02.05.1642

The City of Above

48:26

"[M4TTH3W]-RY4N, what is it? You look upset. What concerns you?

[RY4N]-...CHE5TER ran away without me again and he still didn't come back! It feels like he is just trying to avoid me lately! Doesn't he... want to stay with me anymore?

[M4TTH3W]-Of course he wants to stay with you! Why do you say such horrible words?

[RY4N]-He always leaves without me! He goes wherever he wants and tries to not bring me at all, to leave me behind! It's like he simply doesn't see me as his brother anymore, only as another stranger!

[M4TTH3W]-Hey now, don't cry...

This faded man... A man that we know from the past, but never had the opportunity to see Him with our own eyes. The true M4TTH3W LENKOV, former Great Leader of the Underground City... and father of the two sons that fight to honour His legacy. He looks at His R born son, a child so innocent, and which remained innocent even in the present, one that is even similar to Him. As little RY4N wipes his tears, He continues His words to calm him down.

[M4TTH3W]-...Do you know why I can trust your decision so easily, RY4N?

[RY4N]-No...?

[M4TTH3W]-It is because you always think of the consequences before you put anything in action. CHE5TER never does that, he simply does whatever he wants! It's not because he doesn't love us, but every person is different from one another. We cannot expect him to be exactly like us. As he likes to be free, you like to obey to the orders, and there's nothing wrong with that!

[RY4N]-But it can put him in great danger one day...

[M4TTH3W]-Don't cry, RY4N... As long as you both are together, nothing can stop any of you. You and CHE5TER can beat anything in this journey, even your biggest fears. You just need to be by his side to stop him from himself.

[RY4N]-...And what if I fail?

[M4TTH3W]-You won't fail. I know you can protect your brother, no matter what life throws at you in the future. When he comes back, promise him you will always be by his side, even if he despites this idea so much. In the end... he will always accept you in his life."

And yet... it is just a memory. Like all the other memories, it has to end at some point. We live in the present, we cannot go back in time to change the way things have turned out to be. It's just how it is, and we have to face it. RY4N has to face it.

Right now, it seems that a mission has started a while ago. Not too long ago, but they are here for some minutes already. RY4N's team works together with Mrs. M4EK0 and surprisingly with Mr. M1SH4M as well, but the Leaders seem to stay together rather than being separated. It looks like Mr. M1SH4M has decided to help out both the East Base and the South Base. The soldiers don't seem to stay with them though, they are all put in different areas, whether they are in groups or alone.

The investigations around the city have persisted, but again, nothing new came up for now. If there is even a possibility, Mr. M1SH4M's team is trying to save some of the slaves taken during these missions, or even some newborns from the central building of the City of Above, which explains why there are new people in the shelters despite the old rescue quests being cancelled, but nothing more.

From these people though, the only one who seems to not work properly is RY4N. He is always distracted by something and looks around the whole city. Even one of the other Leaders looks to have gotten a bit pissed by this action of his as both of them don't really understand what's in his mind.

[M4EK0]-Young Master RY4N!

[RY4N]-...Huh?

[M4EK0]-*sigh* With all due respect, focus on the mission! Ever since I've agreed on this collaboration, you were distracted by something that you refuse to tell us! We are here to work, not to waste time for nothing!

[M1SH4M]-Don't be harsh with him, ALLINA! If there is something that troubles him, we should leave him alone.

[M4EK0]-Well I certainly don't understand why are you here in the first place since the whole idea was for you to help Mr. R4YMOND, but I didn't say anything, M1SH4M.

[M1SH4M]-Technically speaking, I am still helping him, even though I've suggested to help you as well. The entrances to our city are everywhere, remember? Working with you is no difference than staying with him while completing my new task.

[M4EK0]-Yeah right... It's just an excuse for you to stay and do nothing with us.

[M1SH4M]-Not true, since my people are still trying to complete their old tasks and rescue our kind from this city, even with these changes. A part of my team is already near the central building trying to get more newborns from it. I am doing my job after all, no need of you to argue with me regarding who is doing what.

[RY4N]-...Can you two just stop? There is no time for that now.

[M4EK0]-Oh, but it is time for you to be lazy, I assume?

[M1SH4M]-ALLINA!

[RY4N]-...Don't worry, Mr. M1SH4M. It's alright. Mrs. M4EK0 has her rights to be doubtful about my actions. I am aware that I didn't pay much attention lately, so I know I am at fault here.

[M1SH4M]-If I may ask... what troubles you, Master? Maybe we could find a solution. Is it a problem with your father?

