Chapter 4

I awoke to the sound of beeping medical equipment. The ceiling had those humming fluorescent lights, and the window to my right was open, letting a nice breeze in.

There was no doubt, this was a hospital. I still don’t really understand what had happened earlier, but it was apparently bad enough to have me end up in here.

I looked around and could see Diran asleep in the chair next to my bed, the rest of the gang was scattered around the room. Roku stood next to the window brooding, obviously he would rather be training or fighting right now, Useless was only here because Diran was, and Shai was here because she can’t stand to leave the group.

I sighed. Yesterday was obviously a major failure on my part, but I guess Diran ended up saving the day like always. I had tried to fight my fate, and failed. I couldn’t even defeat some random villain’s monster anymore, meanwhile Diran can take down whole organizations. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I can’t change anything.

“This is why we need a healer.” Roku remarked.

“I know right? I've been saying that for years.” I said, letting everyone know that I was awake.

“Hey, you’re finally awake.” Roku said to me after he heard my remark. He nudged Diran awake as they all crowded around me, some obviously more interested than others. I would rather be anywhere but here right now. Even Useless, who’s even more useless than me, was looking at me like I was pathetic.

“How are you feeling?” Diran asked, obviously concerned.

“Peachy keen, jelly bean” I said with my usual forced grin.

“What happened?” I asked. If I don't know, I'll just keep imagining the most embarrassing scenarios. Even though it sucks I would rather know than not.

“You defeated the monster, but since you haven't used your powers in a while you kind of overdid it and ended up passed out for 3 days.” Diran explained. He was always a bad liar.

“I know that's far from the truth. I could hear you defeating it while I was losing consciousness” I replied, I appreciated the thought, but I was in no mood for pandering.

Diran sighed knowing he couldn’t save me from the embarrassment any longer.

“It seems that the monster could deflect energy attacks.... So... When you went all out and hit him with that lightning blast?.... Yeah…... Well…. He may have deflected it right back at you.” He said with a grimace.

“So I hit myself with my most powerful attack?”

“Yep.”

“And if I had just attacked with something besides the lightning blast I would have won?”

“Yep.”

“And then you defeated the monster after me?”

“Yep.”

“And you had to protect me from getting killed by the monster?”

“...Yep.”

“So, if anything I made it worse?”

“No, because seeing you almost die pushed me past my limits and let me break fre-”

“Yep.” He was swiftly cut off by Useless.

At that moment I facepalmed so hard on the injured part of my skull, that I knocked myself out. On one hand I got myself out of that awkward situation, but on the other hand I further embarrassed myself. I guess that truly is the law of equivalent exchange.

As I thought, I once again failed to do anything. Once again, I was useless. This arc was just like all the others, I was nothing more than a side character who couldn’t do anything on my own.

***

“Wake up you sad, poor, lost soul.” A mysterious, menacing silhouette standing in the window woke me from my slumber. Oh great, there really is no rest for the weary.

Experience and reason would suggest that someone appearing in my window at night would be a bad thing. This is probably the villain's introduction. Most good story arcs establish he villain beforehand, and this looks to be a fitting introduction. Now to find out which kind of villain he’s going to be.

“I'm guessing you’re here to kidnap me to lure out Diran. Well, I’ll let you know I'm not particularly in the mood for any action right now. You’d have an easier time kidnapping Useless anyways.” I said with a sigh.

I looked behind him and noticed the absence of a moon in the sky. No doubt it would help conceal his identity, and his escape. How predictable.

“That is not why I have come.” The stranger responded.

“Ah, shoot, you saw through my plan to get rid of

Useless? I really thought that’d work. What gave it away? It's the name, isn’t it?”

“I have come for something far greater.” He spoke.

“Literally anything is greater than Useless. You got to narrow it down more.” I quipped.

“I have come to recruit you to our cause.” He firmly spoke.

I stopped short of another sarcastic comment. This was a scenario I hadn’t yet encountered. Of all the predictable scenarios we have been encountering for so long, there was finally one out of the ordinary. Kudos to whoever thought up this one. It may have slightly

shocked me, but I could still see where it was going. I recollected myself.

“So now instead of kidnapping me to get to my brother, you’re going to have me join your insane cause to get to my brother. How creative.” I said with a slow clap.

