Memory

Graham and King stopped fighting each other and went towards Nero who were currently shooting fireballs non-stop.

Graham furrowed his brows and said, "How did the ghouls have the guts to enter my domain where the both of us are inside?"

Ghouls are previously humans who have already died, but got resurrected by dark energy flowing at the area. They were previously the citizens of this fallen nation.

The appearance of a Ghoul is very similar to a human, but it have countless sharp teeth that can tear flesh like tofu. Furthermore, sharp and long nails like blades were growing on their fingers.

Their body is like the body of a rotten corpse where some bones can be seen and they are walking in four legs like an animal which gave them frightening speed.

Although, they are mindless undead they can still have instinct and that very instinct help them survive from stronger prey.

That is also the reason why Graham was so puzzled on how they have the guts to enter his domain where him and King was inside and emitting strong magic power that can cover the whole castle. They should be running away from them.

The ghouls were entering the broken door and chasing Nero who is shooting fireballs on them. Furthermore, Nero's aim is in a mess because almost all his shots were unable to hit its target.

Additionally, some ghouls were able to climb the wall and hid at the darkness waiting for an ambush.

Nero ran away from the door and went back near to the now ruined throne room, but the ghouls keeps chasing him; about 14 ghouls are on his back.

Graham didn't stay idle and went to Nero's side and cast a magic spell and so forth an red orange magic array manifest. 14 fire like snakes went out from the magic array and attacked the ghouls engulfing them in flames.

The ghouls let out a screech as their last words and turned into ashes.

Nero was sweating and breathing heavily. He look up and saw Graham floating in the air with fire flickering at the tips of his fingers.

"Hey, kid are you okay!?" Graham shouted after he took a look at Nero's currently situation.

"Huh?"

"Someone seems saying something. I can't hear them. I-I'm tired." Nero thought.

His vision slowly became blurry and his breathing slowed. He slowly close his eyes and darkness engulf his vision as he closes his eyes.

...

Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring!

An intense ringing like an alarm is causing a ruckus.

"Ahhhhhhhhh~!" someone shouted.

Boom!

Something went flying and the ringing sounds stopped.

The person woke up like he was waking up after a nightmare. His breathing were fast also his heart rate. Sweats soaked him wet and both of his hands grips on the bed sheets.

"A dream!?"

"It felt too real!"

He first stabilize his breathing and calm his mind. He then went up from the bed and went to the bathroom.

He look at himself in the mirror and his eyes were bloodshot like the eyes of someone who cried all night long.

He then proceeded to wash his face with cold water and dried it with a towel.

"Huh?"

"Why is this here?" he said after noticing a broken thing on the ground.

"Ah~" after remembering something he slap his forehead and said, "I did it again, dammit."

The alarm clock is now in pieces on the ground.

He then went to fetch dust pan and broom in order to clean up his own mess. Fortunately, he still have a clock at the wall and the he can still check the time.

After cleaning the mess and he check the time and it is still 6:08 in the morning.

"I should take a shower now, time flows fast when you are not watching." he said as he pick up a towel and went the bathroom.

After for a while, he finish taking a bath and dress himself on his school uniform.

He pick up his bag and went outside his house. He went to take the elevator and click the first floor button.

Ding!

He finally arrive at the first floor and went outside the building. He look up and saw similar looking outer appearance of the building that stands tall.

"If I jump from up there I should be dead by the impact." He muttered.

His room or house is located at the 27th floor of the condominium. His parents bought the room when they were still alive. Unfortunately, an accident happened and both of them died.

After looking at the building the look on his eyes were dead of life and little tear drops were almost coming out from his tear socket.

Taxi were lining at the transportation station beside the building waiting for a passenger. Nero went into one and said, "Maharlika State University."

The taxi driver nodded and went away. Nero look at the window and saw people walking at the side walk and tall condominiums similar to the building he was currently staying were standing proudly at the vicinity.

...

After for a while, he arrived at his school. He greeted the guard and went inside.

While walking on the hallway someone pat his back and a feminine voice can be heard saying, "Nero! How have you been? Are you okay now?"

Nero look at her with his void of life looking eyes and ignored her.

"Hmmm... You still won't talk." the girl said.

After that, the girl didn't bother him and went to her friends at the back. Nero know that her question is not sincere once he saw her face. She was infamous bully on his classroom and also his neighbor just 5 rooms apart from his.

Nero continue to walk in the hallway and after a while, he finally, arrived infront of his room. Outside the classroom a boisterous noise could be heard some from laughter and some from talking loudly.

Once Nero opened the door and his classmates saw him the loud noise stops as if it was affected by negative energy Nero was emitting.

"N-Nero are you okay man?" someone asked him.

Nero ignored him and went to his seat beside the window at the back.

Looking Nero ignoring him, he also did not bother him anymore knowing what he was facing right now.

Their classroom is located at the third floor of the building and Nero was looking into a tree with its leaves getting blown away from the wind.

Recall the moments before the accident.

...

On the day before the accident...

"Nero, son, wake up!" his mom shouted.