[RY4N]-*sigh* No, it's not that... I know the break was unexpected for all of you and that you worry about the present, but He simply had to do it. I... cannot tell you more about it. I'm afraid that the Great Leader will tell you the details only when He comes back.

[M1SH4M]-Then what's the problem? Is it because of what happened ten years ago?

[RY4N]-I... guess it is something like that...

[M1SH4M]-Master... Look, I may be a nobody to you since I'm a simple member of the Council, but throughout the years of me working as the Leader of the North Base, I lost many of my people too. I know it doesn't compare to your loss since he was your family, but little CHE5TER is resting in peace now. We fight to honour the fallen ones, RY4N. Each loss we have it's not a simple waste. Warriors die for a reason, for the future of the world to become more peaceful... and victims of the war are a reason for us to continue fighting further, not to give up because of one death. Your brother is surely proud of how far you've come, even if you do not see it that way. Don't you think that too?

[RY4N]-Yeah... You are right, Mr. M1SH4M.

[M1SH4M]-Just call me EWAN if it's more comfortable for you. *sigh* If anything, I regret I didn't know about what was about to happen to him back then. If only I knew... maybe I could've had some time to take my team and save him... I remember him being a child whose love was aspiring to exploring, but I've never imagined that he will die so soon because of this curiosity of his. Heck, I've never imagined he will go in the City of Above without anybody's awareness and being convicted because of that either! The news were shocking to us too... I understand why you still feel like this till this very day.

[M4EK0]-...But again, that's not a reason to keep yourself in reliving that memory over and over again. I understand that this city may bring you unpleasant thoughts, but you still have responsibilities to take care of, RY4N. Sorry if I sound rude, but better than letting you in the dark and putting the missions in danger. We need you to focus for now, alright?

[RY4N]-I understand, don't worry. I will try my best to focus.

[M4EK0]-You better try more than your be... Ah, fuck it! Never mind! I don't want the Great Leader to return and start shouting at me because of this child.

[M1SH4M]-Tough today, are we? At least try to act helpful for him.

[M4EK0]-Let's just end the conversation here, M1SH4M! We have a mission going on, remember? KAG3, anything new? What's the situation there?

[/KAG3]-No, Ma'am! Nothing new yet! The soldiers are still patrolling over here! There seems to be a hunt for some C borns in these areas seeing how hard they are continuing this charade.

[M4EK0]-Then at least does anybody have any new information regarding what's happening?

[/L0U1S]-Doesn't seem to be something new so far no matter who you are asking. After all, everything on what they are planning is kept secret. If we knew a way to get our hands on their documents, then maybe we could've got a clue.

[M4EK0]-God dammit... RY4N, how did your team find out about the news before any of us?

[RY4N]-I guess it was pure luck someone overheard a conversation in our city.

[M4EK0]-Even if I wanted, I couldn't believe that, but oh well... Guess we have no choice but to investigate the same way as ever.

[M1SH4M]-Are you guys any luckier there?

[/WY4TT]-Master, to be honest, we don't even know what we are suppose to find. Some of us made our way on the roads and vanished into thin air to hear what the soldiers are saying, but I don't think there is any use from what they've found. A guy just got back and nothing from what he had heard seems important at all. I'm still waiting for the others to come and see if they found something interesting, but I don't promise anything.

[/X4BAT]-Eh, it's no use to put us into these kind of missions anyway. If anything, maybe we can take some of the convicted with us if we get lucky enough to not get caught, but more than that, I don't think we can ensure. We are a bit useless in this type of quests.

[/KE1SUKE]-If we are on this topic, some of us from the east found some of the convicted and even managed to get our hands on them. Not all, but better than nothing I guess. Two people are escorting them to the city right now.

[/WY4TT]-Lucky you! We've tried taking some of them too but almost got caught! We had to abandon them because of that!

[M1SH4M]-Alright, calm down! Keep up the work there! It's okay even if we come back empty-handed! KE1SUKE, see if you can save more, alright? If not, I still congratulate you for what you've done so far!

[/KE1SUKE]-Yes, Master!

[M4EK0]-So? Any progress?

[M1SH4M]-Not on what you've wished, but I guess for us, it is a bit of progress.

[M4EK0]-Okay... Then I guess we still have nothing. RY4N, what's your team doi... RY4N?

But the moment Leader M4EK0 looks at the young Officer, the so-called "Leader" until he takes this title or finds out what happened to his brother, she notices that RY4N looks a bit annoyed. It seems like he already asked about the situation, and now is confronting something else rather than his memories.

