranged as the family he had been forced to grow up with, the outcome of all that thinking was as silly as one would expect.

"An adventurer."

The teacher gave me a raised eyebrow, and the sarcasm in the way she had read my questionnaire was met with an uproar of laughter.

"An adventurer? Like an RPG? The Chinese boy can't understand Japanese?"

"How stupid!"

And I remember being confronted by that same teacher and held true to my response to this day.

The power to run away and go on lots of adventurers.

To be able to obtain such power in the near future was always a dream I wanted.

My father was a psychopath. He enjoyed abusing the rest of us whenever something good happened. It was almost like he was allergic to good things. The day me, and my brother, Zhang Wen, had our birthday, my mother had bought a duck to celebrate. My father proceeded to flip the table and yell at us for no good reason.

My mother wasn't any better. She believed every hobby I had was "dangerous". A "Christian" woman, who took her faith to the realm of schizophrenia. She caught me playing video games and ordered I throw them into the trash because she believed it was "controlling me".

Needless to say, the idea of escaping such a family was almost like a dream.

I would do anything to escape this family.

But I wasn't exactly someone particularly intelligent, like Wen. Wen was a prodigal, he escaped easily. But I was stupid.

And so I would resort to anything.

Anything to escape my life with these people.

CRUNCH. CRUNCH. CRUNCH. CRUNCH. CRUNCH.

"Shun Zhang of the Red Circle Triad!" Several voices echoed in the distance.

"We know you're there!"

"Come out! And pay for what you did to Master Leung!"

I slowly emerged from the darkness, the cloth that contained Leung's head slung to my side like a prized trophy.

Several Masters gasped upon seeing the severed head.

Many more reacted with outrage.

"How could you... how could you!" A Master shouted at me, a polearm brandished in his hands.

"Master Leung was a good man! A loving father! A caring teacher! Yet you ruthlessly killed him! And you dare to have his head as a troph-"

I stomped on the ground with tremendous force, unleashing a shockwave that repelled everybody back.

Dozens, if not hundreds of martial artists had surrounded me. All wielding swords and weapons of every kind.

Even gang members from rival Triads had come to try to take me down.

I slowly ran my hand through my hair. The blood-soaked bandages left behind a streak of red against the black.

"Master Leung was a target. The greatest martial arts practitioner in all of Hebei Province. Now that you see the might of Boss Lok's son, I am disappointed that you still have the audacity to try to threaten me."

My Mandarin was still a little off, despite my parents being of Chinese descent. But I definitely got the point across.

Because the masters became even more enraged.

"Get him! Kill Shun Zhang of the Red Circle! For Leung!"

"FOR LEUNG!"

I brought my foot back, assuming my stance.

A demonic voice rumbled in my mind.

Shun-dono. There is no alternate route. We must kill every master here. And with how renowned and loved Leung-sensei is, the entirety of the martial arts community has come after us.

"I know, Hataka-sensei. And not just the masters. But rival Triads have come for my head. They think that I will be weaker now that I am supposedly backed into a corner."

Then let us bring about mischief. Show them just how deluded they are. For a Japanese oni foreigner like me to be able to tear them apart with their own martial arts.

A crazed smile appeared on my face.

"For Boss Lok! Of the Red Circle Triad!" I snarled, rushing forward. The attackers retaliated with a battle cry, as the sounds of battle filled the air of the village.

For Boss Lok, I would do anything.

I was Boss Lok's son. There was nothing to leave behind. My father was a shitface, and my mother was a delusional freak. I would throw these parents of mine in the trash at any convenience.

I had no hesitation in calling Boss Lok of The Red Circle my father and my master.

And on that day, I had fought off hundreds of martial arts practitioners and killed many. Blood soaked through my clothes, and the more red that I saw, the more excited I had become.

The greater my lust for death filled my veins.

My victory over the greatest sifu in Hebei earned me a moniker because, by the time I was finished with my battle, I had killed 90% of the martial arts community all at once. The blood that covered my body, and my expression of pure malice earned me the name The Red Beast.

The most ferocious martial artist to ever have lived.

At least...

That was how it was.

Until the day I had lost my oni.

"Shun! Are you awake? We're going to be late for our deliveries!" A young boy said.

I buried my face in my pillow.

Mendokusai.

Pain in the ass, in Japanese.

"Oh for crying out loud," A woman's voice said, as the door ripped open, revealing a short, four foot girl who was holding the door by its hinges.

"Shun Zhang! Wake up already, you idiot child!"

I got up from my bed and yawned.

"Good morning, Lady Melinoe."

Melinoe's face turned red in rage.

"Don't good morning me, you troublemaker! Flock is going to be late because you slept in!"

"Who cares about being late or not? It's just a delivery."

"Just a delivery?! My reputation is already bad enough as it is! I don't need to be known as the Goddess of Tardiness as well!"

A boy peeked from the broken door frame.

"Lady Melinoe! No matter how bad your reputation is, I will always love you!"

Melinoe's anger suddenly disappeared, transforming into feelings of fluster as she turned to Flock and threw her arms around him.

"Flock! How adorable you are!"

I slowly got out of my bed and glanced at the bandages that were neatly folded on my nightstand.

There was not a single speck of blood on them.

Almost like a complete contrast to how they used to look many years ago when I was a member of the Triads.

"Five minutes, Melinoe. I will be ready by then."

Flock and I made rounds as we made delivery after delivery throughout the city of Folia. A city of adventurers, as many would call it, as it is the only city to possess a Labyrinth. As such, many adventurers of different lands and races have come to Folia to try their hand at exploring the Labyrinth. The gods and goddesses have blessed the people of Folia with power, depending on how well their body receives it, to try and conquer the Dungeon. Groups of adventures would aggregate into factions, following a specific god or goddess.

The top Legions were the Poseidon Legion and the Venus Legion, with an average of twenty or thirty members each.

As for Flock and me, we belonged to the lowest of the low.

Melinoe, the Goddess of Ghosts.

"Melinoe is so kind, I just wish more people could realize her and see her more than a Goddess of Ghosts," Flock frowned.

"Perhaps she wouldn't be so terrifying if she didn't resort to ripping open my door every morning."

Our first stop was actually to another Legion, the Apollo Legion. We arrived at the gates, and I couldn't help but let envy take over.

"What a big gate. We don't even have one," I grumbled.

The gate opened, revealing a maid.

"Flock! Always a pleasure seeing you in the morning!"

Flock handed her the package.

"Delivery! How are you, Bethel?"

"I'm doing great! That's very thoughtful of you to ask. You know, my offer still stands. We would be more than happy to let you join our Legion. Even Apollo himself is encouraging it! Melinoe... doesn't really have a good rep around here, being such a scary goddess and all..."

Flock smiled.

"I appreciate the offer, but I will always choose Lady Melinoe."

The maid made a disappointed expression.

"I understand. I just think your talent is being wasted delivering packages is all..."

I grunted.

"Hey, my talent is being wasted too."

"You belong where you are, troublemaker!"

"HUH? You think you can get away with saying stuff like that?!" I growled, marching forward, but Flock grabbed me and held me back.

"No! Shun! Control your anger! We can't afford any more property damage after you destroyed the Tavern last week!" Flock cried out.

The maid frowned.

"What did Shun do?"

"She made a mistake guessing Shun's age is all," Flock reasoned, but annoyance filled my body and manifested in the form of a fast reply.

"She did not just mistaken me! She called me a kid! I'm fifteen years old! I am eligible to order drinks without the need for an adult! I'll do more than trash her place next time, in my homeland, the people I lived with had a custom where those who disrespect us get their fingers cut off!!!"

Bethel took the package as more members of the Apollo Legion peeked out of the windows.

"Ugh... Melinoe's Legion..."

"Do you think that creepy goddess will ever get more than two members?"

"I understand the Chinese pickpocket, but Flock? The guy deserves someone better."

Flock and I made our way back to the village, but I noticed Flock had a troubled expression.

"Are you really letting what Bethel said get to you? Melinoe is Melinoe, no point letting others speak ill of her."

"I know... but I'm just upset that people aren't even giving her a chance. Lady Melinoe is sweet and caring. One of her dreams is to have a Legion just as big as Poseidon!"

Dream on...

The only reason Melinoe even had members was because Flock himself was a human angel, kind, compassionate, and would give anyone a chance.

As for why I ended up in the Legion, it was because I had no fear of ghosts.

Considering for several years I let myself be possessed by the demonic ghost of a martial arts grandmaster and caused mass chaos in China.

"She's the goddess of ghosts, that already is creepy enough. Not to mention the fact that our Legion home is literally a run-down shack. You've gotta be crazy to even consider approaching us," I grumbled.

"Hey. You two look like you could use a woman," A female voice said coyly above me.

"Huh?" I muttered.

I slowly looked up to see a girl in front of us. Knee socks... and a pair of high heels made her look a lot taller than she probably was. A cardigan that had sleeves covering her hands, and complimented by long blonde hair which was so obviously dyed, considering there were streaks of brown at the roots. The jingle of earrings and jewelry rang in my ears.

I encountered many women like this when I used to work for Boss Lok of The Red Circle Triad.

They were often considered "rewards" for us Triad Members for completing kill contracts.

But due to my age at the time, a fourteen-year-old wouldn't be given a reward like that. I was instead compensated with copious amounts of "dragon powder", which made my vision blurry whenever I inhaled it.

I made eye contact with the girl.

