Burying The Truth I

I climbed up to a ridge from where I could see the long-sought entrance, hidden among vines and trees. I lowered my binoculars and quickly pulled out my knife, stabbing a snake that was about to leap at me. I had left my motorcycle behind and had been walking through this humid forest for some time. I had already killed four snakes and was surprised I hadn't encountered any larger animals. This part of the Amazon was restricted. You couldn't enter its airspace; any aircraft that entered this perimeter would be shot down. The area was filled with missile batteries. And beyond that, there were turrets with facial recognition that killed anyone unauthorized who set foot on this land. Only my father and a few carefully selected individuals had clearance here. But with his death, I learned that I, too, had that authorization.

I approached the camouflaged entrance, and the massive metal door opened. It was an underground passage leading into a nuclear bunker. This was where Hamura conducted his research — studies on energy leaks, obsaiadan blades, parasites, and even Y.K. and me. It was the place where he kept his secrets. And also the place where what I had long been searching for was hidden: "The Key."

I reached the end of the corridor. Two metal doors opened, and I stepped inside. The moment I entered, the entire room was engulfed in darkness. A flickering light started to blink gently. I spotted a silhouette darting away from the light. I moved toward the light's source. Another appeared. Then another. Until I reached the fifth one. I was roughly at the center of the room.

A long, tentacle-like object shot out from the shadows, but I dodged and grabbed it in my hand. The sudden movement pushed my hair into my face, but I couldn't fix it. I had realized I was holding the blade of The Cane.

— Y.K.!

— Been a while since we last saw each other, Andreas.

A light turned on above his head. He was wearing a suit and a top hat, looking like a magician or something similar.

— What are you doing here? You know this zone is restricted to the public.

— I'm looking for the same thing you are.

"The Key." Why did Emma need the Key? And why was Y.K. allowing himself to be manipulated by her?

— So, you're working with Emma now?

— Let's just say it's a partnership.

— Then I'm sorry, but I can't let you get any closer.

— Do you really think it's worth trying?

He disappeared into the darkness, and the light above him turned off.

— You know that beast that's been chasing you? Yeah, it won't stop any time soon. It'll drag you right back into that limbless state.

He lunged from the shadows, but I countered with a judo throw, slamming him to the opposite side.

— Also... you know Adam... Avex? How do you think he feels after watching all his people die in front of him, after having nearly every bone in his body shattered, and suffering the exact same torture you're about to go through, Andreas?

I scanned for his next move. My hair got in my eyes, but I couldn't move it. He emerged again and slashed my body with the cane.

— Y.K., why are you doing this? I thought we both wanted the same thing — to change the world.

— Y.K.'s ideals have long since vanished. Now, there is only my new purpose. The purpose of Purpleguy. That's what happened.

It seemed he was now impersonating this "Purpleguy." Truth is, Y.K. was a master manipulator and impersonator.

— Hmm... You know what else happened with this transformation? You became arrogant. And that arrogance — thinking you're fighting Adam again — will be your downfall. I said as the room began to fill with light. The firelight I created using my parasite.

He backed off, but he could no longer hide in the dark.

— Not a fan of light, are you?

— I appreciate the candles, but I'm not a fan of heat either.

Then we both launched forward and clashed forearms. What a coincidence — this time, it wouldn't end so quickly. Then we heard a roar, and a massive creature about 10 meters long burst through the right wall. It looked like a mutated frog with scales, gills, flippers, and a tail. One of its upper limbs ended in a single massive bone blade. It was the beast from the bridge. I knew this because it still had part of the clothing it once wore — now torn, wet, and stained with red and yellow from blood and wounds. It also had small tentacles growing on its limbs. Its head was gone, replaced by a frog-like face with protruding teeth and bony structures. The beast had adapted to the aquatic environment.

Purpleguy headbutted me away from the beast, but one of its back-leg tentacles grabbed me by the neck and dragged me along, choking me. The beast rampaged through wall after wall, moving through some kind of sewer system. My vision blurred, and my hair was still in my eyes. Still, I managed to grab onto its tail, which had bone structures I could grip. I crawled upward, only for Purpleguy to appear on the beast's back. He stomped on my shoulder, then struck me with a sword slash that cut my face and eye. I fell onto my back but still clung to the beast. It kept screaming.

