Kapitel 12: The First Challenge, Part 3

Zero was suddenly plunged into utter darkness.

"I-I can't see!" Zero shouted as he fumbled to move his limbs around to make sure they were still there. They were. One second he was looking into the dust cloud for Kai, and the next...nothing.

Despite this, he saw digital letters appear before him that seemed to be connected to his HUD.

[Status Effect Inflicted: Darkness]

Darkness? I guess it's the reason I can't see, but how long does it last?! Zero thought as he frantically turned his head in every direction. Just calm down, Zero-

"Not fun fumbling around in the dark, is it?" He heard the other player ask from somewhere around him.

Zero took a wild swing in the direction he heard his voice and was met with nothing but air.

"Whoaaa, watch that pal!" The player said snickering. The sound of combat kicked up not far from them and Zero could hear what he believed to be Kai grunting.

Shit! Zero thought. I'm such an idiot. This guy must have to touch you to do this ability which is why he hides-

His thought process was interrupted by a hard impact against his face that knocked him off his feet and sliding across the ground. A painful throbbing resonated throughout his entire head.

"Oh that felt good!" Said the other player. Zero quickly felt a hard kick against his stomach that knocked the wind straight out of him.

"Gah!"

"That's the sound..."

Another kick lands against Zero's rib cage. "Y'know, they used to tell me..."

Another kick lands.

"Oh Wylder, just ignore them. Oh Wylder, they only pick on you because of how much you react."

Yet another kick lands and Zero swears he can taste blood in his mouth.

"Well guess what? Now I'm the one lording over people. Now I'M the one with the power!"

As another kick honed in, Zero reached out and grabbed where he anticipated his foot to be. He felt his hands grasp around Wylder's boot.

"Eh?" Wylder said in slight surprise. In acrobatic like fashion, Zero mustered the strength to spin his body around and used his leg to sweep where he assumed Wylder's other leg was. As he felt his leg come into contact with something followed by a surprised noise by Wylder, he knew he had struck true.

Wylder hit the ground hard after he lost his footing. Zero heard the loud THUD and immediately rolled in the opposite direction back into a standing position. An ache had set in around his stomach from the repeated kicks, but he was still in decent shape.

Guess I was right about my body feeling stronger since I woke up here, he thought.

As if someone had lifted a veil in front of his eyes, the darkness around him faded away and light poured in. Zero blinked a few times as everything came back into focus.

[Darkness Status Effect Ended]

He glanced across from him and saw Wylder picking himself up off the ground with an annoyed look on his face. His shoulder length blond hair now disheveled from the dirt path. In his hand he held a long branch, which Zero assumed is what he hit him with first.

"There goes your chance." Zero stated to him.

Wylder dusted off his tunic. "Tch. Suppose Jacob was right...I do play with my food too much."

Some bellowing out in pain brought both of their attention to the battle next to them. The player Zero now assumed to be called Jacob was on his back while Kai approached him with deadly intent.

"Jacob?" Wylder said as he couldn't believe his eyes.

Zero quickly picked up some of the dirt from the trail and charged at the distracted Wylder. He quickly heard Zero's approaching footsteps and turned back to him, but was met with a eyeful of dirt instead.

"You fucker!" He yelled. His hands shot up to his face in an attempt to rub the stinging dirt away.

Meanwhile, Zero reached into his pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a small piece of round candy. He slung his arm forward just as he had during his fight with Kai and popped the candy right into his mouth.

"What the-?!" Wylder exclaimed as he almost gagged from the candy rolling straight down his throat. Within moments, his eyes widened and Wylder went still before falling backwards on his back just like his companion was.

Zero let out a breath. If he hadn't been so talkative, I might not be here right now, Zero thought.

However, now he was left with a quickly dwindling window of opportunity - the paralysis wouldn't last forever and he needed to somehow end him before it did. Who knows what other abilities he may have up his sleeve.

"Really?" Wylder mumbled. "What do you have, some kind of stupid candy making system?!"

A loud gurgle that could only mean death echoed out over the small battlefield. They both looked over once again and saw Kai standing above Jacob with his energy blade skewered through his chest. Jacob's mouth was opened wide as nothing but incoherent sounds were coming out - Kai stood emotionless like this was just another part of his day.

Kai's gaze shifted over to the two of them and his eyes slightly widened. "It's the other player!" And it seemed to click that the player was currently at Zero's mercy. "Did you...?"

Zero nodded. "Went smaller than a muffin this time."

Kai did a half smile. "Nice." He yanked his sword out of Jacob who slumped backwards and collapsed on the ground. "I'll finish him for you before he can move again." Kai began to stroll over with his blade of death at the ready.

Zero was about to move out the way to let Kai finish the work, but instead held up his hand as if to halt him. Kai stopped mid-stride and cocked his head. "Something wrong?"

Zero glanced down at his fallen opponent who began to look like a caught frightened rabbit.

"I'll do it. If I have you finish my battles for me, I'll never get stronger." Zero knew offensively he was borderline useless. Not everyone was going to let him shove a tasty treat down their throats - so he had to take full advantage of the suckers who did.

He eyed the fallen branch that Wylder had used to cause the nasty bruise developing on the side of his face and knew his answer. Kai watched with interest as Zero walk over and pick up the branch before turning back toward his opponent.

Zero raised the stick above his head, looking Wylder into his watering eyes the whole time.

"P..Please don't-" Wylder began. That's when Zero saw the scared boy that Wylder truly was underneath all the bully facade.

That's also when Zero, with no hesitation, smashed his throat in with the heavy branch.