"Do you take us for fools? We are not like the men you've played with, we will never give you the time of da-"

"Hi! I'm Flock, and this is Shun! We're members of the Melinoe Legion!" Flock said happily.

Don't go acting all cutesy at a time like this!

I shot to my feet.

"Flock! Don't talk to her. She is bad news."

Flock blinked.

"But-"

"Let's get out of here."

The girl suddenly interrupted us, laughing and putting a hand to the back of her head.

"I was just kidding. You two are just kids after all. I don't play with minors."

"Who are you calling a minor?!" I growled, but the girl didn't look at all fazed and responded by wagging her finger at my forehead.

"I'm bad news? Look who's talking. Rumour has it that you used to work for a Chinese Mafia. Compared to that, being a flirt means nothing."

This bitch sure had a death wish coming!

Flock stepped in between us.

"Now now... get along you two! I recognize you... it's Tilly, right? We were supposed to give you a delivery today."

Tilly twirled her hair on her finger.

"Yeah... I figured it would be easier to come get it myself."

"Why is that?" Flock asked.

I narrowed my eyes.

This gyaru had an unusual expression. Almost like uneasiness. But before I could continue analyzing her expression, Tilly suddenly reverted back to her flirtatious demeanor, wrapping an arm around Flock, who squeaked in surprise.

"You don't need to know, kiddo. Why don't you have some fun with me this afternoon? The guy I'm seeing doesn't need to know."

I grabbed the package, shoved it in her arms, and yanked Flock away.

"Your package. Now leave us alone, you whore," I growled.

Tilly tilted her head, a shadow cast on her face. She looked like she was going to say something, but stopped herself, turning around and walking in the other direction.

Good riddance.

"Tilly!" Flock suddenly called out, stopping the girl in her tracks.

"What is it?" Tilly asked.

Flock fiddled with his thumbs.

"I know it isn't any of my business... but that knife in the package... you're planning on using it to kill monsters in the Labyrinth, right?"

Tilly's expression turned dark, gazing at us from the distance. In contrast with the many people who were walking in the town, she definitely stood out. Likely intentional, to attract the attention of men.

"You are correct, little Flocky. It isn't any of your business."

My hand made a fist.

I served Boss Lok in the Red Circle for many years.

I could tell when someone had an intention to kill.

And Tilly had that expression.

"I- I don't know what it's like to take a life. Monster or human. I've never been in the Labyrinth before, but if something is bothering you... that you would consider killing a human, please. Please, you can talk to us!" Flock called out, freezing Tilly on the spot.

The girl gripped the package, her knuckles turning white.

"If only... more men were like you, Flock..." I heard Tilly mutter, before turning around and leaving us with our last package delivered.

* * *

"Lady Melinoe, what is a whore?" Flock asked while Flock, Melinoe, and I were having dinner.

Melinoe's fork froze midair for a few moments before the goddess slowly got up and gave me the signature "Goddess of Ghosts" glare.

"Flocky... where did you hear that word?" Melinoe smiled evilly.

"Umm... Shun called the girl we did our last delivery for one."

"You don't need to know what that word means. And Shun? Take off your hand bandages for me."

I squirmed away.

"Ummm... why?"

Melinoe giggled.

"Just trust in your goddess. You are my child, are you not?"

"I didn't sign up for YEOOOWWWW!" I screamed as Melinoe pressed an ice cube against my sensitive skin.

"Stop teaching Flock weird words!"

"There's nothing weird about knowing about whores!" I complained, desperately putting the hand bandages back on my hands.

"At some point, he's gonna know. If we are to expand our empire we need to consider a larger range. That includes the Night District!" I protested.

"First off, don't call my faith an empire! I am not an evil goddess! And second of all, how in the world does a fifteen-year-old have such a dirty mind?! You are the complete opposite of Flock here!" Melinoe exclaimed.

Flock poked at his food.

"Lady Melinoe... have you ever killed a human before?"

The atmosphere suddenly turned dark.

Melinoe let go of me and turned to Flock, concern laced her eyebrows.

"Flock, why are you asking this?"

"Dunno, I just feel like asking."

"Does this have something to do with your deliveries?"

Flock glanced at me, then at the knife on the table.

"The girl we met, had a knife delivered to her and wanted to pick it up herself. When I asked her what she going to use that knife for, she said it wasn't any of our business. But she looked like she wanted to kill someone."

The goddess sighed, putting the dishes into the sink, which was practically falling apart. The space was so cramped that only Melinoe could fit inside and wash the plates.

"I have been a goddess for many eons. Not once have I had to kill a mortal. It goes against what we stand for. But I have seen many mortals kill other mortals."

"But why?"

"Perhaps it is for satisfaction. But most of the time, it is always because they believe it is the only solution. A mortal human killing another human is not the same as killing a monster in a Dungeon. The decision to kill a human is a big one because once the blood has been spilled one becomes a murderer. And the killing will not stop."

I gritted my teeth.

I knew that feeling all too well.

After all, the first person I had killed wasn't even something I wanted to do. It was because if I didn't kill her, Hiiro and I would have died.

But after killing my first, my body had become used to it, and killing the next had less of an impact. And before I knew it, I was killing nonstop for Boss Lok.

Even if you leave the killing behind, the guilt always stays.

Nothing can erase the fact that you took a life.

"Flock, I understand you are concerned for this Tilly girl, but you don't know her full story. I don't want you getting involved with her shady business. Tilly is one of Astarte's Legion members. And even amongst her followers, she is one of the bottom caste, notorious for starting sexual relationships with married men and getting into affairs. This kind of business is not suitable for a fifteen-year-old boy. Tilly is dangerous."

"But-"

"Flock."

Melinoe turned around and put her hands on Flock's face.

"Promise me you don't get involved with Tilly. You're... you're one of the only children I have. I don't want to lose you. I'm worried."

Flock blinked.

"Lady Melinoe..."

Hey, wait a second.

I was a child of Melinoe's Legion too.

Flock took a deep breath.

"I won't turn my back on someone who needs help, Lady Melinoe. I promise you I will always stay true to myself. Because I still have a dream to make you the greatest god in all of Folia."

Melinoe hesitated, a blush formed on her face as no words left her mouth.

After dinner, Flock and I lay in our bunk bed, looking out the window to see the city of adventurers and the night.

"Shun, were there any stars in China?"

"No. Too much pollution. Lots of blood though."

Flock shifted in his covers.

"I wonder what Tilly is up to at this time."

"Probably getting railed by a middle-aged man."

"What does that mean?"

My mind flashed back to Lady Melinoe pressing ice cubes against the palms of my hands.

"Ah... forget I said anything," I grumbled.

More moments of silence passed. And I would be lying if Tilly wasn't on my mind.

I normally had very negative views of people like Tilly, people who would enjoy the temporary rush of pleasure, playing with men to obtain sex.

It disgusted me, but was I any different? When I served Boss Lok, I was thirteen at the time, and I felt pleasure of my own. By killing and taking lives as a Triad member.

I found it fun to ruin people's lives, because if I couldn't make something out of myself, like Wen did, then I might as well ruin it for others.

Wen and I were brought up the same way. We went to the same school in Nara, Japan, where we were born. We both went to the same Shaolin Temple to study kung fu.

Yet Wen had become a prodigy, top of his class, and became the youngest Warrior Monk ever in the history of the temple. Then became the youngest master to open a dojo. Then became a member of the Venus Legion, as the first Martial Artist adventurer in all of Folia.

Compared to Wen, I was a failure.

Failed out of school, failed out of the temple, and had to resort to using an evil spirit to become strong, only to have the evil spirit killed.

And here I was, lying in a bunk bed with goodie two shoes Flock of the Melinoe Legion, the worst-rated Legion in all of Folia, and a joke of a goddess who everybody found creepy.

The idea of finding any sort of pleasure was akin to taking dragon powder, in a way. Temporary happiness was better than no happiness.

"I want to save Tilly," Flock said, breaking the silence.

"What? Did you not hear a thing Lady Melinoe said? Tilly is dangerous."

"Tilly... Tilly is going to take someone's life because she thinks it's the only solution. I don't know what it is like to fall in love. But I don't want something as precious as love to be ruined for her. Tilly was crying today. I saw it. She doesn't want to kill, and she is not a killer. She looks like someone who needs help."

I sighed, resting my head against the rags of what was supposed to be a pillow.

"Lady Melinoe... your empire is gonna have to wait. Your two troublemakers of children are going to be away for a while," I muttered.

I got up and approached the door.

"You were always like this, Flock."

Flock blinked.

"Like what?"

My mind flashed back to the day I had barely escaped China with my life, blood pouring from my wounds.

I was about to die, I remembered the pain. The machete wounds.

Yet, somehow, I was able to swim to Folia, where I collapsed. Everybody avoided me like the plague.

But you didn't.

Flock.

You look like you needed help. My name's Flock and this is Melinoe! Come join our Legion!

If even a former Triad member could share a bed with this wholesome bag of fun, and eat warm meals prepared by a goddess...

What right did I have to refuse someone like Tilly?

I smiled evilly.

"Flock, hope your tracking skills aren't rusty. Let's track 'em down. We're gonna find Tilly."

Flock gave me a confused look.

"But I don't have anything to track with-"

I handed Flock a stick of lip balm.

Flock's eyes widened.

"What in the- where did you get that? Isn't this Tilly's?!"

"Yes. I stole it."

"But why?!"