[/KYR4]-CAN YOU JUST STOP BEING A CREEP FOR FIVE DAMN MINUTES, LUK3!?? WE HAVE A MISSION TO COMPLETE!!

[/LUK3]-But it was just a question!

[/KYR4]-...I swear, if I shout too loud and the soldiers hear me, I come personally to your location and throw you to them, hoping you will become their slave!

[/B4S7IAN]-DAMMIT, KIDS! CAN I HAVE A MISSION COMPLETED WITHOUT YOU TWO FIGHTING EVERY MINUTE!??

[/C0NNER]-At this point, you should've known they are a lost cause, Mr. B4S7IAN.

[/B4S7IAN]-KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT! YOU ARE NOT ANY BETTER, C0NNER!

[/C0NNER]-Well, at least I'm not the one screaming like a maniac in the team call.

[/D4NI3L]-I swear, I can't wait until I retire... It feels like it takes five more wars with you guys until that day.

[/IZA4K]-Can I ask why did we bring the recruit as well? You want him to witness your stupidity that much?

[/LUK3]-Because he is still training!

[/IZA4K]-And what exactly does he learn from this whole joke of a mission? That everybody is brain-dead and he should leave to find a better base than ours?

[/LUK3]-Well, at least I'm trying to teach him something! I didn't see any of you try!

[/IZA4K]-Yeah! Because you took this responsibility when you brought him at the base because of your high IQ move. Seriously now, LUK3, can you think before making any decisions at least once?

[RY4N]-Can you all just stop arguing!? I swear, I'm beginning to have huge respect for the one who led you before!

[/D4NI3L]-If only now you have respect for Him regarding this subject, it's clearly you barely led us in the past. I'm even surprised He didn't go insane because of us.

[RY4N]-If he didn't, probably I will, that's for sure! Now enough with your bullshit! Just tell me what's going on there!

[/D4NI3L]-*sigh* There is nothing new. What should I report? It's the same story everywhere you go.

[RY4N]-Then maybe a sign on you-know-what?

[/D4NI3L]-Officer, if I'm telling you that there is nothing new to report, why do you think I would know if He appeared or not?

[RY4N]-I'm just asking, Officer D4NI3L!

[/D4NI3L]-Alright, alright! Don't get mad at me now!

[RY4N]-KYR4? Did you or C0NNER find anything?

[/KYR4]-No, not really. C0NNER is still watching the city through the cameras, but he didn't find anything new yet.

[/C0NNER]-It's just how Mr. D4NI3L said: it's the same story wherever you look. Master, I'm not so sure why do we keep searching if it doesn't seem as anything has changed. The only way for us to find more about the situation is to take it from the documents, but since that is not possible for now, there is nothing much we can do.

[/KYR4]-Besides, there is no point in asking, is it? If we find something important, you know we will inform you as soon as possible.

Then, he takes a deep breath to calm himself down and look at Leader M4EK0.

[RY4N]-*sigh* No. There is nothing new at their location either, Mrs. M4EK0.

[M4EK0]-Took you long enough... What the hell is happening in that call anyway? All I could understand was complete chaos from whatever you were saying.

[RY4N]-Doesn't matter now. So? What do we do now?

[M4EK0]-Well... I guess we still have to wait and see if something appears.

[RY4N]-Wait for what? In the past days, nothing has changed since I suggested this collaboration, Mrs. M4EK0. Every information is the same!

[M4EK0]-And you think I don't know that!? What do you want me to do? Master M4TTH3W ordered for us to come in this city to find more information regarding this situation! It was your idea for us to collaborate, not mine! Why do you complain? If you don't like what we are doing, you can always cancel the collaboration, remember?

[M1SH4M]-Alright, calm down you two! It's not the best for us to fight about this subject now. We are unlucky that we can't find more about what's happening, it's true, but that doesn't mean we have to start and create a new probl--

[/RY3]- --Master! Master, can you hear me?

As they talk though, Mr. M1SH4M hears a voice in his airpods talking to him.

[M1SH4M]-...RY3?

[/RY3]-Can you hear me, Master M1SH4M?

[M1SH4M]-Yes! What's the matter?

[/RY3]-I-I think I found something...

[M1SH4M]-What is it, RY3? What did you find? ...RY3??

Yet the boy stops answering for some moments for a reason nobody knows.

[M1SH4M]-RY3! Can you hear me??