“We heard what had happened to you, we learned about your unfortunate fate. Always stuck trailing your brother, with no way to change it. No matter how hard you work you will always be beneath him, and any attempt to change that will inevitably end in disaster. You’ve encountered it time and time again, the cruel grips of fate on your life...with no control over it...you are but a slave. No control in the direction your life will take, all you are left with is control over how it will end, death is seemingly the only way for it to change, the only escape......But you do not wish for death do you? You wish for change, and yet you do nothing to cause the change. You hope above all else for your life to change, you wish for change, you pray for change, but you’ve given up on it. But not just any change, you realize not what you have, you realize not the changes that could happen, you only wish for fate itself to change” He said.

“Wow, that was quite the speech. You kind of lost me there in the middle, but it seemed to be well rehearsed.” I quickly replied to his monologue.

Some of what he said made sense. I had thought the same things, minus the theatrics. I had cursed fate itself. I had wished my circumstances would change; I couldn’t help but somewhat listen.

Some of it had made a little sense, but most of it was bullshit. He says I did nothing to cause the change, but I did, this is how it always ends, with me in a hospital bed.

I couldn’t help listening, but I also couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark. That's kind of my thing at this point.

Despite his somewhat appealing words, he was going to be a villain, so I will treat him as such.

“Let me guess, to achieve this goal, first we form a team.... No, an army! As we quest across the land, defeating foes, and losing some of our own, we forge a bond unlike any other. We become a family. But as the battles become harder, the stakes become larger, and our numbers become thinner. You realize our goal may be out of reach. So, in a twist no one saw coming, you betray us! You take us, you use the bonds forged, the power of our friendship, the many troops who all followed you, who trusted you, and you sacrifice them in exchange for the power you need. You attain your own kingdom; you sit on the throne of a God. But at what cost?” I said while wiping away a fake tear. I was too tired to think of anything original, so I basically described the plot of Berserk.

“You are not the only one who is a slave to fate. There are others like you. Join us and together we can change it, and destroy this sick reality we live in. You know the words I speak are correct.... I know how we can change fate....and I want you to be a part of it.” He ignored my remarks.

I guess I could cut the crap and help out by learning his actual plan.

“I’m Interested-” I was promptly cut off by another voice

“Oh please, you think he’s sunk so low that he would do that, for a piece of shit like you?”

Roku turned the corner and cracked his knuckle.

Ah, shit. I know what’s going to follow, a beat down that only Diran could withstand. Seems this arc was about to end before it starts. Also, why was he in my hospital room at three in the morning?

“Why are you in my hospital room at three in the morning?” I asked.

“Why are you in his hospital room at three in the morning?” The stranger echoed my confusion.

“I’m here to repaint the walls. Red is the color I’m leaning towards. Any guess what I’ll use for paint?” Roku smiled a wicked smile.

“I have done nothing, and yet you are already prepared to kill me? Fate isn’t the only thing that needs to change. You call yourselves heroes of the people, and yet here, one of the strongest heroes humanity has to offer, is threatening to kill someone he doesn’t even know. Prepare to taste the consequences of your ignorance.” the man said.

“Talk all you can for now. You won’t be able to after I break it, your jaw that is.” That was like the third one liner of the night, things were getting serious.

“Now die!”

In an instant Roku began his attack rush. He punched with such power the building shook, with such speed it created a gust of wind that pushed spectators back, with such badassedry that for miles the woman swooned.

The flurry of blows split through the air. Only one man had ever withstood the sheer power of Roku’s “Beatdown Barrage.” Stupid name, I know, but you can’t deny its power.

“DIE!!!!” He yelled as he attacked.

Blow after blow after blow. With the final blow launching the man into the wall, blasting a hole in it, sending him falling for 20 stories.

“Make sure to pay the bill for this damage on your way down.” Roku said as he turned to leave.

“Oh? Was that supposed to do something?” Roku gasped.

How could this guy have dodged them all? Neither Roku nor I could see him as a result of the dust and smoke.

In the blink of an eye Roku went flying into the wall with a bloody hole in his chest.

“R-Roku!” I yelled in concern for him.

A blow like that would kill any normal person. He isn’t exactly normal though. I guess I forgot Roku was a side character just like me. If this guy is the main villain of this arc like I thought, then Roku had no chance from the beginning.

“This is why we need a healer!” I shouted.

“I sincerely hope you will consider my offer......Before you regret it.” He said as he neared the hole in the wall.

“I will come for your response soon enough, until then.” He said as he leaped from the former window.