I gave Flock a peace sign.

"Pickpocketing is rudimentary for Triad members. I was going to sell it for cheap cash, but looks like it has a much better use. Let's get to tracking. And save this gyaru."

* * *

"Remember, Shun. This is all speculation. No more stealing or anything like that, got it?" Flock scolded me.

I pouted.

"A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do to expand his goddess's empire."

"That again?" Flock laughed nervously before the two of us hid inside the bush.

We found Tilly outside under one of the bridges of the city. There wasn't anyone around, being the middle of the night and all.

And just as I had predicted, the man she was sucking face with was definitely middle-aged.

"That apron... is he a blacksmith?" Flock whispered.

"No. That man is no blacksmith," I muttered, focusing on the blood stains all over it.

Fish blood.

He was part of a fish market, which was a perfect coverup for killings.

Tilly you dumb broad. You got yourself mixed up with Folian Mafia?

I tried scanning Tilly's body to try and find the knife, but I couldn't make it out from this distance.

"Flock, do you know any vision magic?" I asked.

"No, why?"

"We need to get closer."

"Closer?"

"Yes. I need to be able to see Tilly's body better."

Flock squirmed away from me.

"Shun! That is so indecent!"

"What? No! I didn't mean it like that! I just need to know where she's keeping her-"

"I agree with Flock. Checking me out sure is indecent, you horny little boy."

"Ah."

I slowly turned around to see Tilly standing behind us, her hands on her hips. Did her skirt somehow get even shorter than the last time we met?

"Uh, greetings... Tilly-san," I muttered, my semi-broken English transitioning to Japanese in nervousness.

"Hi, Tilly!" Flock said happily.

But Tilly's face of disdain shut the both of us up.

"Do you mind explaining why you stole my lip balm, Shun?"

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Don't act stupid with me! After I chatted with you two, I patted my pockets, and my lip balm was gone! I should have expected that from you two. Men always only want one thing, no matter the age!"

Flock got to his feet, returning her lip balm.

"Tilly, we're worried about you. That knife you bought, are you planning on doing something to that man wearing the apron? Who is that man in the first place?"

Tilly regarded us, taking the lip balm and slipping it into her... cleavage...

"And I told you two that it is none of your business."

"But Tilly, we're just trying to help-"

"I do not need to hear this from you. Shun's theft of my belongings is enough evidence for me. I don't need to receive help from pre-pubescent boys of all people to deal with my situation. Go home, it's late. And Zachery will get suspicious if I'm gone for too long."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Zachery? Is he that Mafia guy?"

Tilly sighed.

"No, you moron. Zachery runs a fish market along with the rest of Triton's Legion. There's none of this Mafia silliness that you probably are used to."

I glanced at Zachery, who popped a cigarette as more people of the Legion joined him.

"Sounds like bad news," I grumbled.

"Tilly, you don't need to get mixed up with Zachery if he's making you feel these things," Flock reasoned, but Tilly swatted her hand.

"You will never understand what my situation is like, kid. Go home."

"Not until you tell me what's going on!"

"I said go home, you stupid- stupid..." Tilly's voice broke, the lip balm dropping to the floor.

Even I was taken aback, as Tilly's body became wracked with sobs.

"You don't understand. You can't possibly understand. You two are just children. You don't understand what it's like to be treated as an object not just by all the men you once trusted... but your own goddess..."

I clenched my teeth, remembering what Lady Melinoe had said.

"You're part of Astarte's Legion, right?" I asked.

Tilly glared at me, trying to keep her makeup from falling off along with her tears.

"Yes. I am the lowest of the low. Astarte is the Goddess of Fertility and Sexual Love. But for people like me, we are considered outcasts. But we still need to abide by our Legion's practices, or we will become Unnamed. I have no choice but to have lovers. They only want my body. They can act kind all they want, but in the end, they all want the same thing. This isn't something that you two can solve. This knife is the only thing that can let me have control. It's all I have."

Flock pursed his lips, glancing at me, before turning back to Tilly.

"Tilly... could it be that you want a friend?"

The girl's eyes widened in between sobs, as she stopped.

"D- Don't be silly. I'm twenty years old now. I'm past silly high school friends and the like. I don't need-"

Flock suddenly stepped forward and took her hand, causing Tilly's face to flush red.

"I can be your friend! Your first friend if you need it. I don't know what you've been through, or how bad these men in Triton's Legion are like. But if you're hurting, you turn to the people who are closest to you. Lady Melinoe taught me that. So let me be that person."

Tilly let go of Flock's hand and slowly patted him on the head.

"Silly kid. I'll... I'll think about it. Thank you, Flock."

The girl turned around to make her way to Zachery, who was still smoking cigarettes and laughing up a storm.

From a distance, I could hear their conversation.

"That Tilly girl... how long are you going to keep playing around with her, boss?"

"Eh, she's still got a few month's worth."

"Think we're being a little mean to the young lady? I mean..."

"Who cares? She's just a distraction from my wife. Once I'm done with her, she can go find another man. That's the point of her Legion, isn't it? Besides, it was her fault in the first place to let a bunch of strangers do her like that, only a lunatic would want a slut like that to be a partner."

The boys roared with laughter, and I could make out Tilly's hands trembling as she made her way back to her lover.

"A failure!"

"An unwanted failure of Astarte! Who would ever feel bad for that?"

And as the insults continued, I suddenly found myself trembling alongside her.

Failure.

Unwanted.

To be treated like a joke.

You are such a failure, Shun. Why couldn't you be more like Wen? No wonder your father always puts your hands into boiling water! If it wasn't for the fact that you are Wen's twin, I would have gotten an abortion! My mother's words spoke in my mind.

Leave me, Shun. You're making me look bad. I am part of the Venus Legion now. You can be Unnamed for all I care, but never step foot in the same room as me ever again, Wen had said.

You are an unwanted failure of a brother.

"I'm going to see if I can invite Tilly out tomorrow, maybe we can talk-"

"No." I cut Flock off, rage filled my eyes.

Red covered my vision.

"I will visit them. Tonight. We played it your way, Flock. Reason won't get Tilly out of this. We will do this my way.

"And show them how the Triads do things."

Second Stance

Foreigners love to act like they know about Chinese culture.

Just because they saw a few movies.

Watched a few documentaries.

They would think they were complete experts on our culture and knew more than the people who lived it themselves.

Such was a common misconception...

Is their belief that Shaolin Kung Fu wasn't meant for violence.

Shockwave Style

Wind Dragon Fist

SKYCUTTER STRIKE

I raised my leg and delivered a powerful side kick which blew open the door to Zach's hideout.

Since ancient times, Shaolin was used by warriors to defend China from invaders.

Shaolin practitioners used it for war. And that same philosophy was what made Boss Lok's Red Circle Triad so terrifying.

We were all practitioners of kung fu, but we brought out the most of its purpose.

Not for health.

Not for grace.

The kung fu taught to me by The Red Circle was always, meant to kill.

"What the?!" A man yelped.

"We're being attacked?"

Flock drew his sword, but hesitated, aiming it at the members of Triton's Legion.

"We're not here for a fight, just tell us where Tilly is!"

"If you're not here for a fight why did you break open the door?!"

The smoke from the destruction still concealed our faces, but pretty soon, we would be identified. We couldn't let Lady Melinoe into more controversy.

"Flock, I'll distract these guys. You focus on finding Tilly and stopping her from killing Zachery!"

"Okay... but promise me you won't kill anyone. Okay?"

I slowly reached behind my back and pulled out a bandanna, wrapping it around my mouth as the smoke cleared.

"I promise. Yubikiri should it be broken. Tilly will never listen to me, but she might listen to you."

Flock glanced at the numerous figures that were starting to pile into the room.

"There's... a LOT of people here! The average level of the Triton Legion is Level 5! We haven't even gone through our Awakening yet, we're basically Level Zero, maybe we should-"

"Zip it!" I snarled, turning to Flock.

"Trust in me, like how I trust you to stop Tilly."

Flock reluctantly ran past the dust, as I was greeted with dozens of members of the Triton Legion.

They were wielding swords, spears, daggers, clubs, bows, you named it.

One of the guys summoned a magic circle above his eyes. A few seconds passed before he started laughing hysterically.

"Hey check this out. Appraisal is saying this kid hasn't even Awakened yet! He's Level Zero!"

"Level Zero? Are you serious?"

"He got a death wish or something?"

"And he's trying to steal Boss Zach's woman?"

One of the men approached me.

"You so don't want to do this, kiddo. I get it, you wanna play the hero for ol' Tilly. But she prefers older men. And besides. You'll find plenty of sluts like her roaming in the Night District. Have some advice, kid. Don't try picking a fight with Level 5's when you're so underlevel-"

SLICE.

The man froze, as he stared at his sword which was severed in half.

I reached forward and grabbed the man by the throat. The man began retching, making eye contact with me.

"Those eyes... those eyes, you're not human! What are you...?!"

SLAM.

I smashed the man's skull into the ground, then slammed my elbow against the back of his neck.

"GAH!!!!" The man screamed, his body suddenly going slack.

"My body... my legs... I can't feel my legs! My arms!"

One of the men fired his bow at me, but I caught the arrow, facing him menacingly.

"What the fu-"

I rushed forward and grabbed the man's bow, snapping it in my bare hands as the man tried to swing at me with his knife, but I met his strike, and my fist reeled back.

