Chapter 4

I fixed my outfit, looking myself in the mirror. Today's the day! The day I become a ZAA member! Right now, I'm fixing up the ZAA uniform, which is a black coat with a dark green undershirt, black pants and a green weapon carrier, which depends on the Heiki of your choice.

I'm guessing they picked the black and green color scheme because of what we hunt.

But, I think I looked pretty good, now I'm working with other people that are trying out as well, but none of them are as young as me.

I'll be setting a record!

I grabbed my case and ran out, heading towards the starting point. I wonder what we'll be doing for this tryout.

Soon, I reached the area as about ten other people were there. I came to stop as they all looked at me.

"Hey!" I said raising my avaliable hand, greeting them kindly.

They looked at me, then at eachother. "Who the hell let a kid tryout?" One of them whispered, thinking I didn't hear them. My eyes turned to equal signs...

I should've expected this... But.. I'll pass and prove any age can do this... Well, except maybe baby's and toddlers...

After a few minutes... No way!! It's the top member of the organization.. Daichi Sana!! He's leading our tryout!! He looked among us and folded his arms.

"Before we begin. I have one question." I swear if it's about me...

"Are you ready to face challenges and monsters that can lead to the death of you, and maybe ones close to you?" My eyes widened.

W-Whoa... I-I... I wasn't expecting that kind of question.. But it's true, we're going to have to deal with a lot of loss doing this job.. but... "Yes! I am!" I spoke up first as everyone looked directly at me.

They looked forward and said yes as well.. "Alright. Now, the first part of this is a battle test. You'll go against actual Zonbi from the Zonbi Prison Building."

If you're wondering what that is, that is a prison where ZAA members capture Zonbi and torture them, most of the Zonbi there are mental unstable, so if we're able to defeat these, we should have mo problem with the ones out side of the ZPB. Not to mention, usually the Zonbi that are captured there are some of the strongest, maybe not king or queen level but defined warrior and knight level.

He opened the doors. "Who wants to go first?"

I rose my hand. "Me sir!" I shouted walking past everyone and up to the door. He held out his hand, letting me through. I walked in and sat my case down. I took a breath of air. There was a glass chamber in front of me, as I heard hard breathing.

I pressed the button on my case as it popped open. I grabbed my pulsing blue sword. Yeah, this feels nice... The doors were I came from closed as the chamber in front of me opened. I tighten the grip of my new blade as, a black figure instantly zipped towards me. I held my blade up and blocked the attack. It pushed me back as the figure came into view.

It was a bulky Zonbi with a blindfold and facemask. I could see the drool rolling down his chin.

Alright... time to go against my first real Zonbi! I ran forward, dragging my arms back getting ready for an attack. Since it was blinded by its blindfold, I was able to get a clean hit on him.

He stepped back, but recovered with a hard hitting punch to my arm. Despite that, it pushed me back slightly, and I was able to land another strike. I smirked as my eyes widened as another vision appeared in my head.

I was standing in front of a cell, so I'd only assume I was in the ZP building... But what would I be doing here? The area was barely lit but I was able to see that someone was in the cell in front of me. It was a guy... he had bandages over his eyes, and the bandages were soaked in blood, and blood was running down his cheeks. If the bandages weren't there I'm sure his eyes would've been gone... which would be a disturbing sight.

I snapped back into reality as a punch landed on my cheek. I was sent flying back.. What was that? I shook it off and landed on the ground.

I... just need to focus on this fight if I want to become a ZAA member... I dashed forward.

Hooder's POV

I was reading a book about Zonbi's in my reading class. Since I was one of the first students here, I was waiting for the bell to ring so the teacher can come in and do their job.

"Yo Hooder!" I heard as I looked up and jumped.

"H-Hiraku!" I said as he had his hands behind his head. "I knew we went to the same school. What a coincidence that we have the same class." He said taking a seat beside me.

"No one sits here right?" He said sitting hid backpack down. I shook my head.

"How come I've never seen you around campus?" I asked closing my book.

"Well, I kinda just moved here. My mentor said where we stayed was a bit too... violent and dangerous." I nodded. That explains it I guess.. "What you reading over there?" He asked snatching my book.