— It's such a shame when you scream. You ruin all this lovely atmosphere with your noise pollution. Said Purpleguy, turning his back to me and driving the obsaiadan blade into the beast.

The creature kept roaring, and Purpleguy hadn't realized I had gotten up. He noticed me out of the corner of his eye, but it was too late. I punched him, knocking him back. Now he was disarmed — the sword fell from his hand and remained lodged in the beast. I must've driven it in deep, because the beast went into a frenzy, screaming and smashing through everything.

— Fine, Andreas. If you want a fight, then a fight you shall have. Purpleguy said, raising his fists.

I clenched my own fists and stepped forward. He swung — I dodged and countered with a punch. Another punch and a kick followed, which he blocked, but he landed a solid hit on me. This wasn't just fighting — he was trying to kill me. That made me suspicious. He threw another punch. I dodged and managed to lock him in a rear chokehold. He struggled, then elbowed me in the mouth, turned, and landed two more punches.

We backed off briefly to catch our breath, then clashed again. He caught my right fist; I grabbed his left.

— You know, Andreas... I respect you. I haven't had a fight this intense in a long time.

He grinned sarcastically, then headbutted me, followed by a punch to the liver and another to the mouth. I staggered back. Glancing to my left, I saw it — he was winding up another blow...

But I grabbed the handle of The Cane, still embedded in the beast, and slashed his hand off.

The beast burst through another wall and crashed into a massive chamber below. I dropped the sword and fell beside the creature. It seemed to have lost consciousness.

— HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! ANDREAS! YOU'RE A PHENOMENAL MAN! I never thought you were capable of so much! Purpleguy shouted with wild excitement, clutching his severed hand.

—...

— But you see, cutting off my hand isn't enough to bring me down! he said as he pressed his hand back into place and began reattaching it.

He walked over to the obsaiadan blade on the ground and picked it up with his freshly reattached hand.

—...Y.K... no... Purpleguy, I said, holding to the beast's tail.

— That's right! That's my name!

— Do you really belive that only you can regenerate?

I placed both hands on the beast's tail. My armor began forming on my fingers and palms. My vision sharpened, and I felt fire ignite in my legs. I lifted the beast by its tail and hurled it toward him. He dodged, but it was pointless. I was already in front of him. My fists were on fire. He was finished.

One punch to the liver. Another to the spleen. He raised the sword to block, but I struck it, redirecting it into his skull. More punches followed. His hair caught fire. Then the final punch to the stomach sent him crashing through multiple walls into another chamber farther away.

Good. It was over... for now.

Meanwhile, all my wounds had fully regenerated.

Conveniently, the beast had brought me exactly where I needed to be.

The Labyrinth. Hamura had built an entire maze around his private area. The labyrinth spanned multiple levels and stretched for kilometers, designed to ensure no one could reach this place without a map. I had been briefed on the surroundings and knew roughly where I was.

After 1 hour and 54 minutes, I finally reached my destination. Two large, elegant black wooden doors stood before me. I opened them with difficulty, knowing full well what awaited me on the other side.

The Mansion. The house I grew up in — or at least a perfect replica. If I didn't know the original mansion had burned down ten years ago, I would've thought it was the real thing. The windows displayed the exact landscape from the island where the mansion once stood.

So many memories.

The little table in the living room where I used to play with Coloepy. I couldn't help but feel nostalgic for those days. But I had a mission now.

I entered my father's study. A simple dark wooden desk. A rustic room with many bookshelves. I sat at the desk and opened the drawer on the right, feeling around for a keypad. I entered the code, and a bookshelf creaked open slightly. I pulled it open fully.

This was my father's vault.

Inside was a black notebook. A long metal case. And a drawing — likely made by a child — of four kids: two with red hair, one with white hair, and one with light purple, playing in a green landscape with trees and flowers. Next to the drawing was a gray brooch with four swords, two wings, and a rose in the center.

This was it.

— The Key!

Then, a metal door slid shut over the entrance I came through. Speakers clicked on, and Hamura's voice echoed through the room.

— Welcome, Andreas...

-Shinja Andreas