Resolve to Fight

The skies above Galam City were shrouded in darkness, cloaked by thick, oppressive storm clouds. Blue lightning streaked across the heavens like wild roots growing out of control, their radiance tearing through the shadows.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion ripped through Rudi's apartment, obliterating the walls in an instant.

Chunks of concrete flew through the air, slicing through the confined space like shards of chaos. Dust filled the room, mixing with fragments of shattered glass that sparkled with fleeting flashes of lightning before vanishing into the gloom.

Rudi didn't have time to react. The blast was too sudden, too overwhelming.

A massive piece of metal hurtled through the air with terrifying speed, embedding itself squarely into his chest, left side, directly where his heart was.

"Arrghh..."

His scream was drowned out by the echoing roar of destruction. His body was flung backward, crashing onto the apartment floor. Shards of glass scattered beneath him, cutting into his flesh, leaving deep gashes that oozed blood. Warm crimson soaked his shirt, pooling on the floor beneath his broken form.

From across the room, Amadeus stood motionless, observing the scene with a detached gaze. His expression was cold, his smirk condescending, like a master judging a lowly servant.

"Ah, a lesson to always remember," he said, his voice eerily calm. "Never leave the TV on during a thunderstorm."

Amadeus strolled forward, his steps slow and deliberate, a stark contrast to the destruction surrounding him. He crouched slightly, inspecting the jagged piece of metal lodged in Rudi's chest.

"Well then," he murmured, his tone as casual as a doctor briefing a patient before surgery. "Just this once, I'll give you some… special service."

Without warning, he gripped the metal with one hand. With a swift, merciless motion, he yanked it free, showing no hesitation.

SCHLUK!

The sound was sickening, accompanied by a fresh spray of blood that splattered across the floor. Amadeus's pristine white gloves were now stained with crimson.

"Disgusting," he muttered, his voice laced with disdain. Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved a new pair of gloves, discarding the bloodied ones carelessly onto the ground. With an air of arrogance, he meticulously cleaned himself.

Rudi's body was wracked with unbearable pain. The gaping wound in his chest felt like a void, draining his life away. His breaths came in short, ragged bursts. Blood continued to pour from the hole in his chest. The warmth that once coursed through his body was replaced by an overwhelming, icy coldness.

"Damn it… I can't die yet."

His vision blurred, his consciousness slipping away. His heart, now shattered, was no longer beating. Without it, his body had no means to sustain its functions, his regenerative ability included.

But he was wrong.

Something stirred deep within him.

A faint pulse. Weak, almost imperceptible, but undeniably there, a tremor within the hollow cavity of his chest.

Blood, which had ceased its flow moments ago, surged back to life, rushing to damaged tissues. Oxygen, proteins, and essential nutrients flooded his veins, fueling the regenerative processes within.

Myocardial cells, the core of his heart's strength, began dividing at a rapid pace. Dead cells were replaced with new ones. Shredded muscle fibers rewove themselves with intricate precision. Slowly but surely, every cell worked in unison to reconstruct his heart, pulling it back from the brink of oblivion.

Within seconds, his heart resumed its rhythm, slowly at first, then steadily. Blood coursed through his arteries, carrying renewed life to every corner of his body.

The gaping wound in his chest began to close, the torn skin knitting itself together. Scars faded as the flesh regenerated, leaving behind only the faintest traces of what had been. A warm sensation spread through his body, chasing away the numbing cold.

His body had awakened once more.

Rudi coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

The haze clouding his mind began to lift. His awareness snapped back into focus.

With trembling hands, he touched his chest, the area that had just been restored. His wide eyes reflected both terror and disbelief. The power coursing through him had brought his shattered heart back to life.

"So… this is the power of the Ability Card?" he muttered, his voice hoarse. The confusion on his face made his bewilderment clear. "Regeneration. This power… won't let me die."

Amadeus, now standing by the massive hole in the apartment wall, gazed out at the chaos consuming Galam City. His sharp eyes scanned the devastation unfolding below.

Outside, the inexplicable disaster raged on.

Jagged streaks of blue lightning crisscrossed the sky with unnatural intensity, painting a scene both mesmerizing and terrifying.

The electric storm rampaged through the city without mercy. Blue bolts struck everything in their path, buildings, passing vehicles, streetlights, billboards, and even the panicked masses desperately fleeing for safety.

Amidst the pandemonium, a figure emerged.

A man strode calmly into the frenzied crowd, exuding an aura of pure menace. The chaos around him seemed irrelevant, nothing touched him.

The black hoodie draped over his head flapped gently in the storm's violent winds. His tattered orange pants provided a stark contrast to the dark atmosphere surrounding him.

But the most striking feature was his eyes.

Both pupils radiated an intense blue glow, their light so piercing it could shake the resolve of anyone who dared meet his gaze.

Electric currents danced across his skin, slithering like glowing serpents obedient to their master's command. Each of his steps left faint static trails in the air, enough to make the hair of anyone nearby stand on end.