I felt my knuckles contact his joint and forced my punch to go through, snapping and breaking his arm as the man howled in pain.

"Stop him! This guy isn't an ordinary unawakened!"

"How is he so strong for being a Level Zero?!"

I spun around and assumed my Wind Dragon Stance, the same stance Boss Lok had taught me.

"You called Zachery 'boss'. I take it this fish market is more than just a fish market. What contraband are you selling?" I asked.

Four more fighters rushed forward, but just as quickly as they stepped forward, I unleashed a blinding shockwave with a kick, slicing through their weapons and shot in, breaking every limb in sight like a wild, feral animal.

Memories from my time with the Red Circle flooded my mind.

The blood.

The chaos.

The carnage.

And as more blood coated my clothes and bandanna, what was originally something I had suspected was made crystal clear.

The Red Beast never once left.

The Red Beast...

I laughed maniacally, beckoning more adventurers forward. One of the adventurers, a mage, cast a fireball straight at me, but I stomped on the ground, unleashing a torrent of wind pressure which dissipated the flame and slammed into the mage point blank.

... The Red Beast was always there. Inside me. Waiting to break free.

I spun in the air and landed on a nearby table, grinning crazily at one of the Triton members.

"He's a martial artist... like Wen Zhang of the Venus Legion!"

I swung my fist, but suddenly, the punch stopped mid-air by a sword which halted its momentum.

I turned around and kicked viciously at the person, but the man parried my blow and retaliated, slicing through my side as my eyes went wide. I stumbled back, assessing the man.

"This boy is nothing like Steel Palm of the Venus Legion. His style is too aggressive. Too vulgar."

The man brandished his sword and shield before me.

"Even if you are a martial artist, you are still an Unawakened. You haven't even achieved Level 1 yet. Why don't you try your hand against someone like me, Blood Beast? The name is Rodin Sark. A Crusader. Level 8."

Rodin braced himself, as the other members of Triton's Legion made way for him.

"Rodin is fighting?"

"Rodin! This boy isn't worth your time!"

Rodin glared at the men, who quietened quickly.

"Don't you dare tell me who I should fight. As it stands, none of you stand a chance against this boy. If I let this continue, more of Triton's children are going to bring shame to our god's name. I'm ending this once and for all. We will discard the body as necessary."

"No. Come with me with all you got. All of you," I said, pointing at the Legion.

"Excuse me?" Sark snapped.

"I don't want a one-on-one. It is insulting."

"Do you even understand your predicament right now? I am a Level 8. I am one of Triton's aces. Being able to fight a one-on-one is enough of a death sentence-"

ZOOM.

I flew forward, launching a punch at Sark, who stopped it with his shield.

"See what I mean? Your strikes are meaningless."

Rodin slammed his hilt against the side of my face but stopped in surprise as I pushed my face forward, blood leaking down the side of my face.

"That all... an Ace got?!" I snarled as I threw another punch which smashed into the Crusader's helmet. The punch deflected as Rodin retaliated with a shield bash that sent me flying back into several tables.

Rodin breathed heavily, running his hand against his cracked helmet.

"His punch... shatters Divine Steel?!"

"No, Rodin. Look, his hand!"

"Shimatta... that hurts like a bitch!" I muttered, inspecting my mangled left hand. The skin was scraped clean off revealing blood and white bone of my knuckles.

I got to my feet as Legion members surrounded me, but Rodin called them off.

"Back off. It is a one-on-one. Look at you, Beast. You're no match for me. There's only so much a vigilante who isn't blessed by the gods can do. You're only doing this for some bitch who's had a body count in the hundreds. Are you willing to risk your life for something that meaningless?"

I rushed forward again, delivering another combination against Rodin's armor, but my strikes were being deflected. There was always a limit to kung fu.

The masters I had beaten never danced around wearing chainmail every day.

The rival Triads and kill contracts I completed never hid behind tanks.

So it was always common knowledge that martial artists were never very common in cities where enchanted swords and godly weapons ruled adventuring.

But even so.

I roared, letting the shield smack me in the face as my head snapped back, but I retaliated with a deadly kick that rocked Rodin in the head. A powerful shockwave pulsated outward.

I landed on the ground, slipping through dozens of sword slashes, and shoved the Crusader's shield out of the way.

"Stupid fool! You're just going to keep coming at me until you're unconscious? Tilly is not the type of girl who would appreciate a knight in shining armor! Especially not one as disgusting and ugly as you-"

"You say that... but..."

I slammed my forehead against Rodin's helmet, finally shattering it. Blood exploded from my head as Rodin pushed me back. I slid, forcing myself to stop. Blood from my body was turning the whole room red. The carnage and splinters made up maybe 90% of this base now.

Yet despite my appearance, one thing was absolutely clear.

I held out my fist, the hand bandages that were wrapped around it soaked in a familiar red and pointed it at the Crusader.

"A Level 8, with the armor of the gods, couldn't even beat a street punk who showed up with nothing but a few rags. Pummelling me into this state doesn't prove anything. Anyone can beat a street bum like this. But you got your helmet shattered. And your shield in pieces. If you keep this up, your whole Legion is going to know you as the guy who couldn't even put down a stray and had his armor in shambles."

"Shut up! Mind games won't work on me, you fool! You're probably nameless! With no Legion to call home!"

Rodin raised his sword and struck me with it, but I caught the blade in the palm of my hand, breathing heavily through my bandanna.

"The moment... you saw me crack your armor should have been when you stopped the duel and called your lackeys in to help you. But now it's too late."

I snapped the sword in my hand and stomped forward.

Shockwave Style - Wind Dragon Fist

I brought my fist back, assuming my stance.

Rodin tried to move, but I had completely locked him in place. My leg position was intertwined with his, and my hand had twirled to wrap him in a deadlock.

There was no escaping this. And he knew it.

"Your technique... those moves... you could have been at least a Level 6 adventurer! Why did you choose to live this life?! Let go of me! I could give you everything! I own the drug circulation system here in the Underground. I could make you a lieutenant! No one has to know. So please..." Rodin exclaimed.

"I can't stand people who treat others like trash. Just because of their circumstances. So the satisfaction you feel from being a piece of shit and badmouthing Tilly... will also be the satisfaction I feel when I destroy everything that you are!"

RED CIRCLE DEATH PENALTY

I launched a punch right into Rodin's breastplate, shattering it and unleashing a devastating explosion of wind pressure which sent everybody back.

Rodin collapsed, barely conscious as I stood over him, menacingly.

"You will never hold that shield again. You will never hold that sword again. For every insult you made on Tilly's name, I'll put you on a level of shame that surpasses any prostitute in Folia."

The man gnashed his teeth.

"You are no hero, doing this..."

"Huh?"

I knelt in front of Rodin. The rest of the Legion didn't dare say a word.

"Who the fuck said I'm a hero?" I asked, my voice dangerously low.

"Wha- What are you talking about? You're-"

I slowly undid my mask showing my deranged smile.

"My name is Shun Zhang. I was a member of the Red Circle Triad. Do you think smuggling a bit of cocaine makes you a syndicate? Where's the Mountain Master? The Vanguard? The Incense Master? The White Paper Fan? The Red Pole?"

I stomped on Rodin's arms, breaking them as the sounds of bone snapping sent a chill across the rest of the Legion, who froze in terror.

"St- Stop... stop... I'm begging you..." Rodin whimpered, but I continued.

"The Straw Sandal? 49ers? Blue Lanterns? None of that structure? Is it just you and Zach? And you think that's enough for you to start trying to play around with people like Tilly?"

I slowly got to my feet, licking the blood off my fingers. Whispers rippled like waves amongst the rest of the Legion members.

"Shun Zhang...? As in Wen Zhang's brother?"

"Who is that? Did Steel Palm of the Venus Legion always have a brother?"

"Isn't he from that one Legion?"

"The one with the creepy goddess?"

I tightened the bandages on my hands, blood leaking and dribbling on the floor.

"You fools should have ganged up on me. When I was fighting Rodin. I would have had a hard time. But now your ace is gone. And so will you."

I rushed forward, fighting viciously against the horde of Legion members. Blood and violence filled the air.

After an hour of fighting, my body had reached its limit. I leaned against a wall that was full of holes, the paper wall drenched in blood.

I panted heavily trying to catch my breath as I stared at the countless unconscious bodies. Not a single one of them died.

I kept my promise to Flock.

But not a single one would be able to walk or fight again.

"Gotta... gotta meet up... with him..." I muttered, forcing myself forward.

"Flock... Flock's gotta-"

A light chuckle interrupted me as I spun around to the source of the sound.

Did I leave a member conscious?

I limped to the man, who was sprawled on the ground.

"You think beating Rodin is all there is to it? Flock better be a better fighter than you if he's going to try to... face Boss Zachery," The man croaked.

I clenched my fist, raising it.

"Sorry Flock, but I think I might just break that promise after all. What's one finger anyway..." I muttered.

"Stop! Stop... stop, Shun," A woman's voice said behind me.

I paused, slowly glancing behind me to see a familiar girl with dyed blonde hair and tears streaming down her face.

"Why... why did you come here?!" Tilly screamed at me.

"Me? Why the hell are you here-" I shouted back, before going into a coughing fit.

Tilly grabbed me as the man laughed hysterically.

"Little slut! How proud you must be, to have teenagers try to save you like a damsel in distress! You really never learn! People like you don't deserve compassion! People like you-"

STOMP.