[/RY3]-...Oh, y-yes! Yes! I can... hear you.

[M1SH4M]-What did you find??

[/RY3]-I-I... Actually... never mind! Sorry I've disturbed you!

[M1SH4M]-RY3, tell me what's wrong!

[/RY3]-It's nothing! I think I'm just hallucinating things, that's all!

[M1SH4M]-RY3, if you found something important, you have to tell me!

[/RY3]-N-No, no! I-It's nothing important, really! I-I just thought that I saw someone I knew with the soldiers b-but I was wrong, hahah...

From his voice though, it doesn't seem as he tells the truth. RY3 is a newcomer in the North Base from some months ago, but doesn't seem as he has the courage to tell his Leader everything. After all, he was involved in a problem a while ago as well, and the only one who knew about it was the same person who helped him in the first place.

[M4EK0]-What is it? Did anyone find anything?

[M1SH4M]-Unfortunately, no... *sigh* It was just one of the new members. Seems like he just misunderstood something.

[M4EK0]-So we still have nothing at all. What a shame...

But from the perspective of that member, he seems to be staying alone, looking in the horizon as if someone vanished in front of his own eyes. Recognise who it was or not, who knows why would he choose to lie.

The Southeast Military Base

51:23

[RY4N]-Nothing! Nothing at all! We got nothing ever since he disappeared! We are not progressing if we keep this shit up!

The young Officer seems to be talking to himself in the Great Leader's office, moving around mad about these times of his life. Some of his teammates seems to be present for a while as well.

[KYR4]-And what do you expect?? We didn't have a normal mission of ours for days now! The Great Leader was the only one making these missions possible! If those cowards didn't leave us one year ago, we could've gotten more information without Him present! It's obvious that we have nothing now!!

[MY4]-KYR4, take it easy...

[KYR4]-Okay, then YOU handle him, MY4!

[MY4]-*sigh* RY4N, those times aren't any better for us either. Please, just relax and clear up your mind. You were brothers, I'm sure you will find a way just like He used to.

[RY4N]-I don't think you understand something, MY4! I will never be like him! No matter the situation, he always found a way out of any problem, but I can't! Okay!? I can't do it! Don't you see?? I'm his shadow, nothing more! After all these years, I'm still not ready to be the Leader! I'm still not ready to face reality!

[MY4]-But--

[RY4N]- --No! No buts! Just admit it! If he was here, he already knew what to do! He would've already solved the problem! But he isn't here anymore!

[MY4]-Maybe He is still out there, RY4N!

[RY4N]-Then why didn't he return!??

MY4 doesn't say anything in return. In the end, she feels the same as him. Though LUK3 managed to make her feel better, she still worries about this whole incident deep down in her heart.

[RY4N]-...It's happening again! The past repeats itself again! The previous Great Leader died in the City of Above ten years ago too! But that time, the former Leader of the base was there to witnessed His death! He witnessed how the General killed Him in person! We knew He was dead for sure! What about CHE5TER then? Nobody knows where he went! Nobody knows what happened to him! Not even the soldiers managed to find his body! Back then, even without a will, we managed to continue the Great Leader's work! What about now? What about his work??

[KYR4]-So what if He isn't here!? Hm?? CHE5TER managed to continue your father's work because He didn't give up no matter how hard it was for Him! Why do you give up!? You said you want to continue His legacy, yet all I see is you complaining every single day of your brother's condition! So what if we have nothing? We had nothing from the beginning! 250 years and we still didn't have any progress in our freedom, with or without the Great Leader!

[RY4N]-Then, if you are so sure of yourself, what do you suggest, Officer KYR4?

[KYR4]-I suggest that you shut your mouth and stop crying about everything! Like it or not, you have to lead us now! Master was planning to make you the Leader of this base anyway, what's so different?

[RY4N]-...

[KYR4]-I swear, sometimes you manage annoy me more than LUK3, and that's a huge problem!

[MY4]-...Can we stop all of this? We should take a rest now. We are all tired, that's why we are so angry now.

[KYR4]-*sigh* Fine! I will see you all tomorrow morning!

KYR4 leaves a bit mad. Of course they are tired and angry. In the past days, all they could do is to investigate the enemy's city and they didn't manage to find anything new at all. The only way for them to find something useful was through their old missions, but since the last Investigator is nowhere to be found, that isn't possible.

