Chapter 6: Light and Hope in the world [Abyss]

Hearing this I was shocked, so, the [Defendant] of the [Judge] "Iris", is held captive by these- thugs?

"..." Okay, let's forget what I just said.

I observed silently as the man and woman 'locked' eyes. Both groups fell silent and raised their hands. Breaking the silence, Joel spoke first. "Sara, how have you been?" Sara scoffed and flicked her long, curly blonde hair. "Not so good since I laid eyes on you, Joel." Sara's group started jeering and taunted Joel's group, causing the latter to growl in anger.

Joel whistled and raised his arm in surrender, "Easy there, how can you have such a sharp tongue when you are such a beauty?" Hearing this, the women in Joel's group glared at Sara.

I, on the other hand, was speechless. How can they say such words so casually? It's not like they can see each other. Joel then added, "I'm certain that underneath this dark world, you are as bright as a star that can shine through the darkness." Oh, so he does know that they can't see each other, huh?

Anyway, I discarded my thoughts and listened carefully. I asked in a low voice, "Which group took your [Defendant]?"

[Judge "Iris" says "It's that man's group"]

Hearing this, I nodded and narrowed my eyes. Guess I'll have to deal with this in my own way. I watched as the two leaders talked nonsense until finally, they got straight to the point. "How about you just give up and admit that this city is my territory?" Sara asked with a smirk.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, but I'm afraid that's never gonna happen," Joel said, reloading his wooden gun with a 'click'. He added, "How about we do this the old way then? Hm?"

With those words, Sara cracked her knuckles and said, "You better not regret your words." Joel chuckled at her words before cracking his neck. A standoff began and everyone held their breath. 1, 2, 3-…a minute passed before finally both Sara and Joel spoke in unison, "Charge!"

With that, everyone started yelling and rushed towards each other blindly, only using their senses to locate each other. Some were hit by metal bats, some were shot by wooden guns, some were even trampled but stubbornly fought while biting each other's legs. Chaos began to unfold.

I watched all of this happen from behind a wall and the [Judge] were getting impatient. [Judge "Ares" says "Aren't you gonna join them?"] Hearing his domineering tone, I smirked and said in a low voice, "No, not yet at least." The [Judge] "Ares" was doubtful but remained silent. I waited until I saw the thing that I've been waiting to see finally appear.

Bang!

Whoosh!

Sara and Joel fought. While Joel used a wooden gun, Sara used her bare fists. At first glance, one would think that this would be a one-sided battle, either Joel's win because of the distance fight or Sara's win because of close contact, but it was neither. I watched as both individuals fought fairly and closely, with no advantage or disadvantage.

I was in awe. The battle was both domineering and magnificent. 'So this is how a battle between two C-Level fighters is in real life!' I thought excitedly.

The fight did not end there. Even though minutes had passed, no one was backing out. Everyone fought stubbornly and passionately. Alas, I saw Sara's team slowly losing, so I stretched my neck as I thought, 'I guess it's time.'

[Judge "Dionysus" says in an amused tone, "Oh? Is the [Defendant] ready to join the battle now?"]

I ignored the text and walked steadily towards the fight. With a 'click', I aimed my gun at Joel's group before firing. Boom! Joel's group exploded and everyone was startled. 'What was that?' they thought and 'looked' over towards the sound. One of them suddenly stepped on something moist and soft that made a squeaky sound. Just by the sound of it, everyone knew that it was something they couldn't bear to see: rotten flesh.

"W- What the hell is this?!"

"What's happening?!"

Everyone was petrified. They all suddenly felt the fear of death that they had long forgotten. Even when facing monsters, they never feared it, so why now? Because this attack was certain to be able to kill them in an instant with 0.1% survival ability.

Doubt and fear began to rise in the hearts of Joel's group. Before they could react any further, I launched another attack at them. Boom! Boom! Hearing the sound of agony coming from their own companion, Joel's group stuttered and asked, "W- What do we do?!"

Joel gritted his teeth and 'glared' at Sara, thinking, 'Is she acquainted with this person?' Sensing that Sara was not moving, he thought, 'What? Is she not acquainted? Then…does this person hold a grudge against me?' Countless thoughts flashed in his head, but hearing another sound of explosion, he could only gnash his teeth and order, "Retreat for now."

