The following day.
A bright morning. The breeze was still cool from the night, but chilly. As usual, Reys'a and Zu Sheng got up early to travel to Zayrian City, as promised by Mitsuya. They both went upstairs and found Mitsuya getting ready, while Caelus was in the living room, prepared and waiting.
Reys'a enquired, "Are Saei and Valsar not joining?"
"No, I have asked Valsar, but he claimed he just wanted to stay at home and care for Saei." Valsar, who was in the room, was instantly exited.
"I overheard you all chatting about me." Valsar listened. "Valsar, are you not going to join?" Reys'a responded immediately to the person
"No, I am the one who caused Saei to become like this, and I will accept responsibility for it. Even yet, I am worried about this situation. I hope you are all careful." Valsar bit his teeth, his heart racing, concerned about Mitsuya and the others who had gone out following yesterday's tragedy.
"It's fine, we simply went to buy some clothes and needs and will be back shortly. There's no need to worry, I'll handle everything else." Mitsuya responded, calming Valsar's heart.
"Where's the eldest brother?" Said Zu Sheng. "He's still sleeping, let him rest, and I haven't informed him yet that we'll be going out for a while today." Mitsuya turned to face Valsar. "Valsar, when he wakes up, tells him that I and the others have left."
"Okay, fair enough." Valsar instantly returned to his room.
Mitsuya, who is already ready. "Let's go." Invite them. "Yeah, let's go to Zayrian City." They then moved out of the house and soon arrived at the waiting place.
"Zayrian City takes time to reach, so we will take a taxi." After waiting for a long time, the taxi finally arrived to pick us up. Reys'a's eyes were fixed on the splendour of the surrounding cities throughout the journey.
There were no traffic jams or anything like that on the ordered highways because everything was handled by AI. Mitsuya, who was looking at Reys'a, peered out the window and opened his mouth to ask a question.
"Do— do you have any more siblings?" Reys'a heard it, but his gaze remained focused outside. "No," his eyes were heavy with sorrow. "I am the only one." Following that inquiry, the mood grew tight and sombre. Mitsuya, who watched the event, knew what Reys'a was doing.
"You know, I used to have a younger sister—but she is no longer with us, and I am just like you, Reys'a." Mitsuya responded. Caelus, who was behind, replied. "I, too, used to have three siblings and am now all alone." Reys'a glanced at them, unable to believe what they were saying. "Huh? Are you serious?"
Zu Sheng wishes to express his opinion as well. "I'm too. I'm too. Before this, I had seven siblings, but they are all gone, leaving me alone."
His voice was upbeat, with no grief at all. Mitsuya asked. "Are you the most bothersome person in your family? Because you are the most hyperactive person, haha." Said Mitsuya.
"Of course, I'm the smartest and most attractive, unlike Caelus, who is always so quiet haha." Zu Sheng even pointed to Caelus. "So, why am I the one being blamed? Huh?"
"When did I say you were handsome, idiot?" Zu Sheng has perplexed Mitsuya and Caelus.
"Haha, I know you're just jealous, own it." Caelus even responded, indulging Zu Sheng's pranks. "When did I start feeling jealous? I am even better than you."
"Haha, just admit it." Mitsuya also joined in. "No, I am the most handsome." Caelus frowned. "You will not be the same, Mitsuya. It must be me."
"HAHAHA…" Zu Sheng simply cackled loudly. Reys'a, who saw it, simply grinned.
The formerly dismal and dreary environment was transformed into one of joy and laughter. 'Yeah, it is correct. Not only am I alone, but so are they. That is why they are here together.'
Reys'a has been quietly absorbing the conversation. The weight of his solitude lifted and for the first time, he didn't feel so alone. Is this how it feels to have a family? Reys'a questioned himself.
Reys'a questioned them. "Am I also handsome, hehe?" The atmosphere fell silent as everyone turned their attention to Reys'a. "Huh? Do you feel the same way?" Said Mitsuya. "Perhaps?"
"One thing is certain, I am the most handsome." Zu Sheng refuses to back down and continues to identify himself.
"Yes, you won. You are the most attractive man in the history of mankind."
"Hahaha." Reys'a laughed. Caelus continues to insist on it. "No, I am the most handsome." The atmosphere in the van got more upbeat. When Reys'a saw it, he felt less alone.
Meanwhile, back at the old buildings where the tragedy had struck, several bodies lying, motionless on the ground.
There is somebody in the vicinity. He approached them and saw the spectacle before his eyes, people were dead, and some were unconscious and motionless. A man moved closer to them.
"Damian?" Respond to one of them who is still not quite unconscious.
"What is occurring here?" He looked at him and walked over to the man, choking his neck and dragging him up so his feet were no longer on the ground.
"What's going on here, huh? I GAVE YOU A SIMPLE TASK, AND YOU STILL CAN'T DO IT." With a really aggressive tone. His breathing was making it difficult for him to speak.
"Earlier, Adrian's… crew attacked us."
"You're totally useless, bastard. Death is your sole achievement." Black smoke encircled him and enveloped the victim's body. The man is grasping his neck.
"Aaahh, I… I—can't bre..at..he." The black smoke immediately penetrated his cavity, rendering him unable to tolerate the discomfort and causing him to scream uncontrollably.
But soon, the black smoke filled his body, making him unable to breathe and causing his brain to forcefully stop because the smoke had infiltrated his entire body. His horrific death was only one of many.
The man let go of his neck and dropped to the ground, his wide-open eyes, mute and lifeless.
He pulled out his phone. 'Beep… Beep… Beep.' The sound continued to ring, as if summoning someone. Someone responded.
"Damian, what's the matter? Why did you call me?" His answer. "Where are you now, Dax?"
"I'm currently in Zayrian City."
Meanwhile, back home.
Adrian, who had awoken from his sleep, was searching for the others. "Valsar, where are the others?" He said.
"Mitsuya, Reys'a, Zu Sheng, and Caelus stepped outside. They stated that they wanted to travel to Zayrian City to purchase some supplies and clothing for Reys'a."
"Okay, then." Adrian has just remembered something. "Oh yes, Valsar. I met with the Hyken Chief yesterday." Valsar is curious.
"What did you talk about with them?"
"I told them about our goals and offered some suggestions." Adrian replied. "How did they respond to that?"
"He—."
One of the Phenix members is already in Zayrian City, Reys'a and the others are on their way there. What will happen? What is the response of the Hyken leader?