I jumped up, my body still aching, to see where he went. I caught a glimpse of something moving along the city rooftops. If the lights would hit just right, I might be able to identify him! I glanced at Roku; I couldn’t just leave him.

“I'll be fine dammit! Go after him!” Roku shouted.

I grabbed my swords and leaped from the window in pursuit. Despite the pain I was feeling, this was the most alive I’ve felt in years! I felt motivated, excited, no one was here to get in my way! I’d finally have the glory!

He was fairly fast, and I was beginning to lose track of him. The speed at which he leapt from rooftop to rooftop was such that I wouldn’t be able to match it normally. I’d have to step it up to be able to catch him, I’d have to use my ability.

I focused my energy, calmed my mind. It had been a while since I had used my powers, and my last fight was a testament to that.

“Banished Blades, Version Two.” I said under my breath.

I unsheathed my swords as I fell from the building. Version One and Three were strong attacks meant solely for offense. But Two was different, it was my utility ability.

By using it, I can catch him.

With my powers, I can control electricity. In the case of Version Three, it culminates in a huge blast on the enemy in sync with an attack from my swords for maximum power and precision, rendering it where they could only block one. In simpler terms, it’s a fifty-fifty.

Alternatively, I could just call down the lightning strike without simultaneously hitting them with my swords, but it has less power and is less accurate as a tradeoff.

Version Two has a very different purpose, and a very different use of my skill set. By sending my energy into a nearby object, I can transform it into a super powered electromagnet. By simultaneously doing the same to myself, I can fling myself towards it at unbelievable speeds, effectively flying. If I repeat this there's no chance he could escape!

The buildings turned into a blur as I flew through the city sky. I was going to catch this guy; I was going to beat someone even Roku couldn’t beat! He thinks he has me all figured out, he believes me to be one who would wallow in sorrow at my life. He even one-shotted someone stronger than me. He believes that I won’t chase after him because I was a witness to that.

I can defeat him; I will catch him off guard. I will prove him wrong. It’s going to be him who will face the consequences of his ignorance!

I could hear my theme music playing in my head, I felt my speed increasing. This was the fastest I’d gone in ages. There's no way in hell he's going to escape now, and at this speed, there was no way he would be able to react. I saw his silhouette increasing in size until I was right on top of him.

“Goodbye.” I spun as I was about to strike, using all the momentum of Version Two to my advantage. I planned to end this before it even began with one strike, a clean decapitation. Well, I guess it's technically two strikes...because of the two swords...but that's beside the point.

The blades cut as smooth as butter as they went through his flesh. The strike had connected, and the battle was over, if you could even call it that. I slid along the ground and turned to see the result of my attack.

“Impressive.” He said as he stood there completely unscathed.

“W-What!? Impossible, how could you survive that?” I was completely, and utterly shocked, I may be a side character, but a kill is a kill. So how did he survive, when I know for a fact, I cut his head clean off?

“Simple, your attack never connected in the first place.” He responded.

He was still shrouded in darkness, and I still could not make out his face. His look, his skill set, his ability, I couldn’t figure out any of those things. I failed to kill him, and I failed to learn anything. And now I was alone, no one here to save me.

Best thing I could do is ask questions. Villains love to monologue.

“How...what did you do? First Roku, now me, how do you keep coming out unscathed?” The more I think about it the less it makes sense. I felt the blades slice through, I felt them hit and cut through bone. Now that I think about it, Roku's attacks appeared to do the same.

“In due time, all in due time.” He replied.

“Who are you and what do you want with me?” I started asking any question I could think of in my shock. How did he do it? What did he do? Am I screwed? Diran isn’t around to save me this time.

“As I’ve said, that's not for you to know at this time. But as for what we want, it’s quite simple.... our goal....is to control fate.” He paused for dramatic effect.

“Just now you got a taste of freedom, finally freed from the shackles of mediocrity, finally on the front line, finally going to accomplish something. But just as always, it was just a taste, ripped from your clutches before it could become real. This is the curse of fate. Something outside the reach of normal humans. It controls their every move. But I am not a normal human. I have learned how to transcend it, how to escape the clutches of fate, I will tame fate itself!” He finished his rant, then paused to recollect himself

“I can now see that you are not yet ready to join me, but as was said earlier. In due time. Though, I strongly recommend you don’t choose to oppose me, I won’t hesitate to kill you if you do. My name is Koun, we will meet again on my terms, have your answer ready by then. You will no doubt run into my subordinates, use them to further your resolve.” He said.

