End of the Fight

"Why? Why you didn't kill me?"

"Tell me... what do you think of Cerex?", he said ignoring what I said earlier.

"What do you mean?"

"Let me change the question. What do you want to do to him?"

"Why should I tell you? You are a traitor. Betraying your friends and becoming Cerex's dog."

"Just tell me."

*He really wants to know it? Then I'll say it.*

"Isn't obvious, I want to tear his body, torture then kills him afterward!"

"I see... then how about I granted your wish?"

"Huh?"

*Is he serious?*

"You're betraying him? No way in hell, if those humans learn about you, they will also think of you as an enemy. You will be alone."

"That's why I need your assistance."

"Why would I believe you? This is probably Cerex's plan."

"No."

"How can you prove that?"

"Because... Alicia is my mother."

"What did you say?"

"Do you think I will be an ally to the creature who tries to make me kill my mother?"

"Are you really..."

"Yeah, that's why you don't need to save her. We will make sure she is safe."

"I see..."

"So, do you accept my offer?"

"Yeah... I will. As long as I can have Cerex's head."

______________________________________________________

Two days later, he brings me to an unfamiliar place.

"So, where are we going?"

"To someone who can help us."

"So, what that person and I should do?"

"I need you to die.", he said with a straight face.

*...eh?*

"Then what's the point of not killing me that day?!"

"..."

"I mean, seriously, I'm totally dead that day but right now, I'm not. I'm not letting you kill me you know."

"That's why we need her."

"Her?"

"Yeah."

We reach a small house in the middle of the forest.

"Who the hell lives here?"

A small house in the middle of the forest? It's like a horror story.

"Welcome.", a woman greet us as she opens the door.

"You..."

"Thank you for helping us... Miss Altina."

"W-Why she's here."

"To help us."

"Yeah, Hiro ask me for help. I can't just let two kittens suffer."

"T-Two kittens? Anyway, why you're helping us? Aren't we... you know, clearly the enemy of humans?"

"Don't worry, Hiro has already explained to me everything. I will help you in the very best that I can. That's why... let's do our best okay?"

"Okay... so what are we gonna do?"

"We will remove the amulet inside of you."

"Ugh..."

*Are they serious? The amulet is inside my heart, that will kill me in no time. They're my allies, right? They're not going to kill me right? Right?*

"Don't worry, Miss Altina can heal you repeatedly."

"I see... then I won't feel any pain too, right?"

The two of them look at each other.

"Oi, oi, oi! Don't tell me you guys didn't think about it?!"

"I'll go to the hospital first...", Miss Altina said as said quietly walk to the door.

"So you guys didn't think about it!"

"Sorry, miscalculation."

"Miscalculation my ass! Do you think I won't feel any pain when you remove the amulet in my heart!"

After a few hours, Miss Altina gets back with plastic bags.

"Ahhhh... let's get this over."

"You're not afraid?", Miss Altina asked.

"You sure you want to ask that to someone who already kill dozens of people?", I replied.

"I see, then let's start.", she said as she clap her hands.

*Why do I feel like she's looking forward to this?*

As I lay down on the bed, I look at them wearing gloves and other equipment.

I feel like I'm some patient in a hospital, although I haven't been there.

"Okay, do this properly got it? I want to wake up without any problem.", I said.

"Well... I'm not sure about that...", Miss Altina said.

"Why do you mean by that?"

"Well, it's my first time."

"Eh?"

"I mean, my amulet heals but I never been do something like this before..."

"Then why do you look like you're looking forward to this?"

"Sorry, I'm just excited to do this... hehe."

"Oi, oi, oi. Hiro, let's get out here already. I don't want to die."

"Don't worry... it's my first time too."

"Ahhhh!!! Someone save me! They going to kill me!"

"My bad, don't worry we'll be careful."

"Jeez... got it."

Hiro gets the scalpel.

"Oi, make me sleep first."

"Okay, Hiro, get some rocks outside."

"Oi! The anesthesia! Use the damn anesthesia!"

"Hehe, just kidding."

"Your jokes are so dark that might make me see eternal darkest."

"Don't worry, we try out best not to kill you."

"Here you go again!"

____________________________________________________

"Ugh... it's morning already?"

"It's already afternoon."

"W-Woah! I'm still alive."

I wake up in the same place where I lose unconsciousness.

"Yeah, we try our best."

"Hooo..."

Such a relief.

Miss Altina handed me a mirror.

