บท 5: Journey To the New World
Zac's heart raced as he stood face to face with Leonard, the monstrous figure who had haunted his nightmares for three long years. The anticipation in the air was palpable as they prepared for their epic showdown.
"It doesn't matter," Zac said defiantly, his voice dripping with confidence. "It wouldn't have been worth all my preparations if you went down too easily."
As soon as Zac finished speaking, Leonard, in his terrifying monster form, lunged toward Zac with blinding speed. His massive fist, like a wrecking ball, crashed towards Zac's face with crushing force. But to everyone's amazement, Zac's figure seemed to dissipate into thin air at the last moment. It was just an afterimage, a clever trick to confuse his opponent.
Zac reappeared behind Leonard in the blink of an eye and delivered a devastating punch to the area just above Leonard's hip. He felt a jarring resistance in his fist, a testament to the incredible toughness of Leonard's skin.
"Dammit," Zac muttered under his breath. "This bastard has such tough skin."
Leonard swiftly turned around and launched a sweeping kick towards Zac. With remarkable agility, Zac blocked the attack with his palm and used the force to propel himself into the air. He executed a graceful backflip and landed gracefully on the ground. Leonard, however, was not about to give up. He leaped high into the air and brought both his fists down like hammers.
Zac watched carefully, waiting for the fists to come within striking range. Just as they did, he vanished from sight and reappeared above Leonard. With lightning speed, he drove his knee into Leonard's back, sending the monstrous figure crashing into the ground. The sheer force of the impact caused the floor to crack, but Zac knew it wasn't enough.
"This won't do," Zac murmured, his voice filled with frustration. "I can't get through his skin."
Zac performed a series of acrobatic backflips, creating some distance between himself and the wounded Leonard. Then, in a surprise move, two gleaming daggers materialized in Zac's hands. They had a slight curve, and their blades glistened with an intimidating sharpness. The handles were exquisitely crafted, resembling a dragon's head, with the blades emerging from the open mouth.
When Leonard turned to face Zac again, he was taken aback by the sight of the deadly daggers. "Where did you get those blades?" he demanded.
Zac met Leonard's question with a defiant smirk. "And why do you think I will tell you?"
This was yet another of Zac's secrets. He had retrieved the daggers from a mysterious bracelet in his hands. But this was no ordinary bracelet; it contained a separate spatial dimension inside it. Zac could store items within it and retrieve them at will, and it was a creation he had built with the help of Bella. Creating the bracelet had been a monumental task, but even more challenging had been locating the rare materials required, particularly the elusive space stone that served as its core component.
The space stone Zac had found was of inferior quality, but Bella had informed him that finding any space stone on their barren planet was a remarkable feat. Through her, Zac had learned about the vast and diverse universe filled with numerous advanced civilizations and lifeforms. He realized that his world was just a small corner in the grand tapestry of the universe.
Back in the midst of their intense battle, Leonard was seething with anger at Zac's defiance. He had always commanded respect and admiration wherever he went, and this was the first time someone had shown such blatant disregard for him. Leonard roared in fury, his nails elongating and transforming into razor-sharp claws. With a single mighty stomp, he charged at Zac, aiming to rake his claws across his opponent.
The sound of clashing metal filled the air as Zac blocked Leonard's vicious attack with one of his daggers. It was a moment of intense confrontation as the two formidable opponents struggled for dominance.
Zac swiftly pulled his dagger back, sidestepping Leonard's assault. The monstrous figure's claws sliced through the air, missing their mark. Seizing the opportunity, Zac thrust his dagger into Leonard's arm and dragged it mercilessly across, cutting through his shoulder. Leonard's deafening screams reverberated through the room as he writhed in agony.
But Zac wasn't done yet. He expertly ducked behind Leonard, inflicting deep cuts on both of his legs, targeting the tibial nerve. Leonard's legs weakened, and he fell to his knees, still in excruciating pain. Zac continued to carve a network of cuts across Leonard's monstrous body, each one causing more pain and blood to spill.
After some time, Leonard lay on the ground, his body covered in wounds, blood pooling around him. Zac, standing beside him with both daggers in hand, engaged in a silent conversation with Bella.
"Is it done?" Zac inquired.
"Yeah, yeah... All the research data and materials regarding you have been destroyed," Bells replied impatiently.
"Good. Since everything is wrapped up here, let's leave," Zac decided.
However, just as Zac and Bella were about to depart, a faint voice echoed from behind. Leonard, battered and defeated, mustered his last bit of defiance.
"So, what if you have defeated me? What if you killed all the members of the Circle? There will be others to replace us. The Golden Circle is not made up of just 18 members. It's composed of the 18 most powerful families in the world," Leonard declared.
