Chapter 26 : THE DAY OF FATE

Today was the day.

Everyone woke up at 7:00 AM that morning. Everyone made sure to have bulletproof vests and plenty of ammo. Zoar sharpened and cleaned his sword. Krycella and Kasstia tied back their hair so it wouldn't get in the way. Maurice gave himself a buzz cut because his hair became quite a mess.

They left the hotel at 12:00 PM to go into their hiding spot. They disguised their gun cases into normal luggage so no one would be suspicious of them. They also wore fancy clothing over their battle armour.

The hiding spot was in a narrow and dark alley in between two stores across the street from where the parade was going to take place.

Everything was going as planned.

It was now 1:58 PM.

"We have a little over a minute left. You guy's ready?" Zoar said, crouched behind a garbage can with Maurice. Krycella was across from them probed behind a generator. Kasstia being behind another.

"Ready as I'll ever be!" Maurice whispered loudly.

"All set!" Krycella said.

"I want you all to know that I am praying to whatever God that may exist, that we make it out alive. All of us." Kasstia said.

Everyone smiled.

Suddenly marching band music started to play from a couple blocks away.

"The parade has begun!" Maurice said.

"Stay low, we can't screw up now." Zoar said.

They couldn't see it, but they could hear the parade had began.

80,000 people from Griffnine and many other places from Zeu had gathered at the parade.

There were 17 floats, 6 giant balloons, 42 band members, 30 dancers and 60 robotic gaurds.

The floats were all colorful, each one promoting different things NEO Earth had done. The balloons were all designed to appeal to children. They were each a cartoon looking interpretation of the Earth.

The crowd of the parade and the parade itself slowly drew closer to the area that was being closed off. A platform was put in front of the thing being hidden overnight. It was set up to be a stage. It had a podium with a mic set up on it.

The music stopped and all you could hear was the crowd. Everyone was in front of the gates that held them off from entering the closed off area.

Zoar's heart bested hard and steadily. He was nervous.

Death was his biggest concern right now.

The crowd began to cheer suddenly.

Zoar peeked up from the trash can.

Neal Abrain was walking to the podium now.

The crowd roared with excitement. It was as if everyone was a fanatic of Neal.

Neal had 10 robotic gaurds.

"You're call Zoar!" Mauricr whispered.

"You'll know when to go..." Zoar stayed hidden, but continued to peak in on the situation.

Neal held his hand up as a way to get everyone quiet.

Everyone quieted down shortly and Neal smiled.

"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen! Today I will be showcasing my new invention! It is right here under this big tarp!" Neal threw his hands up into the air and the crowd grew loud again, cheering for the reveal.

"Damn! Watching him lie right to their faces is so annoying!" Maurice hit the ground.

"It's almost time..." Zoar pulled out a cellphone.

"Where'd you get that?" Krycella asked.

"I did alot last night when you guy's where asleep." Zoar whispered.

He looked at the time.

2:18 PM.

2 hovering robots flew above the hidden object and grabbed the tarp.

They both pulled it up and the machinery was revealed.

The crowd cheered as it was now revealed to everyone.

It was shaped like a hexagon and was painted matte black.

It had 8 tubes coming out of it that seemed to be used to release smoke, even though the machine is supposedly supposed to clean the environment.

"This is the YASAGI XII! It's taken 12 different prototypes to build it right! So we gave it the number in its title!" Neal smiled as he spoke.

"Is it about time Zoar!?" Maurice was pissed and ready to fire.

"One moment." Zoar dialed in a number on the cellphone.

"What the Hell are you doing?" Maurice asked.

"Quiet. Hello?... Yeah...Right... Thanks again... Goodbye." Zoar put the phone away after he ended the call.

"What did you do?" Kasstia asked.

"You'll see." Zoar said.

"Goddamnit..." Maurice said, impatiently.

"This machine-" Neal's mic suddenly cut off to his and everyone's surprise.

"Wha the Hell?" Maurice was confused.

"Here it is." Zoar said.

"Greetings to you all." Velvet's voice could be heard from the speakers.

"Velvet!?" Krycella, Kasstia and Maurice all said at once.

"Neal Abrain is a liar and a evil man."

The crowd chattered with confusion.

Neal stared into the crowd with no emotion.

"I have audio proof of his wrong doings!" Velvet said.

"I don't give a flying shit about that Goddamn parade! I just need all those useless scum there so I can enslave them all!" The speakers played a recording of Neal's voice.

Neal did nothing, but stand and listen.

The crowd began to slowly grow with panic.

"Neal Abrain's true Identity is Gene Malite. He left his wife 12 years ago and took her son and daughter away. He left his son in a cold forest to die and kept his daughter as a prisoner in his own tower. Their names are Zoar and Krycella Malite! They are here now to get revenge and save the world from the evils of Neal! Run! Everyone must run to safety now!" Velvet's voice echoed throughout the streets.

The crowd was in full pandemonium now and everyone was running away.

"Let's go!" Zoar jumped up and ran toward the parade area.

Everyone else got up and ran with him.

They ran in the opposite direction of the crowd, having to push past some people.

They drew closer and closer to Neal, ignoring the sounds of screaming and panic.

Neal stood there and a smile grew upon his face.

Zoar came to a hard stop in, only 20 meters away from Neal.

"NEAL!" Zoar yelled with deep hatred.

Neal slowly looked down at him.

Their eyes met and Neal laughed.

"Nice to see you again... Zoar."

This was it.

The final battle was about to begin.