Instructor Ridgway stood in the doorway.
One arm.
Just one.
My mind scrambled for explanations—an accident, a monster, something that made sense.
But the look in his eyes told me everything I didn't want to hear.
He was afraid.
Of me.
My friends stepped back. I didn't understand why—until I did.
Ridgway exhaled slowly.
"What I'm about to say won't be easy." His voice was quieter than I'd ever heard it. "You have to leave this place."
"What? Why?"
"You're dangerous. Around all these people... you could hurt more of them."
"What are you talking about? What did I do?"
He didn't flinch.
"You killed two hundred and six people."
The words didn't register.
"When you blacked out," he continued, "you didn't stop. I tried to intervene."
He raised what was left of his arm.
"This is what it cost me."
I couldn't breathe.
"You have one hour to leave."
I turned to my friends. They wouldn't look at me.
"What happened?" My voice cracked. "Tell me. Please."
Jax was the one who spoke.
"When the fight ended... your eyes changed. They weren't just fire—they were red. Bright, burning red." She paused. "Then you multiplied."
"Multiplied?"
"Copies of yourself. Dozens of them. All moving in sync. You used Formation W—with all of them—and killed your opponent instantly."
I felt sick.
"After that... you didn't stop. Your whole body was covered in fire, like armor. You multiplied again. You tore through the camp." Her voice wavered. "Two hundred and six people, Zero. And the instructor—he tried to stop you. That's when you took his arm."
I dropped to my knees.
I didn't remember any of it.
Not the fire. Not the clones. Not the blood.
Nothing.
The world blurred. My stomach heaved.
Then I passed out.
When I woke, I was in a carriage.
The camp was gone. My friends sat around me, silent.
"Ridgway gave us a carriage," Dixon said quietly. "For the journey."
I didn't respond.
I didn't want to believe any of it.
But the truth doesn't care what you want.
We found a small town and stopped to rest.
I sat apart from the others, staring at my hands.
"What's happening to me?" I whispered. "Why did I kill all those people?"
Dixon sat beside me. "I couldn't tell you."
"We have to find out," Cast added.
Then Jax called us over.
"Found something in the carriage. A letter."
She unfolded it and read aloud.
Dear Zero, Jax, Dixon, and Cast—
This is Instructor Ridgway.
What happened to Zero was not natural. When he attacked, his eyes burned red—not orange, not yellow. Red fire. That means his potential has been tampered with.
Magic.
In ancient times, magic was eradicated from this world. The only ones who could wield it were called spell-chasers—and they no longer exist. But somehow, dark magic surrounds Zero. This particular strain was only ever used by one person: an evil sorcerer who was killed one thousand years ago.
How it found its way into Zero, I don't know.
What I do know is this: you must keep him calm. Any emotion that triggers rage could awaken it again. And if that happens, the whole world will pay.
One more thing. If anyone with white hair approaches you—avoid them. They belong to an organization that wants what's inside Zero. Do not engage.
If you need answers, travel to a town called Tasarrow. You'll find help there.
Burn this letter after reading.
—Ridgway
Silence.
Cast was the first to speak. "We need to get to Tasarrow. Now."
Dixon nodded grimly. "I've never heard of a spell-chaser. And I don't plan on dying to one."
Jax pulled something from her bag—the blood map.
"I changed the destination before we left the camp," she said. "It didn't burn. We can still use it."
We all looked at her.
"Good thinking," I muttered.
She didn't smile.
The journey to Tasarrow would take five days.
But there was a problem.
The fastest route cut straight through the Kingdom of Mere—the capital of our lands. King Hajj had conquered every surrounding kingdom and united them under his rule. People called him "Saint Hajj."
I called him arrogant and foul.
But we didn't have a choice.
Two days in, we reached the kingdom walls.
Land guards rode up to our carriage and ordered us to follow. We obeyed.
At the entrance, they stopped us.
"State your purpose."
"Just passing through," I said. "We mean no harm to anyone here."
The guard didn't look convinced.
"We'll need to search you."
That's when I noticed it.
A mark on my right forearm. A symbol I'd never seen before.
A star.
I touched it without thinking—and one of the guards caught me.
"HOLD!"
He pointed at me.
"This one's acting suspicious. Out of the carriage—now!"
We complied.
Two guards grabbed me. One yanked up my sleeve.
I panicked.
So I collapsed.
Faked a faint.
Everyone froze. My friends looked at me—and I held up two fingers behind my back.
Follow my lead.
They stayed calm.
The guards muttered among themselves, then said, "Take him to the doctor."
They carried me through the castle halls.
On the way, I cracked one eye open—just enough to see a wanted poster nailed to the wall.
WANTED: RIDGWAYREWARD: 10,000 SILVER
My stomach dropped.
This is bad.
They laid me on a table in the doctor's quarters and left.
The doctor walked over, looked at me for a long moment, and said:
"You're not unconscious. Get up."
I bolted.
Grabbed my friends. Ran.
We sprinted through the lower levels—past confused citizens, through narrow corridors, around corners—until we turned into a dead end.
Guards were waiting.
"You're going to the King."
The throne room was massive.
Gold pillars. Marble floors. A throne that looked more like a monument.
King Hajj stood as we were dragged in.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.
A guard stepped forward. "This one caused a disturbance at the doctor's post. He and his companions ran through the lower levels and frightened your citizens."
The King's eyes swept over us—and settled on me.
"You. The one in the tunic."
I swallowed. "Yes, my King?"
"Tell me your life story."
I blinked. "...What?"
"Tell me everything. Every detail. And I'll let you leave with your lives."
I hesitated.
"All of it," he added coldly. "Or you die where you stand—like peasants."
I stood tall. Chest out. Eyes forward.
And I spoke.
"The first memory I have... I was three. My life wasn't normal—but I didn't know that then. My parents didn't neglect me, but they were distant. They never named me. I didn't understand why. I just accepted it."
The King watched, expressionless.
"From four to five, we were always moving. They never told me why. The only thing they said was—"
I stopped.
"Was what?" the King pressed.
"They were running from your father. King Hajj the First."
The room went cold.
The King's lips curled into a smile—but there was no warmth in it.
"I know why they ran," he said. "They were trying to protect you from him. From what was put inside you."
I didn't move.
"The dark magic that flows through your veins," he continued. "It circles endlessly. It feeds on hate. On rage. It makes you powerful."
He stepped closer.
"My father wanted it. He failed."
His eyes gleamed.
"But I won't."
He raised his hand.
"GUARDS—CAPTURE THIS ONE. KILL THE REST."
They moved.
So did I.
The Katana was in my hand before I made the decision.
Two guards dropped.
Three.
Four.
I blurred across the room and stopped inches from the King, blade hovering at his throat.
The throne room went silent.
"You come for me again," I said, voice low and steady, "or try to follow—I will find you."
I leaned closer.
"And you'll end up just like your father."
His face turned to stone.
We ran.
Found the carriage.
I blasted the front gate open and we tore through, circling the kingdom and heading straight for Tasarrow.
The capital disappeared behind us.
Miles later, the tension finally broke.
"Guys," I said quietly. "I think I'm going to keep the name."
They looked at me.
"Zero. Call me Zero from now on."
Silence.
Dixon shifted. "You know... back there... You didn't act like yourself."
"Agreed," Cast added. "You've never threatened anyone before. That wasn't you."
I stared at the road ahead.
"I know. But he was going to kill all of you. I had to act."
Jax said nothing.
"I know it looks like I've changed," I continued. "But it's like... my body's moving on a different level now. I'm still me. I swear."
No one argued.
But no one agreed either.
We rode in silence.
Next stop: Tasarrow.