Hearing his command, everyone was still hesitant, but after Joel ordered it for the second time in an angry voice, they could only retreat and flee. Sensing Joel's group getting farther and farther away, Sara finally understood what happened. Raising her fist she yelled "Everyone!" Sara's group, who were flabbergasted immediately turned their head over to Sara's direction. With a grin, Sara said "This is our victor!" Hearing this everyone was surprised before yelling and celebrating loudly

Sara felt the sense of joy that she hadn't felt for a long time, she couldn't help but look over towards my direction and spoke in a polite tone "May I ask who are you, good person?" I was stunned before I chuckled at her words. Good? There's no good or evil in this world, only the strong and weak.

Discarding her last sentence, I said "Zero. You can call me Zero" This time it was Sara's turn to be stunned before she replaced her doubts with gratitude, "I see. Well then, Zero, may I ask another question?" I hummed and she added "Why did you decided to help us?" With those words, everyone fell into silence and listened closely to our conversation, filled with curiosity.

Placing my empty left hand on my pocket, I spoke nonchalantly. "Nothing much it's just that, that person, Joel, held someone I know in captive. That's why, I would like to help you in destroying his group" Sara and the others were dumbfounded, is it really that easy to destroy a whole group with just light words? Remembering the attacks I launched they then became doubtful and curious about my identity. Is there such a powerful person in this city? With that thought Sara asked "Are you not from this city?" I hummed in response and Sara placed her hand on her waist before saying "Well then, it's a pleasure to meet you Zero. I accept your offer!"

Before Sara could even add another word, I interrupted her coldly "Of course I'm not doing this for free" As my words fell, the atmosphere suddenly turned tense and gloomy. Sara frowned and asked "What do you want then in return?"

With a grin I said "It's simple actually, I just need you to tell me some information" Sara became hesitant and I added "Of course I'll ask this once we've defeated Joel's group. With this you'll be able to see my sincerity to my words"

"Hm" Sara fell into silence and turned her head towards her group. As if sensing her question, the group nodded their heads and Sara turned her 'gaze' back to me. After some long consideration, she finally smiled and said "Okay then, it's a deal" With this successful cooperation, I also smiled and spoke. "Happy cooperation"

At that 'day', everyone became lively and happy, cheering that it's their triumph.

….

On the other hand, at Joel's base, it was the complete opposite.

Smash!

Bang!

"Ugh! Why why why?! How did things go wrong?!" Joel was so angry that he smashed countless of unknown items and did not stop despite his hands bleeding. Joel's subordinates did not stop him and just lowered their heads, fearing that his anger will be vented on them.

After an unknown amount of time, Joel finally stopped and sat down on a giant rock. Lighting a cigarette, the flame showed half of his face in the dark. 'Staring' at the dark sky that is devoid of any stars and light, he furrowed his eyebrows and thought 'That person that interfered is not a subordinate of Sara, so that means that person either has a grudge against me, or…'

Suddenly thinking of something, he couldn't help laughing as he muttered "Could it be- that person is one of 'them'?" Thinking of this he immediately wore his coat and walked towards a certain direction.

At the underground basement, there were prison cells with people inside of it, some looked starved and groggy while others still looked fine and neutral. Joel bit the cigarette until it broke, trampling it on the ground he said through gritted teeth "So, there seems to be someone who is similar to you guys that wants to destroy me"

These words caught everyone in the cell's attention and Joel said with an angry smile "And that person also seemed to be stronger than you guys are" Tap. Tap. Tap. Walking Joel continued "And not only that, there seems to be a possibility that this person is here to save someone they knew"

Stopping at a certain cell he asked "Is it you?" The person in the cell did not respond and Joel clicked his tongue and moved to another cell, asking the same question "It is you?" Joel repeated this for a couple of more times before he stopped at a specific cell "Or, is it you?" The person in the cell did not speak and Joel finally gave up before turning around and said "Whoever it is the person is searching for, they will not get what they want, before they destroy me and everyone else, I'll destroy that person first" his words did not held any signs of hesitation and fear, only pure anger and confidence.

After leaving the underground basement, everyone in the cells started murmuring and gossiping to each other. "Who could that person be to make Joel so mad?"

"Is that person really like us?"

"There's a huge possibility"

"Who could that person be searching for?"