When I look at it, there are no marks or any sign of having an operation.

It looks like nothing happen.

"Woah."

"So, what now?", Miss Altina asked while looking at Hiro.

"I'm going to borrow this amulet.", he said while holding the amulet that he get inside my heart.

"You two will wait for my signal.", he added.

"Signal?"

"Yeah. We will move once Cerex decides to attack. I want you two to stay close to me but don't let anyone see you."

"I see... so we're going to become a shadow until the moment we attack Cerex."

"Yeah."

"Okay then, before we start, let's promise this to each other first.", Miss Altina said.

"What is it?"

"All of us will meet again after this okay? That's why... let's do our best."

___________________________________________________________________________________

"How pathetic that the creature who kill so many people will die like this.", Claire said.

"Are you talking about me? Do you think you can beat me?

"Don't underestimate us."

"Hahahaha! Kill them all.", he said while pointing his finger at us.

No one comes to attack or show up to us.

"Huh?"

"I already kill all the remaining Outsiders here. The remaining are the ones who are fighting those humans outside, but they probably going to die there."

"You..."

"I told you didn't I, you will die."

"Too early to celebrate."

He dashes toward me and grabs my neck.

"Oi!"

I throw my knife at Claire.

She runs toward Cerex and swings the knife.

Holding the scythe, Cerex raises it and swings it down to Claire's arm.

The scythe pierces Claire's arm.

After that, Cerex swings again the scythe throwing Claire to the wall.

"Shi-"

"You can't win. No matter what you do, I won't lose. Tomorrow, is your birthday right?"

"So what?"

"Have you already forgotten? That will be the time. The time of the destruction of this world."

"Tsk."

"I win, Hiro."

He smashes my head to the ground.

________________________________________________________________________________________

"Hiro!"

"Die! Die! Die!!", Cerex said as he continue smashing Hiro's head to the ground.

I drop the knife when the scythe pierces my arm.

"Tsk!"

I run towards the knife and grab it.

I dash towards Cerex.

Cerex notices me and lifts Hiro in front of me.

"It's pointless, all of you are going to die here."

"Do...it."

"Huh?"

Hiro is saying something.

I can only see his back but I know what he meant that time.

"Sorry, I'll make sure I do this right."

I run towards them while holding the knife.

"What you made up your mind? That's right, kill Hiro and become my toy again. We don't need him alive to be useful."

"Shut up!"

I keep running until I reach Hiro.

________________________________________________________________________________________

"Vinna, we're here."

We have already reached the place where we think where Hir is.

"Grrr..."

There are still Outsiders chasing us.

"There's no end here."

"Vinna, go now.", Barbara said.

"Huh? Why would I?"

"Just go! Hiro is waiting for you."

"Okay... but please, survive."

"Who do you think we are?"

I turn around and run towards the door.

________________________________________________________________________________________

"W-What just happen?", Cerex said as the blood came up to his mouth.

"I can't believe this trick will work twice on you."

"It can be..."

The blade starts appearing.

It pierces both my stomach and Cerex's heart.

When I throw my knife at Claire, the amulet is with it.

Claire has a weapon at that time. She uses her amulet to hide her blade.

Her blade is long enough to get both me and Cerex.

"You trick me..."

"I have always tricked you Cerex."

Claire pulls the blade and catches me when I fall.

Cerex feels on his knees.

"Hiro!"

"Do you really think I only care about Vinna? Do you think I only want to save people right now? You're wrong, I always want to save everyone. That's my plan all along."

"Do you... really think you can save anyone? You're the one who's going to kill them all. Don't be a fool."

Claire carried me away from Cerex. Resting my back to the wall.

She walks towards the back of Cerex while holding the blade.

"Any last words?", Claire asked Cerex as she readied the blade.

"Even if I die. Even I won't see your face as you die along with all of the people in this world. I still win in the end, Hiro."

"You're wrong."

"Huh?"

"I know... I know you don't have the power to activate the bomb inside of me. It's your queen, the queen of Outsiders is the one who will decide."

"I see... you know about that huh. It doesn't matter, because you will still explode."

"Why do you think your queen didn't destroy the world immediately? Why did she decide to wait for eighteen years?"

"..."

He look at me saying he didn't think about that at all.

"I see... there are some things that you didn't think about."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It means that... there's a chance, no your queen won't destroy this world at all."

"What are you... it can't be!"