"Hey!"

"A book on Zonbi's huh?" He asked flipping through it. My eyes turned to equal signs.

"Yeah... Since you know.. I feel like I need to get my Zonbi knowledge up." I explained snatching my book back.

"Yeah, that makes sense." As the bell rang, I slid my book to the top right corner of my desk and began to focus on the teacher.

Katsunori POV

After everyone finished their battle part of the exam, the next part came up, that being the written part. Which shouldn't be hard, since I did all my research on these bastards.

A lot of these questions were about how Heiki works and how Zonbi stages and abilities work. Which I study the Zonbi stages and abilities thing, but my Heiki knowledge is pretty low, but I think I can handle these questions.

After we all finished, we were seated in a room, waiting for our results.. Man I'm too anxious.. I looked down at my watch.

"Mr. Keitaro? Come with me." I looked up, and it's that girl that gave me the tour when I was here Saturday.

I stood up and followed her. She flipped open her pocket watch and looked forward. "Up there." She said stepping to the side.

I walked past her and looked up at the door I was about to walk into. I took a breath, lets do this... I swung the door open and walked inside.

The room was dark, which caused me to run into multiple things, until the lights finally came on. My eyes widened as I seen who was in the middle of the room, it's the founder! He smiled at me, holding out a rolled up paper. I walked up.

"Congrats Keitaro Katsunori." He said as I grabbed it, opening it.

My eyes widened and began to sparkle... I passed!!!!!

"Yes!!!"

"Welcome to the family." He welcomed as I looked at him with a smile.

"Thanks so much!" I shouted shaking his hand.

Get ready Zonbi, the ZAA's best member is coming for you heads!!

Hooder's POV

Me and Hiraku were walking around town, after getting something to eat.

"Man, I think I have to postpone you meeting my mentor. It's pretty late I didn't expect us to be put this long."

I glanced over. "It's alright." We fist bumped. "Well-"

"H-Hey! Let go!" We both heard looking in the same direction. We looked at eachother before walking over to where we heard that cry for help.

When we reached the alley we heard it from we hide by the corner of it. We listened closely.

"Come on babe. I'm sure you want a good time.."

My eyes widened... Hiraku looked back at me. "Man, I already can't stand a predator. Now we have a sexual assaulter... Come on let's do something." I nodded as he came out of the corner first.

"Listen buddy. If she said let go, or she's not interested, then leave it alone." I walked in behind him, trying to look badass. I rose my thumb over my index finger and pushed down, causing it to break. I jumped, as I was still not used to the pain.

His eyes turned to his Zonbi eyes, as the girl and the man's face had a surprised expression.

"Bro what are you doing?! Aren't they both human?!" I whispered as he moved his head back slightly.

"The girl isn't, I'm surprised you couldn't tell."

I'd back up a bit...

"Y-You..." The man said as Hiraku placed his hand on the ground, as a deformed pillar came out of the ground, impaling the man's gut.

My eyes widened, H-He... "You didn't have to kill him!" I shouted as he looked back at me.

"He already seen we were Zonbi's, it would be stupid to leave him alive."

"You could've just knocked him out without having your eyes revealed!" He folded his arms.

"Yeah yeah, who cares he's already dead it doesn't matter what I could've done. All that matters is this pretty lady is safe." He said looking towards her. I looked over at her and waved. She hesitated but waved back.

"You're a Zonbi right? How come you didn't just kill him or something?" I shook my head and walked beside Hiraku.

She didn't answer.

"Oh well, it doesn't matter I helped you and that's all that matters." He said wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"T-Thank you.." She whispered as he smiled, his eyes returning to normal.

"No problem. Names Kenshin Hiraku. And this is Raitoningu Hooder." He introduced hitting my chest.

"H-Hey!" I said grunted as he hit me.

"Yo.." I said to the girl as she smiled and waved again.

"I'm Emiko Aimi.." I looked back, making sure no one suspected anything.

"How old are you?" I looked back at Hiraku.

"Jeez..."

"Sixteen."

"Wow! We must all go to the same school then!" He said wrapping his arms around me and Aimi.

"Looks like we're a team!" Sweat trickled down my face, what is this gonna get me into...?