Tilly stepped on the man's face, knocking him out cold.

"Shun... where's Flock?"

I coughed, stabilizing myself.

"He was supposed to find you! He was going to try to confront Zach and-"

"Shun, answer me honestly. Are you the better fighter out of the two of you?"

I stared at the kogyaru.

"Y- Yes... why?"

Tilly's face turned pale as she dragged me deeper into the house.

"Flock... Flock is in danger!"

"Why? What's so bad about Zachery?"

Tilly closed her eyes.

"If Rodin put you in such a state, Zachery is going to do much worse. Rodin may be Triton's ace, but Zachery is his right-hand man. In terms of fighting alone, Zachery is Level 10. No amount of Legion members, whether it's dozens or hundreds can beat him in combat. Flock... Shun... why are you two going to such depths for some depraved slut like me-"

I yanked at Tilly's arm and escaped her grip, then proceeded to punch the wall right next to her head, causing her to freeze in fear.

"Depraved slut... going to such depths... how long are you going to keep victimizing yourself? You claim all the men around you are the same. That all they care about is sex. But here you are talking down about yourself. If you don't wanna be seen as an object, then do something about it. Let us help you," I snarled, mashing my fist deeper into the concrete as blood leaked out of the crater I had just formed.

"I know I am not the right person to tell you this. Deep down, I am a killer. I served as a member of a Triad, a 49er. I did my job so well, that I was offered the position of a 426, a Red Pole. But ultimately I turned it down. I wanted to be the one killing. To become the best son for Boss Lok there was. I thought that my life as a killer would be over when Flock took me in, but today has been confirmation that the thirst for blood never left. The Red Beast was always here, deep inside me. I am disgusting. I am scary. I am depraved. But at the very least..."

I pulled my fist out and licked my wounds clean, to Tilly's discomfort.

"I don't go around complaining about why people are afraid of me. I am fine the way I am. So if you aren't happy with the way you are... then why don't you do something about it? But instead, you choose to bitch about it."

"No. I am doing something about it."

I turned to Tilly, whose hands were over the hilt of the knife we had delivered to her.

"T- Tilly, you're-"

Tilly pushed me as I fell on the ground before her, her hourglass figure casting a long shadow across me.

"You said it yourself. You're a killer. But you're fine with it. So you should have no qualms about me taking a life. I am here to end this once and for all. Flock may know his way, being a delivery boy for so long, but I know this place like the back of my hand. I will find Zachery first."

I reached out, but my body felt like it was on fire.

I had truly hit my limit. All this time, I had been slacking off and not practicing my Shaolin Wushu... I always compensated for it by being possessed. But now I no longer had that luxury.

"Tilly! Don't do something you're going to regret! Once you take a life, it's over for you! You will live with it forever! You need to believe me!" I called out to her, but Tilly shook her head, walking the other direction.

"It's because I trust you, Shun, that I am telling you this. I will carry this out. No matter what you say."

Dammit... Dammit!

I yelled, forcing myself back up, but by the time I had regained my orientation, Tilly was gone.

Flock. Flock was in trouble.

I needed to get to Flock!

I limped, forcing myself to climb the steps. This place was a maze, but I was bound to find Zachery and Flock, I had to.

I needed to.

I collapsed, my jaw slamming against the concrete.

"You pathetic mess..." I muttered, trying to drag myself forward.

"Is this really all you can manage, without Hataka-sensei?"

My fingernails scratched against the rocky surface, but I couldn't move an inch.

Why...

Why.

I knew my life never amounted to anything. There's no point trying to help someone when you can't even help yourself.

But just this once.

Just this once, there was someone who was about to walk the fine line of someone oppressed, to someone doing the oppressing.

I had to do something about it.

Or Flock...

Flock was going to die.

My mind flashed back to the ceremony of the Blue Lanterns, where we were tested by Master Talon for our willpower.

We were asked to hold a teacup in our hands, and the Incense Master would pour boiling hot tea into the cup. Overflowing it and having the boiling tea run down our hands as we were forced to withstand it. We could not drop the teacup.

Anyone who failed would be decapitated.

I remembered panicking and crying like a sniveling mess. Upon seeing me, Talon gave me a look of pity.

I remembered the look on his face.

The look of disappointment.

"It is not in my position to question those who choose to live this life. But take this advice, little eleven-year-old boy. If you want to survive in this harsh world. You must survive with your strength. Do you know why Dragons do not cry?"

I stared at the Master, waiting for an explanation.

"Dragons do not cry, for the flames that leave its mouth not just vaporize his foes, but the tears in his eyes. Strength will always overpower fear. This test shall see if your strength will be enough to overpower that fear of yours. The enemies you face, the enemies who wish to bring down our syndicate. The enemies who try to tear us apart to gain our territory. They will do much more than pour boiling tea on your fingers. If you cannot get past this, you are of no use to this Triad."

Dragons do not cry.

For their flames always dry their tears.

To survive, one must not depend on someone else.

That was the way the Triad did things.

But...

But I was no longer part of The Red Circle. Everybody I knew in that gang was dead. Master Talon. Boss Lok. Everybody.

What was left, when a boy who had the power of a Triad, an oni, and a brotherly connection to one of the greatest martial artists had all these things taken from him?

What was left?

I screamed, yelling and pummelling the ground with what little strength I had left.

"L- Lady Melinoe... forgive me... I'm so sorry for dragging Flock into this. But... we had to help Tilly. I wanted to help her. So she wouldn't end up like me. Melinoe... if you can hear this, I could really use your help."

Just as I thought, Melinoe didn't show up.

Of course, she didn't.

I did nothing to earn her good graces after all.

If it wasn't for Flock sticking up for me and picking me up that day, I would have been walking around Unnamed.

Melinoe loved Flock, but she would never love a killer.

I forced myself to my feet but collapsed again. I had no more strength in my body.

"Dammit... goddammit..." I muttered, seething through my teeth.

Even if I did manage to get to Zachery, there was no guarantee I could defeat him.

I was already struggling against Rodin and his men. If Zachery was Level 10, it would be just another repeat of what had happened to Hiiro.

I glared at the palms of my hands, the bandages momentarily shifting in them and revealing softened, weak, skin that had already blistered and peeled off from the abrasion of the cloth.

A member of the Red Circle could only carve their way out of this world through their own strength. That was how I was brought up.

That was how I was taught.

But ever since I lost Hiiro, it became clear as day that the strength that I was so proud of, even the name "The Red Beast" was never mine to begin with.

My strength came from borrowed power.

And now without that secret cheat code, I was back to where I started.

Weak.

Pathetic.

Dragons do not cry.

Just as their flames dry their tears.

Your flames must dry yours.

I pounded my fist against the ground, memories of my time with Flock and Melinoe flooding my mind.

Never ask for help.

This is the way of a killer.

That was the way of a killer. A killer like me.

Yet despite my upbringing, Flock was never scared. Like any of the other people I had met.

And come to think of it...

Neither was Melinoe.

Was it because she was the goddess of ghosts, and by extension, death?

Was that it?

I growled, scratching the ground with my fingernails.

No...

No, that wasn't it.

"Lady Melinoe, when can Shun and I go to the Labyrinth and go on adventures?" Flock once asked.

Melinoe raised an eyebrow.

"Adventures?"

Flock nodded.

"If we go on adventures we can bring back lots of shiny things. I know you love jewelry, my offerings to you would be much greater!"

Melinoe blushed, turning away.

"You don't need to go that far for someone like me... besides. To go on Adventures, you need to be Leveled. And to be Leveled you need to go through an Awakening."

"An Awakening?" Flock asked.

Melinoe crossed her legs, as I walked past her with dishes in my hands.

"It means something monumental must happen in your life, and only once you've seen past your heart will you be able to accept the blessings of the gods. All Adventures must be Awakened to access the Labyrinth."

Flock's eyes sparkled in excitement.

"Then... when am I going to get my Awakening?"

Melinoe smiled.

"In time. In time you will, my child. But you will need to go-"

"Pfft. I don't need any blessings to tear apart my enemies. From Day One I've always won through my own strength," I cut Melinoe off, making a fist.

Melinoe turned to me, pouting.

"You don't want my blessing? That's so hurtful!"

I scowled in return.

"I don't need your blessings. I am strong as it is. I don't need to be Awakened to kick ass."

After all, that was how I was raised.

But Melinoe didn't agree with how I saw things.

And each time she tried to insist on the two of us Awakening, I always brushed her off with my pride and ego.

Until today.

I closed my eyes, clenching my fists.

"Lady Melinoe... I... I'm not strong enough. I don't care about my strength. Right now, none of that matters. I need strength. I need power. I need your blessing."

No response.

"Goddammit! MELINOE!" I roared, slamming my head against the ground.

Give me power, you divine bitch! I need it!

I need it to kill all my enemies.

To kill...

To kill.

Something fell out of my pocket. A good luck charm, in the style of a Chinese trinket.

It was a charm that Flock and Melinoe had made for me, that one day I was out making deliveries.

The power to kill.

Was I really happy with what I was? To be a member of the Triad meant to make a path for yourself using your bare hands, but ever since I came to Folia, I never once was able to do that.

Everything came from relying on others.

Whether it was finding a place to live, to being Named by Melinoe.

And now to have the blessing to contend with my enemies.

What was power for?

What did power mean in Folia?