The only one left with the Officer now is MY4, who is looking at him from the entrance, before she leaves too. Who can blame him after all? The cruel story of two brothers, successors of the Great Leader who once ruled over these lands and found His last moments in the misery He lived His whole life, and now only one of them survives to tell the past, until he too falls trying to save this city from this agony.

For them, the glory during a war is when you do not lose your true self because of the suffering you have to endure, and it seems as that glory faded a long ago, as they both became someone they didn't want to be only to survive. There is no glory, there is no peace. What is left are the ashes from that fire that burnt these lost souls, what remained from their true form and remade them into these individuals they cannot recognise anymore.

03.05.1642

The Underground City

00:09

RY4N seems to wander alone the streets of the city and goes towards many locations. First, he went to several merchants, buying things that only he knows what they are used to. Then, he went to the Statue of M1NERV4 and placed an offering, standing on a knee and looking down at the ground, praying for the future of this city, praying for the future of his own brother.

And then, he arrives at a specific barman which he seems to know for quite a while, but he isn't the only one after all. His family and the previous Leader used to come here quite often. It's obvious that he will come to him if he needs to take a rest himself. The barman is a retired member of the Southeast Base as a bit of background, but now he seems to be closing his bar because of the time.

[RY4N]-Mr. AD4M!

[AD4M]-...RY4N? Well that is a surprise! As much as I would like to give you something from the bar, I'm afraid that I've just closed.

[RY4N]-Doesn't matter. I didn't come to drink anything anyway. Can we just... talk?

Mr. AD4M was a bit worried about the young man standing in front of him. He was looking kind of upset, and it was a surprise to see him here after all. It doesn't seem as he visits this place that much.

[AD4M]-Okay... Follow me.

He takes him behind the bar, entering a door and going upstairs, leading them to an apartment right on top of the bar itself. RY4N takes off his shoes and follows the old barman into a room, where they sit down on two small couches.

[AD4M]-Are you sure you don't want me to bring you anything?

[RY4N]-Yes. Don't bother yourself with that. I'm fine.

[AD4M]-*sigh* Alright. What happened? If you came here to ask me about your brother again, I'm afraid I still don't know where He is. Or perhaps He came back?

[RY4N]-No. I'm... afraid he didn't.

[AD4M]-...

[RY4N]-...It's been a month already since we last saw him. I've tried contacting him several times but... still no response.

[AD4M]-Did you ask around? Maybe the others that had retired saw Him.

[RY4N]-I did, but still in vain. Nobody saw him in the city in the past days.

[AD4M]-Maybe He did tell you something before He left, right? There is no way He just disappeared!

[RY4N]-Unfortunately... no. Nothing about this. All I know is that he went in the City of Above to investigate something... and didn't come back. A bit later, after I've asked you about him, we went in a mission and found a conversation between two Colonels talking about Seven Two.

[AD4M]-And what did they say?

[RY4N]-*sigh*...Seven Two was chased down by some soldiers after they've tracked Him down in the city. Later on, they caught Him in an explosion but... they didn't find His body. All that was left was some damage on the buildings... and a small river of blood.

[AD4M]-But He can't be dead, right?

[RY4N]-...I hope so. But I've waited a day, two... then it turned into ten, and now... in a month. Nothing.

[AD4M]-Though the odds seem horrible... I still think He is there. They didn't find His body, right? Maybe He survived! Your brother is a warrior, He wouldn't give up so easily!

[RY4N]-Heh... yeah...

[AD4M]-Oh, if only we lived in better times... I feel so miserable every time I see Him when He visits me, knowing how He used to be and, well... what He had become. Who would've thought...

[RY4N]-...If only our father didn't die that night... maybe he wouldn't have changed so much. All I know from him now are lies over lies. It just feels that we are not siblings anymore. All he says is that he has responsibilities, that he cannot lose time over these small old things. What happened to the CHE5TER that didn't give a damn about these responsibilities?

[AD4M]-*sigh* It's true that people change over time, that nobody stays the same. But the change doesn't have to be a bad one, RY4N. Let's say He wasn't chosen to be the Great Leader that day. What would have happened then?

[RY4N]-Probably I would have been the one who took the role.

[AD4M]-And you think that you could've just remained the same innocent child forever? It's in our nature to adapt to the current situations. If we don't, then we cannot survive. Even if we don't like it, He only adapted so He can face this burden, so He can survive, not fall because He can't bear the situation. If He remained the same irresponsible child we once knew, this world could've just eat Him alive.

[RY4N]-But he might as well just kill himself one day without us knowing. Is it really such a good change?

