The Uprising

Chaos erupted shortly afterward. People began to gather in front of the offices of the ruling elites, kicking the fence that had been closed to prevent an uprising. They shouted for an explanation, demanding that the elites intervene immediately or else they would resort to violence.

No one expected that the elites would be collaborating with such a terrible group. They never thought they had been deceived, that Vulture had been deliberately created as a mere rumor. Who else could do this besides the elites? Who else had the power to orchestrate it?

It didn't take long for the situation to escalate further. People started hurling anything they could find, shattering glass windows and even attacking the Rangers who were trying to take control of the situation. But, of course, they couldn't do it without resorting to violence, which ultimately led to the current state of affairs.

It was difficult to imagine these people fighting against the Rangers, who were the police in their kingdom. The Rangers had to point their guns, threatening to shoot if the crowd didn't stay put. At first, the people fell silent, afraid of being shot, until one of them shouted:

"HOW LONG WILL WE BE CONTROLLED BY THEM!! THEY MAY HAVE GUNS, BUT WE HAVE NUMBERS!! WE WILL BRING FREEDOM, BRING JUSTICE, AND THEY WILL PAY FOR IT!!"

People began to run, attacking the Rangers to the point where they couldn't fight back. They seized the guns, pointing them at the Rangers to keep them still and motionless.

However, it didn't last long because another group of Rangers arrived, firing their weapons, but the bullets bouncing off the bodies of the people. Those who participated in today's protest, I have already provided them protection.

Thanks to that, the residents dared to resist, retaliating against the shots and sending the Rangers to their deaths, which made me smirk with satisfaction. This is their punishment for collaborating with Vulture, a group that also collaborated with The Heretics.

They want to do the same here?

I won't allow it.

Within less than a day, this area had turned into a battlefield. Frightening sounds of gunfire could be heard. The cheers of the protesters and the desperate cries for mercy from the Rangers. Some of them were captured, but the rest had become corpses.

I watched it all from above, observing the path of the war that finally subsided as the day turned into night. The sun had disappeared in the west, lights were turned on, and the protesters sat in their makeshift headquarters in the middle of the street using wooden boxes as a form of protection. Heavy and thick objects were also placed there to fortify the barricade.

Their numbers weren't too many at the moment, only about a hundred people. However, I was confident that they would increase tomorrow. Especially after they discovered information about Vulture from the building in front.

The building wasn't too large, shaped like an inverted U. This office was just a branch of the main headquarters of the ruling elites, which they couldn't penetrate at the moment. Especially not with a hundred people, with only ten of them holding guns. The rest were still armed with close-range weapons, both blunt and sharp.

I never expected it to be so easy to turn a once peaceful kingdom into such chaos. It only took a little push.

But all of this was aided by the corpses of the massacred. That was the main reason why people were willing to take action. I simply accelerated their movement before Vulture relocated or escaped from here.

Anyone who collaborates with The Heretics will be destroyed, and I will ensure they suffer before leaving this world.

They won't be able to do the same thing as before. Not anymore, not in the future.

Before I leave, I ensure to create a transparent barrier around them so that if something happens, they remain safe even without my presence. I have also created a mosquito-sized camera there, directly connected to my wristband. If I want to check, I simply press the wristband and watch from the holographic screen. It's so easy to use futuristic gadgets.

As I return to the backyard of the mansion, Miss Sheila is already waiting there. She folds her arms, looking displeased. The wrinkles on her forehead are so deep, and her sharp eyes pierce through the heart.

"So, it's you."

"How did you know?"

She points with her chin.

I look down and realize that I'm still wearing the same clothes as before, and I haven't changed my hair color back either.

A small laugh escapes from my mouth.

"Do you dare to laugh after what you've done?"

I lower my hand from my head, remove the hood, and change my hair color back. "This is the only way to ensure Vulture comes out of hiding. We can't stay still for too long, or the misguided followers will cause trouble. And I assure you, you don't want that to happen. Not anymore."

"Why do I have a feeling that you've already met them?" Miss Sheila asks suspiciously.

"Met them?" My laughter reflexively escapes upon hearing that, an empty laughter that I never expected to come out of me. "It's better if we don't discuss it."

"Why? What's-"

I glance at her, causing her to fall silent, even freezing in place.

Perhaps for Zent, it was just a casual warning, but for Sheila, who is now staring at him, she feels as if she's being gazed upon by a creature whose existence is difficult to explain. One thing is certain, she can see the pitch-black darkness emanating from it, a darkness that can even surpass the fear of death. Her entire body trembles violently, with a heartbeat that is no longer audible.

As Zent looks away, she finally takes a deep breath, unaware that she had been holding it. Sweat streams down, dampening her body. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, gasping for air.

Why did she end up like this? Was I too excessive?

Z, who had been lying down, wakes up with a frightened expression. It's a face he had never shown before.

Never mind, there's no point in dwelling on it. It's better for me to focus on what I want to do now.

"Miss Sheila, what if we work together? I will ensure Vulture is eradicated from Clockheart, and you will save your brother from them. Not a bad deal, right?"

She stands up straight again, clenching her fists so tightly that they turn white. "I don't mind that, but can you restore our energy? This city won't last long without it, and a much greater chaos could occur."

I observe Glory in my left hand, then turn back to Miss Sheila. "Unfortunately, I can't. The power held by this object is much greater than you realize, and I cannot let it fall into the wrong hands. Do you want to know where my power comes from?"

A barrier forms around this garden, rendering us invisible from the outside.

I walk closer, removing one of the Glories, then restoring it to its original form. In that instant, Miss Sheila's eyes widen. She never expected that one of the three bracelets is their energy.

"As you can see, this is your energy. The two bracelets on my left and right hands are also the same, and it is through them that I can tap into extraordinary powers beyond reason. Now you understand why I don't want the Glories to fall into the wrong hands?" I transform the Glory back into a bracelet, disregarding her gaze that seems to say, 'Hey, that belongs to us.'

"We could use them to make this place better," she persists.

"There is still something I haven't told you, Miss Sheila." I take a deep breath, observing the three faintly glowing bracelets. "They require a significant price to be used. That price is the soul. The more power you exert, the greater the damage to your soul, and you wouldn't want that."

She approaches, placing her right hand on my chest. Our eyes meet, red and hazel. "Does it make you suffer?"

I grasp her hand, taking it off while hoping she doesn't feel my increasingly rapid heartbeat. "I'm... I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me. Right now, the most important thing is to help the residents move forward so that Vulture reveals itself."

"What if they remain silent?"

I shake my head. "That won't happen. The ruling elites are currently being pressured by the residents. Those who are part of Vulture will undoubtedly feel restless, panicked, and afraid of being discovered. They will be quick to take action. That's our target. We just have to wait for the right time for the answers to come."