Zac couldn't help but scoff at Leonard's feeble attempt to salvage some pride. "Hah… If I didn't hear you speak, I would have taken you for dead."
With an air of confidence, Zac turned his gaze towards a holographic projection. The projection displayed the lifeless bodies of the Golden Circle members and their bodyguards, leaving only two individuals alive. One was Leonard's secretary, who had managed to find a hiding place during the chaos, and the other was Leonard's bodyguard, a grotesque figure with scales covering his skin, resembling a half-finished experiment.
"They don't seem like they'll be causing any more trouble," Zac observed as he watched the projection. It then switched to news channels, displaying reports from multiple countries.
The projection enlarged, and various news reports from around the world showcased the coordinated crackdown on the families behind the Golden Circle. Some countries chose a direct approach, arresting the members, while others opted for more aggressive measures, leading to the demise of these powerful families.
"You know, Leonard, the government had long been dissatisfied with your rule. They banded together and formed an alliance called the World Council to act against you," Zac explained. "They were just waiting for the perfect opportunity, and I provided it."
Leonard, in a state of despair, watched the news coverage, showing the arrest and downfall of his family members. The hopelessness in his eyes was evident as he realized the extent of his defeat.
The daggers in Zac's hands vanished, replaced by a sleek firearm. Without hesitation, he emptied the entire clip into Leonard, putting an end to the monstrous threat.
"Let's leave," Zac said to Bella, the tension in the room finally dissipating.
Some time after Zac's departure, government forces stormed the base, and the remaining personnel surrendered. The dust was settling on the downfall of the Golden Circle.
A few days later, in a secure safe house, Zac sat in front of a television, watching the news unfold. The World Council had officially announced its establishment, and they had managed to regain control in the aftermath of the Golden Circle's downfall. Riots and protests had erupted as the crimes of the powerful families behind the Golden Circle were exposed for the world to see.
Bella broke the silence, asking, "When are we leaving?"
Zac's expression was grave as he replied, "Let's set off now. I don't want to delay it any longer. After all, my hidden injuries show no signs of recovery."
Zac had learned from Bella that the relentless experiments and torture he endured during his captivity had taken a severe toll on his body. The planet's current medical technology was insufficient to heal him. Acting on Bella's guidance, he had decided to travel to Planet Gera, the closest planet with the advanced technology required to cure his injuries.
During his three years on the run, Zac had not only crafted the ingenious space bracelet but also developed a teleportation portal capable of transporting him to Planet Gera. However, this portal was not a permanent fixture, as the barren planet he found himself on had scarce resources, just enough to create a one-way teleportation link.
With determination in his eyes, Zac entered the coordinates for Planet Gera, obtained from Bella. The portal whirred to life, and a slight disturbance in space began to materialize. As Bella had explained, it would take some time for the portal to stabilize.
The device was massive, larger than Zac himself, with a circular appearance. At its center stood a capsule-like structure perched on a stand. The open door revealed a confined space, just enough for a single person, complete with a seat and control panel.
As Zac set up the coordinates and prepared for his departure, his smartphone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and it displayed 'WC' – a call from the World Council. He answered, and the voice of Kevin Bernard, the current president of the World Council, emanated from the other end.
"Zero, I'd like to offer our gratitude for the invaluable help you've provided. Without you, overthrowing the Golden Circle would have been an insurmountable task," Kevin expressed his thanks.
Zac responded with a serious tone, "There's no need for thanks. I don't want to see you turning into another Golden Circle."
Kevin assured him emphatically, "No, definitely not. It won't happen."
Zac concluded the call, but a troubled expression lingered on his face. He was genuinely concerned about the path the World Council would take in the future.
Bella, sensing his worry, offered reassurance. "No need to worry. The AI I created should be more than capable of guiding them on the right path. I've integrated centuries of future development into it."
With those words, Zac decided it was time to leave. He stepped into the capsule, casting a final, nostalgic glance around the room. Despite the three years of living on the run, he had formed a unique attachment to this place. Letting out a deep sigh, he closed the capsule door and secured himself in the seat.
The space channel had stabilized completely by this point. Zac pressed a button on the control panel, and in an instant, a powerful suction force enveloped him. The capsule was swiftly drawn into the space channel, disappearing from view. In its wake, the space portal device suddenly erupted in a blaze of fiery explosions.
As Zac hurtled through the space-time continuum, he contemplated the uncertain future that awaited him on Planet Gera, the looming specter of the World Council, and the untold adventures that lay ahead in the vast universe.
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