[AD4M]-Don't think it that way, RY4N... I know that He put Himself in danger so many times, but I don't think it's because He wants to end His life. Even with this change, it doesn't seem to be something He would do. I know it hurts you seeing Him like this every day, but there is still a part of His old self that remained. Just trust Him, the same way of how He trusted and still trusts you.

[RY4N]-Yeah... Maybe you are right, Mr. AD4M. 

There is a moment of pause between them for a while, before the man starts talking again.

[AD4M]-But... to be honest now, the more I think about it, the more I feel that something is strange about this whole incident. Doesn't this feel familiar to you?

[RY4N]-What do you mean?

[AD4M]-..."Warrior, warrior, / Where did you disappear? / The suns shine bright, but you aren't here. / What happened that night that made you fear? / Were you afraid to face the truth?"--

[RY4N]- --"Or maybe was our end near?"... What does this have to do with him? It's just a legend.

[AD4M]-For me, this situation does feel a bit the same. Doesn't the legend say that the God of War left one night without anybody knowing where He went and He never came back? After that, historically speaking, the war was lost and General 4RTHUR ruled over these lands. It was the end of that era... and the beginning of ours, when Great Leader M1NERV4 killed him.

[RY4N]-...So?

[AD4M]-It just feels like whenever the Great Leader disappears, something huge is about to happen. When the God of War disappeared, M1NERV4 killed the General and then gave birth to the Renaissance. When She died, the descendant took Her role and continued to build this city, protecting every citizen all those years. And then, centuries later, when your father died, CHE5TER was immediately titled the Great Leader, and for more two years, the city was in a huge mess. Maybe something is about to happen now too. Who knows?

[RY4N]-But in every situation, there was someone who took the role of the fallen one. Who takes the role now?

[AD4M]-Maybe it doesn't need for anybody to take the role. I'm not saying He is dead. I'm just saying that maybe something is there, waiting for us all.

[RY4N]-Like what?

[AD4M]-Like... the end of this era.

The Southeast Military Base

17:46

Everyone seems to have woken up for some time now and are doing their daily tasks around the base of the morning. And of course, LUK3 stresses out his group again about going out. He thinks to take RY4N as well, but when he arrives at his room, he doesn't seem to be present. He searches a bit for him until he enters the Great Leader's office, where RY4N was simply sleeping on the couch.

[LUK3]-Oh, so he slept here?

[MY4]-...Seems like that.

[KYR4]-Just don't do anything stupid, LUK3!

[LUK3]-Why not? It's my time to get revenge on the LENKOV brothers!

[KYR4]-And what exactly did Officer RY4N do to you?

[LUK3]-Well... I mean... I'm getting revenge on what CHE5TER did to me! You saw it! He always punches me and knocks me on the floor! But since He isn't here, I can get my revenge on His brother!

[KYR4]-And you blame Him? You deserve to be punched in the face just because of your mentality!

[LUK3]-Come ooon! I just want to have a bit of fun! I'm not killing him! I'm just messing around with him!

[KYR4]-*sigh* N04H, tell me when you want a new teacher and I can ask around for you, 'cause if you stay with this guy more, I'm afraid you will become like him.

LUK3 goes towards RY4N, quietly, who was still sleeping. He gets closer and closer to his ear and starts whispering.

[LUK3]-RY444N... RY4N, wake up...

[RY4N]-...LUK3, leave me alone...

[LUK3]-RY4444N... I said... WAKE UP, YOU LITTLE SHIT!

He manages to scare the shit out of him because of the scream in his ear, that's for sure. LUK3 is even laughing a bit about this situation. He sure got his moment of fun.

[LUK3]-Hahah! See? I didn't do anything wrong! I just woke him up!

[KYR4]-Well, you better run before he smacks the shit out of you. Just a suggestion.

[LUK3]-Oh, come on! He isn't the Great Leader after all!

[RY4N]-...So what if I'm not, you little brat?

[LUK3]-Oooh, so you do have courage to try and fight me? What are you gonna do? Hit me with your rifle?

RY4N gives him a death stare probably for the first time in his life. The next thing everybody knows is that LUK3 is on the ground, as RY4N is pulling his hand and keeps him on the floor.

[RY4N]-...Just because I'm a sniper, doesn't mean I don't have basic knowledge on martial arts.

[LUK3]-Well, at least it doesn't hurt as much as it used to hurt when your brother was doing this! In the end, you are not as powerful as you appear!

[RY4N]-I don't know how to tell you, but I'm not a copy of the Great Leader. If CHE5TER based his moves on strength, I base mine on what I know about the body. For example, I know that if I do this...