"Yeah... it's all your fault, you're the one who will save us... Cerex."

"You bastar--!"

Before he finished his words, Claire swing the blade cutting off his head.

"You're too loud."

Cerex's head flies over and his body drops to the ground.

"It's over...", I said.

"No, not yet."

"What do you mea--"

"Hiro!"

I heard a familiar voice from afar.

"Vinna..."

She runs immediately towards me.

*I see... this is the end huh. Finally, I can rest now...*

Closing my eyes waiting for the time.

I awaited and I only feel something warm wrapped up in my body.

I also feel water pour on my shoulder.

When I open my eyes, I saw her sword on the ground and then look at Vinna who was hugging me while crying.

*Why?*

"Why?"

"Hiro... don't worry, everything is fine."

What did she mean by that?

What's going on?

Why she's hugging me?

*It can't be!*

I look at Claire.

She's also looking at us while smiling.

"You..."

"Didn't we promise something to Miss Altina? This is my payback to her."

"Vinna."

I grab Vinna's face with my two hands and bring it in front of mine.

Looking at her face while she's crying.

"Quit staring, my face is a mess.", she said as she rubbed her eyes.

"Don't worry, you're still beautiful."

"Saying that all of the sudden is so unfair!"

"Sorry..."

"Let's go home now."

"Wait."

"What is it, Claire?"

"We have to meet her now."

"Yes."

I almost forgot about that.

After a few seconds, the ground suddenly shakes.

"W-What's going on?"

The ceiling wall was destroyed and a huge thing appear in the sky and landed on the surface.

"W-What the hell is that?", Vinna asked.

"It's her."

"Who?"

"The queen of Outsiders."

Inside the vast ship, an Outsider appears.

Walking down to the ground.

It has a body of a woman but with gray skin and night sky eyes.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here to talk only not to fight.", she said.

There's no other Outsider who appears aside from her.

Is she telling the truth? Or is she confident that she can take us down?

"Who are you?", Vinna asked.

"I'm the queen of Outsider. I don't have a name but those who have already stepped on the ground of the Earth manage to adapt and get one. You must be the human with Cerex's blood, Claire. The princess of Moirai, Vinna. And the boy who has chosen to become the vessel of destruction to the earth."

"Only here to talk huh. I don't want to hear that to the queen of the creature who kills thousands of human lives!"

"I understand your hatred of us. I think we went too far, as the queen, I will take all of the blame."

"Do you think blaming you will bring back all the lives you Outsiders take?"

"Unfortunately no. That's why I'm here to end the war between humans and Outsiders, and also to stop the destruction of this planet."

She walks toward me and extends her arm toward my chest.

Vinna immediately grabs her arm.

"It's okay.", I said.

"But..."

"Don't worry."

She finally release her arm.

The Queen places her hand on my chest.

"I see... it looks like this bomb is inside of you for so many years. I won't able to take it out without making your life in danger. This is a huge gamble. I won't able to deactivate the bomb until I'll able to touch it."

"Just do it."

"Hiro!"

"Are you sure? You might die."

"It's better than to destroy the world."

"I see..."

"Wait Hiro, we might still have time."

"Yeah, we should think about this first. Is this someone who can help us?"

"Yeah, there is."

It's the voice of someone not in that place.

After that, my body shakes.

Not because there's an earthquake or anything like that.

I was shaking in fear for some reason.

*What's going on?*

I hear some sounds of steps coming our way.

I look at everyone and even the queen is trembling in fear.

As the sound of steps gets louder, I feel more fear.

"Yo, you must be their queen.", she said as she throw a head of an Outsider in front of the queen.

"Relaine..."

"I see... I didn't know there's a human who's stronger than me."

*Did she say stronger than her?*

The queen of Outsider admitted it.

Also, Relaine's body is surrounded by lightning.

This is the lightning stance, but at what level?

"Relaine... why are you using your lightning stance all of the sudden?", Miss Altina said as she enter and run towards Relaine.

"Sorry, I was testing how much power I can control. One hundred twenty... that's a new record."

*One hundred twenty percent?*

"So, you're here to help us instead of continuing what Cerex started?", Relaine asked.

"Let me clear this, I was the one who decide to start this. I was the one who wants to destroy this world, not Cerex."

"I see... then why. Why do you want us dead?"

"Can I save this boy first before answering your question?"

"Do it while you're saving him."

"Okay."

"Miss Altina."