"Honey, please wake Nero up its getting late now. We might not get a good ticket seat at the cinema if we are late." she added as he order his husband to wake Nero up.

"Okay." Nero's dad agreed and went upstairs to Nero's bedroom.

Knock* Knock* Click*

After knocking his dad opened the door. He saw Nero was deep in sleep covered in blankets.

Swooosh~

He opened the curtains that covered the sunlight from the window and turn off the air conditioner.

"Son. Son wake up. We are going to the cinema like you said last night. We are going to watch Film Red soon." his dad said in a soft voice as he shake Nero a little.

"Hmmm... Hmm..?" Nero groan as he slowly opens his eyes. His blurry eyes after waking up saw the figure of his father. "D-Dad?" he muttered.

"Go downstairs to eat breakfast, we will be waiting for you so hurry up." His dad said.

"Okay." Nero replied.

After a while, he went downstairs and saw his mom preparing the table for breakfast and his dad watching TV.

"A car chase is going on now and the police is chasing the culprit for robbing the bank that ended up killing an elderly woman..."

The noise from the TV could be heard as he went downstairs using the stairs.

"This world truly have become dangerous as crimes are getting too frequently now. Tsk. Tsk." his dad said.

"Mom, Dad is breakfast ready?" Nero shamelessly said.

"It will be ready soon son." His mom said as a reply.

"Okay. I will be with Franky outside." Nero said.

"Okay." his mom replied.

After that, Nero went outside to see his hotdog looking dog, Franky. Franky was a Dutchman dog breed with black color fur and he was so fat to the point just taking a few walks could tire him out.

Nero released Franky from his leash and went to sat on the grass. Franky too rolled over in front of Nero and was signal for Nero to rub his fat belly.

Nero obviously notice that and went to rub the fat belly of Franky. The dog was in pleasures as his little feet keeps kicking the hand of Nero.

Moments later, his mom open the door and shouted, "Nero, it's time for breakfast and also bring Franky inside for his meal."

"Okay!" Nero replied as stands up. Noticing his owner stop rubbing his fat belly, Franky also stand up with his cute little four legs and walk beside Nero.

Inside the house, Nero's parents where on the table now and was waiting for him, "Go wash your hands." His father said.

Nero went to wash his hands while Franky was following him around. After that he went to the table to eat breakfast.

"hmm... Nero after watching the film would you like to look around at your room at the condominium we recently bought for you?" his mother suggested.

"hmmm, hmmm." Nero nodded as he agree with the suggestion with his mouth full.

"Stop talking while we're eating. It's bad manners." his father said.

...

"You did not forget anything right?" his father asked.

"Nope." Nero replied.

"Okay let's go." his father replied to him as he starts the car.

...

After a long time traveling, they all arrived at the mall. Nero and his mom got out from the car near the entrance of the mall while his dad went away to find a parking spot. Both of them wait for him at the guard's outpost.

"Okay, let's go." his father said after catching up to them.

All of them went for a stroll inside the mall and eventually, bought pop corns and drinks especially the front seat ticket for the film.

Luckily, they arrive early before other people and because of that they can still buy the front seat ticket.

Front seat tickets were special because unlike the other seat the front seat have an augmented reality mode where they can see and touch almost everything inside the movie.

The tickets were sold double the price of middle seat which is in astronomical value of 500 uruks. Fortunately, Nero's family financial status were not that bad.

As time passes, more and more people are coming inside and a while later, a count down of 60 seconds could be seen in the giant screen at the cinema signaling the start of the film.

60 seconds, 50 seconds, 31 seconds, 15 seconds, 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

An explosion happened! An explosion like chain reaction could be seen at the ceiling! Furthermore, the whole cinema ceiling collapse into pieces and giant debris were falling into the audience squashing them like ants.

"Ahhhhhh~!" someone shouted in horror as panic spreads inside the room.

Nero saw the gruesome sights that made him froze on spot. He couldn't hear everything and his sight became blurry. He could see the silhouette of his parents trying to do something, but he cannot do anything at tool.

He was like a paralyzed pray in front of its hunter. He was embedded where he was at and his parents where trying to get his senses back.

Click! Click! Click!

"It's stuck!" his father shouted.

"W-what do w-we do!?" his mother were stammering due to nervous.

The seat belt of the cinema chair was stuck and couldn't be move nor open. If it continues to be stuck his parents only have 2 choices. Abandon him or help him, of course his parents didn't choose the former as they refused to escape without their only child.

Boom!

Suddenly, another explosion happened and a debri was falling above them. Both of them saw it and decided to act as shield for their child so that Nero could be safe.

After that loud bang, Nero finally came back to his senses and saw his parents shielding him void of life with blood flows through their eyes, nose, and mouth.

"ah~ahhhhhhh!" Nero shouted. "Mom? Dad?" Nero said on the berge of breaking down.

"Mom! Dad! Wake up! Help! Help!" Nero pleaded but no one answer him.

...

"Good Morning Professor Tom!" suddenly all of his classmates stands up and shouted simultaneously.

Thier teacher arrived. Nero's daydreaming of the past has come to an end.