He then pulls his middle finger hardly backwards than it should normally be able, so instead of the finger touching the palm, it touches the back of it as much as he wants. Only that thing makes LUK3 go insane over an insufferable pain.

[LUK3]-OUUUCH! ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! YOU WIN! JUST LET GOOHOHOOO!!!

[RY4N]-But I thought you like a good fight, no? Don't they call you "Danger Lover"?

[LUK3]-DOESN'T MEAN I LOVE PAIN TOO!!

[RY4N]-Then why do you challenge CHE5TER so often? Don't you know about the rule "don't mess with the boss"? You know titles are earned somehow, right?

[KYR4]-Aww, someone loves to kiss the floor? How does it feel, LUK3?

[LUK3]-YOU AREN'T HELPING, KYR4!!!

[KYR4]-I'm not even trying to help you. I'm just enjoying this amazing show!

[RY4N]-I don't know if you are aware about this, but CHE5TER was always going easy on you. And that doesn't mean I have to take you easy as well.

[LUK3]-WHAT!??

[RY4N]-Oh, you didn't know? Guess you underestimate your own Great Leader. It's true, he is still more powerful than me, but that's why he takes you so easy. I'm afraid that if he took you in a serious fight, you wouldn't last two seconds without losing your consciousness, not like you last two seconds on your own feet or something. Guess not only N04H has to do some training...

[LUK3]-OKAY! OKAY! I'M SORRY!! PLEAAASE! LET GOOO!! I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN!!! PLEAAHAHASE!!

He finally lets go of his finger, and eventually his whole hand. LUK3 stands on his butt and looks a bit at his hand, while RY4N looks back at the audience.

[RY4N]-So? Why is everyone here?

[KYR4]-LUK3 wanted to take us out again.

[RY4N]-Of course he wants...

[LUK3]-WELL, IF I'M THINKING ABOUT IT, I DON'T THINK I'M INVITING YOU ANYMORE, FUCKER!

[RY4N]-Oh? Are you afraid of me now?

[LUK3]-N-NO!!

[RY4N]-Anyway... *sigh* So I guess we are going to visit the bar again?

[KYR4]-Yeah, something like that.

[RY4N]-Alright... then I guess I have to change. Just give me some moments.

He leaves the room while the others remain. LUK3 seems as he still stands on the ground though.

[KYR4]-So, LUK3? Was it worth this revenge of yours?

[LUK3]-SHUT UP!

[C0NNER]-Can I take some lessons from Master RY4N from now on? At least I can beat his ass on my own when he drives me mad again.

[KYR4]-To be honest, C0NNER, I think I want some too now! Should we ask him when we get outside?

[LUK3]-IT'S NOT FUNNY!! STOP!!!

The Underground City

18:38

And now, as usual, they got to the daily city visiting. The group seems to walk around the streets of the underground, though RY4N seems to be still in a battle with himself.

[KYR4]-So? Where are we going this time?

[LUK3]-Well, the same destination as ever! Why do you even ask at this point?

[KYR4]-Can't you just let us decide where should we go like how we did a few days ago? Why do we have to go to the same spot every time?

[LUK3]-The last time I've let you decide where we should go, you left me alone in a place unknown to me! I had nothing better to do than just walk around and see the people that were close!

[KYR4]-Yeah! But MY4 and I at least had a better rest that time!

[LUK3]-What rest?? MY4 was still working for the shelter, treating the people around!!

[KYR4]-Then I guess I had a good rest.

[LUK3]-You are selfish, KYR4, you know that?

[C0NNER]-Oh? If she is selfish, then how are you, LUK3? You always want us to go wherever YOU please so that we can rest the way YOU want. Maybe we don't want to go to the bars that often, did you think of that?

[LUK3]-Well, I wasn't talking to you, kid!

[C0NNER]-Doesn't matter that. We are a group here, remember? Every person has the right to speak.

[LUK3]-And what if I don't give you that right, C0NNER? What are you going to do?

LUK3 looks a bit at C0NNER who seems to be smoking at the moment. He takes his cigarette out of his mouth just to tease him a little and throws it on the ground, stepping violently on it. But C0NNER, though he got a bit mad, he just looks straight into his eyes, before he blows the smoke right into his face. He cracks a small smile seeing LUK3 coughing and trying to get rid of it. But it doesn't take long before he takes another cigarette and his lighter out of his pockets.