"Okay, Vinna let go of me, and Miss Altina moved behind me.

The queen moves forward to me and places her hand on my chest.

"Be ready. This is going to be hurt."

"Don't worry."

Miss Altina injected something into me.

"What was that?", I asked as my chest started to numb.

"There is some leftover."

"This is..."

________________________________________________________________________________________

Hiro becomes unconscious.

"What happens to him?", I asked

"Don't worry. He will be okay."

Miss Altina places her hands on Hiro's back.

"It's okay now.", she said.

The queen pushes its hand to Hiro's chest, piercing it.

I don't know how but there's no blood spilling on Hiro.

"So, tell me now.", Relaine said.

*Do they have to talk about that now?*

"The reason why I don't you, humans disappear is that... I'm afraid."

"Afraid? Of what?"

"Our planet is peaceful too like yours before we came, but everything went upside down when other creatures from other planets came and tried to invade us."

"Just like what you are Outsiders doing now?"

"No, I want to destroy this planet but those creatures want ours. They want our planet to become theirs. In the war between different creatures beings, many of my kind die. Thankfully, in the end, we win and we manage to drag them away. But after a few years, they came back again but with other new creatures. We win again but this time, there is more lost than before, it's almost triple. That time, I force my kind to become stronger. To avoid getting invaded again, we're the ones who invade. We destroy first those who attack us then we travel around the universe to look for the potential threats to our planet."

"And that's when you find our planet."

"Yeah, a beautiful blue planet. I had never landed on my feet until this time. I only send my trusted subordinates to go around and observe your planet. At first, I don't want to destroy this planet, you look kind and peaceful until... I notice the dark side of this place."

"Dark side?"

"Yeah, I notice how your curiosity makes you do something evil. You capture animals, plants, or any living things to study, sometimes you kill them. You humans, destroying your planets, like cutting down trees to building structures without planting back. Some humans hurt or even kill other humans. When I see this, I feel afraid. Not only that, when I saw that thing called technology, I knew that someday, you will reach not only space but us too."

"I see... you're afraid that we're going to invade your planet too? Do you think that we're that bad to do that?"

"For many years observing your planet... I can say it's fifty-fifty."

Miss Altina and Relaine look at each other.

"I agree with that."

"Same."

"Please finish what your doing first..."

"I got it. Miss Altina, please put more effort now."

"Got it!"

The queen slowly pulls her hand to Hiro's chest.

The blood starts spilling on his chest.

I can't say a word right now.

I don't want to bother them.

"Here it comes."

The queen pulls a small ball inside Hiro's chest.

"You guys manage to build a small ball that can destroy a planet? We should be the ones to get afraid of your technologies."

"We spend hundreds of years to build that."

"It's done."

The queen crashes the bomb with its hand.

"This is the proof that we won't destroy your planet anymore. Then, how about you humans?"

"What do you mean?"

"How can we be sure you won't try to invade us once you manage to find our planet?"

"Who knows, but if anything like that happens. Instead of protecting your planet from us, why not welcome us instead?", Miss Altina said.

"Welcome you...?"

"Yeah, because right now we were welcoming you."

Miss Altina extended her arm toward the queen.

"D-Don't be stupid. I'm the reason why many of your kinds die."

"Yeah, we know, but isn't better to stop than continue this pointless war?"

"Why you guys are not taking revenge? I already save the boy, you should try killing me now."

"No need for that. We just both want to protect our kind. From what you experienced in the past, I might understand what you feel right now. If we kill you, there's no telling what will the remaining Outsiders do. If we continue fighting, we're both losing our kind."

"Miss Altina is right, there's no reason to fight in the first place. And you're not really afraid of us, humans, it's just, that you don't want to see your kind suffering and dying again."

"Are you guys serious about that?"

"Yeah."

A voice of the man came out.

"Hiro!"

I immediately run at him.

He tries to sit and I help him.

"Instead of fighting, why not let's help each other."

"How you will explain this to the others? Do you think all of the humans will accept this?"

"Obviously not, but this is better than killing each other, right?", Miss Altina said.

"I see... I understand now. I promise I won't attack the earth anymore."

"Thank you. To close the deal, we will give you something."

"What is it?"

________________________________________________________

The queen is already walking toward her ship.

"Come back again and let's have some tea.", Miss Altina said.

"Yeah, I'll come back someday, but not us enemy but a friend."

She smiles at us she the ship flies up.

"See you again, Sezia."