Unbothered by the panicked crowd scrambling away from him, the man walked into the middle of the street. His footsteps were inaudible amidst the cacophony of terror, screams, emergency sirens, and the relentless thunderstorm.

He raised his right arm with deliberate ease. Blue plasma began to coalesce, swirling and crackling on his skin. The electricity surged and danced at his fingertips as if eager to obey his will.

Pointing his index finger like a gun, he aimed at a high-voltage power substation pole.

BOOM!

A bolt of lightning shot forth, obliterating the structure in a single strike. The pole crumbled instantly, scattering molten metal and sparks in every direction. Within moments, the surrounding area plunged into darkness as the power grid collapsed.

The blackout spread rapidly, swallowing entire blocks, including Rudi's apartment. Much of the city was now enveloped in shadow.

Those who had been hiding behind cars and other makeshift cover broke into frantic sprints, screaming in terror. They fled from the man who seemed to wield the storm itself as his weapon.

Rudi stood frozen at the edge of the massive hole in his apartment wall, watching the destruction unfold with wide eyes.

His breathing hitched, his chest tight.

He turned to Amadeus, who stood nearby, observing the chaos with a look of satisfaction, as though enjoying a grand theatrical performance.

"That monster… is he a player?" Rudi's voice trembled, betraying the fear creeping into his heart. His gaze was fixed on the man below, every nerve in his body screaming danger.

Amadeus responded leisurely, his tone cold yet certain.

"Indeed. He's a player I recruited not too long ago to join Deus ex Desire. A player with electricity-based powers strong enough to control lightning as if it were his plaything."

Amadeus's lips curved into a subtle smile, a chilling satisfaction radiating from his expression.

"He is… the embodiment of the sky's fury."

A bolt of lightning struck a nearby office building.

This time, the destruction was on an entirely different scale. A large portion of the structure collapsed, sending debris crashing onto the streets below. The rubble crushed unfortunate souls caught in its shadow, their cries lost amidst the chaos. Flames erupted and spread rapidly, turning the streets into a blazing inferno.

The pools of water on the pavement reflected the searing red of the fire, a grotesque mirror of the destruction above.

People screamed, desperate for help, their voices blending into a symphony of panic.

And yet, in the eye of the storm, the man remained unmoving. His presence was like an anchor, the epicenter of the calamity consuming the city. Only in Deus ex Desire could a human wield such catastrophic power.

Rudi clenched his fists, his fear and despair weighing heavy on his chest. "I have no chance against him…," he thought, his head hanging low.

His body had healed, restored to its prime. His regeneration ability ensured that even fatal wounds wouldn't end him. But that didn't matter in the face of such overwhelming power.

"What's the point of regeneration if I'm just going to be destroyed over and over again? Without even the chance to fight back."

The shadow of defeat loomed over him, urging him to give up before the battle even began.

Amadeus chuckled softly, his sarcastic tone cutting through the cold air between them.

"There's no such thing as absolute justice in this world. Victory belongs to those who dare to seize it. There are no rules dictating how you win. Cheat, deceive, play dirty, wisdom in Deus ex Desire lies in survival at any cost."

Rudi turned to Amadeus, his eyes filled with doubt. "Fighting him is suicide. Killing a monster like that... it's impossible."

Amadeus raised an eyebrow, his voice sharp.

"For someone who cannot die, that sentiment is rather inappropriate." His gaze pierced Rudi. "Have you already forgotten your desire?"

The words cut deep, as though they were daggers aimed directly at Rudi's heart.

He turned back toward the destruction outside. Amid the crushing fear, a memory surfaced, the reason he joined Deus ex Desire. The reason he was willing to risk everything.

Sinar.

Rudi's fists tightened further, his nails digging into his palms. "I have to do this… for her."

Amadeus stepped forward, moving toward the gaping hole in the apartment wall. His movements were unnaturally fluid, his body defying gravity itself. Each step took him higher, his feet walking on air as though the void beneath him were a solid surface.

The storm's winds surged around him, whipping at the pristine white scarf draped across his shoulders. The fabric billowed like wings, ethereal and angelic, a stark contrast to the destruction below.

With a flick of his fingers, blue flames burst forth, enveloping his body in a radiant glow. The fire didn't burn; instead, its aura was cold and unnerving, heavy with an intangible menace that made the air around it suffocating.

Amadeus paused, turning to glance back at Rudi. His expression carried a hint of amusement, though his eyes remained calm and unyielding.

"Before I go, let me remind you of one thing," Amadeus said, his voice firm and resonant, cutting through Rudi's thoughts. His gaze bore into Rudi's, unshaken and absolute.

"Fight. Defeat the remaining players. Become the last one standing."

As Amadeus finished speaking, the flames around him flared up, growing brighter and more intense. The blue fire roared, becoming a beacon in the darkened cityscape, a blinding signal that drew every eye.

Even the lightning-wielding player, standing amidst the chaos near Rudi's apartment, turned his glowing blue gaze toward the light.

Amadeus's farewell was impossible to ignore, a flare that demanded acknowledgment.

