บท 9: 1.9 Zenos Unmasked
Dorian came to a sudden halt at the sound of a scream. Sprinting toward the commotion, he witnessed a man being thrown against a tree. The young man wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and fumbled to locate his blaster.
However, before he could reach it, the alien stomped on the weapon with a crunch. Swallowing hard, the man attempted to rise but ended up falling back against the tree. The alien extended a finger, transforming it into a sharp knife, poised to slit the man's throat. Just then, the alien froze.
Turning around, the alien regarded Dorian with incredulity. He queried, falling to his knees, "How?"
Without a word, the alien collapsed, lifeless. Dorian scattered powder over him, and the alien disintegrated into ashes. Offering a hand to the bewildered candidate, Dorian helped him up.
As the man regained his composure, he accepted Dorian's extended hand. Once on his feet, he glanced at the crushed blaster. Dorian inquired, "Do you have another blaster?"
Shaking his head, the man expressed disbelief. Dorian handed him one of his blasters. Staring at Dorian, the man questioned, "You're giving me your blaster?"
With a calm demeanor, Dorian replied, "I still have both, so you can have one."
Taking the offered blaster, the man said, "Thank you."
Dorian nodded. As he turned to leave, the man couldn't help but ask, "How did you kill the zephirion?"
Dorian took a moment to explain, "The only way to kill a zephirion is to hit them on their right shoulder from the back. Their heart is there, and even a small hit will be fatal. Alternatively, you can cut off their head, or they won't go down."
The man, visibly intrigued, inquired, "How do you know that? I've never heard that before."
Dorian shared, "I've been on missions since I was a kid, accompanying my father. Obsessed with ensuring both of us returned home safe, I read countless reports about all the aliens I could find. After going through enough reports about particular aliens, it becomes easy to deduce how to take them down."
The man felt stunned, realizing his luck in having Dorian present. Without him, interference from the rescue team might have disqualified him.
He knew from watching the show that candidates never assisted each other unless they were in teams. In moments of danger, most would simply pass by, ignoring the plight of others. They seemed to prefer a fellow candidate's loss over jeopardizing their own standing in the competition.
In all honesty, the man hadn't expected Dorian to save him and provide crucial information on how to defeat the zephirion. Dorian's reputation painted him as selfish, rude, and ungrateful, making the unexpected act of assistance all the more surprising.
The galaxy couldn't help but feel a bit sympathetic for Dorian upon hearing his revelation. It became evident that he delved into those reports not for the thrill he had claimed before but out of a genuine concern for his father's safety.
"Thank you for saving my life," the man expressed his gratitude.
Dorian nodded with a small smile. He extended his hand and released spiritual force. The man inquired, "Is there another one?"
Dorian shook his head. "It's a candidate."
A young girl hurried over and embraced the man. They shared a comforting hug, and she asked with concern, "Are you okay?"
"I'm okay, don't worry," he reassured her.
The girl turned her attention to Dorian with a look of disgust. "What are you doing with that thing?"
Dorian chuckled and left. The man called after Dorian, but he continued without looking back. The man looked at his friend with irritation. "Why would you be so rude to him?"
She responded, "Why wouldn't you? You've seen what kind of person he is. He's a user and an ingrate."
The man defended, "He saved my life and gave me one of his blasters when he found out I didn't have any. He even taught me how to kill zephirion. If it wasn't for him, I would've been eliminated."
The girl felt stunned, watching as Dorian faded away into the distance.
Dorian came to a sudden halt when he spotted a phobosian. Mentally preparing himself, he fixed his gaze on the creature. Luna couldn't contain her excitement, finally witnessing Dorian encountering a phobosian. Rey and Micah Zeno, observing from home, shared in the thrill.
The entire galaxy watched with anticipation, well aware of the events that transpired during the last supreme commander's mission. They were curious to see how Dorian would handle the encounter.
The phobosian grinned and extended its hand, enveloping Dorian in a green energy. Dorian frowned, sensing his mind being invaded. The phobosian extended its other hand to the side, revealing a cascade of images from Dorian's mind.
The entire galaxy witnessed a series of scenes unraveling the complex dynamics between Dorian and the Zenos. Initially, Aries coerced Dorian into signing up for the competition. The subsequent scenes unveiled the family blaming Dorian for the perceived smallness of their house since his arrival.
Despite Dorian's offer to return home, the Zenos promptly invoked his father, bringing tears to his eyes. They claimed since his father's death he was depressed, insisting that he needed them, pushing him to buy a new house.
In various instances, whenever the Zenos asked for money from Dorian, they tactlessly brought up his father, causing visible pain in Dorian's expressions.
The final scene unfolded with Dorian expressing concern about the high credit bill. In response, the Zenos erupted into a cacophony of screams. Aries asserted that without them, Dorian's father wouldn't have received a proper burial. Luna added her voice, listing everything they believed they had done for him.
Interwoven amidst these scenes were Dorian's repeated assertions of his desire for independence. However, the Zenos persistently dismissed him as mentally unstable and depressed, consistently invoking his father in their arguments.
When Dorian sensed that the galaxy had witnessed the true nature of the Zenos, he closed his mind. The phobosian lowered his hands and uttered, "Your biggest fear is that they don't truly love you but only wish to use you."
A wave of sorrow washed over everyone as Dorian's gaze fell downward, tears streaming down his face. It became evident that his earlier words rang true.
With a swift gesture, the phobosian hurled Dorian against a tree. In an instant, the phobosian materialized before him, poised to strike.
Damian immediately beamed down, but he stopped as he witnessed the unfolding scene. The entire galaxy watched in stunned silence as the phobosian attempted to end Dorian's life, who sat on the ground encased in a spiritual force field.
Many assumed only Damian possessed such power, yet it became evident that Dorian was equally formidable. The phobosian's howl pierced the air, "Let down your shield, you coward!"
Dorian sat up, closing his eyes in meditation. He drew a deep breath to regain his composure. When confronted with memories from the original, his pain resurfaced. He hadn't expected such emotions within the shell, and now, he was furious.
After centering himself, Dorian rose to his feet. With a sweeping motion, he pushed the phobosian farther away, releasing his shield. The phobosian watched in bewilderment as Dorian formed a circle with his hands, gradually expanding it.
Once he sensed the impending attack, he lunged at Dorian, but before he could reach him, the alien detonated from the inside.
Quick on his feet, Dorian shielded himself with a spiritual force field, ensuring no debris from the phobosian reached him. After the scattered parts settled, he lowered the protective shield.
Scanning for his blaster, Dorian bent down to retrieve it. Upon standing, he was surprised to find Damian nearby, wearing a concerned expression. Dorian turned away and walked off.
Damian beamed back to the control room, observing Dorian's silent demeanor. Unlike the usual humming or whistling, Dorian walked in silence.
A pang of concern tightened Damian's chest. He turned to Luna, whose expression mirrored disbelief as she stared at the screen. Sensing Damian's gaze, she met his eyes. Damian regarded her coldly, then redirected his attention to the screen.
Luna felt her heart pounding. Not only had Dorian survived, but he had also exposed her entire family. The galaxy now knew how they mistreated him. Luna felt the urgency to talk to Aries; something final needed to be done about Dorian.
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