I have no recollection of what happened next, all I could remember was those cold, unfeeling eyes, telling me they could kill me in an instant. I don’t know why I was spared, nor what he wanted with me, he said he had subordinates, so why did he want me? Why go through the trouble of attempting to recruit me if it wasn’t to get to Diran? I couldn’t figure much out with the information I had now. One thing that was for sure was that he was unlike anything I had ever seen. In a tier list for first impressions that villains have made with us, this was easily at the top. He claimed he could control fate, if that was true, he may be a little tough to deal with, even for Diran.

***

The following morning, I was released from the hospital, and we all met up at Diran’s house in response to the sudden attack.

We all gathered to discuss our next move, a new story arc had begun, and this one began a little unique. I had been waiting for change so I was in higher spirits towards the whole thing than everybody else, but I was also in fear at what I had witnessed.

Roku was fine, if anything his pride was hurt more than his body. He wanted nothing more than to be the one to personally bash Koun’s head in after the humiliating wound he gave him.

Turns out there was a healer nearby or something, so they were able to patch Roku up as good as new. Maybe the plot needed some way for Roku to not die. None of this really makes any sense. But when does anything?

“We need to talk about this guy, um.... What was his name?” Began Diran.

“Koun” I added.

“Yeah, Koun. Who is he, what does he want, and why does he want it?” Diran said as he leaned back in his chair. He was approaching this with the attitude of a business meeting.

We were in Diran’s living room, and all of us sat around his table, except Useless, who was currently rummaging through the fridge like a rabid raccoon.

“Most importantly, is he acting alone?” I added.

“Yeah, all that.” Diran finished.

“Why do we need to know his entire backstory to defeat him? As we know, his plan has something to do with fate. And his abilities are...Strange. We just need to find where he is, and attack him there. With the 3 of us-” “Four” Useless interrupted.

“Oh yeah. Sorry for forgetting you Shai, with the four of us-”

“Not Shai, me you idiot!” Useless cut me off.

“......Who are you again?” I asked.

“Give me a break. With all of us attacking him at once, he doesn’t stand a chance. Why would we need to do all that pointless time-wasting crap? Doing that would probably give him enough time to complete his plans, and then we’ll be on a time crunch.” Roku said.

“I-It could give us a clue to how his powers work.” Shai piped in.

“Exactly! Good thinking!” Diran said.

“Perhaps.... As we know, our abilities manifest from our psyche through training. Oftentimes they are representations of the user. Be it their personality, their past, or their ideals. The ability usually ties to something. But I don’t think we should risk it all on some hunch. We already have some ideas on his motives, and his ability will probably fall in line with them. So, we might not have to search for that.” I said, agreeing with both Shai and Roku.

As I said, the power system of this world is called Ego. The name comes from its strong connection to the perception of oneself. Through training your abilities will awaken, and they can be a representation of the user, so you can get some clues as to what they are by learning about the person.

For me, I trained with swords and always thought lightning abilities would be cool, so my powers used swords and lightning. It's basic, I know. Roku is completely focused on strength, so his powers focus on enhancing his strength alone. Useless is useless so her powers are useless, if she even has any, I can’t really remember.

“But on the other hand, it would be good to know his motivation and what he's trying to do. Plus, we aren't completely sure where he stands. All we know is he's trying to control fate or break free from it or something.” I said, thinking out loud.

“His words seemed nice at first. But his demeanor, and eyes sent chills down my spine. He seemed like he could kill you in a moment's notice as long as it helped achieve his goal. What could he want? At first, he said he wanted to change fate, but then said he wanted to control fate. Could these mean the same thing or is there a difference between them?” I asked. It doesn’t really matter though, we got Diran on our side, and things will end like they always do.

“While investigating him we could get more information on his plans and find a way to stop him that way!” Diran said.

“We don't even know where he is, so how the hell would we attack them? I swear, I’m the only one with a brain around here. Why do I even stick around you idiots?” Useless said, or at least I think she said, nobody really listens to her, but she would usually say something like that.

“Well then, it's settled, we'll do some investigation first!” Diran excitedly said.

It's smooth sailing from here, our “investigation” will include walking around the city for a couple hours, asking some bartenders, maybe put up a wanted poster or two, until the trouble ends up finding us.