I can be your friend! Your first friend if you need it. I don't know what you've been through, or how bad these men in Triton's Legion are like. But if you're hurting, you turn to the people who are closest to you. Lady Melinoe taught me that. So let me be that person.

No matter how much strength I possessed, I could never convince Tilly to put down the knife.

But Flock could.

The power that I could never see myself having. Because it would mean changing my entire outlook on what it meant to have strength.

"I see... so in the end, I was never really a Dragon, was I, Master Talon?" I whispered, rolling over on my back and staring at the ceiling.

"I want to be Awakened because I want power. Not power for my sake, but the power to fight for another. If I don't get up now, Flock is going to lose his life to Zachery. And without Flock, Tilly is going to go down the wrong path. Lady Melinoe, please have mercy on this... irredeemable soul..."

"Arise. Child."

My eyes snapped awake as I found strength surge through my body. I shot up and got to my feet, revitalized, and stood before a young woman, who was flickering with a green light.

"You-"

"Shun Zhang. I know a lot about you, perhaps even more than you know yourself. You are correct, seeking strength for one's own benefit might work in some places, but not in Folia. Especially with the dangers of The Labyrinth. But there is one thing that you have mistaken."

Melinoe approached me and put me in an embrace.

"You aren't unloved, Shun. I love you just as much as I love Flock. But I understand that your perception of love isn't as affectionate as Flock's perception. Because you were raised differently than Flock."

"Lady Melinoe, I-"

I blinked, and before I knew it, my goddess had disappeared.

What was that? That surge of strength.

No. I gotta find Flock. I need to get to him.

I sprinted up the steps to the highest floor in the building, and I eventually reached a large room where I heard a man shouting.

I stopped dead in my tracks to see Tilly on one side of the room, Zachery on the other, and Flock, who was kneeling and pressing his forehead against the ground.

"Zachery, please, stop this. Just leave Tilly alone."

Zach glowered at the kid, club in hand.

"You've got a lot of nerve asking me to give up on my woman."

"But she isn't! Is she?" Flock responded angrily. I had never seen Flock so mad before. The sight of it took me aback.

"This entire time you've been badmouthing her! You have a wife of your own!"

Zachery's eyes flashed with rage.

"Why you little..."

The Triton member stomped on Flock's head and began pummelling him. Tilly watched in the corner, her hands to her mouth but unable to say a word.

"Get out of here! This is your last warning, kid!"

"NO."

Flock grabbed Zachery's foot as Zachery continued stomping on his face. Each strike was making his nose more and more bloody, but Flock hung on for dear life.

"Leave Tilly alone!"

"And what do you think you will change if I threw that slut away?! You think she's going to have a change of heart?"

Zachery kicked Flock and sent him skidding back.

"You are a kid, so maybe you don't understand how women, hell, or even men like that work. Tilly lives off lovers. If not me, she'll go for another man. That's the only way she's gonna feel satisfied. Pleasure comes in many forms, but for people like her, it comes from hookups. You think she's going to break her hundred-man streak just for the words of some delusional teenage boy? Answer me this, Flock of the Melinoe Legion. If I throw her out, where would she go? Where does she belong, if not to another man?!"

I clenched my fist and walked forward, but stopped, as Flock slowly got to his feet.

"SHE BELONGS WITH US!"

A breeze blew past everybody in the room.

Zachery was taken aback, lowering his club.

"With you? What kind of nonsense are you-"

"She can come home with us. To Shun, Melinoe, and me. What she's looking for isn't pleasure. Deep down, she's looking for friends. For happiness. But no man she has been with has ever been able to give her that. I know I'm just a kid. I couldn't possibly understand relationships and romance to that level. But what I do know, is the look of someone who's had nothing. Everybody laughs at my goddess for having no followers. Everybody laughs at Shun for being unwanted by any Legions. But even if someone offers me a place in the highest-level Legion imaginable, I will still choose Melinoe! Because we are small, we are little, but that means we are close. We are friends."

Zachery glared at Tilly, who had fallen to her knees, weeping in the corner.

"You bitch... how many more people are you going to ruin? Now you're going for little boys? Flock. You want to be a hero so badly, then perhaps you will suffer a hero's tragedy."

The man lunged forward, striking Flock in the side of the head as I watched the kid go flying.

"FLOCK!" I roared, rushing forward and throwing a punch as hard as I could at the Level 10 adventurer, but even with my revitalized body, I was no match for him.

My punch deflected, and I watched Zachery spin to me, bat in hand, and striking me below my jaw.

My legs lost all their strength and buckled, collapsing from under me. I felt the man's grip around my head as I was lifted into the air.

"You must be Steel Palm's failure brother. Don't tell me you are also intending to take in that whore."

"GRRRK! GAHH!!" I snarled, my eyes darting between Flock and Tilly.

"I see. So you are just like the boy. Then suffer the same fate."

Zachery began to squeeze as I growled in pain, kicking my feet frantically.

The sides of my vision were turning black.

"STOP."

Flock suddenly appeared in the corner of my vision, glowing white.

"What-" Zachery said, but was interrupted by a strike from Flock's sword which cut a gash into the Level 10 adventurer's armor.

The adventurer stumbled back, staring at the cut that Flock had made.

"You... little bastard! You got an Awakening from Tilly of all people?!"

Flock breathed heavily, clutching his sword, his brown hair had turned white.

"In the name of Melinoe, the Goddess of Ghosts, I will serve as her Champion. My pact will be to never leave a hurting person behind. Not until my last breath."

I crumpled to the ground, watching as Flock charged, unleashing a combination of sword slashes at Zachery, who momentarily was overwhelmed, but regained his footing in the last second.

"Not bad... for a Level 1. You may well be one of the only Level 1's to have ever survived an exchange with someone like me. But your beginner's luck as run out. I'm going to enjoy tearing you apart."

The Adventurer suddenly switched his stance, catching Flock in the side with his club, then another strike to his head as blood splurted from his mouth.

But Flock kept himself standing.

"Apologize... to... Tilly..." Flock muttered, coughing and hacking.

Zachery growled, grabbing Flock and slamming the smaller fighter through several pillars of the house, then threw him onto the ground, punching him in the face relentlessly.

"Die, you brat!"

I rushed forward, but Zachery spun around at lightning-fast speeds, catching me in the chest and hurling me into a wall. I crumpled to the ground, unable to get up.

Zachery raised his hand again, but Tilly suddenly grabbed his wrist.

"That's enough... I've had enough."

Zachery yanked Tilly out of her grip, but Tilly suddenly drew her knife, to Zachery's surprise.

"Tilly!" I shouted, but to my surprise, instead of stabbing the adventurer, Tilly brought the knife to her throat.

"You were right. Flock. Shun. I was intending on taking a human life all along. But it was never Zachery's."

I got to my feet, seething.

"You fool!" I snarled, but Zach grabbed me and slammed me back onto the ground, before he could continue, I grabbed his arm and yanked it out of its socket.

"GRAHH! You brat!"

I spun viciously, my legs swinging and forming spirals of wind pressure.

"Get... the hell... off of me!" I roared.

Shockwave Style - Wind Dragon Fist

VORTEX STRIKES

The adventurer flew into the air as I shot to my feet, rushing forward and unleashing a devastating combination of punches, each punch hitting harder than the previous.

"You... how are you hitting so hard... you're a Level 1!"

Zach caught my fist, but I pushed even further, snarling like a beast and pushing him to the ground, smashing my fists into his face until the adventurer was unconscious.

I slowly got to my feet, but stumbled, my body seemingly losing its second wind.

I could only watch as Flock approached Tilly, whose knife was still hovering over her throat.

"Tilly..." Flock said.

"I appreciate your words, Flock. I really do. More than you can realize. But I can't join you two."

"But why? We can work things out, Tilly. You don't need to be part of Melinoe's Legion, you can just stay with us-"

"Flock, I don't know how Melinoe's Legion does things, but Astarte can never forgive me if I leave her Legion. If you take me in, that would mean declaring war against the Astarte Legion. I can't bear the thought of putting the two of you kids through something like this for my sake."

I breathed heavily.

"A duel... a fight... a war game. I can take 'em on. Let me just... get my bearings straight."

Tilly smiled gently at me.

"You two are so sweet. I wish I had known you two when I was still looking to be claimed by a god. Shun... you are an incredible fighter. What you just did... I've never seen someone accomplish something like that. It's almost absurd! You're so weird!"

"Who the hell are you callin' weird? You aho!"

Tilly laughed, lowering the knife, but keeping her distance from the two of us.

"It's not just Astarte. All the men I've been with... they didn't just throw me away. I threw them away as well. The truth is, I simply don't have it in me to love a partner. The guys I've been with all lust for me, some even creepily following me everywhere, but I can't bring it in myself to say anything. There's nothing in me to love them back, it's no longer genuine. Answer me this... you two. Would you take in someone who routinely cheats on their lovers?"

"We would," Flock said.

"Hell no- I mean yes we would," I stammered.

Tilly knelt before us, inspecting her hands.

"Whether it is because I am a child of Astarte, or because of my rotten personality, either way. I am irredeemable. At its core, I can never find happiness... I cannot leave this life either."

"But why?" Flock asked.

Tilly stared at the kid.

"Why what?"

"Why does it have to be about love? Can't you just be friends with a man? Why does every man have to be a romantic interest?"

Tilly blinked, momentarily taken aback at what Flock had said.