For a brief moment, he glanced toward the electric player, his lips curling into a faint, enigmatic smile. It was a look that said one thing: the show has only just begun.

And then, in a burst of brilliant blue, Amadeus vanished, his figure consumed by the final blaze of his flames.

Rudi was left alone, his mind swirling with Amadeus's words, both a warning and a challenge he couldn't ignore.

The lightning wielder shifted his focus entirely toward the crumbled apartment not far from where he stood. His steps were deliberate, steady, radiating a threatening aura aimed directly at Rudi.

Rudi took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heartbeat, pounding like a war drum in his chest. His gaze locked onto the man in the middle of the road, now approaching him.

A smug grin spread across the lightning wielder's face, exuding confidence, as if Rudi were nothing more than a minor obstacle in the face of his overwhelming power. Slowly, he raised his hands, streams of electricity coursing violently between his palms. Unlike before, his movements were slow, calculated. He brought his hands closer, palm to palm, until the electric current met, sparking with a deafening crack that echoed through the deserted street.

With a furious clap, the man slammed his hands together, condensing the immense energy within. Then, with a sharp upward thrust, he unleashed the concentrated energy toward the gaping hole in the apartment wall, right where Rudi stood, watching.

The sky split open as a blinding blue bolt of lightning struck with catastrophic force. The apartment's top four floors crumbled in an instant, obliterated by a thunderous explosion. Concrete, metal, and glass fragments rained down like a storm of destruction, scattering across the street below. Rudi was caught in the chaos, his body thrown like a lifeless doll, completely at the mercy of the impact.

He plummeted from the eighth floor to the pavement below, his body charred, broken, and torn. The acrid scent of burnt flesh lingered in the air, mingling with the dust and debris from the shattered building. His motionless form lay a short distance from the lightning wielder, smoke rising faintly from his scorched skin. Cracks and faint snapping noises emanated from the burnt surface of his body.

The lightning user approached Rudi's lifeless form with a victorious stride, his expression smug as he looked down on his fallen foe. His electric-blue eyes glowed ominously, awaiting the moment when Rudi's Ability Card would detach from his body, the final act of a defeated Player.

"Too easy," he muttered, his low voice dripping with mockery. "Weaklings like you are only fit to pave the path for the strong."

A thin smile crept across his lips, like a grim reaper satisfied with his task. "Don't blame me. Blame the gods who fated you for misfortune. Rest in peace."

But the silence didn't last. Something unusual stirred. Deep within the charred remains of Rudi's body, amid dead tissue and lifeless organs, a faint spark of consciousness flickered. Small, barely there, but enough to evoke a memory.

Sinar. Her warm smile. Her gaze full of hope. The one reason Rudi had clung to life so desperately.

"I'm not ready to die," a voice whispered in the depths of his mind. It wasn't just a thought, it was a raw, primal refusal to give up.

"Death... I reject you."

The air grew heavier, the pressure shifting. It was no longer the oppressive aura of the lightning wielder but something far older, far more primal.

Rudi's body began to tremble. What had been still as death now emitted unsettling sounds, bones cracking, flesh snapping. Then, with a guttural roar that shattered the silence, Rudi screamed,

"ARGGGHHHH!"

And in an instant, the regeneration began. Dead cells sprang back to life, writhing like tiny creatures scrambling to claim space. New tissues wove together at an impossible speed, replacing the destroyed. His spine, once bent at an unnatural angle, straightened with a sickening pop. Fresh blood coursed through his veins, revitalizing a body that had been on the brink of oblivion.

As he rose, it wasn't with grace but with jerky, unnatural movements, like a creature reborn from the void. His hands clawed at the air, his once-slumped back now rigid, his head lifting slowly. His eyes, previously dim and lifeless, now glowed faintly with a fiery red hue, embers reigniting from the ashes.

The man with the power of lightning stepped back, startled but far from shaken. He watched the resurrection before him with a mixture of awe and anticipation, a grin spreading across his face. "Fascinating," he said, his voice laced with curiosity. "You're like a zombie with the power to defy death itself."

At that moment, a memory surfaced, stories from Greek mythology he used to read to his little daughter. "This reminds me of a tale..." His gaze sharpened as he locked eyes with Rudi. "A story of a Greek hero who defied Hades to save his love. Orpheus. Your power reeks of Hades' arrogance over death."

Rudi, barely regaining his senses, could only stare at the enemy before him in confusion. But even in his bewildered state, one thing was clear, this man was madness incarnate. Someone who needed to be stopped. Destroyed.

The Player, who had subdued the thunder, raised his hands again. "I'm no longer as noble or pure-hearted as Orpheus. Not anymore." Lightning surged across his body, wrapping him in waves of immense energy. "If you're the manifestation of Hades, the god of death, then I am Zeus, king of gods. Let's see whose power prevails, my lightning or your undead resilience."

Rudi clenched his fists, his mind flashing back to Sinar. Her face lingered, the sole reason he still had the will to fight. "I'm not done yet," he muttered, his voice hoarse but resolute.