[C0NNER]-What is it, LUK3? You don't like smoke?

[LUK3]-...You have a problem. *cough* You know that?

[C0NNER]-Oh? I have a problem? How come? It's just some smoke, it doesn't affect you in any way. Didn't you look in the mirror this morning or what?

[KYR4]-Enough, you two! I'm starting to get bored of your fights!

[C0NNER]-Weren't you the one who started this whole fight in the first place, Officer? I only tried help you, but seems that you don't really appreciate what you receive.

[KYR4]-Well, thanks, but I don't need your help anyway!

[LUK3]-HEY!! HOW COME YOU THANK HIM AND NEVER THANK ME??

[KYR4]-God dammit, LUK3!

[LUK3]-WHAT?? YOU NEVER TOLD ME A "THANK YOU" AND I'VE BEEN DOING NICE THINGS FOR YOU EVER SINCE WE WERE KIDS!!

[KYR4]-Ughh... you are such a child. Poor N04H didn't say a word ever since you started talking, I swear...

[LUK3]-*mumbles*

While the group seems to argue all the time, RY4N stands behind them, covering his ears with his hands. He doesn't seem as he wants to hear any fight between his teammates at the moment. After all, that's the last thing he wants to confront now. He seems to be in his own world, trapped in his own mind, with these thoughts that are haunting him. Maybe now he understood even a bit how his brother was feeling all this time. But even so, there is still no reason for Him to act the way He acted in these past moments with him.

MY4 is probably the only one who notices this. But what can she do? She suffers too, just like him. In the end, she just lets him be, there is nothing more she could say. But after a while, RY4N finally uncovers his ears only to say something...

[RY4N]-...I have to go somewhere quick. I will come back, don't worry.

...and leave everyone behind.

N04H did notice that he wasn't so happy in the end and tried to stop him, but MY4 didn't let him. After all, sometimes we have to face our problems on our own.

18:58

He arrives in an old apartment which barely has something in it. Everything is covered in dust, and it doesn't seem as someone visited this place in a long time. He looks around for a bit as he recalls some of his memories, but then he sits down on what seems to be a bunk bed.

Then, he starts searching for something under the bed, but doesn't seem to be anything that lays down there. Yet even so, he takes out an old book that seems as it was hidden on the back of the bed and starts blowing the dust on it away, before starting to speak to himself.

[RY4N]-...You really didn't leave anything behind, did you, Father?

He looks a bit at the cover of the book. By looking at it, it has no colourful cover or anything like that. It's a simple book with a very thin text, representing the title of the book, "Legend of the God of War".

[RY4N]-Heh... I remember how much you've struggled to find this book when you were trying to tell us stories of the past. How much I adored it... I even hid it from you so I can read it over and over again without you knowing. I wonder what would you say now if you finally discovered where it was...

He stands a bit silent, reading the title again and again. But he speaks once more.

[RY4N]-...Did you know what will happen to him? *sigh* Probably not, right? Maybe if you were alive, you would've been surprised as well... How can I change this fate, Father? How can I stop him from becoming just like this god? I don't want to live and know what happened to Him. Why would I want that?

He takes a moment of silence again.

[RY4N]-...It is rather amusing that the one who doesn't believe in this god at all is acting just like Him, is it not? Stubborn and merciless... until a day that he regrets what he has become and disappears from us too. But he is no god, Father... He is a simple being like all of us. Like how you were, or anybody in this world was. So then... why does he consider himself a god that is able to change this hurtful world, when in reality, he is just trying to push everything he has away from him? Why does he think that he can do everything on his own? Power is still not enough to change history.... right?

He takes a small pause again, but this, with a huge breath and closing his eyes.

[RY4N]-I wonder... Did that... god... do the same as he did?

There is more to this story that he holds than he thinks though. Legends are common, but a legend like this one is more than anybody could think of. A god who was once one of the most praised man during the war from 250 years ago, who killed thousands, or even millions of people just with His own blade, and who disappeared one night after watching the sky alone, lost in His own thoughts. He was a simple child once, but became a merciless murderer because of this war that has started when He was young. And it seems that someone follows this same fate as this god did, but not because He wanted, but rather because He was obligated to do so. If He refused, He couldn't survive to this very day. And maybe He, too, regrets the man that He had to become only to protect this city. Maybe... it is a reason behind His whole disappearance.

Warrior, warrior,

How does it feel to fall?

Where it was once a land of peace,

Now are innocents that crawl.

Where it was once a land of beauty...

"...Now are memories you recall."