2 The Loner

What's the meaning of life?

To grow old and make memories? What does that matter when those memories disappear into nothing when you die.

To make as much money as you can? Laughable. What good does all that money do you if you can't buy immortality?

To fall in love? The only thing that follows love is despair and hopelessness.

My parents named me Kane because they thought I would make a difference in the world. Apparently the literal meaning is hero and fighter. Too bad that will never come to fruition.

Their life ended shortly after my 5th birthday in a car crash and I don't remember much about them. There is only one memory that I can remember of my mother.

Inside of a dark room there was only the sound of crying that echoed.

" Come on Kane. Don't cry we're here for you."

The child didn't seem to hear or care as they kept crying.

"Fear not the darkness , Fear the creation of it and the monster that it breeds. Destroy the fear that you hold... and return it to nothing."

A kryptic message is spoken, but miraculously the child stops crying. All that remained was the merciful noise of silence.

Growing up without parents and siblings seems like it would be depressing, and for some it would be.

For me though... being lonely wasn't a bad thing. It may make me seem like an edgy teen but that's okay with me.

From elementary school all the way to my 12th grade of highschool that I'm in right now I stuck to myself and didn't really care much for my surroundings. I like to take pride in the fact that I have never gotten into any trouble at school, and the fact that I have a clean record.

Taking a look at my reflection on my phone screen I see my piercing black eyes stare back at me. Having black hair and wearing all black doesn't help with the edgy feel that I give off but it's not like that matters to me anyways.

Putting my headphones in my ears and placing my head onto my desk I drown out all the white noise and chatter that surrounds me as I drift into semiconsciousness.

After an unknown period of time a voice echoes inside of my head.

" Destruction is the force that governs all. Make them regret their choices... and return them to nothing!"

As the last word is chanted my eyes snap open and all around me is the color white.

In the center of my vision there is a blue screen hovering in midair.

"Congrats on being chosen by a god as a potential defender of your land! The Tutorial will begin shortly."

Oddly enough I don't feel any fear... only confusion. A weightless feeling takes over me and I feel my vision start going black.

Questions fly by my head but only two words came out.

"Wait... what!?"

~Excerpt 13 " The Assassin"

In an open field of grass two figures face off against each other. Both figures are wearing all black but one is wearing a red and white mask.

"So... they sent you here to kill me?"

The other figure doesn't respond with words but the tension in the air rises.

"Very well. You're not the first to try to claim my life today... and you surely won't be the last."

The figure doesn't visibly react to the obvious provocation but they point their hands outward and the temperature rises as black flames explode out from the man's body.

This figure says their firsts words since the beginning of the encounter.

"Target found. Codename Shadow. Executing order... eliminate"

It was the other figures turn to stay silent this time but they also raised their hand to get ready.

All was silent as they stood against each other until the man with the black flames finally decides to move.

A flaming shuriken is thrown at the figure named shadow but in response he just tilts his head slightly allowing it to fly past him.

"I guess it's my turn now. {Annihilate}"

For a moment nothing happens... but then the explosion hit.