"Because... because ultimately... a man and a woman cannot be friends. One of them is bound to develop feelings for-"

"Well I can never develop feelings for someone as gaudy as you," I grumbled, getting to my feet.

Flock sat down in front of Tilly, putting his hands on hers. Tilly slowly let go of the knife as it clattered on the ground.

"If you want to be friends without anyone falling in love with you, then you can start with me."

I finally mustered enough strength to recover, limping toward the two.

"Exactly. You said it yourself. We're just minors. There's no way any romance can blossom between us, onee-san."

Tilly frowned.

"I am not familiar with the word."

"It means 'bitch' in Japanese," I lied.

Tilly's jaw dropped.

"You little shit! How can you be insulting me when I'm like this?! I was seconds from-"

"What? Stabbing yourself? With this?" I asked, flipping the knife that I had stolen seconds ago in my hand.

"Give it back!"

"Yada."

"Shun! You stupid brat!"

I scurried away from Tilly as Flock ran forward and hugged her.

"Even if you go back to Astarte, we will still be your friends. So please, don't do it. You still have a lot left to live for. If you feel like there's nothing to live for now, then just live for us!"

Tilly relaxed but buried her face in Flock's shoulder.

"I... I..."

"I heard that Tilly was involved in a huge mess with the Triton Legion. Of course, the loser of our Legion would be affiliated with Melinoe's bottom feeders," A woman's voice said, cutting Tilly off as Flock and I tensed.

Tilly pulled away, the blood drained from her face.

"Mira... wait. These two don't have anything to do with-"

SLAP.

Tilly fell backward, as Mira towered over her junior Legion member, surrounded by other members of the Astarte Legion.

"Shut up, bitch. You're the reason we have such a bad name. Why don't you go get railed and keep your mouth shut? Now I'm hearing that you want to leave the Legion after what you did to Lady Astarte's honour?"

A young woman emerged from the crowd, regarding Tilly with cold eyes.

"Tilly, you will return to our chambers at once. For the things you've done, I am assigning you to courtesan duty."

"Courtesan duty?!" I exclaimed, but the woman turned to me, and all of a sudden, my body lost its strength.

I fell to my knees, unable to do anything.

Flock ran forward.

"What are you doing to Tilly? Can't you see she's hurting?"

The woman's eyes flashed, turning to Flock, but he was not stopping.

"This boy... is resistant to my charm?" I heard the lady say, but suddenly, Mira appeared in front of him with blinding speed, kneeing my friend in the stomach and causing him to fall to his knees, retching.

"You dare attack Lady Astarte?" Mira snarled.

"No. Enough," Astarte said, lifting her hand.

"Tell me, Flock, child of Melinoe. What is it about Tilly that makes you bare your fangs at a goddess?"

Flock retched, trying to catch his breath.

"Tilly... Tilly isn't some object for affection. She's a person. A human being who was neglected for so long. Lady Melinoe taught me to always extend my hand to people in need. Always."

Astarte tilted her head.

"Tilly joined my Legion on her own accord. She sought pleasure. Pleasure from men. Someone like her doesn't become a delinquent overnight. Her desire for male affection came from many years of indulgence. You know by now just how depraved she is. For many years she didn't mind being treated as an object. This is not some children's tale, Flock. Did you really think you were 'different' from the other men she has been with?"

The goddess approached Flock and lifted his chin with her finger.

"Little boy, I am a very possessive woman. I do not like having my things taken from me. If you choose to play the hero, then you will need to play my game. And I have conquered men for many eons."

Astarte smiled coyly, as Flock kept his composure, glaring at the goddess.

"Tilly is my friend."

The goddess blinked, taken aback, as with the rest of the Legion, who began mumbling amongst themselves.

"What did he say?"

"A boy willing to be friend-zoned?"

"Of course, it would be a child of Melinoe to say something that left field!"

Astarte removed her hand from Flock's chin.

"A friend... with a person of the opposite gender? Am I hearing you correctly? What exactly would this so-called 'friend' do that a partner would not?"

"I want to be friends with Tilly. Because right now, she doesn't need some partner who can only provide her with physical affection, she needs someone to talk to. Someone to confide in. Someone to laugh with. Someone to cry with. Maybe a romantic partner can provide these too. But not the ones you've been getting her to go for. These 'romances' that you force Tilly to be in can never provide that!"

Astarte got to her feet.

"Tilly, how you disappoint me. I planned to just take you back and leave these two boys on their own for ridicule, but the more this Flock speaks, the more irritated I become. Take this with you, once you don your courtesan garments. The lives of the two boys you've ruined because you wanted to go against me."

"What? Stop! None of this is Tilly's fault!" Flock protested, but several Legion members began kicking Flock down, beating him relentlessly as Tilly ran forward to try to shield Flock with her body, taking the hits in his place.

"Tilly! What are you doing?! Stop!" Flock said, but Tilly grimly smiled, wrapping the boy closer to her.

"No, I'll take how many beatings I need to protect a friend."

No.

I can't watch this.

Not while I still breathe.

I forced myself to my feet, breathing animalistically. That same surge of power that I had displayed against Zachery returning.

"You... bitch... who cares..." I muttered, marching toward the goddess.

"Who cares if you're a goddess..."

Astarte tried Charm on me again, but nothing was taken effect.

"What? Him too? Is this some sort of magic-"

"Who cares if you're stronger..."

My footsteps began cracking the ground, malice dripping from my body like venom.

"By the Paladin Code of Acadia, those who hurt my friends will PAY," I roared, what was left of my bandanna falling to the ground as everybody suddenly went silent.

Astarte stumbled back, a look of pure horror filled her face.

Even I was full of surprise at what I just said.

What the hell was a Paladin Code of Acadia?

Astarte stared at me, as she held out her hand, stopping the rest of the Legion members.

"Stand down... stand down, all of you."

Tilly and Flock stopped resisting, scurrying back.

"What... what's happening?" Flock asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine, I've never seen Lady Astarte act like this before."

Astarte clenched her fists, her teeth gnashed together.

"They said he left, why are you... you..."

"Huh? What's gotten into you all of a sud- er- I mean, yeah, you better be scared!" I said, confused.

Suddenly a swirl of power interrupted us as a young girl appeared behind me, grabbing me by the ear and turning me to the side.

"Don't look at her, Shun!" Melinoe said.

Astarte slowly lowered her hands, which were trembling.

"Melinoe... explain this. Why does this boy look so much like-"

"It is a prank."

"Huh?"

The rest of the Legion tilted their heads at the same time.

Even I did.

"Huh?"

Melinoe turned to her fellow goddess with a deadpan expression.

"It's a prank. Just a prank. I wanted to look cool is all."

Third Stance

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

"Shun, the door," Melinoe said, dismissively while we were eating breakfast.

I got up and approached the door, groggingly.

Last night was such an acid trip. One of the benefits of this new blessing and being Awakened was that by returning to our home, the presence of Melinoe would restore our health and mana.

For once, I didn't regret being in this shack.

I slowly opened the door, my speech already well rehearsed.

"Hi, sorry, but one of our Legion members has come down with a very contagious-"

"HEEEEEY!"

"GYAAAAH WHAT THE HELL?!" I yelped, falling backward to see Tilly raising her fist in the air like some magical bi-shojo that the girls back at Nara used to always like watching.

Tilly stepped inside, as Flock waved his hand.

"Tilly! Welcome to the Melinoe Legion! We have a room prepared just for you!"

Melinoe smiled warmly.

"I'm so glad you're here, sweetheart! Look at you, so cute in that little cardigan of yours."

Tilly blushed, putting her hands on her face.

"Aww, you're going to make me blush!"

You're blushing already, you bimbo!

"What is Tilly doing here?" I asked.

"I live here now. I'm part of the Legion," Tilly answered.

I stared at our new Legion member, unable to hide my Japanese.

"Chotto matte."

Melinoe rested her chin on her hand.

"Do you really not remember what happened last night? Shun?"

"No. I blacked out by the time we returned home. Something something knife. Something something... oh shit! Why are you here? What about Astarte?!" I exclaimed.

Melinoe looked away, embarrassed.

"Nevermind. I think it's better if you didn't remember-"

"Oh! I remember now. I remember EXACTLY what happened, BAHAHAHA!" I laughed, clutching my stomach, as Melinoe began twitching in irritation.

Yes.

I remember all too well.

(Several Hours Ago)

"To steal a member from me would normally only be possible if we engaged in a war game. But with only two members, it would make me feel bad," Astarte said.

Melinoe dragged me and Flock away from the group, defensively putting distance between us and the goddess.

"You're right. We don't stand a chance against you in a War Game. We will be leaving, so sorry for causing you trouble."

"Now we can't have that, now can we, Melinoe?" Astarte said, running a finger over Tilly's face.

"Not only was my Legion informed that one of its members was affiliated with something so violent, but now I am hearing it is you of all people taking center stage with your raggedy group of ugly Legion members? Since when did the most disgraceful god of all of Folia get members in the first place? Did you not remember what happened the last time you had members?"

Melinoe hesitated, her grip on me tightening.

"It isn't like last time."

"You are not the goddess of prophecy. You are the goddess of ghosts. Keep the death to your own Legion. But you will not be involved with any more Legions. No. For the price of what you have done, I will be keeping Tilly... and..."

The goddess lifted her finger and pointed it at Flock, licking her lips.

"I will be taking him."

Flock made a whimpering sound.

"You can't have him! Flock is fifteen! You're, what, like four thousand years old?" I shouted, but Melinoe hit me over the head.