"Will we finally be saved?" Countless of questions erupted in the basement, only one cell was quiet. Inside the last cell that Joel visited, a woman with golden blonde hair and green eyes was silent, she lowered her head and thought 'Could it be- my [Judge] finally found someone who can save me?'

'Someone who is also a person from the world [Theos] and not from here, the [Abyss]?'

She felt delighted but then narrowing her eyes slightly she thought 'In the end, I'm still so worthless…Even though a [Judge] sponsored me I'm still weak and needed help…' She felt bitter and couldn't help burying her head in her arms in sadness. 'When will I--'

'--Get stronger?'

….

Inside Sara's base, I sat on top of a giant boulder. I watched as everyone else in Sara's group cheered and talked. Just as I was thinking I suddenly heard a familiar voice. "Alone?" I turned my head lazily at Sara and hummed as a response.

Sara sat down beside me and asked "Why not join them?" I laughed awkwardly and said "I'm…not that much of a social person" Sara just nodded and said "I see. Well, I wasn't able to say this before but, thank you" I was confused and asked "For what?" Sara smiled and said "For helping me and my group silly"

Laughing lightly I said "It's nothing, I didn't did it for no reason you know?"

"But you still helped us, and also, at the very least, we did not become your enemy" Someone who can kill a person with just a trigger of their gun, that was someone they don't want to mess with. Sara smiled bitterly and 'looked' down at her companions

I was silent and looked up at the starless sky, raising my hand I remembered that when I was young, I used to do this same thing and try to capture a star, I've always dreamed of catching one, but now, seeing the pitch black sky I couldn't help but smile bitterly. This world…I felt pity.

As if sensing my emotions, Sara said "You'll get used to it."

"What?" I was confused and looked at Sara. Was she able to tell what I was thinking? Being a C - Level truly is terrifying. Sara 'looked' up at the sky as well and said "Having no light in this world…It truly is depressing"

I fell into silence and listened without interrupting her. She continued "That's why, I've always dreamed of becoming someone that will be able to bring light and hope to this world" I widened my eyes slightly before narrowing it with a smile. "That's a very ambitious dream you've got there" Sara smirked and said "It's not bad having a dream in a hopeless world you know? At the very least, you'll be able to have a purpose"

Sara continued chatting and I couldn't help being lost in thought. 'Someone who'll be able to bring light and hope to this world huh?'

'Is that really--'

'--possible?'

'In this cruel and dark world?'

Suddenly, I remembered something. When I was alone in the bathroom at the military service after being bullied, I played the game [Arcana: Online], in the dark room, only the game shone brightly. Somehow…

It felt similar to the situation now.

Maybe, this world isn't is hopeless as I thought it was…

*****

The next 'day', everyone prepared to battle, whether it was the group of Sara, the Holang-I group, or Joel's group, the Neukdae group, everyone was ready.

Sara stood at the top of the boulder and made her speech as everyone listened carefully. Simultaniously, Joel also made his speech.

Sara stood straight and placed her fist on her chest. "This is it, the day that our triumph will be achieved"

Joel on the other hand said "Those damn tiger group thinks that they rule us, but, is it really them who rules? No right?!"

Both groups yelled in agreement and both Sara and Joel spoke at the same time "Let's show them who truly is the [King] to this city"

"Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Everyone yelled loudly as they started running at a certain direction with only one goal, and that is--

-- To defeat the enemy at all costs!

As everyone ran and ran, the two groups finally faced each other. Sara was confident with a smug look on her face but before she could even speak, Joel interrupted her and said "Oi! You bastard, you're from another world, aren't you?"

"What?" Sara was confused but Joel continued speaking "I'm not talking about you Sara or any member of your group, I'm talking about that bastard that interfered with our fight" Sara widened her eyes and 'looked' towards my direction. I frowned and clicked my tongue, this person is smarter than he looks like.

Seeing no response Joel became confident and whistled. Suddenly, everyone heard the sound of people grunting with heavy metal chains. Just then, a loud 'thud' was heard and everyone in Sara's group frowned, only I was different. My eyes shook greatly and my grip on my gun tightened

Joel's subordinates held the end of the chain while the other end of it was tied to the necks of some people. But it was not just any people, they are--

--Just like me, an other worldly person from the world [Theos] who came here for the [Trial]. And one of the people who were chained and held captive, was none other than the [Defendant] of [Judge] "Iris".

Claire Anderson, a [Defendant] who seeks to become a [Guide].