"Shun!"

Astarte regarded me.

"Hmm..."

"Lady Astarte," Melinoe said, falling to her knees and prostrating herself before the other goddess, to everyone's surprise.

"I beg you, please leave my members alone. What is it going to take for me to... be in your good graces..." Melinoe muttered.

I froze in place, my mouth hung open.

I had never seen Melinoe put herself in such a pathetic state before. Wasn't she a god? Why was she...

"I'll do anything. Absolutely anything... just please. Don't take away the only children I have," the goddess's voice broke, sending a weird surge inside my chest.

I didn't like seeing this.

I didn't want to see this.

Astarte approached the goddess and put her foot on her head.

"HAHAHA! Look at you, Melinoe. Being so pathetic. It's so hard to even believe a bottom-feeder peasant like you is even the same species as me. Everyone is going to have a good laugh once they find out about this. And they will know about this. I bet Triton himself will be quite pleased seeing you like this after what your stupid child did to his followers."

I wanted to say something, but seeing Lady Melinoe like this broke my heart. I didn't want to make things worse.

Astarte sighed, taking her foot off of Melinoe.

"How long are you going to keep bawling like this, you disgraceful goddess?"

"As long as it takes. Please, I beg you."

The goddess of love turned to Tilly, then to Flock.

"Ugh. Well, Tilly was never worth much, and I'll get my precious little Flock some other way. You can have that failure of a child for all I care. But in exchange, you will declare that you are my dog."

Melinoe clenched her teeth but didn't dare say a single thing.

"You will be working once a week, as a peasant like you are. A peasant of the gods, and now a peasant of man. Once a week you will work one of the stalls in the town, and you will serve us. You... and your little cosplayer over there. Both of you."

What?

I was going to what?

Melinoe grabbed my head and put my face on the ground.

"Yes, we will gladly take you up on your offer, Lady Astarte."

From the dust on the ground, I could make out Astarte's sadistic smile.

"Very good then... my little doggies. In exchange for me handing Tilly over to you, Shun and Melinoe will be my slaves for two months. And your disgrace will be made public to all of Folia."

(Present)

"YOU GOT ME WORKING PART-TIME?!" I snarled, grabbing my goddess and shaking her wildly.

"It is necessary, it was the only way for us to truly get Tilly out of Astarte's gra- stop shaking me! I'm going to throw up my breakfast!" Melinoe yelped.

"I'll shake you as much as I want for what you got me into! I don't know how to work a stall, hell I basically dropped out of middle school! I don't know how to work!"

Melinoe escaped my clutches.

"GAH! I got us out of this mess! Why are you complaining? Besides, we only have to work once a week. For the rest of the week, we are free to do our deliveries. And besides... we still haven't even managed to celebrate yet. Quick quick! Flock, get the streamers!"

"Yes, Lady Melinoe!"

Tilly looked confused.

"Celebrate? For what?"

Flock handed me a streamer as I popped it, shooting confetti all over Melinoe.

"What do you think, genius? We just got a new Legion member after so many months of just Flock and me. This is a huge deal for Lady Melinoe," I said.

"Yes! Now we have enough people to finally form a party!"

I stopped spraying confetti and turned to the goddess.

"A party?"

"Yes! Now my Legion can finally go to the Labyrinth! One of my dreams has finally come true... I'm so happy I could cry!"

Tilly scratched the back of her head.

"I don't really know what you are talking about, but sounds fun!"

"Sounds fun?! Do you even know how to fight," I said.

Tilly put a finger to her lips.

"Mmmm, you just wave a pointy stick around, right?"

Forget trying to catch up to Wen and the Venus Legion.

We probably couldn't even rob a homeless man with this setup.

"Hey, what's this?" Tilly picked up a wooden figurine off of a shelf, causing Flock to go into full panic mode.

"Ahhh! Tilly don't touch that!"

Tilly raised an eyebrow.

"Isn't this a doll of Leah Crowley from the Poseidon Legion?"

Flock quickly swiped the figurine and hid in the corner in embarrassment, causing Tilly to laugh.

"That's so cute! I didn't know you liked collecting that stuff, Flock!"

"It's not what it looks like! I... I don't play with dolls! Honest!"

"I never said it was a bad thing," Tilly put a hand to her mouth and giggled.

Melinoe smiled, watching Tilly and Flock interact.

"She looks so much happier than she used to."

"Huh?" I asked.

Melinoe reached behind me and cleaned up the streamers.

"I am a goddess, I keep tabs on what is happening in Folia, and I often speak to other gods routinely whenever you two are out. So I always knew about Tilly of the Astarte Legion. The smiles she would put on whenever she was with a lover... it never was genuine."

"Hmm, well, I don't know how having a gyaru will improve our chances of expanding our empire."

"That again?" Melinoe said as she put the dishes away.

"Shun, I'm also very happy for you too."

"Why? That's weird. Stop being weird. That's creepy."

"Don't call it creepy! I'm genuinely glad for you. For once, you prayed to me, you're making the heart of this goddess aflutter!"

"If it was Venus's heart maybe..." I grumbled.

Melinoe laughed.

"A start is a start nonetheless. But look at what we've started. We're slowly expanding. I think... I think might finally be able to escape my curse."

I looked at Melinoe again, remembering what Astarte had said.

Did you not remember what happened the last time you had members?

Melinoe was a goddess, meaning she had existed for thousands of years. There was a high chance she had followers in the past. But if Flock, Tilly, and I were the only ones now...

Then I couldn't imagine what must have happened to the Melinoe Legion years ago.

"Melinoe... you know how you always get me to dye the pink streaks in my hair black?"

Melinoe pursed her lips.

"Y- Yes."

"Does it have something to do with Astarte's reaction to me last night?"

Melinoe slowly took a deep breath.

"I- I'll tell you in time, Shun. Just not right now."

"But-"

"Shun," Melinoe reached for my face, grabbed my cheeks, and pinched them with her hands.

"I promise I will tell you, but now is not the time. Okay?"

"MMFAY."

Melinoe let go and lowered her face.

"Did you mean it? When you said you wanted power for the sake of another?"

She remembered my embarrassing prayer?!

I scratched the back of my neck.

"I... Erm... Yeah... I figured, that maybe, just maybe the strength I gained, doesn't have to all come from me. If it means helping you expand your empire."

"And seeing your brother one more time?"

I slowly turned to Melinoe, who sat on the beat-up sofa across from me. Even though she was the goddess of something as creepy as ghosts, her warm smile made me feel at ease.

There was nothing scary or creepy about this goddess.

"Maybe. Who knows. Right now, I feel like I'm right where I need to be."

* * *

"Tch," I muttered, standing with Flock in the shabby yard of our shack.

"We told Tilly to be here by 8 am, what is taking her so long?"

Flock waved his hands.

"Ah, let's not rush her, I'm sure she has a good reason."

"Back in the Red Circle you'd get whipped for every minute you were late to a summons," I grumbled under my breath.

"Heeeey!"

I glanced up to see Tilly jogging toward us. Her blonde dyed hair was tied back in a ponytail and she was wearing what looked to be an athletic uniform. A black sports bra and a pair of black leggings that accentuated her figure.

Normally I wouldn't mind something like that. Adherent clothing was something that Master Xi wore whenever she taught us how to infiltrate rival markets.

But... with Tilly... she had something that Master Xi wouldn't ever imagine having.

BOING. BOING. BOING.

Tilly approached us and frowned.

"What's wrong, you two?"

"Nothing," I replied a little too quickly, trying to keep myself from staring at the two giant winter melons that were in my face.

Flock's face flushed red.

"Umm... Tilly, do you normally wear something this revealing whenever you're training?"

"Of course, I don't like getting my normal clothes all sweaty."

Tilly raised an eyebrow and leaned in close to Flock.

"Hey, you wouldn't happen to be aroused, would you?"

Flock yelped, doing a jazz hands motion frantically.

"N- No! Of course not! I- I- um..."

Tilly grinned coyly.

"I'm just messing with you, little Flocky. You're so adorable whenever you're flustered!"

"Tilly, do you know any magic? Any weapons? What class do you belong to?" I asked.

Tilly put a hand to her chin, as if in deep thought.

"Dunno!"

This airhead!

"What do you mean you don't know? Surely your time with Astarte had given you some chance to learn magic of some sort. Lady Astarte was able to use Charm, right?" I asked.

"I don't know anything about classes. And Charm is a form of magic that only Lady Astarte can use."

Flock raised his hand.

"But surely Lady Astarte's Legion has had members go to the Labyrinth before, right? What kind of weapons and magic do they use?"

Tilly shrugged.

"We were never really exposed to that kind of stuff. After all, people like me were of the lower caste. Going to the Labyrinth was always a pipe dream for some of us. What classes are you two?"

Flock drew his sword and assumed a stance.

"I'm a swordsman! When I awakened, Lady Melinoe said I possess the special skill White Eclipse. Not really sure what it does still, though..."

"Ooh, it sounds pretty fancy though. What about you, Shun?"

I put my hands in my pockets.

"I'm a martial artist."

"What about your special skill?"

"No idea."

Flock and Tilly stared at me.

"Huh?"

I shrugged.

"Like I said, I have no idea what my special skill is. When Lady Melinoe did an Appraisal on me, apparently I was a Level 1 Martial Artist. But for some reason, she couldn't read what my special skill was, she said it was in a weird language."